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On September 20th, the Mayor of Shijak Mr. Elton Arbana promised for Gjepala Unit that Mr. Osman Rusi’s house, which had been damaged by the earthquake of 26 November 2019, would be ready to move into in the first week of October. His house is amongst the 124 dwellings in this administrative unit scheduled for rebuilding with State Budget funds. Despite the promises made, no houses have yet been fully rebuilt in Gjepala Unit, and out of the 150 houses under rebuilding in Shijak Municipality, only one family in Rrubjek Unit, Maminas, has moved into their home.
The Mayor of Shijak, during an on-site inspection of the rebuilding process of houses damaged by or demolished after the earthquake of 26 November 2019, stated that Mr. Osman Rusi’s house would be ready in the first week of October:
“According to the adopted scoring system, upon the approval of the Municipal Council, the rebuilding works commenced earlier for some households who have retirees and are in need, and this is why your house will be ready in the first week of October.”
On 9 October, the date by which Osman Rusi’s house should have been ready, “Faktoje” conducted an observation in the Administrative Unit of Gjepala, where his house and the other 124 houses to be rebuilt are located. The pictures clearly show that the rebuilding works are far from completed, whereas the deadline has long expired. We asked the workers on the site to provide an estimation on the remaining duration of the works. According to them, this would depend on the working speed of each team, but it would require several weeks.
Osman Rusi’s house under rebuilding
When we spoke to Mr. Osman Rusi, he stated:
“We have lived in a rented house since the earthquake hit, and receive a bonus by the Municipality.
My household is composed of four members. The earthquake was quite distressing, but we are content and are looking forward to moving into our house.”
Osman Rusi’s house under rebuilding
“Faktoje” also visited the house of Mr. Sefer Gashi, which was scheduled to be ready by mid-September, however, one month after the stated deadline, it is still under process. According to the team we met on the site, this house would require at the very least another 3 weeks to be ready.
“We started the plastering works 5 days ago, and it is a process that takes 4-5 days, while the full rebuilding of the house itself might require up to three weeks – the workers said.
Sefer Gashi’s house under rebuilding
Sefer Gashi’s house under rebuilding
Another house under rebuilding in that same administrative unit is that of the Lumshi elderly couple, who are counting the days until they can move into their house. The lady of the house Mrs. Safie Lumshi and her ill husband Mr. Sali live in a shed near their house that is still under rebuilding.
“They have left it unfinished and they keep postponing it! They have not even brought the required furnishings. I was told the doors would be brought this week, but the week is already over”- Mrs. Safie told “Faktoje”.
Sali and Safie Lumshi’s almost-completed house
On 1 October, “Faktoje” submitted a request for information to Shijak Municipality, inquiring on the number of completed houses and the number of residents who have moved into their rebuilt dwellings.
The information request addressed to Shijak Municipality
Shijak Municipality informed us that it is unable to provide the requested information as it is not in the capacity of a procurement, implementation or supervising unit, such roles being the responsibility of the Albanian Development Fund according to the Municipality. On the other hand, it is still unclear as to why the Mayor makes promises and provides rebuilding deadlines considering these circumstances.
Shijak Municipality’s reply
“Faktoje” submitted a request for information to the Albanian Development Fund to inquire on the number of rebuilt houses in Shijak Municipality.
Albanian Development Fund’s reply
The Albanian Development Fund informed us that none of the 150 houses currently under rebuilding is ready yet and the contract expires in early February.
Based on fact-checks by “Faktoje”, it results that only one house has been rebuilt, located in Rrubjek Unit, Maminas, part of Shijak Municipality. | https://en.faktoje.al/no-houses-ready-to-move-into-in-gjepala-unit-shijak/ |
I’ll be on the Voice of Indie podcast tonight with authors, publishers, and hosts Beem Weeks and Stephen Geez. The show runs from 7pm to 8pm Central time and 8pm to 9pm Eastern time. If you take a break from prepping your Thanksgiving feasts, then check it out.
We had a pre-show interview and I feel really comfortable, but questions could change! I’m on a book tour this week, taking The Neon Houses around the block one last time. We may discuss the tour stops. I also have a new short story, The Legend of Ethni LeDoux, that’s a prequel to The Neon Houses, and we may discuss that. I don’t know how I’m going to answer, but with Stephen and Beem it will be a good time.
Anyway, this is their 121 podcast so they must be doing something right.
I’d like your support, too!
Here is the dial-in number (516) 453-9902. Here’s the link to the show: https://www.blogtalkradio.com/voiceofindie1/2022/11/24/voice-of-indie-episode-121
The Neon Houses is ready for preorder now. GO GET IT (please!). | https://lindamims.com/2022/11/23/im-a-guest-on-the-voice-of-indie-podcast-tonight/ |
Havering Council failing to meet low-cost home targets
Havering Council built the lowest proportion of affordable houses of all the London boroughs in its target for 2010 to 2012, new research shows.
The London Poverty Profile 2013, created by the independent think tank New Policy Institute and charity Trust For London, reveals that Havering built 123 –about 16 per cent – of its target 776.
But the council says the figures do not “paint the full picture” and, between 2008 and 2011, it exceeded its target of 800 affordable homes, building – but also converting – 910. In 2011-12, it provided an additional 455 affordable homes, along with another 487 last year.
Havering’s housing boss Cllr Lesley Kelly said: “Providing more affordable local homes for people remains one of our key aims and we have a very good track record of doing so.”
On Wednesday, the cabinet agreed to council funding of almost £5.5m to supplement more than £2m from the Greater London Authority for new affordable housing developments. However, it has yet to be approved by full council.
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London boroughs have targets for the number of homes they should build in a year as stated in the London Plan of 2011 – 40 per cent of which should be affordable homes.
Havering has a target of 970 per year.
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Dagenham and Rainham MP Jon Cruddas said: “We simply are not building as much as we signed up to and, locally, people are really struggling.”
Research from the same report also showed that almost six per cent of working age people were unemployed in Havering. This is a slight increase on the 2007 to 2009 figures but still below the London average.
Heaton and Gooshays wards both had a child poverty rate of 30 per cent “before housing costs” but there were low levels of overcrowded houses and infant mortality across the borough. | https://www.romfordrecorder.co.uk/news/local-council/havering-council-failing-to-meet-low-cost-home-targets-2970534 |
Don’t be frightened, it’s not a quiz.
28 – average inches of snow around my house on Saturday
3 – hours it took us to clear the snow (and by us, I mean, the husband cleared it while we played in it)
300 – feet long my sidewalk was when I stopped measuring, because it’s actually longer
2 – driveways we also had to clear
3 – houses on our street that are uninhabited and for sale.
2- houses that are uninhabited on our street that no one bothered to remove the snow
1- pot of chicken soup I made
8 – gallons of said soup in the freezer
2 – amount of doggies that love to romp in the snow
1 – amount of children living in my household that love to romp in the snow
1 – amount of seven-year-olds in my house that refuse to wear gloves and then complain when his hands are cold
2 – tunnels dug in the snow
1 – half-hearted attempt at a snowman
2 – medications given to me from the doctor yesterday for my “Upper Respiratory Infection”
2 – weeks I’ve been under the weather so far
3 – amount of people in my house that have had this particular cold
2 – boxes of tissues I’ve gone through in the two weeks I’ve been sick
12-18 – inches of snow we are supposed to receive between tonight and tomorrow
1 – age of my nephew, for whom I am babysitting today
3 – the age he thinks he is, but cannot understand why he can’t do the stuff a three-year-old can
8 – hours he’ll be here today
8 – hours I’m in love with him today
365 – days I wish I could have another child
3 thoughts on “A Little Math”
-
1 – sister who is incredibly impressed with you
2 – number of other people in my household who hold you in high esteem
0 – number of days my son has been in school this week
0 – number of days I expect my son to be in school this week
Hope you are feeling better soon!
-
This reminded me a little bit of a square dance. Now let’s do-se-do.
p.s. send some of that white stuff up here to Vermont. Please, with sugar on top.
-
6 – inches of snow I wish you’d mail to my kids, who are dying for some. | https://thedgoddess.com/2010/02/09/a-little-math/ |
A recently refurbished and upgraded three bedroom, two bathroom purpose built apartment with pleasant leafy outlook quietly and conveniently located on third floor of attractive, well maintained private mansion block within moments of Chalk Farm tube station (Northern Line) and within easy reach of Camden Town, Belsize Park and Hampstead's multiple shopping and transport facilities. Primrose Hill is moments away. Excellent condition throughout. Sash windows. Centrally heated. Lifts.
Large well maintained communal gardens. Porterage
Living room 14'2" x 8'6" Sash window. Wood flooring
Kitchen 14'1" x 6' Fully fitted. Sash window
Bedroom 12'32 x 7'8' Plus built in wardrobes. Sash window. En-suite bathroom
Bedroom 12'3" x 9'8" Two sash windows
Bedroom 12'2" x 8' Large sash window.
Bathroom 9'9" x 5'1" White suite. Fully tiled
Bathroom 5'3" x 5'1" Fully tiled. Window. en-suite to bedroom
Hallway 24' x 3'6" Accessing all rooms
Tenure: Leasehold 949 years
Ground rent: £52 p.a.
Service charge: £380 per month incl heating hot water, porterage, lifts, gardens. buildings insurance, management and planned maintenance
Council tax: Band D (Camden Borough)
PROPERTY LOCATION
STREET INFO
Prince of Wales Road
NW5
Prince of Wales Road
NW5
Prince of Wales Road
NW5
Prince of Wales Road
NW5
Prince of Wales Road
NW5
A common name for a road in 1841 since the birth of the Prince of Wales, the future Edward VII.
Prince of Wales Road runs roughly east to west from Kentish Town Road NW1 to Haverstock Hill. It's a long main road separating postcodes NW1 and NW5. The roads to the south are considered part of Camden Town. Prince of Wales itself is considered to be in Kentish Town as it is the first road within postcode NW5.
Styles of architecture swap and change from section to section but it's mostly Victorian. Many of these houses are rather grand and a whole variety of trees line each side of the street, such as whitebeam, ash, birch, Norway maple, cherry and plane.
Framing the entrance at Kentish Town Road, the University of North London complex, built in 1929, has been converted in recent years into luxury flats. At the time, these warehouse-style conversions fetched the highest prices per square meter for this area.
Further down the road, three storey period terraced houses face a terrace of four storey white stucco houses. Most have these have been converted into flats. South of here are Healey Street and Hadley Street with smaller houses and in contrast to grander architecture in Willes Road, a turning to the north. Continuing west, the road passes beneath a railway bridge with a small row of shops beyond. Towards the junction with Malden Road, four storey period terraced houses face three pairs of rather impressive white stucco semis.
The most attractive row of houses, in my opinion, are found beyond this at the most western end of the road. They are flat fronted terraced houses with segmental lintels and some have balconies with the original ironwork. Other interesting buildings are the swimming baths at the junction of Grafton Road and a church with Doric columns now used as the London Drama Centre. | http://camdenbus.co.uk/properties/eton-hall-eton-college-road-chalk-farm-nw3 |
Here you search for holiday homes based on popular categories. As soon as you click on a link, you'll be taken to the search results page where you can adjust your search with multiple search filters.
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Religion is a universal experience that brings meaning to our lives. It binds us to social rules and norms, and affects our health. However, there are some questions that religion is not equipped to answer. For example, what is the purpose of life? And what happens to us after we die? Religion is a way for us to answer these questions, but it is not a scientific approach to life.
Religion is a universal experience
Religion is the experience of being related to something holy, spiritual, or divine. It is commonly expressed in the belief in a god, our attitudes toward spirits, or the social life of a community. Similarly, many religious traditions focus on the relationship between humans and nature, and regard certain texts as scriptural. Though we cannot fully understand religion or religions, we can understand the basic features of religion, including its origins, history, and basic definition.
The book is divided into four sections, addressing the methodological issues raised by anthropological approaches to religious experience. In the first section, Fiona Bowie examines ethnographic approaches to studying the paranormal. In the second section, Michael Winkelman argues for the universality of cross-cultural approaches to topics such as meditation and spirit possession. The book also examines the challenges of documenting and analyzing religious experiences.
It binds its followers to social rules and norms
Religion is a social system that promotes and reinforces rules of conduct and behavior. These norms include following the law and dressing appropriately. They also govern sexual behavior. Moreover, religion has a broader influence on society than just promoting or maintaining moral standards.
It influences health
The relationship between religion and health is an important topic of research. Although it is generally unknown how religion affects health, evidence from epidemiological, clinical, and medical studies suggest that religion is related to a variety of health indicators. The studies also found that religion influences health in positive and negative ways. Some of these effects may include unhealthy coping behaviors and inappropriate use of health services.
Researchers have studied how religion affects human health through a variety of psychological conditions, such as focused attention, increased motivation, and character. Although previous studies have focused on Christian populations, a few studies have included Asian populations. | https://screenshotworld.com/the-relationship-between-religion-and-health/ |
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Category: Project
Description: This research project aimed at investigating whether higher media literacy and subtle alterations of a social network site’s (SNS) architecture can promote more privacy-aware behavior. Prior research suggests that users of SNSs adapt to prevailing social norms. Many SNS users share intimate details of their life, thus promoting a social norm of sharing private information as an appropriate or even expected behavior. The goal of this research project is (1) to provide more fine-grained evidence for this mechanism and (2) to investigate whether critical and reflective abilities and subtle design interventions can mitigate the effects of prevailing social norms and thereby promote more privacy-aware behavior on SNSs. To this purpose, this project includes three studies: (1) a survey investigating the relationships between different types of norms and social media behavior (manuscript 1 is based on study 1), (2) an online-experiment analyzing in how far people can make meaningful inferences of prevailing norms based on screenshots of social media feeds, and (3) a multi-method experiment analyzing if participants who are exposed to different social norms on a website, adapt their disclosure behavior (manuscript 2 is based on study 2 and 3).
Add important information, links, or images here to describe your project. | https://osf.io/qxjsp/ |
The predominant approaches to comparative corporate governance view legal transfers dichotomously, seeing corporate governance systems as either converging or diverging as a result of legal reform. Drawing on legal studies, this paper proposes an alternative model using the metaphor of the staircase to conceptualize how legal transplants can meet different evaluation criteria before being considered ‘successful’. The model is empirically illustrated by the introduction of the Swedish Corporate Governance Code. It is found that different corporate governance rules when transplanted could be said to meet evaluation criteria more or less strictly. This finding has implications for our empirical and theoretical understanding of how corporate governance systems converge.
Following financialization, there has emerged an understanding of what it implies to be a shareholder based on the shareholder value perception. However, as this shareholder value perception spreads internationally, it clashes with traditional perceptions. In this paper, we apply the language developed by Bourdieu to a Swedish public debate on equal treatment of shareholders in connection with the reform of the Swedish market for corporate control. Using Bourdieu’s conceptual framework, we describe how a global development interacts with the persistence of national practices. We conclude that in Sweden, local institutional investors have allied themselves with international institutional investors to enhance their positions in the restricted field of Swedish corporate control. Shareholder value is then used by these local actors as an argument to strengthen their position. At the same time, some of the controlling shareholders depart from their traditional position as industrial entrepreneurs and embrace a more financial approach to ownership, thereby altering both the power constellations and the capital, in Bourdieu’s sense, of the field.
Media played an important role in framing the 2015 European refugee situation as a crisis. For example, the Council of Europe report (DG1(2017)03) documents a sharp reorientation in media reporting from ‘careful tolerance’ to ‘fear and securitisation’. Following institutional theory, corporations’ reply to the refugee situation is embedded in a given societal context, that is most actually encapsulated by media sentiment: while what is (and could be) done is imposed and options are limited, there is still some room for different corporate strategies.
We identify four major communication strategies corporations use to deal with the refugee issue: i) taking into account the social dimension (employment, integration, donation, encouragement), ii) considering the refugee issue in terms of business forecasting (opportunity, threat, neutral), iii) doing both, or iv) ignoring the issue altogether. Assuming a link between media coverage and CSR response, the European 2015 refugee situation provides a unique case. Based on content analysis of the 2015 and 2016 annual reports for the largest German and Swedish listed corporations, we analyze patterns in the reporting strategies of the corporations.
The tentative findings of the paper indicate that - in response to the changed media sentiment - German as well as Swedish corporations to a lesser extent reported on the business case of the refugee situation, many restoring to avoidance. However, to complicate things, the findings also indicate an increase in altruistic charitable response the the refugee situation in both Germany and Sweden. Moreover, our findings indicate that patterns vary between German and Swedish corporations to some extent.
Purpose
Arising societal issues challenge corporate social responsibility. The purpose of this paper is to analyze how corporations account for arising issues under different institutional settings: the stakeholder oriented corporate governance model of Germany is hypothesized to produce a different response than the more state dominated Swedish welfare model.
Design/methodology/approach
This paper takes the reported CSR response of the largest corporations in Germany and Sweden, in relation to the 2015 European refugee crisis, as its case. In total, 157 annual reports are investigated by means of text analysis for statements in relation to the European refugee crisis.
Findings
Empirically, German corporations are more prone to communicate on this emerging issue, and deploying corporate resources to an emerging societal crisis. Based on that finding, this study concludes that the German model is more in line with international CSR-discourse than the Swedish.
Research limitations/implications
This study has implications for institutional theory perspectives on CSR accounting-related issues. By comparing two economies that would be characterized as “coordinated market economies” a somewhat different set of topics becomes apparent. Further considering country context could be useful when expanding the debate on CSR accounting.
Originality/value
This study is the first to empirically investigate corporate diplomacy with regard to the European refugee crisis. Besides others, corporations are important societal players. Therefore, corporations bear both, the obligation to deal with arising issues and the potential to participate in public opinion-forming with regard to those issues.
Despite evidence of global legal convergence in corporate law, Swedish corporate law does not recognize the interest of the corporate entity. Rather, the corporate purpose is explicitly defined as profit generation on behalf of the shareholders. Although this is not fully comparable to the normative stance of shareholder primacy, it is a stance of shareholder prominence. In this paper we trace this position in Swedish legal thinking regarding the corporation, and throughout history, drawing on Sewells eventful temporality approach. We find strong indications of foreign influence on Swedish corporate law, from its introduction in 1848 until the last revision in 2005, although the shareholder prominence position is linked to internal developments in the 1930s: contemporary legal thinking, conservatism of the legal profession and the economic disasters following the Kreuger-crash. This path dependent development led to an inert institution of shareholder prominence, strongly rejecting legal change.
The development of transparent accounting is often theoretically linked with the development of financial markets. In this paper we argue that such an understanding of transparent accounting does not necessarily consider the temporality of the historical context where transparent accounting is invented. To illustrate this argument we empirically investigate the raise of transparent accounting in Sweden during the 1960s and 1970s. This time-period in Sweden is characterised by underdeveloped financial markets and a strong stakeholder-orientation mostly aimed at economic democracy and strengthened employee voice in corporate decision-making. By providing an alternative understanding of transparent accounting to dominant law and economics scholarship, this paper contributes to our knowledge on the link between accounting and financial markets, especially regarding the role of other interest groups than shareholders influencing accounting development.
At the intersection between industrial relations and corporate governance - i.e. board level worker representation - this paper attempts to bridge four perspectives from the industrial relations literature (unitary, pluralist, radical and egoist) by observing changes in board director perceptions over time. Empirically, a longitudinal survey (1994-2014), filled out by both shareholder- and worker-elected directors in the largest listed Swedish corporations, is utilized to map differences and similarities between the two director populations regarding ‘perception of responsibility’, ‘governance efficiency’ and ‘board norms’. The findings indicate that some of the different industrial relations perspectives are relevant for understanding worker representation on corporate boards at different times and in different populations. Specifically, we observe that shareholder-elected directors become more financialized in their perceptions over time, whereas worker-elected directors remain more stakeholder-oriented, while to a growing extent acknowledging the interest of the controlling shareholders. Thus, the paper contributes to the industrial relations literature by linking perspectives on industrial relations, often understood as incommensurable, by considering a longitudinal development in perceptions among relevant actors. | http://hj.diva-portal.org/smash/person.jsf?pid=authority-person%3A39292 |
Browse through Costasur Casa de Campo’s design department, resources and process below.
Whether it’s building a dream home on an exclusive lot or remodeling a current home, Costasur Casa de Campo will assist in the design process and ensure that plans and blueprints reflect the overall style of the project at large, while simultaneously encouraging that innovation and personalized feel comes through in a proposed design.
Costasur Casa de Campo’s clear and simple guidelines guarantee a home will fit harmoniously within the overall project development. The proposed design will also be approved in an efficient and expedited way.
Browse through Costasur Casa de Campo’s design department, resources and process below.
Please contact the Department of Design and Planning to get access to the guidelines and criteria that are used in the evaluation of all construction projects that take place within Casa de Campo.
Stage 1 – Preliminary Proposal
Stage 2 – Executive Blueprint Proposal.
The evaluations of all design proposals within the Costasur Casa de Campo project will be led by Costasur’s Planning Department and its team of architects and urban planners. The objective of the process is to ensure that all new Costasur Casa de Campo development meets the design criteria, which should integrate itself within the general environment of the project, before being submitted to the Planning Board for approval.
Blueprint reviews for both stages of the process take place weekly, and appointments can be made by calling (809) 523-8144 or emailing [email protected].
During the evaluation sessions, project leaders can present their blueprints and design concepts in person. If an in situ presentation is not possible, projects can be submitted electronically.
To access the Proposal Submission Criteria, please contact the Department of Design and Planning.
Evaluation meetings to approve new projects take place once a month by the Planning Board. The evaluation committee’s recommendations will be taken into account for each project and a final decision to approve or not approve the project will be made. The project leader will not be able to participate at these meetings and will be notified in writing about the Planning Board’s decision within two weeks after the evaluation meeting.
After the proposal has been approved, the project moves on to the following development phase, whether that be the development of construction blueprints or the start of construction.
If the proposal has not been approved, a review of the design will once again be requested for submission until it obtains the Planning Board’s approval.
The approval process finalizes with the construction blueprints being approved, and a written permit for construction commencement will be issued. | https://costasur.com.do/property-design-approval/ |
Part two of our series on architects and architectural design explores the duties of an architect.
lot of times people ask what they think is a stupid question: “what does an architect do?” A lot of other people assume that all we do is make up blueprints, and that’s it. However, an architect follows a deliberate and step laden process to get from conception all the way to the doors opening. Here are the first steps in the architectural process.
Step 1: The initial interview with the client. This is more than just finding out what the client wants. During the interview, both the client and the architect see if the partnership will be a good fit. The architect shows off his portfolio, and goes over their normal process with the client.
Step 2: Gathering information. This is where the architect visits the site to review the conditions he will be working with. If the project is from the ground up, a surveyor may be called, otherwise, a set of plans for the structure as is is provided. These plans are readily available at the city/county as a rule.
The third step of the process can be summed up by a question: how feasible is my architectural project? Using the information from step two this is where an architect prepares a couple of designs. So as you see, there is a lot of pre-work before the project begins in earnest. We will discuss more of this process in our next article.
For now, know that an architect is about more than just drawing plans.
This concludes part two of our series. For more information on architects and architectural design, be sure to read part one and part three as well.
Posted in Architect, Architecture, Tenant Improvement Architect | Tagged architects, architectural design, portfolio, the architect visits the site, the architectural process, what does an architect do?
Part one of a series on architects and architectural design focuses on architectural styles.
An architect does more than just create some blueprints. Usually an architect is involved at every stage of the process, and can be an administrator, a financial expert, and other areas that people don’t realize. Our next article will explore these roles in more depth.
And what of architectural style? Remember, that unless you have given an architect carte blanche, you will always have the final say of how your building is going to look.
This concludes part one of our series. For more information on architects and architectural design, be sure to read part two and part three as well. | http://designlinearchitects.com/tag/architectural-design |
Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust is pleased to announce that the following candidates have been shortlisted to proceed to the second stage of the tender processes for architects and design teams to work on its prestigious hospital development project.
The shortlisted companies are:
Architect/Lead Designer
- Building Design Partnership (BDP)
- CF Moller Danmark
- HOK International
- NBBJ
- Penoyre & Prasad/Schmidt Hammer Lassen
Mechanical and Electrical Designer (including sustainability and digital)
- Hoare Lea
- Mott MacDonald
- Ove Arup and Partners
- Ramboll UK
- WSP UK
Civil and Structural Designer
- BDP
- Curtins Consulting
- Mott MacDonald
- Ove Arup and Partners
- WSP UK
The Trust has the funding and planning approvals in place to design and build a state-of-the-art hospital for adult healthcare and a purpose-built new home for Leeds Children’s Hospital (LCH). Called Hospitals of the Future, this is a major development of more than 94,000m2 in the heart of the city.
Hospitals of the Future is one of six projects to receive a share of £2.7 billion funding in the first wave of the UK Government’s Health Infrastructure Plan, its national programme of healthcare capital investment. The Trust is working to a scheme cost of £600m.
In November 2020, OJEU notices were issued for an Architect/Lead designer; Mechanical & Electrical designer (with specialist sustainability/Net Zero Carbon and digital design services) and a Civil and Structural designer.
Having been successful at the Selection Questionnaire stage of the process, bidders will now be asked to further consider the Trust’s requirements and set out their detailed delivery approaches, including how they plan to engage with patients and staff on the design of the new hospitals.
As one of the largest and busiest acute hospital trusts in the UK, Leeds Teaching Hospitals delivers outstanding care for patients from the city and across the country. It is a centre of excellence for specialist services, globally recognised for research and innovation and a leader in medical education and training.
Candidates will have to demonstrate that their approaches meet the Trust’s needs and that they have the ideas to support the Trust’s ambition for innovation, and the establishment of new standards for healthcare design.
These include making the new hospitals the most digitally advanced and smart in the UK; leading on sustainability and carbon reduction; promoting best practice through Designing for Manufacture and Assembly and Modern Methods of Construction and becoming the first UK acute trust in the HIP Programme to be accredited to the WELL Building Standard.
Simon Worthington, the Trust’s Director of Finance and Senior Responsible Officer for Building the Leeds Way, its programme of estates improvement and investment said:
“We’re delighted to announce the shortlist for this next stage of the tender process. We have been encouraged by the strength of the candidates and look forward to exploring their skills, knowledge and experience further in the next few weeks.”
Final appointments of the architects and design teams are expected in late Spring. | https://www.leedsth.nhs.uk/about-us/btlw/future-hospitals/latest-news/2021/02/01/shortlisted-candidates-announced-for-second-stage-of-tender-process-to-design-new-hospitals-in-leeds |
These artists' impressions show how a new visitor centre at a prime Norfolk Broads tourism spot could look.
The designs are part of a scheme by the Broads Authority to build a new visitor and education centre for its Acle Bridge site.
For its plan the authority set up a design challenge to architects to draw up blueprints for the sustainable centre.
Architects were given the Broads Authority's 'vision' for the site which included the importance of engaging the public in big issues such as water management, climate change, sea level rise and the need for sustainability.
The building had to make provision for facilities aimed at visitors, boaters, local residents and school children alike.
The competition launched on 20 April and attracted expressions of interest from 163 practices from across the world.
95 entries were received by the closing date.
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A judging panel carefully considered each entry against criteria set by the Broads Authority. The anonymised process resulted in a shortlist of three which are now being moved on to the second stage.
The Shortlisted designs are:
• Acle Bridge National Park & Education Centre - Feilden and Mawson (Norwich)
• The Large White - Mole Architects (Cambridge)
• The Periscope - Mills Power Architecture (London)
John Last, vice chancellor of the NUA and Chair of the Acle Bridge Design Competition Panel, said: 'The panel felt that each of these three had real potential to achieve a sustainable environmentally sensitive intervention into the landscape reflecting the values of the Broads Authority, whilst at the same time offering innovative design solutions and creating a potential 'landmark' building, sensitive to its local environment.
'The three shortlisted practices each have different strengths and we now look forward to the presentations from these practices to consider in greater detail the design and the ways that it can be realised with strong value for money, environmental awareness and design innovation.'
John Packman, chief executive of the Broads Authority, said: 'We've been delighted with the response to the architectural competition.
'This is the first time we have run such a competition and been surprised by the sheer number and variety of designs.
'Innovative approaches from architects in Britain and overseas have given us a great deal to think about and it was very difficult for the Judging Panel to shortlist.
'I would like to thank all those who submitted entries and we are considering whether we could exhibit all the submitted designs later in the year.
'The next stage is for the judging panel to pick a winning design which will create a landmark building for the Broads National Park.'
An announcement of the competition winner with a presentation of their final design will be revealed on July 27 at the Broads Authority Meeting. | https://www.edp24.co.uk/acle-bridge-visitor-centre-plans-1224370 |
The client interviews with typically three to four individual architects or Architectural Design Firms to figure out if it’s a solid match with each other. Sometimes based on recommendations and prior work experience, the clients skip the interview round and directly start with a particular arrangement they have in their mind. Usually, this happens in privately bid projects wherein the decision lies in the sole discretion of the client. For public projects, more emphasis is given on past experience and qualification of the applicant firm or individual to win the project.
Stage 2: Information gathering (Emphasis on Analysis)
The client’s objectives, necessities, and prerequisites are discussed before the start of any project. The architects visit the site to conduct an on-site examination of the project site determining the existing condition and take as-built measurements of the existing structure. A set of as-built plans are made and duplicates are given to the client for their records. These are basic floor plans and exterior elevations–an insignificant set appearance that presently exists nearby. A surveyor is usually contacted at this stage wherein they do a site survey which is eventually incorporated in the as-built documents. The architects visit the city/county building division to audit relevant records which may consist of as-built drawings of the existing structure, previous surveys, public records, and other details of a property. The architects assemble data from state and city offices in regards to explicit land use and construction law necessities just as pre-submittal and pre-license strategies. They also carry out an assessment of building code and zoning requirements/constraints for the approved site plan and floor plan. The architects additionally make a work schedule to determine what will be done and by when.
Stage 3: Schematic Design and Feasibility (Emphasis on Design)
The modelers create 2-3 preliminary plans using the information gathered in stage 2. At this stage, the architects are likewise bringing plan ideas to the table. Perhaps there was a particular site highlight that could be upgraded with the new architecture or opportunities within the project which was not examined previously. The designers investigate the sequence of how you approach the structure and travel through the structure. The focal point of the structure is identified and worked upon. The overall areas of the functions inside the structure are thought of and graphically addressed in chart structure. The designs, outlines, and illustrations are simply charts at this stage – it’s not engineering yet. Elements like windows might be added schematically. Simple plans and elevations are sketched to address connections among spaces and to get the fundamental envelope shape. Material alternatives begin to turn out to be important for the conversation and a target spending plan is set up/affirmed for the overall project. At this stage, the number of meetings held is the maximum wherein the owner/client has a discussion with the architect to finalize one plan from different schematic alternatives.
Stage 4: Design Development and Permit Documents (Emphasis on Decision Making)
As choices keep on being made, the architects form the schematic drawings into permit documents. The designs develop from graphs to real engineering at this progression. The drawings are refined with respect to subtleties and methods. Materials are settled on and the modelers sort out how everything fits together (how does the floor meet the wall: base trim, flush trim, no trim). Window openings are additionally characterized by mullions and opening areas. Data from different specialists like a structural engineer, MEP engineers, is created and facilitated with the plan drawings. Determinations for materials, installations/machines, gathering subtleties, and significant code data are incorporated into the project. Recommendations from suppliers, subcontractors, and manufacturers are added to the drawing set. The client keeps on settling on choices at a more explicit degree of detail.
After approval and acceptance of the schematic design, develop the design in greater detail. Create detailed plans for building elevations, material selections, mechanical, plumbing, and electrical / control systems. Prepare a final design plan based on the input received from the owner(s), stakeholders, and any applicable government agencies responsible for the project approvals. In this phase, usually, the following plans are delivered; floor plans with a proposed basis of design openings and plumbing fixtures; overall dimensions; structural grid dimensions; interior wall dimensions; exterior elevations with a proposed basis of design openings and finishes; additional building sections; wall sections at all typical conditions; additional details to establish basis of design products.
Stage 5: Construction Documents and Permit Acquisition
A bunch of permit drawings is a simplified version of the construction set. The permit documents are utilized to submit, arrange, and get the building permit from the city or region. The city/county/town doesn’t normally audit every single detail of a structure however they simply need to ensure your meeting state, city, and local codes and standards. It is normally an effective utilization of time to turn in a permit document set, covering the prerequisites, to get the ball rolling with the city while the architects keep on working at a more intensive drawing set needed for construction. These drawings keep on creating down to the absolute last subtleties.
Stage 6: Bidding and Selecting a Subcontractor
This stage is typical for a public project wherein after the architectural plans are made, the designers prepare the bidding documents and run background checks for the proposals received. The general contractors are interviewed and a good fit is established. However, for private projects, the clients usually have few subcontractors in mind to execute the plan.
Stage 7: Construction Administration
The documents and drawings for the projects are complete and construction begins. The architect is usually retained during the construction phase to answer the questions raised by the contractors. Architects are able to give clarifications and administer the revisions if necessary. The architect also reviews the costing and overall scheduling of the project.
The construction administration services includes the following activities such as observe construction, inform the progress of work to the owner(s); ensure that all contractor(s) have obtained necessary construction permits; guard the owner against defects and deficiencies; review and approve shop drawings, mockups, and other submittals; prepare change orders, if required; assure technical compliance of construction in accordance with design documents and specifications; review correspondence between the owner and the contractor and take action if required; assure conformance to project construction schedule; prepare certificates of payment; inspect construction punch list at the project completion; and review and handover all the construction documents to owner at the project completion. | https://www.rdaep.com/project-approach-for-design-bid-build-public-and-private-projects/ |
The Singapore Institute of Architects (SIA) organizes a two-stage architectural design competition to invite design proposals from interested architects for the proposed Mixed-Use Development comprising Association Building with Community and Health Services Hub at Geylang Lorong 18. The winner of the competition will be appointed as the Architect for the project. This competition is sponsored by Char Yong (Dabu) Foundation Limited.
The Competition shall be in 2 Stages, whereby:
- Stage 1: Aims to seek exciting and workable ideas with a strong identity for The Project.
- Stage 2: The design development stage when the shortlisted entries are required to further develop the ideas and concepts to demonstrate the compliance and workability of their proposals.
In seeking an architect and the architectural design, the key aspirations for the building are:
- To advance the association’s mission of promoting and propagating Hakka culture in terms of space provision, planning, and outlook.
- To harmonise and find synergy between the commercial and institutional components of The Project.
- To be an outstanding work of architecture representing the association’s importance in society
Site area: 1,696.1 sqm
Gross Plot Ratio: 2.8
Allowable Gross Floor Area: 4,749.08 sqm.
About Char Yong
The Char Yong (Dabu) Association (CYA) in Singapore was founded in 1858 to look after the welfare of Hakka immigrants that migrated to Singapore from the Dabu County, Guangdong Province. Today, it remains one of the thriving Hakka associations in Singapore, with a mission to promote and propagate the culture and spirit of the Hakkas.
In September 1995, CYA set up the Char Yong (Dabu) Foundation as a charitable trust to contribute primarily in the area of education, while also supporting the Dabu Hakka community in Singapore and promoting Hakka and Chinese culture. SMU and SUTD are two of the institutions who are beneficiaries of CYF. To support its charitable activities, CYF generates interest and rental yield from various investments, including properties. CYF and CYA are both now operating out of their 8-storey Char Yong Building (completed 2002) at Lorong 22 Geylang.
Submission Material
Stage 1 (by digital means only)
- 2 x A1 Boards in PDF file, in landscape format,
- Digital copies of A1 boards and individual images used in A1 boards.
- Competition Entry Form and valid and prevailing competitor’s Practising Certificate.
All Stage One submissions submission are to be submitted between 9.30am and 12 noon (GMT +8) on 4 February 2021.
Stage 2 (by hard copy)
- Max 6 x A1 Boards in landscape format,
- 1 design report (10-page max),
- thumdrive containing design report, A1 boards and individual images used in boards and report,
- breakdown of estimated construction cost,
- Declaration Form.
Architect’s Fee and Prize Money for Stage 2 Finalists
The winning Architect will be commissioned to develop the design with CYF and will receive a professional fee of 4.2% of the overall building construction cost (estimated between S$12 million to S$14 million) excluding non-fixed items.
1st Prize: prize money of S$10,000, which will be deemed as part of the aforementioned professional fee.
To recognize the efforts and cover the production costs of the finalists, the rest of the finalists (2nd, 3rd, 4th &5th places) entry shall each receive S$5,000.
There will be no reimbursement or prize money for Stage 1 of the Competition.
Anonymity
Anonymity shall be observed during the entire competition. The Competition Entry Form and participants’ information shall be accessed after the Jury Panel has made their final decision on the short-listing of 3 entries for Stage 2 of the Competition. Nonetheless, at no time shall the Competition materials (boards, graphics, etc) bear any information which may reveal the identity of the competitor for both Stage 1 and Stage 2. Breach of these requirements may be taken as grounds for disqualification.
Virtual Briefing and Site Walk
Any competitor wishing to obtain further information on the Competition Design Brief or Terms and Conditions are encouraged to attend the project briefing scheduled on 4 January 2021 (Mon) at 10am.
The briefing will be held virtually. After the briefing and Q&A, participants will also be brought through a virtual tour through the current association premises at Lorong 22 Geylang.
For the project site at Lorong 18 Geylang, participants are to visit at their own time to assess the site conditions and context. There will be no access into the plot itself which is an empty piece of flat land hoarded up.
Kindly note that the briefing and site walk is not compulsory to participate in the competition.
Please click HERE to register for the virtual briefing.
Question & Answer
Competitors may also send queries in writing by email by 15 January 2021 (Fri) 5pm to the Competition Secretariat at [email protected]. Such email shall clearly state “Char Yong (Dabu) Competition Query” as the subject heading.
Responses to all queries will be made known to all competitors via email on or before 22 January 2021 (Fri) 5pm only to the email addresses as declared in the Competition Package Collection Form of the competitors.
Jury Panel
Chair:
- Ar. Rita Soh, Past President, Singapore Institute of Architects / Past President, Board of Architects, Singapore / Managing Director, RDC Architects Pte Ltd
Members:
- Er. Ho Siong Hin, President of CYA / Director of CYF / Co-chair, steering committee for project Lor 18 Geylang
- Mr. Ho Ching Loong, Deputy treasurer of CYF / Co-head, working committee for Lor 18 Geylang
- Ar. Mok Wei Wei, Designer of the Year, President*s Design Award / Managing Director, W Architects Pte Ltd
- Er. Prof. Yong Kwet Yew, Independent Director, CYF
Eligibility to Participate
The Competition is open to architects who are registered with the Board of Architects, Singapore and who have registered for the Competition via SIA.
Only firms that have registered for the Competition will be allowed to participate. There is no limit to the number of design entries from any firm.
Request for Competition Brief
Please email Competition Secretariat at [email protected] to request for a copy of the competition brief.
Registration and Participation Fees
- SIA Member: $75.00
- Non Member: $225.00
Note: registration to take part in the competition is not necessary to attend the virtual briefing / site walk.
To take part in the competition, please register via the SIA Members Online (SMO) Portal HERE.
We look forward to your participation. | https://sia.org.sg/architectural-competition-for-proposed-mixed-use-development-comprising-association-building-with-community-and-health-services-hub-at-geylang-lorong-18/ |
Wuzhen Theatre by Kris Yao and Artech Architects
Ornate wooden screens shroud one side of this theatre in Wuzhen, China, while the other side is shielded behind angular brickwork fins (+ slideshow).
Designed by Taiwanese architect Kris Yao of Artech Architects, the shape of the building was modelled on the rare twin lotus flower - an anomaly where two flower heads sprout from a single stalk - to create a pair of oval-shaped auditoriums that share a single stage area.
"The greatest challenge was to design a large building containing two theatres in this small village," said the architects, explaining their decision to overlap the 600- and 1200-seat auditoriums.
Wuzhou, nicknamed Venice of the East, is a village where canals take the place of streets. Visitors can either arrive at the building by boat, or approach on foot across a bridge.
Zig-zagging wooden screens fold around the glazed exterior of the largest auditorium, allowing light to permeate the building. At night, this facade glows to create a bright beacon reflected in the surrounding waters.
The smaller auditorium is surrounded by overlapping fin-like walls, which were built from a traditional grey-blue brick and have slivers of glazing tucked between them.
The Wuzhen Theatre is intended as the venue for an international theatre festival, but could also be used for fashion shows, music performances or as a wedding centre.
The building was one of over 280 projects shortlisted for awards at this year's World Architecture Festival in Singapore, which took place last week. See all our coverage of WAF 2013 »
Other theatres we've featured from China include a Shanghai building resembling a cluster of duck feet and the Guangzhou Opera House by Zaha Hadid.
See more theatre design »
See more architecture in China »
Here's a project description from Artech Architects:
Like a twin lotus, the theatres rise from the water in this dream-like town...
In this romantic and surreal water village in China, the owner of the development decided that Wuzhen would be an important name in the global atlas of theatre where an International Theatre Festival would be located. In order to complete his vision, Kris Yao and his team was asked to design the Wuzhen Grand Theatre.
The greatest challenge was to design a large building containing two theatres with 1200 and 600 seats back to back, with modern theatre functions in this small, traditional water village in southern China. Using the culturally auspicious "twin lotus" as its metaphor, which functions perfectly with two theatres sharing one stage area, the design is composed of two oval shapes interlocking one another, one of them transparent and the opaque in form.
Due to its dual purposes of the theatre festival and tourism, the functions of the theatres are multifold. Possibilities include formal stage performances, avant-garde creations, fashion shows, conventions and wedding ceremonies.
Visitors arrive at the theatres by wooden boats or on foot from an island across the bridge. The smaller theatre to the right is located within the 'solid' volume, where pedal-like segments of thick reclining walls, clad in ancient super-sized brick, wrap around the foyer. The grand theatre to the left, enclosed in the zigzag fan-shaped glass front with a Chinese window motif, glows in the evenings and reflects on the water, adding charm to the already misty and surreal atmosphere of this otherworldly water village.
Project: Wuzhen Theatre
Location: Zhejiang, China
Clients: Wuzhen Tourism Development Co., Ltd
Design Architect: Kris Yao, Artech Architects
Design Team - Taipei: Kuo-Chien Shen, Winnie Wang, Wen-Li Liu, Jake Sun, Andy Chang, Kevin Lin
Design Team - Shanghai: Wen-Hong Chu, Fei-Chun Ying, Nai-Wen Cheng, Chu-Yi Hsu, Qi-Shen Wu, Jane jiang, | https://www.dezeen.com/2013/10/10/wuzhen-theatre-by-artech-architects/ |
Autodesk, Inc is probably best known for its industry-leading computer-aided design program, AutoCAD. The company is participating in the American Institute of Architects (AIA) National Convention and Expo, which began today in San Francisco. As part of its planned events for the AIA convention, Autodesk announced the availability of its new Ecotect Analysis 2010 software program and the free Autodesk Guide to Sustainable Design.
“Autodesk Ecotect Analysis 2010 provides architects and engineers with a wide range of simulation and analysis functionality, which helps users to better understand earlier in the design process how environmental factors--such as solar, thermal, shading, lighting and airflow--will affect building performance.” Source: PR Newswire
The Guide to Sustainable Design looks at several different phases of the design process and includes both new construction and renovation projects. The tool looks at six different design phases: requirements development, conceptualization, design, implementation docs, construction, and own/operate/sell. The energy, water, materials, and land resources are assessed at each stage of the design and vary if the project is new construction or a renovation.
For more information about Autodesk, Inc’s products, visit the company’s website. | https://www.mnn.com/money/green-workplace/blogs/autodesk-announces-two-green-building-tools |
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FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
The answers to the below questions are generic and are to provide you with an indication of BGA Architects processes and approach. For more information in relation to project specific questions, please call us on
01702 471057
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I am new to this can you explain what is involved with the design process?
Where possible BGA Architects will meet with you on site to discuss your requirements to develop a client design brief.
Within 48 hours of the initial meeting BGA Architects aim to provide you with a fee proposal for your approval. Upon receiving your instruction BGA Architects will arrange a survey (where necessary).
After the survey has been carried out the existing and proposed drawings will then be produced for your approval and supporting documentation approved/obtained were required.
The town planning application will then be submitted to the local authority for approval. (Please note BGA Architects cannot guarantee the outcome of any planning application).
Once planning approval has been granted BGA Architects can obtain building regulation approval upon your behalf.
Building Regulations Explained
BGA Architects can also provide you with tender documentation and assist you on site for the duration of the project.
How long will it take until we receive drawings and are able to submit a town planning application?
On average it takes approximately 4/6 weeks to receive the initial design drawings for your comments/approval, however this largely depends on the complexity of your project and our workload at the time of receiving your instructions. However, your project leader will be able to advise you of timescales at the time of receiving your initial instruction.
Once the initial proposals have been sent to you, you will be asked to provide feedback within 7 days to ensure that any amendments that may be required are carried out as quickly as possible.
Do you submit the planning application to the council?
BGA Architects submit and monitor the application to the council. BGA Architect contact their clients regularly during the application with updates of the progress.
My town planning application has been submitted to the council, how long will it take to receive a decision?
Once your application has been submitted to the council, the council generally have a statutory 8-week period to make a decision. Please note however we are finding that most councils are failing to hit this target due to the staff shortages within the council and on average applications are taking approximately 12 weeks.
I’m a contractor and require a construction package to work with, can you help me with this?
BGA Architects work closely with many contractors to provide a detailed construction packages which they can pass onto the various trades to assist them with their work, even where BGA Architect did not obtain town planning approval.
We can also produce working drawings of key junctions/details and prepare schedules and specifications if required.
Call us now
to discuss your requirements in greater details.
Do you do meetings at the weekend or in the evening?
BGA Architects only carry out meetings during normal office hours which are 9am – 5pm. To arrange a free no obligation quotation please call now on
01702 471057
How and when do we pay?
BGA Architect generally provide a fixed price quotation based on each stage of the project, e.g. Stage 1 - Town Planning Application, Stage 2 - Building Regulation approval and Stage 3 – Full architectural service.
Depending upon the size of the project BGA Architects will require a 25% deposit of the stage prior to carrying out a measured survey. A further 50% will become payable upon issuing the first draft of drawings with the remained of the stage payment becoming payable prior to submitting any application. For more information regarding the payment process please refer to the terms and conditions which accompanied our fee proposal letter.
Do you have a structural engineer?
BGA Architects do not employ an in house structural engineer. However, if instructed to proceed with your project, BGA Architects will obtain a minimum of two quotations for your approval from structural engineers who are on their approved list of structural engineers.
Do you produce 3D drawings of my project?
All our projects are produced using the latest BIM software, which provide you with an external view of the proposal in 3D at no additional cost.
Where a more realistic 3D image is required a fee quotation can be provided upon request, the cost of which is dependent upon the level of detail required.
Computed Generated Imagery (CGI) / Renders are priced on a scale of Low, Medium and High detailing levels and can be customised to meet your requirements.
Can you produce animations and fly throughs of our scheme?
BGA Architects can create animations, walkthroughs, and video presentations of your schemes.
Can we recommend builders?
BGA Architects do not recommend builders as the majority of contractors do not employ their own work force and simply sub contract the works out. However, BGA Architects do have a list of approved contractors with whom they have worked with in the past and have received positive responses from past clients.
This list is regularly reviewed and updated as necessary to ensure those approved are working to the highest of standards at all times.
Can we recommend a party wall surveyor? | https://www.bga-architects.com/frequentlyaskedquestions |
In May 2017, Build Toronto (now part of CreateTO), in partnership with the City of Toronto, announced Adamson Associates Architects of Toronto, Henning Larsen Architects of Copenhagen and PMA Landscape Architects of Toronto as the winning design team selected from the Etobicoke Civic Centre Design Competition to design a new 46,500-square-metre (500,000- square-foot) Etobicoke Civic Centre as part of the six-hectare (14-acre) Westwood Theatre Lands redevelopment. The new Etobicoke Civic Centre is composed of five program elements: municipal offices including gathering and civic function space, a community recreation centre, a Toronto Public Library branch, a child care centre, an outdoor civic plaza and a new urban park.
In November 2011, approximately 14 acres around the Westwood Theatre Lands was declared surplus for Build Toronto to explore redevelopment opportunities. In July 2016, City Council directed Build Toronto to lead a design competition for the new Etobicoke Civic Centre and the design competition was then underway.
Stage 1 of the competition began in December 2016 with a Request for Supplier Qualifications, open to both national and international teams who partnered with locally licensed architects. Build Toronto received a strong response from high-caliber, award-winning and internationally recognized architects and landscape architects who demonstrated their passion for City Building. Based on the merits of the letters of interest, team composition, resumes and previous work experience, Build Toronto had the difficult task of shortlisting five teams to move forward to Stage 2 of the competition, selecting from a great number of exemplar and innovative submissions.
Stage 2 of the competition began in February 2017, where the shortlisted teams were provided with a Request for Proposal to develop their design submissions. A Kick-Off Presentation on February 9th marked the official start of the design process for the shortlisted teams and the spectacular proposals were then put into work.
In April 2017, the shortlisted teams publically presented their designs in front of the five-member jury, participating Councillors, City staff and over 140 community members at the current Etobicoke Civic Centre. The shortlisted teams included:
- Adamson Associates Architects | Henning Larsen Architects | PMA Landscape Architects
- Diamond Schmitt Architects | Michael Van Valkenburgh Associates
- KPMB Architects | West 8 Urban Design & Landscape Architecture
- Moriyama & Teshima Architects | MacLennan Jaunkalns Miller Architects | FORREC Ltd.
Following the public presentation, the five-member jury deliberated to select a winning team based on the merits of:
- creative, imaginative and innovative response to the opportunities of the site, the building and landscape open space programs;
- innovations demonstrated and identified around sustainable design; and
- interpretation of the Vision of the Etobicoke Civic Centre Precinct and the policy and guideline framework that shaped that Vision
With these merits and the submission of community comments after the public presentation, the five-member jury selected Adamson Associates Architects, Henning Larsen Architects and PMA Landscape Architects as the winning team and made the recommendation for this proposal based on its ability to meet four key concepts:
- Environmental Sustainability – This proposal demonstrates an ability to achieve a net zero target, and the implementation of a progressive wellness standard for the future workforce occupying the new facility.
- Flexibility – The design of interior and exterior public spaces and related programs enables a broad range and size of community activities. As well, the proposed office floor plate offers the greatest flexibility in support of achieving the City’s office modernization program.
- Community Identity – This design builds its story upon the context and diversity of Etobicoke, creating an animated visual signature of “a place of many homes” that is both welcoming and dynamic. The resulting integrity of the design concept will frame future neighbourhood growth with its distinctive landmark presence.
- Pedestrian Scale – The design has sculpted a large program into a context sensitive cascade of articulated smaller built forms and spaces, resulting in an inviting interior and exterior pedestrian scale and animated street presence. This approach also enables ease of phasing development over time. As well, the landscape architecture’s promise of a spectrum of public outdoor activity spaces has the potential to infuse the poetic yet pragmatic building design story throughout the site.
The design team focused on microclimates and created a structure that would combat Toronto’s cold climate 60 per cent of the year by strategically positioning its series of building squares to block out winds. This creates the possibility of having 30-50 extra days a year of outdoor comfort.
With the completion of the design competition, following City Council direction, Build Toronto will undertake a business case analysis that will closely examine the merits of a new build versus ongoing maintenance and operation of the existing civic centre. The business case will be presented to Council in fall 2017.
Photos of the winning design: | https://createto.ca/engagement-highlights/winning-etobicoke-civic-centre-design-team/ |
Citizen science project focused on six Eyre Peninsula birds
The Eyre Peninsula Landscape Board is encouraging people to get involved in citizen science projects to help locate threatened bird species on Eyre Peninsula.
The board has started a new citizen science project around six bird species on the Eyre Peninsula that have been identified as threatened.
The project involves the monitoring of the yellow-tailed black cockatoo, white-bellied sea eagle, osprey, little penguin, bush stone-curlew and Australian bustard.
The board's monitoring and evaluation officer Michelle Clanahan said these have been called 'iconic birds' and people are being asked to keep an eye out for them and use the citizen science website to inform of where they had been seen.
"These are birds that are easily identified, so it's a great project for people to get involved in and contribute to the conservation of these birds," she said.
"The yellow-tailed black cockatoo is actually critically endangered on the Eyre Peninsula.
"By getting a better understanding about how the populations of these birds are tracking we can adapt how we manage them and take conservation actions where needed."
A website has been created where people can log what species they had seen, how many, when and where it was seen and if there was any behaviour worth noting.
The board also has citizen science projects focused on koalas, echidnas, goannas, malleefowl and other bird species , as well as king tides and long-term changes in the environment through PixStix sites.
Ms Clanahan said the EP echidna citizen science project was started last year and there has only been four sightings recorded so far so people were also encouraged to keep their eyes out for them.
"Echidna are difficult to monitor, so any data we can get adds to our knowledge of the distribution of these species," she said.
"Citizen science is really about gathering data so that we can better manage these threatened species.
"Participation by the community is invaluable in helping us collect data that we couldn't otherwise get."
People can report sightings of the birds at www.epiconicbirds.com.au and for echidnas at www.epechidnas.com.au.
For more information on citizen science projects visit www.landscape.sa.gov.au/ep/get-involved/citizen-science.
This story Project to help locate threatened birds first appeared on Port Lincoln Times.
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Please note: All comments made or shown here are bound by the Online Discussion Terms & Conditions. | https://www.westcoastsentinel.com.au/story/6868067/project-to-help-locate-threatened-birds/?cs=1547 |
The return of monarchs and hummingbirds is imminent. Soon, both of these lovely species will grace my yard with their presence. For the last twelve years, patience, expectation, and anticipation have filled the days of spring waiting upon their arrival.
For the last several years, I have enjoyed participating in and teaching others, especially my students, how to participate in various citizen science projects involving these species. It has been increasingly important for ordinary citizens to contribute to the science of understanding migrational patterns and habitat decline, especially related to the Monarch Butterfly.
Citizen Science is defined by Wikipedia as : “Citizen science (CS) (also known as crowd science, crowd-sourced science, civic science, volunteer monitoring or networked science) is scientific research conducted, in whole or in part, by amateur or nonprofessionals scientists. Citizen science is sometimes described as “public participation in scientific research”, participatory monitoring and participatory action research.” en.wikipedia.org · Text under CC-BY-SA license
If you enjoy the return of birds and butterflies, the eruption of tulips in your yard, and the changing seasons, citizen science might be a great fit for you, too! Journey North is a website I have used for at least ten years to report milkweed eruption and monarch sightings in the spring. You can even access your own records to see any trends in the return timing species. For example, I can pull up my data that tells me I reported a first monarch sighting on 5/25/06 but in 2016, did not see one until July 5th! Wow! The chart below is my data from the first milkweed eruptions in my garden over the years.
This is information I share with my garden club students yearly. I know a few of them have reported monarch sightings. I try to report to help scientists gather data on a species that fascinates me. Habitat conservation and restoration for monarchs has become a large part of my life during the last decade. When you share your observations you are contributing to an increased data base from which the scientists can draw conclusions, formulate plans, and take actions to protect or augment our earth’s biodiversity.
Our students collected milkweed seed pods in the fall of 2014 to send to Monarch Watch based on a call for citizens who had access to milkweed to do this. Since we had a lot of common milkweed in our school’s butterfly garden, we participated in sending some to Monarch Watch that fall.
Personally, I have participated in tagging Monarchs in the fall, as well. Tags can be obtained from Monarch Watch for a small fee. This activity allows migration to be monitored if others report the retrieved tag number when found.
There are also a couple of new citizen reporting sites for Monarchs. Monarch Joint Venture offers several opportunities for getting involved. They can be found here. This group is truly a collaborative effort of organizations trying to make a difference in monarch conservation.
Recently, I came across the Citizen Science Association through which you can find projects that might interest you. There is also an upcoming conference in May in the Twin Cities, Minnesota. While preparing for our hummingbird unit in garden club, I also found a reporting site for that species. Hummingbird Migration Tracker will allow you to report and follow their migration.
Being a participant in citizen science projects has allowed me to feel a part of something bigger, something working to preserve, enhance, and generate information about our world. In short, citizen science is a joyful and purposeful activity, providing global connections to my life. | https://theapplesinmyorchard.com/2017/04/09/the-joy-of-citizen-science/ |
Citizen science is a term used to describe public participation in science. There is a variety of citizen science projects to choose from that provide people of all ages and abilities with the opportunity to contribute to key nature conservation projects in their community.
Citizen science programs rely on volunteers like you to help us better understand our natural environment. Your observations of wild plants and animals help to identify and monitor populations, and track species distributions and spatial trends, over time.
There are many citizen science programs to choose from, with varying skill levels. Some can be done from your home or close to your home. These programs are a great way to learn new skills, meet new people and contribute information that aids the conservation of wildlife.
Species at Risk Reporting
Please help our natural neighbours! Your species at risk report provides helpful information that can aid recovery efforts. Your report will be submitted to the Georgian Bay Biosphere Reserve and the Parry Sound Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry.
Thank you for your assistance in the conservation of at-risk species.
Lake Partner Program
Lake Partner Program volunteers are needed on Georgian Bay! Water quality volunteers are needed for the sites indicated on the map below in red.
If you’re interested in volunteering, please get in touch with David Bywater from the Georgian Bay Biosphere Reserve at 705-774-0978.
Ontario Nature
There are lots of programs to choose from!
- Directory of Ontario Citizen Science: Find a project suited to your abilities and interests. Projects focus on birds, bats, turtles, fish and much more.
- Backyard Surveys: Do you hear frogs calling in a nearby wetland or see salamanders and their vernal pool habitats in your woodlot? Learn how you can help track these species and their habitats throughout the province.
Nature Canada
Join a Nature Watch program including:
Birds Studies Canada
Bird Studies Canada have a variety of citizen science programs. Explore their website to find a program that interests you!
Programs in need of volunteers on Georgian Bay include:
- Great Lakes Marsh Monitoring Program
- Canadian Lakes Loon Survey
- Species at Risk
- Ontario Nocturnal Owl Survey
- SwiftWatch
Invasive Species Reporting
Invasive species are spreading quickly, and you can report their location (including insects, plants and aquatic species) using the Early Detection and Distribution Mapping System (or EDDMapS). You can submit invasive species sightings using either a smartphone or a computer. Sightings are uploaded to EDDMapS and emailed directly to reviewers to confirm. The maps and information are freely available to scientists, resource managers and the public. Having good data on invasive species locations improves our ability to manage and respond to them.
As of May 2018, EDDMapS contains more than 3.3 million records, and 38,890 of these are from Ontario. Download the app and/or register online at eddmaps.org.
iNaturalist
Every observation can contribute to biodiversity science, from the rarest butterfly to the most common backyard weed. iNaturalist shares your findings with scientific data repositories like the Global Biodiversity Information Facility to help scientists find and use your data. All you have to do is observe.
Toronto Zoo
Programs include:
Stewardship
We can all take actions to support healthy ecosystems through the care and protection of our shorelines and our water. The list below presents simple, everyday actions and stewardship practices that can keep your home or cottage’s natural environment healthy.
In Your Backyard
- Leave space for wildlife and choose to plant native plant species. They need less care than grass and you’ll have extra time to enjoy the view and visiting wildlife.
- Complete a self-assessment of your garden and landscape to identify areas to change and improve.
- Leave logs where they lie. On land, they provide shelter for salamanders, insects and some snakes. In water, logs may create fish habitat or basking sites for turtles.
- Leave dead trees standing if it is safe to do so. Dead trees provide valuable food for woodpeckers and homes for many animals. If you need to pick up dead branches, gather them in one area as a brush pile to provide shelter for small animals.
- Avoid the use of chemical fertilizers, pesticides and herbicides in your home and on your property, especially near water!
- Don’t use old railway ties, telephone poles or pressure treated lumber in your landscaping.
On Your Waterfront
- Keep your lot well treed and plant a buffer strip of native species along the shore.
- Use only phosphate-free soaps, detergents and cleaners in your home.
- Pump out your septic tank regularly.
- Use a small floating dock.
- If you own a motor boat, consider upgrading to an electric or fuel efficient 4-stroke motor and be sure to keep your wake low near shore and wetlands.
In Your Neighbourhood
- Learn more about species at risk in the biosphere reserve, consider attending or hosting a presentation or workshop.
- Watch out for wildlife on our roads and waterways.
- Help stop the spread of invasive species. Learn what invasive species are in our area, what they look like, and monitor for their presence.
- Support efforts that enhance or protect habitat.
- Report your sightings of at risk species on our web site or to the Parry Sound Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry office at 7 Bay St. Parry Sound, P2A 1S4 Attention SAR Biologist or call 705-746-4201.
Life on the Bay Guide
The Life on the Bay Stewardship Program is a free program designed to help homeowners interested in decreasing their ecological footprint learn how to make the most of the Stewardship Guides. The workshops are typically two hours long and suit a group size of 8 or more. Knowledgeable staff from the Georgian Bay Biosphere Reserve will lead participants through an environmental review of the host’s property and provide additional information to help undertake any property changes.
The Stewardship Workshops are a fun way to get a group of friends or neighbours together to discuss how everyone can reduce their impact on Georgian Bay. The idea is to give everyone a chance to work hands-on with the assistance of Biosphere staff before reviewing their own property.Glenda Clayton, Georgian Bay Biosphere Reserve staff member
The Stewardship Guide covers a range of topics including how to live with wildlife, how to use landscaping to improve water quality, best practices during construction, how to store chemicals and garbage and many more. The guide is designed to be used by waterfront property owners on Georgian Bay and inland lakes. Digital copies of the guide are available for download below or on our documents page.
If you are interested in hosting a stewardship party, please contact the Georgian Bay Biosphere Reserve at: 705-774-0978, or email [email protected]. | https://www.stateofthebay.ca/get-involved-stewardship-and-citizen-science/ |
Sharks have captured public curiosity long before Steven Spielberg’s “Jaws,” but are average beach-goers a key piece in this iconic species’ conservation? Scientists seem to think so.
Volunteer researchers, more commonly known as “citizen scientists,” are everyday people who lack formal training in scientific fields yet contribute to scientific work. Citizen scientists, now more than ever, are volunteering and collaborating with university research labs and government agencies, like the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), by assisting with data collection and field research.
Shark scientists rely on the use of citizen scientists for data collection to monitor population growth and habitat shifts. Local citizen scientists notice something’s amiss and contact the appropriate agencies and facilities. For example, Californian citizen scientists noticed an influx of juvenile white sharks (Carcharodon carcharias) in bays and along beaches within the last several years as their coastal waters warm. These juvenile shark populations were observed much further north than usual.
Salvador Jorgensen, a research associate at the Institute of Marine Sciences at the University of California, Santa Cruz, recently co-authored a paper in the journal Scientific Reports on this range shift of juvenile white sharks. The Monterey Bay Aquarium led the research, and Jorgensen and colleagues incorporated data that citizen scientists gathered.
Juvenile white sharks are endotherms. They need to stay in water that is warm enough to maintain their core temperature but not too warm to elevate it, Jorgensen explained.
“I kind of call it ‘The Goldilocks Zone’ for juvenile white sharks. It’s between 60 and 70 degrees [Fahrenheit],” he said.
Juvenile white sharks were mostly found in the warmer waters south of Point Conception, the headland where the Pacific Ocean and Santa Barbara Channel meet, according to Jorgensen. This is considered the point that separates southern and central California. However, during the 2014-2016 North Pacific marine heatwave, juvenile white shark sightings reached unprecedented rates in central California. Despite the marine heatwave ending five years ago, juvenile white sharks are still spotted along central California beaches.
Kisei Tanaka, a research marine biologist for NOAA and lead author of the paper, said that the primary source of their data came from online open-access databases where people can use a website or phone application to take photos of a plant or animal for identification and upload the information to free public sources. Scientists may even have the latitude and longitude of the species sighting if someone geotagged the uploaded photo with the exact location.
Tanaka and Jorgensen looked at the public access databanks along the California coast over the last five years to confirm the uptick of juvenile white shark sightings further north of Point Conception. Then, marine scientists conducted their scientific survey expeditions looking for juvenile white sharks. The public access databanks utilized, like iNaturalist, allowed the scientists to pinpoint which areas appeared to be the most juvenile white shark heavy, based on citizen scientist sightings.
“This [method of data collection] is very novel and effective in terms of capturing the change in the species distribution that weren’t affected by the scientific survey [our research team conducted] but may be able to be conducted at a much more local scale by more participants,” said Tanaka.
Through the research described in their paper, the shark scientists determined that juvenile white sharks are moving poleward as their initial nursery ranges, like south of Point Conception, are too hot for their temperature-sensitive bodies. While rising ocean temperatures have been a concern to marine scientists for years now, citizen scientists quickly caught the attention of researchers with the influx of juvenile white sharks spotted further north and submitted to these databases.
“White shark is a very charismatic species that a lot of people pay close attention to, and they happen to be the one that responds to the climate very abruptly,” said Tanaka.
Tanaka discussed how sharks tend to capture the eye of the public which makes them one of the best species to use as a flagship for conservation initiatives regarding climate change. The International Union for Conservation of Nature Red List of Threatened Species categorizes white sharks as “vulnerable” and were last assessed in November 2018.
Chelsea Black is a Ph.D. student studying marine conservation at the University of Miami’s Shark Research and Conservation Program. As the Shark Satellite Tracking Coordinator, Black monitors all their satellite-tagged sharks and verifying that the transmissions are accurate. She also works as the Adopt A Shark Program Manager. If someone donates the amount of a satellite tag, Black assigns them their “adopted” shark. The donors can then name the shark and create an origin story of said name. The donors can then check up on their tagged shark at sharktagging.com.
Before the COVID-19 pandemic, Black’s lab actively engaged the public to try more hands-on citizen science by having designated days where groups, such as corporate organizations or students on field trips, go on their boats and help with shark tagging. During these expeditions, citizen scientists get to measure sharks, attach a satellite tag to sharks, take a biological sample of a fin clip and write down field data. They even hold special expeditions where they take young girls out for tagging events with an all-female crew. The program is called Females in the Natural Sciences (FINS), and the goal is to excite young girls about shark science and demonstrate that science needn't be a male-dominated field.
“It’s really cool seeing people come out on the boat with us who sometimes have never been on a boat, have never seen a shark. We will have people who are, you know, kind of afraid of sharks or are not sure what to expect, and by the end of the day, everyone is just like, ‘That was so amazing! I didn’t realize how calm sharks are.’ They’ll see us handling the sharks, obviously very safely, but without fear of the shark harming us,” said Black.
For Black, changing people’s opinions on sharks while contributing to scientific data collection is one of her favorite parts of working with the Shark Research and Conservation Program. She believes that informing and engaging the public in citizen science is crucial for shark conservation.
“We’re losing sharks at such a significant, you know, percentage each year that it will be in our lifetime that we will see species go extinct,” said 27-year-old Black.
According to Black, if you look at the data, there was a massive spike in shark killings after “Jaws” came out in 1975. However, the rise in concern over sharks led to more shark research facilities. After over forty years of adverse publicity, white shark perceptions are finally changing for the better.
Christopher Lowe is a professor of marine biology, co-author of the juvenile white shark research paper, and has worked as the Director of the Shark Lab at California State University, Long Beach since 1998. Lowe said that for the first time in years, he feels hopeful about shark populations returning thanks to conservation initiatives. He feels that people are genuinely excited about protecting and celebrating sharks.
“I would argue that sharks are now as much a part of our [American] culture as baseball and the Fourth of July,” said Lowe.
Lowe believes conservation citizen science is growing because people are interested in “reconnecting with nature.” According to Lowe, some people want more than seeing a piece of nature at face value but to learn something about it.
White sharks are “apex predators;” they reside at the top of the food chain. They prey but are not preyed upon, and they remain a crucial part of oceanic ecosystem conservation by keeping all the other levels of the food web in check. If the apex predators disappeared, the ecosystem’s natural balance would fall. Lesser predators would grow in population thus until their prey was depleted, leading to mass die-outs. By protecting white sharks, whole ecosystems are being sustained.
“If we are conserving ecosystems and we’re interested in health of the ocean, for example, we should be concerned with the health of all the species from the smallest, lowliness of phytoplankton all the way to its top predators,” said Jorgensen.
With the popularity of a range of volunteer monitoring growing, marine scientists are feeling cautiously optimistic about the future. Many shark species are returning to the American coasts. But for marine life, current conservation efforts may not be enough if the symptoms of climate change continue to worsen.
“It’s going to take the planet. It’s going to take everybody, and that is a bigger challenge,” said Lowe.
The research says that if sharks, and marine ecosystems as a whole, want to persist, humans have to combat climate change. Shark populations are shifting and reacting to people changing the planet explained Jorgensen. As ocean temperatures continue to rise, it is up to humankind to save sharks from extinction. | https://www.planetforward.org/idea/apex-predators-armchair-research-shark-conservation?page=2 |
Native to Japan, Korea, and eastern China, multiflora rose (...
Stonyfield Farm is home to more than an iconic New Hampshire brand. The shrublands surrounding the company’s Londonderry headquarters are home to a measurable population of the state-endangered New England Cottontail. On Dec. 15, a group of volunteer citizen scientists gathered at the facility to learn and practice data collection methods to support University of New Hampshire research.
New England cottontails have been the subject of restoration efforts in the state since 2008. Habitat creation and restoration, captive breeding and reintroduction are all strategies being deployed to reinvigorate our only native rabbit species. To date, more than 1,200 acres of public and private land in New Hampshire have been managed or maintained for New England cottontail habitat. One very important component of these efforts has been missing, though.
“Currently, no mechanism is in place to demonstrate the success of habitat management efforts,” says Melissa Bauer, a Ph.D. candidate and research assistant in the Department of Natural Resources and the Environment at UNH.
Bauer teamed up with Haley Andreozzi, UNH Cooperative Extension’s wildlife outreach program coordinator, to design a training and protocol for citizen scientists to contribute to their research. “Data collected by citizen scientists will help us understand how cottontail populations have responded to prior management and what management could increase abundance to recover cottontail populations,” says Bauer.
Habitat is critical to the success of New England cottontails. Dense, shrubby vegetation is required for this species to thrive. Understanding the quality of habitat through a broader geographical region will enrich the data already being collected. This is where citizen scientists are not only helpful, but crucial. It would be impossible for Bauer and her team to cover each of the sites, 15 of them spread out across southern New Hampshire, before leaves return in the spring. Dense, brushy shrubs are challenging enough to get through without leaves, so it is important that this data be collected between January and April.
After a presentation about the New England cottontail and an overview of the ongoing research, volunteers were instructed in the use of a mapping application called Avenza Maps. This tool allows Andreozzi and Bauer to direct volunteers to randomly assigned points within habitat sites.
“This is a crucial part of the protocol,” Andreozzi says. “The terrain can be difficult to navigate, so removing our own bias of avoidance is important to the integrity of the data being collected.” Each volunteer signed up for a parcel of conservation land to survey this winter. Once volunteers reach their assigned points, they will collect information about understory density, height, canopy cover, refuges (such as brushpiles) and predator perches. They will then report back to Bauer and Andreozzi with the data.
“It has been great to work with enthusiastic citizen scientists,” says Bauer. “They will be collecting valuable data to help us better understand and conserve populations of a rare wildlife species.”
Interested in citizen science opportunities near you? | https://extension.unh.edu/blog/bramble-citizen-scientists-rock-research-rabbits |
The small-toothed palm civet (Arctogalidia trivirgata) is common throughout southeast Asia, southern China, and northeast India. They are arboreal and live primarily in evergreen forests, from sea level to at least 1,500 meters (4,900 feet) in altitude. They are nocturnal animals that feed mainly on fruit, as well as small animals.
Using multiple wildlife monitoring methods can provide a more complete picture of wildlife in an area, and small-toothed palm civets are an excellent example of this. These civets can be a challenge to monitor in the wild. Some of the most common types of monitoring, such as camera traps, aren’t successful because the small-toothed palm civets spend very little time on the ground. A less commonly used method, spotlighting, has had more success. If scientists only relied on camera traps, they would have a very different picture of population of these civets. For example, in Thung Yai Naresuan Wildlife Sanctuary in Thailand, there were fourteen sightings of small-toothed palm civets in forty-three hours of spotlighting. In the same area, none of these civets were recorded over three years camera-trapping.
The difficulty of monitoring these civets means that there are still many unknowns about their behavior. Because they are nocturnal, there has been no documentation of their mating habits in the wild. There is also uncertainty about how they communicate and whether they are social or solitary animals.
While being arboreal and nocturnal hinders monitoring these civets, it also makes it more difficult to hunt them. Though threatened by deforestation, they have characteristics that will likely lessen the impact. Small-toothed palm civets can live at a variety of altitudes, and the bulk of deforestation happens at lower altitudes. They also have a wide geographic range, suggesting they might be more resilient to local changes to their habitat.
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Citizen science involves the general public in collecting data for scientific research. Some citizen science programs are designed to help scientists help monitor wildlife by reporting sightings or traces of animals. What are some possible advantages to this approach? What are some possible disadvantages?
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Answer
One advantage is that with more people collecting data, scientists can have a larger data set to work with. Another advantage is that citizen science data collection is usually nonintrusive, meaning there is no tranquilizing, collaring, or tagging wild animals. One possible disadvantage is that the people participating may have little training, so their observations may be incorrect. However, a large volume of contributors can make this less of an issue.
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Spotlighting has been an effective way to monitor small-toothed palm civets. What are some other methods of monitoring wild animals?
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Answer
Some monitoring methods include camera traps, trapping, tagging, GPS collars, and observing tracks, scat, and other markings.
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Why is it important to monitor animals even if they aren’t endangered?
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Answer
Monitoring animals can help scientists notice a population decline before it becomes a serious problem. Data from monitoring can also help scientists understand more about the animal and its behavior.
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Noun
the distance above sea level.
arboreal
Adjective
having to do with trees.
camera trap
Noun
remote-activated camera that relies on changes in light or motion to automatically take a photo.
Noun
destruction or removal of forests and their undergrowth.
geographic range
Noun
distance at which a specific light (such as that from a lighthouse) is visible to the naked eye.
monitor
Verb
to observe and record behavior or data.
nocturnal
Adjective
active at night.
social animal
Noun
organism that interacts regularly with other members of its species.
solitary
Adjective
alone or preferring to be alone.
spotlighting
Noun
survey method performed a night using a high-powered spotlight to locate animals of interest. | https://www.nationalgeographic.org/media/photo-ark-small-toothed-palm-civet/ |
Wildlife Preservation Canada Continues Training “Bumble Bee Watchers”
There are 40 different species of native bumble bee in Canada, and evidence suggests that up to a third of them are currently in decline. One of the most extreme examples of decline is the rusty-patched bumble bee (Bombus affinis). Formerly among the most common species across its range, it is now officially listed as endangered in both Canada and the United States. Other declining species include the yellow-banded bumble bee (B. terricola), the western bumble bee (B. occidentalis), and the parasitic gypsy cuckoo bumble bee (B. bohemicus). In addition, several other species may now be experiencing declines in portions of their ranges, including the American bumble bee (B. pensylvanicus) and the yellow bumble bee (B. fervidus).
Tracking populations of so many species is a time-consuming task. Surveys by professional research staff are often limited by personnel availability and funding support. By harnessing the power and energy of volunteers to supplement these efforts, citizen science programs can “fill in the gaps,” increasing the geographic reach and contributing valuable data. With this in mind, Wildlife Preservation Canada’s Native Pollinator Initiative has implemented a Bumble Bee Watch citizen science survey training program. This survey program engages citizen scientists in bumble bee conservation by teaching them the same survey techniques that professional researchers use, and encouraging them to locate and monitor rare and declining bumble bee species.
Begun in 2015 at one location—Pinery Provincial Park near Grand Bend, Ontario—Wildlife Preservation Canada has expanded these citizen science training programs to multiple locations across Canada. The programs are held in areas with historical observations of at-risk species.
Pinery Provincial Park, for example, is notable as the last known home of the rusty-patched bumble bee in Canada (it was observed in 2009), and the last place where the gypsy cuckoo bumble bee was seen in any of the provinces (in 2008, though there are several records from the Yukon and Northwest Territories as recently as 2017). Of the two training locations added in 2016, Camp Attawandaron is a scout camp bordering Pinery Provincial Park, near the rusty-patched territory. The other new venue, Awenda Provincial Park in Tiny, Ontario, has a historic (1988) observation of the gypsy cuckoo bumble bee. WPC staff have surveyed there every year since 2013, frequently recording observations of the yellow-banded bumble bee.
In 2017, we added programs at Alderville First Nation Black Oak Savanna in Roseneath, Ontario, and at Glenbow Ranch Provincial Park near Calgary, Alberta. Both sites support at-risk bumble bees: Alderville has records of the American and yellow bumble bees and there was a confirmed sighting of the western bumble bee at Glenbow in 2014.
Volunteer training workshops are held in early summer each year to educate prospective citizen scientists on survey protocol. The workshops include a presentation component covering topics on bumble bee biology and identification, threats to bumble bees, and ways citizens can help. This is followed by a hands-on training session that gives volunteers the opportunity to implement the survey protocol by collecting and photographing bumble bees. All volunteers are provided with a training package that includes survey instructions, site maps and data sheets, a local bumble bee identification cheat-sheet, and a variety of other educational and outreach materials.
Volunteer surveys are typically between 30 minutes and 2 hours, on days where the chance of rain is less than 30% and the temperature is between 15° and 35°C. At the beginning of each field day, volunteers collect the necessary materials for their survey from a locked storage bench on-site, before making their way to their selected survey location. Once there, they’ll identify the best patches of flowers, and attempt to locate and photograph bumble bees on flowers, or collect them using insect nets and place them temporarily in vials for easier viewing. All bees are released after identification. At the end of each survey, volunteers return all equipment and materials to the storage bench, and submit observations to BumbleBeeWatch.org.
The goal of the program at each location is to give volunteers the necessary skills and access to all required equipment, so that they can come back regularly over the summer and survey independently for bumble bees. This not only builds a clearer picture of the bumble bee populations at each site, but also contributes to the ever-growing database at BumbleBeeWatch.org. Citizen scientists now have the opportunity to use a variety of platforms to submit their bumble bee observations – as of summer 2017, the free Bumble Bee Watch app for iPhone and iPad has streamlined the contribution of bumble bee records across North America!
Volunteer participation in these hands-on training programs has made a HUGE impact for bumble bee monitoring in key areas for species at risk in Canada. Summaries of the findings from the WPC Native Pollinator Initiative Bumble Bee Watch citizen science surveys at the program locations are given below. All the data that have been contributed through citizen scientist efforts continues to be invaluable to bumble bee researchers and policy makers across the country.
If you are interested in getting some hands-on training in catching, identifying, and recording important data on bumble bees in Canada, stay tuned! Keep your eyes open for opportunities to sign up for bumble bee survey training programs in your area. WPC will be running programs near Calgary, Alberta, and in multiple locations in Ontario in early spring of 2018. In the U.S., watch out for new initiatives in Washington, Idaho, and Oregon. | https://xerces.org/2018/01/19/wildlife-preservation-canada-continues-training-bumble-bee-watchers/ |
Citizen Science: Bridging the Gap Between People and Policy
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Joan Frances Chu
Abstract
Citizen Science is an ever increasingly relevant societal tool employed to educate and motivate the populace in the ways and utility of science. Collaborative efforts benefit both the laity and academia, contributing to our body of scientific knowledge while creating opportunities to effect governmental policy changes. Investigations into perceived environmental problems especially issues surrounding clean water have mobilized legions of dedicated volunteer, amateur scientists to document the water quality of local streams and rivers. This paper reviews the work of three organizations that use citizen scientists to help gather data and assess the biological and chemical health of our public waterways. The groups investigated are: the Sierra Club New York Water Sentinels, the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation WAVE Program, and the Community Science Institute Red Flag and Benthic monitoring programs. Recommendations for ways in which Citizen Science can facilitate environmental (especially clean water) initiatives are provided. | https://ecommons.cornell.edu/handle/1813/54750 |
On one particularly rainy day at the start of July, over fifty people gathered in Arthur’s Pass to celebrate the opening of the Kea Information Shelter.
The shelter was the result of over a years’ worth of work by Dr. Laura Young, Mark Brabyn and myself (alongside numerous hours of volunteer labour from many people), and marked the completion of the first major part of the Arthur’s Pass Kea Citizen Science project. Consisting of six large information boards, the shelter helps highlight the history, intelligence, threats, local kea ‘personalities’ and other interesting things about our special alpine parrot, Nestor notabilis.
People checking out the Kea Information Shelter immediately after opening
Part of the reason for the project is that it seems that a lot of people underestimate just how threatened kea are, with numbers remaining estimated to only be between 3000 and 7000 birds. A contributing factor to this illusion might be that because they are so interested in humans they are seen regularly, giving the appearance of a high population. This is in contrast to the rarely-seen kiwi, in which the southern brown kiwi species alone is estimated to number over 25 000!
Citizen science
Whilst telling people about the plight of kea is helpful, the most engaging and unique part about this project is the citizen science aspect. In a nutshell, this involves the banding of kea with coloured bands which are easily able to be read with the naked eye (or on a photo). These kea are then loaded on to an online database, in which anybody can look up the name of the bird they just saw, find out some key details, learn about its personality and also log sightings of birds (banded or not).
An example of new bands on a kea. This band combo would be written down as ‘Yellow : on Black’.
The purpose of this is twofold—both to raise awareness of kea conservation, but also hopefully collect some useful information along the way: i.e. where are kea being seen, but also where are they not being seen.
Amongst other things, the online database for bird details and reporting sightings is the main part of the project that I am responsible for.
The Kea Database
The Kea Database (now online at https://keadatabase.nz/) is the result of hundreds of hours of work. It has certainly been an interesting project to work on, requiring me to design and build the user interface (how it looks), as well as design and implement the back-end (where the data is stored). That’s not to mention sorting out web maps, hosting, data import (from DOC’s kea band Access database), accessibility testing, search engine optimisation, security and more!
TimeZoneOne, the designers of the kea information panels, helped out with the early conceptual design of the website so it was consistent with the styling of the panels, however everything else was something that I needed to figure out!
The end result of all of this is an online database that is designed to be easy to use on all devices—mobiles, tablets and desktops.
The Kea Database, as viewed on a mobile phone
For technical minded readers, it was built using open source software: GeoDjango, PostGIS and Django REST Framework for the back-end; React, SCSS, Bootstrap for the front-end. The API (https://data.keadatabase.nz/) is available for anyone to pull data from, and it is the aim that this will eventually be a documented interface. The source code is also freely available under an AGPL licence on GitHub, so anyone can use the code to build their own database so long as they too share the code they write.
The database is by no means finished—there is still heaps to do, from small things like bug fixes, to larger things like making all ~1000 birds in the system easily searchable, improved maps and a refined report sighting form. But one thing at a time!
Personally I found this project hugely rewarding, because it draws on many things I am interested in: web development, geography, conservation, citizen science, open data and the outdoors.
What’s next
As best I know, nothing like this, i.e. sightings of individual birds (not just species), has been attempted in New Zealand before. It helps that kea are charismatic and easily approachable birds, but who knows—maybe this approach can be taken with other species as well!
As far is this project is concerned, we’re hoping to get our brochures (and soon-to-be-produced posters) out into DOC huts, ski-fields and other places where kea are found. They contain info on kea, and also a paper sightings form—useful in areas of no cellphone coverage!
We’ll also soon be reaching out via media, community groups (e.g. tramping clubs), social media and more to promote the sightings database, but for now we’re just seeing how it performs (and putting the finishing touches on it).
Another aspect to the database is that it enables the sponsorship of individual birds. Community groups, businesses or individuals can pay a sum of money to either name a bird, or ‘adopt’ an existing one. For example the Lyttelton Cubs fundraised money to sponsor Kauri the kea!
In summary
All-in-all, this has been an incredibly interesting project to be able to be involved in—it will be exciting to see where this goes over the next few years. However, this project is only one part of kea conservation efforts—if kea are to survive in the wild we a need significantly more pest control and a better funded Department of Conservation. I’d encourage you to consider this when casting your vote at the upcoming election!
Sponsor a bird
Get in contact if you (or your business) wants to sponsor a bird: [email protected]
Acknowledgements
Thanks to Dr. Laura Young & Mark Brabyn—the other two key members of the Arthur’s Pass Kea Team for all of their amazing work with kea. I am lucky to be able to help out with this project.
Thanks also to Josh Kemp from the Department of Conservation (Nelson), for his expertise and access to the kea band database.
(It also goes without saying that I wouldn’t have the ability to work on this project without the support of my family!)
There have also been a whole pile of individuals and businesses that have helped out with the project, and we couldn’t have done it without them. Every little bit helps! | https://georgemoon.com/2017/08/the-kea-database-a-new-citizen-science-project/ |
Power to the people: citizen science shows occurrence & seasonality of Gulf of Thailand whale sharks
Koh Tao is a popular diving destination known globally for its shallow reefs and easy diving. However, there is something lesser-known about Koh Tao and its seasonal visitors; Endangered whale sharks.
New collaborative study “Citizen science reveals the population structure and seasonal presence of whale sharks in the Gulf of Thailand” by Magson et al., sheds light on both the seasonality and demographics of whale sharks visiting Koh Tao, neighbouring islands and seamounts in the Gulf of Thailand. The data used in the study were collected through a citizen science programme, originally known as ‘Koh Tao Whale Sharks’ after a call was made on social media following an increase in the number of sightings in 2017.
The results from the citizen science call were unexpected and provided much-needed insight into whale sharks in this data-poor region. The data shared were from 2004 to 2019 and yielded 179 different individuals from 249 reported sightings. Of those 179 individuals, only one had been re-sighted internationally, 700 km away off Peninsular Malaysia. Re-sightings usually occurred within a week or so of the first sighting, however, all of these sightings, combined with estimates of residency, indicated that the animals sighted were transient to the area and moving somewhere else. The Koh Tao and neighbouring islands' population of whale sharks is a juvenile one, with an average size of 3.7 m and a sex ratio of 2:1 female to male – a rather unusual find, highlighting the importance of collaborative research like this. In Koh Tao, whale sharks were encountered throughout the year with increases in sightings between Apr-May and again in Oct-Nov due to the changing of the monsoon winds. This seasonality may be linked to regional productivity and whale sharks moving to/from feeding grounds.
Projects and research like this highlight the importance of citizen science when studying elusive species, like the whale shark. Any person with a camera can help with data collection and reporting, which is in turn critical to population monitoring of Endangered species.
The project has since expanded to cover the whole of Thailand, and we are encouraging everyone encountering whale sharks to report them to ‘Thai Whale Sharks’ on social media, or through direct email submissions to [email protected]. Alternatively, sightings can also be directly uploaded on Sharkbook.ai and they’ll make their way to us.
Access the full article here.
Thai Whalesharks Instagram: @Thaiwhalesharks
Article by Kirsty Magson. | https://www.mareco.org.uk/post/power-to-thepeople |
How does material culture become data? Why does this matter, and for whom? As the cultures of Indigenous peoples in North America were mined for scientific knowledge, years of organizing, classifying, and cataloguing hardened into accepted categories, naming conventions, and tribal affiliations – much of it wrong.
Cataloguing Culture examines how colonialism operates in museum bureaucracies. Using the Smithsonian’s National Museum of Natural History as her reference, Hannah Turner organizes her study by the technologies framing museum work over two hundred years: field records, the ledger, the card catalogue, the punch card, and eventually the database. She examines how categories were applied to ethnographic material culture and became routine throughout federal collecting institutions.
As Indigenous communities encounter the documentary traces of imperialism while attempting to reclaim what is theirs, this timely work shines a light on access to and return of cultural heritage.
Museum practitioners, historians, anthropologists, and media scholars will find the practices and assumptions of their fields revealed in this indispensable work.
Turner has made an important contribution in reminding museum professionals and museum enthusiasts alike that institutional memory in all its physical forms can shape collective memory in unexpected ways: museum collections document not only the lives and cultures of their ‘subjects,’ but also those of museum staff, whose interests and biases underlie even the most mundane of museological practices.
This is by far one of the most exciting and original examinations of the history of ethnographic museums I have come across.
Cataloguing Culture is a significant reflection upon the colonial ideologies embedded in the classification processes of museums. Truly illuminating.
Cataloguing Culture is much needed inspiration for museum professionals and information managers to reconsider the nomenclatures and lexicons applied to Indigenous material culture. It’s a valuable resource for understanding how respectful, well-informed naming can be a meaningful step toward reconciliation. Words matter and must be chosen wisely. | https://www.ubcpress.ca/cataloguing-culture |
Monash University Library proudly presents Indigenous Voices in three forms: art, print and digital.
Each form explores an aspect of the First Nations’ history, language and culture. Together, the three forms weave stories that project Indigenous Voices for Library visitors to see, read, hear and understand.
The work of Indigenous artists has a strong presence throughout the Sir Louis Matheson Library. This ranges from art that continues traditional practices through to new work in digital photography.
Kulata Tjuta (spears in flight) 2012-2014 is a major installation acquired especially for the Library. The work comprises 277 hand-carved spears made by a group of senior men working with young men from the Amata community in South Australia and with Jonathan Jones, a Wiradjuri/Kamilaroi artist based in Sydney.
Maree Clarke’s Thung-ung Coorang (kangaroo teeth necklace) 2013 revives a cultural tradition that had not been practised for more than a century. The work combines women’s and men’s business, Clarke collaborating with Rocky and Len Tragonning.
Clarke’s On the banks of the Murray 2017, are large lenticular photographic prints using contemporary technology to evoke stories of country, family and history through images of her birthplace at the Balranald mission on Mutti Muti country in New South Wales.
Tasmanian Trawlwoolway artist, Vicki West, also maintains culture through her art practice. She has learned from Elders to make vessels from kalikina (bull kelp), a traditional practice unique to Tasmania and therefore asserts and celebrates cultural survival.
Photographs by Bindi Cole Chocka, Ricky Maynard, James Tylor and Fiona Foley also convey stories of place, identity, history and culture.
Watch the installation of the spears.
"We refuse to be pushed into the background. We have decided to make ourselves heard."
Australia's historical and political records regularly omit Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander perspectives on the ongoing struggle for Indigenous rights. Their experiences are often framed solely from the view point of relations between Indigenous Australians and Europeans, or as a modern phenomenon that came into being as a result of the Civil Rights movements of the mid twentieth century.
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people have a long history of resisting colonialism, fighting for their rights, and protesting injustice. Stories of these struggles for rights are well known within communities, having been passed on through oral traditions since 1788. They are recorded in Indigenous journalism, art, literature, academia, and now in the online landscape. These voices of protest have always been imaginative and resourceful, combining Federal advocacy with regional leadership, and engaging in direct action, community programs, consultation, and promoting cultural diversity.
This exhibition from Monash University Library Special Collections showcases some of the creativity of Indigenous communities in print.
View the online version of the catalogue.
Using the latest 3D animation technology Indigenous stories and languages come to life. They also come larger on the digital wall in the Matheson Library. You can watch the videos and use the iPad and earphones to hear the sound.
The Monash Country Lines Archive (MCLA) began in 2011 to work in partnership with Indigenous Australian communities in their language preservation. MCLA supports the existing system the Indigenous communities already have with 3D animation as tools to reengage and revitalise interest in language continuation, by reconnecting language and its people, and to assist in the preservation of language.
Language preservation by Indigenous communities also reinforces Indigenous rights in protecting their cultural and intellectual property, through the preservation and archiving of history, knowledge, songs, and performance contained within their language. Visit MCLA’s website to learn more about their work. | https://www.monash.edu/library/indigenous-voices |
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Be a part of this University of Portland tradition by wearing the Stole of Gratitude and presenting it to those who have made a significant difference in your life.
The stole is available for purchase on the Commencement Checklist or when you pick up your cap & gown. At the time of pickup, the purchase of the stole is $30 and only cash or check will be accepted.
The stole can be worn during the commencement ceremony and presented afterwards to someone who provided extraordinary help or support, i.e. parents, relatives, or mentors who have helped with wisdom, words of support, or with financial assistance. The graduate may take the stole from around his/her neck and place it around the neck of the recipient, along with words of thanks. Or, you may choose to present the Stole prior to the ceremony so the recipient may wear it. Recipients will never forget the kindness inherent in the recognition and sentimental feelings connected with being presented the Stole of Gratitude.
In pre-medieval Europe a monk, traveling the countryside on a missionary pilgrimage, found a starving young boy wandering through his burned-out village in a daze, orphaned after the village had been destroyed by a band of marauders. The only thing he carried was a piece of fabric from his mother’s clothes that had torn off in his hand as she was taken away by one of the invaders on horseback.
When he left the monastery he traveled to the royal city and became squire to a knight, who trained him in horsemanship, swordsmanship, and the subtleties of court society. After several years, and no longer a boy, the young man’s talents were brought to the notice of the King, who made him an advisor to the royal court. Delivering him to the monastery, the monk set about teaching him to read and write. He schooled the boy in literature, history, and scientific thought, and trained him in the skills of debate and negotiation. The boy learned much and grew eager to know more of the world.
Contemplating his life’s journey one day, he felt that he must acknowledge the support of his mentors. He took some of the fabric from his mother’s dress, which he had always carried with him, some of the wool from his monastic robes, and some of the silk tunic he now wore. With this he fashioned two cloth stoles, embroidered with the runic symbol of his village, the crest of the knight he had served, and the emblem of the royal court. He then presented these stoles to the monk and the knight, along with letters proclaiming his gratitude. Eventually, he became a widely respected royal ambassador, but he never forgot the kindness and generosity which had enabled him to achieve his success.
It became a tradition that spread throughout the country and beyond. The stole became a symbol of achievement for students in all faculties, with varying colors and emblems symbolizing different levels of study and institutions.
University of Portland
5000 N. Willamette Blvd.,
Portland, Oregon 97203-5798
503.943.8000 | https://www.up.edu/commencement/for-graduates/stole-of-gratitude.html |
A white moon was shining brightly in the sky, illuminating the ground below and making the river in the surroundings reflect the white light. A cold night wind was breezing into the surrounding making anyone staying in here having goosebumps.
There was a town in the middle intersection of the river if seen from the sky the river is long and branch off like the Y alphabet and the town is in the middle of the V intersection making the town safe from any kind of danger. The beauty of the reflecting moon is what makes this town to be named Moonmoor.
The town was full of people and the majority of the town’s folk are already asleep in their homes, only just a few places in town is still illuminated by the light and has activity.
Not far from town, there was a mansion. Inside one of the rooms in the mansion where an 11 years old boy sitting with his eyes close in a meditation position above a bed with an open blue book in front of him. A sound of inhaling and exhaling in a rhythmic manner could be heard from the boy. The boy was none other than Alex.
“To reach 1st Rank Knight Apprentice, it was needed to open the source of qi in the body, which meant to open the acupoint of the heart as it was the source of qi.” I open my eyes in a sudden action.
“Vonix, could you deduct the amount of time needed to open the acupoint if I were to follow this manual?”
[“Scanning initiated… Scanning completed”] A monotone voice suddenly appears in the surrounding.
[“From the data gathered, if the host were to cultivate according to this manual and with host’s potential, it would be needed 3 months to reach the 1st Rank Knight Apprentice”] Vonix replied with a monotone voice.
“That’s too long!” I shake my head impatiently.
Unlike the Magus path that requires soul aptitude, Knight’s path doesn’t place too much importance to potential even if it was still important. That’s one of the reasons why Knight is much more common that Magus is.
‘From what I read in the book; it was stated that dual cultivation path’s possible but the one that done so is so rare that finding a needle in a haystack is easier.’ Alex sneered while pondering what he should do.
After all, no one would stupidly waste time to dual cultivate since it will take too much time unless he or she is a cream of the crops with wealthy backing or just simply stupid.
‘Thinking that aside!’
“Vonix, is there any way to make cultivation faster?” I asked suspiciously while rubbing my nose.
[“Of course, by building the Synthesize Chamber, it is possible to create a potion and rare nutrition that capable to shorten the time of cultivation”]
“The collecting of iron will still need more time, is there another way to shorten it further?” I shook my head and try to find an alternative.
[“Hard physical training every day will help shorten it by 50%, with proper instruction, it will further decrease the time needed by 20% or so”] said Vonix in a monotone voice
‘As I thought, but even with that it will still take me around one month to open the acupoint, I really need to make the Synthesize Chamber!’ while I was holding my chin in deep contemplation, I was intrigued by something that was bothering me since morning.
“I was wondering but where actually your voice came from?” As I was guessing where it came from, Vonix replied.
[“To fuse with Host’s body, it’s required for me to become a nanobot and enter the host’s body”]
“Nano Technology….” I was expecting that but hearing it myself is still quite astonishing, then something light up in my head and I come up with a brilliant idea.
“Does the nanotechnology capable of opening heart acupoint?”
[“Yes, it is capable but the amount of knowledge about knight is still lacking and the nanobot lack of power and tool to do so, make it nigh impossible unless host makes the one-star Fortified Base and upgrade the nanobot”] replied Vonix.
“Damn, my way of ascending the heaven just collapse!” I hit my bed in discontentment.
Then after that, I continue my meditation and got to sleep a few hours later.
***
In a certain place of the mansion, a middle-aged white-haired butler is walking the corridor. He was currently bringing a lantern to light the dark place. Then he stops and bends his head to the left to sightseeing the calm scenery outside from the big window beside him with a tranquil expression. When suddenly he heard the sound of a footstep coming from behind him.
Then from a corridor came a women maid with a tied black hair and a quite beautiful face, suddenly the woman stops and gazes at the butler with a calm gaze.
“That’s unusual for you to wander here at night Sebas, what’s happen?” The woman then starts the conversation.
“It’s nothing Tia, I’m just worrying about our Young Master and the future of the Xendra Viscounty.” replied the butler.
“Is that so? I may be too sensitive but I feel that Young Master seems to change from the way he was before.” Then she sees that the butler’s face twitches a little and asked: “Was I wrong?”
“No, you were right.” he replied then continue “Before, Young Master doesn’t ever want to cultivate nor does Young Master ever care about the situation in the fief, it may be a good change that he became more mature but the recent over-purchased of iron worried me a lot.”
“I wonder what will he used the iron for?” the woman called Tia asked confusedly.
“I think it’s better not to ask Young Master, maybe he has his own plan.” The butler then suddenly turns his head to Tia then back to the scenery outside as if to warn her.
“As usual you were right, it’s been 20 years since I serve Xendra Family and 40 years for you. You know the fief situation like in the back of your hand.”
“Please don’t overestimate me, there may be still many things I don’t know happening in and outside the fief.” The butler closes his eyes in contemplation.
As Wyne was still an 11 years old child and still haven’t reached adulthood, all administrative work was done by Sebastian.
“In the end, no matter what Young Master’s decision, I will still be loyal to him as I was ever to the 2 generations of the Xendra’s Family before,” said the butler firmly.
“You sure are, so do I!” the woman agreed on the statement with a nod.
Then they leave the corridor to their respective rooms without minding anything else.
***
Morning came as the sun started to rise and people start working to fulfill their daily needs.
I was practicing my knight breathing technique before calling the guard outside to call Sebastian.
“You called, Young Master?” asked Sebastian curiously.
“Sebas, could you find me an instructor? I want to learn swordsmanship and manipulation of qi.” I asked while using my right forefinger to lightly scratch my right cheek.
“To answer Young Master question, I think Sir Gareth is the best choice, he is the head army of the Xendra Viscounty’s private troop and a 3rd Rank Knight Apprentice at that, no one else is better to teach Young Master from inside the territory!” replied Sebastian with confident.
“Then prepare the field and called him after breakfast.” I give my confirmation with a satisfied smile.
“Yes, as you commanded!” bowed Sebastian before leaving from the door.
After that was taken care of, Wyne continued his breathing technique before going out to have breakfast in the dining hall.
***
Not far away from the mansion, there is a field with a size of around a basketball field with one big muscled man and a boy of around 11 years of age standing in the middle.
“So, you were Sir Gareth? As expected of the head army, you certainly don’t disappoint me.” Wyne praises the muscle man in front of him.
“Of course!!…. Ehemm.. please excuse my rudeness.” Gareth smiled pridefully then reminded that he was talking with the Viscount.
Gareth was a gray-haired middle-aged man around 40 years of age and was still in his prime. He was also a prideful man that likes to boast and certainly behave like a muscle headed man, although his commanding ability certainly not lacking.
“I heard that Young Master wants to learn swordsmanship and qi manipulation?” Gareth straightforwardly said.
“Indeed, and Sebastian said that you were proficient in using a sword and the highest cultivated person in the territory.” I gaze at him with a hidden inspection.
“Just as he said, he was correct, then let’s start with swordsmanship!” Then Gareth takes out his wooden sword and told me to prepare mine.
Then I take a wooden sword that has been prepared at the side of the field and start practicing swordsmanship for the first time in my life. What I was surprised about is that, Gareth was so proficient in teaching, even more so is that Vonix is helping me to use the sword and move my body effectively.
“Wow… Young Master, is it really your first time using a sword?” asked Gareth surprised that I was improving very fast.
“Certainly so, this is indeed my first time, what’s wrong?” I asked confused.
“Then Young Master is a genius, with this potential, Young Master will certainly be a fine swordsman in just two-week no… a week!” Gareth might be prideful, but he was honest with how he evaluates.
Then we practice until midday and we have a lunch break after that before continuing our training after.
“I think it’s the right time for me to teach Young Master on how to manipulating qi,” said Gareth full of certainty.
“Then please do so!” I nod my head and my eyes sparkle full of expectation.
After saying that, Gareth teach me how to manipulate my growing qi in my body. First, he told me how to sense qi in my body. I started to sit and got to a meditation position while closing my eyes. He told me that a normal person needed around a week to sense qi. With the help of a nanobot (Vonix) and a guide from Gareth, I manage to sense a strange yellow-white string around my body just before night.
“Is the string-like thingy is a qi? If so then I manage to comprehend it!” I asked, not too sure whether it was the case or not.
“Wow… Young Master is indeed a genius, the string thing around the body is indeed qi and Young Master only needed a few hours to sense qi, even I needed three days to do the same.” Gareth was surprised while then praising me with a trace of pain look in his face.
‘Seeing that, I don’t know whether to laugh or cry.’ The real reason I manage to sense qi so fast is because of a good instructor and a nanobot in my body but a healthy body does indeed have a difference in speed when practicing qi.
‘It’s a good thing that Wyne’s body is healthy and better than average people in this world.’ I relieved for the body that Vonix choose.
One of the reasons aristocrats manage to hold their position and oppress people in this world is because of the better condition of their body, with nutritious food they eat every day, how could they not have a good body?
“Now that the sun already down, I think it’s better to continue training tomorrow,” said Gareth, breaking my contemplate.
“Then Sir Gareth, see you again tomorrow.” I nod in agreement and then left the field.
“Teaching a rough diamond like you, how can I not be here again tomorrow? hahaha…. Teaching a genius sure is fun!” Then Gareth leaves the field too.
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Aleksandr tried not to tremble as he looked over the top of his wooden shield at his opponent, who seemed nearly twice as tall as him and built like a tree. Indeed, Aleksandr might as well have been facing a tree he thought, for the amount of damage he was likely to do to the brute. Sigurdur was many years older and more experienced than Aleksandr — in fact years older and wiser than any of the squires, as Sigurdur was well past the age when most squires would have become knights. Aleksandr had learned by way of boot and fist why Sigurdur had not yet received his spurs; through countless beatings and other cruelty, Sigurdur had proven himself to Aleksandr as having as much honour as highway brigand. Only the fact that he was Baron Dorja’s nephew kept him in Fennell Keep. A nasty grin covered the older squire’s face, and he spat on the ground in mocking arrogance.
As he often did, Aleksandr wished with all his heart that he had not been prematurely promoted to a squire by Baron Dorja Fennell after an attempt to save the Baron’s daughter, Zhilinda. Aleksandr had been nine years old at the time, and though now twelve, he was still at least two years younger — and smaller — than the next youngest of the squires. And he was the baron’s squire no less! As ruler of the household, Baron Dorja demanded that his armour, swords, and horses be the best maintained of all the knights’ in Fennell: a daunting task for even the most seasoned squire. As always, his wish went unrealised.
Aleksandr grimaced as his heart filled with ice, and he slowly began to approach the hulking boy — no, man — in front of him. Aleksandr was terrified; so much so that he could feel his knees weak with fear and his sword arm go limp. Sigurdur advanced with surprising speed for his size and struck the first blow. Aleksandr was sent sprawling onto his back. He was able to roll away from the following attack and regain his feet before the older boy could bludgeon him again. As he scuttled away from the larger youth kicking up dust with his feet, he was vaguely aware of the other squires in the bailey cheering Sigurdur on.
“Smash the squireling!” That was Aleksandr’s nickname among them because he was a partly grown squire.
The first terrible blow out of the way, Aleksandr was able to concentrate more on how to defend himself and less on how afraid he was. His legs and arms regained their strength, and he was able to hold Sigurdur off for a time, even getting a few glancing blows of his own in. Of course, none of them were potent enough to bring about a mercifully painless end to the ordeal and victory for Aleksandr.
After a few menes that seemed like bells, Sigurdur seemed to be tiring of the endless feints and lures that had dominated the contest thus far. He lowered himself to a knee and seemed to drop his guard. Seeing the older squire relax Aleksandr lunged, and his eyes burned as Sigurdur tossed a handful of sand into them. Aleksandr reeled, and tried to get as far away from Sigurdur as possible. He resisted the urge to drop his sword and rub at his stinging eyes, but instead tried to force them open. Without warning, a club-like foot slammed into Aleksandr’s groin with the force of a war-horse’s kick. Aleksandr dropped to his knees clutching himself in agony. He could not breathe, and flames engulfed his nether-regions.
He began to cry, both at the pain and the injustice of it all, before being laid low by a blow to the face. He received several more solid blows from Sigurdur’s wooden sword across his side and back before Dame Lyudmilla, the squires’ weapons trainer, brought the combat to a halt.
“By Cephas’ boot, you sure did, Sig,” another squire said.
Aleksandr lay on his stomach, motionless save for the sobs of both pain and humiliation that wracked his body. Tears flowed unhindered down his face. The metallic taste of blood filled his mouth and he could feel more of it streaming out of his nose onto the ground below. Contrary to the grand visions of knighthood he had held as a page, he now knew not a shred of dignity, honour, or glory. He missed being a page. Among other things, he missed Sir Igrim who had been his weapons trainer in those happy days that seemed so long ago.
Dame Lyudmilla knelt beside him more out of duty than any real concern for his well being, Aleksandr was sure. She had instantly taken a dislike to him when he had entered the ranks of squires. She seemed not to notice when Aleksandr appeared for training with bruises given him by the other boys, and indeed, often cursed him for being slow as a result of stiffness from doing extra chores. She also liked to pair him up with the biggest and strongest of the other squires when it came time for sparring.
“Will you live?” Her face was now right in front of Aleksandr’s. Despite a scar that ran along her forehead, she was a very pretty woman.
“Yes, Dame Lyudmilla,” Aleksandr croaked.
Aleksandr valiantly tried to get his hands underneath him, but a searing pain shot through his side. He his bit his lip to stop more tears and keep a shred of dignity as he struggled to get up again.
The words stung, all the more so because Aleksandr did require a fair amount of extra training from all of his superiors to make up for the years as a page he had skipped. He limped cautiously after the rest of the squires who had left Fennell Keep’s inner bailey for the cool recesses of the keep proper. With everything else that had preoccupied Aleksandr’s mind, he only just now noticed that it was indeed quite hot out, despite the fact that the sun was nearing the end of its journey to the western horizon.
Once inside, Aleksandr removed his padded shirt, and placed the wooden sword and shield in their proper places. No sooner had he cleaned his face of blood and grime than Sigurdur threw a shovel into his arms.
“And I have to get Sir Fonnin’s armour ready. So too bad for you,” Sigurdur pushed Aleksandr back towards the door leading to the bailey. Pain washed over Aleksandr anew at the rough contact. He had to bite his lower lip to keep from bursting out into tears again.
“If I what?” Sigurdur, a good head taller than Tpliki, walked purposefully towards the smaller squire.
Aleksandr knew that Sigurdur would probably thump Tpliki in a hand-to-hand fight, and apparently Sir Igrim’s squire knew it too, for he only said, “Nothing,” and gently laying a hand on Aleksandr’s shoulder headed for the door.
The day of the tournament was full of cheer and sunshine. Not a cloud blemished the perfectly blue sky, and a gentle breeze played over the town of Fennell Keep. The despair that Aleksandr had felt the day before was gone, as the excitement and merriment of the occasion took hold of him. As Baron Dorja Fennell’s squire, he wore the baron’s livery colours though unadorned with the baron’s heraldric symbols. The red and white tunic and gorget he wore had been cleaned to a sparkling brilliance. On the white half of his tunic over his heart, Aleksandr was allowed to wear an embroidered red rose — the blazon that signified an act of great courage — in appreciation for saving Zhilinda Fennell. Normally, only knights were allowed to wear blazons, but such was the baron’s gratitude that he had made an exception for Aleksandr.
The young boy stared with eyes the size of archery targets at his surroundings as he led the baron’s horse from the stables to the tent where his lord would change when it came time to prepare for an event. In the meantime, Baron Dorja sat in the stands, watching the tournament from a place of honour. For now, archers from the surrounding shires were testing their skill against one another while servants set up the jousting lists.
The tournament was always held on the first day of the Holy Sennight that the Cyruzhians thought to be the sennight Cephas Stevene had been tried and executed. After the first day’s festivities Aleksandr, and all of the other squires, pages, and knights in Baron Dorja’s household would return home to their families. Aleksandr looked forward to returning home once again, but for now his chief concern was the tournament.
All about Aleksandr, knights from as far as Dargon, Hawksbridge, and even Northfield prepared for the jousts. All were magnificently decked in full armour resplendent with heraldry. Each knight had his own unique arrangement of colours, devices, emblems, and crests. Bright reds, blues, greens, yellows and whites dominated the scene.
As Aleksandr neared Baron Dorja’s pavilion, he noticed many familiar heraldries. Sir Fonnin rode past, his black and green field topped by a yellow lion rampant blazon, followed closely by Sigurdur. Aleksandr’s grip on the reins of Baron Dorja’s stallion tightened when he saw the older squire, also wearing his master’s livery colours. In the black and green he looked even bigger and more menacing than usual. Ease returned to Aleksandr however, when he noted a horse with a black caparison approaching. The knight atop it wore a great helm with a black falcon crest atop it, signifying he had slain a Northfielder knight in the Shadow Wars. It was Sir Igrim. When Aleksandr stopped and wav ed, the knight removed his helm to reveal a weathered face that bore a grey-streaked beard and moustaches.
“Yes, sir!” Aleksandr coaxed the horse back to a walk, and continued toward the pavilion tent over which Baron Dorja’s flag fluttered in the soft breeze.
Tethering the horse to a post that had been driven into the ground near the entrance of the tent, Aleksandr set about preparing the baron’s equipment for the day’s activities. He took the sword from its scabbard on the horse’s saddle and ran a cloth along it to ensure it was looking perfect for the ceremony. After replacing it, he hauled the freshly polished armour from the horse’s back, and set it on a rack inside the tent in such a way that he would be able to dress the baron with a minimum of trouble. He laid the baron’s tunic on a table alongside his great helm. The crest on the helmet that accompanied his baronial crown was a white falcon with wings splayed, symbolising Baron Dorja’s bravery in fighting the duke of Northfield in single combat during the Shadow Wars.
As the archery competition neared its close, Aleksandr made final checks on his lord’s equipment, even ensuring that all of the pennants on his lances were secured properly.
Shortly after a horn had sounded the end of that competition, Baron Dorja rode up to the tent on one of his draft horses. The dapple-grey warhorse that bore his red and white caparison snorted in indignation.
Aleksandr worked quickly, and in short order he had his master clad in a full suit of heavy armour, and pulled the red and white tabard over the baron’s head. On the white part of the tabard half of a black falcon represented victory over Northfield, while on the red section a yellow crown above a white lily denoted his rank and favour with Duke Dargon.
With a little more of Aleksandr’s help, the baron mounted his warhorse. Aleksandr then handed him the great helm. Baron Dorja carried his helm in his left arm and prepared to ride onto the lists.
“It is indeed, your lordship.” Aleksandr bowed his head.
He cantered out to the centre of the jousting field. Aleksandr looked on from his place at the tent, marvelling at the brilliance of his master as he quieted the crowd, he and his horse shining brightly in the mid-morning sun. Aleksandr took one last look around the pavilion to be sure everything was in readiness for when the baron would return for his shield and if required, another lance after the first course.
Everyone in the stands and on the field applauded loudly. Again the baron held up his hand.
Aleksandr went white and his heart leapt into his throat as he realised that the baron’s scabbard did not hold a blade! The most terrible fears of a squire realised, Aleksandr could not even move because he was so shocked and dismayed. He could see that Baron Dorja was crimson with both humiliation and fury.
Aleksandr frantically cast about the pavilion to no avail. Had he left the blade in the keep? No, he was certain he hadn’t, for he had polished it before heading into the tent to set Baron Dorja’s armour on the rack. Where could it have gone? He emerged from the tent to see Sigurdur scampering out to the centre of the jousting lists with a sword in hand — Sir Fonnin’s sword to be sure.
The baron took the blade, and touched swords with the baroness of Bastonne. The applause was less enthusiastic this time, and Aleksandr thought he caught a smirk on the Northfielder baroness’ face as she turned to gather her lance for the first joust. Baron Dorja was still the colour of a beet when he reached the tent. After tossing the borrowed sword to Sigurdur, he cast a murderous glance toward Aleksandr that said there would be trouble once he was done with the first joust. He donned his great helm without a word. Aleksandr gulped, and handed the baron his shield. Then, taking the up lance from its holder, Baron Dorja moved his horse into position for the first course. His opponent, of course, was Baroness Jehlanna Bastonne.
In the stands, Zhilinda Fennell held the cloth that, once dropped, would signal the beginning of the tournament. The honour was hers, as her father was the first to joust, and her mother had died several years before Aleksandr had moved to Fennell Keep. He supposed that Kristofer Delborne, now Zhilinda’s husband, was in the field somewhere. It had been over a year since Aleksandr had last seen her since she had wed the heir of Delborne shortly after her fifteenth birthday. Now sixteen, the change in her was agreeable, Aleksandr decided, as he was just now reaching the age where women interested him. Since he had last seen her, she had taken on a more woman-like form, with a slimming of the waist and swelling of the breasts. Her hair was as long and dark as ever, and her skin like a white rose petal. Aleksandr took refuge from his embarrassment behind the rack carrying Baron Dorja’s lances lest she glance his way.
Zhilinda dropped the cloth, and Baron Fennell and Baroness Bastonne spurred their horses towards one another. Aleksandr knew that Baron Dorja was a better jouster than he was a swordsman, but he seemed off-balance as he sped towards his opponent. With a loud crack, the lances connected with shields and splinters flew as both broke with the impact. Baron Dorja looked for a moment as if he might fall from his horse, badly shaken as he was, but managed to regain his position on the horse’s back after a tense moment. Baroness Jehlanna seemed not to have noticed that she had been struck at all and she turned to offer Baron Dorja another course.
Aleksandr ensured that he was in perfect form for delivering another lance to his master as the Baron of Fennell rode past in preparation for the next course. The next time the riders passed, Baron Dorja was knocked clean from his horse, and landed hard on his back. Baroness Jehlanna had been shaken too, however, and after a couple of strides slipped from her horse’s back, but landed on one knee and a hand. She had won nevertheless, and the crowd applauded politely, but with no great zeal.
As Aleksandr rushed to help Baron Dorja to his feet, he noted that Baroness Jehlanna was already there, and she had offered a hand to the downed ruler of Fennell. Baron Dorja removed his helmet and accepted the help, and once on his feet the baron and baroness clasped hands in a sign of good sportsmanship. To this, the crowd cheered more lustily, and regained much of its spirit.
Aleksandr scooped up his lord’s great helm off the ground, and hastened to catch up with Baron Dorja, who was nearly at the tent already, having remounted his horse that had faithfully returned to his side after he had fallen.
Aleksandr took the blade and gratefully scampered out of the tent. As he was unbuckling the sword’s scabbard from the warhorse’s saddle, Sigurdur walked up to him with a gap-toothed grin on his face.
Aleksandr’s jaw tightened and his face heated. Sigurdur had taken the sword to humiliate him. Did his wickedness know no bounds? He had also embarrassed the baron, perhaps all of Dargon as well. Aleksandr quivered with anger, but knew he could do nothing. Sigurdur would beat him as he had the previous day if he tried to fight. Instead, he continued on his way back to the keep, staring at the ground darkly as he listened to Sigurdur’s mocking laugh. | http://dargonzine.org/a-matter-of-pride-part-1/ |
I’d heard of this book through word of mouth from my friends and was intrigued, but I held off buying a copy until my favorite book tour group asked for reviewers. I did purchase my own copy for the review, but just needed the extra push to pick it up, and I’m glad that I did.
Every once and a while I want to enjoy a good medieval read. Usually, I just reread Lori Wick’s The Knight and the Dove or a fairytale retelling, but it was nice to step into a new story. This story had elements that I love from multiple other stories while still holding its own as a unique story.
The characters made you want to keep reading to see exactly what would happen. Jocelyn has the courage to disguise herself as a boy, going so far as to cut her hair. The author did a realistic job of the challenges and the weaknesses a woman would face trying to pose as a squire–a very physically demanding job. Then you have that gallantry and chivalry of the knight, Malcom, with realistic flaws. He was a hero you could cheer on, and at moments want to slap the sense into. The secondary characters were entertaining and supportive of the main characters.
I love how this story has a knight, jousting, subterfuge, and a bit of mystery and danger. It has definitely been added to my reread pile.
Genre: Historical Romance, England, 1198 AD (aka Medieval)
Plot Overview:
Lady Jocelyn Ashburne suspects something is amiss at her family’s castle because her father ceases to write to her. When she overhears a plot to force her into vows—either to the church or a husband—she disguises herself and flees the convent in desperation to discover the truth.
Malcolm Castillon of Berkham is determined to win the next tournament and be granted a manor of his own. After years of proving his worth on the jousting field, he yearns for a life of peace. Rescuing a scrawny lad who turns out to be a beautiful woman is not what he bargained for. Still, he cannot deny that she stirs his heart like no other, in spite of her conniving ways.Chaos, deception, and treachery threaten their goals, but both are determined to succeed. Learning to trust each other might be the only way either of them survives.
What I loved: Two things: 1. The jousting, because who doesn’t like a good jousting tournament. 2. I love how Jocelyn and Malcom must work together to each get what they want, but the deception used by the Jocelyn for her own protection, ends up working against her in the relationship with Malcom. It added a certain depth that helped me sink into the story.
Favorite Character and Why: I liked Jocelyn and Malcom a lot, but I can’t resist saying Horse was my favorite character. It absolutely cracked me up that Malcom couldn’t come up with a better name for his steed.
Who would like this? Anyone who loves a good medieval story with villains, plots to overthrow, jousting, and a love story that extends into the marriage afterward.
Rating and Why: Four stars. The story was enjoyable and something I will reread. It wasn’t so stand out in my mind as to get a five star, but it is something I will enjoy many times. | https://crystalcaudill.com/tag/lord-of-her-heart/ |
Liam Petitone knelt on a pillow before King Don Carlos at Medieval Times’ Lawrenceville-based Atlanta castle on the evening of June 29 and flashed a beaming smile as a crowd gathered to watch him.
The 4-year-old birthday boy was draped in a black and gold silk cloak with a knight’s helmet wrapped around his hair and ears. He clutched a wooden toy sword in his right hand and the handle of a toy shield in his left one as the king lowered the long titanium blade of a real sword on the little boy’s right shoulder.
The king, portrayed by Charles Groves, then proclaimed the lad Sir Liam as his family snapped pictures and the crowd cheered.
“He’s really into knights and stuff, obviously,” said Liam’s mother, Laura Petitone.
Scenes like this have played out countless times at the castle, which is housed in Sugarloaf Mills, since it opened on July 21, 2006.
For cast manager Chuck Padrick, however, it doesn’t seem like it was that long ago that Medieval Times was preparing to open a castle in Lawrenceville.
“I was here the day they opened the doors, they brought in every manager that we needed,” he said. “They brought in ones from different locations. Once we were open and going, they left and we stayed behind and ran it.”
What goes on inside the castle
Medieval Times re-creates 11th century Spain in a tribute to the company being founded in that country. Audience members are separated into six color-coded seating sections that represent different regions.
Green represents Asturius while its fellow “western” regions Red and Yellow, and Blue, represent Perelada and Valiente respectively. Among the eastern regions, yellow represents Navarre while Black and White represents Santiago de Compostela and Red represents Castilla.
While Medieval Times might seem as if it has a limited number of employees during shows — it has about 30 to 35 people running or participating in any given show. However, it’s actually a major undertaking with 200 people working at the castle.
Fifty of those people make up Medieval Times’ national call center staff, who handle reservations and customer questions for the company’s nine U.S. castles.
On top of that, the castle has 24 horses, three Barbary Falcons and one Eurasian Eagle Owl. The staff includes a master falconer and her apprentices, knights, stable hands, servers and wenches, bar staff, a kitchen staff that has to be prepared to feed as many as 1,100 people per show.
Every meal served to an audience member during the show consists of a a piece of garlic bread, a tomato bisque soup, half of a roasted chicken, a short cob of sweet buttered corn, an herb-basted potato, a pastry, an optional cup of coffee and two rounds of drinks.
“If you think about it, when we have three shows in a day, they have to prepare more than 3,000 pieces of everything we serve,” Padrick said. “But our kitchen staff makes it work every time.”
Knighthood
a full-time job
The crux of a Medieval Times show is the tournament involving the knights who represent each of the six color-coded regions.
It involves jousting, horsemanship, swordsmanship and skills with other medieval weapons, such as an axe or a mace. It starts off with the knights doing non-violent contests, such as catching rings on their lances, and escalates to jousts and finally the knights fight each other “to the death.”
Head knight Jason Jones said the knights work 37-40 hours per week between performing and training. Fitness, Jones said, is the key to a knight being able to take the physical pounding he goes through in a show.
“Muscles look cool, but they also prevent injuries,” he said. “If you’re 120 pounds and you take a little sword to your hip when you’ve got nothing there, you’re going to get a bone bruise but if you put a little padding on you, a little muscle on you, it prevents injuries.”
It’s not easy to become a knight at Medieval Times, either. Jones said a prospective knight has to undergo about 400 hours of training before he is ready to fight in the arena. They start off working in the stables and work their way up to being a squire before moving on to train for knighthood.
“Most of (the training) is horse-based,” Jones said. “We’ll have an hour or two, maybe two-and-a-half hours of just straight horse training in the mornings. A guy can learn to fight within a three-month span if he’s really gung-ho. Being a horse rider in a three-month span is not too realistic. It can be done, but you’re looking at at least six months to a year to teach them correctly.”
Noble horses …
The castle uses three types of horses for shows and events: Andalusians, Quarter Horses and Friesians.
Jones said a lot of work goes into caring for the two dozen horses used at the Atlanta castle, which has an on-site stable as well as an off-site one. The work includes daily changing of the wood chips in their stalls, baths before and after shows, and frequent visits by a veterinarian who keeps individual files on each horse.
“We have a nice ranch about 25 minutes from here where, on Mondays and Tuesdays, they get their days off,” Jones said. “Our horse trainer actually lives at the ranch so he transports the horses back and forth on those days so they all get a rotation of having a vacation and having a day off, which is nice because they do the work so they need a break as well.”
The castle also has stable hands who work on a schedule to make sure someone is with the horses 24 hours a day. Padrick said security also comes in and checks on the horses overnight to make sure they are OK.
Other steps taken to care for the horses include a stash of shampoos, conditioners, wraps, brushes and rubber hooves to protect their feet during parades. The stalls are air conditioned and there are misters overhead to keep the horses from overheating.
And high-flying birds of prey
The horses aren’t the only animals who have a home at the castle.
The falcons and the owl have their own mews in the castle, as well as an off-site area where they are taken to rest and spend some time outdoors. The falconry staff at the castle consists of master falconer Debbie Tennyson and three apprentices.
Like the horses, the falcons are rotated out and the owl is only used for educational purposes.
“I like to say we have a little bit of a blessing with our falconer because where most of the falconers in our company are experienced hunters and falconers, her main thing when we hired her several years ago was that she was also an experienced rehabilitator,” Padrick said.
Eamon Frawley, an apprentice falconer and event staff member, said the part of the show for which the falcons are used, where they fly in circles around the arena early in the program, is called lure flying.
“That’s an ancient art,” said Frawley, who also teaches history at Central Gwinnett High School. “Since medieval times, they would use that to train birds for the hunt, get them exercise and get them used to not devouring the food immediately and waiting for the handler to bring them the food so that you can take their prey.”
Visitors praise family friendly atmosphere
A large number of people who visit Medieval Times are families who bring young children to the show.
The staff also puts on special theme nights and day shows for scout troops and school groups. There’s even a DragonCon Night where guests are encouraged to wear costumes. It also has junior knight training for children before some shows. That family focus is what some visitors said they like the most about the place.
“It’s an interesting place for kids to experience,” said Woodstock resident Josh Bernhardt, who came with his wife and their son to a show on June 29.
Padrick chalked it up to what the castle put in the show — and what it leaves out.
“It’s a clean show, so there’s no blood, no gore, no inappropriate language,” he said. “But there’s enough action and enough fun participation that adults are also drawn to it.”
Petitone said her family has been to the castle twice — she said her son sat mesmerized throughout the first visit — and they plan to come back again in the future.
“It’s awesome, it’s really wonderful,” she said. | https://www.gwinnettdailypost.com/local/medieval-times-still-entertaining-local-families-after-10-years/article_91d189b2-dfe2-57cc-8632-14fb5f58e7bf.html |
In front of him was the main lecture building of the Dawn Academy. Its design was like the form of a large bird spreading its wings, with both of the 'wings' enclosing a central plaza; it looked like a bird that was embracing the central area. The main hall had five floors that served as the main offices for instructors of the various disciplines taught in the academy. The other two wings only had four floors which comprised 80 classrooms altogether and could fit up to 4000 students in total at any given time.
To the left of the mini plaza between the wings was a white stone building. Originally, it was a defense outpost, but in recent times it has been used as an office for the Enforcement Department as well as the Department of Student Affairs. To the right of the plaza was a small forest which was an ideal place for training and even romantic rendezvous.
To meet with the academy head, Lorist had to go through the main hall of the lecture building, circle around the assembly ground and canteen, pass through the herb garden and research building that were used mainly by the academy's herbalists and finally the library before he arrived at the main administration building, which was previously an abandoned training ground. The academy head's office was on the top floor of the administration building.
Despite being a multidisciplinary academy with more than 153 years of history, the Dawn Academy wasn't famous for their battleforce or swordsmanship courses. Most other schools that ranked above them usually had a Blademaster in charge for the two courses.
Rather, the academy was more famous for accounting, archaeology, language studies, herbalism as well as magical beast studies. They were also quite renowned for their painting and music composition courses.
To ensure that their students were multitalented and holistic, the Dawn Academy insists that all students choose two other professional disciplines and one arts course besides their main battleforce and swordsmanship courses or they will not be allowed to graduate. On the other hand, the academy does not care about how long it takes to graduate as long as the fees are paid.
Besides the few renowned courses, the academy also has multiple other disciplines for students to choose from, namely, construction, sculpting, city management, business management, knight training, horsemanship, ship building, smithing as well as leather tanning. They even had one course specially designed for descendants of noble families among which included flower appreciation and fine-dining courses.
Although these other courses were not the academy's best ones, they still held a certain standard and only hired qualified instructors. As these courses only taught the basics of the disciplines, students could easily pass them and graduate, provided that they put in a decent amount of effort into it.
Lorist took up accounting and knight training as his additional professional courses. This was chosen ten years ago by his uncle who also handled all of his family's business affairs. His uncle thought that learning accounting would benefit Lorist even if he doesn't end up inheriting the title of the family head as he can always inherit his position as the head of the family's trading group.
As for knight training, that was chosen because his family had a glorious military history and considered martial prowess paragon. Lorist also showed tremendous talent as he had awakened his battleforce at the young age of 14. Had it not been for the grave error he committed in the past, he would not have been exiled to Morante City by his father.
Being exiled meant not being able to receive the traditional knight training of his family. At that time, Lorist's uncle thought that it was not good for Lorist to not have any training in this field and chose knight training as the other professional course he had to take.
What his uncle didn't expect was that before even a month has passed since his precious nephew's enrollment, due to his overbearing arrogance, Lorist had got into some trouble with several other students and ended up beaten to the brink of death. It was at that time that another consciousness took over young Lorist's body.
Because of that, Lorist only took one year to complete the accounting course since to the current Lorist, the subject was merely some crude, simple arithmetic on the level of mathematics classes taught to fourth or fifth graders back in his previous life.
However, the current Lorist had some initial trouble with his knight training. Had it not been for his already fit body, he would've suffered quite a bit during the arduous three years of the course. He had to start of as a squire of other knights and carry out many miscellaneous tasks for his seniors as well as manage their armors and take care of their horses on top of attending his own physical exercise and training sessions in the skills of a knight. After three years of bitter training, he finally obtained his pass for the course.
Despite all that, he could only become a knight apprentice, unlike his other course mates. That was due to his Iron ranked battleforce. Only Silver Swordsmen could become full-fledged knights.
That being said, the main cause for his stunted battleforce training was due to a mishap in the cultivation of the Norton family's Blazing Battleforce. Ever since inheriting the memories of the original owner of the body, he knew that he was in possession of a hand-copied version of the Blazing Battleforce manual that only allowed him to train up to the Three Star Iron rank. At that time, his battleforce had just recently been awakened and it would take him a few more years to reach the Three Star Iron rank, so he wasn't in a hurry to obtain the rest of the manual.
Battleforce training was very much different from the Ki-refining techniques he had encountered in his previous life. He was forced to train the Aquametal Technique passed down in his family by his grandfather at the young age of seven back then. Battleforce training, however, did not start until one reached the age of 15 or 16; one could not awaken one's battleforce at too young an age when the pulse wasn't strong enough to agitate the magical beast factors present in the blood.
Legend says that thousands of years ago, the world was rife with magic and great magi and sages dominated the world. They called the Grindia Continent the ‘main plane' and set off to the stars in search for other planar worlds. In one of their countless expeditions, the magi discovered a worrying problem. The magi usually travelled in small numbers and did not have much prowess in close combat to fight the warriors of the other planes. Thus, they returned to the Grindia Continent to figure out a solution for the problem.
Initially, the magi resorted to taming magical beasts, but they soon felt that it wasn't that great of a choice, as the beasts had relatively low intelligence and could not efficiently comprehend the magi's instructions. Problems solved with magical beasts usually ended up messy or bloody.
One day, after long periods of brainstorming, the magi got a spark of inspiration and injected blood from strong magical beasts into humans who could not train in the art of magic, and through the use of a magic formation, battleforce was manifested.
Battleforce totally changed the world of humans. Possessing techniques to train in battleforce, the magically inept humans could thrive against magical beasts without the protection of the magi. Not only did that greatly lessen the magi's responsibilities to protect the normal humans hence allowing them more time to pursue their own interests, it also provided the magi with a formidable army.
Following that discovery, various other types of blood from different magical beasts were integrated into the human body and thus different types of battleforce attributes were identified. At that time, battleforce awakening and training occurred with the aid of magical formations. The magi also categorized the different ranks of power and their difference in abilities. With the extensive research conducted by the magi, battleforce training got easier and faster and humans with battleforce started showing up everywhere, with their training speeds getting faster and faster. In time, Sword Gods roamed the world and Sword Saints were littered all over the place.
Those thousand years were the most glorious era of the humans. The countless planes conquered by them supplied Grindia with an massive amount of resources and riches. At that time, the fairies sang for the humans, the halflings cooked them wondrous delicacies, the dwarves built them majestic palaces, the dragons served as their mounts, the minotaurs plowed their fields, the beastmen herded their livestock; all the other races revered the humans and treated them with utmost respect.
However, something happened and sparked the beginning of the end. Some magi explorers of the boundless void discovered the desolate ruins of a race of gods on an abandoned plane. The magi soon got to know that all the resources available in the countless planes did not even add up to an iota of the resources on the plane of the god race. On that plane were countless high grade magical materials, the purest of ore mines as well as the legendary, arcane secrets of immortality.
All of the magi turned their focus to the land of the gods. They formed large and powerful parties of magi and rallied armies of Sword Gods and invaded the plane of the gods.
The war waged by the magi against the gods lasted a thousand years. Countless different nations on that plane were eradicated and the blood of countless magi and Sword Gods tainted the battlefields. No side emerged victorious from the war; both parties were left crippled and ravaged. The event was just as described by ‘The War of the Gods', blood stained the skies, countless brilliant stars fell like meteors, human greed triggered earth-shattering change and darkness enveloped the world……
The actual factor that kick-started the downfall of the humans was the gradual depletion of the once omnipresent magical force, causing the great magi to lose their main source of power. Nobody knew the cause of such a phenomenon, but all of them were convinced that the era of magic was coming to an end.
As the magi lost their last strands of power, the previously subordinate Sword Gods and Saints reckoned that their time had come, and that the main driving force in the near future of Grindia was the battleforce that they possessed. For their own selfish ambitions, they began to fight among each other. No longer bound by a pact with the magi, they murdered, pillaged and destroyed to their hearts' desires. They hated being under the control of the magi and vented their anger on the majestic structures built during the age of magical civilization. They would not be satisfied until every one of them were reduced to ashes.
Founding their own kingdoms or nations, they towered over the common folk and were worshipped by their subjects. But in their arrogance, they had forgotten that without the magi's aid in the first place, they did not have the right to own what they had. As they grew older, they discovered that their descendants could not inherit their fantastical abilities and were only ordinary men as they didn't know how to draw out the innate battleforce in their blood. Their empires and legacies they built were left with no eligible heir.
When the last Sword Saint breathed his final breath, a thousand years of darkness descended onto the human inhabitants of Grindia. Having lost their ultimate means of defense, the humans could not fend off the dreaded magical beasts and were helpless against their assaults. They had no choice but to live in seclusion for the sake of survival.
The human population on the continent was reduced up to two thirds during the thousand years of darkness.
However, one lone warrior miraculously awakened his battleforce in a battle to the death with a magical beast while he was hunting. Using the power of his newly-awakened battleforce, he killed the savage beast and survived. Fortunately, the settlement he lived still had an ancient battleforce manual that was passed down by his ancestors.
The curtains of the night were lifted and the rays of dawn once again shone upon the humans. The awakening of this sole warrior's battleforce was a silver lining and brought great hope to the human race, prompting the survivors to cooperate and research alternative ways to awaken battleforce.
In the long years of battling against magical beasts, the humans slowly began to understand the dynamics of battleforce and grasped the means of battleforce awakening. Without the magical formations of the magi and given that the battleforce manuals left by their ancestors were not applicable to them, the humans could only learn from their experiences in battle through the process of trial and error. Their progress was slow, but steady.
Another thousand years elapsed and the humans have once again become the overlords of the Grindia Continent. Battleforce was no longer an arcane discipline and has become common knowledge. Stimulating the innate magical beast factor in their blood to awaken their battleforce and training to achieve higher levels of power allowed the humans to turn the tables against their once again thrive over magical beasts and become the predators instead.
No longer having any threats to their survival, the once unified humans broke apart again into different tribes and creeds and once again competed among each other for their own agendas and goals for hundreds of years up until present time.
Historians opined that the end of the magic civilization marked the end of magic age as the foundations for their technology had long been eroded. According to them, magical energy did not just disappear. It was actually replaced by another force that could resonate with the magical beast factors in the blood of humans that once again allowed the awakening of battleforce.
It was thought that if a family had produced Sword Gods or Sword Saints in the past, their descendants would have a higher chance of awakening their battleforce as the magical beast blood that their ancestors had assimilated were from stronger magical beasts, and that was believed to be the main factor of the relatively high success rate for battleforce awakening of the descendants of such families.
That line of thought caused many noble families to pay more attention to their family's marriages in the name of maintaining a purer bloodline, even forcing siblings into marriage in certain instances. | http://liberspark.com/read/tales-of-the-reincarnated-lord/chapter-6 |
Opinion: Is shale gas the answer to Europe’s energy independence? – Energy Voice.
When Russia cut off natural gas supplies to Ukraine in a disagreement over unpaid energy bills in the winter of 2009, many countries in eastern Europe were plunged into freezing cold. At the time, 80% of Europe’s gas flowed from Russia through Ukraine and the supply interruption left Bulgaria, Croatia, Greece, Romania and others without their primary source of heating. While Moscow and Kiev played a blame game for the crisis, people had to find an alternative solution and went back to wood burning fires to keep warm.
The current Ukrainian deja vu reminds us just how vulnerable Europe remains to a Russia-dominated energy market. Russia still supplies 30% of Europe’s oil and gas. That’s better than the 38% it supplied in 2009, but a third of Russia’s natural gas exports to Europe still have to transit Ukraine. Gazprom supplies more than half of the gas Ukraine uses each year, whilst Finland, Estonia, Lithuania, Slovenia and Bulgaria continue to rely on Russia for close to 100% of their gas imports.
Gazprom’s long-term contracts with Lithuania, Estonia, Hungary and Bosnia-Herzegovina will all expire next year. With a new pipeline through the Baltics and more interconnects between individual countries, Moscow’s hand is somewhat weaker today than in 2009. The ongoing instability in Ukraine however means Europe needs to strengthen its negotiating position on future gas prices by further diversifying its sources of supply. Shale gas could be the answer.
Look at the impact shale production has had on North America in just three short years: natural gas prices have plummeted, coal has been pushed aside as an electricity source, a rejuvenated manufacturing sector is humming along on the back of low energy costs, and now abundant natural gas looks to make the continent a net exporter of fuel in the next 5-6 years.
That doesn’t mean we can sit back and wait for America to turn on the export faucets. The US Congress has been slow to approve export licenses for natural gas and the new LNG terminals currently under construction in the US will be serving Asian as well as European customers.
Europe needs to grasp its own home-grown shale opportunity and take steps now toward greater energy independence. That will take some doing – between 2000 and 2010 we’ve sunk just 50 exploratory shale wells compared to 12,000+ in the US during the same period.
There are a number of factors holding shale back in Europe. Some are political, some are related to the structure and operational realities of our energy industry, and some are down to simple geology. Politics and green activism, however, may be the biggest hurdles to overcome if we’re going to use it as a bargaining chip in future negotiations over Russian gas and oil.
DIVERSIFICATION INSTEAD OF DEPENDENCE
With the invention of reliable hydraulic fracturing technology in the 1990s, unconventional gas gone on to utterly transform America’s energy outlook. By 2010, shale production in the US had soared to ten billion cubic feet per day.
The geopolitical impact on the US has been profound. American imports of Middle East oil have been dramatically reduced, making political relationships with the Gulf states and OPEC less driven by energy dependency. There has been a notable reduction in domestic gas prices too, with a corresponding reduction in power costs for manufacturing and other energy-intensive industries.
Europe, of course, is different. Shale gas and oil resources in Europe are trapped in rock layers much deeper in the ground, substantially raising the difficulties of exploration and the costs of extracting viable shale deposits when they are found. Without drilling there is no sure way of knowing in advance how much gas can be physically extracted, or how easily it will flow.
The operational reality and structure of fossil fuel production in Europe is also very different from North America’s. Our oil extraction happens mainly offshore. Population density and differing rules about mineral rights mean that there has never been a ‘wildcatting’ exploration culture here.
We don’t have the wide open expanses that you find in Alberta or Texas. By way of comparison, the Marcellus Play in the US encompasses roughly 95,000 square miles—equivalent to the size of the whole United Kingdom. The UK’s Bowland Shale formation is 500 square miles or about 200 times smaller than the Marcellus.
According to the US Energy Information Administration, Europe is sitting on ca. 470 trillion cubic feet of recoverable shale gas resources – smaller than America’s holdings but not insignificant given that our demand for gas runs at around 18 trillion cubic feet per year.
Politics and energy policy, however, are serious hurdles shale advocates need to overcome if any of the benefits seen in North America are going to be replicated here. Debate in Europe has been almost exclusively about the environmental worries around fracking, with very little discussion about the economic prospects for unconventional gas and oil.
That’s a shame, because mineral rights in Europe belong to the state rather than individual landowners, conferring an advantage that the US and Canada don’t have. There was an initial land grab phase in North America that diverted huge amounts of cash from drilling to acquiring real estate. Mineral concessions In Europe, whilst taking longer to negotiate with national governments, are also much larger, opening up millions of acres at a time for development.
Bearing in mind that mineral rights are amongst the last communally held national resources, a national conversation surely needs to be had in each country about the potential benefits, lost inflows of cash to the public purse and the overall impact of exploiting shale reserves on society – not to mention the political and diplomatic advantages of not tying ourselves to any one dominant energy supplier.
The environmental arguments in favour of shale, meanwhile, are much more compelling than those against. Despite the hyperbole around fracking, shifting to a higher proportion of gas use in energy production will help curb our carbon dioxide emissions. Limiting gas consumption marches us inexorably towards coal. In fact we are already seeing a ‘new golden age of coal’, with the amount of coal-generated electricity rising in some European countries at an annualised rate of 50 percent. The US shale boom has also made plentiful American coal cheaper to export overseas. The result? Despite decades of political and industrial effort to progress a renewables agenda, the International Energy Agency (IEA) reckons coal will account for 25-30 percent of the global energy mix in 25 years’ time – exactly what it was 25 years ago.
Germany, with some of the highest household electricity bills in Europe, is even building new coal-fired power stations following the post-Fukushima decision to close its nuclear plants. In a farce of unintended consequences, some German farmers have recently started replacing crops with wind turbines, taking advantage of generous renewable subsidies under the Energiewende. The same policies have simultaneously made gas unprofitable for German utility companies by favouring renewables on the grid.
Fracking has proven to be such an emotive issue that very little discussion about shale’s economic benefits has been able to surface, with the potential for improved energy independence for Europe only recently moving to the foreground. Public outcry in the Netherlands and Germany has made those governments hesitant to exploit their potential reserves, whilst France and even vulnerable Bulgaria have banned fracking altogether. The overall response to shale opportunities from European industry, meanwhile, has been ambiguous at best. Perhaps it will take a resurgent former superpower to wake us up.
IS EUROPE READY FOR CHANGE?
Speaking in March at an EU-U.S. summit in Brussels, European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso said that the growing tension with Russia over Crimea serves as a “very strong wake-up call for Europe”. UK Prime Minister David Cameron has said as much about the need to intensify shale exploration in the wake of the crisis. Most important of all was Eni’s announcement in April that it would seek to re-negotiate all of its long-term natural gas contracts — the first major signal from the industry that Russian dominance of Europe’s energy supply needs to be challenged.
Shale gas has the potential to diversify Europe’s energy mix and minimise our dependence on dominant suppliers. It also promises to boost employment, create investment opportunities and move us off the current path to more and more coal consumption. Without concerted action by the EU that is supported by national governments, Russia will continue to have its way in future energy negotiations.
All EU member states must come to a unison agreement to start drilling wells. We do not know whether European shale gas production can ever have the same impact as in North America and make us less dependent on Russia. If we want to find out, exploration needs to start now.
Michael Hinton is the chief customer officer and senior vice president of products and solutions for Allegro Development. | http://aboutdatajournalism.org/opinion-is-shale-gas-the-answer-to-europes-energy-independence-energy-voice/ |
Today, the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology’s Subcommittee on Space held a hearing titled, “Deep Space Exploration: Examining the Impact of the President’s Budget.” The purpose of the hearing was to examine the Administration’s management of the Space Launch System (SLS) and Orion crew vehicle development programs. The hearing also evaluated NASA’s plans for future major tests and milestones and how the budget requested by the Administration for these programs affects development schedules and milestones. Testifying before the Subcommittee were: Mr. Doug Cooke, Owner of Cooke Concepts and Solutions and Former Associate Administrator, Exploration Systems, NASA; and Mr. Dan Dumbacher, Professor of Engineering Practice at Purdue University and Former Deputy Associate Administrator, Human Exploration and Operations Mission Directorate, NASA. Democratic Members of the Subcommittee expressed concern that the Majority did not invite a representative from NASA.
Ranking Member of the Space Subcommittee, Donna F. Edwards (D-MD) said, “Last December, millions of people in America and around the world tasted the future when NASA conducted the Exploration Flight Test—EFT-1— in which the Orion crew vehicle traveled farther into space than any human spaceflight vehicle since the Apollo era. That future is an exciting one that includes sending humans to the surface of Mars.
“By any measure, the progress on SLS and Orion is visible and tangible. NASA and its contractors deserve credit for the many accomplishments achieved to date. Tests of the SLS solid rocket booster and the RS-25 main engine are reviving and modernizing the propulsion activities that brought us through the successful Shuttle era. Elements of the Orion crew vehicle that will return American astronauts to deep space are being fabricated as I speak. And just a few weeks ago, the Orion program was approved to transition from formulation into development, a major milestone known as Key Decision Point C or KDP-C.”
Mr. Dumbacher said, “Given the budget instability and continuous policy debates, the NASA / Industry team is making great progress. The team is dedicated to building all systems as safely as possible, as soon as possible, and as cost efficiently as possible. The Space Launch System, its Orion capsule, and their support infrastructure together create the needed foundation for US expansion beyond Earth’s boundaries.
Each of the Programs is making significant progress, despite substantial fiscal obstacles. The team is diligently working to build this powerful launch vehicle, and its spacecraft, to reach Mars and eventually, go beyond.”
Ranking Member Eddie Bernice Johnson (D-TX) said, “Getting to Mars will be very challenging. We all know that. And we know that it will take adequate funding if we are to get there efficiently and safely. I have made no secret of my willingness to invest more in NASA—in its human exploration, aeronautics, science, and technology programs. Because it is an investment—not just spending—an investment that will pay long-lasting dividends to this nation.
She continued, “But it’s not just a question of more money—it’s giving NASA some predictability as to when that money will actually show up. If this Congress is looking for reasons why NASA’s exploration program faces potential delays, we need look no further than ourselves. Too many times in recent years, NASA has had no idea when it would actually get an appropriation, whether that appropriation would be for more than a few months, or whether they might even have to suspend their work due to a government shutdown. That is no way for America’s premier R&D enterprise and its dedicated workforce to have to operate. If we are going to ask NASA and its contractors to carry out the extremely challenging job of getting America to Mars, this Congress is going to have do its job too.”
Mr. Cooke also discussed the challenges of dealing with budget uncertainty. He said, “The most challenging aspect of management and successful execution of these programs is the impact of constrained budgets and unplanned changes to operating budgets, whether real or contrived. The technical challenges are fun in comparison and engineers can solve them.”
Please visit our website: http://democrats.science.house.gov
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Melissa Force is General Counsel for Spaceport America. Before coming to the Spaceport, She was the principal partner of a successful consulting firm in Los Angeles, California providing legal advice on complex international policy and legal issues to clients in the commercial aerospace industry. She taught courses on Aviation and Space Law as an adjunct professor at Loyola Law School and International Law and Politics of Outer Space and Space Systems Law and Policy as an adjunct professor at Webster University. She is an elected member of the International Institute of Space Law (IISL) and Co-Chair of its Manfred Lachs International Space Law Moot Court Committee, which oversees regional moot court competitions in Europe, Africa, Asia and North America and organizes and conducts international finals every year during the International Astronautical Congress. She also worked in the Office of Space Commerce in the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), assisting in the development of the commercial space transportation policy and representing NOAA at U.S. delegation meetings in preparation for sessions on the International Committee on Global Navigation Satellite Systems. Previously, She was the Vice President and Associate General Counsel heading international and domestic claims for HOK, Inc. and a partner in the Los Angeles office of Carroll, Burdick & McDonough.
She holds an Advanced LLM degree from the International Institute of Air and Space Law at Leiden University (the Netherlands) and have served as moderator and panelist for the Air Law Institute’s Air and Space Law Symposium and the American Bar Association’s Forum on Air & Space Law and has authored, published and presented papers in Europe, Africa, Asia and North America on a wide array of issues, including suborbital spaceflight, Nextgen space traffic management, space debris, extraterrestrial resource extraction, the Moon Agreement, and rules for the arbitration of space disputes in fora as diverse as the IISL Annual Colloquium, at the IAASS Space Safety Conference, the Canadian Space Commerce Association National Conference, the International Space Development Conference and the Global Space Exploration Conference. | http://isdc2017.nss.org/melissa-force/ |
The UK launched the 31st round of licensing schemes, providing a total of 1,766 blocks in underdeveloped areas of the British continental shelf. In July, a total of 32 large companies participated in the operation of asset transactions, with a total transaction volume of more than $1.2 billion. Major projects include: field development in the Norwegian Sea, Europe's Fogelberg project; Calub, Hilala, Kaombo and Sankofa-GyeNyame projects in Africa; Ichthys, BungkaPakma, 2A and Cluster 2B projects in Asia Pacific; Rakuscheckhnoye in Russia/CIS region, AbshronEPS and ShahDeniz Phase II Project; Mount Providence and North Bay Project in the Americas.
Latin America: In July, Latin America announced two important oil and gas discoveries. Ecopetrol found dry gas and light oil at the approximately 1153-meter-deep Columbia Buffalo-1 well. The first test was about 93,400 cubic meters per day, indicating a large natural gas reserve in the central part of the country. Elsewhere, Equinor announced another oil discovery in the Gunsuma field, which Strata expects will be commercially developed in conjunction with Carcara. In the US Gulf of Mexico, Taros Energy began operations. Located in Providence, in the 28th gorge of Mississippi, the water depth is about 564 meters and the current total production is 3,850 barrels per day, of which 88% is 33° API gravity oil. In Canada, Equinor develops Beibu Gulf oil through subsea connections. The first oil is expected to be mined in 2025, eventually producing about 300 million barrels of crude oil.
Asia Pacific: Woodside Petroleum has discovered two important natural gas resources in Asia. The Flanders-1 is a deepwater exploration well drilled offshore in Western Australia. The well is considered a natural gas discovery and commercialization project and is currently under evaluation. Its prospects may include tens of billions of cubic meters of resources. Woodside also announced that natural gas was being discovered in the Ansdic-1 well in a deepwater area off the Rakhine Basin, and the well was being evaluated.
In July, Inpex launched the production of the Ichthys LNG project in the Browse Basin off Australia. The project is expected to produce approximately 2.83 million cubic meters per day of natural gas and 100,000 barrels per day of condensate. Natural gas will be transported through the submarine pipeline to a land-based LNG plant, producing approximately 8.4 million tons of LNG per year for shipment to the Asian supply market. In other parts of Asia, production in the commercial area of ??Malaysia and Vietnam began in phase 6, launching the natural gas project for the PM3CAA field, which is expected to begin operations in December 2019 and December 2022, respectively.
Europe: The UK launched the 31st round of offshore permits in the most influential border areas. There are 1,766 blocks covering an area of ??370,000 square kilometers. It is now open for auction and the blocks are covered by many ground buildings. In western Scotland, in the eastern Shetland and the central highlands of the North Sea, in some parts of the English Channel and the southwest, there is little or no drilling history. Therefore, the authorities seem to be interested in encouraging further exploration activities in the border areas, which may be to calm people's concerns about low levels of offshore exploration. The UK North Sea crude oil production is expected to decline from the beginning of 2020.
Middle East: Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC) and China National Petroleum Corporation (CNPC) signed a $1.6 billion contract to serve the world's largest three-dimensional onshore and offshore seismic exploration company, onshore and The offshore area covers an area of ??53,000 square kilometers. The survey is scheduled to be completed in 2024 and is in line with the UAE's 2030 Smart Growth Strategy.
Russia and the Commonwealth of Independent States: The Caspian and CIS regions are busy with the development of upstream projects. Lukoil made the final investment decision for its Rakuscheckhnoye project in the Caspian Sea, Russia, which will be developed as a seabed bond back to the Vladimir Filanovsky platform. In Azerbaijan, BP began producing natural gas from the ShahDeniz Phase 2 project in the South Caspian Sea.
Africa: Eni has discovered oil on the Faghur Basin, about 4,252 meters deep in the SWMB1-X well in Egypt, and it is expected that the deep geological sequence will have high exploration and production potential. In addition, Vannah Oil Company discovered oil for the third time in the exploration of the Agadem Rift Basin, and further development plans will depend on production test results. The development of special projects in Africa includes new discoveries in the oil fields of Alho, Cominhos and Cominhos in Kaombo, which will be backed up by the Cambo North FPSO. The African Environment Institute has also made some important progress in Africa. Eni began gas production from the second phase of Bahr Essalam outside Libya. It is expected to increase the project by about 400, with a daily output of 28,300 cubic meters to 31 million cubic meters. Eni also recently started producing natural gas in the Sankofa-GyeNyame field through JohnAgyekum KufuorFPSO. | http://www.rlsykj.net/news/Oil-price-heating-and-warming-global-oil-and-gas-exploration-and-development-105.html |
Victoria Shen is a sound artist, experimental music performer, and instrument-maker based in San Francisco.
Shen's sound practice is concerned with the spatiality/physicality of sound and its relationship to the human body. Her music features analog modular synthesizers, vinyl/resin records, and self-built electronics. Eschewing conventions in harmony and rhythm in favor of extreme textures and gestural tones, Shen uses what she calls "chaotic sound" to oppose signal and information, eluding traditionally embedded meaning.
Her personal identity; her body; is the space her work utilizes to restructure sonic meaning. In her live performances, she proposes an exploration between meaning and non-meaning through the physical activation of noise tropes. Her probing into these melodic voids interrogate the ways we perceive value within aural experiences. The appendage-like instruments and objects she makes, exemplify Shen’s ability to embody through sound her interest in the tension created by opposition: control and chaos, the unique and the mass produced, the practical and the absurd.
Shen’s multimedia practice extends beyond musical composition and performance to include installation and non-traditional methods of distribution. Her DIY approach to deconstructing the concepts of “materiality, value and mass production” both integrate and re-contextualize the formats of the readymade and assemblage techniques. For example, the album art for her debut LP, Hair Birth, utilizes copper to transform the cover into a loudspeaker through which the record can be played. In 2021, Shen produced a series of cut-up records in cast resin embedded with found materials, functioning not only as playable music media but as unique art objects. For recent performances, she pioneered the use of Needle Nails, acrylic nails with embedded turntable styluses, which allow her to play up to 5 tracks of a record at once. Needle Nails, Levitating speaker, and her Noise Combs are some of the objects created by her as part of an extensive repertoire of innovations in the design of sound augmentation. These sculptural elements invite the viewer to unpack one’s relationship with the material possibilities for creating sound.
Shen has performed solo across North America, Japan, Mexico, and Europe as Evicshen and as half of the duo TRIM in North America and the UK. Some notable venues in which she has performed include Boston City Hall, the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum, ISSUE Project Room NY, DOMMUNE Tokyo, and Petreon Sculpture Park Cyprus. Shen has also been an artist in residence at Elektronmusikstudion EMS Stockholm SE, WORM Rotterdam NL, Kurimanzutto New York US, the Sound Laboratory of The Royal Danish Academy Copenhagen DK, and AUDIUM San Francisco.
Shen currently teaches at Harvard University and the School of Visual Arts NY. | https://evicshen.com/ |
In recent years, with the widespread application of wood-plastic composite materials, composite fences have become one of the environmentally friendly products.
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In recent years, more and more wood-plastic products have been co-extruded on the European and American markets.People normally call them co-extrusion decking.But in some countries,like Europe and North America, people prefer to call them capped decking. | https://www.ehdecking.com/ |
Born in Caracas, Venezuela, Francisco Salazar Vara began his violin studies at age 6 with Secondo Pegoraro, and continued with Joes Francisco Del Castillo. Having made rapid progress, Francisco soon made his debut as a soloist with orchestra at age 8. Since then he has performed extensively as a concert violinist and has toured North and South America, as well as Europe with The Simon Bolivar Orchestra of Venezuela. While in Venezuela he also played for legendary violinist Henrik Szeryng and performed in Master Classes by Augustin Dumay, Olivier Charlier and Yossi Zivoni.
Francisco came to the United States to attend the prestigious Meadowmount Summer School and The Juilliard School where he obtained his BM and MM degrees as a scholarship student of Margaret Pardee. While at Juilliard he was coached by Jonathan Feldman, Jacob Lateiner and Toby Appel. Francisco has been active on the concert platform as both soloist and chamber musician, having performed in many prestigious venues including Avery Fisher Hall, Alice Tully Hall, Paul Hall, Merkin Hall, Carnegie’s Weill Hall, Bargemusic, Kimmel Center and others, and collaborated with artists such as Mark Peskanov and the late Ruth Laredo.
Francisco played for several years with the New Jersey Symphony and has performed as Concertmaster with the Harrisburg and Lancaster Symphonies as well as the Jupiter Symphony and The Juilliard Orchestra with which he toured Japan and Korea. He has played under the baton of notable conductors such as Pierre Boulez, Kurt Masur, Seiji Ozawa, Stanislaw Skrowaczewski, and many others.
Francisco has also been a winner of the MTNA competition, a finalist in the Five Towns competition and semi-finalist in the Concert Artist Guild Competition. Currently Francisco resides in New York City, is a member of the Harrisburg Symphony, and maintains a busy schedule as a soloist and chamber musician with the Lautreamont Chamber Ensemble and others in the NYC area. | https://www.harrisburgsymphony.org/staff-member/francisco-salazar-hso-acting-associate-concertmaster/ |
Brian Larkin, CEO of United Oil & Gas discusses the delivery of fast track 3D seismic data on the Tullow Oil-operated licence, offshore Jamaica and other progress at the company.
United Oil & Gas plc (UOG) is listed on the main market of the London Stock Exchange. United was established to explore, appraise and develop low risk assets in Europe and North Africa and to develop higher risk, higher impact exploration projects in Latin America and Africa.
Vox Markets is revolutionising the way companies engage with shareholders and the stock market at large. By aggregating IR and digital content onto one secure and compliant platform, Vox Markets has established itself as the go-to resource for the investment community. | https://www.uogplc.com/brian-larkin-ceo-of-united-oil-gas-15th-august-2018/ |
China is making great strides toward its goal of a permanent space station and further exploration of the moon and Mars after successfully launching a new generation carrier rocket from a new spaceport over the weekend.
A re-entry module that was aboard the new Long March-7 rocket touched down successfully on Sunday afternoon in North China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region. On Saturday, the rocket blasted off from the Wenchang Satellite Launch Center in South China's Hainan Province.
The Long March-7 mission was the first launch from Wenchang, the fourth launch site in China.
It is expected that the 53-meter, 597-ton Long March-7 will become the workhorse for China's space missions.
Its main role in the future will be to transport the cargo vessel, the Tianzhou-1, to China's planned space stations, due to enter service around 2022, as well as satellites and other spacecraft.
"Superseding the older generation of the Long March-2, 3 and 4 rockets by around 2021, the Long March-7 will take some 80 percent of all transportation tasks," Pang Zhihao, a research fellow at the Chinese Academy of Space Technology, told the Global Times.
The Long March-7 is a medium-sized, two-stage rocket that can carry up to 13.5 tons of payload to low-Earth orbit.
The use of kerosene and liquid oxygen as fuel, rather than the highly toxic propellants used by earlier rockets, differentiates the Long March-7 from the old generation, increasing its payload capacity by some 60 percent while making it more environmentally friendly and less expensive, Pang said.
"China will have independently built the second space station to be put into orbit since the end of the Cold War. China has drawn international cooperation from Europe, after the overbearing US refused to share core technology with its partners," a Beijing-based scientist and expert on manned space flight, who asked for anonymity, told the Global Times Wednesday.
With its mature unmanned spacecraft technology with proprietary intellectual property rights, China has made greater headway in space exploration than Europe and Japan, which depends on Russia and the US, Pang noted.
The new spaceport will play a significant role in launching large space stations and deep-space probes, in addition to satellites, low- and medium-earth orbit spacecraft.
"Wenchang's location, being much closer to the equator than the other three [Chinese spaceports], could considerably save fuel, especially for rockets of great payload capacity like the Long March-5 and 7," the anonymous space expert said.
Among the other three, the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in the Gobi Desert in Northwest China's Gansu Province is currently the nation's only manned spacecraft launch center, while Xichang in Southwest China's Sichuan Province is mainly used to launch powerful-thrust rockets and geostationary satellites. The third, Taiyuan Satellite Launch Center in North China's Shanxi Province, is capable of launching satellites into both medium and low orbits.
Another benefit of the coastal center is that rockets measuring over 3.5 meters in diameter can be transported to the center by sea, since these can't be transported by rail, the anonymous expert said, citing the Long March-5, which measures five meters in diameter, as an example.
- Long March-5, largest rocket
The debut of the Long March-7, along with the planned maiden flight of the country's largest carrier rocket Long March-5 later this year, will usher in a new generation of China's carrier rockets crucial for lunar exploration and construction of permanent space stations.
The Long March-5 will also make its maiden flight in the latter half of this year from Wenchang, said Wang Jingzhong, a senior official with the Xichang Satellite Launch Center, at a press conference Saturday after the successful launch.
The Long March-5 has a liftoff weight of 869 tons, and a payload capacity of 25 tons to the low Earth orbit and 14 tons to the geostationary transfer orbit. If the launch is successful, this will likely determine the later progress of China's lunar exploration and space station construction, Pang said.
It is scheduled to carry the Chang'e-5 lunar probe around 2017 and will be used to launch China's planned space station modules and Mars probes.
China will send its second orbiting space lab Tiangong-2 into space in mid-September. The Shenzhou-11 manned spacecraft will be launched later in mid-October to dock with the lab with two astronauts on board, said Wu Ping, deputy director of the manned space engineering office, at the press conference.
The two astronauts have been chosen and are currently under intense training, Wu said.
[Xinhua contributed to this story]
[By Chen Heying Source:Global Times]
27/6/16
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Related: | https://www.eco-r.eu/2016/06/china-enters-new-space-era-new.html |
In early October 2021, the James Webb Space Telescope arrived in Kourou, French Guiana, where it is scheduled to launch from Europe's Spaceport in mid-December. Once deployed, Webb—a collaboration between NASA, the European Space Agency (ESA), and the Canadian Space Agency (CSA)—will be the world's largest and most powerful space telescope.
Before its sea voyage, the telescope was folded for the last time at Northrop Grumman's facility in Redondo Beach, California. It was then loaded aboard the French ship MN Colibri, which sailed through the Panama Canal and up the mouth of the Kourou River, from which sediment had to be dredged to accommodate the large ship's draft.
The natural-color images on this page, acquired by the Operational Land Imager on Landsat 8 on October 9, 2018, show the area around the spaceport, also known as the Guiana Space Centre. Also visible are the mouth of the Kourou River and, about 16 kilometers (10 miles) offshore, the notorious Devil's Island, a rocky, narrow outcrop that was operated as a French penal colony from 1852 to 1953.
The facility's location, just 500 kilometers (300 miles) north of the Equator, gives a boost to rockets launched to the east—an extra 460 meters per second of speed due to Earth's rotation. The position on the northeastern coast of South America also provides clear launch trajectories to the north and east for both polar-orbiting and geostationary satellites, taking them out over the ocean and away from population centers.
The site was also chosen for its low risk of cyclones and earthquakes. French Guiana's stable, crystalline basement rocks date back 2.2 billion years to the Paleoproterozoic Era, which also give this "overseas department" the claim to the oldest rocks in France.
The spaceport has hosted more than 240 launches since 1990, mainly those employing Ariane, Soyuz, and Vega rockets. Notable missions include the joint ESA/Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency BepiColombo mission to orbit Mercury; ESA's Envisat Earth-observing satellite in March 2002; and four satellites in ESA's Sentinel series of Earth-observers.
The launch of the James Webb Space Telescope in December 2021 will be the culmination of more than two decades of work by a team of 10,000 people, spanning 14 countries and 29 U.S. states. Commissioning will take six months, during which time Webb will carry out the most complicated series of deployments of any NASA mission ever.
The immense telescope had to be folded to fit inside the fairing of the Ariane 5 spacecraft, the only rocket large enough to hold it. Once in space, the telescope's final destination is the second Lagrange Point (L2), a stable gravitational point 1.5 million kilometers from Earth where it will orbit the Sun. The trip to L2, four times the distance from the Earth to the Moon, will take a month. Upon arrival at L2, Webb will have to do "origami in reverse," as it unfolds its mirror and deploys the sunshields, said Alphonso Stewart, the Webb deployment systems lead at GSFC.
The launch is only the beginning for the community of astronomers, astrophysicists, and cosmologists who anticipate using the telescope to resolve unanswered questions about the origins of the universe. Webb's 6.6-meter mirror has six times the collecting power of the Hubble Space Telescope, which collects light in the visible, ultraviolet, and a portion of the near-infrared spectrum. Webb will collect light in the red, and near- and mid-infrared range of the spectrum. This will allow it to see through massive clouds of gas and dust that are opaque to telescopes like Hubble, and to detect light from the early universe that has been stretched by its expansion and "red shifted" into the infrared part of the spectrum.
Like a veritable time machine, Webb will allow scientists to look back 13.5 billion years to the first light in the universe and see how the first stars and galaxies formed and evolved over millions of years.
NASA Earth Observatory images by Joshua Stevens, using Landsat data from the U.S. Geological Survey. Story by Sara E. Pratt. | https://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/images/149082/reaching-for-the-stars-from-kourou |
Thomas Barker is an English qualified associate who works across the London and Dubai offices of Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP. He is a member of the firm’s Mergers and Acquisitions, Capital Markets and Private Equity Practice Groups.
Mr. Barker has a broad practice advising clients, including listed companies, financial institutions and private equity houses, on a range of corporate matters. His experience covers public and private mergers and acquisitions, joint ventures, equity issues, public offerings, restructurings and corporate governance, with a particular focus on cross-border transactional work.
Mr. Barker has extensive experience in the private equity industry, advising clients such as Bridgepoint, Electra Private Equity, GMT Communications Partners and HgCapital in Europe and North America and Arcapita, Fajr Capital, Gulf Capital, Investcorp, Jadwa and The Olayan Group in the MENA region on a variety of matters throughout the investment life cycle including acquisitions, disposals, re-financings and bolt-on transactions.
Mr. Barker is ranked as a Notable Practitioner in Mergers and Acquisitions for the UAE by the IFLR1000 2022 edition.
Prior to joining Gibson Dunn, Mr. Barker was a corporate associate based in the London and Abu Dhabi offices of a major international law firm. Mr. Barker also spent six months seconded to Acacia Mining plc during which time he focused on exploration license renewals, potential asset disposals and general corporate governance matters.
Selected M&A experience advising*:
Selected Capital Markets experience advising*:
*Includes experience prior to joining Gibson Dunn. | https://www.gibsondunn.com/lawyer/barker-thomas-d/ |
We’re living in a period of climate change. Our Earth has been getting warmer since the mid-19th century.
So how will humans adapt to and endure this period of global warming? Will they adapt to it and endure?
It turns out the people of early America also lived through a period of climate change and their experiences may hold some answers for us.
Sam White, an Associate Professor at The Ohio State University and author of A Cold Welcome: The Little Ice Age and Europe’s Encounter, joins us to explore the Little Ice Age and how it impacted initial European exploration and colonization of North America.
Sam White , an Associate Professor at The Ohio State University and author of A Cold Welcome: The Little Ice Age and Europe’s Encounter, joins us to explore the Little Ice Age and how it impacted initial European exploration and colonization of North America.
During our investigation of the Little Ice Age, Sam reveals what the Little Ice Age was and when it took place; Evidence historians, climatologists, and glaciologists use to study the Little Ice Age and its impact; And details about how the people of early America experienced the Little Ice Age.
In your opinion, what might have happened if the Spanish, English, and French colonists who confronted North America during the Little Ice Age had better understood the climate change of the period and how to adapt to it? How would the history of North America be different? | https://www.benfranklinsworld.com/episode-189-sam-white-the-little-ice-age/ |
Despite notable progress on closing gender gaps over the past 20 years, women have less access to jobs, are more likely to take low-quality employment, and face barriers to management positions, a United Nations labor report has found.
The women’s labour force participation rate worldwide stands at 48.5 per cent in 2018, 26.5 percentage points below that of their male counterparts, according to the World Employment and Social Outlook: Trends for Women 2018 – Global snapshot, released Wednesday on the eve of International Women’s Day.
The report, authored by the UN International Labour Organization (ILO), also shows that the global unemployment rate for women is six per cent for 2018, about 0.8 percentage points higher than that for men.
Altogether, for every 10 men in a job, only six women are employed.
“Despite the progress achieved and the commitments made to further improvement, women’s prospects in the world of work are still a long way from being equal to men’s,” said Deborah Greenfield, ILO Deputy Director-General for Policies.
In regions such as the Arab States and Northern Africa, female unemployment rates are still twice as large as men’s, with prevailing social norms continuing to obstruct women’s participation in paid employment.
However, women in Eastern Europe and North America register lower unemployment rates than men.
Women also face significant gaps in the quality of the employment they are in. They are more than twice as likely to be contributing family workers. This means that they contribute to a market-oriented family business, but are often subject to vulnerable conditions of employment without written contracts, collective agreements and respect for labour legislation.
As a result, women are still overrepresented in informal employment in developing countries.
The report notes that globally, four times as many men are working as employers than women in 2018. Women continue to face barriers in accessing management positions.
“Closing gender gaps in the world of work thus should remain a top priority if we want to achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls by 2030,” concluded Damian Grimshaw, Director of the ILO Research Department. | https://moderndiplomacy.eu/2018/03/09/womens-prospects-at-work-still-a-long-way-from-matching-mens/ |
North America through the eyes of its explorers.
In July 1536, after years traversing the American Southwest, Alvar Núñez Cabeza de Vaca arrived in Mexico City with three other men. They were the remnants of a failed Spanish expedition force of 400 conquistadors that arrived in April 1528 to explore what is today Florida and the Gulf coast. Based on native accounts, Cabeza de Vaca brought back with him a story of cities to the north filled with riches. In Spain those reports eventually grew to proclaim the existence of the mythical Seven Cities of Cíbola. For generations afterward, Spanish explorers searched for the seven cities, always believing that they lay somewhere in the blank spots of their rudimentary maps.
Derek Hayes’ engaging America Discovered: A Historical Atlas of Exploration chronicles that, as de Vaca’s example illustrates, the profit motive and the human desire to know what is over the next hill were the driving force in the exploration of North America. For centuries explorers searched in vain for the golden cities or a route to China to expedite trade. Along the way, if those goals could not be met, they at least hoped to find something of value that could be sent back to Europe or sold to the slowly growing colonies of the world’s imperial powers. Integral to the process of exploring, of course, was the creation of maps.
Hayes explores the unveiling of North America through 300 maps created during the past five centuries of exploration, many rarely if ever seen by the public, ranging from the earliest Viking examples to those created by modern satellite technology. Although the maps were designed with utilitarian motives, many of them are also beautiful works of art, perhaps fitting because some of them represent flights of fancy as much as an accurate portrait of the land. All the maps, however, share the common purpose of attempting to portray the size of the continent, what was there and what could be exploited.
“The line between explorer and trader, adventurer and goldseeker is often somewhat blurred,” Hayes explains. “But men had to have motivation for their explorations; although the desire to know what was over the next hill, beyond the next mountain range, or farther up the river was a motivator in a local sense, it was the desire to find wealth, expand trade and find new routes for commerce that initiated their explorations and drew others to invest in their venture in the hope of a return for their speculation. Without that investment, little exploration would have occurred.”
As America Discovered shows, that exploration was often a haphazard process. Fantasy led some to include speculation as well as fact on their maps, which led California to be portrayed as an island on maps for nearly two centuries. The desire for a western route to China prompted explorers and mapmakers to promote and label every unexplored waterway as an easy path across the continent to the Far East. Unexplored spaces on maps were sometimes filled with fanciful notions, such as the speculative origins of rivers or mythical cities.
Although the maps are the prime attraction of America Discovered, Hayes’ insightful commentary adds much to the effort. He provides context by recounting the stories behind many of the maps, delving into the reasons for their creation, the explorations responsible for them and the men — the field was largely a boys’ club — who risked their lives to advance European knowledge of the New World. Rather than drown the reader in a sea of text that might compete with the maps for attention, Hayes thankfully decided to present his comments as an accent to them.
The real treat of America Discovered is that history is drawn in front of your eyes. Hayes presents the maps in roughly chronological order grouped by region, so the reader can follow the steady progress of explorers through the centuries. The opening of the West and the hunt for the Northwest Passage, in particular, are re-created with an extensive selection of maps, allowing us to better understand the enormity of the task that awaited those brave enough to enter lands never before seen by European eyes.
In our modern era, maps are usually strictly utilitarian tools, designed only to show what’s there. America Discovered argues that maps also once served as catalogues of desires for the continent, whether the quest was for riches, land or a route to China. America Discovered chronicles the fascinating evolution of North America, from a few hundred miles of eastern coastline centuries ago to the high-tech satellite and computer-generated maps of today, and it is an aesthetic and intellectual treat. | http://www.historynet.com/america-discovered-a-historical-atlas-of-exploration-book-review.htm |
The Austrian capital came on top by scoring near perfect marks across all the categories in the new liveability index, which has been compiled by The Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU).
Melbourne and Sydney in Australia placed second and third place respectively, followed by Osaka, Japan. A trio of Canadian cities - Calgary, Vancouver and Toronto also made the top 10 as well as Tokyo in Japan, Copenhagen in Denmark. Adelaide in Australia rounded out the top 10 liveable cities.
Agathe Demarais, The EIU's global forecasting director, said: "Western Europe and North America continue to be the most liveable regions in the world, and cities in these regions remain well placed in the overall rankings. Western Europe is home to the top-scoring city, Vienna, hosts 16 of the top 30 and 26 of the 68 that record scores of 80 or higher. In general, cities in northern Europe score highly, while those in southern Europe achieve poorer scores by comparison, hampered by factors such as higher crime rates and slightly weaker infrastructure scores. The regional average ratings for western Europe and North America both exceed 90, which is significantly higher than the next-best regional average - 73 for Asia and Australasia."
Elsewhere, Damascus in Syria, Lagos in Nigeria, Dhaka in Bangladesh and Tripoli in Libya were named the least liveable cities. | https://www.gmx.com/travel/9380916-vienna-liveable-city-world.html |
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Azure: Geographical Comparison Between Microsoft Azure, AWS, and GCP (Late 2016)
Azure: Geographical Comparison Between Microsoft Azure, AWS, and GCP (Late 2016)
Article
History
Azure: Geographical Comparison Between Microsoft Azure, AWS, and GCP (Late 2016)
Table of Contents
Overview
Visualizations
Comments
Reference
Credits
See Also
Other Languages
Overview
Atomia
(http
:
//www.atomia.com
)
,
produced a
very interesting
comparison
between
the
cloud offerings of
AWS
, Microsoft
Azure,
and
Google Cloud Platform (
GCP)
.
Note
that
Microsoft has
the
processing power and
geographical
reach
with a larger
offering than
AWS
and
GCP
combined!
Another
important point
that
we should explore
is
the
fact that
only
AWS and
Microsoft
have
a datacenter
in
Brazil! It's the same in Australia, but in Australia, Microsoft has twice the data centers!
AWS
was released in 2006, and today it has about
31%
of the cloud services market. Microsoft Azure
has made great strides
(released commercially on
October 27, 2008
). GCP began to compete directly with them when they launched the
Google Compute Engine
(equivalent to AWS EC2) by the end of 2013. If we compare these three cloud providers, we will see some significant differences between them.
One of the great benefits of using a Cloud provider's capabilities and services is to gain a powerful infrastructure, and can easily go from the simple creation of virtual servers to services such as IoT, Cognitive Services, BI, Big Data, Analytics and others. However, not all players have all of these features.
These
three
providers
have
Datacenters
scattered
in the world
,
but
as we can see
below
,
they
are not
all equal in
terms of coverage
.
Visualizations
On the map and in the graphs below, we have multiple locations currently available from AWS, Microsoft Azure, and GCP.
(Click the images to enlarge them. Click Back to return to this article.)
Comments
Comments from
Alexandro Prado
and Ed Price
:
All the providers (Microsoft Azure, AWS, and GCP) do not have datacenters in Africa, the Middle East, eastern Europe, and northern Asia/Russia
.
Coverage in Latin America is limited to Brazil
.
Microsoft Azure WINS in terms of available locations, where
it has almost twice the datacenters as AWS and more than four times more datacenters than GCP. Microsoft has more datacenters than the two combined!
GCP, being the latest player, has not remotely reached AWS and Azure in terms of coverage.
They have many holes in their current coverage in comparison with the other two, with South America and Oceania being the most significant.
They're also lacking coverage in India. It
may be a matter of time before they add more locations.
Overall, from this point-in-time data (from late 2016) provided by Atomia, Microsoft Azure has 27 datacenters, AWS has 14, and GCP has 6.
All three providers are expanding their operations, by adding new locations:
AWS
- They plan to add 4 datacenters near their existing locations: 1 in North America, 2 in Europe, and 1 in Asia
.
Microsoft Azure
- They plan to add
8 new datacenters
: 4 locations in North America, 2 in Europe, and 2 in Asia
.
This would expand their lead even further.
GCP
- They plan to add 8 new datacenters: 1 in North America, 1 in South America, 3 in Europe, 2 in Asia, and 1 in Oceania
.
Reference
Note
: This information was collected on the Atomia website (source:
https://www.atomia.com/2016/11/24/comparing-the-geographical-coverage-of-aws-azure-and-google-cloud/
). It is merely a snapshot in time.
Credits
Originally written by
Alexandro Prado
in Portuguese, to assess the datacenter data provided by Atomia. Translated and expanded on by Ed Price.
See Also
Microsoft Azure Portal
Microsoft Azure
Cloud Service Fundamentals
Develop and Deploy Your First Azure Application
Azure Getting Started - Basic Operations on Blob Storage
Azure SQL Database TechNet Wiki Articles Index
Introduction to Azure HDInsight
Microsoft HDInsight (Big Data) Solution
Streaming Videos using Azure Media Services & ASP.NET
Integrating Service Bus Stack With Logic Apps And Azure Functions
Azure BizTalk Services Resources on the TechNet Wiki
Azure BizTalk Services: Webcasts and Videos
Azure Cross-Premises VPN Configuration Information
How to Create a Virtual Network in Azure
Azure Accounts and Billing FAQ
Testing Applications in Azure
Other Languages
Portuguese
: | https://social.technet.microsoft.com/wiki/contents/articles/37430.azure-geographical-comparison-between-microsoft-azure-aws-and-gcp-late-2016.aspx |
“Economic Theory and the World of Practice: A Celebration of the (S,s) Model” [JEP 2010 with John Leahy] provides a broad introduction to research on microeconomic indivisibilities.
“The Variability of Aggregate Demand with (S,s) Inventory Policies,” [Econometrica 1985] introduced an approach to aggregating (S,s) policies.
“Menu Costs and the Neutrality of Money” [QJE 1985 w. Daniel Spulber] introduced state dependent pricing to the macroeconomics literature, showing the difference with time dependent pricing.
“Equilibrium in a Durables Goods Market with Lumpy Adjustment Costs,” [w. Leahy, JET, 2006] is well named.
“Monetary Policy as a Process of Search” [w. Leahy, AER, 1996] models difficulties in learning the state of the economy when investors have fixed costs.
Thinking about externalities associated with fixed costs of adjustment led John’s and my research focus on social learning.
“AIDS Policy and Psychology,” w. Kfir Eliaz, RAND 2003.
“The Supply of Information by a Concerned Expert” w. Leahy, EJ, 2004.
“The Social Discount Rate” w. Leahy, JPE 2004.
The limitations of standard behavioral data launched my path to data engineering.
My research in this area is all joint with Barry Nalebuff. The following three papers introduce a series of somewhat surprising technical results. In essence, we show that previously noted problems with voting systems and with models of price competition may be mitigated if individual differences are “not too great” in a sense that we make precise. The mean voter results offer the chance of progress in political models in which there is more than one dimension of difference. The imperfect competition results are used in applied research on differentiated product markets in industrial organization and in marketing.
In the paper “Competition Among Institutions” , Barry and I developed a framework for analyzing competition among institutions, taking account of feedback effects whereby the inhabitants of a neighborhood influence outcomes, and outcomes influence preferences among neighborhoods. We were not able to make definitive progress: answers to these interesting questions appear to be beyond our grasp.
John Leahy and I have developed new machinery for analyzing markets for large indivisible goods, such as houses.
“Comparative Statics in Markets for Indivisible Goods”.
These papers introduce “GA-structures” that we show to be ideally suited to comparative static analysis of markets with indivisibilities. In addition to having fascinating mathematical properties, they connect with a long-standing economic tradition, in particular the “rent gradient” models of Ricardo. We will apply the new methods of analysis in due course.
“Sectoral Shocks, Learning, and Aggregate Fluctuations,” with John Leahy, Review of Economic Studies, 777-794, 1993.
Business as Usual, Market Crashes, and Wisdom After the Fact, with John Leahy, American Economic Review, 548-565, 1994.
“Miracle on Sixth Avenue,” with John Leahy, Economic Journal, 60-74, 1998.
“Mass Layoffs and Unemployment,” with John Leahy, Journal of Monetary Economics, vol. 46, 121-142, 2000.
By definition, private information is hard to observe. Data engineers dream up revealing data sets. One such is “State Dependent Stochastic Choice” data records the impact of the underlying state of the world on patterns of choice.
Social Learning and Selective Attention (with John Leahy and Filip Matejka) uses it to identify individual preferences from market data.
A second engineered data set is “Choice process” data, which records provisional choices in the period before a decision is finalized.
In “Search, Choice and Revealed Preference”, Mark Dean characterize sequential search and reservation utility stopping rules.
In “Search and Satisficing,” Mark, Daniel Martin and I gather data on the choice process. In our experiments most subjects search sequentially and stop search when a “satisficing” level of reservation utility is realized.
The “bio-behavioral complex” is the dynamic interplay between biology, behavior and the environment. A paper on this has just been published in “Big Data”.
In Smoking, Genes, and Health, new evidence is provided on the impact of genetic factors on measured smoking (small) and on health (large). The implications for measurement are profound.
As Director of the Scientific Agenda for the Kavli HUMAN Project, I have the privilege of working with a wonderful group of advisors on KHP White Papers four of which have also been published in Big Data.
Dopamine, Reward Prediction Error, and Economics provides an axiomatic model of dopaminergic function based on neurological data.
Measuring Beliefs and Rewards: A Neuroeconomic Approach tests the theory, with broadly positive results.
Continued research in this area will contribute to our understanding of how beliefs and preferences are formed, how they evolve, and how they play out in the act of choice.
A broad rationale for using the axiomatic methods of decision theory to bridge the gap between economic theory and non-standard “psychological” data was sketched out in Economic Theory and Psychological Data: Bridging the Divide published in the Foundations of Positive and Normative Economics. | https://wp.nyu.edu/andrewcaplin/research/ |
2 edition of Matching processes in the labour market in Marseilles found in the catalog.
Matching processes in the labour market in Marseilles
Gilles TeyssieМЂre
Published
1993 by Queen Mary and Westfield College, Dept. of Economics in London .
Written in English
Edition Notes
|Statement||G. Teyssiere.|
|Series||Paper / Queen Mary and Westfield College, Department of Economics -- no.298|
|ID Numbers|
|Open Library||OL20563789M|
Start studying Economics Book 6 unit 1. Learn vocabulary, terms, and more with flashcards, games, and other study tools. Search. Charles Goodyear learned the process of () rubber, which gave it great strength and durability. wage and price spiral. Labor demands a higher wage to compensate for inflation, which leads to a higher price, then. In France, flexibility in the labour market relies mainly on fixed-term and temporary workers. These workers are less well paid, receive less training and find it difficult to obtain permanent employment. This two-tier labour market creates social and economic problems. Public policies can be envisaged to favour transition to permanent contracts.
Child, family, and state
Masterpieces of world literature in digest form
Measuring employment and unemployment.
Aging
Great Illusionists
Quality agricultural education management
Religious education.
Angiopoietins in goitre
Send Me?
Curtmantle
Get this from a library. Matching processes in the labour market in Marseilles: an econometric study. [Gilles Teyssière; European University Institute. Department of Economics.]. Download PDF: Sorry, we are unable to provide the full text but you may find it at the following location(s): (external link)Author: Gilles TEYSSIERE.
The Matching Process in Labour Markets in Transition. This paper uses the flow approach to investigate the way in which the transition of the Czech and Slovak economies influences the regional labour markets in the two countries.
From estimates of matching functions we conclude that in most regions the labour markets are still in transition. Unemployment and Matching in the Labor Market: The Mortensen-Pissarides Model • In this model, employers are inves9ng in order to create job vacancies and the process of filling a vacancy involves matching of a firm, which has created a vacancy with an unemployed job seeker.
• At each instant, there are two flows into and out of unemployment. Some. Estimating the Probability of a Match using Microeconomic Data for the Youth Labour Market Article in Labour Economics (3) June with 43 Reads How we measure 'reads'.
to continue searching. Thus there is a surplus associated with each match, and how to split this surplus between the worker and the firm is a bilateral decision. In the literature on matching models of the labour market, it is common to assume that the match surplus is shared according to the (asymmetric) Nash sharing rule.
Matching should be easier when there is a larger pool of the unemployed from which to select. Observing a combination of high unemployment and a large number of vacancies is an indicator of inefficiency in the matching process in the labour market.
Notice three things about the German and American Beveridge curves shown in Figure Overview of the book Part I of the book focuses on the labour market side of the mismatch between jobs and skills. In chapter 2, Will Bartlett, Jens Johansen and Debora Gatelli provide an empirical analysis of skill mismatch in the Western Balkans.
The chapter provides several empirical findings on the nature of skill mismatches. Firstly, theFile Size: 3MB. Since the main function of labour market is to match workers and jobs and to fix remuneration in a manner that ensures required quantity as well as quality of labour supply 1, its performance is judged by the efficiency vlhich labour market processes perform this function.
The functioning ofFile Size: 1MB. Emmanuel Macron’s government has launched a programme of controversial labour reforms designed to make it easier to hire and fire employees, create jobs Author: Chloe Farand.
‘Culture and the Labour Market is a highly readable and innovative analysis of a difficult area of labour market research. It draws on a wide range of theoretical literature and produces interesting new empirical results based on extensive analyses of large-scale international surveys.
In short, I can recommend it highly.’ – John Creedy, University of Melbourne, Australia Culture and the Author: Siobhan Austen. labour market. The labour market is the market in which the amount of services that correspond to tasks well established in the job description, are offered for a price or remuneration (Boeri, Van Ours, ), that is, to exist on the labour market it is necessary for the work be rewarded.
The labour market is and has to be Size: KB. KNOWING THE LABOUR MARKET Work and job analysis require a good understanding of the overall labour market situation in your local area. There is no single labour market in a province, district or city. There are many separate markets, each with its own particular supply and demand characteristics.
Some of these labour market segments are growing. One of the founders of matching theory is Dale T. Mortensen of Northwestern University. A textbook treatment of the matching approach to labor markets is Christopher A.
Pissarides ' book Equilibrium Unemployment Theory. Mortensen and Pissarides, together with Peter A. anticipation and matching approaches and methods can help develop a skilled workforce with the right mix of skills in response to labour market needs, in a way that promotes job quality and lifelong learning.
The EU Skills Panorama, launched insupports the effort to provide better data and intelligence on skill needs in the labour market. Measuring the Informal Labor Market.
Numerous surveys have surfaced lately in an effort to better understand the fringes of the U.S. labor market.
Though methodologies differ (as do the specific questions these surveys attempt to answer), comparing the results helps shine a light on the sometimes elusive nature of the informal labor market. The recruitment process is an important part of human resource management (HRM).
It isn’t done without proper strategic planning. Recruitment is defined as a process that provides the organization with a pool of qualified job candidates from which to choose.
Before companies recruit, they must implement proper staffing plans and forecasting to determine how many people they will need. The Journal for Labour Market Research is a journal in the interdisciplinary field of labour market research.
As of the Journal publishes open access. The journal follows international research standards and strives for international visibility. With its empirical and multidisciplinary orientation, the journal publishes papers in English. Skills are critical assets for individuals, businesses and societies.
Matching skills and jobs has become a high-priority policy concern, as mismatches, occurring when workers have either fewer or more skills than jobs require, may result in an underutilisation of existing human capital and result in job vacancies not being filled in.
Since the global economic crisis, skills mismatch has. PART 2: The labour market in the EU retail and wholesale sector 61 Introduction 63 1. The size and employment in the EU retail and wholesale sector 65 2.
Profile of workers in the retail and wholesale sector 71 3. Forms of work in the EU retail and wholesale sector 81 Types of contract 81 Employment status 83 Other (new) forms.
Matching models of the marriage market: theory and empirical applications Pierre-AndrØ Chiappori Columbia University Cemmap Masterclass, March P.A. Chiappori, Columbia Matching models Cemmap Masterclass, March 1 / 20File Size: 1MB. tions include books on managing organizational and cultural change, job insecurity, and the psychology of influence and control at work.
Robert Karasek, Ph.D., holds degrees in sociology and labour rela-tions, civil engineering and architecture. He is a specialist in the psychosocial aspects of work and work redesign processes. HavingFile Size: KB.
labour market policy actions intended to create more job offers. Labour market matching models and the method Different theoretical frameworks (stock-based random, job queuing and stock-flow) offer various explanations of the matching process.
Matching is determined either by stocks or by a combination of stocks and flows. Workforce planning practice Introduction Figure 1: Some factors contributing to the need for workforce planning Figure 3: Steps in workforce planning process Fluctuating business confidence Merger, acquisition or relocation Impact of technology Labour market trends Globalisation Skills shortage External environment Progress against plans E File Size: 1MB.
The different Characteristics of labour markets are as follows: A commodity market refers to a physical place where buyers and sellers of a particular commodity gather for engaging in transactions while a labour market is viewed as a process by which supplies of a particular type of labour and demands for that type of labour are balanced, is an abstraction.
Labor market matching, economic cycle and online vacancies About the research process: Improve and study the matching process in the labour market Data generation process & data quality Research approach (Examples): One country starting with traditional data Dutch Matching Function and the Great Recession To find out what accounts for this distinctive feature of the modus operandi of the French labour market, we compared real-wage increases with five potential causes for reaction: unemployment, the economic cycle, competitiveness, corporate profitability and a company’s self-financing rate (which is the ratio of a company's savings to its gross fixed capital formation).
Search the world's most comprehensive index of full-text books. My library. Private ownership and distribution of goods competitively in a free market.
Capitalism. Collective or government ownership of production and distribution. Labor improvement laws, labor unions, books by dickens and Disraeli. Factory workers had their grievances heard through a process called: Collective bargaining.
Labour Markets In Developing Countries 1 Volume and e⁄ort di⁄erentials between public and private sectors actually a⁄ect the labour market or more speci–cally equilibrium levels of employment, wages and productivity.
particular, it investigates whether the process of urbanization and modernization in. Theory of Labor Market Allocation. A labor market is a market where people offer their skills to employers in exchange for wages, salaries and other forms of compensation.
Participants in the. Let us make an in-depth study of the meaning, definition, types and factors of production. Meaning of Production. Since the primary purpose of economic activity is to produce utility for individuals, we count as production during a time period all activity which either creates utility during the period or which increases ability of the society to create utility in the future.
Recent reports on the UK jobs market have once again been surprisingly upbeat. The FT, reporting on the North of England and the Midlands, noted that jobs were being created at quite a rate (paywall).The ONS confirmed this in its Regional Labour market statistics for 23rd January.
Employment is rising, particularly in the West Midlands and the Yorkshire and Humber region, and unemployment is. In a competitive market, firms are wage takers because if they set lower wages, workers would not accept the wage. Therefore they have to set the equilibrium wage We.
Because firms are wage takers, the supply curve of labour is perfectly elastic therefore AC = MC. The firm will maximise profits by employing at Q1 where MRP of Labour = MC of Labour.
(2) Labor market imperfections: two workers with the same human capital may be paid different wages because jobs differ in terms of their productivity and pay, and one of them ended up matching with the high productivity job, while the other has matched with the low productivity one.
for the period The labour market policy is conducted in Poland at the NUTS-4 level. The NUTS-3 level of data spatial aggregation seems reasonable given the commuting behaviour in Poland.
We find that (1) spatial dependency affects matching processes in the labour market. Labour market is influenced by global competition, free trade and technological change because it also is a derived demand from the demand for the firm’s output.
Theoretical Background. Basic concepts of labour market. The total labour force in the economy is the number of people employed plus the number of unemployed. The Basic Theory of Human Capital 1. General Issues One of the most important ideas in labor economics is to think of the set of marketable skills of workers as a form of capital in which workers make a variety of investments.
This perspective is important in understanding both investment incentives, and the structure of wages and Size: KB. Long term structural change in the labour market has been to the disadvantage of young people with those with lower levels of skills at particular risk.
The interviewees are of one mind: the UK labour market has changed fundamentally over the last generation and it has been to the disadvantage of young people.
As David Pollard succinctly. Ch 4. the labour market context of hrm 1. The Labour Market Context of HRM Human Resource Management 2.
Session Objectives • To define internal and external labour markets • To identify changing labour market conditions • To outline how labour market trends are impacting upon HRM practice • To outline the various ways that firms can respond to different labour market.
The labor market is thrown into disequilibrium. Some unemployed workers would gladly work for a lower wage but cannot find a job, and some employers would be happy to hire workers at a lower wage but the law forbids it. Thus, in a competitive labor market, a binding minimum wage reduces employment and creates involuntary by: 6.Is this a good model?
Fair farmers, self-interested students? The firm’s hiring decision. The price-setting curve: Wages and profits in the whole economy. Labour market equilibrium and the distribution of income.
Labour supply, labour demand, and bargaining power. Labour unions: Bargained wages and the union voice effect.Labour market definition: When you talk about the labour market, you are referring to all the people who are able | Meaning, pronunciation, translations and examples. | https://vehemotodopuxy.multinivel.top/matching-processes-in-the-labour-market-in-marseilles-book-14311hh.php |
This course explores the design principles that help to ensure key security practices are incorporated into the software development lifecycle, and it prepares you for the (ISC)2 CSSLP (Certified Secure Software Lifecycle Professional) exam. The design principles you will learn include least privilege, to provide the lowest level of rights and permissions for a user to perform current tasks and separation of duties. This course covers the principles of defense in depth, to include multiple overlapping defenses such as layered controls, input validation, and security zones that work together collectively as a series of defenses. You will learn the concepts of fail-safe principles, including exception handling, and denied by default. Next, learn to design a complete mediation so that authorization is verified every time access is requested. Also covered is a less common design issue is psychological acceptability, such as password complexity and screen layouts, to ensure the design is psychologically acceptable to users. Finally, this course examines the separation of duties principles, including multiparty control, secret sharing and splitting.
WHAT YOU WILL LEARN
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discover the key concepts covered in this coursedescribe least privileges principles such as access control, need-to know, and run-time privilegesrecognize separation of duties principles such as multi-party control, secret sharing, and splittingdifferentiate between different defense in depth principles such as layered controls, input validation, and security zonesdescribe fail safe principles such as exception handling, non-verbose errors, and deny by defaultrecognize economy of mechanism principles such as single sign-ondescribe complete mediation principles such as cookie management, session management, and caching of credentials
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describe open design principles such as peer reviewed algorithmrecognize least common mechanism principles such as compartmentalization/isolationlist psychological acceptability principles such as password complexity and screen layoutsleverage existing components such as common controls and librarieseliminate single points of failuresummarize the key concepts covered in this course
IN THIS COURSE
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1.Course Overview1m 59sUP NEXT
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2.Least Privilege3m 4s
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3.Separation of Duties2m 55s
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4.Defense in Depth3m 4s
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5.Fail Safe3m 17s
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6.Economy of Mechanism3m 55s
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7.Complete Mediation2m 25s
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8.Open Design1m 59s
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9.Least Common Mechanism2m 6s
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10.Psychological Acceptability3m 1s
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11.Leveraging Existing Components2m 26s
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12.Eliminate Single Points of Failure2m 4s
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13.Course Summary1m 58s
EARN A DIGITAL BADGE WHEN YOU COMPLETE THIS COURSE
Skillsoft is providing you the opportunity to earn a digital badge upon successful completion of this course, which can be shared on any social network or business platformDigital badges are yours to keep, forever. | https://www.skillsoft.com/course/certified-secure-software-lifecycle-professional-csslp-2019-security-design-principles-d24c3b97-baa6-47bd-b3cf-517d281e6985 |
How to address the 14 UK Cloud Security Principles – Using Microsoft Azure
The National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) is the UK’s authority on cyber security.
In its publication “Implementing the Cloud Security Principles,” it lays out the 14 security principles that organisations should use when evaluating cloud services, and which cloud service providers should consider when offering those services to government customers (referred to as “consumers” in the principles).
The 14 principles are aligned with ISO 27001, an auditable, international, information security management standard published by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) and the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC). ISO 27001 formally defines requirements for a complete ISMS to help protect and secure an organisation’s data.
The principles defined by NCSC are:
- Data in transit protection. Consumer data transiting networks should be adequately protected
against tampering and eavesdropping via a combination of network protection and encryption.
- Asset protection and resilience. Consumer data, and the assets that store or process it, should be
protected against physical tampering, loss, damage, and seizure.
- Separation between consumers. Separation should exist between different consumers of the
service to prevent one malicious or compromised consumer from affecting the service or data of
another.
- Governance framework. The service provider should have a security governance framework that
coordinates and directs their overall approach to the management of the service and information
within it.
- Operational security. The service provider should have processes and procedures in place to
ensure the operational security of the service.
- Personnel security. Service provider staff should be subject to personnel security screening and
security education appropriate for their role.
- Secure development. Services should be designed and developed to identify and mitigate threats
to their security.
- Supply chain security. The service provider should ensure that its supply chain satisfactorily
supports all of the security principles that the service claims to implement.
- Secure consumer management. Consumers should be provided with the tools required to help
them securely manage their service.
- Identity and authentication. Access to all service interfaces (for consumers and providers) should
be limited to authenticated and authorised individuals.
- External interface protection. All external or less trusted interfaces of the service should be
identified and have appropriate protections to defend against attacks through them.
- Secure service administration. The methods used by the service provider’s administrators to
manage the operational service should be designed to mitigate any risk of exploitation that could
undermine the security of the service.
- Audit information provision to consumers. Consumers should be provided with the audit records
they need to monitor access to their service and the data held within it.
- Secure use of the service by the consumer. Consumers have certain responsibilities when using a
cloud service in order for this use to remain secure, and for their data to be adequately protected.
To help find a way through the principles, Microsoft have released a number of Azure Blueprints, enabling the UK public sector to review and understand how solutions built on Azure can implement the 14 individual Cloud Security Principles supporting workloads with information designated as UK OFFICIAL level. The Azure Blueprint outlines how Azure implements security controls designed to satisfy each security principle and assists customers in understanding how they may implement safeguards within their Azure solution to fulfil the requirements of each principle where they hold a responsibility.
As an example, an Azure Virtual Network (VNet) allows full control of security policies and routing within virtual network architectures through deployment and configuration of subnets, network security groups, and user defined routes. Network security groups can be applied to subnets or individual machines, logically separating resources by workload, based on a multi-tier architecture, of for any other purpose.
In the reference architecture below, resources are grouped in separate subnets for the web, business, and data tiers, and subnets for Active Directory resources and management. Network security groups are applied to each subnet to restrict network traffic within the virtual network.
Network security groups can be applied to outgoing communications from subnets and virtual machines. This allows full control over communication between information system components in Azure and external information systems. Network security group rule processing is implemented as a deny-all, permit-by-exception function. Further, user defined routes can be configured to route both incoming and outgoing communications from specific subnets and virtual machines through a virtual appliance such as a firewall or IDS/IPS, further managing system communications.
The reference architecture above demonstrates how Azure resources can be logically grouped into separate subnets with network security group rulesets applied to ensure that security functions and non-security functions are isolated. In this case, the three web-application tiers are isolated from the Active Directory subnet as well as the management subnet, which may host information system and security management tools and resources.
The reference architecture also implements managed access control points for remote access to the information system. An Internet-facing load balancer is deployed to distribute incoming Internet traffic to the web application, and the management subnet includes a jumpbox, or bastion host, through which all management-related remote access to the system is controlled. Network security groups restrict traffic within the virtual network ensuring external traffic is only routed to designated public-facing resources.
Network security groups allow full control of communications between Azure resources and external host and systems, as well as between internal subnets and hosts, separating information system components that are designated publicly accessible and those that are not. In addition to the solutions in the reference architecture above, Azure enables deployment of virtual appliances, such as firewall and IDS/IPS solutions which, when used in conjunction with user defined routes, further secure and manage connections between Azure resources and external networks and information systems.
Rulesets for network security groups enable restrictions on specific network ports and protocols, which is a key component of ensuring that information systems are implemented in a manner that provides only essential capabilities.
Whilst this is just one example, there are lots of built-in features that can help organisations meet their security control compliance requirements to take full advantage of the security features offered by Azure. The 14 Cloud Security Controls for the UK cloud whitepaper provides insight into how Azure services align with the fourteen cloud security principles set forth in the NCSC publication Implementing the Cloud Security Principles.
If you would like to discuss how CoreAzure can help you take full advantage of the security features offered by Azure , then please get in touch with us using the form below. | http://www.coreazure.com/address-14-cloud-security-controls-uk-cloud-using-microsoft-azure/ |
Which security principle requires more than one person is required to perform a critical task?
C.
The security principle that requires more than one person to perform a critical task is the "separation of duties."
Separation of duties is a security principle that aims to reduce the risk of fraud or error by ensuring that no single person has complete control over a critical task or process. It requires the assignment of different roles and responsibilities to multiple individuals to prevent any one person from having too much power over a process or transaction.
For example, in a financial institution, the separation of duties may require that one person is responsible for creating financial transactions, while another person is responsible for reviewing and approving those transactions. This ensures that no single individual has complete control over the financial transaction process, reducing the risk of fraud or error.
The separation of duties is a key component of a secure system design and is often used in conjunction with other security principles such as "least privilege" and "need to know." By implementing the separation of duties principle, organizations can mitigate the risk of insider threats and ensure that critical tasks and processes are performed with appropriate oversight and accountability. | https://www.exam-answer.com/cisco/200-201-cbrops/question2 |
According to Check Point 2022 Cyber Security Report, cyber attacks against enterprise networks witnessed a whopping 50% rise in 2021 compared to 2020. 2022 too, saw a slew of severe cyber attacks and security threats, including attacks on the supply chain, a deliberate attempt to disrupt the daily life of millions.
With each passing day, security threats have increased in quantity and quality, rendering traditional security practices and vulnerability assessment insufficient and ineffective. The current security measures require ground-breaking innovation to integrate security into the DNA of every organization, every application, and, consequently, every software development life cycle. It's this dire need for a rethinking that has given birth to a new concept, Security by Design.
What is Security by Design?
Security by Design is a new methodology adopted by developers and organizations to bolster their security operations through security automation across data security controls and build a security posture robust enough to support the organization's digital transformation goals.
Unlike yesterday’s reactive thought process focused on crisis management, Security by Design takes a proactive approach to build a robust security infrastructure from the early stages of the software development life cycle. That means security integration will be a part of building every component of the development process to detect and manage security risks. This practice ensures not only continuous security enablement but also provides stringent security to the end product as well as internal processes.
What are the Key Principles of Security by Design?
The security by design concept is based on 4 key principles:
Attack surface reduction
Attack surfaces are the entry points of any security vulnerabilities. It can be an application, software, device, or product that is often used as the attack surface by cyber offenders. Security by Design attempts to reduce the attack surface by limiting user access to core functions and product features.
Least privilege
The principle of least privilege allows users the least required authority to complete a task. That way, the core areas of software development become accessible only to skilled, trusted personnel in the organization.
Secure defaults
This principle focuses on establishing a default security process without leaving it to user preference. Specific character requirements for setting a password or captcha verification are ideal examples of this principle of secure defaults.
Defense in depth
This is the principle of putting up obstacles, as much as possible, on the path of the attacker. By doing so, it delays the time it takes to reach or attack the vulnerable parts of the system.
Why DevSecOps is Important in Implementing Security by Design?
DevSecOps is a discipline that is used to integrate security into the DevOps process. Now, if you remember, just a few years back, security used to be considered a roadblock to rapid development. Today, the scenario is going through a transformation as security becomes an important component of DevOps practices.
DevSecOps services enable continuous monitoring, assessment, and threat analysis to ensure security vulnerabilities or security concerns are identified in the early stage and immediately remediated.
What are the 5 Essential Components of Establishing a DevSecOps Model?
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Collaboration
The first and foremost component of DevSecOps is building a shared-responsibility mindset between not just development teams and security teams but across the organization. The senior leadership plays a key role in endorsing and promoting this mindset. The main goal of a collaborative approach is to create a secure product development environment and ensure a safe and quick delivery of the highest quality products while maintaining the shortest-possible time-to-market and addressing the security issues and compliance requirements.
For security teams, the starting point can be gaining knowledge of DevOps practices and applying the same in security integration across every phase. Security automation is an essential part of the collaboration. On the other hand, the development teams can learn about the best practices security teams follow, what threat intelligence is, security tools, and more.
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Communication
The wide communication gap between security teams and development teams is often the root cause of everything. Software developers must fully understand the potential security risks, the need for security controls as well as the benefits of compliance operations in order to write security as code and conduct application security testing while fixing security issues. It's believed that enhanced communication is important to implement DevSecOps across the development lifecycle.
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Automation
Successful DevSecOps consulting services are often built around automation. Automation ensures continuous integration of security throughout the development process. Automated security testing is often integrated with the Continuous Integration/Continuous Delivery (CI/CD) pipeline to deliver secure applications on time. The evolving need for lesser manual intervention in application security is the reason behind the phenomenal rise in DevOps automation security issues using automation tools.
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Security of Tools and Architecture
Secure configuration is a key security component of DevSecOps services. One of the key reasons enterprises are leaning towards DevSecOps consulting services is its promise to safeguard infrastructure security and security tools from threats. By leveraging configuration management tactics, security teams can guarantee the security of systems before they are released for wider use.
Identity access management (IAM), multi-factor authentication (MFA), and least-privileged access are some of the tactics and security policies in use to protect tools, data, and architecture.
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Testing
Usually, testing is considered to be the final step of the application delivery process. However, ideally, it should be a constant throughout the software development lifecycle. DevSecOps services attempt to bring it back by automating simple tasks of application security testing such as code scanning, ensuring no password is saved in logs, malicious code scouring, etc.
Effective testing combines practices such as static application security testing (SAST), dynamic application security testing (DAST), penetration testing, threat modelling, etc. to look at the scenario from the hacker's perspective without disrupting the environment. Several organizations also reward their employees for recognizing and reporting potential emerging threats before software delivery.
Compliance monitoring is also one of the key components of DevSecOps consulting services as it makes an organization audit ready while helping achieve a constant state of compliance for international rules and regulations such as general data protection regulation (GDPR), CCPA, PCI-DSS, etc.
What is an Example of DevSecOps?
Some examples of DevSecOps in software development include reviewing security design, code and repository scanning to identify security vulnerabilities, scanning repositories for security vulnerabilities, and fixing bugs to mitigate any potential security risks.
What is DevSecOps vs DevOps?
The transition from DevOps to DevSecOps is an interesting one as it reflects a massive change in the application security operations. While both acronyms sound very familiar, the differences between them are anything but inconsequential as they have the power to influence key decision-making.
While DevOps and DevSecOps share multiple similarities, such as collaborative culture, use of automation, and proactive monitoring, their differences are equally broad too. DevOps processes include continuous integration, continuous delivery and continuous deployment, microservices, and infrastructure as code.
DevSecOps services include these practices along with common weaknesses enumeration (CWE), threat modeling, automated security testing as well as incident management.
Today, several organizations are switching from DevOps to DevSecOps due to the increased benefits and heightened security measures. If you too are planning to embrace DevSecOps then here's everything you need to know about Cloud4C DevSecOps services. | https://www.cloud4c.com/a-complete-guide-to-devsecops |
Software Design Security Principles
Confidentiality, Integrity and Availability (also referred as the CIA triad) are considered the core concepts of information security. So basically when building applications, we need to:
- do not disclose any information to any unauthorized parties, such as individuals, entities or processes (Confidentiality)
- do not allow anyone to tamper/modify the data during or after the submission (Integrity)
- ensure that the information is available (to authorized parties) when it's needed (Availability)
However, the growing complexity of modern applications increases the likelihood of software bugs that can lead to security issues. Furthermore, nowadays building applications requires knowledge of several different programming languages, frameworks, tools and interactions with third-party software. For these reasons, building secure applications is quite challenging.
But fortunately, there are several Security Principles that can be applied to any project in order to minimize the security risks. It's important to deeply understand these principles so that they can be applied starting from the architectural design phase of the application.
Principle of Least Privilege
This principle is quite simple but really effective (and often underrated). It states that when performing any task, the individual should have the minimum access privileges required to accomplish the task.
The classic example is the database user who only needs to get records from some tables. This user does not require any administrator feature to get the data, so when creating the user we need to grant him only the minimum required privileges (likely we only need to allow the user to query few specific databases). This way, if for some reason the user got compromised and the attacker is able to connect to the database, he won't be able to move laterally and to leak data from other databases.
Minimize attack surface area
Attackers are always looking for new attack vectors. More the attack vectors, more likely to find vulnerabilities.
For example, a web application with a huge amount of API enpoints that manipulates tons of user inputs, offers the attacker a lot of opportunity to find a vulnerability. Furthermore, sometimes applications rely on data that they trust because they (wrongly) assume it's not user controlled. It's the case of the
HOST header which can then be used by the web application and it can lead to many dangerous vulnerabilities if not properly validated.
Reducing the attack surface is a security best practice which limits the attackers to test minimal targets and reduces the risks of successful attacks.
Establish secure defaults
This simple principle states that the default configuration of a system/application, enforces some minimal security policies before allowing entities to get access to the system itself.
The main example is a Web application that allows users to register but the minimum password requirements must be satisfied in order to get access to the platform (i.e. password must be at least 8 characters with at least 1 uppercase letter, at least 1 lowercase letter, at least 1 digit and at least 1 special character).
We can summarize this principle saying that: "It should not require an expert to make the system secure, it should require an expert to make it insecure". (I've found this quote on Internet, from some anonymous engineer).
Principle of Defense in Depth
We know that securing applications is hard. But we can enforce multiple security measures so that breaking the application is hard as well. That's the main goal of defense in depth principle: even if an attacker is able to bypass a security check, an additional layer of protection can prevent the attacker to succeed in his attempt to break our system.
For example, let's assume we deployed a WAF (Web Application Firewall) in front of our WebApp, so that all the traffic coming from users is first checked by the WAF engine. Let's say the WAF engine fails and the traffic is not inspected anymore: if our application implemented user input validation and other security measures, we are still able to detect and prevent attacks. If we only had rely on the WAF engine to protect our WebApp, now we would be vulnerable and it would be easy for an attacker to do bad things on our application.
Avoid security through obscurity
Security through obscurity is based on the (wrong) assumption that a system is more secure if, for example, its implementation details are kept secret.
Even though it might be reasonable that if you don't know something it might be harder to break it, this doesn't mean that is not going to happen. For example we can use a real life analogy to describe why security through obscurity is not a good approach: your house is not necessarily more secure if you hide the key under your welcome mat; sooner or later someone is going to find the key.
Another example (more related to computer science) would be to hide sensitive data in your application, just by encoding it in a fancy or exotic way (i.e. using base64 encoding does not protect your data).
Implementing security through obscurity doesn't really add any relevant security layer to the system you are going to protect and it should be avoided as much as possible.
Fail securely
Error handling is an important programming skill required by any developer. For example, every time a function is called, we need to verify that it runs without errors. If an error occurs, we need to handle it properly in order to avoid exceptions that can cause unexpected program termination or other issues.
An example of an insecure failing is a piece of software that needs to perform some data encryption but it fails and it falls back to the weakest encryption algorithm. Another example is a firewall that for some reason fails and it just starts to allow any traffic (open-fail behaviour).
Regarding error handling is also important to remember that any information caused by some kind of error or exception (for example the stack trace of a failing function call) should not be sent to the users. Using this information an attacker can rapidly gain additional knowledge of the runtime system that will allow him to perform more specific and targeted attacks.
Generally speaking, the application should fail securely and should properly handle errors and exceptions without revealing debugging information.
Separation of duties
This is a very basic principle that states that each entity (person, group, role) should have different responsabilities and capabilities. For example, an online shopping WebApplication should not allow the regular user to power off the application (which is an administrative task) but at the same time the administrator of the website should not be allowed to login into the web application and order items on behalf of other users.
Another example is a developer working in a development environment that should not be able to read or modify the database behind the same application running in a production environment. This task must be done by a different role/person.
Rely on known components
It's quite hard to build a robust and reliable security framework.
As an example, let's take a look at Cross-Site-Scripting (XSS) vulnerabilities: due to the nature of this security issue and the fact that mostly all web applications require user inputs, it's actually really hard to write a library that takes arbitrary user input as argument and returns a string that is 100% "XSS free" (so that the web application can safely embed that user input within the page rendered by the browser).
More in general, always try to adopt third party components which are considered industry standard and are proven to be the most secure choice. | https://floatingpoint.sorint.it/blog/post/software-design-security-principles |
Raise awareness for your IT/ OT-ICS personal of current industrial Cybersecurity, differences and similarities, general Cybersecurity basics and industrial Cybersecurity specifics.
Personal will learn to clarify the key differences between typical OT-ICS and pure IT network, and understand the evolution in OT-ICS Cybersecurity.
Course Goal:
- Understand OT-ICS Network basics: typical topology, components, protocols
- Understand Information security basics: attack vectors, threats, vulnerabilities, etc.
- Know principle to Identify countermeasures: segmentation and etc.
- Getting to know standard and recommendations
Course Contents:
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ICS Cybersecurity Landscape
- Recognize Cybersecurity in your overall risk management process.
- Identify types of ICS threats, vulnerabilities, and consequences.
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Difference between IT and ICS
- Network basics: the architecture and topology of IT and ICS
- Common ICS component
- Identify ICS type
- Discuss Data flow within ICS
- Recognize ICS communication typologies and methods
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Attack Methodologies in IT & ICS
- Describe the anatomy of a Cyber attack.
- Recognize how attack methods can apply to control systems.
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Countermeasures
- Standard and Practice
Introduction to ISA/IEC 62443 – Standard and aspect of NIST SP 800 - 82
Getting to know a structural concept, approach and methodology when consider managing ICS Cybersecurity
Course Goal:
- Discuss the need and importance for control system security
- Learn about current principles and best practices
- Understand the structure and content of the ISA/IEC 62443 series of documents and NIST SP 800 - 82 framework
- Discuss the principles behind the creating of an effective long term program security
- Learn the basics of risk analysis, industrial networking and network security
- Understand the concepts of defense in depth and zones and conduits
- Learn how to apply key risk mitigation techniques in principle
- Visit the recommendation and key takeaway from NIST SP800 - 82
Course Contents: | https://www.koennen.co.th/iacs-cybersecurity-training |
Chapter 2: Key Principles of Software Architecture
For more details of the topics covered in this guide, see Contents of the Guide.
Contents
- Overview
- Key Design Principles
- Key Design Considerations
Overview
In this chapter, you will learn about the key design principles and guidelines for software architecture. Software architecture is often described as the organization or structure of a system, where the system represents a collection of components that accomplish a specific function or set of functions. In other words, architecture is focused on organizing components to support specific functionality. This organization of functionality is often referred to as grouping components into “areas of concern.” Figure 1 illustrates common application architecture with components grouped by different areas of concern.
Figure 1
Common application architecture
In addition to the grouping of components, other areas of concern focus on interaction between the components and how different components work together. The guidelines in this chapter examine different areas of concern that you should consider when designing the architecture of your application.
Key Design Principles
When getting started with your design, keep in mind the key principles that will help you to create an architecture that adheres to proven principles, minimizes costs and maintenance requirements, and promotes usability and extendibility. The key principles are:
- Separation of concerns. Divide your application into distinct features with as little overlap in functionality as possible. The important factor is minimization of interaction points to achieve high cohesion and low coupling. However, separating functionality at the wrong boundaries can result in high coupling and complexity between features even though the contained functionality within a feature does not significantly overlap.
- Single Responsibility principle. Each component or module should be responsible for only a specific feature or functionality, or aggregation of cohesive functionality.
- Principle of Least Knowledge (also known as the Law of Demeter or LoD). A component or object should not know about internal details of other components or objects.
- Don’t repeat yourself (DRY). You should only need to specify intent in one place. For example, in terms of application design, specific functionality should be implemented in only one component; the functionality should not be duplicated in any other component.
- Minimize upfront design. Only design what is necessary. In some cases, you may require upfront comprehensive design and testing if the cost of development or a failure in the design is very high. In other cases, especially for agile development, you can avoid big design upfront (BDUF). If your application requirements are unclear, or if there is a possibility of the design evolving over time, avoid making a large design effort prematurely. This principle is sometimes known as YAGNI ("You ain’t gonna need it").
When designing an application or system, the goal of a software architect is to minimize the complexity by separating the design into different areas of concern. For example, the user interface (UI), business processing, and data access all represent different areas of concern. Within each area, the components you design should focus on that specific area and should not mix code from other areas of concern. For example, UI processing components should not include code that directly accesses a data source, but instead should use either business components or data access components to retrieve data.
However, you must also make a cost/value determination on the investment you make for an application. In some cases, you may need to simplify the structure to allow, for example, UI data binding to a result set. In general, try to consider the functional boundaries from a business viewpoint as well. The following high level guidelines will help you to consider the wide range of factors that can affect the ease of designing, implementing, deploying, testing, and maintaining your application.
Design Practices
- Keep design patterns consistent within each layer. Within a logical layer, where possible, the design of components should be consistent for a particular operation. For example, if you choose to use the Table Data Gateway pattern to create an object that acts as a gateway to tables or views in a database, you should not include another pattern such as Repository, which uses a different paradigm for accessing data and initializing business entities. However, you may need to use different patterns for tasks in a layer that have a large variation in requirements, such as an application that contains business transaction and reporting functionality.
- Do not duplicate functionality within an application. There should be only one component providing a specific functionality—this functionality should not be duplicated in any other component. This makes your components cohesive and makes it easier to optimize the components if a specific feature or functionality changes. Duplication of functionality within an application can make it difficult to implement changes, decrease clarity, and introduce potential inconsistencies.
- Prefer composition to inheritance. Wherever possible, use composition over inheritance when reusing functionality because inheritance increases the dependency between parent and child classes, thereby limiting the reuse of child classes. This also reduces the inheritance hierarchies, which can become very difficult to deal with.
- Establish a coding style and naming convention for development. Check to see if the organization has established coding style and naming standards. If not, you should establish common standards. This provides a consistent model that makes it easier for team members to review code they did not write, which leads to better maintainability.
- Maintain system quality using automated QA techniques during development. Use unit testing and other automated Quality Analysis techniques, such as dependency analysis and static code analysis, during development. Define clear behavioral and performance metrics for components and sub-systems, and use automated QA tools during the build process to ensure that local design or implementation decisions do not adversely affect the overall system quality.
- Consider the operation of your application. Determine what metrics and operational data are required by the IT infrastructure to ensure the efficient deployment and operation of your application. Designing your application’s components and sub-systems with a clear understanding of their individual operational requirements will significantly ease overall deployment and operation. Use automated QA tools during development to ensure that the correct operational data is provided by your application’s components and sub-systems.
Application Layers
- Separate the areas of concern. Break your application into distinct features that overlap in functionality as little as possible. The main benefit of this approach is that a feature or functionality can be optimized independently of other features or functionality. In addition, if one feature fails, it will not cause other features to fail as well, and they can run independently of one another. This approach also helps to make the application easier to understand and design, and facilitates management of complex interdependent systems.
- Be explicit about how layers communicate with each other. Allowing every layer in an application to communicate with or have dependencies upon all of the other layers will result in a solution that is more challenging to understand and manage. Make explicit decisions about the dependencies between layers and the data flow between them.
- Use abstraction to implement loose coupling between layers. This can be accomplished by defining interface components such as a façade with well known inputs and outputs that translate requests into a format understood by components within the layer. In addition, you can also use Interface types or abstract base classes to define a common interface or shared abstraction (dependency inversion) that must be implemented by interface components.
- Do not mix different types of components in the same logical layer. Start by identifying different areas of concern, and then group components associated with each area of concern into logical layers. For example, the UI layer should not contain business processing components, but instead should contain components used to handle user input and process user requests.
- Keep the data format consistent within a layer or component. Mixing data formats will make the application more difficult to implement, extend, and maintain. Every time you need to convert data from one format to another, you are required to implement translation code to perform the operation and incur a processing overhead.
Components, Modules, and Functions
- A component or an object should not rely on internal details of other components or objects. Each component or object should call a method of another object or component, and that method should have information about how to process the request and, if appropriate, how to route it to appropriate subcomponents or other components. This helps to create an application that is more maintainable and adaptable.
- Do not overload the functionality of a component. For example, a UI processing component should not contain data access code or attempt to provide additional functionality. Overloaded components often have many functions and properties providing business functionality mixed with crosscutting functionality such as logging and exception handling. The result is a design that is very error prone and difficult to maintain. Applying the single responsibility and separation of concerns principles will help you to avoid this.
- Understand how components will communicate with each other. This requires an understanding of the deployment scenarios your application must support. You must determine if all components will run within the same process, or if communication across physical or process boundaries must be supported—perhaps by implementing message-based interfaces.
- Keep crosscutting code abstracted from the application business logic as far as possible. Crosscutting code refers to code related to security, communications, or operational management such as logging and instrumentation. Mixing the code that implements these functions with the business logic can lead to a design that is difficult to extend and maintain. Changes to the crosscutting code require touching all of the business logic code that is mixed with the crosscutting code. Consider using frameworks and techniques (such as aspect oriented programming) that can help to manage crosscutting concerns.
- Define a clear contract for components. Components, modules, and functions should define a contract or interface specification that describes their usage and behavior clearly. The contract should describe how other components can access the internal functionality of the component, module, or function; and the behavior of that functionality in terms of pre-conditions, post-conditions, side effects, exceptions, performance characteristics, and other factors.
Key Design Considerations
This guide describes the major decisions that you must make, and which help to ensure that you consider all of the important factors as you begin and then iteratively develop your architecture design. The major decisions, briefly described in the following sections, are:
- Determine the Application Type
- Determine the Deployment Strategy
- Determine the Appropriate Technologies
- Determine the Quality Attributes
- Determine the Crosscutting Concerns
For a more detailed description of the design process, see Chapter 4 "A Technique for Architecture and Design."
Determine the Application Type
Choosing the appropriate application type is the key part of the process of designing an application. Your choice is governed by your specific requirements and infrastructure limitations. Many applications must support multiple types of client, and may make use of more than one of the basic archetypes. This guide covers the following basic application types:
- Applications designed for mobile devices.
- Rich client applications designed to run primarily on a client PC.
- Rich Internet applications designed to be deployed from the Internet, which support rich UI and media scenarios.
- Service applications designed to support communication between loosely coupled components.
- Web applications designed to run primarily on the server in fully connected scenarios.
In addition, it provides information and guidelines for some more specialist application types. These include the following:
- Hosted and cloud-based applications and services.
- Office Business Applications (OBAs) that integrate Microsoft Office and Microsoft server technologies.
- SharePoint Line of Business (LOB) applications that provide portal style access to business information and functions.
For more information about application archetypes, see Chapter 20 "Choosing an Application Type."
Determine the Deployment Strategy
Your application may be deployed in a variety of environments, each with its own specific set of constraints such as physical separation of components across different servers, a limitation on networking protocols, firewall and router configurations, and more. Several common deployment patterns exist, which describe the benefits and considerations for a range of distributed and non-distributed scenarios. You must balance the requirements of the application with the appropriate patterns that the hardware can support, and the constraints that the environment exerts on your deployment options. These factors will influence your architecture design.
For more information about deployment issues, see Chapter 19 "Physical Tiers and Deployment."
Determine the Appropriate Technologies
When choosing technologies for your application, the key factors to consider are the type of application you are developing and your preferred options for application deployment topology and architectural styles. Your choice of technologies will also be governed by organization policies, infrastructure limitations, resource skills, and so on. You must compare the capabilities of the technologies you choose against your application requirements, taking into account all of these factors before making decisions.
For more information about technologies available on the Microsoft platform, see Appendix A "The Microsoft Application Platform."
Determine the Quality Attributes
Quality attributes—such as security, performance, and usability—can be used to focus your thinking on the critical problems that your design should solve. Depending on your requirements, you might need to consider every quality attribute covered in this guide, or you might only need to consider a subset. For example, every application design must consider security and performance, but not every design needs to consider interoperability or scalability. Understand your requirements and deployment scenarios first so that you know which quality attributes are important for your design. Keep in mind that quality attributes may conflict; for example, security often requires a tradeoff against performance or usability.
When designing to accommodate quality attributes, consider the following guidelines:
- Quality attributes are system properties that are separate from the functionality of the system.
- From a technical perspective, implementing quality attributes can differentiate a good system from a bad one.
- There are two types of quality attributes: those that are measured at run time, and those that can only be estimated through inspection.
- Analyze the tradeoffs between quality attributes.
Questions you should ask when considering quality attributes include:
- What are the key quality attributes required for your application? Identify them as part of the design process.
- What are the key requirements for addressing these attributes? Are they actually quantifiable?
- What are the acceptance criteria that will indicate that you have met the requirements?
For more information about quality attributes, see Chapter 16 "Quality Attributes."
Determine the Crosscutting Concerns
Crosscutting concerns represent key areas of your design that are not related to a specific layer in your application. For example, you should consider implementing centralized or common solutions for the following:
- A logging mechanism that allows each layer to log to a common store, or log to separate stores in such a way that the results can be correlated afterwards.
- A mechanism for authentication and authorization that passes identities across multiple layers to permit granting access to resources.
- An exception management framework that will work within each layer, and across the layers as exceptions are propagated to the system boundaries.
- A communication approach that you can use to communicate between the layers.
- A common caching infrastructure that allows you to cache data in the presentation layer, the business layer, and the data access layer.
The following list describes some of the key crosscutting concerns that you must consider when architecting your applications:
- Instrumentation and logging. Instrument all of the business-critical and system-critical events, and log sufficient details to recreate events in your system without including sensitive information.
- Authentication. Determine how to authenticate your users and pass authenticated identities across the layers.
- Authorization. Ensure proper authorization with appropriate granularity within each layer, and across trust boundaries.
- Exception management. Catch exceptions at functional, logical, and physical boundaries; and avoid revealing sensitive information to end users.
- Communication. Choose appropriate protocols, minimize calls across the network, and protect sensitive data passing over the network.
- Caching. Identify what should be cached, and where to cache, to improve your application’s performance and responsiveness. Ensure that you consider Web farm and application farm issues when designing caching.
For more information about crosscutting concerns, see Chapter 17 "Crosscutting Concerns." | https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/previous-versions/msp-n-p/ee658124(v=pandp.10)?redirectedfrom=MSDN |
The workshop is designed to teach the participants the best practice in network administration and operations.
CONTENT
Fundamentals of Network
- Network Concepts
- Types of Network System
- Network Policies and Principles
Networking Security
- Networking Security Concepts
- Security Policies
- Security Strategy for Borderless Networks
Threat Control and Containment
- Threat Control Strategy
- Access Control
- Firewall Fundamentals
Secure Connectivity
- Fundamentals of VPN Technologies
- Public Key Infrastructure
- IPSCL Fundamentals
Implementing Network Security
- Configure Security Parameters
- Network Design Elements and Components
- Implement Networking Protocols and Services
- Apply Secure Network Administration Principles
- Secure Wireless Traffic
TRAINING METHODOLOGY
The training methodology combines lectures, discussions, group exercises and illustrations. Participants will gain both theoretical and practical knowledge of the topics. The emphasis is on the practical application of the topics and as a result participant will go back to the workplace with both the ability and the confidence to apply the techniques learned to their duties.
DATE:
1ST BATCH: 14th – 17th June, 2022
2ND BATCH: 29th Nov – 2nd Dec, 2022
Other Dates
|Start Date||End Date|
|29 Nov, 2022||02 Dec, 2022|
|Start Date||End Date|
|14 Jun, 2022||17 Jun, 2022|
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Venue
Alpha Partners Professional Training Conference Centre. 200, Muritala Mohammed Way (3rd Floor), Yaba Lagos. | https://www.alphapartnerstrainings.com/course/5125-computer-network-administration-and-operations |
August 19, 2020//Tony HowlettLast Updated: June 17, 2021
Zero Trust Network Access (ZTNA) is everyone’s favorite buzzword these days, particularly with security vendors hawking their products. It has become a popular catchphrase describing a next-generation security practice that was formalized by Gartner and implemented by Google in their BeyondCorp concept years later. Zero Trust refers to a set of concepts around securing corporate data assets in a more granular fashion and getting away from the classic “castle and moat” concept of cybersecurity. If you look at the different implementations, it can mean different things to different people and particularly for different products and applications. But what does it mean when it comes to the security of third-party connections to your organization such as vendors with remote access? In this article, we will examine the basic principles of Zero Trust and how they can be applied to third-party risk management to have more secure vendor connections.
Let’s start by first breaking down Zero Trust into its component principles so we can understand how to apply it to remote access for vendors. Zero Trust calls for robust authentication capabilities that tie access to verifying users to finite resources under specific conditions. It promotes the use of technologies such as multi-factor authentication (MFA), the principle of least privilege, and segmenting assets into micro-zones. To implement it, you need to be able to compartmentalize authorization to specific assets, to servers or applications, or even time slots when those resources can be accessed by that user. It can also be applied to allow for a lockdown of assets if and when a breach happens to prevent deeper damage. The concept is to apply authorization based on the data and the specific user’s need to access it rather than based on what infrastructure they are using or how they are getting in. Traditional perimeter security and checkpoints have turned out to be woefully inadequate to the modern use of public networks like the internet.
To meet the minimum principles of Zero Trust with regard to third-party relationships requires applying some advanced security controls to them. This includes MFA and other controls on access including the ability to require approval at a granular level, down to possibly a per-session basis. Support for credential vaulting or Privileged Access Management (PAM) is also important as it severely limits the use of a stolen privileged credential, essentially neutering them.
In general, you will want to do anything that controls and limits vendor access to resources to the minimum required to do their job; no more, no less. This leads us to our next set of requirements
This concept has been around forever and we practice it often when giving internal users their access. However, when it comes to third parties, simply using VPN access to vendors which gives them carte blanche on your network isn’t going to cut it anymore. Look instead to being able to lock down access beyond the network level and down to specific servers for specific applications and for specific time periods. Least privilege for vendors needs to mean more than that used for employees. The ability to do this for vendors is embodied in a technology called Vendor Privileged Access Management or VPAM. VPAM applies additional controls both on the front end when you onboard vendor users, giving them the granular least privilege that the Zero Trust concept requires and then offboarding those users quickly and completely when they are no longer employed by the vendor. However you do it, you want to make sure that vendor access and rights are a circle, secure from beginning to the end of the relationship.
Having good logs and audit capability is important for all functions of your systems, but particularly when it comes to Zero Trust and vendor access. It goes to the concept of “trust but verify.” So, after we apply that granular least privilege, how do we verify that those users are not violating those restrictions, either through malicious activity or just careless actions? Having a very detailed log of their activity is the only way to do this efficiently.
You will want more than the visibility that a simple firewall, router, and system logs show you. To paint a full picture for audit purposes, you want to be able to see the actual actions taken. This can be achieved by having “high-definition” audit records that have actual keystroke logs for command-line activity or video captures of graphical sessions. These can be very useful in catching an incident in real-time so you can stop it before real damage is done and also for forensic analysis after a breach. Having these types of logs and viewing them regularly can mean the difference between a minor, non-reportable incident, and a full-on, costly breach.
Zero Trust is a complicated concept and the devil can indeed be in the details. This is not to be considered to be an exhaustive list but rather a list of basics to start with. You can always do more and new technologies and approaches are always coming out. You should be reviewing your vendor management processes and particularly, how Zero Trust is applied every year with the intent of continual improvement. When it comes to third-party vendors and their access to your data, using concepts Zero Trust, PAM, and VPAM can help you keep the bad guys from using your vendor relationships against you. To learn more about how to keep the bad guys out of your networks, and why you’re only as strong as your most vulnerable vendor, download our eBook on the Anatomy of a Third-Party Breach. | https://www.securelink.com/blog/what-does-zero-trust-look-like-for-third-parties/ |
Hairston_Williams Planning & Pacing Guide
This introductory course is designed to provide fundamental knowledge in the field of cybersecurity. The course begins with defining cybersecurity and its importance at the individual, corporate, government, and international levels. Next, the course discusses the CIA triad and gives a basic introduction to computer hardware, which are knowledge units needed for the rest of the course. After providing this foundational introduction to the field, the course explores how cybersecurity is integrated into the fabric of human life by examining its impact on nations, laws, economics, and personal data. The course then becomes more technical in nature, introducing students to the principles of software design, physical security controls, cryptography, authentication and identity management, software vulnerabilities, the OSI model, network standards and protocols, the Internet, and hardware and software integration. The course ends by teaching security testing and assessment, securing cyber physical systems, and design trade-offs. Ethics, thinking like an adversary, careers, and historic components are interwoven throughout the course. At the completion of the course, students will have the foundational knowledge to prepare them for study in the fields of cybersecurity computer engineering, computer science, information systems, or related areas.
Download the full PPG, or download individual units from the Course Units table below.
Instructional Setting & Course Overview
This course is designed specifically for students who are Deaf and hard-of-hearing. It will be implemented in schools for the Deaf, where the average class size is fewer than 10 students. It will be an elective course, taught by a trained teacher.
- This course is intended for 9th grade, Deaf and hard-of-hearing students.
- The percentage of students receiving free or reduced-price lunches will vary school to school.
- As the curriculum is for students who are Deaf and hard-of-hearing, many will consider English as a second language. Their primary language is ASL.
- The percentage of college-bound students is unknown, as it varies from institution to institution.
The course will require an estimated 180 hours. It is designed to be taught with traditional scheduling; however, it may be adapted for other bell schedules.
As this is an introductory course, no prerequisites are required.
A Windows computer lab is suggested. Additional resources are listed in the materials section of each unit (linked below).
Major projects include:
- Designing a computer
- Setting up virtual machines
- Securing various operations systems in virtual machine environments
- Designing a secure network environment
- Securing a cyber physical system
Course Units
|Ethics||Establishing Trust||Ubiquitous Connectivity||Data Security||System Security||Adversarial Thinking||Risk||Implications|
Unit 1 – What is Cybersecurity?
5 Hours
Students will explore the concept of cybersecurity. They will differentiate between threats, vulnerabilities, and attacks. They will also discuss information assets and discuss risk to those assets. Ethics and careers are also discussed in this unit.
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8 Hours
Building on the definition of cybersecurity, this unit explores the CIA triad. This unit also covers ethics, the consequences of a cyber-attack, and historic examples of such attacks.
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Unit 3 – What is Hardware and How Do Computers Work?
7 Hours
This unit defines a computer and its fundamental components. Students will also understand the function of the components and how they connect together.
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7 Hours
In order for student to understand the global implications of cybersecurity, this unit has students compare and contrast the state of cybersecurity across the globe, paying attention to how attitudes differ among societies, age, etc.
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6 Hours
Starting with the difference between criminal and civil law, students will explore cybersecurity related legislation and polices on a federal and state level. Students will learn how computers are used in crime, the role of acceptable use policies, and the concept of ethical hacking.
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Unit 6 – Data Security Concerns
6 Hours
Data security concerns, including non-technical and technical controls, are taught in this unit. Cyber warfare is used to demonstrate data security concerns. Origin integrity is discussed, along with how cybersecurity impacts a person's quality of life.
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Unit 7 –Principles of Software Design (Overview)
5 Hours
This unit provides a quick introduction to the principles of software design. These concepts are explored in detail in later units.
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Unit 8 – Cybersecurity Business Economics
7 Hours
The need for baked-in versus bolted-on security is stressed in this unit. Here, students explore the reasons individuals and businesses under invest in cybersecurity, research the consequences of this choice, and learn about vulnerabilities tied to a global attack chain. Strategies for resiliency are also discussed.
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5 Hours
Before digging deeper into technical controls in later units, this unit focuses on physical controls. Building on the idea of defense in depth covered in earlier chapters, this unit encourages students to build their own cyber fortress through limited entry points, redundant systems, and surveillance.
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9 Hours
Starting with hands-on historic symmetric ciphers, this unit demonstrates the impact of cryptography on warfare. It then explains the different modern algorithms, progressing to hashing functions, public key encryption, and digital certificates.
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Unit 11 – Authentication & Identity Management
7 Hours
User credentialing is an important part of cybersecurity. Students will master this concept through studying the numerous options of user authentication, including something you have, know, do, or are. Students will also consider the strengths and weaknesses of each type and discuss the benefits of multi factor authentication. The unit ends with a study on social engineering, authorization, and least privilege.
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Unit 12 – Why is Software Vulnerable?
6 Hours
Bug hunting becomes a topic of interest as learners translate what they know about baked-in versus bolted-on security into the area of software design. Patch management is discussed, as well as designer and user assumptions. Students also gain a deeper understanding of modularity and simplicity.
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Unit 13 – Software Vulnerabilities
10 Hours
Building on topics from the previous chapter, students look at the technical side of software vulnerabilities. From buffer overflows to zero day attacks, the unit covers security-related software vulnerabilities and how to avoid them through security software development. Process isolation is explored in greater detail.
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8 Hours
All People Seem To Need Data Processing. This lesson traces a packet through the OSI model. Students also focus on abstraction.
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Unit 15 – Network Standards & Protocol
8 Hours
Using their connections to the OSI model, students will learn about various devices’ standards and protocols. Students will also learn more about minimization.
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Unit 16 – Complexity of Cyberspace
7 Hours
Taking concepts from previous units, students will tie the knowledge together to appreciate the complexity of cyber space. Not only will students visualize the size and complexity of cybersystems, they will also have a better understanding of adversaries.
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Unit 17 – Why is the Internet Vulnerable?
7 Hours
Once students understand the complexity of cyberspace, they will map the Internet as an attack surface. Drawing from previous lessons, the students will contrast ethics with the various ways the Internet can be attacked.
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6 Hours
After seeing the ways the Internet is vulnerable, the learners will trace the steps of a cyber- attack. Starting with reconnaissance and ending with covering his/her tracks, the students will see how individuals and businesses defend against advanced persistent threats.
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Unit 19 – Network Security Technologies
7 Hours
Network defense is the topic of this unit. Students become familiar with all the tools available to protect attackers. This unit covers the tools individually and then asks students to apply the principle of layering to see how the tools can work together.
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Unit 20 – Network Meets Cryptography
5 Hours
Drawing from their understanding of network security, students will see where cryptography fits into network security. Here, data protection through data hiding is the focus.
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Unit 21 – Hardware & Software Integration
10 Hours
The unit explores the interrelationship between hardware and software. It offers a transition between software vulnerabilities studied previously and hardware vulnerabilities studied in the next unit. It details embedded systems and hardware’s reliance on software for instructions. Domain separation is a design principle covered in this unit.
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Unit 22 – Common Hardware Vulnerabilities
8 Hours
Looking through the context of a backdoor, students explore how attackers bypass normal authentication and encryption. They also learn about RFID and side channel attacks. Students will tie this to supply chain topics covered earlier in the curriculum.
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Unit 23 – Conducting Security Testing & Assessments
12 Hours
Building upon the knowledge of vulnerabilities taught throughout the curriculum, this unit familiarizes students with conducting standard security testing and assessments. It also shows how adversaries can use the same tools to target systems.
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Unit 24 – Cyber Physical Systems
9 Hours
Students will take the cybersecurity knowledge they have gained from previous units and apply the concepts to cyber physical systems. Here, coming full circle from the curriculum’s introduction, students will see how attackers can leverage exploits to attack a nation’s infrastructure. As the world’s dependence on IoT grows, so does the impact of such an attack.
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5 Hours
This concluding unit stresses that security is only as strong as the weakest link. It reminds students of humanity’s dual role as producers and defenders. Additionally, it addresses additional threats to a system, such as natural disasters, change, and human error. | https://teachcyber.org/cybersecurity-teaching-resources/planning-pacing/hairston-williams-ppg/ |
Recent statistics show that the security issues associated with internet of things (IoT) devices are on the rise. This is a direct consequence of the number of IoT projects continuously growing. Gartner predicted that tens of billions of connected devices will flood the market by 2020, up from just shy of 9 billion in 2017 — and with that boon will inevitably come an exponential increase in IoT vulnerabilities.
According to the “IBM X-Force Threat Intelligence Index Report,” 30 percent of all vulnerabilities documented in the past three decades were reported in the past three years — that’s more than 42,000 vulnerabilities. In 2018 alone, IBM X-Force Red’s Vulnerability Management Services identified an average of 1,440 unique vulnerabilities per organization.
On the bright side, there is a gradually increasing awareness from the IoT industry — as well as the broader public — about the urgent need to tackle these issues. While cybersecurity projects for the IoT share many aspects with classic IT projects, they also come with many specific challenges that require special attention.
IoT architectures are complex; even the most basic components include devices, edge systems/concentrations, telecommunication lines, and back-end, mobile and AI applications. While the perimeter of an IoT project is always difficult to define, to build a secure IoT architecture, we need to consider IoT architecture security as a whole.
In a complex scenario where many security technologies and mechanisms are deployed, the risk of misconfiguration is higher. IoT devices are usually resource-constrained. In this case, economy of mechanism is helpful to maintain the viability of the system. Usually, IoT devices runs over a battery. Implementing too many security controls can drain the battery and harm the device itself. An attack can be focused to drain the battery and shut down the device.
Also known as defense in depth (DiD), the Castel approach is the application of multiple layers of security mechanisms. The rationale is that no single defense measure can help you stay ahead of all attacks. A layered security system forces the attacker to penetrate through all the layers to reach its target.
In 1975, Saltzer and Schroeder introduced the least privilege principle, which stipulates that every program and user should operate with the minimum set of privileges and access to complete the job. Applied to our scope, this means that a system needs to be accessed by multiple users. A privilege policy must be implemented to guarantee the right access and use of the system.
Another mechanism that should be implemented is separation of duty, which means a system should not grant permission upon a single condition. One example of how this could be applied is implementing two-factor authentication for critical tasks.
When possible, a system must be disconnected from public networks with the use of firewall, DMZ, and an intrusion detection and/or prevention system (IDS/IPS). It may also be necessary to implement multiple layers of virtual private network (VPN) access. In the case of mission-critical devices, consider a full air-gapped approach.
When more functions are available, that means more entry points for an attacker to exploit. Evaluating the attack surface is important to deploy an efficient defense strategy and to evaluate whether a function is really necessary.
The IoT comprises several devices that are distributed in a perimeter that may be very wide. In the case of Mirai, for example, the attackers compromised cameras in an effort to get to an external Domain Name System (DNS).
Having a clear understanding of the perimeters in terms of devices, communications, controls and the relationship between those devices is vital. Being able to fully comprehend those devices, including their very nature, their functionalities, the log data they produce and their working conditions, is also crucial.
Data logs in particular can help anomaly detection tools identify errant behavior. The data must be normalized, which requires a deep industry knowledge and familiarity with the device itself. Once normalization is achieved, the detected anomalies can easily unveil potential cyberattacks.
Once the perimeter is clear, document the type of services and how they relate to the devices. A configuration management database (CMDB) can help determine which configuration items, attributes and services are connected to each other. Below are the three main types of services to consider.
Explicit services are clearly documented. For example, in energy distribution, metering systems are used to understand the energy utilization, video surveillance is used to control the physical access to protected areas, etc.
Implicit services aren’t explicitly mentioned, but it’s critical to take them into consideration. For example, threat actors might use intelligence present in the infrastructure to attack third parties.
It is important to discuss the objectives of a cybersecurity project with the committee. In the case where physical security (e.g., visibility on individuals entering a specific room) needs to be improved, additional controls that are not necessarily are included in the cybersecurity controls will be required. In other words, specific devices might be necessary to implement additional cybersecurity controls.
The description of services leads to consideration of the attackers’ motives, which can vary depending on the type of project. In operational technology, threat actors usually try to interrupt explicit services, as was the case with Stuxnet. In IoT attacks, they usually try to control devices as part of a larger effort to compromise implicit services.
Once services and configurations are clearly defined, the risk of possible threats must be explored to provide the inputs to the next phase. To help better discover and understand the risks during this phase, security teams can use prototyping or penetration testing when and where possible.
Upon defining and documenting the aforementioned risks, the project owner — an external project manager, the chief information security officer (CISO) or a security specialist assigned by the CISO — needs to prioritize and then properly implement the security controls required to mitigate or minimize the risks and improve the organization’s cybersecurity posture.
The security controls to be implemented in an IoT project depend on the configurations, services and risks associated with the task at hand. For example, if devices generate significant data, anomaly detection could be considered. If penetration testing is possible, a good practice could be to use the control to understand the real risks. Also, a proper level of segmentation in many cases can address most of the issues. This is very similar to what we have in IT projects, but keep in mind that the IoT extremizes all the challenges we already have in IT, such us heterogeneity of devices, difficulty in defining a perimeter and more. | https://securityintelligence.com/heres-what-you-need-to-know-to-secure-your-iot-projects/ |
In “Five Factors Influencing the Cybersecurity Threat Landscape,” Security magazine outlines results from a recent Accenture report about the top influences impacting security concerns in the current business environment.
From the report: “In the face of growing cybercrime, there are few deterrents more effective than hitting attackers where it hurts most—in their own wallets. The more organizations invest in securing their networks and training their staff on how to safely navigate the digital workplace, the harder and more expensive it becomes for threat actors to disrupt or breach networks. … Far from being overwhelmed by hardening environments, threat actors are proving their confidence as chameleons. As threat actors face effective defenses to tried and tested attack vectors, they adapt and switch to try out new tactics, techniques and procedures (TTPs).”
Some of the key factors identified in the report include:
- Criminal networks are growing in resilience. The report suggests that cybercrime and financially motivated cyberattacks will continue to occur, while threat actors will also find new ways to infiltrate companies and networks with malware and other tactics.
- Ransomware, a type of malware, will grow in complexity such as company-wide deployments that will threaten business operations. “While the motives behind such an attack may appear to be financial, targeted ransomware attacks may at times serve hybrid motives, whether financial, ideological, or political. Regardless of motive, while the ransomware threat remains, organizations must ensure they take adequate measures to prepare, prevent, detect, respond, and contain a corporation-wide ransomware attack,” said the article.
- Organizations using cloud-hosted infrastructure will face heightened risk due to potential vulnerabilities. Ways to mitigate the threats are available, but often result in performance reduction.
Click here to read more.
Tips from Hikvision to Reduce Security Concerns
For tips to reduce security concerns, read this Hikvision blog. In it, our cybersecurity director Chuck Davis outlined use of defense in depth as a cyber-strategy and other advice : “Hikvision Cybersecurity Director Offers Tips to Reduce Cyberattacks and Security Concerns in Network Security, User Security and System Administration.”
Davis summarized the practice of defense in depth, an approach to manage risk using diverse defensive strategies that is based on the idea that multiple layers of defense will provide additional protection against a potential cyberattack. This includes network segmentation, which simply stated means splitting a network into separate networks that are isolated, not connected, and compromising one won’t compromise the others. For example, finance, human resources and security should each have dedicated networks.
“This is the way corporate networks are built, which is based on the principle of least privilege—this means only giving people or systems access to the resources that they need, and nothing more. This is effective for the obvious reason of keeping sensitive resources only accessible by those who need access, but it is also an effective means of compartmentalizing a network environment in case of cyberattack or malware infection,” said Davis, in the Hikvision article.
Tips from the article on how to improve network security include:
- Place devices behind firewalls to protect them from untrusted networks, such as the Internet.
- Network segmentation should be used to separate security networks from other networks (HR on one network, finance on another network, and security on yet another network).
- Where possible, use virtual private networks (VPN) to remotely connect to your secured network from the Internet.
The article also provides insights to protect passwords and IoT devices. Click here to read more. | https://ca.hikvision.com/en/blog/new-report-outlines-five-cyber-factors-influencing-security-concerns |
When you're the best, we're the best. We instill an environment where employees feel engaged, satisfied and able to contribute their unique skills and talents. We provide extensive opportunities for personal and professional development, building both employee competence and organizational capability to fuel exceptional performance now and in the future.
Summary:
In this role, you will ensure member contract staffing needs are met by supporting the transition and maintenance of new and existing members to the Workforce Optimization suite of products and services. You will manage product support and service for assigned facilities through the oversight of procurement activities.
Responsibilities:
- Serve in a consultative capacity in the use of contract labor technology.
- Monitor and analyze workforce utilization and provide members with feedback.
- Evaluate agency procurement processes, identify bottlenecks, and provide recommended solutions.
- Monitor and ensure compliance with required credentials for on-boarding and required documents.
- Monitor vendor submissions to posted job requests and select the most suitable resumes for positions.
- Pre-screen candidate profiles and share qualified resumes with hiring managers.
- Assist with interview and orientation schedules.
Qualifications:
- Relevant degree preferred.
- No previous experience required.
- Ability to effect and manage change by applying critical thinking skills and communicate effectively at all levels needed.
- Understanding of process improvement and assessments preferred.
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#IDS
Equal Opportunity Employer: Females/Minorities/Veterans/Individuals with Disabilities
The Company is committed to equal employment opportunity to all employees and applicants without regard to race, religion, color, gender identity, ethnicity, age, national origin, sexual orientation, disability status, veteran status or any other category protected by applicable law. | https://api.careerarc.com/job-listing/vizient-jobs-it-staffing-specialist-30927402 |
"This session is typically used at the start of a process improvement effort in order to get an overview of the existing process as well as identify where best to apply improvements. Use this session when you want to widen the scope of an improvement effort so that everyone becomes aware of the “big picture” (strategic) approach."
The focus is on software development, but this simulation is applicable to any Lean roll-out, since it focuses on the Theory of Constraints, identifying bottlenecks and improving flow.
I've added this game to my collection of free lean games and simulations.
For more information on the Theory of Constraints, check out the book, The Goal: A Process of Ongoing Improvement . Written by Eliyahu Goldratt, it's one of the pillars of lean, dealing with the Theory of Constraints in a fictional fomat. | http://www.leansimulations.org/2010/04/bottleneck-game.html?showComment=1322494769006 |
Using an approach known as Process Mining operations analysts can collect and analyze the massive amount of big data in manufacturing systems to gain insight into existing business processes identify problems such as bottlenecks and find ways to improve overall operational workflow... As a leading global manufacturer of crushing equipment, milling equipment,dressing equipment,drying equipment and briquette equipment etc. we offer advanced, rational solutions for any size-reduction requirements, including quarry, aggregate, grinding production and complete plant plan.
Main Equipments: PE1200×1500 jaw crusher, cone crusher, vibrating scree, vibrating feeder and conveyor. | https://www.foever-bwfs-muenchen.de/crushing-plant/389.html |
Workflow management guidelines help corporations create and implement successful processes that improve production, efficiency, and profitability. This may save twenty to 30 percent in revenue and free up resources for more effective activities.
The critical first step to any workflow improvement project is to define the existing process and determine if it can be computerized or improved. This will help you identify any potential bottlenecks and decide if the existing system may be changed to fulfill your business demands.
Once you have determined your workflow, it’s significant view to map it with thorough documentation of which tasks, equipment, and people are involved. This will generate it simpler to identify any kind of problems or issues and find solutions to fix them.
Another important step in work flow improvement is always to set conditional rules to optimize your business processes. For example , you may want to place a procedure that directs purchase requests to a VP only if they surpass a certain benefit. This will prevent wasting their very own time researching purchase order placed that aren’t worth the time and effort.
In addition , also you can use conditional rules to automate repeated stages in your work to improve proficiency and reduce the likelihood of errors. For instance , if you’re a court, you might set a rule that automates mortgage approvals for new circumstances when at this time there aren’t any outstanding ones.
You should always test the effectiveness of your workflows before setup to ensure they’re working seeing that intended. This permits you to observe if there are virtually any unexpected holds off or unforeseen issues that should be resolved just before they become important problems. Is also helpful to collect metric data and run frequent reports that can help you identify sudden alterations or relating to downtrends in your procedure. | http://ficbnibs.com/methods-to-implement-work-management-rules/ |
Looming food security issues over the next decade will require new sources of genetic diversity and innovations in agriculture technologies. Prof. Stephen Dellaporta is a Professor of Molecular, Cellular & Developmental Biology at Yale, whose research group’s interest is to identify novel genetic diversity and apply genomic and computational strategies to best utilize these resources for crop improvement and trait identification. Existing sources of crop diversity is limited due to major genetic bottlenecks associated with domestication and breeding. Genetic bottlenecks first started approximately 10,000 years ago when wild species, such as maize in the Americas and rice in Asia, were domesticated. Domestication captured a limited extent of genetic variation found in the wild gene pool. The erosion of genetic diversity continued for centuries, whereby farmers and breeders continued to eliminate much of the undesirable variation found in the wild, while selecting for agronomic traits such as yield, stress resistance, and regional adaptability. Recent bottlenecks continue with the advent of modern crop improvement technologies, including marker-assisted breeding that has led to the rapid development of high-yielding elite varieties suitable for modern agricultural practices but further limited in genetic diversity.
Genetic erosion of diversity translates to greater susceptibility to environmental stresses and pathogens, especially to newly emerging ones. Technology provides solutions to reversing this problem. For instance, biotechnology can improve food security by introducing novel genetic variation, an approach that has been extremely valuable for the introduction of herbicide tolerance and resistance genes to combat pathogens. A second complementary or alternative is to identify key agronomic traits by exploiting the natural genetic diversity found in wild relatives and diversity germplasm of major crop species. This diversity represents a virtually unlimited “genetic reservoir” of valuable traits such as durable resistance to abiotic and biotic stresses. Tapping into this natural reservoir to identify key traits is made possible with innovative and powerful genomics and computational strategies for identifying, measuring and mapping variation on a genome-wide scale.
Our mission is to work with collaborators on developing the genetic resources to immortalize this diversity and to provide advanced genomic technologies and associated computational strategies to identify valuable genetic variation in plants. The technologies we have developed include pioneering methods of reduced representation sequencing technologies to permit the identification and interrogation of genetic variation in large populations. These “population genomics” technologies are designed to be highly flexible, scalable, cost-effective and adaptable to any population of plant or animal. Innovations include methods for a high degree of sample multiplexing at a low cost to allow the simultaneous identification and genotyping of millions of genetic variants. Much of our current work focuses on applying this technology to a wide variety of problems developing panels of thousands of genetic markers in mere weeks instead of years.
Measuring and identifying genetic variation can only achieve a translational impact when this information is accessible to scientists and breeders for crop improvement. Therefore, in parallel, we have developed a sophisticated computational and statistical pipeline to associate genetic variation with traits of interest and to provide genomic-assisted breeding methods for the development of new germplasm. These informatic resources will permit scientist and breeders worldwide to identify, map and introgress new sources of genetic variation into crops in respond to disease and pathogen epidemics. | https://research.computing.yale.edu/research/genetic-diversity-and-innovations-agriculture-technologies |
Some people deny facts and truth. Others deny that facts and truth are in any danger. Both are wrong.
In my book Post-Truth from the MIT Press Essential Knowledge Series, I put forward the idea that we are now living in a post-truth era. This does not mean that truth does not matter. Instead, it means that we are living in a time in which there are far too many people—especially in positions of power—who lie about or ignore reality while paying no political price whatsoever. Whether it is a matter of individual conviction, or trying to get someone else to agree, post-truth is a phenomenon whereby one cares less about facts and evidence than about opinion and feelings in the formation of personal beliefs.
There should be little doubt that we currently live in such an era. From Kellyanne Conway’s pronouncement of “alternative facts” about the size of Trump’s inauguration to Rudy Giuliani’s more recent “truth isn’t truth” assertion regarding the Mueller investigation, one understands that truth is under attack by the Trump administration. It remains to be seen whether there will be any long-term consequences for this, but so far Trump’s congressional and public support has remained steady, despite growing concern that—as in George Orwell’s 1984—assault on truth may be the first step toward authoritarian rule.
Yet there are deniers aplenty, not just of facts but also of the fact of post-truth.
Brian Stelter, whose CNN show “Reliable Sources” has sounded a drumbeat of concern over Trump’s lying and the responsibility of journalists to hold him accountable, has refused to buy into the idea that post-truth is real. Why? Because, according to one of his recent tweets, “… a country is only ‘post-truth’ if its citizens give up. I see the opposite happening.”
This is not only bad punditry, but also bad philosophy. To say that we are in a post-truth era does not mean that no one believes in truth; it means that despite the fact that millions may care about truth, we feel helpless watching the standards of truth and accountability erode before our eyes, as Trump and his minions assert with impunity that illegal immigration is at an all-time high (when it isn’t) or that American tariffs will be paid by foreign citizens (rather than our own).
In a recent interview in Vox entitled “Does America Have a Post-Truth Problem?” philosopher Simon Blackburn argues—on grounds similar to Stelter—that “we can never really be post-truth.” But this is absurd. It is like saying that the USA could not possibly have a crisis with police brutality because so many Americans are concerned about police brutality. Post-truth represents a cultural shift. It is an alarm call that the truth is in danger, not a pronouncement that the battle for truth is over.
In this, one should accept the fact that truth is threatened not just by those who deny it, but also by those who refuse to take truth denial seriously, and so abet the deniers by claiming there is little to worry about so long as some of us are fighting back.
Informal logic teaches the “fallacy of division,” which occurs when someone assumes that because a thing is true of the whole, it must be true of all its members. For example: “The USA is the richest country in the world, therefore all of its citizens must be rich.” By elementary logical syntax, one realizes that an equivalent way of saying this is “if there are some Americans who aren’t rich, then the USA couldn’t be the richest country in the world.” Yet doesn’t this strike a chord with the claim that “if there are still some people who value truth, we couldn’t possibly be living in a post-truth era”?
Truth can be threatened despite the fact that many of us believe in it. We should not deny facts, truth, and reality, but neither should we deny the threat to facts, truth, and reality posed by those who would subvert truth for political purposes. Indeed if we refuse to take the denial of truth seriously—if we deny the deniers—can we really be said to have cared about truth in the first place?
Lee McIntyre is a Research Fellow at the Center for Philosophy and History of Science at Boston University and a Lecturer in Ethics at Harvard Extension School. He is the author of Post-Truth (MIT Press, 2018). | https://mitpress.mit.edu/post-truth-denial/ |
This paper provides an empirical, comparative exploration of the role of analytic frameworks in interpreting and modelling visual analytics behavior through data gathered in observational studies. The crucial research on understanding the complex and multi-faceted interplay between visual analytics tools and their users is often done through controlled or naturalistic observations of analysts engaging in the visual analytic process, followed by the interpretation of the observation data. The researchers in Human Computer Interaction and Cognitive Sciences have long used structured analytic frameworks for such analyses, where a guiding set of principles and questions direct attention to relevant aspects of the studied behavior, eventually leading to more complete and consistent analyses. Such frameworks are rarely applied in the visualization domain however, and information about how to apply them and their benefits is scarce. With this paper, we contribute a comparative account, grounded in empirical data collected in a user study with 10 participants using Tableau to analyze domain-specific data, of the types of insights we can glean from interpreting observational data using three different frameworks: Joint Action Theory, Distributed Cognition, and Situated Cognition.
|Publication Type:||Conference or Workshop Item (Paper)|
|Additional Information:||Except where otherwise noted, this item's license is described as Attribution 4.0 International License|
|Subjects:||Q Science > QA Mathematics > QA75 Electronic computers. Computer science|
|Departments:||School of Science & Technology > Computer Science
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School of Science & Technology > Computer Science > giCentre
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Available under License Creative Commons Attribution. | https://openaccess.city.ac.uk/id/eprint/24171/ |
Topics/aims: In continuation of the tradition of the last two LSP Symposia, the editorial team of the journal Fachsprache wants to convene a forum for early-stage researchers. The forum is designed for graduate students, junior researchers as well as post-docs from the wider field of studies in specialised communication. The aim of the forum is to provide a platform for early-stage researchers to introduce their research plans, adress their methodology or discuss other relevant issues of their research. A panel of senior researchers will provide their comments on the short statement presentations and share their experiences and views.
Topic/aims: When access to increasingly bigger electronic corpora became possible in the nineties, British and Canadian terminologists in particular began taking an interest in certain linguistic cues pointing to specific terminological information. Manifested in text in predictable, recurring patterns, they are thus suitable for use in approaches to (semi-)automatic information retrieval.
The workshop is supported by IITF (International Institute for Terminology Research).
WS3: Interdisciplinary approaches to climate change communication and LSP. young researchers' workshop (PhD candidates & post docs).
Topics/aims: Climate change is a complex issue subject to public debate across the globe, as well as an object of study for disciplines ranging from the humanities to the natural sciences. As such, climate change communication is carried out across a wide range of media and text genres, digital as well as non-digital. The multifaceted quality of climate change discourses, which include everything from technological and scientific terminology to political and moral language use, raises a number of issues relevant to and important for LSP research.
The complexities of climate change pose a number of questions related to the status of expert and non-expert voices and discourses in this field. To what extent are knowledge and terminology originating in scientific discourse and policy documents disseminated in popular science and media? To what extent do political discourse and popular science genres contribute back to scientific language use, through the generation of new terms and framings of the issues?
Moreover, the increasing use of digital genres, including social media, further complicates the status of expert vs non-expert discourses. To what extent do these communication channels influence climate change communication in terms of framing and language use?
We welcome paper presentations (20 minutes + discussion) from young researchers (PhD candidates and post docs) who are interested in aspects of climate change communication.
Topics/aims: This workshop’s topic is to explore and discuss the compilation and application of different kinds of legal and economic corpora and to assess their utility for specialised translation.
Topic/aims: War is a disharmonious process that separates individuals and peoples, while forcing them simultaneously into new, closer interaction. Wars, like other conflicts, know no linguistic boundaries and, while they are ongoing, the organization’s internal linguistic activities are directed both by pre-standardized practices of specialized communication and practices that are shaped by the situation. As an instrument of interaction, language is at the core of war: it helps people to plan, direct, monitor, document and assess their own activities in cooperation with their allies, to seek information about the enemy and build peace through negotiations (cf. Footitt & Kelly 2012). Furthermore, on a methodological level, languages and people with linguistic skills can be seen as a gateway for the analyses of how cultures intertwine in times of conflict.
WS6: How to Achieve Innovative, Inclusive and Fit-for-Market Specialised Translator Training?
Topic/aims: This interactive workshop has the format of a world café. It addresses specialised translator training and the preparation of prospective specialised translators for the requirements of the market.
After a short welcome and introduction by the host, the participants form groups. Each group discusses one of the topics at a table. Thus the questions mentioned above guide the conversations. The participants can write their insights or key information on the flipchart paper that is available on the table. After a 20-minute conversation, the members of the group move to different tables (according to their interests). Preferably, there will be a table host who informs the next group about the results of the previous conversation.
The final step is the presentation of the flipchart papers and the sharing of insights with the entire group of participants. The host sums up everything in the end and provides suggestions for further research and action.
Topic/aims: From the very beginning of its development the Cognitive-communicative linguistic research was aimed at cognitive and communicative function explanation in discourse. The cognitive function presupposes the description of linguistic knowledge and their peculiarities corresponding to internal, mental processes of an individual. This perspective presupposes the study of the linguistic and conceptual pictures of the world. The communicative function incorporates not only the human knowledge about the world and the use of linguistic forms, but also pays attention to the communicative activity, the role of participants taking part in it, social and cultural conditions of the speech activity of a person in some particular communicative situation.
Topic/aims: Over the past 17 years, the Trans-Atlantic & Pacific Project (TAPP) has connected 29 universities in 16 countries on four continents, linking writing classes to usability testing and translation studies classes in collaborative projects. The TAPP spread rapidly during the era of globalization, allowing students to gain insights to each other’s cultures and languages, as well as each other’s work processes. At European Symposia for LSP in 2009 and 2011, TAPP members presented panels describing their projects, and in 2013, conducted a half-day workshop/colloquium so that symposium attendees could learn how to join the TAPP or run collaborative projects on their own. This year, the TAPP proposes to run another half-day workshop/colloquium, this time with a view to how to run and gain support for international collaborative projects in a political environment of rising nationalism. | https://www.nhh.no/en/calendar/professional-and-intercultural-communication/2017/21st-conference-on-language-for-specific-purposes/workshops/ |
Culture plays an important role in our everyday lives, yet the study of cultural processes and their impact on thinking and behavior is still in its infancy. Research in anthropology generally lacks the clarity and specificity of cognitive processes and is therefore usually ignored by most psychologists. On the other hand, most cognitive research in psychology either ignores culture as an important factor to be taken into account or treats culture as yet another independent variable. Recent trends indicate an increasing interest in ‘cultureߣ as a topic of psychological inquiry. Culture and Cognition: Implications for Theory and Methods combines the study of culture with an understanding of relevant cognitive processes and the challenge of studying high-level cognition as embedded into culture. Author Norbert Ross engages both anthropology and psychology, with the belief that any successful research in culture and cognition must embrace insights from both fields.
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Front Matter
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Chapters
- Chapter 1: Culture and Cognition: Ethnography of the Mind—A Cognitive Approach to Culture
- Chapter 2: Cultural Studies and Comparative Design
- The Logic of Cultural Studies
- Cross-Cultural Studies and Comparative Design
- Chapter 3: Toward a Cognitive Theory of Culture
- The Problem with Culture, Folk Beliefs, Scientific Concepts, and Their (Ab-)Use
- The Authenticity Crisis of Cultural Concepts: Cultural Differences and Different Cultures
- Culture as Socially Transmitted Models
- Toward a Cognitive Theory of Culture
- Ecological Knowledge among Menominee Native Americans and U.S. Majority Culture Fish Experts
- The Sharing of Culture and the Exploration of Cultural Differences
- Public and Private Culture: The Emergence of Shared Meaning
- Chapter 4: Research Methods: Data Gathering
- The Experimental Design
- Selection of Informants and Sample Size
- Presentation of Stimuli
- Scientific Methods and the Role of Participant Observation
- Research Design and Field Methods
- Experimental Methods in the Field: Data Collection
- Free Listing, Saliency, and the Definition of Domains
- Question Answer Frames, True/False Questions, and Sentence Frame Techniques
- Triad Comparison
- Pile Sorting: The Hierarchical Sorting of Elements
- Rating Tasks
- Ranking
- Eliciting Relationships between the Elements
- Induction and Reasoning Tasks
- Property Projection Task
- Category-Based Reasoning
- Cognition and Observational Studies
- Social Network Analysis and Informant Agreement
- The Network Perspective
- Social Network Concepts and Eliciting Methods
- Chapter 5: Patterns of Informant Agreement: Some Analytical Implications
- Informant Agreement/Disagreement
- The Basic Analysis
- Correlational Agreement Analysis
- The Weighted Similarity Measure
- Adjustment for Guessing
- Agreement Pattern and Residual Analysis
- Cultural Consensus and Informant Agreement
- Informant Competence and Residual Analysis
- Chapter 6: Combining Strengths: Toward a New Science of Culture
- Schemata, Cultural Models, and Consensus
- A New Ethnography and an Enhanced Cognitive Science
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Back Matter
- Loading... | https://sk.sagepub.com/books/culture-and-cognition |
Four ways to study visitor behavior
Museums, zoos, theme parks, and aquariums all observe the behavior of their visitors in order to find the best ways to entertain and educate.
A coding scheme to capture interactive behaviors during triadic consultations
The research team of Yuan developed and refined a coding scheme which can serve as a tool to identify specific triadic communicative strategies that are effective in improving children’s engagement and reducing distress.
The role of parent-child interaction on child development
When children face cognitive and motor delays, they are often unable to reach developmental milestones at the expected times. Does this influence the interactive behaviors of parents and children?
Why use video feedback in education
By using video and audio recordings in education, students and educators can receive, and benefit from, direct feedback.
Eating behaviors in children: how is looking related to consumption?
Is time spent looking at food related to eating behavior? Researcher Lundquist and her colleagues studied the relationship between delayed gratification and consumption of food.
Parenting behaviors and executive function in Down syndrome
Understanding more about developmental delays in Down syndrome is vital in developing targeted interventions. In this study, the relationship between parenting behaviors and executive function was examined.
Improving patient safety
We all agree that communication in the operating room is essential. It saves time and ensures a better quality of patient care. Using the WHO Surgical Safety Checklist supports this. How can we learn to use this checklist?
Two examples of on-site observational studies with older persons
In certain cases, observations for your study are best performed on-site. In this blog, we describe examples of observational studies with older age groups, conducted at home or at a healthcare facility.
What does an infant’s gaze tell us about how hungry they feel?
McNally and her colleagues developed a coding scheme to observe infant gaze behavior and applied it in a study of complementary feeding.
Serious gaming reduces anxiety in children
What is the effectiveness of the applied game called MindLight in teaching children how to cope with anxiety? Wols et al. investigated this game-based intervention. | https://www.noldus.com/blog/topic/video-observation?page=3 |
The Homologation team at Zoox Is responsible for identifying the applicable safety and emissions requirements, working with the engineering teams (HW and SW) to deliver designs and performance that meet the requirements, documenting our compliance, preparing submissions to government agencies, representing Zoox in meetings with government officials, and supporting the development of applicable processes to maintain our certification.
As Technical Program Manager (TPM), you will work with the homologation team to identify the long lead items for testing, schedule testing, help coordinate the preparation for the test campaign, work with SW teams to identify required content and release dates to support homologation testing and delivery, attend change control meetings to flag potential impact to homologation, and work to develop the processes to automate ‘flagging’ of homologation impacts. You will also be responsible for tracking the delivery of the test reports, creating dashboards to show progress and status, and preparing presentations for cross-functional meetings. This is a highly cross-functional role, requiring constant communication with FW, SW, HW, vehicle integration, and product teams; a key task is to propagate lessons learned among these teams to improve efficiency and execution of subsequent homologation phases.
Responsibilities
- You will support the homologation engineers with planning test campaigns, including working with other teams to assure that the required HW and SW are delivered.
- You will manage the budget for the homologation team, submitting PRs and closing out invoices.
- You will communicate challenges and identify program risks while proactively developing mitigation plans.
- You will develop new or improve existing processes to support homologation and having a homologated vehicle fleet.
- You will work with cross-functional teams to drive open questions and issues to closure.
- You will develop schedules based on company milestones and ensure that projects remain on track.
- You will establish standard reports to provide concise and effective communications to key stakeholders on program status, issues/risks, and accomplishments, and present them to the executive team.
- You will lead the change management review for homologation.
Qualifications
- BS or MS in an engineering discipline or equivalent experience
- Experience: 3+ years of engineering and 3+ years of program management
- Accurate written and verbal communication skills
- Track record in managing complex cross-functional projects
- Proficient in tools required to manage complex projects (i.e. JIRA, Gantt charts)
- Ability to create and maintain dashboards, slide decks, and media for report outs
- Experience with SW release management
Bonus Qualifications
- Automotive or aerospace experience
- Manufacturing experience
- Regulatory compliance experience
Vaccine Mandate
Employees working in this position will be required to have received a single dose of the J&J/Janssen COVID-19 vaccine OR have completed the two-dose Pfizer or Moderna vaccine series. In addition, employees will be required to receive a COVID-19 booster vaccine by the earlier of (1) April 15 or (2) within two months of becoming eligible for the booster vaccine.
Employees will be required to show proof of vaccination status upon receipt of a conditional offer of employment. That offer of employment will be conditioned upon, among other things, an Applicant’s ability to show proof of vaccination status. Please note the Company provides reasonable accommodations in accordance with applicable state, federal, and local laws.
About Zoox
Zoox is developing the first ground-up, fully autonomous vehicle fleet and the supporting ecosystem required to bring this technology to market. Sitting at the intersection of robotics, machine learning, and design, Zoox aims to provide the next generation of mobility-as-a-service in urban environments. We’re looking for top talent that shares our passion and wants to be part of a fast-moving and highly execution-oriented team.
A Final Note:
You do not need to match every listed expectation to apply for this position. Here at Zoox, we know that diverse perspectives foster the innovation we need to be successful, and we are committed to building a team that encompasses a variety of backgrounds, experiences, and skills.
Related Open Positions
Homologation Engineer
Homologation Engineer
Contains in Qualifications
- Full-time
- Foster City, CA
- All Levels
Director, Vehicle Systems Integration
Director, Vehicle Systems Integration
Contains in Qualifications
- Full-time
- Foster City, CA
- Leadership
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Copyright Zoox, Inc. 2021. All Rights Reserved.
NEXT : | https://zoox.com/careers/job-opportunity/?job=5710ba81-17c6-476f-9b58-dac31fa5dd46 |
A group of people who interact through electronic communications
A virtual team, also known as a geographically dispersed team or a remote team, is a group of people who interact through electronic communications. Members of a virtual team are usually located in different geographical regions. Since communication is not in-person, trust and good communication are crucial to the success of a virtual team.
Company A, a plane manufacturer, is facing heavy pressure from competitors. To address the issue, Company A connects experts from the United States, Canada, Asia, and Europe to collaborate and create a new innovative plane design.
There are several types of virtual teams depending on the lifespan, objective, goals, and roles of members.
Networked teams are composed of cross-functional members brought together to share their expertise and knowledge on a specific issue. Membership is fluid in that new members are added whenever necessary while existing members are removed when their role is complete.
Parallel teams are generally formed by members of the same organization to develop recommendations in a process or system. Parallel teams are usually formed for a short period of time, and membership is constant in that members of a parallel team remain intact until the goal is realized.
Product development teams are composed of experts from different parts of the world to perform a specifically outlined task, such as the development of a new product, information system, or organizational process. For example, bringing in a team of experts from the United States, Canada, and Hong Kong for a period of one year to develop a new engine.
Production teams are formed from members of one role coming together to perform regular and ongoing work. Members of a production team are given clearly defined roles and work independently. The individual outputs of each member are combined to produce the end result.
Service teams are formed by members from different time zones. Each member does work independently, but the work produced by each member is a continuation of the previous member. For example, customer support teams in Canada finish their shift while support teams in Asia start their shift and continue the work.
Management teams are formed by managers of the same organization who work in different geographical regions. Members of management teams largely discuss corporate-level strategies.
Action teams are formed for a very short duration of time to respond to immediate problems. Upon resolving the problem, the team is adjourned.
There are several advantages of a virtual team such as:
There are several disadvantages of a virtual team such as:
CFI is a leading provider of financial modeling courses for investment banking professionals. To help you advance your career, check out the additional CFI resources below: | https://corporatefinanceinstitute.com/resources/management/virtual-team/ |
CMS Releases Final 60-Day Overpayment Rule
On February 12, 2016, nearly four years after publishing a proposed rule, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) released a final rule implementing Section 6402(a) of the Affordable Care Act (the “Final Rule”) which provides for a 60-day timeline for reporting and returning overpayments. The Final Rule requires providers to report and return overpayments by: (1) 60 days after the overpayment is identified; or (2) the date on which the corresponding cost report is due, whichever is later. There are several notable differences from the proposed rule, including a revised lookback period and clarification of “identification” of an overpayment. The Final Rule is effective March 14, 2016.
Identification.
The proposed rule stated that an overpayment was “identified” if a person has actual knowledge of the existence of the overpayment or acts in reckless disregard or deliberate ignorance of the overpayment. CMS received many comments about this standard and, in particular, questions regarding the types of actions that must be taken in order for an overpayment to be “identified.” For example, many commenters questioned whether an overpayment could be “identified” if it was not yet quantified.
The Final Rule states that an overpayment is “identified” when the person has or should have, through the exercise of “reasonable diligence,” determined that the person has received an overpayment and quantified the amount of the overpayment. If a person does not exercise reasonable diligence, the 60-day timeline begins on the date the person received credible information about the overpayment. Reasonable diligence means proactive compliance activities to monitor claims and reactive investigative activities undertaken in response to receiving credible information about a potential overpayment.
The Final Rule also clarified that part of the identification process includes quantification of the overpayment. Quantification could include statistical sampling, extrapolation, and other appropriate methodologies.
CMS included a six-month benchmark for the reasonable diligence period. This means, absent extraordinary circumstances, providers must complete an investigation of a potential overpayment within six months after receiving information about the potential overpayment. CMS believes a total of eight months (six months for the investigation and 60 days to report and return the overpayment) is a reasonable amount of time to determine and repay known overpayments.
Lookback Period.
CMS originally proposed a 10-year lookback period, to be consistent with the False Claims Act statute of limitations. CMS received many comments from the health care industry stating that a 10-year lookback period would be costly and burdensome. The Final Rule provides for a six year lookback period – meaning that overpayments must be reported and returned if they have been identified within six years of the date the overpayment was received.
In the comments to the Final Rule, CMS noted that, under the Self-Referral Disclosure Protocol (SRDP) used to self-report Stark law violations, CMS is currently authorized to receive four years of financial analysis. CMS intends to seek authorization from the Office of Management and Budget to collect information for a six year period. Until then, when self-reporting under the SRDP, there is no obligation to disclose analysis for the fifth and sixth years.
How to Report and Return Overpayments.
Under the Final Rule, overpayments must be reported and returned to the Secretary of Health and Human Services, an intermediary, a carrier, or a Medicare contractor. Overpayments may be reported and returned using a voluntary refund process (for example, the Office of Inspector General’s (“OIG”) Self-Disclosure Protocol or the SRDP). Alternatively, there are contractor-specific processes for reporting refunds, claims adjustments, and credit balances. Providers should become familiar with such processes and contractor-specific instructions.
For providers reporting an overpayment under the OIG Self-Disclosure Protocol or the SRDP, the deadline to return the overpayment will be suspended when the OIG or CMS acknowledges receipt of the protocol submission. The repayment obligation will then be suspended until a settlement is reached, the provider withdraws from the protocol, or the provider is removed from the protocol by the OIG or CMS.
Conclusion.
Failure to monitor for or investigate potential overpayments could result in significant liability under the False Claims Act, potential civil monetary penalties, and exclusion. Therefore, as part of a robust compliance program, health care providers should continue to undertake timely, good faith efforts to monitor and investigate the receipt of potential overpayments. Upon receipt of credible information about a potential overpayment, providers must work diligently, and without unreasonable delay, to investigate and refund the potential overpayment. | https://www.bairdholm.com/blog/cms-releases-final-60-day-overpayment-rule/ |
The college does not provide products that can be returned.
In the event of an accidental overpayment a full refund will be issued. Please follow the instructions below. There will be no time restrictions applied to your notifying the office of your error. Please allow the office up to fourteen (14) days to confirm your overpayment and issue the refund. The payment will be made according to terms 1 to 3 below.
After a submission of an application for membership, you feel the need to withdraw said application, you must do so in writing. Please state your reason for revoking the application.
Notice of intention to withdraw application must be received at the administration office within fourteen (14) days of date of submission for a full refund to be approved.
All refunds are to be at the discretion of the College. If the application for membership has been processed by the College then the College reserves the right to charge an administration fee out of the application fee or prior to refund.
In the event of member retirement from medical practice due to disability or death, the college may at its discretion make a partial refund of current year annual fees on request in writing with reason for discontinuation stated.
In the case of a mailed or delivered (Australia Post or courier) submission: The date the item was received or delivered to the office of administration.
If the original payment was paid by cheque or direct credit to the CPCA bank account, then the refund must made payable to same payer and be paid into the same bank account from which the payment originated*.
If the application fee was paid via credit card then the refund can only be processed back to that same credit card from which the payment originated*.
* You will be required to provide proof of payment method as some payment specific details (i.e. credit card numbers) are not captured and stored.
Please allow the office up to fourteen (14) days to confirm your payment and issue the refund. | https://cpca.net.au/refund-and-returns-policy/ |
CMS Relaxes 60-Day Repayment/Self-Disclosure Rule
On February 11, 2016, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) released the highly anticipated Final Rule regarding the Reporting and Returning of Overpayments. The Final Rule provides some clarity and resolves some unanswered questions and conflicting opinions regarding overpayments, including what constitutes "identification" of an overpayment and the length of a lookback period. As explained in more detail below, the Final Rule establishes that a person (defined as a provider or a supplier) must report and return an overpayment within 60 days of the identification and quantification of that overpayment. In addition, the Final Rule establishes the lookback period for such reporting and returning as six years; rather than the earlier proposed ten year lookback. The Final Rule is effective on March 14, 2016 and is not retroactive.
By way of background, the Affordable Care Act (ACA) established new section 1128J(d) of the Social Security Act, requiring a person who received an overpayment to report and return that overpayment, and to report in writing the reasons for the overpayment, to the appropriate party within 60 days of the later of the identification of the overpayment or the date any corresponding cost report is due.1 If not repaid or disclosed within 60 days, the overpayment constituted an "obligation" and liability under the False Claims Act, Civil Money Penalties Law and could lead to exclusion. These overpayments are commonly referred to as "reverse false claims." Adding confusion, the ACA did not define what constituted "identification," nor did it define the lookback period that would apply when an overpayment was identified. As such, providers struggled to find consistency in determining when an overpayment was "identified," and once identified, how far back they should extend their investigation. CMS issued a Proposed Rule four years ago and deferred issuing the Final Rule for over a year; thus the anxious anticipation for final guidance.
The Final Rule resolves both of those questions. Under this Rule, an overpayment is “identified” when a person has or should have, through the exercise of reasonable diligence, determined that the person has received an overpayment and quantified the amount of the overpayment. The CMS responses to comments clarify that "reasonable diligence" includes both proactive compliance activities conducted in good faith by qualified individuals to monitor for the receipt of overpayments and investigations conducted in good faith in a timely manner by qualified individuals in response to obtaining credible information of a potential overpayment. Part of reasonable diligence includes conducting an audit to determine whether an overpayment exists and to quantify that overpayment, and when a single overpayment is identified, CMS believes it is appropriate to do a further inquiry to determine whether there are more overpayments on the same issue before reporting and returning the single overpaid claim.
CMS established the benchmark for a timely investigation as, at most, six months from the receipt of credible information (information that supports a reasonable belief that an overpayment may have been received). As such, absent extraordinary circumstances, the total time period for reporting and returning overpayments is eight months from the receipt of such information (i.e., six months for investigation and two months for reporting and returning any overpayment). CMS declined to establish a minimum threshold for reporting and returning overpayments.
The 60-day time period begins when the reasonable diligence is completed, and the overpayment is identified, or, in the failure to conduct reasonable diligence, on the date the person received credible information that an overpayment was received.2 This is an important clarification, in light of the prior inconsistencies in interpretation and case law such as Kane v. Healthfirst, which in the absence of such plain guidance from CMS had adopted an expansive definition of "identified" as being put on notice, and starting the 60-day clock ticking, when there was evidence of a "potential" overpayment.
CMS recognized that compliance programs will differ based on the size and setting of a particular provider, but advised that those providers who undertake no or minimal compliance activities to monitor Medicare claims can be exposing themselves to liability under this Final Rule, based on the failure to exercise reasonable diligence.
The Final Rule addresses the lookback period, setting that period at six years from the date the overpayment was received. This is a reduction from the previously proposed ten year period, based on the outer limit of the False Claims Act statute of limitations. The period of six years was selected because it remains consistent with the False Claims Act enforcement period and would not create an additional burden on providers who are required to retain records and claims data for at least six years.
The Final Rule does not change the process for reporting and returning overpayments. However, it does allow for additional processes beyond the voluntary refund process, including claims adjustment, credit balance, self-reported refund, or other appropriate process to report and return overpayments.
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1This time period is tolled for providers who elect to disclose conduct through the formal processes of the CMS Voluntary Self-Disclosure Reporting Protocol or the OIG Self-Disclosure Protocol. It is not tolled for disclosures to the DOJ or a MFCU.
2What constitutes "credible information" is a fact-specific determination, and can include hotline calls, RAC audits, Medicare contractor or OIG findings, etc. It does not include an error by a Medicare contractor in which the contractor identifies the error and adjusts claims to correct the error. | https://www.bipc.com/cms-relaxes-60-day-repayment/self-disclosure-rule |
The Department of Health and Human Services’ (HHS) Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), is set to publish a final rule that will provide some much needed relief to healthcare providers from the burdens of the so-called 60-Day Overpayment Rule. The final rule clarifies (1) the 60 day period for refunding overpayments is not triggered until both the fact and amount of an overpayment are known; (2) the standard for knowledge is not “actual knowledge,” but when the provider would have identified the overpayment had it exercised reasonable diligence; and (3) the manner in which the refund must be made.
The 60-Day Overpayment Rule is a product of the Affordable Care Act. The Affordable Care Act established a new section of the Social Security Act, Section 1128j(d)(1), which requires the recipient of an overpayment of dollars to report and return the overpayment within 60 days after the date on which the overpayment was identified.
The final rule applies to payments made only under Medicare Parts A and B. (CMS promulgated a separate rule for Medicare Parts C and D.) Unlike the proposed rule, which used an “actual knowledge” standard to define the term “identified,” the final rule establishes a “reasonable diligence” standard. Under the “reasonable diligence” standard, “a person has identified an overpayment when the person has or should have, through the exercise of reasonable diligence, determined both that the person has received an overpayment and quantified the amount of the overpayment.” This language also clarifies an ambiguity in the proposed rule, which did not define what it meant to identify an overpayment.
The final rule also establishes a six year limitation on a provider’s obligation to look back to identify overpayments. According to CMS, “Creating this standard for identification provides needed clarity and consistency for providers and suppliers on the actions they need to take to comply with requirements for reporting and returning of self-identified overpayments.” This limitation offers some certainty for providers concerning their obligation to affirmatively identify and repay overpayment. Exactly when an overpayment should have been discovered—through the exercise of reasonable diligence—is likely to be disputed between providers and the government.
Finally, the final rule provides, “providers and suppliers must use an applicable claims adjustment, credit balance, self-reported refund, or another appropriate process to satisfy the obligation to report and return overpayments.” The likely purpose of prescribing manner of repayment is to prevent providers from simply mailing in the repayment in the hope the agency does not become aware of a potentially more serious billing issue.
We previously reported on one case in which the government aggressively prosecuted a provider for violating the 60 day overpayment rule. Although it is now clearer that the exercise of “reasonable diligence” will shield a provider, it is unlikely that this final rule will at all deter the government from continuing to aggressively prosecute allegations of health care fraud and abuse. | https://www.sheppardhealthlaw.com/2016/02/articles/affordable-care-act-aca/cms-clarifies-60-day-overpayment-rule/ |
With a motion to dismiss pending in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York, United States of America ex rel. Kane v. Continuum Health Partners, Inc., Case No. 11-2325, is the False Claims Act (FCA) case to watch in 2015. It is the first “reverse false claims” case where the United States intervened, and its only allegation involves a failure to timely report and refund overpayments to the government.
In 2010, the Affordable Care Act (ACA) modified the FCA’s reverse false claims provision (31 U.S.C. § 3729(a)(1)(G)), making a party liable for failing to report and return an overpayment within 60 days of the date it is “identified.” See 42 U.S.C. § 1320a−7k(d). Five years after the passage of the ACA, however, it remains unclear what it means for an overpayment to be “identified,” thereby triggering the 60-day clock. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has not issued any guidance concerning refunding overpayments to Medicaid. In February 2012, CMS issued proposed regulations on this topic for Medicare Parts A and B, which it has yet to finalize. In fact, CMS just announced, on February 13, 2015, that it will delay its final guidance until at least February 2016—likely well after the district court issues its decision in Continuum Health.
According to the government’s complaint, filed on June 27, 2014, three hospitals in New York City operated by Continuum Health (which is now part of Mount Sinai Health System) submitted improper claims to Medicaid in 2009 and 2010, as a result of a glitch with its billing software. The New York State Comptroller first notified Continuum Health in September 2010 that it had erroneously billed Medicaid for a small number of claims. Continuum Health then conducted an internal investigation. On February 4, 2011, the relator e-mailed a spreadsheet to his superiors at Continuum Health with what he believed to be about 900 improperly-submitted claims resulting from the same software issue. Four days later, Continuum Health terminated the relator.
Over the next two years, Continuum Health refunded the overpayments associated with the initial list of 900 claims. The government alleges that Continuum Health made these refunds largely in response to continued inquiries from the NYS Comptroller about additional claims. And, it claims that Continuum Health refunded 300 of the overpayments only after it received a Civil Investigative Demand from the U.S. Department of Justice. Nonetheless, the government did not intervene in the case until a year after Continuum Health refunded all overpayments to Medicaid.
In its motion to dismiss, Continuum Health makes three arguments:
First, it contends that it had no “obligation” to report and refund the overpayments. The relator’s February 4, 2011, e-mail did not “identify” any overpayments, thereby triggering the 60-day clock. Rather, the e-mail was a preliminary list of potential overpayments that, by the relator’s own admission, required “further analysis to corroborate his findings.” According to Continuum Health, the government’s position that “mere notice of a potential but unconfirmed overpayment” will “identify” that overpayment is untenable. Indeed, 60 days is not enough time to complete the sort of complex factual investigation and legal analysis that is typically required to determine whether there is an actual overpayment.
Second, Continuum Health argues that, even if an “obligation” existed after the relator sent his e-mail, it did not knowingly “conceal” or “avoid” that obligation. Continuum Health argues that concealing and avoiding require affirmative action, not the failure to act.
Finally, Continuum Health claims that it does not have an obligation to repay the federal government, because Medicaid is operated at the state level. Consequently, any alleged failure to report and refund overpayments does not create liability under the FCA.
The government responds to Continuum Health’s arguments in turn.
First, it argues that when construing the term “identified,” the court should look to CMS guidance concerning refunding overpayments to Medicare Advantage and Part D. Under that guidance, a healthcare provider “has identified an overpayment” when it “has determined, or should have determined through the exercise of reasonable diligence, that [it] has received an overpayment.” According to the government, Continuum Health failed to act with reasonable diligence after it received the relator’s e-mail. The government rejects Continuum Health’s interpretation of “identified”—claiming that it allows the provider to choose when, or even if, to start the 60-day clock, despite how much information it possesses concerning the overpayment.
Second, the government argues that Continuum Health “knowingly avoid[ed]” its repayment obligation because, after it learned that it received overpayments, it “failed to take remotely reasonable steps to return those funds to Medicaid.”
Finally, the government contends that the FCA has always reached Medicaid claims. Indeed, according to the government, the ACA defines “overpayment” to specifically include overpayments to Medicaid.
Although briefing closed with Continuum Health’s reply on December 8, 2014, for healthcare providers throughout the United States, many issues remain open. With further CMS guidance on the meaning of “identified” delayed for another year, the decision in Continuum Health will likely provide the first guidance about what the law requires. We will continue to monitor this case and keep you updated. | https://www.fcaupdate.com/2015/02/fca-enforcement-action-to-watch-government-intervened-in-reverse-false-claims-case/ |
On Feb. 11, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (“CMS”) issued a final rule implementing section 1128(J) of the Affordable Care Act, which requires health-care providers and suppliers to repay an overpayment and notify various entities of the overpayment by the later of 60 days of identifying an overpayment or the date any corresponding cost report is due. In a previous law update, we reported on the initial version of this rule as proposed by CMS. The final rule clarifies the requirements to report and return self-identified overpayments, and it relaxes certain provisions in the proposed rule.
The final rule clarifies that a provider or supplier has identified an overpayment when it has, or should have through the exercise of reasonable diligence, determined that it received an overpayment and when it has quantified the amount of the overpayment. This is an improvement over the proposed rule, which contemplated that the 60-day clock starts running regardless of whether and when the provider has its arms around the amount of the overpayment. It is also a more moderate approach than the one recently taken by the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York in Kane v. Healthfirst, Inc. et al. The final rule also specifically permits a provider or supplier to use statistical sampling methodology to calculate the amount of the overpayment.
The final rule states that an overpayment need only be reported and returned if a provider or supplier identifies the overpayment within six years of receiving the payment. This is consistent with the more common six-year statute of limitations under the Federal False Claims Act, and it represents a concession by CMS over the 10-year lookback period in the proposed rule.
The final rule states that if a provider or supplier identifies an overpayment, it must use an applicable claims adjustment, credit balance, self-reported refund or other reporting process to satisfy its obligation to report and return overpayments. The provider or supplier may also satisfy the reporting obligation by making a disclosure under the OIG’s Self-Disclosure Protocol or the CMS Voluntary Self-Referral Disclosure Protocol, resulting in a settlement agreement using the process described in the respective protocol.
The final rule goes into effect on March 14, 2016.
If you have questions regarding the substance or effect of this rulemaking, please contact a member of Taft’s Health and Life Sciences group. | https://www.taftlaw.com/news-events/law-bulletins/cms-finalizes-a-slightly-relaxed-overpayment-report-and-return-rule |
FACTS:
On July 8, 2011, Univation Motor Philippines, Inc. (respondent) filed its amended Annual Income Tax Return (ITR) for 2010 showing a total gross income of ₱117,084,174.00 and an overpayment of income taxes amounting to ₱26,103,898.52. Respondent opted to claim its overpayment of income tax through the issuance of a tax credit certificate.
On March 12, 2012, respondent filed its administrative claim with the BIR explaining that the overpayment consists of prior year’s excess credits, less Minimum Corporate Income Tax and creditable withholding taxes accumulated during the four quarters of 2010. Respondent filed its Application for Tax Credit in the amount of ₱12,868,745.00.
Since the BIR has not yet acted upon respondent’s administrative claim, petitioner filed a Petition for Review with the CTA on April 12, 2013.
In its Answer, petitioner CIR raised the following special and affirmative defenses:
(a) respondent’s claim for refund is tainted with procedural infirmity due to petitioner’s failure to submit complete documents in support of its administrative claim for refund;
(b) petitioner miserably failed to exhaust administrative remedies before elevating the case to this Court; and
(c) claims for refund are construed strictly against the taxpayer and in favor of the government.
Respondent presented and formally offered its testimonial and documentary evidence which were all admitted. Petitioner CIR’s counsel manifested during hearing that he will no longer present any evidence.
On March 10, 2015, the CTA First Division rendered a Decision which partially granted respondent’s Petition for Review and ordered petitioner CIR to issue a tax credit certificate in the amount of P12,729,617.90 representing respondent’s unutilized or excess creditable withholding taxes for taxable year ending December 21, 2010.
Petitioner CIR filed a Motion for Reconsideration which was denied.
Petitioner CIR elevated the case to the CTA En Banc. Finding respondent’s documentary evidence as sufficient, the CTA En Banc issued the now appealed Decision affirming the Decision of the CTA First Division. Petitioner CIR moved to reconsider but just the same, its motion was denied.
Hence, this petition.
ISSUE:
Whether or not the respondent prematurely filed its judicial claim with the CTA depriving it of the opportunity to act on the administrative claim for refund/tax credit in violation of the doctrine of exhaustion of administrative remedies.
RULING:
Sections 204 and 229 of the National Internal Revenue Code (NIRC) provide for the refund of erroneously or illegally collected taxes. Section 204 applies to administrative claims for refund, while Section 229 to judicial claims for refund. Thus:
SEC. 204. Authority of the Commissioner to Compromise, Abate and Refund or Credit Taxes. — The Commissioner may —
x x x x
(c) Credit or refund taxes erroneously or illegally received or penalties imposed without authority, refund the value of internal revenue stamps when they are returned in good condition by the purchaser, and, in his discretion, redeem or change unused stamps that have been rendered unfit for use and refund their value upon proof of destruction. No credit or refund of taxes or penalties shall be allowed unless the taxpayer files in writing with the Commissioner a claim for credit or refund within two (2) years after the payment of the tax or penalty: Provided, however, That a return filed showing an overpayment shall be considered as a written claim for credit or refund.
Section 229 of the 1997 NIRC provides:
Sec. 229. Recovery of Tax Erroneously or Illegally Collected. — No suit or proceeding shall be maintained in any court for the recovery of any national internal revenue tax hereafter alleged to have been erroneously or illegally assessed or collected, or of any penalty claimed to have been collected without authority, of any sum alleged to have been excessively or in any manner wrongfully collected without authority, or of any sum alleged to have been excessively or in any manner wrongfully collected, until a claim for refund or credit has been duly filed with the Commissioner; but such suit or proceeding may be maintained, whether or not such tax, penalty, or sum has been paid under protest or duress.
In any case, no such suit or proceeding shall be filed after the expiration of two (2) years from the date of payment of the tax or penalty regardless of any supervening cause that may arise after payment. Provided, however, That the Commissioner may, even without a written claim therefor, refund or credit any tax, where on the face of the return upon which payment was made, such payment appears clearly to have been erroneously paid. (Emphasis supplied)
Indeed, the two-year period in filing a claim for tax refund is crucial. While the law provides that the two-year period is counted from the date of payment of the tax, jurisprudence, however, clarified that the two-year prescriptive period to claim a refund actually commences to run, at the earliest, on the date of the filing of the adjusted final tax return because this is where the figures of the gross receipts and deductions have been audited and adjusted, reflective of the results of the operations of a business enterprise. “Thus, it is only when the Adjustment Return covering the whole year is filed that the taxpayer would know whether a tax is still due or a refund can be claimed based on the adjusted and audited figures.”
In the instant case, the’ two-year period to file a claim for refund is reckoned from April 15, 2011, the date respondent filed its Final Adjustment Return. Since respondent filed its administrative claim on March 12, 2012 and its judicial claim on April 12, 2013, therefore, both of respondent’s administrative and judicial claim for refund were filed on time or within the two-year prescriptive period provided by law. Under the circumstances, if respondent awaited for the commissioner to act on its administrative claim (before resort to the Court), chances are, the two-year prescriptive period will lapse effectively resulting to the loss of respondent’s right to seek judicial recourse and worse, its right to recover the taxes it erroneously paid to the government. Hence, respondent’s immediate resort to the Court is justified.
Contrary to petitioner CIR’s assertion, there was no violation of the doctrine of exhaustion of administrative remedies. | https://www.pinayjurist.com/cir-v-univation-motor-philippines-inc-formerly-nissan-motor-philippines-inc-recovery-of-tax-erroneously-or-illegally-collected-administrative-and-judicial-remedies/ |
Experience shows that students who attend class perform better on exams and in the workforce. If you find that you are not able to continue attending any class, please consult with your faculty advisor. If you are unable to attend all of your classes and must withdraw from school, please review the withdrawal policy found below. Do not assume you will be automatically withdrawn from a class by not attending. If you stop attending without dropping or withdrawing by the deadline, you will likely receive a failing grade and will still be responsible for paying for the course.
Students who wish to officially withdraw from SLCC must complete the Withdrawal Form. It can also be found on LoLA under the Student Home tab. Official withdrawal is not complete until the withdrawal process is completed on LoLA or the Withdrawal Form is submitted to the Registrar. Keep in mind that simply ceasing attendance does not constitute an official withdrawal but will be considered an unofficial withdrawal. Students who withdraw officially or unofficially (stop attending classes without completing a withdrawal form) may be subject to repay Federal Student Aid funds received for the semester. Students who fail to officially withdrawal may also receive an F for each course for which an official withdrawal was not submitted.
The law specifies how SLCC must determine the amount of Title IV program assistance that you earn if you withdraw from school. The Title IV programs that are covered by this law are: Federal Pell Grants, Iraq and Afghanistan Service Grants, TEACH Grants, Stafford Loans, PLUS Loans, Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grants (FSEOGs) and Federal Perkins Loans.
If your Post-withdrawal disbursement includes loan funds, your school must get your permission before it can disburse them. You may choose to decline some or all of the loan funds so that you don’t incur additional debt. Your school may automatically use all or a portion of your Post-withdrawal disbursement of grant funds for tuition, fees, and room and board charges (as contracted with the school). The school needs your permission to use the Post-withdrawal grant disbursement for all other school charges. If you do not give your permission (some schools ask for this when you enroll), you will be offered the funds. However, it may be in your best interest to allow the school to keep the funds to reduce your debt at the school.
Any amount of unearned grant funds that you must return is called an overpayment. The maximum amount of a grant overpayment that you must repay is half of the grant funds you received or were scheduled to receive. You do not have to repay a grant overpayment if the original amount of the overpayment is $50 or less. Students must repay the overpayment to the school or the Department of Education within 45 days of notification of overpayment or they will be reported to NSLDS and referred to Debt Resolution Services for collections.
The requirements for Title IV program funds when you withdraw are separate from any refund policy that your school may have. Therefore, you may still owe funds to the school to cover unpaid institutional charges. Your school may also charge you for any Title IV program funds that the school was required to return. If you don’t already know what your school’s refund policy is, you can ask the Student Account Office for a copy.
If you have questions about your Title IV program funds, you can call the Federal Student Aid Information Center at 1-800-4-FEDAID (1-800-433-3243). TTY users may call 1-800-730-8913. Information is also available at Student Aid. | https://www.solacc.edu/financial-aid/attendance-withdrawals |
This transaction is used for manually entering receipts that are considered overpayments.
In most cases the Overpayment is created automatically when you enter an invoice payment that is larger than the outstanding amount.
If the receipt relates to an issued customer invoice, enter a Customer Invoice Payment.
If the receipt relates to the refund of a supplier credit note, enter a Supplier Refund.
The transaction can also be used for entering advances or deposits. Please note however that certain deposits received from customers require VAT to be declared based on the date the deposit is received. The Overpayment functionality does not currently facilitate this requirement.
Entering an Overpayment
The receipt should be entered as a Receive Money transaction. Navigate to the Banking tab and initiate the transaction from one of the following areas:
- Overview - click the Receive button for the appropriate bank account.
- Transactions - select the appropriate bank account and then click on the Receive Money button.
- Bank Imports - import a bank statement or process an incoming amount from an existing bank statement.
Proceed to complete the transaction as follows:
- Type: Select Overpayment from Customer.
- Date: The date that the receipt took place. This defaults to the current date unless you are processing a bank statement in which case it's the date provided by the bank for the line item.
- Contact: Use the drop down list to select the appropriate contact. This field is automatically entered if you are processing a bank statement using an import rule. If the contact has not already been set up, click on the Add New button to create a new contact.
- Reference: Enter any relevant information you may require e.g. cheque number.
- Description: Enter a description of the receipt.
- Amount: Enter the amount of the receipt. This field is automatically entered if you are processing a bank statement.
- Notes: Enter information applicable to the entire receipt.
Click the Save button to complete the Overpayment Receipt.
Allocating the Overpayment to an invoice
You may wish to allocate the overpayment to a new or existing invoice at a later date. Please see Allocate Overpayment to Invoice.
Notes
Overpayments from Customers will save values to the Accounts Receivable nominal account and therefore appear in the Aged Receivables report and Customer Statements.
Automatic overpayments created when an invoice is paid will result in two separate bank transactions being created. One line reflects the amount of the invoice/s allocated and one line represents that amount ot the overpayment. | https://accountsportal.zendesk.com/hc/en-us/articles/115000908246-Overpayment-From-Customer |
West Africa Times | Serving The Community Since 2001 | Page 4
Is Democracy In Africa A ‘Dictatorship Of The Majority’?.
By Mebeelo Kafungwa
What is a democracy?
Africa’s democracy in practice is not as theory tells it.
A n A f r i c a n democracy is said to by the people, for the people, democratically elected and with liberal ideals espoused by western democratic nations. Perhaps it is just the political systems within the countries. This article exposes on a new language in governance being referred to us a “dictatorship of the majority?”
It has existed in Africa since post-colonial times. This is a democracy with only a small group of people rotating the leadership circle to govern a nation, and yet they still earn their power through the “democratic process”.
It is leadership with the same network of people having access to stand for or be nominated for the presidency or any other high-profile leader ship position because they are part of a majority or willing to die for a ruling government agenda.
Op - Ed
One would think that after decades of i n d e p e n d e n c e a n d adoption of democratic systems of governance, Africa would be well established into a real democracy.
Yet to the contrary, a high amount of evidence and examples of ‘dictatorship of the majority’ can be drawn from most of the African nations, including, but not limited to, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Botswana, Kenya, South Africa, Democratic Republic of Congo, Cameroon, Angola, Equatorial Guinea, and Malawi. Thus, it is worth noting that although
c u r r e n t l e a d e r s throughout Africa may have been elected through a democratic process, the governments are not creating opportunities for their populations, because what the leaders care about is shaping a power that can protect their own interests throughout their tenure in office and beyond.
It is unfortunate that not all elected officials in African countries have the passion and hope like the founders of most nations during the liberation struggle ofmost African countries
from colonialism. | https://www.westafricatimes.com/4 |
It is now apparent that the United States under the new Biden administration will continue to adopt a tough stance toward China. In March, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken chose Japan and South Korea as the first countries he visited after assuming office. Together with Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin, he held 2+2 meetings with the foreign and defense ministers of these two countries. On his way home, Blinken joined National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan in Anchorage for a meeting of top U.S.-China foreign affairs officials with Yang Jiechi, member of the Political Bureau of the Central Committee of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), and Wang Yi, state councilor and foreign minister. Following their trip to Japan and South Korea, Austin also visited India while Blinken went to Europe. In April, President Joe Biden welcomed Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga as his first official guest. Immediately after the start of the new administration, the U.S. has set out to strengthen relations with its allies and partners with China in mind.
Meanwhile, China has also been active on the diplomatic front. After the U.S.-China meeting of top diplomats in Anchorage, Wang met with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov in Guilin, followed by a visit to six Middle East nations. He signed a 25-year agreement on economic and security cooperation with Iran. After returning home, Wang invited the foreign ministers of four Southeast Asian countries and South Korea to China for intensive talks. China has also begun to strengthen relations with friendly countries and neighbors to counter the U.S. moves.
In the past year, the Xi Jinping regime was able to drum up domestic support, having succeeded in the speedy containment of the COVID-19. On the other hand, its international image has suffered as a result of lack of transparency in its initial response to the epidemic and its aggressive diplomatic posture under its “wolf warrior diplomacy.” During this period, growing concern in the international community regarding the introduction of the National Security Law in Hong Kong and human rights issues in the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region has led to a tough stance against China not only in the U.S., but also in the major European countries. China responded by providing masks and vaccines to the developing countries in a bid to strengthen cooperation with them. Additionally, China’s signing of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) comprised mainly of East Asian countries and the Comprehensive Agreement on Investment with the EU can also be seen as China’s attempt to use its economic power as leverage to break down the network of U.S. allies.
It must be noted that recently, China is not only engaged in a diplomatic competition, but also in an ideological competition, asserting the legitimacy of its political regime. It is now taking an even stronger position in openly challenging the current international order founded on Western Values. This article aims to examine China’s worldview in its intensifying rivalry with the U.S. and what sort of international order it envisions by looking at Wang Yi’s news conference at the National People’s Congress (NPC) in March, Yang Jiechi’s subsequent statements at the Anchorage meeting, and other recent remarks by Chinese foreign affairs officials.
2．News Conference at the NPC on Foreign Affairs
A news conference is held by the foreign minister for the Chinese and foreign media each year during the NPC, and this is a good opportunity for understanding the overall policy of the Chinese foreign affairs authorities. This year, it was held online on March 7. In recent years, it is customary for the foreign minister to answer questions from the major Chinese media outlets at the beginning to revisit China’s diplomacy in the past year in order to publicize the positive results of China’s diplomatic activities as a major power among the Chinese people. The 2018 press conference started with brazen sycophancy toward the authorities in a question from a Renmin Ribao reporter, who stated that “China has made unprecedented major achievements, and the people are signing praises.” Even the Chinese reporter seated beside her did not bother to hide her disdain, and this episode went viral. Yet, at that time, liberal intellectuals who were concerned about the pervasive triumphant atmosphere in China were still able to voice their opinion.
What was notable in this year’s news conference is that Wang Yi cited “President Xi Jinping’s leadership” much more frequently than before. In addition, he made it a point to mention the “party’s leadership” when answering prearranged questions. He stressed that, “The CCP is the backbone of the Chinese people and the anchor of China's diplomacy,” and that, “The Party's leadership is the biggest political advantage of China's diplomacy and the fundamental safeguard for continued victory in China's diplomatic endeavors.”
3． The Existing International Order and China’s UN-centrism
Answering a question on the United Nations, Wang stated: “China has firmly safeguarded the UN-centered international system, and the international order underpinned by international law.” He further argued for “upholding the purposes and principles of the UN Charter,” “preserving the central role of the UN in the international system,” and “keeping to the basic rule of equal-footed consultation at the UN.” Commenting on China’s multilateralism, Wang told the media: “China believes that true multilateralism means observing the purposes and principles of the UN Charter, upholding the UN-centered international system and promoting democracy in international relations.” He further stressed that, “The UN is not a club for big or rich countries. All countries enjoy sovereign equality, and no country is in a position to dictate international affairs. We should increase the representation and voice of developing countries in the UN to better reflect the shared aspiration of the overwhelming majority of countries.”
In this connection, Yang Jiechi went as far as asserting at the U.S.-China high-level foreign affairs meeting in Anchorage that, “What China and the international community follow or uphold is the United Nations-centered international system and the international order underpinned by international law, not what is advocated by a small number of countries of the so-called rules-based international order… The United States itself does not represent international public opinion, and neither does the Western world. Whether judged by population scale or the trend of the world, the Western world does not represent the global public opinion… [The U.S.] only represents the government of the United States. I don't think the overwhelming majority of countries in the world would recognize that the universal values advocated by the United States or that the opinion of the United States could represent international public opinion, and those countries would not recognize that the rules made by a small number of people would serve as the basis for the international order.”
At his news conference, Wang gave the following comments on China’s relations with Europe: “China and Europe are two great civilizations capable of dialogue and exchanges, and they are not systemic rivals… The relationship is equal and open, not targeting any third party or controlled by anyone else. Therefore, there is no question of China wanting a rift in the U.S.-Europe relationship.” Answering a question on China’s rise and ideological and systemic competition with the West, he took issue with the growing U.S.-led criticism of China’s regime, stating: “There should not be only one model… To smear or attack others for their different system or even claim superiority is in essence ‘hegemony of system’.”
Speaking on relations with Russia, which is also competing with the West like China, Wang said: “China and Russia firmly support each other in… opposing ‘color revolution’.” When fielding a question from an Egyptian reporter, Wang began his remarks by stating: “China and Africa were comrades-in-arms (in the struggle for the liberation of colonies), and we are brothers,” pointedly using the term “brothers.” This does not only mean close relations with the African countries, but also implies China’s true feeling that the relationship with these countries, which are targets of its Belt and Road Initiative, is actually not equal, since China is the “elder brother.”
In his online dialogue with the U.S. Council on Foreign Relations (CFR) in April, Wang further asserted that China has its own form of democracy that is suited for its own circumstances, and it is undemocratic to label China as "authoritarian" or a "dictatorship" simply because its democracy takes a different form. While the term “Chinese-style democracy” had been used before, China used to be defensive about issues concerning its political regime, claiming imposing democracy and human rights on China amounted to interference in its internal affairs. Yet, recently, it has begun to openly assert the legitimacy of its regime, claiming “Chinese-style democracy” is also democracy while sidestepping the question of what democracy is. It is conceivable that behind this is China’s diplomatic posture in recent years aimed at gaining a stronger voice, i.e. achieving greater influence for China’s discourse in the realm of international public opinion (what the Chinese call “discourse power”).
4．Chinese-style “Value Diplomacy”
Since it embarked on the policy of reform and opening up, China has developed by taking full advantage of certain aspects of the Western-centered liberal and open international order that serve its interest, such as the free trade system. In that sense, it is probably one of the top beneficiaries of the current international order. During the Hu Jintao era, China advocated “peaceful rise,” under which its rise would not be threatening to the world. Even in recent years, many Chinese scholars of international relations have not envisaged China challenging the existing international order head-on and replacing the U.S. in the near future.
However, concepts such as “new type of international relations” and “community with shared future of mankind” that have come to be promoted in the Xi Jinping era have gradually betrayed its hidden motive of forming a China-centered international order. As early as 2016, former Chinese Ambassador to the UK, Fu Ying maintained that the present international order contains three pillars: Western values, the U.S.-led military alignment, and the UN and its institutions, but China has a strong sense of belonging only to the UN-led order. Even granting that Yang Jiechi’s statements in Anchorage were mainly meant for the domestic audience in light of the intensifying U.S.-China rivalry, he also negated the U.S.-led international order more explicitly. Yang and Wang were correct in pointing out that the U.S. and other advanced Western countries are a minority in the UN, and the developing countries are the majority. Many of these countries have experienced the decolonization process, and they do not unquestioningly accept the values led historically by the Western countries. It is also true that they do not strongly resonate with the human rights issues advocated by the Biden administration, nor the rule of law or the Western-centered international order.
However, the UN’s doctrine actually has its roots in the Atlantic Charter promulgated by Roosevelt and Churchill, which embraced such principles as national self-determination and freedom of the sea that were based on the liberal ideas and norms in the Western countries. Although Yang Jiechi went as far as arguing, “What China upholds is the UN-centered international system and not what is advocated by a small number of countries of the so-called rules-based international order,” the UN system is precisely aimed at achieving a rule-based international order. While Fu Ying stressed that China has a strong sense of belonging to the United Nations since it is one of the founders, the original founding member was “the Republic of China” and not “the People’s Republic of China.” The PRC only joined the UN in 1971. Furthermore, the UN’s main objectives include not only “maintenance of international peace and security,” but also “respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms.” It is revealing that after a joint statement on the Uygur issue was issued by 39 nations consisting mainly of the Western countries last November, China not only retorted, but also mobilized the developing countries, boasting that more than 70 countries supported China’s position. There is concern that as a result of China’s growing influence in the UN, its basic principles from its founding days may be eroded gradually.
It is reckoned that China’s support of the UN-centered international order is not out of its understanding and affirmation of UN principles, but rather merely based on its desire to use the UN structure made up of a majority of developing countries to its own advantage. For sure, China’s development model of achieving economic growth in a short period without going through painful political reforms indeed looks appealing to many developing countries under authoritarian regimes. However, China’s economic development owes partly to a uniquely Chinese background and factors, which may not be easily emulated by other developing countries. At this point, the ambiguous concepts of “new type of international relations” and “community with shared future mankind”offered by China have yet to gain widespread positive support from the non-Western developing nations. Actually, it can be said that support from these countries is simply driven by China’s enormous economic power. With regard to the goal of strengthening Chinese discourse in international public opinion, as mentioned earlier, China has not been able to gain a positive response from the people of other countries, as well as the international community, which is the true goal of public diplomacy.
5．Conclusion
It is difficult for outsiders to gauge the Chinese policymakers’ honest view and analysis of the international environment surrounding China and its foreign policy strategy in response to current environment. From China’s standpoint, the U.S. national power is declining in the long term, and the Trump administration had exposed the disarray in democracy, which in contrast would have reinforced China’s confidence in its own political regime. Meanwhile, it is also conceivable that China is unsettled by the fact that the Biden administration not only maintains the former administration’s tough stance against China but has also been unexpectedly fast in taking active steps to formulate cooperative and comprehensive policies with U.S. allies and partners. As a result, China seems to be adopting a more confrontational stance even in terms of ideology in its attempt to challenge the U.S. head-on. However, have the officials responsible for China’s foreign policy even made a level-headed analysis and judgment as to whether such policy is in its national interest?
In the past, China had often talked tough and adopted a harsh stance when facing changes in the international environment or a diplomatic stalemate but quietly and skillfully changed gear in its actual actions, demonstrating a realist attitude in pursuit of national interest. However, it is possible that China is now grappling with stronger constraints from domestic factors, making it more difficult to conduct flexible diplomacy. Xi Jinping has indeed maintained a tough stance, so far, on Hong Kong, Xinjiang, and others which China regards national sovereignty issues. Moreover, the CCP will mark its centenary in July and hold its 20th Party Congress in fall 2022. It is reckoned that Xi will find it even more tricky to make concessions in foreign affairs under this domestic political schedule.
Furthermore, it is also conceivable that Xi’s consolidation of strong power and promotion of party-led diplomacy has not only tied the hands of the foreign affairs officials but also introduced a more subservient attitude. Greater interference in diplomacy by a party that is focused on ideology and unfamiliar with the actual situation will not only compromise the responsiveness of diplomatic activities but also affect reports submitted from the field to the party center. In other words, “unpleasant” reports are less likely to reach Xi, and there will be a growing gap between the actual international environment around China and its own perception. In addition, the nationalism fostered by the Xi Jinping regime to win the support of the masses may yet come to tie the hands of its diplomacy. Yang Jiechi’s statements in Anchorage were well-received by the masses at home but they actually served to raise the hurdle for China to conduct flexible diplomacy toward the U.S. There were indeed a fair number of diplomatic debacles in history where a country suddenly found itself at a point of no return one day.
(May 10, 2021)
1 “State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi Meets the Press” (March 8, 2021) Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs website.
(https://www.fmprc.gov.cn/mfa_eng/zxxx_662805/t1859138.shtml)
2 “China’s National People’s Congress: Eye rolls and tame questions,” BBC NEWS, March 13, 2018. (https://www.bbc.com/news/blogs-china-blog-43382141)
3 Wang Jisi, “The Views from China”, Foreign Affairs 97:4, 2018, p.184.
4 In answer to Renmin Ribao reporter’s question at the news conference of the 2021 NPC.
5 In answer to CGTN reporter’s question at the same news conference.
6 In answer to Xinhua News Agency reporter’s question at the same news conference.
7 “How it happened: Transcript of the US-China Opening Remarks in Alaska,” Nikkei Asia, March 19, 2021. (How it happened: Transcript of the US-China opening remarks in Alaska - Nikkei Asia)
8 In answer to a question by a reporter of Singapore’s Lianhe Zaobao at a news conference held by Wang Yi for domestic and foreign media during the 2021 NPC.
9 In answer to a question by a reporter of the Russian News Agency TASS at the same news conference.
10 In answer to a question by a reporter of the Egyptian Middle East News Agency at the same news conference.
11 “Wang Yi Holds Virtual Dialogue with the U.S. Council on Foreign Relations,” Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs website. (https://www.fmprc.gov.cn/mfa_eng/zxxx_662805/t1871430.shtml) For full transcript, see. (https://www.fmprc.gov.cn/mfa_eng/zxxx_662805/t1871285.shtml)
12 Zheng Bijian advocated “peaceful rise” as an advisor to the Hu Jintao regime. His exposition on this concept: “China’s Peaceful Rise to Great Power,” Foreign Affairs, September/October 2005. (https://www.foreignaffairs.com/articles/asia/2005-09-01/chinas-peaceful-rise-great-power-status)
13 Feng Huiyun, He Kai, Li Xiaojun, How China Sees the World: Insights from China’s International Relations Scholars, Palgrave Macmillan, Singapore, 2019, pp. 21-40.
14 Speech at a British think tank. Fu Ying, “China and the Future of International Order,” CHATHAM HOUSE, The Royal Institute of International Affairs, July 6, 2016.
15 Ibid.
16 “Chapter I: Purposes and Principles,” United Nations Charter. (https://www.un.org/en/about-us/un-charter/full-text)
17 Permanent Mission of the Federal Republic of Germany to the United Nations, “Statement by the Ambassador Christoph Heusgen on behalf of 39 Countries in the Third Committee General Debate, October 6, 2020.” (https://new-york-un.diplo.de/un-en/news-corner/201006-heusgen-china/2402648)
18 Permanent Mission of the People’s Republic of China to the United Nations Office at Geneva and Other International Organizations in Switzerland, “Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Hua Chunying’s Remarks on Friendly Countries’ Joint Statements in Support of China at the Third Committee of the UN General Assembly,” October 10, 2020.” (http://www.china-un.ch/eng/zgyw/t1822255.htm)
19 Jeffery Feltman, “China’s expanding influence at the United Nations – and how the United States should react,” September 2020, Brookings Institution. (https://www.brookings.edu/research/chinas-expanding-influence-at-the-united-nations-and-how-the-united-states-should-react/)
20 For example, in surveys on Southeast Asian countries, China tends to have a lower overall rating in trustworthiness than the U.S. while Japan enjoys a high level of trust. ASEAN Studies Center, ISEAS - Yusof-Ishak Institute, The State of East Asia:2021 Survey Report, February 2021. (The-State-of-SEA-2021-v2.pdf (iseas.edu.sg))
21 China has also emphasized public diplomacy in its foreign policy. However, it is unique in that the goal of its public diplomacy consists not only of winning the goodwill of other countries and the international community, but also winning the understanding of domestic public opinion. | https://www.spf.org/spf-china-observer/en/document-detail035.html |
By Tor Madira Machier
Opinion.
Dec 26, 2014(Nyamilepedia) — In the light of their hostile conducts towards the West, African leaders believe and stick to the ideology which define every segment of social concept that is linked to political, social and economic development of the society in respect to the West as a Western political expansion mechanism. They believes that both democracy and modernisation in all the sectors are Western concepts.
But democracy and modernisation are not western products that the west is trying to export to certain countries that have a shortage of these values. They are universal values that, for many reasons, the west was able to espouse and implement before other countries. Among these reasons was a particular mix of culture, law and leadership that helped the western countries to be in advance of others particularly in Africa in the application of democracy and modernisation.
Although this does not necessarily mean that all westerners abide by these values, western citizens, for the most part, have come to realise that these values serve the good of society and promote personal development.
African leaders has long been resisting the genuine implementation of democracy and modernisation. For centuries, autocracy, dictatorship and regional wars have created a mental blockage preventing people in this region from understanding and digesting these values and how they can help them to progress. The lack of harmony between appreciating these values and the daily struggles against the factors mentioned above prevented democracy and modernisation from reaching the region; the west was accused of exporting certain values that are not keeping with the cultural and the religious values of Africa, for the purpose of westernising the African population. In my opinion, democracy and modernisation are not tradable; they are adoptable to any society that reaches the necessary maturity level. This also explains why youngsters, who are more exposed and broad-minded, tend to digest these values much faster than do older generations.
In reality, older Africans are the ones who are resisting the implementation of democracy and modernisation, as this could place them in inferior positions to the younger generations. Youngsters are ready and willing to espouse and apply democracy and modernisation, but they are facing stubborn resistance from those in power, who accuse the younger generation of being westernised.
This struggle is not limited to South Sudan only buy it is probably taking place in some other part of Africa, Asia and other Arab nations as well.
Democracy and modernisation are interlinked! Modernisation requires developing a structured scientific environment that helps people to Innovate and eventually benefits society. You can’t innovate and modernise a society without ensuring freedom of expression, which allows people to challenge the status quo, without applying the rule of law that guarantees that justice is applied and protects innovation, without encouraging free trade to obtain the latest products and up-to-date technology, to be used as a basis for further development.
Without a strong belief in, and proper implementation of, these factors, we will not adopt the universal values of democracy and modernisation.
Peaceful co-existence of all the ethnic groups which constitute the Republic of South Sudan can play a strong role in helping people to better understand and apply democracy and modernisation and to appreciate their purpose and value and this will require citizens to fully understand the ethnic existence in its contexts and contents that obviously do not conflict with democracy and modernisation as a value. Seeing only the downside of democracy and modernisation is the fault of the receivers of these values and their poor application of them. It has nothing to do with the values themselves. However, enclosing citizens within a tightly tribal environment restricts individuals from realising their capacity to create and innovate.
Actually, the purpose of this type of enclosing, or labelling, is to realise political goals by managing and controlling citizens and immobilising their power to think, innovate and act freely. To enable the South Sudanese to ENJOY the maximum benefits of democracy and modernisation, it is critical that citizens be empowered with more freedom, allowing them to produce out-of-the box ideas and to structure their governments to incorporate these ideas.
To properly implement these values South Sudanese need to be more socially and politically mature, with a wide educational spectrum. Enclosing the minds of ancient African dictatorships, still happening at this moment, won’t help this part of the world to progress towards the universal values of democracy and modernisation. | https://www.nyamile.com/contributors/tor-madira/democracy-and-modernization-are-not-western-theories-but-instead-they-are-universal-ones/ |
When America invaded both Iraq and Afghanistan, critics of President George Bush insisted that Muslim countries were not ready for democracy and he would fail.
Were they right? Does Islam only lend itself to dictatorships?
The record in the past hundred years is not good. What was once a cradle of scientific thought hasn't produced anything meaningful since the new fundamentalism took hold. But sociologists say Muslims may be ready than western liberals think.
"One of the key markers for a successful liberal democracy is a high degree of social tolerance," says Robert Andersen of the University of Toronto. "We wanted to see the extent to which this existed in countries with a majority of Muslims compared to Western countries."
They used the World Values Survey – a global project that catalogs people's expressed values and beliefs, how they change over time and what social and political impact they have. They compared levels of racial, immigrant and religious tolerance by age, gender, education level, religiosity, economic development, economic inequality and other factors in Muslim-majority and Western countries.
Surveys are rarely meaningful outside black and white decisions, like who will you vote for in an election. When it comes to values and tolerance, few claim to be intolerant. But even on surveys, people living in Muslim-majority countries are less tolerant than people living in the West. No shock there, infidelity and being gay will get you stoned. Not wearing a hijjab will get people yelling at women in all of the mid-east except Turkey.
Their study also found that:
- the most socially tolerant category of people are non-practicing Muslims living in Western countries.
- in Muslim-majority countries, there is no difference between Christians and Muslims in terms of their level of social tolerance.
- in at least one Western country – France – Christians are less tolerant than Muslims are.
"Our findings suggest that, in Muslim-majority countries, the nature of socio-economic conditions and political regimes supports a relatively high level of social intolerance. Taking these factors into account, Islam still has a significant effect on intolerance in Muslim-majority countries, but that is largely because state and religion are so tightly intertwined," said fellow sociologist Robert Brym. | https://www.science20.com/news_articles/muslims_are_not_too_culturally_immature_for_democracy-143203 |
Following the highly anticipated meeting between Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin on Friday, China and Russia issued a lengthy joint statement that elaborated on shared views and consensuses on major global and regional issues and delivered a scathing rejection of the US-led West’s hegemony that increasingly threatens global security and stability, a move that experts say ushers in a new era of international relations.
During the meeting ahead of the opening ceremony of the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympic Games, Xi stressed the further deepening of “back-to-back” strategic coordination between the two countries in upholding international fairness and justice and adhering to the four consensuses in supporting each other’s sovereignty, security and development interests to better tackle external interference and regional threats.
The two countries’ broad consensuses on almost all core issues related to global strategic stability, expressed during the meeting of the two leaders and stated in the nearly 6,000-word joint statement, are extremely rare and will further boost close strategic coordination that helps ensure global stability and peace, Chinese experts said.
The joint statement, which focuses on international relations in a new era and global sustainable development, extensively expounded on common positions on democracy, development, security and order.
The joint statement mentioned US at least five times and contained the two countries’ common stance on a number of key regional and global issues, including firm oppositions or serious concerns over the expansion of NATO eastward, the West-led ideological clique in the name of democracy, the US’ Indo-Pacific strategy that threatens regional stability, the trilateral security partnership among Australia, the US, and the UK (AUKUS), and US domestic and overseas bioweapons activities.
In a clear rejection of the US-led West’s hegemony in international relations, the joint statement said that a small number of forces continue stubbornly to promote unilateralism, adopt power politics and interfere in the internal affairs of other countries, stressing that such acts will not be accepted by the international community.
“It’s the first time that China and Russia released such a long statement after the meeting between the two heads of state, which includes all the major issues and strategic questions and shows that China-Russia ties have reached an unprecedented level,” Lü Xiang, a research fellow at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, told the Global Times on Friday.
The world order has entered a new era, the Chinese expert said, noting that in the face of US hegemony – a product left behind by the Cold War mentality – China and Russia are the only two countries that have the capability to safeguard their core interests and sovereignty.
“The solidarity between China and Russia gives a new definition to the world order, as they share the common knowledge about where the major threats to the global stability come from,” he said.
In the joint statement, China and Russia oppose the further expansion of NATO and called on the North Atlantic Alliance to abandon its ideologized Cold War approaches, to respect the sovereignty, security and interests of other countries, the diversity of their civilizational, cultural and historical backgrounds, and to exercise a fair and objective attitude towards the peaceful development of other states.
They also stand against the formation of closed bloc structures and opposing camps in the Asia-Pacific region and remain highly vigilant about the negative impact of the US’ Indo-Pacific strategy on peace and stability in the region. China and Russia are also seriously concerned about AUKUS, which allows cooperation on nuclear-powered submarines.
“The US is now touting its Cold War mentality and so-called China threat theory in the Asia-Pacific region, as well as the so-called Russia threat theory in Europe, which prompted China and Russia to stand up against such zero-sum mentality,” Zhang Hong, an Eastern European studies expert from the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, told the Global Times on Friday.
Amid the COVID-19 pandemic, unrest across Western countries such as the US Capitol protest last year shows how the illusion that “Western democracy is the destination of human beings” has collapsed, Zhang noted, adding that emerging countries are showing great vitality and increasingly contributing in international trade and economy, which have also been underscored in the shared views between China and Russia.
The two countries share an understanding that democracy is a universal human value, rather than the privilege of a limited number of countries, the joint statement said. And it is up to the people of a country to decide whether their country is democratic.
Developing countries such as China and Russia gradually found a development model suitable to their own national conditions after the Cold War, while abandoning the West-led Washington Consensus because they saw its inherent defects, which prompted China and Russia to be more vocal on a pluralistic global order, Zhang said.
China and Russia have been reiterating that there is no limit to bilateral strategic cooperation, a new form of partnership between major powers that has clearly made the US anxious. And a crucial factor behind such a limitless development in bilateral ties is the high degree of mutual understanding between the two powerful leaders on global governance.
Putin is the first foreign head of state to confirm his attendance at the 2022 Games last year, and the trip to Beijing was also his first overseas trip in 2022.
Putin said during the meeting on Friday that official visits during the opening of the Olympics have become a tradition, mentioning his visit to Beijing in the summer of 2008 for the Summer Olympics, Xi’s visit to Russia in 2014 for the Sochi Winter Olympics and the meeting in Beijing before the Winter Olympics.
Xi said that this rendezvous at the Winter Olympics, which also coincides with spring, will inject much momentum to China-Russia relations, saying that he is willing to work with President Putin to plan a blueprint for and guide the direction of China-Russia ties under new historical conditions. | http://geworld.ge/en/unprecedented-china-russia-ties-to-start-a-new-era-of-intl-relations-not-defined-by-us/ |
Submitted by Bill Narvey (Canada), Nov 3, 2005 at 20:56The four questions posed by the editors of Commentary Magazine are thought provoking. The following are my answers to these questions.
1. Where have you stood, and where do you now stand, in relation to the Bush Doctrine? Do you agree with the President's diagnosis of the threat we face and his prescription for dealing with it?
The Bush doctrine as a statement of general principle sounds good in theory, but looking at the theory more closely and assessing how that theory has been put into practice in the last few years, reveals the Bush doctrine is flawed and uncertain.
PRE-EMPTION
The first flaw in the pre-emption doctrine is that there is no clear definition as to who is an American enemy.
In this regard, the Taliban that gave Al Qaeda a home and support for its attacks on the West culminating in 9/11 were a clear target. Iraq was a less certain target. Assuming the intelligence was sufficient to form the reasonable view that Iraq had WMD's and their use against Israel or any other nations could have had a destabilizing effect causing American interests to suffer greatly, then Iraq was an understandable target within the general parameters of the Pre-emptive doctrine. Ignore for the moment the suspicions that the U.S. attack on Iraq was an orchestrated move by Bush to interpret the intelligence to give him a pretext to finish what his father had not.
It is known, both from intelligence sources and from what Iran has done and said to confirm that intelligence that Iran was and continues to support and export radical Islamic ideology and terrorism, not to mention that Iran's nuclear ambitions add greatly to the fear that it will soon have WMD capacity and will not be afraid to use it.
That WMD capacity combined with its hatred of the west and Israel and America in particular, makes it an extraordinarily dangerous enemy and certainly qualifies it as a top priority enemy target within the pre-emptive doctrine. The U.S. however, has not made a move against Iran, nor does it even hint of doing so.
It appears that other factors apart from the Bush doctrine come into play such as whether in all circumstances America really wants to take pre-emptive action against a particularly vicious enemy such as Iran that could retaliate against a pre-emptive American strike and embroil America in a much larger war than it wants or cause intolerable America losses that would cause a backlash against the government.
Is it possible then that the Bush pre-emptive doctrine is in part hot air and what it really means is taking pre-emptive action against only those enemies that can be relatively easily defeated without America incurring significant loss?
Muddling the definition of enemy even more is that radical Islamic terrorist groups that plot, plan and implement hit and run attacks against the U.S. do not fight under the banner of any state, but do operate from bases within certain states.
Al Qaeda, seeming now based in the mountains of the Afghan and Pakistani border, has cells of Islamic terrorists in various other countries, including within Western nations and there are other terrorist cells either loosely affiliated with Al Qaeda or affiliated with some other group, known by name or not.
The doctrine of pre-emption seems to define a target as a state in the conventional sense. The U.S. appears to accord respect to the territorial integrity of a state hosting terrorists, provided the state claims the terrorists are unwelcome guests and the state is trying to find and deal with the terrorists. That has proved less than satisfactory as the efforts of such states to get at the terrorists has been less than satisfactory.
This policy of accepting the word of states regarding the terrorists within, is a further limitation on the extent to which the Bush doctrine will be implemented.
The doctrine of pre-emption is further confused by not declaring as an enemy target, a state that promotes and supports the spread of radical Islam right into the heart of Western nations including the U.S. and which further supports financially and otherwise, terrorism and terrorists that strike against American and other Western interests. Saudi Arabia is a primary example.
Instead of declaring the Saudis an enemy and taking pre-emptive measures against it, America has declared the Saudis an ally. Information continues to pour out that the Saudis are playing both sides of the fence. Furthermore, while the Saudis suddenly seemed to get serious about terrorism when terrorists struck in Riyadh, it is becoming increasingly clear that their idea of being against terrorism is that they are against terrorism in Saudi Arabia. They continue to support radical Islam throughout the world.
In criminal law, someone who aids and abets in the commission of a crime is guilty of an offence and the penalties can be as tough as they are for the one who actually commits the crime. That basic principle applies far more in theory than practice in international law and international relations. Other considerations obviously get in the way.
While making temporary alliances with an enemy to get at another, is part of conventional military history, America's alliance with the Saudis given the information that is reported almost daily about the Saudis activities in support of radical Islam and terrorists which activities continue to impact against U.S. interests and citizens, further clouds the meaning of the Bush doctrine of pre-emption and Bush's resolve to act on his own doctrine.
WHAT ACTS ARE SUFFICIENT TO LABEL A STATE AN ENEMY OF THE U.S. OR AN EMERGING THREAT TO WARRANT PRE-EMPTIVE ACTION?.
Again, there is no clear definition of what acts warrant pre-emptive action. The U.S. is of course hurt by terrorist attacks that kill Americans and damage American property and clearly the definitions would include such acts.
America however, like the west has been and can also be damaged economically.
Take for example just the Saudis who make trillions of dollars each year in oil revenue and those profits come out of U.S. pockets. Are the profit levels within the control of OPEC and has OPEC been gouging? If so does the West feel it has no choice but to pay what is being demanded.
Increased fuel costs mean less money in American's jeans. It means that the middle income poor suffer even more and it leads to higher travel and freight expenses, be it by car, train or plane, with ordinary people opting if they can to travel less. The painful economic impact trickles down and spreads throughout the entire U.S. and Western economies.
Then there is the added and likely exorbitant cost to the U.S. and the West for all the additional institutions and infrastructure to meet America's security needs against terrorists. Those figures probably are in the trillions of dollars per year. Again, states like the Saudis that support and spread radical Islam and support terrorism and those that give terrorists a base to operate from, are largely responsible for those additional costs that impact on the American lifestyles and abilities to put food on the table and otherwise provide for their families.
It has been reported that the OPEC nations are not only wealthy beyond imagination, but they hold the mortgage on America and America would be trembling if the OPEC nations ever called the loans, foreclosed on the mortgage and started to liquidate or remove assets from the U.S. economy.
Does fear of economic reprisal from the likes of the Saudis and other OPEC nations therefore influence the parameters and resolve to implement the Bush doctrine of pre-emptive strike? Of course it must.
If the OPEC nations have ripped off the west for their untold profits and Western nations have out of fear of destabilizing the world oil based economy, allowed OPEC to get away with it and forced their citizens to suffer, can that be set right by the U.S. taking economic pre-emptive measures to put a stop to OPEC gaining unfair profits out of the pockets of U.S. citizens?
Since the OPEC nations along with the likes of Iran have cost the U.S. trillions of dollars in additional security costs which are borne by American citizens, can those OPEC nations be forced to reimburse the U.S. for the costs the U.S. bore because those costs were directly caused by the spread of radical Islam and the support given to terrorists? Can such pre-emptive action include seizing assets of OPEC nations in the U.S. to reimburse America's huge financial losses?
Further ought the Bush doctrine of pre-emption be utilized against the Islamic radical enemy within? Should the U.S. by the Bush doctrine be entitled to further infringe on civil rights beyond their Patriot Act to uncover Islamic radicals within America, charge and prosecute them and if found guilty confiscate all assets, rescind citizenship and send the guilty back to their country of origin, even if that country of origin was a generation or more back?
Further, the Western world is very divided as to what they are prepared to do about radical Islam and for a number of reasons, a great many western nations are united in being at odds with the U.S. on various policy matters relating to radical Islam.
The U.S. continues to evince a desperate need to have allies in its war on radical Islam and that desperation leads to a great self imposed pressure for the U.S. to make various compromises and accommodations to get other Western nations to be on side. That has the effect of further confusing the principles of the Bush doctrine and robbing it of its strength of purpose as a motivating force to take action against radical Islam and those that support it and the terrorism radical Islam breeds.
It seems in many respects that the Bush doctrine of pre-emption is really the old U.S. doctrine of deterrence dressed up to look like it is new. The general U.S. policy of deterrence always inherently included an unwritten policy of pre-emptive strike.
The Bush doctrine of pre-emption, both in theory and in practice, is in the result confusing, confused and plagued with great uncertainty as to when it will be exercised and when it will not and just how far the U.S. is prepared to go if and when it acts on that doctrine.
SPREAD OF DEMOCRACY
Again, this part of the Bush doctrine is also flawed by being premised on wrong or questionable assumptions.
First, democracy in western society was never an over night thing and it certainly cannot be that when it comes to democratizing Islamic society that is so different and at odds with Western style democracy.
If America understands that long time factor as being part of the Bush doctrine, does this goal of democratizing Islamic nations mean that the Bush doctrine of pre-emptive strike will also be on a very go slow basis? If so, does that mean the U.S. will be prepared to bleed out slowly, waiting for democracy to root in Islamic countries before America's bleeding can be stopped?
Can America really afford to wait for democratic institutions to take hold in Muslim nations of the Middle East before moving pre-emptively to effect regime change and force a newly formed government or the old defeated government for that matter, to operate with some semblance of democracy and to mercilessly go after every terrorist and would be terrorist within their borders, under threat that if they do not, more pain will be visited on them by the U.S.?
Secondly, it is assumed that by bringing democracy to dictatorship societies, those societies will become much like Western societies in terms of laws, ethics, morals, values, perceptions and the like and in the result there would be mutual understanding, respect and a better ability for Muslim states to relate to the West and become part of one big happy world family where everyone got along and differences would be worked out through peaceful and respectful negotiations and that they would make war no more.
We read that just with the beginnings of democracy starting in Iraq, the rest of the Islamic dictatorship Middle East is getting uneasy and we see that changes are already taking place in Egypt and Jordan. While that is a positive sign, the changes really are cosmetic only and nothing has really changed.
Unlike in Western democracies where there is a separation of church and state, in Islamic nations, religion and politics are intertwined and at this point appear to be inextricably intertwined.
The differences between Islamic and democratic societies are substantial and fundamental, not to mention that Islamic culture and the tenets of Islam are at odds with democratic and Judeo-Christian principles. If that chasm can be bridged, and Islam can reform into a religion and society compatible with Western ideals and ways, it is going to take a very long time and we are talking a generation or more.
As of now, the norm within Islamic countries is for Islamic countries to be governed by dictators. These dictators are naturally fearful of democracy because it threatens to erode their grip on power if the people are given the right to elect their leaders. It does not necessarily mean that new leaders will act in ways different than we see dictators acting from their seats of power.
If democracy did come to Islamic countries, but all political parties swore allegiance to Islam and all the tenets of their faith, beliefs and laws, we could see changes in government perhaps, but the culture and the beliefs would remain the same.
It seems that all things being equal, it is far more likely that if democracy rooted in these Islamic countries, all parties running for leadership in a democratic Muslim country would offer their people different agendas, but all those different agendas would be within the same context of Islamic culture and religions just as in our democracies, the parties running for election do so within the context of what our society is about.
Muslim states becoming democratic does not therefore necessarily mean Muslim societies would change to become more like, more compatible or more tolerant and understanding of Western Judeo Christian societies. They could be democratic and still retain their hatred of Jews, Christians and all non-Muslims.
Unless all aspects of Islam underwent fundamental reformation to make it compatible with democracies built on Judeo-Christian principles, these Islamic democratic nations would likely continue to be motivated to realize Islam's holy manifest destiny and would continue to threaten and pose a danger to the West.
In such case Islamic democracies would be an exception to the Western notion that democracies do not make war on other democracies.
The democratic spread of freedom part of the Bush doctrine of pre-emption is based on a lot of questionable assumptions and that amounts so far to a lot of wishful thinking.
2. How would you rate the progress of the Bush Doctrine so far in making the U.S. more secure and in working toward a safer world environment? What about the policy's longer-range prospects?
The results have been divided. Though Al Qaeda and other terrorist groups have been diminished, as has their capacity to carry out attacks, those attacks are still happening and still expected to happen and the U.S. continues to suffer in many ways therefore.
The long range prospects for the Bush doctrine, if it is not further refined and defined and instead remains plagued with the same uncertainties as it is now, are not good and the U.S. will continue to suffer in the same varied ways that terrorism and the threat of terrorism causes it to suffer to this day.
3. Are there particular aspects of American policy, or of the administration's handling or explanation of it, that you would change immediately?
The U.S. must clarify for itself what it wants to achieve in both eliminating the threat of terrorism, the means to achieve that and make the guilty pay and what sacrifices in lost lives and money it is prepared to make to get to where it wants to go.
Further to eliminate the Islamic enemy from within, will likely require the U.S. to temporarily infringe further on individual rights and liberties to seek and root out the Islamic enemy from within. Given how civil libertarians so jealously guard civil rights and liberties, limiting those rights further to achieve a desired end, will not be an easy task for the U.S.
The Bush doctrine needs to be further refined and defined in terms of the refining and defining of the foregoing considerations of means and ends, to ensure the U.S. has clear objectives and means and the U.S. public accepts both the goals and the means as very necessary for their own safety and well being.
4. Apart from your view of the way the Bush Doctrine has been defined or implemented, do you agree with its expansive vision of America's world role and the moral responsibilities of American power?
I do agree with America's expansive role. It must be recognized that America's expansive goal runs headlong into the expansive goals of Islam. Neither society is at this time compatible with one another as things now stand.
America's expansive goal is not to destroy Islam but rather secure its own interests and to free the West from the fear and threat of radical Islam. Radical Islam however appears bent on destruction and domination of the West.
America must therefore define its goal as destroying radical Islam's ability to harm the West and only with that can America force Islam to co-exist in peace. If that means that we will thereafter live in separate worlds, so be it. The primary goal should be however that the Islamic world will be allowed to go its own way and live its life within its own world as it chooses, but the Islamic world will never again be able to threaten or pose a danger to the Western world.
As for American moral responsibilities, that primary responsibility is to its own citizens.
America does not owe radical Muslims and terrorists and their supporters anything but basic moral responsibilities such as to not to kill or harm radical Muslims beyond the U.S. need to meet its goals. Prisoners of war for example should be treated in accord with the moral and legal dictates of international conventions.
If a radical Muslim nation or one that supported radical Islam and terrorism is devastated by the war they started, the U.S. has no moral responsibility to rebuild their societies at America's own cost.
Radical Islamist leaders will have brought the devastation on their own heads and those of their people. They should be the ones charged with the moral responsibility to start repairing and healing their own countries. It will be a painful lesson for them, but that will have a far more salutary effect on their psyches than if they find that in return for trying to murder Americans, the Americans shower money on them so they can get back to where they were before their radical Islamic and terrorist actions against the west and America, brought their countries to wrack and ruin.
Iraq is a case in point. To assuage the concerns and suspicions of Muslim and Western nations that the U.S. went into Iraq to take control of the oil for their own benefit, America has felt compelled to prove them wrong, funded the cost of rebuilding Iraq from their own pockets and that has been a very painful price to pay to prove to the rest of the world just how moral and righteous America is. America cannot afford such morality and has no need to prove itself.
America knows what it is about. If the rest of the world wants to badmouth and accuse America of immoral ulterior motives, let them. America should not have to pay the price to prove it is moral just because jealous and malcontent nations choose to so accuse America.
Of course the U.S. can in furtherance of its own interests assist in the rebuilding process of defeated radical Muslim nations and help to shape the new Muslim nation to U.S. liking, but whatever the U.S. gives, it must ensure that it is repaid in full one way or another.
Bill Narvey
Note: Opinions expressed in comments are those of the authors alone and not necessarily those of Daniel Pipes. Original writing only, please. Comments are screened and in some cases edited before posting. Reasoned disagreement is welcome but not comments that are scurrilous, off-topic, commercial, disparaging religions, or otherwise inappropriate. For complete regulations, see the "Guidelines for Reader Comments".
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All materials by Daniel Pipes on this site: © 1968-2022 Daniel Pipes. [email protected] and @DanielPipes
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(The MEF is a publicly supported, nonprofit organization under section 501(c)3 of the Internal Revenue Code.
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The Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU) has recently released its annual index on the state of democracy around the world. The findings are not uplifting, as the general trend shows declining values in nearly all regions of the world. In 2011, only 11% of the world population live in what is defined as “full democracies”. The trend has been negative since 2008. North America, Western and Eastern Europe are all seeing a decline – only North Africa/Middle East and Asia/Australasia have seen regional improvements.
Follow below:
The study measures five criteria to arrive at a compound index:
- Electoral process and pluralism
- The functioning of government
- Political participation
- Political culture
- Civil liberties
The methodology of the study is explained in the end section of the report (from page 33).
Link to full study (you must register to be able to download; it’s free).
Only 25 nations qualify as full democracies (26 in 2010) with an index value between 10.0 and 8.0, with another 53 defined as flawed democracies (7.9 – 6.0).
Wikipedia has a good table with the rankings and adding the nominal form of government for all of them. A curious (?) observation is that seven of the top ten are constitutional monarchies and (not so curious) nine of the top ten are parliamentary democracies.
There is not much change in the top ten, where we find the 5 Nordic nations as well as New Zealand, Australia, Switzerland, Canada and the Netherlands.
Norway remains on top with an index of 9.80 (unchanged). The US fell from 17 to 19 with an index of 8.11 (down from 8.18).
From the report:
A turbulent year
2011 was an exceptionally turbulent year politically, characterised by sovereign debt crises and weak political leadership in the developed world, dramatic change and conflict in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) and rising social unrest throughout much of the world. It featured important changes in democracy, both in the direction of unexpected democratisation and a continuation of decline in democracy in some parts of the world.
The momentous events in the Arab world have been extraordinary in several respects. The popular uprisings in Tunisia and Egypt a year ago were sudden and unexpected, occurring in seemingly infertile territory. These revolts were home-grown affairs that overturned a host of stereotypes about the MENA region and caught the outside world unaware.
Other key developments in 2011 include:
- Popular confidence in political institutions continues to decline in many countries.
- Mounting social unrest could pose a threat to democracy in some countries.
- US democracy has been adversely affected by a deepening of the polarisation of the political scene and political brinkmanship and paralysis.
- The US and the UK remain at the bottom end of the full democracy category. There has been a rise in protest movement. Problems in the functioning of government are more prominent.
- Although extremist political forces in Europe have not yet profited from economic dislocation as might have been feared, populism and anti-immigrant sentiment are on the rise.
- Eastern Europe experienced another decline in democracy in 2011. In 12 countries of the region the democracy score declined in 2011.
- Rampant crime in some countries–in particular, violence and drug-trafficking–continues to have a negative impact on democracy in Latin America.
The unprecedented rise of movements for democratic change across the Arab world a year ago led many to expect a new wave of democratisation. But it soon became apparent that the revolutions in Tunisia and Egypt would not be repeated so easily elsewhere and that democracy remained a highly uncertain prospect. Many MENA autocracies resorted to a mix of repression and cosmetic changes.
To be noted is the fact that European nations such as France, Italy and Greece fall in the category of flawed democracies. Israel is also in this category.
Tribbers may want to check out the whole report. | https://progresspond.com/2011/12/23/how-democratic-the-economist-intelligence-unit-annual-index/ |
University of California, Los Angeles: Report finds declines in accountability among U.S., Asian governments since 2000
A major analysis of world governments published by UCLA and the Los Angeles-based Berggruen Institute has found a dramatic drop in the quality of government and quality of democracy in the U.S. over the past 20 years.
At the same time, several African nations showed measurable improvements in their provision of public goods like education, health care and environmental protection.
The findings are from the 2022 Berggruen Governance Index, which is compiled by researchers from the UCLA Luskin School of Public Affairs and the Hertie School in Berlin. The index draws data from 2000 through 2019 from a range of sources — including the United Nations, research institutes and nongovernmental organizations — to evaluate 134 national governments across the world.
The researchers determine scores for each government on dozens of individual measures and then group findings into three overarching categories:
“The Berggruen Governance Index presents a new approach to evaluating good governance,” said lead researcher Helmut Anheier, an adjunct professor of social welfare at UCLA Luskin and professor of sociology at the Hertie School. “Understanding the relationships among the accountability of governments to their people, the capacity of the state to act, and the successful meeting of public needs is crucial for understanding the present and future of governance across the world.”
Among the other findings:
Although the U.S. score for quality of government remains far above the global average, its decline on that measure since 2000 was one of the world’s largest, on par with declines in Haiti, Hong Kong and Hungary.
The 10 countries with the greatest improvements in quality of life measures all are in Africa. However, as a whole, Africa still ranks well below other regions in terms of quality of life factors.
Quality of democracy scores retreated in several Asian nations, including in Bangladesh, China, India, the Philippines and Thailand. Many nations in the Americas also saw declines in those measures.
Challenges in governance vary somewhat among the world’s major powers. The U.S. is the only Western power with a declining score for quality of government and quality of democracy, and its quality of life scores improved only slightly. In China, India and Russia, scores decreased for quality of democracy while figures for quality of government and quality of life remained steady or improved.
UCLA Luskin School of Public Affairs
The rankings evaluate quality of government, quality of democracy and quality of life measures, which the researchers call the “governance triangle.”
The Berggruen Governance Index is the only international study of governance quality that disaggregates the components of governance, rather than measuring countries in only one performance area. The approach enables analysts to assess the relationships among the various components of good governance, assessing how they affect one another over time. The researchers write in the report that good governance depends on achieving a “virtuous relationship” among the three dimensions they analyzed — what they call the “governance triangle.”
The entire analysis is published on the index’s website, where users can search and sort data.
“This index is a much-needed tool for policymakers and policy analysts to grasp how governance relates to social and economic progress in various political contexts,” said Dawn Nakagawa, executive vice president of the Berggruen Institute. “A better understanding of these relationships is particularly relevant as liberal democracies face increasing foreign and domestic threats from autocracy.”
UCLA produces and disseminates the index thanks to a $3 million gift from the Berggruen Institute. Researchers plan to publish the next Berggruen Governance Index in 2024. | https://indiaeducationdiary.in/university-of-california-los-angeles-report-finds-declines-in-accountability-among-u-s-asian-governments-since-2000/ |
After Australia, Europe is surprisingly the second smallest continent in the world representing only around 2% of the Earth’s surface though it’s a part of the Eurasia continental landmass.
The natural border is represented by the Ural and the Black and Caspian Sea. The other borders are created by the Mediterranean Sea on the South, the Atlantic Ocean on the western part and the Arctic Sea from the North.
The continent is home to 50 countries (+ several territories with limited recognition) with a overall population of around 740 million people being the third most densely populated continent.
Thanks to the Gulf Stream and warm Atlantic currents, most of the continent is having mild climate with rather moderate winters and hot summers on the other hand. The most represented vegetation type is mixed forest with great conditions for cultivation.
Culture-wise, Europe has always played an important role in the global history. From the era of Ancient Greece, Roman Empire,
middle ages to Renaissance and later modern era, the nations in Europe were significant players in World’s history.
The Industrial Revolution, increase of democracy and most importantly both World Wars have affected the dominance decline and let to the prominency share with US and Soviet Union (Russia).
All endeavours for European integration has eventually led to the formation of the European Union (EU) in 1993 which currently consists of 28 individual countries.
Most of the member countries are using Euro as official united currency and thus creating the Euro zone. To enhance the free movement within the continent, the Schengen area (now comprising of 26 countries) has eliminated border controls among other member states. | http://travellerhints.com/place/europe/ |
Inter-religious councils can be a support for democratic change after the Arab spring
ILRS, International Leauge of Religious Socialists, held in june 15-17 2012 its Congress in Stockholm. The Congress adopted this Statement on the Arab spring.
Statement on the Arab spring
The Arab spring started in Tunisia, and it triggered a democratic earthquake throughout the Arab world, which has affected the entire Euro-Mediterranean area. Arab dictators and their protectors among the Western elites were threatened and some even terrified when the Arab peoples showed their determination to live in free and democratic countries.
Tunisia and Egypt have already conducted free and democratic elections, and new assemblies have been formed. However, the road to democracy is not straight and many obstacles lay ahead. The formation of democratic parties and spreading of a culture of democracy among men and women, among young and old, and among both the elite and the ordinary human being is a long process. The former elites are reluctant to let go of their economic privileges and their disproportional influence. Substantial political change comes from those who want real change for social justice, those who have something to gain from thorough change. Minor reshuffling of a few powerful individuals is not enough.
Religion can be a source of inspiration for true change and it can foster an urge to treat every human as equal. Religions often include components of charity and of sharing so that no individual may come to harm or starve. Religions may also motivate struggle for social justice and the anti-Apartheid movement in South Africa was led by among many Bishop Desmond Tutu. But we also know that Apartheid was inspired by Christian theologians. We may draw the conclusion that Christians and people of other faiths may use their religions to legitimate both social justice and social inequality.
As religious people we declare our conviction that men and women, and human beings of all creeds and traditions are equal in front of God in a fundamental way, and that no political or religious leaders is entitled to disregard this equality. This equality has political ramifications that will contribute to liberate the human being and promote democracy and social justice.
The ILRS congress in Stockholm June 2012 call upon political leaders and religious leaders in the Arab spring countries to:
• Establish working and confident cooperation between religious leaders of different religious traditions in the Arab spring countries. Such inter-religious councils may provide a confidence that will make religious leaders cooperate and act wisely in case of social crises.
• Initiate regular meetings between religious and political leaders in the Arab spring countries, in order to enhance mutual understanding and respect.
• To commit yourselves to work for the success of the democratic process which should bring about social justice and dignity for each and everyone and constitutions that guarantees these rights.
We urge political leaders in all ILRS member countries to:
• Support processes towards democracy in the Arab spring countries with non-violent means, and to facilitate interaction between civil society – including religions and political organisations – in the ILRS countries and in the Arab spring countries. | https://ilrs.net/2012/08/30/inter-religious-councils-can-be-a-support-for-democratic-change-after-the-arab-spring/ |
DEFINITION of 'First World'
First World, as defined during the Cold War, referred to a country that was aligned with the United States and other western nations in opposition to the former-Soviet Union and its allies. Since the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991, this use of First World has largely evolved.
More recently, the phrase First World has been used to describe a developed and industrialized country characterized by political stability, democracy, rule of law, a capitalist economy, economic stability and a high standard of living. Various metrics have been used to define First World nations, including GDP, GNP and literacy rates. The Human Development Index is also a good indicator in determining First World countries.
BREAKING DOWN 'First World'
First World countries tend to have stable currencies and robust financial markets, making them attractive to investors from all over the world. Examples of First World countries include the United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Japan and Western European countries.
The ways First World nations are defined can vary by perspective. For example, a First World nation might often be described as aligned or amicable with Western countries, highly industrialized, has comparatively low poverty, and high accessibility to modern resources and infrastructure.
What Designation as a First World Nation Means
There is some controversy regarding the use of the phrase First World to describe modernized, democratic countries in comparison with developing nations and those with political regimes that do not align with western nations. There can be a tendency towards using the phrase as a way to rank some nations above others in terms of geopolitical significance. Such references can lead to divisive tension in international relations, especially as developing nations seek to negotiate with so-called First World countries or appeal to the international community for support of their causes.
It is not uncommon for First World nations to press for international policies, especially from an economic perspective, that will favor their industries and trade in order to protect or enhance their wealth and stability. This can include efforts to influence decisions made in such forums as the United Nations or the World Trade Organization.
Designation as a First World nation does not necessarily mean a country has local access to certain luxuries or resources that are in demand. For example, oil production is a staple industry in many countries that historically have not been regarded as First World nations. Brazil, for instance, contributes substantial amounts of oil to the overall world supply, along with other forms of production, however the country is recognized more as a developing, industrialized state than a First World nation.
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May 21, The Iran Project | Ali Hassan Heidari: Despite the West’s propaganda against the Islamic republic of Iran, the participation of Iranian people in the presidential election demonstrates the fact that Iran enjoys wider and relatively steady voter turnout. The rate of voter turnout in various free elections in Iran has been higher than European countries.
The path to the realization of democracy passes through election, one of the elements of political participation which is also one of the measures of democracy, as people can directly express their views about important decisions through voting. Voter turnout is also one of the criteria of political development which displays people’s dedication to their home country.
The rate of voter turnout is not considerable in many advanced countries that are advocates of democracy in the world, despite the long history of democracy in these countries. Holding elections, having the right to vote and participating in election is still a challenge in Middle Eastern countries. In the Islamic Republic of Iran, however, the rate of participation in elections is high. The first election in the Islamic Republic of Iran was held only 45 days after the victory of Islamic Republic, which marks the shortest gap between the victory of a revolution and organization of a vote in the history.
The Islamic Republic of Iran has introduced a model of government based on religious democracy, the main elements of which are people and religion. Nowadays this model is competing with Western democratic systems. Although Iran is still the target of propaganda and plots of enemies 38 years after the victory of the Islamic Revolution, the comparison between the rate of voter turnout in different elections in Iran with countries that advocate democracy shows that Iranian people are more enthusiastic for political participation. Furthermore, the below statistics illustrates the fact that despite the distorted reflection of religious democracy and freedom in political participation in Iran, religious democracy in the Islamic Republic is far more superior to the manipulated and distorted democracy in the United States and certain European countries. | https://theiranproject.com/blog/2017/05/21/voter-turnout-iran-vs-west/ |
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