text:
The India BlogThe India Blog is about the socio-political-economic landscape of the country, its cultural moorings and the challenges it faces – whatever affects the lives and future of the people living within its boundaries and beyond.
Yes, that is exactly what my country the so called largest democracy dishes out to its citizens. My friend who was horrifically raped and then pushed out of a car in Kolkata 10 months ago feels just like the same. Neither the justice system nor the society at large has been by her side through her ordeal of horror of the past months. They were all too busy to suggest it was her fault to be at the wrong place - where? a pub at park street; at the wrong time - when? late at night; to be confident no sorry "westernised" - why? 'cause she was enjoying a drink or two..what men can do in this country women definitely have no right to.The reality is in India today my friend is just a statistic...a rape occurs every 40 minutes in this country and that is what she is, a mere victim of numbers every 40 minutes.
My friend has been always the smart one. She was the class monitor, school star athlete, participated in elocution and debating competitions. for many of us she was a role model. She was the one who was good at many things at the same time. She had courage, she could break open a glass sky light and cut her vein but not shed a tear. But what has her country done to her today is what I am ashamed of. She has been stoned and stained over and over again with character assassination as she is a divorcee and mother of two girls! So, why did she want to have a good time? Mothers have no right to feel tired and definitely don't have any right to drink! Why did she want to let her hair down and travel alone at night?
Today she repents to have opened her mouth because little did she know that Constitution of the country was just a book to be read in social studies class and never to be taken seriously. But somewhere she I hope still finds courage to fight for illusive justice so that no other girl child, woman, lady is harmed in this patriarchal society which only metes out lip service in name of justice.
At times her world crumbles but she fights and fights for her children urging herself to live, but the scar that the society has inflicted upon her soul makes me wonder for how long will she be able to fight? Will the daughters become motherless too? I just keep praying for her, keep praying that something in the souls of the stone like parliamentarians will stir and they will take crime so brutal and heinous seriously and act quickly to redeem themselves by putting fast track justice and harsh punishments - no less than life - for such dastardly acts...sadly even yesterday in these cases is too late!
More about Pragya Majumder
Pragya Majumder is a freelance writer and commentator.
In India there is a new game that is vying to become our national sport. Shooting has fetched us
There are passionate voices extolling the virtues of professions over motherhood, of choices made, with the support of a
An interesting phenomenon happened in social media over the last few weeks: the news feed flooded with images of
August 18 marks a significant marker to 500 days left to meet Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) targets. Today, the
Several college students have been injured when Sikkim police lathicharged them while they were protesting against the recent hike


By K. Joseph Spears
When U.S. President Obama went north to Alaska this past September, he spoke about the challenges in the Arctic and America’s important leadership role as Chair of the Arctic Council, and made clear the urgent need for the United States to design and develop icebreaker capability in the Arctic. The loss of sea-ice resulting from climate change is an oceanographic dynamic which is opening up Arctic waters to various international players. This requires Arctic coastal states to have a marine capability which heavy icebreakers provide. The Obama Administration has wanted to push ahead for a procurement of a heavy icebreaker by 2020.
America’s icebreaker gap
The lack of appropriate icebreaker capability (the “icebreaker gap”) has received a great deal of commentary following the President’s Alaskan visit. The Arctic icebreaker issue has been well known in Arctic community for many years. In the case of the United States, the U.S. Coast Guard operates icebreakers both in the Arctic and Antarctic. The United States has three Arctic icebreakers, namely medium-duty USCG Healey, a research icebreaker, and two heavy-duty icebreakers, USCG Polar Sea and USCG Polar Star. Only USCG Polar Star is operational and operated last year to the South Pole where it rescued an Australian fishing vessel and recently transited to the North Pole. USCG Polar Seas has been docked in Seattle since 2010 after it suffered a major engine failure and requires repairs estimated to cost some $100 million. These vessels were commissioned in 1976 and 1978 respectively. Like Canada’s icebreakers, they are conventionally powered, unlike the ten nuclear heavy icebreakers operated by Russia.
America’s icebreakers as national asset
In a recent report to Congress entitled The Coast Guard Polar Icebreaker Modernization: Background and Issues for Congress it was noted that that the United States will require six heavy-duty icebreakers in the coming years, which are estimated to cost of between US$900 million and $ 1.1 billion each. The report highlights the fact that refurbished USCG Polar Star is due to be retired in 2020 and that new heavy icebreakers, even under accelerated procurement, would not come into service until 2025, leaving a two to three year icebreaker gap.
At this time there is very little funding for the design and development of icebreakers, which will create serious problems for the United States protecting its interests in the Arctic region. The amount allocated to this project for fiscal year 2016 is $166 million, which is an 81 per cent decrease in funding compared to an earlier allocation. It remains to be seen how serious United States is about creating the required icebreaker capability. In a recent analysis of the U.S. Navy’s Arctic Roadmap by the Centre for International Maritime Security, Andreas Kuersten wrote: “ As the Navy puts it in the report’s final sentence: “The key will be to balance potential investments with other Service priorities.” The Roadmap, however, currently shows that balance tipping away from any substantial Arctic engagement.
Commandant of the U.S. Coast Guard, Admiral Paul Zukunft mentioned that compared to Russia and other Arctic nations, “America was not even in the game.“ Those are strong words. The U.S., though, like Canada, is an Arctic nation and requires modern icebreakers for Arctic operations and governance.
Icebreakers are not a luxury, but the foundation of operations in the region. The Report to Congress identified the problem as follows: “Consequently, unless the service life of Polar Star is further extended (or unless Polar Seas is repaired and returned to service), there will be a period of perhaps two to six years during which the United States will have no operational heavy-duty polar icebreakers. The issue for Congress is whether to approve, reject, or modify the Administration’s plans for sustaining and modernizing the polar icebreaking fleet.” The U.S. Navy has no ice strengthened vessels that can operate in the region.
Icebreakers are expensive to build, maintain and operate. With only one icebreaker available, the ability to do a self-rescue will be limited, which is a real concern in the region. The recent transit of the Chinese Navy PLA-N (five ship Task Force through U.S. territorial seas off the Aleutian Islands) shows that China is taking a determined approach to Arctic passage. It is interesting that this transit (which took place within 12 nautical miles of U.S. territory) occurred during the President’s visit to Alaska. It is safe to assume that China is making a statement that it intends to operate in the region. China operates Xue Long, the largest non-nuclear icebreaker and has another under construction.
Icebreakers have a lifespan of about half a century. That is old for any vessel, especially ones that are used hard, and are of critical importance to Arctic governance and operations. With the Arctic increasingly seen as a potential new international shipping route, the need for robust icebreaking capacity is evident.
Canada’s icebreaker gap
Canada’s icebreaker gap is more pressing and affects the Canadian economy in a major way. Although they are also performing duties in the Arctic, Canadian Coast Guard icebreakers were designed for icebreaking in southern waters, on the Great Lakes and in the Gulf of St. Lawrence, to keep Great Lakes and Seaway commerce to the Port of Montréal open as long as possible. Our largest and oldest, CCG Louis St. Laurent, at 49 years of age, has been worked hard.
Canada’s icebreaker problems are age and capability related. While construction of CCG John G. Diefenbaker, a new polar class icebreaker, was announced with great fanfare by then Prime Minister Harper, it is unlikely under the National Shipbuilding Procurement Strategy (NSPS) that this vessel will be operational before 2022 at the very earliest. Even that date is optimistic. The U.S. estimates it will take 10 years for U.S. shipyards to build an Arctic icebreaker.
The Shipping Federation Canada recently released a policy statement which called on the government to ensure that there is sufficient icebreaking capability within the Great Lakes System to allow for commerce to take place. This is a shipping infrastructure problem that affects Canada’s economy, but also impacts Arctic operations and capability. The Federation stated that “The past two years have demonstrated the limits of CCG’s icebreaking fleet as it dealt with icebreaking in the Arctic, the Great Lakes, the St. Lawrence River and Eastern Canada. Already operating with a limited and aging number of assets over a very large geographical area, the conditions demonstrated the breaking point for the system and the need for more icebreakers as soon as possible to meet adequate levels of service and safety.”
The Shipping Federation proposes to consider alternative service delivery either through chartering and/or purchasing vessels from other nations, and to modify NSPS to build smaller, but more numerous vessels that can be used in icebreaking capabilities and final waters. The United Kingdom recently announced construction of a new £200 million polar research ship which will come into service in 2019.
Indirectly, this proposed policy has a link to Arctic issues because during the summer months, Canada’s icebreakers are used in the Arctic. Unlike the icebreakers operated by the U.S. Coast Guard, they are not restricted to Arctic operations – they are an integral part of Canada’s shipping infrastructure. These staunch vessels see double duty on a year-round basis which puts greater strain on these vessels, especially as they age.
With heavy ice pack ice last spring in the Cabot Strait, Canada’s largest icebreaker, CCG Louis St. Laurent was unable to free Marine Atlantic ferry MV Blue Putties from the rafted drift ice. Although we do not think of the waters around Cape Breton and Newfoundland as Arctic waters, these ice covered waters can be every bit as challenging, particularly for icebreakers that are beyond retirement age.
CCG Louis St Laurent. and also CCG Terry Fox recently transited to the North Pole both in 2014 and 2015 to perform work in support of Canada’s claim to the North Pole seabed as part of her continental shelf. CCG Terry Fox was privately built by a Gulf Canada subsidiary as an ice-strengthen offshore supply vessel for use in the Beaufort Sea and was world leading technology when it was designed and built in Canada. During the days of Beaufort Sea exploration (1970-80’s), Canada led the way in the development and design of icebreaker technology. Much of that technical expertise went to Finland which has subsequently become a world leader in icebreaker design and development. This vessel was bought by the Canadian government after the collapse of the Beaufort Sea oil exploration in the early 1980s.
Canada’s focus on its new Polar icebreaker under the NSPS program (CCG John G. Diefenbaker) has been to build one single large conventionally-powered icebreaker that would not operate during the winter months in the Canadian Arctic.
Icebreakers provide policy options
It is important to remember that icebreakers give Canada policy options in the Arctic. The Arctic is a world’s last frontier and is becoming a potential geo-political flashpoint as issues arise concerning access for international commercial shipping and exploitation and harvesting of natural resources. Canada has recently sought to increase its claim to continental shelf resources beyond 200 nautical miles under article 76 of the Law of the Sea Convention. This past summer on orders from then Prime Minister Stephen Harper, scientists conducted further research in support of preparing the claim for the seabed out to the North Pole. Accordingly, CCG Terry Fox and CCG Louis St. Laurent were deployed to conduct further geophysical research and data collection. What this example shows is Canada’s capability to make policy choices is limited by its actual existing maritime capability. This embraces both vessels, maritime air assets, space sensors (our space policy is also part of our Ocean policy) and unmanned systems and the training of skilled and specialized personnel. There is a long lead time for building and maintaining this ocean infrastructure which Canada requires both domestically and internationally.
Now is the time for a reboot of Canadian and American icebreaker capability. We need to rethink this in light of rapid changes in the Arctic. We share common waters with the U.S., and our interests are very much aligned in the Arctic with our best friend and ally, the United States. There is an opportunity for Canada and the United States to work together to build a class of polar icebreaker’s based on the design of CCG John G. Diefenbaker. This would alleviate the icebreaker gap and give both Canada and the United States much-needed capability in the Arctic.
We can work with the United States with which country we have historically had a long-standing interest in the region. This is an opportunity for a two countries to work together towards a common good and protect the Arctic environment, which has various spinoffs on a number of fronts. This will take leadership on the part of Canada. Is Canada’s new government is up to the challenge? Closing the icebreaker gap is an investment in Canada’s future.
K. Joseph Spears, principal of Horseshoe Bay Marine Group, has a long-standing interest in Canada’s Arctic and marine capabilities. He has participated in many policy dialogues in the development of marine practices for the government of Canada. He assisted in the strategic environmental assessment of Canada’s polar icebreaker under contract to the Canadian Coast Guard via Norstrat Consulting. He can be reached at email@example.com


text:
- Chagos Archipelago
The Chagos Archipelago ( // or //; formerly Oil Islands, known as Foalhavahi ފޯޅަވަހި in Dhivehi, as Phehandweep फेहंद्वीप in Hindi and other North Indian languages, and as Paeikaana Theevukal பேகான தீவுகள் in Tamil) is a group of seven atolls comprising more than 60 individual tropical islands in the Indian Ocean; situated some 500 kilometres (310 mi) due south of the Maldives archipelago. This chain of islands are the Southernmost archipelago among the Lakshadweep-Maldives-Chagos group of islands, which are in reality the tops of a vast undersea submarine mountain range, in the Indian Ocean and the Arabian Sea. The islands and their surrounding waters, form a vast oceanic Environment Preservation and Protection Zone (EPPZ) (Fisheries Conservation and Management Zone (FCMZ) of 544,000 square kilometres (210,000 sq mi)), an area twice the size of the UK's land surface.
Officially part of the British Indian Ocean Territory, the Chagos were home to the Chagossians for more than a century and a half until the United Kingdom evicted them in the early 1970s in order to allow the United States to build a military base on Diego Garcia, the largest of the Chagos Islands. Since 1971, only the atoll of Diego Garcia is inhabited, and only by military and civilian contracted personnel.
The Chagos group is a combination of different coralline structures topping a submarine ridge running southwards across the centre of the Indian Ocean, formed by volcanoes above the Réunion hotspot. Unlike in the Maldives there is not a clearly discernible pattern of arrayed atolls, which makes the whole archipelago look somewhat chaotic. Most of the coralline structures of the Chagos are submerged reefs.
The Chagos contain the world’s largest coral atoll (The Great Chagos Bank). It also has one of the healthiest reef systems in the cleanest waters in the world, supporting half the total area of good quality reefs in the Indian Ocean. As a result, the ecosystems of the Chagos have so far proven resilient to climate change and environmental disruptions.
The British government's Cabinet recently established the The Chagos Archipelago as the world's largest marine reserve, larger than the country of France or the state of California. The protection of the marine reserve will be guaranteed for the next five years thanks to the financement of the Bertarelli Foundation. On December 3, 2010, Wikileaks released a document revealing that the marine reserve was established primarily in order to legally block any attempts by the Chagossians to return to their homeland.
The biodiversity of the Chagos archipelago and its surrounding waters is one of the main reasons it is so special. But this incredible diversity is under threat as at least 60 species that call Chagos home are already on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.
The reefs host 220 species of coral including the endemic brain coral Ctenella chagius. The coral cover is dense and healthy even in deep water on the steep outer reef slopes. Thick stands of branching staghorn coral (Acropora sp) protect the low lying islands from wave erosion. Despite the loss of much of the coral in a bleaching event in 1998 the recovery in the Chagos has been remarkable and overall coral cover increases year on year.
The reefs are also home to at least 784 species of fish that stay near to the shores of the islands including the endemic Chagos clownfish (Amphiprion chagosensis) and many of the larger wrasse and grouper that have already been lost from over-fishing in other reefs in the region.
As well as the healthy communities of reef fish there are significant populations of pelagic fish such as manta rays (Manta birostris), sharks and tuna. Shark numbers have dramatically declined as a result of illegal fishing boats that seek to remove their fins and also as accidental by-catch in the two tuna fisheries that operate seasonally in the Chagos.
Seventeen species of breeding seabirds can be found nesting in huge colonies on many of the islands in the archipelago, and 10 of the islands have received formal designation as Important Bird Areas, by Birdlife International. This means that Chagos has the most diverse breeding seabird community within this tropical region. Of particular interest are the large colonies of sooty terns (Sterna fuscata), brown and lesser noddies (Anous stolidus and Anous tenuirostris) wedge-tailed shearwaters (Puffinus pacificus) and red-footed boobies (Sula sula).
The remote islands make perfect undisturbed nursery sites for nests of green (Chelonia mydas) and hawksbill (Eretmochelys imbricata) turtles. The populations of both species in Chagos are of global significance given the "Critically Endangered" status of hawksbills and the "Endangered" status of green turtles on the IUCN Red List. Chagos turtles were heavily exploited during the previous two centuries, but they and their habitats are now well protected by the administration of the British Indian Ocean Territory and are recovering well.
The coconut crab (Birgus latro) is the world’s largest terrestrial arthropod, reaching over one metre in leg span and 3.5-4 kilos in weight. As a juvenile it behaves like a hermit crab and uses empty coconut shells as protection but as an adult this giant crab climbs trees and can crack through a coconut with its massive claws. Despite its wide global distribution, it is rare in most of the areas it is found. It is primarily threatened by over-collection for food, but also as ornaments for sale to tourists and as bait for fish traps. Demand for coconut crabs as souvenirs is strong, and other threats include habitat destruction and predation from introduced species such as rats. The coconut crabs on Chagos constitute one of the most undisturbed populations in the world. An important part of their biology is the long distances their young can travel as larvae. This means the Chagos coconut crabs are a vital source for replenishing other over-exploited populations in the Indian Ocean region.
A total of 113 species of insect have been recorded from the Chagos Islands.
The Chagos Islands have been colonised by plants since there was sufficient soil to support them – probably less than 4,000 years. Seeds and spores arrived on the emerging islands by wind and sea, or from passing sea birds. The native flora of the Chagos Islands is thought to comprise forty-one species of flowering plants and four ferns as well as a wide variety of mosses, liverworts, fungi and cyanobacteria.
Today, the status of the Chagos Islands’ native flora depends very much on past exploitation of particular islands. About 280 species of flowering plants and ferns have now been recorded on the islands, but this increase reflects the introduction of non-native plants by humans, either accidentally or deliberately. Because some of these non-native species have become invasive and pose a threat to the native ecosystems, plans are being developed to control them. On some islands, native forests were felled to plant coconut palms for the production of copra oil. Other islands remain unspoiled and support a wide range of habitats, including unique Pisonia forests and large clumps of the gigantic fish poison tree (Barringtonia asiatica). Unspoiled islands provide us with the biological information that we need in order to re-establish the native plant communities on heavily altered islands. These efforts will ultimately help to improve the biodiversity of the Chagos Islands.
The entire land area of the islands is a mere 63.17 km², with the largest island, Diego Garcia, having an area of 27.20 km². The total area, including lagoons within atolls, however, is more than 15,000 km², of which 12,642 km² are accounted by the Great Chagos Bank, the second largest atoll structure of the world (after the completely submerged Saya de Malha Bank). The shelf area is 20,607 km², and the Exclusive Economic Zone, which borders the corresponding zone of the Maldive Islands in the north, has an area of 636,600 km² (including territorial waters).
The largest individual islands are Diego García (27.20 km²), Eagle (Great Chagos Bank, 2.45 km²), Île Pierre (Peros Banhos, 1.50 km²), Eastern Egmont (Egmont Islands, 1.50 km²), Île du Coin (Peros Banhos, 1.28 km²) and Île Boddam (Salomon Islands, 1.08 km²).
The number of atolls in the Chagos Islands is given as four or five in most sources, plus two island groups and two single islands, mainly because it is not recognized that the Great Chagos Bank is a huge atoll structure (including those two island groups and two single islands), and because it is not recognisd that Blenheim Reef has islets or cays above or just reaching the high water mark.
In addition to the seven atolls with dry land reaching at least the high water mark, there are nine reefs and banks, most of which can be considered permanently submerged atoll structures. They are listed in the table from north to south:
type Area (km²) number
Location Land Total 0 unnamed bank submerged bank – 3 – 1 Colvocoresses Reef submerged atoll – 10 – 2 Speakers Bank unvegetated atoll >0 582 1) 3 Blenheim Reef (Baixo Predassa) unvegetated atoll 0.02 37 4 4 Benares Shoals submerged reef – 2 5 Peros Banhos atoll 13 503 32 6 Salomon Islands atoll 5 36 11 7 Victory Bank submerged atoll – 21 – 8a Nelsons Island parts of mega-atoll
Great Chagos Bank
0.81 12642 1 8b Three Brothers (Trois Frères) 0.37 3 8c Eagle Islands 2.63 2 8d Danger Island 0.66 1 9 Egmont Islands atoll 4 29 7 10 Cauvin Bank submerged atoll – 12 – 11 Owen Bank submerged bank – 4 – 12 Pitt Bank submerged atoll – 1317 – 13 Diego Garcia atoll 30 174 42) 14 Ganges Bank submerged atoll – 30 – 15 Wight Bank 3 16 Centurion Bank 25 Chagos Archipelago Archipelago 63.17 15427 64 04°54' to 07°39'S
70°14' to 72°37' E
1) a number of drying sand cays 2) main island and three islets at the northern end
The deep oceanic waters around the Chagos Islands, out to the 200 nautical mile limit, include an exceptional diversity of undersea geological features (such as 6000m deep trenches, oceanic ridges, and sea mounts). These areas almost certainly harbour many undiscovered and specially adapted species. Although the deepwater habitats surrounding the islands have not been explored or mapped in any detail, work elsewhere in the world has shown that high physical diversity of the sea floor is closely linked to a high diversity of species.
The main natural resources of the area are coconuts, and fish and the licensing of commercial fishing provides an annual income of about two million dollars for the British Indian Ocean Territory authorities.
All economic activity is concentrated on the largest island of Diego Garcia, where joint UK-US military facilities are located. Construction projects and various services needed to support the military installations are done by military and contract employees from the UK, Mauritius, the Philippines, and the US. There are currently no industrial or agricultural activities on the islands. All the water, food and other essentials of daily life are shipped to the island. An independent feasibility study led to the conclusion that resettlement would be "costly and precarious". Another feasibility study, commissioned by organisations supporting resettlement, found that resettlement would be possible at a cost to the British taxpayer of £25 million. If the Chagossians return, they plan to re-establish copra production and fishing, and to begin the commercial development of the islands for tourism.
Skipjack (Euthynnus pelamis) and yellowfin tuna (Thunnus albacares) are fished for about two months of the year as their year-long migratory route takes them through Chagos waters. While the remoteness of the Chagos offers some protection from extractive activities, legal and illegal fishing have had an impact. There is considerable poaching of turtles and other marine life. Sharks, which play a vital role in balancing the food web of tropical reefs, have suffered sharp declines from illegal fishing for their fins and as bycatch in legal fisheries. Sea cucumbers, which cleanse sand, are poached to feed Asian markets.
The Chagos Archipelago has a Tropical oceanic climate; hot and humid but moderated by trade winds. Climate is characterised by plenty of sunshine, warm temperatures, showers and light breezes. December through February is considered the rainy season (summer monsoon); typical weather conditions include light west-northwesterly winds and warmer temperatures with more rainfall. June to September is considered the drier season (winter), characterised by moderate south-easterly winds, slightly cooler temperatures and less rainfall. The annual mean rainfall is 2600 mm (100 inches), varying from 105 mm (4 inches) during August to 350 mm (14 inches) during January.
According to Southern Maldivian oral tradition, local traders and fishermen were occasionally lost at sea and got stranded in one of the islands of the Chagos. Eventually they were rescued and brought back home. However, these islands were judged to be too far away from the Maldives to be settled permanently by Maldivians. Thus for many centuries the Chagos were ignored by their northern neighbours. In Maldivian lore the whole group is known as Fōlhavahi or Hollhavai (the latter name in the Southern Maldives Adduan dialect of Dhivehi). There are no separate names for the different atolls of the Chagos in the Maldivian oral tradition.
Portuguese explorers may have been the first Europeans to discover the island of Diego Garcia. The Portuguese navigator Pedro de Mascarenhas (1470–June 23, 1555) may have discovered the islands during his voyage of 1512–13, but there is little corroborative evidence for this; cartographic analysis points to 1532 or later. Portuguese seafarers named the group and some of the Atolls, but they never made these islands part of their seaborne empire. They judged this lonely and isolated group to be economically and politically uninteresting. Peros Banhos Atoll was discovered in 1513 by Afonso de Albuquerque.
The earliest and most interesting description of the Chagos, before coconut trees grew on the islands, was written by Manoel Rangel. He was a castaway from the Portuguese ship Conceição which ran aground on the Peros Banhos reefs in 1556.
On 27 April 1786 the Chagos Islands and Diego Garcia were claimed for Britain. However, the territory was ceded to the United Kingdom by treaty only after Napoleon's defeat, in 1814. On 31 August 1903 the Chagos Archipelago was administratively separated from the Seychelles and attached to Mauritius.
Between 1793, when the first successful colony was established on Diego Garcia, the largest island in the archipelago, until 1973, coconut plantations were established on many of the atolls and isolated islands of the archipelago. Initially the workers were slaves, but after 1840 they were freemen, many of whom were descended from those earlier slaves. They formed an inter-island culture called "Ilois" (a French Creole word meaning Islanders).
In November 1965, the UK purchased the entire Chagos Archipelago from the then self-governing colony of Mauritius for £3 million pounds to create the British Indian Ocean Territory (BIOT), with the intent of ultimately closing the plantations to provide the uninhabited British territory from which the U.S. would conduct its military activities in the region. On 30 December 1966, the U.S. and the UK executed an Agreement through an Exchange of Notes which permit the U.S. to use any island of the BIOT for defense purposes for 50 years (through December 2016), followed by a 20 year optional extension (to 2036) to which both parties must agree by December 2014. As of 2010, only the atoll of Diego Garcia has been transformed into a military facility.
In April 1966 the British Government bought the entire assets and real property of the Seychellois Chagos Agalega Company, which owned all the islands of the BIOT, for £600,000 and administered them as a government enterprise while awaiting U.S. funding of its proposed facilities, with an interim objective of paying for the administrative expenses of the new territory. However, the plantations, both under their previous private ownership and under government administration, proved consistently unprofitable due to the introduction of new oils and lubricants in the international marketplace, and the establishment of vast coconut plantations in the East Indies and the Philippines.
In March 1971, U.S. Naval construction battalions (SEABEES) arrived on Diego Garcia to begin the construction of the Communications Station and an airfield. To satisfy the terms of an agreement between the UK and the U.S. for an uninhabited island, the plantation on Diego Garcia was closed in October of that year. The plantation workers and their families were relocated to the plantations on Peros Bahnos and Solomon atolls in the northwest of the archipelago; those who requested were transported to the Seychelles or Mauritius. In 1972, the UK decided to close all the remaining plantations throughout the Chagos, and deported the Ilois to their ancestral homes on either the Seychelles or Mauritius. The then-independent Mauritian government refused to accept the islanders without payment, and in 1973, the UK gave the Mauritian government an additional ₤650,000 to resettle the islanders. However despite this islanders often found themselves in woefully inadequate housing and living conditions.
The islanders were known as the Ilois (one French Creole word for "islanders") and they numbered about 1,000. They were of mixed African and Malay descent and lived very simple, spartan lives in their isolated archipelago. Few remains of their culture have been left, although their dialect (Chagossian Creole) is still spoken by some descendants in Mauritius and the UK.
Between 1967 and 1973, the entire population was involuntarily removed from the islands and relocated to Mauritius and the Seychelles to make way for a joint United States-United Kingdom military base on Diego Garcia.
Currently, the only human structures on the islands are located in the joint defence and naval support facility on Diego Garcia. Other uninhabited islands, especially in the Salomon group, are common stopping points for long-distance yachtsmen traveling from Southeast Asia to the Red Sea or the coast of Africa, although a permit is required to visit the outer islands.
Diego Garcia is currently the only inhabited island in the Chagos, all of which comprise the British Indian Ocean Territory, usually abbreviated as “BIOT”. It is an Overseas territory of the United Kingdom, and the Government of the BIOT consists of Commissioner appointed by the Queen. The Commissioner is assisted by an Administrator and small staff, and is based in London and resident in the Foreign and Commonwealth Office. This administration is represented in the Territory by the Officer commanding British Forces on Diego Garcia, the "Brit Rep". Laws and regulations are promulgated by the Commissioner and enforced in the BIOT by Brit Rep.
There are no civilian residents or administrators, and the UK represents the Territory internationally. A local government as normally envisioned does not exist.
There are two transnational political issues which affect the BIOT, through the British government.
First, the island nation of Mauritius claims the Chagos Archipelago (which is co-terminus with the BIOT), including Diego Garcia. A subsidiary issue is the Mauritian opposition to the 1 April 2010 UK Government’s declaration that the BIOT is a Marine Protected Area with fishing and extractive industry (including oil and gas exploration) prohibited.
Second, the issue of compensation and repatriation of the former inhabitants of several of the archipelago's atolls, exiled since 1973, continues in litigation and as of this writing (23 August 2010) has been submitted to the European Court of Human Rights by a group of former residents.
- WikiLeaks CableGate disclosure (2010)
According to Wikileaks CableGate documents, in a calculated move the UK proposed in 2009 that the BIOT become a "marine reserve" with the aim of preventing the former inhabitants from returning to their lands. The summary of the diplomatic cable is as follows :
HMG would like to establish a “marine park” or “reserve” providing comprehensive environmental protection to the reefs and waters of the British Indian Ocean Territory (BIOT), a senior Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) official informed Polcouns on May 12. The official insisted that the establishment of a marine park -- the world’s largest -- would in no way impinge on USG use of the BIOT, including Diego Garcia, for military purposes. He agreed that the UK and U.S. should carefully negotiate the details of the marine reserve to assure that U.S. interests were safeguarded and the strategic value of BIOT was upheld. He said that the BIOT’s former inhabitants would find it difficult, if not impossible, to pursue their claim for resettlement on the islands if the entire Chagos Archipelago were a marine reserve.
Successive UK governments, both Labour and Conservative, have supported environmental conservation of the Chagos. They have committed to treat the whole area as a World Heritage site. In 2003, the UK government established an Environment (Protection and Preservation) Zone under Article 75 of the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea. This zone extends 200 nautical miles from the islands. On eastern Diego Garcia, the largest island of the Chagos and the site of a UK–US military facility, Britain has designated the very large lagoon and the eastern arm of the atoll and seaward reefs as a “wetland of international importance” under the Convention on Wetlands of International Importance (the Ramsar Convention).
On 1 April 2010 Britain issued a declaration that the Chagos Islands had been legally constituted into the world's largest nature reserve with an area of a quarter of a million square miles.
This followed an effort led by The Chagos Environment Network, a collaboration of nine leading conservation and scientific organisations seeking to protect the rich biodiversity of the Chagos Islands and its surrounding waters. It currently urges the UK Government to declare the Chagos archipelago and waters, out to its 200-mile (320 km) Environmental Preservation and Protection Zone, a full no-take marine reserve in which extractive activities such as fishing would be prohibited. The Chagos Environment Network cites several reasons for supporting a protected area:
- The Chagos no-take marine reserve would maintain the pure and unpolluted waters of Chagos, providing a safe refuge for its rich marine life, including many threatened species, such as turtles and sharks. Seabirds and nesting turtles too will benefit from the additional conservation measures that a protected area will bring. Both groups are recovering from severe depredations of the past in a way that is not possible in most places.
- World fish stocks have declined catastrophically because of destructive and unsustainable fisheries practices. The Indian Ocean has been badly affected in this regard, given its heavily populated rim of countries. A large ‘no-take’ protected area would assist fish population recovery, potentially increasing fish numbers over a much wider area. The protected area would also provide a temporary refuge for migratory species, such as tuna, from exploitation.
- In the long-term, a Chagos no-take marine reserve would contribute to a richer ocean and would benefit people living in and around that ocean, such as the coastal countries of East Africa and elsewhere. In regards to the displaced Chagossian people, whatever the outcome of legal challenges brought by Chagossian groups against the UK government, the Chagos Environment Network believes that the Chagos need conservation now and that this will be beneficial to everyone under all future legal scenarios. The Chagos Environment Network urged that the Chagos Islands and their surrounding waters be designated as a no-take marine reserve "without prejudice” to the outcome of the legal process. This designation would mean that the Chagos Islands and their resources would remain healthy no matter what the future holds, but that conservation arrangements could be modified if necessary in the light of a change in circumstances.
- The Chagos is one of the few marine locations in the world where there are almost no ongoing, direct human impacts over almost all of its areas. The marine reserve can serve as a reference site for global scientific research to aid in our understanding of such things as climate change, tropical marine ecosystems and the impacts of commercial fisheries.
- Deep ocean
- The deep oceanic waters around the Chagos Islands, out to the 200 nautical mile limit, include an exceptional diversity of undersea geological features (such as 6000m deep trenches, oceanic ridges and sea mounts). These areas almost certainly harbour many undiscovered and specially adapted species.
- UK international commitments
- The creation of the Chagos Protected Area would be an important contribution by the UK to at least seven international environmental conventions. It would also contribute to the UK’s global commitments, such as halting the decline of biodiversity by 2010, establishing marine protection networks by 2012, and restoring depleted fish stocks to sustainable levels by 2015.
- List of islands in Chagos Archipelago
- Depopulation of Diego Garcia
- India–United Kingdom relations
- List of island countries and territories in the Indian Ocean
- British Indian Ocean Territory
- Robert Moresby
- Pilger, John (2006). Freedom Next Time. Bantam Press. ISBN 0593055527. Chapter 1: Stealing a Nation, pp. 19–60
- Padma Rao, Der Edikt der Königin, in: Der Spiegel, 5 December 2005, pp. 152–4.
- Xavier Romero-Frias, The Maldive Islanders, A Study of the Popular Culture of an Ancient Ocean Kingdom. Barcelona 1999, ISBN 84-7254-801-5
- David Vine, Island of Shame: The Secret History of the U.S. Military Base on Diego Garcia. Princeton University Press 2009, ISBN 9780691138695
- Washington Post, 04/02/2010
Countries and territories bordering the Indian Ocean Africa AsiaBahrain · Bangladesh · British Indian Ocean Territory (Chagos Archipelago), United Kingdom · Burma · Christmas Island and Cocos (Keeling) Islands, Australia · India · Indonesia · Iran · Iraq · Israel · Jordan · Kuwait · Malaysia · Maldives · Oman · Pakistan · Qatar · Saudi Arabia · Sri Lanka · Thailand · Timor-Leste · United Arab Emirates · Yemen Other
- ^ http://www.nationalgeographic.com/wildworld/profiles/terrestrial/im/im0125.html
- ^ “The Independent, Billionaire saves marine reserve plans, 12 Sept 2010”
- ^ Evans, Rob; Norton-Taylor, Richard (3 December 2010). "WikiLeaks: Foreign Office accused of misleading public over Diego Garcia". The Guardian (London). http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2010/dec/03/wikileaks-cables-diego-garcia-uk.
- ^ www.publications.parliament.uk.
- ^ Xavier Romero-Frias, The Maldive Islanders, A Study of the Popular Culture of an Ancient Ocean Kingdom. Barcelona 1999, ISBN 84-7254-801-5. Chapter 1 "A Seafaring Nation", page 19
- ^ Bernardo Gomes de Brito. Historia Tragico Maritima. Em que se escrevem chronologicamente os Naufragios que tiverao as Naos de Portugal, depois que se poz em exercicio a Navegaçao da India. Lisboa 1735
- ^  “CIA World Factbook, accessed 23 Aug 2010”]
- ^
- ^ “The Sunday Times, accessed 23 Aug 2010”
- ^ "Hmg Floats Proposal For Marine Reserve Covering". Embassy London. WikiLeaks. 2009-05-15. http://wikileaks.org/cable/2009/05/09LONDON1156.html. Retrieved 2010-12-02.
- ^ http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/facility/diego-garcia.htm
- ^ http://www.unep-wcmc.org/wh/reviews/wetlands/t11.htm
- ^ Eilperin, Juliet (2 April 2010), "Britain protects Chagos Islands, creating world's largest marine reserve", The Washington Post, Green, archived from the original on 4 April 2010, http://www.webcitation.org/5ojluUvmJ, retrieved 4 April 2010
- ^ Rincon, Paul (1 April 2010), "UK sets up Chagos Islands marine reserve", BBC News, http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/8599125.stm, retrieved 7 April 2010
- ^ "New protection for marine life", Foreign & Commonwealth Office, 1 April 2010, http://www.fco.gov.uk/en/news/latest-news/?view=News&id=22001512, retrieved 7 April 2010
- ^ a b http://protectchagos.org
- ^ http://www.fco.gov.uk/resources/en/pdf/21153320/mpa-consultation-101109
- Stealing a Nation, a Special Report by John Pilger
- The Chagos Environment Network. The Network is a collaboration of nine leading conservation and scientific organisations seeking to protect the rich biodiversity of the Chagos Islands and its surrounding waters.
- The Chagos Conservation Trust. The Trust is a non political organisation whose aims are to promote conservation, scientific and historical research, and to advance education concerning the archipelago.
- Let Them Return - The Chagos People's Homeland Campaign
- Site shows "Flag of the Chagossians" at end of page
- 5 minute film about Chagos Islanders campaign to return
- Indian Ocean Pilot (Portable Document Format)
- Diego Garcia timeline posted at the History Commons about removal of Chagos Islanders
- Chagos Conservation Management Plan (Portable Document Format)
- Coral Reef Degradation in the Indian Ocean (Portable Document Format)
- The US military presence on the Chagos Archipelago
- Article about the real history and life of the Chagossians
- Chagos: A Documentary Film
- Stealing Diego Garcia by John Pilger
- The UK Chagos Support Association
- Texas University E Indian Ocean map
- CIA Factbook - British Indian Ocean Territory
- Stealing a Nation (TV documentary, 2004), a Special Report by John Pilger
- A Return from Exile in Sight? The Chagossians and their Struggle, from the Northwestern Journal of International Human Rights (Portable Document Format)
- News Exiles lose appeal over benefits, BBC 02/11/07
- , Washington Post 4/02/10
Atolls with land area Totally submerged Outlying territories of European countries Territories under European sovereignty but closer to or on continents other than Europe (see inclusion criteria for further information) Denmark France Italy Netherlands Norway Portugal Spain United
Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.
Look at other dictionaries:
Chagos Archipelago — [chä′gəs] group of islands in the Indian Ocean 1,180 mi (1,899 km) northeast of Mauritius, comprising the British Indian Ocean Territory: chief island, Diego Garcia … English World dictionary
Chagos Archipelago — geographical name archipelago central Indian Ocean S of Maldives; comprises British Indian Ocean Territory see Diego Garcia … New Collegiate Dictionary
Chagos Archipelago — /chah gohs, geuhs/ a group of islands in the British Indian Ocean Territory. ab. 75 sq. mi. (195 sq. km). * * * Island group, central Indian Ocean. Located about 1,000 mi (1,600 km) south of the tip of the Indian subcontinent, it has a total area … Universalium
Chagos Archipelago — Cha′gos Archipel′ago [[t]ˈtʃɑ goʊs, gəs[/t]] n. geg a group of islands in the British Indian Ocean Territory. ab. 75 sq. mi. (195 sq. km) … From formal English to slang
Chagos Archipelago — /chah gohs, geuhs/ a group of islands in the British Indian Ocean Territory. ab. 75 sq. mi. (195 sq. km) … Useful english dictionary
List of islands in Chagos Archipelago — List of Islands in Chagos Archipelago#Île Aigle, Eagle Islands #Ile Anglaise #Ile Anglaise #Ile Aux Vaches #Ile Boddam #Île Carpate, Egmont Islands (Île Carre Pate) #Ile Charles #Grande Ile Coquillage #Petite Ile Coquillage #Île Cipaye, Egmont… … Wikipedia
Chagos-Archipel — Karte des Chagos Archipels, Atolle und Inseln sind grün beschriftet, versunkene Atolle blau Gewässer … Deutsch Wikipedia
Chagos — Lage des Chagos Archipels Der Chagos Archipel (deutsch auch Tschagos Archipel) ist eine Inselgruppe im Indischen Ozean. Er ist unter dem politischen Namen Chagos Archipelago ein Britisches Überseegebiet, der letzte noch verbliebene Teil des… … Deutsch Wikipedia
Chagos-Inseln — Lage des Chagos Archipels Der Chagos Archipel (deutsch auch Tschagos Archipel) ist eine Inselgruppe im Indischen Ozean. Er ist unter dem politischen Namen Chagos Archipelago ein Britisches Überseegebiet, der letzte noch verbliebene Teil des… … Deutsch Wikipedia
Chagos-Laccadive Ridge — The Chagos Laccadive Ridge on the upper left side of the picture The Chagos Laccadive Ridge (CLR), also known as Chagos Laccadive Plateau, is a prominent volcanic ridge and oceanic plateau extending between the Northern and the Central Indian… … Wikipedia

domain: geography


text:
Never had the time to learn how to stitch and repair your torn up clothes?
Sew anything in an instant without threads or needles with the amazing Sew Glue Liquid!
It’s an amazing fast-drying glue that will instantly mend and repair your torn clothes!
Now you can instantly repair all your torn clothes anytime and anywhere on the go!
It’s an amazing stitch-less solution for repairing your clothes!
Get a quick and easy sewing alternative that doesn’t require needles or threads with the convenient Sew Glue Liquid!
Washable and safe for your clothes!
Color: white viscous liquid
Net content: 60ml
Shelf life: 12 months
Its amazing quick-drying properties lets you quickly patch up your clothes within minutes!
Mend, hem, and patch up your clothes within seconds with the amazing Sew Glue Liquid!
Works On Every Type Of Fabric!
Works on every type of fabric!
Its quick-drying and flexible properties make it the perfect sewing solution for every fabric type!
Made with premium quality adhesives that allow the glue to dry clear and soft just like it isn’t there!
Whether you’re trying to decorate your clothes, patch holes or repair accidental tearing this glue is perfect for you!
It’s an amazing thread free solution for repairing your clothes!
Mend tears, patch holes, and decorate your clothes with the remarkable Sew Glue Liquid now!
I've also used it to mend pajama pants that have ripped at the crotch and fix a hole in the corner of a down-stuffed throw pillow. It's worked tremendously well for all of these.
Kimberly - 30, Utah
Love this for putting in thick patches onto our son's sports uniforms. The glue lasts through many washes without causing the patch to come off or peel.
Sherry - 34, Texas
I am using this product to repair the carpet my dog decided to use as a chew toy. After the glue has set, I was able to walk on and vacuum the repaired section without any fibers coming loose.
Zoila - 26, Wisconsin
Try out the Sew Glue Liquid for 30 days and if you don't like it, you’ll get your money back!
© Copyright. All right reserved.

domain: hobby


text:
Wenger Vow For More Domestic Players
Arsenal and Arsene Wenger have often been critisised for the lack of British players to play for our team, a critisism that has been argued, and defended for many years, but maybe that is all about to change.
I have always maintained, and will carry on maintaining, that passports are not of any importance, if you're good enough, you will play, but most people fail to understand that if you don't have a rich Russian backer, then it's incredibly difficult to afford the English players who are good enough (and some who aren't)
In London it is especially difficult to find young English players as there are rules in place (although I'm not sure of the specifics) that stops any English player who does not live within 45 minutes travelling time (I think) of playing for said club. And given the amount of clubs in London, well lets just say it complicates things a little.
The prices of English players are also another stumbling block. For the price of Shaun Wright-Phillips we have bought Thierry Henry, Kolo Toure, Cesc Fabregas, Phileppe Senderos, Manu Eboue, Robin van Persie, and Tomas Rosicky, give or take a few quid. Now do you naysayers see why Arsene Wenger doesn't conform to the media an general football fan standards?
So the general rule of thumb is English players are not worth their price tag, especially to a team who wishes to be challenging for major honors every year.
I'm starting to ramble, so back to the original subject matter.
Arsene Wenger is convinced that after lagging behind for so many years, this countries Academies are finally catching up with the rest of the world, and believes in the next three or four years, it will really start to bear fruit.
Le Boss said,
'I think another concern, maybe, in England, we have developed less English players than young foreign talents. It is down to one basic reason that we have recently produced less talent. Because we have responded later with the quality of the academies..
'But I think here at the club, with Richard Carr, we have really developed our youth system. And now we will, in the next three or four years, produce real domestic talent. Because we are bringing top domestic talent to the club.
I believe that any system that provides our club with great players is a massive plus, it just so happens that this system might just shut a few people up.

domain: sports


We provide Custom Printed Satin Ribbon, Personalized Satin Ribbon Printing, Single Faced Satin Ribbon, Double Sided Satin Ribbon, Polyester Satin Ribbon and Grosgrain Satin Ribbon.
Application for Custom Printed Satin Ribbon
Personalized Ribbons, also known as custom printed ribbon. Satin ribbon is the most popular type of ribbon, it is excellent for enhancing packaging, adding an additional high quality effect to products or gifts, advertising, promotion, special event recognition and many other occasions.
Personalized Printed Satin Ribbons are great for Gifts Wrapping, Jewelry Packaging, Commercial Advertising, Corporate Promotions, Business Packaging, Product Packaging, Branding, Marketing, Trade Show, Special Events, Schools, Sporting Clubs, Awareness Ribbons, Furniture, Toys, Crafts, Hair Accessory, Celebrations, Christening, Christmas, Birthday Parties, Holiday Wrapping & Decorating, Wedding and Anniversary decorating etc.
Satin Ribbon Types
We offer Satin Ribbons including Double Sided Woven Edge Polyester Satin Ribbon, Double Faced Satin Ribbon, Single Side Woven Edge Polyester Satin Ribbon, Single Face Satin Ribbon, Sticky Backed Satin Ribbon and Grosgrain Satin Ribbon.
Single Face Satin Polyester Ribbon
Single Faced Satin Ribbons are 100% polyester, with a silky satin smooth front and a matte finish on the other side with a stitched edge.
Double Face Satin Polyester Ribbon
The same high-quality polyester fabric ribbon as Single Face with a satin finish on both sides.
Double sided satin “shiny both sides”, Double Sided Woven Edged Satin Ribbon offers the same silky texture on both sides.
Polyester Grosgrain Ribbon
A firm, durable polyester ribbon with a “ribbed” surface and stitched edge. Commonly used for Lanyards.
Satin Ribbon Widths
Our satin ribbons are 100% polyester, and come in several different sizes: 3/16″(5mm), 1/4″(6mm), 3/8″(9mm), 1/2″(13mm), 5/8″(16mm), 3/4″(19mm), 7/8″(22mm), 1″(25mm), 1-1/8″(28mm), 1-1/4″(32mm), 1-1/2″(38mm), 2″(50mm), 2-1/4″(57mm), 2-1/2″(63mm), 3″(75mm), 3-1/2″(89mm), 4″(100mm)
We can print any satin ribbon from 5mm to 100mm wide. Contact us for big size more than 100mm width.
Satin Ribbon Colors
You can choose from 196 standard colours of satin ribbon: Black, White, Off White, Cream, Grey, Pink, Hot Pink, Green, Light Green, Dark Green, Red, Dar Red, Orange, Yellow, Blue, Light Blue, Dark Blue, Purple, Gold, Silver, Navy, Chocolate, Lime and so on. Contact us for wide variety of satin ribbon base colors. Please choose the satin ribbon color on our color charts.
Satin Ribbon Printing Type
Satin ribbon printing is available in different methods such as Silk Screen Ink Printing, Foil Printing and Raised Printing.
Custom Printed Satin Ribbon
We supply high quality Custom Printed Satin Ribbon. Our Personalized ribbon can be custom printed with specific message, QR code, company name and logo etc.
Our Custom Printed Satin Ribbon is available in a variety of styles, widths, and colors.
All of our customized satin ribbon printing can be custom made into many sizes, colors, and width according to your request.
Any Color, PMS Color, Gold and Silver Color, Foil Printing.
On Roll, Sheet (Heat Cut, Laser Cut into Various Lengths), Folded(End Fold, Center Fold), Any shape(Straight, Swallow Tailed and Wave etc.).
No Minimum Quantity. Short run small or large orders acceptable.
Turnaround Time: Fast turnaround 4-6 Working days after proof approval.
Contact us with your order requirements.
1. Satin Ribbon types.
2. Satin Ribbon color.
3. Satin Ribbon size/width.
4. Satin Ribbon imprint color.
5. Satin Ribbon Length/quantity.
6. Other special instructions regarding the satin ribbon like cutting, folding etc.
Please contact us for more information about custom printed satin ribbon.


text:
As a proud Beagle owner, I can confidently say that this breed is one of the most lovable and loyal companions you can have. Their playful and curious nature, coupled with their affectionate personality, makes them a perfect addition to any family. Taking care of a Beagle requires time, patience, and love. In this comprehensive guide, I’ll share my personal adventures with my Beagle and provide valuable insights on how to care for and bond with this wonderful breed. From understanding their temperament to training techniques, we’ll cover everything you need to know to ensure your Beagle is happy and healthy.
- The Beagle breed is known for its playful and affectionate personality.
- Caring for a Beagle requires time, patience, and love.
- Understanding your Beagle’s temperament is crucial to building a strong bond.
- Training your Beagle is essential for their well-being and your sanity.
- Proper care, such as nutrition and grooming, is crucial for keeping your Beagle healthy.
Beagle Breed Overview
|Developed for hunting
|Affectionate with Family
|Good with Children
|Good with Other Dogs
|Moderate space needed
|Regular grooming required
|Openness to Strangers
|Energetic and playful
|Type of Dog
|Good watch dog, not a guard dog
|Mental Stimulation Needs
|Needs mental stimulation
|Balanced diet, watch for overeating
Discovering the Beagle Breed
Welcome to the fascinating world of Beagle breed! Beagles are one of the most loved breeds worldwide. These cute little hounds are known for their adorable looks and lively personality. They are great companions for families, singles, and seniors alike.
Beagles originated in England in the 19th century and were bred for hunting purposes. They are known for their exceptional sense of smell and are often used for hunting small game such as rabbits. Today, they are mainly kept as family pets and are loved for their friendly and playful nature.
|Beagles are a small to medium-sized breed with a height of 13-15 inches (33-38 cm) and a weight of 18-30 pounds (8-14 kg).
|Beagles come in a variety of colors such as tricolor, red and white, lemon and white, and chocolate tricolor.
|Beagles are known for their friendly, outgoing, and affectionate nature. They are very social dogs and love to be around people and other dogs.
Beagles have a unique temperament that sets them apart from other breeds. They are known for their curious and independent nature, which can make them challenging to train. However, if trained correctly, Beagles can make excellent pets and are incredibly loyal to their owners.
“The loyalty and companionship of a Beagle are unmatched, and they make life so much more fun and enjoyable.”
Overall, the Beagle breed is an excellent choice for anyone looking for a lovable, energetic, and social companion. With proper care, training, and attention, a Beagle can make a wonderful addition to any family or household.
Welcoming a Beagle Puppy into Your Home
Bringing a Beagle puppy into your home is an exciting time. It’s essential to prepare your home to ensure the safety and comfort of your new furry friend. Start with puppy-proofing your home by removing any toxic plants, securing loose wires, and storing harmful chemicals out of reach.
Next, create a cozy space for your Beagle puppy to sleep, rest, and play. Invest in a comfortable dog bed and toys to keep them entertained. A playpen or a crate is also helpful to train your puppy and keep them out of trouble when you’re not around.
Feeding your Beagle puppy high-quality and nutritious food is crucial for their development. Choose a diet specially formulated for puppies to meet their nutritional needs. It’s also vital to provide plenty of freshwater and avoid overfeeding to prevent obesity, a common issue in Beagles.
|Beagle Puppy Care Tips
|Socialize your Beagle puppy
|Introduce them to people, other pets, and new environments to help them become well-adjusted and confident.
|Exercise with your Beagle puppy
|Beagles have plenty of energy to burn. Take them for daily walks and playtime to keep them physically and mentally stimulated.
|Start training early
|Begin training your Beagle puppy as soon as possible to establish good behavior, prevent bad habits, and strengthen your bond.
Regular grooming is essential to keep your Beagle puppy’s coat clean and healthy. Brush their fur at least once a week and bathe them every two to three months or when they’re dirty. Don’t forget to trim their nails and clean their ears to prevent infections.
Finally, book an appointment with your veterinarian to schedule your Beagle puppy’s vaccinations and a health check-up. Vaccinations are crucial to protect your puppy against common diseases, and a vet check-up can detect and treat any health issues early on.
Understanding Beagle Temperament
Beagles are a unique breed with a distinct temperament. Understanding their personality traits is vital to providing the best care and training for your furry friend.
“Beagles are friendly, curious, and independent dogs.”
One of the defining characteristics of Beagles is their friendly nature. They make great companions and are known for being social with both people and other animals.
Beagles are curious dogs and love to explore their surroundings. This trait can sometimes get them into trouble, but it’s also part of what makes them so endearing. It’s essential to provide a safe and secure environment for your Beagle to prevent any accidents.
Another crucial aspect of Beagle temperament is their independence. They can be stubborn and sometimes difficult to train, but with patience and consistency, they can excel in obedience and agility training.
Beagles possess several unique traits that set them apart from other breeds. Here are some of the most notable ones:
|Beagles are known for their distinctive howl, which can get quite loud and persistent. They often howl when they’re excited or when they catch a scent they find interesting.
|Beagles have an excellent sense of smell and are often used for hunting. They love to sniff around and can easily get distracted by a scent that catches their attention.
|Despite their independent nature, Beagles also love to cuddle and spend time with their owners. They enjoy being close, whether it’s on the couch or in bed.
Understanding these traits will help you connect with your Beagle and provide them with the necessary care and training they need to thrive.
Beagle Training Made Easy
Training your Beagle is an essential part of being a responsible pet owner. It not only helps your furry friend become a well-behaved and obedient companion but also strengthens your bond and makes for a happier home. However, training a Beagle can sometimes be tricky due to their natural independence and curiosity.
But fear not! With patience, consistency, and positive reinforcement, you can make the training process enjoyable and effective for both you and your Beagle.
Basic Training Techniques
The first step in Beagle training is to establish yourself as the pack leader. Be firm but gentle in setting boundaries and enforcing rules. Consistency is key, so make sure everyone in the household is on the same page and upholds the same expectations.
Start training your Beagle with basic commands such as “sit,” “stay,” and “come.” Use positive reinforcement techniques, such as treats and verbal praise, to reinforce good behavior and make the training process engaging and rewarding.
Remember to keep training sessions short and frequent, about 10-15 minutes, to avoid overwhelming your Beagle. Train in a quiet and distraction-free environment, and gradually introduce more challenging scenarios as your Beagle progresses.
Specialized Training Techniques
Beagles are natural hunters, and their strong sense of smell can sometimes cause them to follow their nose rather than their commands. This behavior can make them challenging to train when off-leash or in outdoor environments.
Here are some specialized training techniques to help you overcome these challenges:
|Channel your Beagle’s natural hunting instincts by using scent training techniques. Place a treat or toy in a box with holes in it and encourage your Beagle to find it using their nose.
|Train your Beagle to come when called by using positive reinforcement techniques. Start in a quiet environment and gradually increase distractions.
|Teach your Beagle to walk on a leash by using positive reinforcement techniques. Start in a quiet environment and gradually increase the duration and complexity of your walks.
Here are some additional tips to help make Beagle training a success:
- Start training early. The earlier you start, the easier it will be to establish good habits.
- Be patient. Training can take time, and progress may not always be obvious.
- Use positive reinforcement. Focus on rewarding good behavior rather than punishing bad behavior.
- Be consistent. Use the same commands and techniques with everyone in the household.
- Make it fun. Training should be an enjoyable process for both you and your Beagle.
Training your Beagle may seem like a daunting task, but with a little patience and consistency, it can be a rewarding experience for both you and your furry friend. Remember to have fun, be positive, and celebrate every step of the way. Happy training!
Providing the Best Beagle Care
As a Beagle owner, providing the best care for your furry friend is essential for their health and happiness. Here are some tips to ensure your Beagle receives the best possible care:
- Regular Veterinary Checkups: Schedule regular checkups with your veterinarian to keep your Beagle up-to-date on vaccinations and monitor their health.
- Nutritious Diet: Beagles have a tendency to gain weight, so it’s important to provide a balanced diet with appropriate portions. Consult with your veterinarian on specific dietary needs.
- Grooming: Beagles have a short coat that requires minimal grooming. However, regular brushing and nail trimming can help keep them clean and healthy.
- Exercise: Beagles have an abundance of energy. Regular exercise, such as daily walks or trips to the dog park, can help keep them physically and mentally stimulated.
- Safe Environment: Beagles are curious and like to explore their surroundings. It’s essential to provide a safe environment, free from dangerous objects or chemicals that can harm them.
- Dental Care: Beagles are prone to dental issues, so it’s important to provide dental care such as regular teeth cleanings and providing dental chews or toys.
By following these tips, you can ensure your Beagle receives the best care possible, helping them live a long and healthy life.
Table: Common Health Issues in Beagles
|Head shaking, scratching at ears, discharge or odor from ears
|Antibiotics, ear drops, cleaning ears as directed by veterinarian
|Limping, difficulty walking or jumping
|Weight management, physical therapy, surgery in severe cases
|Weight gain, lethargy, difficulty breathing
|Dietary management, exercise, weight loss plan
“A Beagle’s love is unconditional, so it’s vital to provide the best care possible to show your love and appreciation for them.”
Unveiling Beagle Characteristics
Beagles are among the most charming and lovable breeds, but what makes them so unique? Let’s explore the physical and behavioral characteristics that define them, making them stand out from the pack:
|Size: Beagles are small to medium-sized dogs, typically weighing between 20 and 30 pounds and standing up to 15 inches tall at the shoulder.
|Curious: Beagles are known for their investigative nature and are always eager to explore their surroundings, often using their innate sense of smell to guide them.
|Coat: Beagles have a short, dense coat that comes in various colors, including tricolor (black, white, and tan), lemon and white, red and white, and chocolate and white.
|Playful: Beagles have a fun-loving personality and enjoy playtime, whether it’s with their owners or other dogs.
|Distinctive features: Beagles have droopy ears, big brown eyes, and a cute, button nose that makes them instantly recognizable.
|Independent: Beagles are intelligent and can be stubborn, sometimes choosing to follow their instincts rather than commands.
Understanding these characteristics can help you better connect with your Beagle and appreciate their unique qualities. Whether it’s their distinctive bark or their insatiable curiosity, each Beagle has a personality all their own.
Decoding Beagle Size and Colors
Beagles come in a range of sizes and colors, adding to their unique charm. Let’s explore the different size ranges and coat colors that Beagles can have.
Beagles are medium-sized dogs that typically weigh between 20-30 pounds and stand around 13-15 inches tall. However, there are variations in their size, and some may be smaller or larger than others.
When choosing a Beagle, consider their size and whether they are a good fit for your lifestyle and living space. Beagles have a lot of energy and require plenty of exercise, so a smaller living space may not be ideal for them.
Beagles come in a variety of coat colors, with the most common being tricolor, which includes black, white, and tan. However, they can also be bicolor, with combinations such as white and tan or lemon and white, or even have a solid color such as chocolate or red.
See the table below for a comprehensive breakdown of all the different Beagle coat colors:
|Black, white, and tan
|White with black, brown, lemon, or red
|Lemon and white
|Pale yellow and white
|Red and white
|Reddish-brown and white
|Chocolate, white, and tan
No matter their size or color, Beagles are lovable companions with unique personalities and characteristics. Embrace their individuality and enjoy the adventures that come with being a Beagle owner!
Exploring Beagle Lifespan and Health
Beagles are known for their friendly and energetic personalities, and they can make wonderful companions. However, it’s important to understand their lifespan and health to ensure they live happy and healthy lives.
On average, Beagles live from 12 to 15 years. However, like any breed, they can be susceptible to certain health issues that can affect their quality of life.
Cancer is the leading cause of death for Beagles, followed by old age and other health problems such as hip dysplasia, epilepsy, and allergies. While some of these conditions are genetic, many can be prevented with proper care and regular veterinary check-ups.
Regular exercise and a healthy diet are critical for maintaining your Beagle’s health. Beagles love to play and run, so make sure they get plenty of exercise every day. A daily walk or game of fetch can help keep them happy and healthy.
When it comes to their diet, Beagles can be prone to obesity, so it’s important to monitor their food intake. Feed them a high-quality dog food that is appropriate for their age and activity level. Be sure to avoid giving them human food, as it can upset their stomach and negatively impact their health.
In addition to exercise and a healthy diet, regular veterinary check-ups are essential for identifying and treating any potential health problems early. During your Beagle’s check-up, your veterinarian will perform a physical exam, review their medical history, and provide any necessary vaccinations.
Remember: Beagles are a loving and loyal breed that can bring you years of joy and companionship. By providing them with proper care, you can help ensure they live a long and happy life by your side.
Adventures with My Beagle
My Beagle has been my faithful companion for years, and we’ve shared some unforgettable experiences together. Whether it’s exploring new hiking trails, playing fetch at the park, or simply cuddling up on the couch, there’s never a dull moment with my furry friend by my side.
One of our favorite activities is going on road trips. Beagles love to explore new places, and my furry friend is no exception. We’ve traveled all over the country, from the beaches of California to the mountains of Colorado, and every adventure has been a blast.
One memorable trip we took was to a dog-friendly vineyard in Napa Valley. My Beagle was in heaven, sniffing out all the wonderful scents and meeting new furry friends. We even got to enjoy a wine tasting while our four-legged companions ran around and played together.
Another adventure that stands out is when we went on a camping trip in the Grand Canyon. It was just the two of us, surrounded by breathtaking scenery and fresh air. My Beagle loved exploring the trails and chasing after squirrels. We even snuggled up together in the tent at night, listening to the sounds of nature.
Through all our adventures, my Beagle has been a loyal and loving companion. We’ve bonded over our shared experiences, and I’m grateful for every moment we’ve spent together. Owning a Beagle has enriched my life in so many ways, and I can’t imagine life without my furry friend by my side.
Our Favorite Products for Beagle Adventures
|Outward Hound Backpack
|A backpack designed for dogs to carry their own gear on hikes
|Frisco Outdoor Dog Bed
|A portable and durable bed for camping trips
|KONG Classic Dog Toy
|A durable chew toy for playtime on the go
These products have been game-changers for our adventures. The Outward Hound backpack allows my Beagle to carry his own water and snacks, and the Frisco Outdoor Dog Bed provides a comfortable spot for him to rest after a long day of hiking. And of course, the KONG Classic Dog Toy never fails to keep him entertained during downtime.
Overall, owning a Beagle has allowed me to experience countless adventures and make unforgettable memories. If you’re thinking about getting a Beagle, I highly recommend it. They’re loyal, loving, and always up for an adventure.
Tips for Bonding with Your Beagle
Building a strong bond with your Beagle is crucial for creating a long-lasting and fulfilling relationship. Here are some tips that have helped me strengthen my bond with my furry friend:
- Get to know their personality: Spend time observing your Beagle to learn about their unique characteristics and personality traits. This knowledge will help you understand their communication signals and strengthen your bond.
- Engage in playtime: Beagles love to play, and playtime is an excellent way to bond with your furry friend. Invest in some interactive toys, and play fetch or hide-and-seek with them.
- Take walks: Regular walks provide Beagles with exercise and mental stimulation while giving you an opportunity to bond with your pet. Take different routes to keep things interesting for both of you.
- Train together: Training your Beagle together can be a rewarding and fun bonding experience. Use positive reinforcement techniques, and remember to keep training sessions short and fun.
- Provide affection: Show your Beagle affection by petting, hugging, and cuddling with them. Physical touch can help deepen your bond and create a sense of security for your furry friend.
- Involve them in activities: Consider involving your Beagle in activities such as hiking, camping, or even cooking pet-friendly treats together. These activities create new experiences that enhance your bond and create unforgettable memories.
Remember, building a strong bond with your Beagle takes time, patience, and consistency. Be patient and enjoy the journey of creating a lifelong friendship with your furry friend.
“A dog is the only thing on earth that loves you more than you love yourself.” – Josh Billings
In conclusion, my Beagle has brought me endless joy, and I am thrilled to share my experiences and knowledge with you in this ultimate guide to taking care of your furry friend. As we’ve explored together, Beagles are a unique breed full of lovable traits and quirks.
To ensure your Beagle’s happiness and health, it’s essential to understand their breed characteristics, provide proper care, invest time in training and bonding, and address their healthcare needs.
Embrace the fun and excitement that comes with being a Beagle owner, and cherish the moments you’ll share with your furry friend for a lifetime. With patience, love, and dedication, you can build an unbreakable bond with your Beagle and create unforgettable memories.
Thank you for joining me on this journey to discover the wonderful world of Beagles and all that these furry companions have to offer. Enjoy the adventure that lies ahead with your Beagle by your side!
What are the different varieties of Beagles?
Beagles come in two varieties: those standing under 13 inches and those between 13 and 15 inches at the shoulder.
How big do Beagles typically get?
Beagles are a small to medium-sized breed, with heights ranging from 13 to 15 inches at the shoulder.
Are Beagles good family pets?
Yes, Beagles are known for their affectionate and friendly nature, making them excellent family pets.
What is the history and origin of Beagles?
Beagles were developed in England for hunting purposes, known for their keen sense of smell and agility.
How to find reputable Beagle breeders?
Utilize the American Kennel Club (AKC) search tool to find breeders meeting stringent requirements.
What is the lifespan of a Beagle?
The average lifespan of a Beagle is around 12 to 15 years.
Do Beagles shed a lot?
Beagles have a moderate shedding level, and regular grooming helps manage their coat.
What are the distinctive characteristics of Beagles?
Beagles are known for their friendly demeanor, short legs, long ears, and a distinctive howl or bay.
Are Beagles good with children?
Yes, Beagles are generally excellent with children, known for their playful and tolerant nature.
What is the ideal living space for a Beagle?
Beagles do well in moderate living spaces, but they require regular exercise and mental stimulation.
How to care for a Beagle’s coat?
Beagle coats are short and dense, requiring regular grooming to keep them clean and healthy.
Are Beagles prone to certain health issues?
Beagles may be prone to issues like hip dysplasia and ear infections; regular vet check-ups are crucial.
How often should Beagles be groomed?
Beagles benefit from regular grooming sessions, including brushing, nail trimming, and ear cleaning.
Can Beagles be trained easily?
Yes, Beagles are known for their intelligence and trainability, but consistency is key in training.
What is the energy level of Beagles?
Beagles have a high energy level and require regular exercise and playtime.
Are Beagles good with other pets?
Beagles can get along well with other pets, especially if socialized from an early age.
What are the dietary requirements for Beagles?
Beagles need a balanced diet, and portion control is crucial to prevent overeating and weight gain.
Do Beagles bark a lot?
Beagles have a moderate barking level, and early training can help manage their vocalizations.
How much exercise do Beagles need?
Beagles require daily exercise, including walks and playtime, to keep them physically and mentally stimulated.
What are the common misconceptions about Beagles?
Common misconceptions include thinking Beagles are always hyperactive and assuming they are difficult to train. In reality, proper training and socialization make them wonderful companions.
|American Kennel Club (AKC)
|AKC – Beagle
|The Kennel Club (UK)
|The Kennel Club – Beagle
|Federation Cynologique Internationale (FCI)
|FCI – Beagle
|Beagle Club of America
|National Beagle Club (UK)
|National Beagle Club
|The Beagle Club (UK)
|The Beagle Club
Please also check out other articles on this website like

domain: pet


text:
Childhood in Venice
I was born in Venice on June 26, 1954 in a wealthy family, my father was a custom officer and my mother managed two hotels she owned in Venice.
I have always had to cope with violence: my father was very strict and often he used to beat me, my brother and my mother.
I felt like an unloved and neglected child. The violence I received at young age was the main reason for my rebellion, transgression and becoming a criminal.
Giovanni Bellini’s Polyptic
At the age of 13, I stole with Fabio, my twin brother, the tender of the “Cristina” – the yacht of the Greek magnate Aristotle Onassis – a beautiful Riva Ariston, with which we roamed around Venice all night, before leaving it and going home.
On September 8, 1971, at the age of 17, I stole from the Basilica dei Santi Giovanni e Paolo, in Venice, the Giovanni Bellini’s “San Vincenzo Ferrer Polyptic” and a work by Bartolomeo Vivarini.
With this striking gesture I began to establish myself in the underworld.
Later I went to live, with who would become my future wife, at Silvano “Kociss” Maistrello’s house. Silvano was older than me, he was also very generous, and used to distribute part of spoils to the poor and needy people of Venice. Together with him, I became a professional criminal.
The “Mala del Brenta”
I was a prominent member of the “Mala del Brenta”.
It all began when I started to frequent the clubs on the Riviera where I met the Campolongo Maggiore boys. I immediately got in tune with them, facilitated by the fact that they were aware that during my arrest for the Basilica dei Santi Giovanni e Paolo theft I had never betrayed my mates, and I didn’t sell out.
With these guys I burglarized a lot of villas and committed numerous thefts.
Then came the drug, the extreme evil, which sowed despair and death throughout all Veneto: it is the greatest remorse of my troubled life. Each of us managed to earn 700 millions Italian lira a month, we were greedy and unscrupulous. We became very rich in a short time, willing to do anything for money.
In this context, I participated in the triple murder of Maurizio and Massimo Rizzi and their cousin Gianfranco Padovan. This episode has deeply marked my life and I certainly wouldn’t do it again, even if they would most likely have killed me.
I was in prison for thirty-six years, eight months and two days, of which twelve years in isolation due to the article 41-bis of the Italian penal code.
I am a free man now, but with great remorses. What I have left to live on, I want to give to others, to those in trouble.
My goal is to finance with the proceeds from the sale of my books, a family home for autistic children, single mothers and young people who have known prison. They will all be followed by competent people, so that what happened to me, when I found myself alone and without anyone who could support me in the difficulties, doesn’t happen to them.
Every day I thank God, my wife and my son, who were my little flame of hope in the hell into which I had fallen.
The underworld brings easy gains, but it is a chasm with no way out: do not do as I did, I’m not an example to follow.

domain: artistic


text:
Can you recall the Stranger Things episode when Eleven had her solo episode? It is the seventh episode in the second season with the title: The Lost Sister. To tell you a quick recap, the episode began when Eleven was in her mama’s house, and they were in a telepathy state. As she was in her mom’s memories, she saw a girl who was just like her and was a part of the experiment by her papa. Eleven believed that her mom showed that vision because she wanted her to find the girl she saw. This set her off on a journey to look for her lost sister. When she arrived in Chicago, she had visions of a group of girl teens in an abandoned warehouse, but she didn’t see Kali. As she continued her search, a suspicious man threatened her with a knife until he saw spiders crawling on his blade, which scared him off. The two sisters had finally met and had embraced each other.
Why is The Lost Sister episode the worst episode?
According to some critiques, the Lost Sister episode had the worst because it was irrelevant to the entire story. If you like watching anime, The Lost sister is like a filler episode. A filler episode does not affect the long-term story arcs of a show. The show’s viewers dislike irrelevant episodes because it breaks the story’s momentum. Moreover, some critiques also said that the acting was terrible and the actors were weak in character.
Why Was This Episode Included In the First Place?
The creators of the show admitted that they only wanted to see if they needed the episode or not. They believed that without it, Eleven’s story would fall apart, and some viewers thought it was necessary. After all, it gives Eleven a complete story arc for the season, which is true because it develops her character more.
What do you think? Did you think it was necessary or not?


text:
Menu: octopus sausage, grilled salmon, steamed broccoli, omelet with parsley (from our balcony😉), cherry tomatoes and rice
Cherries for dessert
Sausage is one of the most common food for packed lunches in Japan. We put two incisions in a cross at one side of a sausage and lightly fry it, and that makes cute, octopus lookalike legs. Easy but nice trick in a bento for the little ones.
The star shaped carrot for an additional colour for an otherwise a little dull bento on a Monday morning.
[…] Hijiki rice, Spinach omelet, Octopus shaped sausage, Edamame/cucumber/cherry tomato […]

domain: food


text:
Harvard Catalyst Profiles
Contact, publication, and social network information about Harvard faculty and fellows.
Open Source Software
to edit your profile (add a photo, awards, links to other websites, etc.)
Edit My Profile
My Person List (
Return to Top
Search Result Details
Back to Search Results
This page shows the details of why an item matched the keywords from your search.
One or more keywords matched the following items that are connected to
Evaluation of association of HNF1B variants with diverse cancers: collaborative analysis of data from 19 genome-wide association studies.
Association of type 2 diabetes susceptibility variants with advanced prostate cancer risk in the Breast and Prostate Cancer Cohort Consortium.
Large-scale fine mapping of the HNF1B locus and prostate cancer risk.
Hepatocyte Nuclear Factor 3-beta
Hepatocyte Nuclear Factor 1-beta
Genome-wide association study of endometrial cancer in E2C2.
Genetic fine mapping and genomic annotation defines causal mechanisms at type 2 diabetes susceptibility loci.
Hepatocyte Nuclear Factor 3 beta

domain: biology


text:
More to explore:
awesome - Never fails to make me smile.
Chewbacca Dog: Star Wars - awesome
Chewbacca Dog: Star Wars - Sanitaryum | CLEAN HUMOR | Clean Funny Pictures, Videos GIFS More amazing and fun stuff at http://funiest-stuff.com/funny-dog-videos/
Chewbacca dog. Win. #dogs #animals #pets #love
Not usually for dogs in clothes but it is Halloween and he seems particularly pleased with himself.
Pinterest Humor - Cute & Funny Animals @ pinteresthumor.com
Love is in the air
I really want a dog that I can do this with.. bahahaha... so cute
Oh that? That's just Clarence's Raptor costume for Halloween! Julie Cadman-Kim can Desmond come trick or treating at our house?
lafawnduh! adorable little kids in costumes - heaven help the people that understand this one.... truly a lol for me
I want you to know that whatever problems you're having, I'm here to read about it on Facebook.
Chicken--so it originally said. I think yes, it is a chicken, but it is a hen chicken. ??
Can I get an "AMEN!"?
The Takin is a goat-antelope native to the Himalayas and neighbouring areas. The Takin is listed as Endangered in China and Vulnerable in the rest of the world, threatened by overhunting and habitat destruction.
baby fox - sto per fartene una che non ti dimenticherai tanto presto... oh, sì, sì... come sono malvagio...
English Bull Terrier, love you Stanley :-) x

domain: entertainment


text:
My husband and I are celebrating our 25th anniversary with a trip to Croatia. The sequence of flights required a 24 hour lay-over in Paris. Having been to Paris twice before, we had the freedom to explore without needing to see everything.
After checking in to our hotel, we began with a Van Gough exhibit at Atelier des Lumieres. The exhibit had shown up randomly in Dave’s news feed, and what a find it was! This immersive exhibit showcases Van Gough’s art and life using video, music, and lights. For approximately 30 minutes, we found ourselves surrounded with beauty. If you are in Paris this year, it’s a must-see. Make sure you buy your tickets beforehand.
From here, we went to Ile Saint-Louis. I had recently read a book set on the island. We strolled the narrow street enjoying the eclectic shops and had an early dinner at Sorza. I recommend the risotto.
After dinner, we crossed the bridge and walked along the Seine. Notre Dame is in full renovations after the fire last month.
We continued along the Seine, enjoying the many book sellers and artist kiosks. We crossed the Pont des Arts. When we were here 5 years ago, it was covered with locks (lovers attach the lock and then throw the key into the Seine).
Now, with the locks removed, plexiglass has been added to keep people from filling the supports again. Of course, love always finds away as locks adorn the lampposts.
We continued our journey through the Louvre’s plaza and through the Jardin des Tuileries.
Soon the Arc de Triomphe was visible, which was where our hotel was. We walked up the Champps Elysees and around the Arc.
At this point, we were ready for a short rest, having walked almost 4 miles since dinner. It was still too early to go to bed, so we went down to the hotel lounge for some wine and cheese before trying to catch up on our sleep.
Up early, but not too early, we found ourselves with an hour before we needed to take the train back to the airport. What do you do with an hour in Paris? Dave suggested we go to the Trocedero to see the Eiffel Tower. We arrived and were able to enjoy the views with other early travelers.
After taking it in, we took the Metro back to the hotel and then the train to the airport. One short flight (after a long check-in – we arrived behind two tour groups) to Split and the Croatian part our journey begins.
For not needing to see everything, we were able to enjoy much of what Paris has to offer: art, food, music, and architectural beauty. The last 24 hours are a good reminder to focus on possibility rather than scarcity. We may experience more than we could have ever planned for.
Wherever you are, may your day provide you with some moments of wonder and surprise.


text:
Out of Wonder: Poems Celebrating Poets (Hardcover)
Authors: Kwame Alexander, Chris Colderley, and Marjory Wentworth
Illustrator: Ekua Holmes
Publisher: Candlewick Press (2017)
Out of gratitude for the poet’s art form, Newbery Award–winning author and poet Kwame Alexander, along with Chris Colderley and Marjory Wentworth, present original poems that pay homage to twenty famed poets who have made the authors’ hearts sing and their minds wonder. Stunning mixed-media images by Ekua Holmes, winner of a Caldecott Honor and a John Steptoe New Talent Illustrator Award, complete the celebration and invite the reader to listen, wonder, and perhaps even pick up a pen.
Winner of the 2018 Coretta Scott King Illustrator Award


text:
Rollover image for closeup
Symphony No. 10, Op. 93Item #: HL.50486998
Unrated ( Be the first to review this item )
New Collected Works, 1st Series (Symphonies), Vol. 10. DSCH. Voicing/Format: Score. With Hardcover. 9x11.75 inches. 280 pages. Published by Dsch. (HL.50486998)
Free Shipping on this item in orders above $199
Temporarily Out of Stock -- Notify Me when Back in Stock
These volumes are the first releases of an ambitious series started in 1999 by DSCH, the exclusive publisher of the works of Dmitri Shostakovich. Each volume contains new engravings; articles regarding the history of the compositions; facsimile pages of Shostakovich's manuscripts, outlines, and rough drafts; as well as interpretations of the manuscripts. In total, 150 volumes are planned for publication.

domain: library


text:
Maybe Accepting Guests
- Last login about 2 years ago
Join Couchsurfing to see Skyler’s full profile. It’s free!
My wife and I are teachers in Washington State. We love to travel and are new to couch surfing.
Why I’m on Couchsurfing
To meet new people, good conversation and to immerse ourselves in new cultures.
Basketball, reading, bee-keeping, food,
Countries I’ve Visited
France, Italy, Philippines, Spain


ZG5 wont charge or turn on
my mrs has a zg5 notebook and on sunday she noticed that the notebook wouldnt charge unless the charger was fiddled with and in a wierd position, the following day it wont turn on and it wont charge. not do any lights come on when the charger is plugged in, the orange light flashes 3 times when i hit the power button but thats it. Im not sure if its the charger cable, the port where the charger slots into on the netbook or something else. im considering a tear down and the guide looks straight forward, im just looking for some possible reasons to help me fix this from you guys please :)
Ist dies eine gute Frage?


text:
Although quite pretty, it was a bit of a let down after more than a week of sunny, warm, spring like weather.
The bright earthy wormy smelling days had fired me up. I felt the warmth of the sun on my cheeks. I didn't wear a coat. And I planted a few cold hardy things like lettuce, spinach, swiss chard, beets, turnips, and carrots.
And then last night this started to happen.
By dawn it looked like this.
But this afternoon the sun was working it's charms again. And it made me think of something an Amish gentleman said to me once. "The best time to till your garden is when there is a cover of warm snow on it."