Why can't our governments give us key information in a timely manner?
Blast. There went my camel. A throwaway line in a National Post story on Monday about excess COVID-19 deaths, “Though some other parts of the world have released mortality data almost in real time, official death numbers from Ontario’s vital-statistics office are not expected for another year or more,” brought the overloaded beast to its knees.
A year or more? I know we have bigger things to worry about, like government corruption and COVID itself. But Canada has one of the world’s most advanced economies, a health system we fancy is the envy of all nations and a political and bureaucratic class that could not be more pleased with themselves if they shone like gold. So why are we obliged to wait over a year for official death numbers?
Especially since they are highly relevant to our response to the pandemic. And very straightforward. Death is one medical condition that’s easy to test for, and when someone dies people tend to notice and report it. I know sometimes missing people are actually dead but no body has been found, and sometimes even their disappearance is not reported. But however serious those cases are, around 300,000 people a year die in Canada and we know about nearly all of them.
If this bizarrely lackadaisical approach to furnishing key information were an isolated case, my camel might still stand proud. But it’s not. Canadian authorities constantly hold press conferences in order to say nothing and we nod and go “uh huh, OK” and wander off stupefied.
Elsewhere in Monday’s Post, Megan McArdle wrote that U.S. President Donald Trump’s Jedi mind trick of denying the blazingly obvious wasn’t very effective anymore. But while his particular version never was in Canada, it’s amazing how often officialdom smiles patronizingly, does that little hand thing and says “You don’t need to see those statistics,” or “This isn’t the evidence you’re looking for,” and it works.
They’re trying it now with that inquiry into April’s mass shooting in Nova Scotia. It’s certainly a very suspicious business that just keeps getting weirder and requires a fully public inquiry with the power to subpoena witnesses and compel testimony. Instead we get soothing babble about a “restorative” and “trauma-informed” limited review.
What’s to hide? Well, last month a police spokesperson told CBC, “Recent media articles painting (the killer) as some underworld, organized crime figure, nothing has been uncovered whatsoever that would suggest that.” Except, um, that $475,000 cash withdrawal on March 30 and persistent rumours of drug dealing, gun smuggling and worse. But if we focus on such details, and the bizarre failure to warn the public during the mass shooting, we might start seeing Inspector Clouseau in red serge, which would never do.
It’s not always about hiding things they know are wrong. It becomes a reflex. Back in early March, before the quarantine, I complained about our government burbling its usual soothing vacuities about COVID-19 and again quoted “Sir Arnold Robinson’s classic Yes Minister line that in government ‘If no one knows what you’re doing, then no one knows what you’re doing wrong.’ ” But we’re still getting the prime minister’s itineraries published in the name of openness that announce workday “private meetings,” which isn’t information but a cheesy facsimile of it.
They even use the Jedi mind trick on themselves and forget villas in France, free trips, conversations with key players and so on. And I can’t count the number of news stories where we already knew a crime had been committed and a police fog machine said an incident had involved a perpetrator and journalists went and reported it instead of demanding to know who, when, where, why and how.
Now back to those COVID numbers. As I argued back in April, we need to know the total excess deaths and then, far trickier, how many were due to SARS-CoV-2 and how many to our precautions against it. If more people are dying from lack of access to other medical care and despair in various forms than are being saved by the quarantine, we need to know now so we can save lives now. Instead the Ontario government can’t be bothered sauntering out with the first number until, say, next September.
Our governments bungled the initial response to COVID-19 and they’re still bungling. Yet when we seek life-and-death information on it they smirk and say “you don’t need to see that data” and we sigh “OK, these aren’t the facts we were looking for, you can go about your business.”
These straws threaten far more than my metaphorically overburdened camel. Their business is our business and when lives are at stake we have a right to know.


text:
The crowded race to replace retiring Republican Dan Burton in Congress produced a battle of endorsements today and prompted this question: Is an endorsement an Indiana state Senator worth as much or even more than an endorsement by the leader of a special interest group in Washington, D-C?
David McIntosh is betting on the leader of Americans for Tax Reform. Grover Norquist came to Indianapolis to give his blessing to the McIntosh campaign as McIntosh signed a pledge to always vote against tax increases.
“As a Congressman from ’94 to 2000 he took the taxpayer protection pledge, a written commitment to the people of Indiana,” said Norquist at a Statehouse news conference. “He kept it and he was a leader on the fight to keep taxes down.”
“I want to challenge the other candidates in the race,” said McIntosh. “Will you also take this tax pledge and join me in assuring the voters of the 5th district that you, too, will never vote to increase their taxes?”
This afternoon McIntosh opponent Wayne Seybold accepted the challenge and signed the Norquist pledge. Seybold, the Mayor of Marion, was also endorsed by state Senator Jim Banks who chairs the Taxpayer Protection Caucus in the Senate. That’s an appointment that was announced by Norquist.
The Seybold campaign thinks the local endorsement is more valuable.
Copyright 2014 WISHTV.COM. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Did you like this article? Vote it up or down! And don't forget to add your comments below!

domain: politics


text:
A well-manicured lawn is the pride of any home or business owner. The key to a perfect lawn is using the right lawn care products. But with all the different brands and products available, it can be hard to know which ones to use. This article will help you choose the best lawn care products for your needs.
What are lawn care products?
Lawn care products are any type of product that is used to help maintain a healthy lawn. This can include things like fertilizers, herbicides, and insecticides. While some people may view lawn care products as a necessary evil, they can actually be quite beneficial. Here are some of the advantages of using lawn care products:
They can help you achieve a beautiful lawn: A healthy lawn is the key to having a good-looking yard. By using lawn care products, you can give your lawn the nutrients it needs to stay green and lush.
They can save you time and money: With the right products, you can actually save yourself time and money in the long run. For example, by using fertilizer, you can reduce the amount of time you need to spend watering your lawn.
They can protect your health: Lawn care products can also play a role in protecting your health. For example, by using insecticide, you can reduce the risk of being bitten by mosquitoes or other pests.
The advantages of using lawn care products
If you’re looking to have a healthy and green lawn, using lawn care products is a great way to achieve this. Lawn care products can help you to control weeds, fertilize your lawn, and prevent pests and diseases. Using the right products can also save you time and money in the long run. Here are some of the advantages of using lawn care products:
Lawn care products can help you to better control the weed population in your yard. This is important because weeds can compete with your grass for nutrients and water, making it harder for your grass to thrive. By controlling the weeds, you give your grass a better chance to grow strong and healthy.
Fertilizing your lawn with the right products can help it to be more vigorous and resilient. A healthy lawn is better able to withstand drought, disease, and wear and tear. It’s also less likely to need as much water and chemicals to stay green.
Pest and Disease Prevention
By using lawn care products that contain pest repellents or disease-resistant ingredients, you can help to keep your lawn healthy. This can save you money in the long run as you won’t need to treat
Overall, there are many advantages to using lawn care products. They can help you achieve a beautiful, healthy lawn with less work and in less time. In addition, they can save you money by preventing problems before they start and by helping your lawn last longer. When used properly, lawn care products are safe for people, pets, and the environment.

domain: agronomy


If you're preparing to grow your business into a new commercial space, there are several factors to consider before signing a lease. In this episode of Tenant Talk, Illumine8 Founder Christina May and Kenwood Management Principal Bill Singer discuss what to look for when signing your first lease agreement.
The conversation continues at the Kenwood Community. Visit Kenwood's website for more: https://www.kenwoodmgt.com/
Watch Tenant Talk Season 2, Episode 3 on YouTube.
Read the Tenant Talk Season 2, Episode 3 recap on Kenwood's blog.


text:
MovingTrade started the activity in 2012, with a concrete motivation to orientate the external market in the supply of meat products (beef, pork, poultry and lamb). For the sustainability of a dynamic development, we soon set the purpose of extending the range of products beyond meat products.
Thus, presently our range of products includes Portuguese fruits, wines and olive oils. We operate in the European, Asian, Eastern European and African markets.
Pork is a great source of B-complex vitamins, especially vitamin B12. This aid in general well-being and is essential to our body. This meat is also rich in minerals such as selenium, zinc and iron.
Lamb meat is advised for its protein content, which is rich in most of the B-complex vitamins essential for the proper functioning of the nervous system. It is an easily digestible meat, rich in zinc and iron.
In addition to the large amount of protein and low fat, chicken meat is also a source of vitamin B6. Some recent studies also associate the consumption of this meat with the improvement of the whole brain system.
Turkey meat is a great source of energy that has a very low fat content. The consumption of turkey meat helps in reducing cholesterol levels and improves the resistance of the immune system.
Known for being a darker meat. Within poultry, duck meat is the richest in vitamin B1 (thiamine) and fat (6%). Like the other meats, the duck contains an important amount of zinc.
The beef is notable for the great concentration of iron and conjugated linoleic acid, which acts on increasing muscle mass, helping to reduce body fat and prevent diabetes. Beef is still rich in vitamin B12.
In addition to being a great drink to consume with friends and special people, wines have several health benefits. Moderate and regular wine consumption, can even help prevent various diseases.
Vegetable fat known as liquid gold, is considered the healthiest fat because of its composition rich in monounsaturated fatty acids and polyphenols with antioxidant properties.
Fruit is a key element in healthy eating that should be consumed daily. These foods provide vitamins, minerals, different dietary fibers, protective compounds that help regulate the body.

domain: food


Response to red dog 1 (Reply #8)
Sat May 12, 2012, 11:39 AM
sofa king (10,638 posts)
10. No, and I think that is the point.
I think the intent of revisiting the Defense of Marriage Act is to nail the Republicans down on this issue in this particular election year.
I don't pretend to know precisely what is going on with this sudden reappearance of the gay marriage issue (except that I'm delighted to see the President's shift), but I am certain that President Obama and Senator Reid are working together on it. They have worked closely and efficiently together this past 18 months, with unusual success despite Republican delay at every turn.
Here's what I think is going on. I think the President has concluded, only days into the de facto general election season, that his own reelection is in the bag and that he can now concentrate his focus on the real problem this year: the Senate must be retained by the Democrats, but 23 Dems are up for reelection against only 10 Republicans.
I further think that President Obama has come around to the idea of what I call the "Don't F#$% with the Jesus" strategy, after that enchanting scene from The Big Lebowski. He appears to be trying to wrest the gay marriage issue from the Republicans and turn it on them.
What confuses me is that gay marriage has been the clarion call for conservative voters for ten years now. It was Karl Rove's baby. It was the carrot designed to draw the knuckle-draggers from their caves on election day. And it worked like a charm, providing a wisp of plausibility to defend the statistically improbable 2004 election results.
So for the President and the Senate to revive this issue now, there must be some mechanism at work that I do not yet understand.
My best guess at the moment is this: perhaps the Obama Campaign has concluded that Mitt Romney is going to produce a net negative turnout for Republicans, keeping those otherwise enthusiastic homophobes away on election day and allowing the President and Dems to pursue a far more liberal platform than they otherwise would be able to pursue against a more viable candidate.
Senate elections are statewide and sometimes they follow the results of the Presidential elections quite closely. If the President draws his voters out, and Romney keeps his voters home, Republican Senate candidates and incumbents suddenly find themselves without a rock to hide under. Pinning down Republican Senators on gay marriage might be fixing them as targets for the motivated voters who do show up at the polls on Election Day: people with consciences, ethics and empathy--in other words, not Republicans.
One of the things that has convinced me that President Obama is the most astute politician of my lifetime is his unusual ability to turn a terrible idea against its supporters and profit from the damage that it causes them.
I still have no idea how exactly he is going to pull this one off... but I can't wait to see!
Always highlight: 10 newest replies | Replies posted after I mark a forum
Replies to this discussion thread
|red dog 1||May 2012||#8|
No, and I think that is the point.
|sofa king||May 2012||#10|
|sofa king||May 2012||#11|
|red dog 1||May 2012||#14|
|sofa king||May 2012||#15|
|red dog 1||May 2012||#16|
|sofa king||May 2012||#17|
|red dog 1||May 2012||#18|
Please login to view edit histories.


text: He's not a 6, he's definitely positive minded and likes to get his foot on the ball and bring it forward. He's quite a balanced player and keeps things ticking over, his performance against Madrid in the CL group stage was a good example of his ability to be calm under pressure. I'd say he's the right balance between our more defensively minded midfielders, and the likes of Eriksen. Which is what we need, a player to sit there and link up the play and keep things ticking over in the way, a player like a Modric, although these are exceptionally hard to find and everybody wants one. Winks is obviously nowhere near that but you get the idea.

domain: sports


Component-based Architectures for the Synthesis of Intelligent Networked Systems
Conference : IEEE-CYBER 2011 pp. 10-11
Date: March 20 - March 23, 2011
Advances in Information Technology have enabled the design of complex networked systems, with large number of heterogeneous components and capable of multiple complex functions. These advances have at the same time increased the capabilities of such systems and have increased their complexity to such an extent that systematic design towards predictable performance is extremely difficult if not unfeasible today. This is especially manifested in the area of cyber-physical systems, of all scales, that have become ubiquitous. In addition, the need for systems that can rapidly adapt to new situations and change their structure and behavior accordingly has also increased dramatically. We present methodologies that show promise in addressing these challenges. They include model-based systems engineering, component-based synthesis and architectural design towards efficiency and adaptability. We demonstrate their effectiveness in various applications: collaborative robotics, collaborative heterogeneous sensor networks, cyber security of critical infrastructures, human-machine teams and organizations, and composite trust.


Birmingham's bin collections will improve 'instantly' when a fleet of new wagons hit the roads - but that is not due to be until spring next year.
Amid claims the city is 'becoming the dirtiest in the UK' waste boss Cllr John O'Shea (Lab, Acocks Green ) assured that missed collections had fallen in recent months - following the second strike in two years - but admitted the service was still 'not good enough'.
It came as the Resources committee discussed the council's current financial position on Tuesday which forecasts a £7.5m overspend overall by the end of the year. Street Scene, which includes bin collections, is currently accounting for £5m of that.
Earlier this year the council agreed a £12m investment to replace more than 200 vehicles over the next three years.
New vehicles are being trialled at the moment, including different sized wagons suited to some of the city's narrow streets as well as alternative fuel types to make long-term cost savings. Orders will be placed within weeks with the first of the replacements due to be in operation as early as March.
Committee member Cllr Muhammad Afzal (Lab, Aston) criticised the current level of service labelling it 'disgraceful'. He said: "There is rubbish on the streets, fly-tipping on the streets, we are becoming the dirtiest in the UK."
Recent figures showed that the council's collection rate between April and July was 99.58 per cent against a target of 99.90 per cent. However that still meant 48,448 collections out of a scheduled 11,575,194 were missed.
Cllr O'Shea said: "I accept we are starting at a very low point in terms of the level of service that people get.
"It's not what they deserve or what they should expect.
"That has improved significantly since May, the number of dropped roads across the city has halved but it is not good enough. We have not got to the point where I'm happy with the service.
"But we are certainly heading in the right direction. There are things we can do to improve that.
"Replacing the vehicles is probably the single biggest improvement we can make that will deal with about 45/50 per cent of missed collections, instantly.
"If vehicles work it will mean we can get the roads cleared. We are happier now we don't have a significant problem with crews running out of time to complete their work. It is largely vehicle-led."
Cllr Chatfield, cabinet member for finances and resources, admitted money allocated for other areas of the council may have to be used to cover the increasing waste costs this year in order to avoid using reserves.
He said next year a decision could be made to increase spending on waste but ultimately the council had to set a budget for the service and keep to it.
Cllr Chatfield added: "You can spend an almost infinite amount of money on street scene. Speaking as the official bean counter of the cabinet, there has to be some level of financial control of the amount of money we spend picking up stuff off the street.
"Therefore it is incumbent on citizens and other institutions to play their part in keeping the city clean, otherwise we could double the budget we spend currently and still have issues."


Nate Diazís Camp Responds to Diego Sanchezís Challenge
Posted by Larry Csonka on 06.10.2014
Nate Diaz's manager has harsh words for Sanchez and some MMA judgesÖ
- Following his controversial split decision victory over Ross Pearson at UFC Fight Night 42, Diego Sanchez challenged Nate Diaz for a fight in Mexico. Nate Diaz's manager Mike Kogan had the following to say about he challengeÖ
"Diego isn't important enough to warrant a response. He should count his lucky stars two retarded judges were watching Oprah reruns while he was fighting and then handed him a win."


text:
Out & about...
Ramp things up a little by heading into bustling Bournemouth, or visit the sandy beaches and pretty waterfront of Poole - home to wet 'n wild Splashdown Water Park. Other great family excursions include Paultons Family Theme Park and Peppa Pig World, and the popular New Forest Reptile Centre. Here, you can get up close and personal with native snakes, frogs, toads, and the rare sand lizard.
Other must-sees include Palace House and Abbey, Exbury Gardens and Moors Valley Country Park, complete with plenty of treetop fun at Go Ape! Ready to try something new? Come glamping at Verwood and discover a brand new family favourite.
Verwood Camping and Caravanning Club Site, Sutton Hill, Woodlands, Wimborne, Dorset, BH21 8NQ

domain: geography


Pambazuka News 446: Joseph Stiglitz and the limits of liberal orthodoxy
The authoritative electronic weekly newsletter and platform for social justice in Africa
Pambazuka News (English edition): ISSN 1753-6839
CONTENTS: 1. Features, 2. Comment & analysis, 3. Advocacy & campaigns, 4. Pan-African Postcard, 5. Books & arts, 6. Letters & Opinions, 7. African Writers’ Corner, 8. Blogging Africa, 9. Emerging powers in Africa Watch, 10. Highlights French edition, 11. Zimbabwe update, 12. Women & gender, 13. Human rights, 14. Refugees & forced migration, 15. Social movements, 16. Emerging powers news, 17. Elections & governance, 18. Corruption, 19. Development, 20. Health & HIV/AIDS, 21. Education, 22. LGBTI, 23. Racism & xenophobia, 24. Environment, 25. Land & land rights, 26. Food Justice, 27. Media & freedom of expression, 28. Conflict & emergencies, 29. Internet & technology, 30. eNewsletters & mailing lists, 31. Courses, seminars, & workshops
Help Pambazuka News become independent. Become a supporting subscriber by taking out a paid subscription. Donate $30 a year.
Highlights from this issue
We open our first issue of Pambazuka News after the break with an article by Samir Amin, arguing that proposals in a UN report on reforms to the international monetary and financial systems sideline the South and ignore the fundamental structural problems that caused the economic crisis.
Meanwhile, Olivier De Schutter talks about Africa and the global food crisis, Abahlali baseMjondolo’s S’bu Zikode discusses the barriers that prevent meaningful engagement between the government and people, Nigel C. Gibson considers Fanonian practices in post-apartheid South Africa and Silvestro Montanaro brings us fresh allegations around the assassination of the former president of Burkina Faso, Thomas Sankara.
Elsewhere, Lansana Gberie says it's time for ECOWAS to intervene in the Guinea–Sierra Leone border dispute and Sehlare Makgetlaneng explains why hopes that Obama will change the nature of America’s relationship with Africa are unfounded.ZIMBABWE UPDATE: South Africa wants faster talks
WOMEN & GENDER: Women claim economic stimulus funds
CONFLICT AND EMERGENCIES: AU summit on conflict opens
HUMAN RIGHTS: ICC to take over Kenya poll chaos trials
REFUGEES AND FORCED MIGRATION: Somali camps ‘unfit for humans’
EMERGING POWERS NEWS: Emerging Powers news roundup
SOCIAL MOVEMENTS: Zambia NGOs in uproar over new law
ELECTIONS AND GOVERNANCE: Gabon city locked down amid post-poll riots
CORRUPTION: Nigerian bank chiefs charged
HEALTH & HIV/AIDS: Figures reveal extent of Africa’s neglected diseases
DEVELOPMENT: Poverty, inequality need home-grown solutions
EDUCATION: Pan-African university could launch next year
LGBTI: Circumcision ‘does not protect gay men’
RACISM & XENOPHOBIA: Canada refugee ruling ‘racist’
ENVIRONMENT: Trees ‘vital to food security
LAND & LAND RIGHTS: Research not trickling down to farmers’
FOOD JUSTICE: Moroccan citizen groups to protest food price hikes
MEDIA AND FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION: Censorship ruins Gabon election
INTERNET& TECHNOLOGY: Finding and funding African innovators
ENEWSLETTERS & MAILING LISTS: AfricaFocus Bulletin: Cape Verde: Transnational Archipelago
JOBS: International Grants Programme Manager – Comic Relief
PLUS: seminars and workshops
*Pambazuka News now has a Del.icio.us page, where you can view the various websites that we visit to keep our fingers on the pulse of Africa! Visit http://del.icio.us/pambazuka_news
A critique of the Stiglitz report
The limits of liberal orthodoxy
Africa and the global food crisis
Olivier De Schutter
Bringing government to the people?
Abahlali baseMjondolo and the politics of space
Fanonian practices in post-apartheid South Africa
Nigel C Gibson
Italian revelations on the assassination of Thomas Sankara
The Guinea–Sierra Leone border dispute
Time for ECOWAS to intervene
Africa's expectations of Obama are unfounded
Memories of war in Sierra Leone: The August 18th uprising
Ethiopia: A country behind bars
Realising economic justice by empowering women
Bringing women into the workforce
It’s time for gender-aware job creation
'Tribe' and tribal statistics in Kenya
Kenyanisation from within: The limits of a new constitution
Museveni’s letter on 'Bafuruki' political participation
Zimbabwe: A crisis driven by greed
Gross violations of human and citizenship rights in Tanzania
The Feminist Activist Coalition
Seeking support for Kenyans against Impunity
Kenyans against Impunity (KAI)
Kenyans against Impunity (KAI)is seeking support from willing Kenyans to carry out its activities which include public engagement on political and legal process to address among others corruption, extrajudicial killings, enforced evictions, enforced disappearances, mismanagement of public affairs, police brutality, arbitrary arrests, police harassment, rape and gender rights violations.
Kenya 2012 election fever and dealing with the post-election violence
Kenyans Eyes From the Diaspora
Isaac Newton Kinity
Refocusing the People on the March to the Second Republic of Kenya
Kenyans for Justice and Development
Uphold Sudanese women’s human rights
An open letter to President al-Bashir
Mary Wandia and Lila Kiwelu
The grand fall of the Grand Coalition Government
L. Muthoni Wanyeki
Understanding Sudan’s saviours and survivors
Darfur caught between humanitarian fundamentalism and Khartoum’s divide-and-rule
Harry Verhoeven, Lydiah Kemunto Bosire and Sharath Srinivasan
Review of Chris Dolan’s ‘Social Torture: The Case of Northern Uganda, 1986-2006’
Screenings of A Place in the City
Write a review for Pambazuka News!
The West is wealthy at our expense
Zambia needs an electoral complaints authority
An interview with Julius Chingono
The gift and the curse
A review of the African blogosphere
Africa’s Freedom Railway
'How a Chinese development project changed lives and livelihoods in Tanzania' by Jamie Monson
Pambazuka News 112: Mauritanie : Incertitudes politiques et questions raciales
IMF gives Zimbabwe Sh39bn boost
The International Monetary Fund has given Zimbabwe a windfall of more than US$500 million (Sh39bn) after almost a decade of financial restrictions imposed on the economically troubled country. This follows the injection of US$283 billion into the global economy to boost member countries dwindling foreign exchange reserves due to recession.
South Africa wants faster talks
South Africa wants long-running power sharing negotiations in Zimbabwe to move ahead more quickly, a senior member of South Africa's ruling ANC said. Thandi Modise, deputy secretary-general of the African National Congress, said her country wanted to see a recovery in Zimbabwe that would allow millions of Zimbabweans who have fled economic meltdown in their country to return home.
Tsvangirai frustrated by unresolved disputes
Zimbabwe's Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai has said he is frustrated with the unresolved disputes with President Robert Mugabe which he said were still pushing the development of the country down. Tsvangirai and Mugabe who entered into a government of national unity early this year have continued to disagree of several issues which have forced donors to fail to commit funds.
Global: Forum opens with claim on economic stimulus funds
Activists from 131 countries has convened to recharge a global movement for women’s health and rights, opening with an appeal from a leading German minister for countries to earmark 1 per cent of their economic stimulus funds for development needs.
Kenya: Killing the cut but keeping tradition alive
An ancient myth from Meru, eastern Kenya, tells of a war during which all the healthy men in the village were deployed to fight an enemy tribe, only to return and find the women had been impregnated by the men left behind, who had been deemed incapable of defending the village. From that day on, the legend continues, Meru women have had their clitorises removed to curb their sexual appetites and ensure their marital fidelity.
Mali: Back to the drawing board for new family code
Legislators in Mali will have to try harder to win support for the next draft of their new family code after the president sent it back to parliament on 27 August for re-drafting. The current draft code recognizes only secular marriages, increases the legal marrying age to 18, gives girls inheritance rights, and makes women equal with their husbands at home, according to lawmakers who said they had not done enough to get backing for controversial parts of the family code.
Niger: HIV-law shortcomings hit women harder
Despite a two-year-old law in Niger penalizing discrimination against people infected with HIV, seropositive women say they still receive substandard health care, are denied employment and risk losing their children because of their status. “When a woman is divorced as a result of her HIV status, it is difficult for her to keep her children,” said Sona Soumaré Conté, president of a local NGO that works with HIV-positive women. "Their husbands are afraid their children will not be well taken care of or will become contaminated.”
Nigeria: Maternal mortality - a rural example
Women, their children strapped to their backs, defy the mid-morning sun and converge on the Primary Healthcare Centre, located on the outskirts of Farasinme village, the Badagry West Council Development Area of Lagos State. Most of the women, and a few men, have trekked to the centre, about one kilometre from the village, for free diabetes and hypertension screening and eye tests. They have come here for a free health service, initiated by the Lagos State Government, offered from time to time via various local government offices and health centres in the region.
Southern Africa: Sexual harassment still rampant in newsrooms
One of the thorniest and most uncomfortable workplace issues in media houses is sexual harassment. Recent research released by Gender Links, a South African non-governmental organisation, suggests that sexual harassment continues to be a problem in Southern African media houses. Glass Ceilings: Women and Men in Southern African Media, resonates with the voices of media women who are fed up, have left, or are considering leaving the noble profession.
Sudan: Women, children increasingly targeted in Southern clashes
Women and children are being increasingly targeted in the escalating attacks against communities in Southern Sudanese states, exacerbating the dire humanitarian situation, say officials. "We have seen a drastic escalation in violence across Southern Sudan this year - from the Equatorial States besieged by LRA [rebel Ugandan Lord's Resistance Army] attacks, to the brutal clashes in Jonglei, Upper Nile and Lake States," Jonathan Whittall, head of Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) in Southern Sudan, said.
DRC: Former leader to remain in ICC custody ahead of war crimes trial
A former senior official of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) who has been charged with war crimes will remain in custody ahead of his trial, the Appeals Chamber of the International Criminal Court (ICC) decided.
Kenya: ICC set to take over poll chaos trials
The International Criminal Court could decide to take over trials of key poll chaos suspects after meeting a government delegation at the end of September. An official of the court made the revelation on Sunday as two Cabinet ministers and assistant ministers vowed to shoot down a Bill that is meant to set up a local tribunal to try the suspects.
Rwanda: Tribunal’s work incomplete
The International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda may lose its credibility unless it indicts and tries Rwandan Patriotic Front (RPF) officers suspected of having committed war crimes in Rwanda in 1994, Human Rights Watch said in a letter to the tribunal's chief prosecutor.
Sierra Leone: Whether to criminalize child labour
The child rights act ratified in November 2008 in Sierra Leone criminalizes child labour, but some child rights experts say instead of prosecuting parents, the government should focus instead on getting children into school. “We don’t want to penalize or criminalize poverty. Many of these parents have few options,” said Annalisa Brusati, child and youth protection coordinator at the International Rescue Committee (IRC) in Sierra Leone. “The aim of the act is to reduce child labour, not to have everyone committing crimes. Parents need to be aware of how to make new choices,” she said.
South Africa: Pretoria addresses apartheid-era lawsuit
In a move hailed by South Africa's victims and survivors of apartheid-era gross human rights violations, the South African government has written to the judge presiding over the South Africa Apartheid Litigation claims, Judge Shira Scheindlin, backing the stand that a New York Court is an appropriate forum for the claims. The claims, against General Motors Corp, Ford Motor Co., IBM, Rheinmetall Group AG and Daimler AG, are based upon allegations that the corporations aided and abetted apartheid crimes, including, torture, extrajudicial killings and denationalization, all committed in violation of international law.
Ethiopia: Human rights violations and conflicts continue to cause displacement
For decades, Ethiopia has been affected by famine and conflict. In 2009, there have been various reports of internal displacement resulting from conflicts and human rights violations perpetrated by the army and groups opposed to the government. It is difficult to establish the number of internally displaced people (IDPs) as neither the government nor any international organisation has undertaken a profiling exercise. The access of humanitarian and human rights organisations and the media to some areas of the country has been restricted.
Kenya: Somali camps 'unfit for humans'
Hundreds of thousands of refugees from the conflict in Somalia are being forced to live in woeful conditions, the aid agency Oxfam says. It says overcrowded and badly managed refugee camps in Somalia, Ethiopia and Kenya are "barely fit for humans". Dadaab camp in north-eastern Kenya was meant to hold 90,000 refugees, but is now home to almost 300,000 people, and a further 8,000 arrive each month.
Uganda: Returns outpace recovery planning
Since the signing of a Cessation of Hostilities Agreement between the government of Uganda and the Lord’s Resistance Army in 2006, about two thirds of the 1.8 million IDPs who lived in camps at the height of the crisis have returned to their areas of origin. However, much work remains to be done to ensure that these returns are sustainable. Basic infrastructure and services in the return areas are inadequate or non-existent.
Global: UK continues to exclude NGOs from G20 discussions
The Jubilee Debt Campaign and Bretton Woods Projects, NGOs that are part of the Put People First platform, had their accreditation for the G20 finance ministers’ meeting revoked by HM Treasury. The UK also barred two members of Put People First from attending the G20 London Summit in April with little notice. Representatives of both organisations had received notification of accreditation on Friday, 28 August. Both received emails late on 2 September saying “Unfortunately your accreditation has been withdrawn by HM Treasury.
South Africa: Abahlali baseMjondolo attacked by councillor warlords
A delegation of Abahlali baseMjondolo leaders from Durban narrowly escaped assassination this Sunday by local councillor warlords in Tin Town, Dinizulu township, eShowe. Abahlali have been receiving calls daily from Tin Town shack-dwellers, excluded from an uMlalazi municipality housing project called Sunnydale, constructed by Umpheme Development Ptd (Ltd). Tin Town shack-dwellers are now undergoing mass forced eviction and being left homeless.
Zambia: NGOs in uproar after president signs new law
Zambian president Rupiah Banda has signed legislation regulating the operations of civil society, sending shock waves through the sector, which fears its independence will be severely compromised. Presidential assent means the 2009 NGO Bill, withdrawn in 2007 after widespread protests by civil society and opposition parties, now only needs gazetting to become legislation that will require "the registration and co-ordination of NGOs" and can "regulate the work, and the area of work, of NGOs operating in Zambia".
Zimbabwe: Umvuthwandaba We Zimbabwe
"Umvuthwandaba Voice" meaning The End of Revelations is a publication that pushes the agenda of new formation of the Zimbabwean politics. In a sense that the youth of Zimbabwe would want to riot now and cause a dramatic change in the leadership of any of the front political parties, it might be Zapu, Mdc, and Zanu PF. This has been brought about the youths that are in UK, South Africa and Botswana. In our view we need to see a man or woman age below 35yrs of Age taking the podium as the new President of Zimbabwe.
Emerging Powers News Round-up
Africa: Africa’s big men mess up and pay image cleaners in Washington
Due to bad governance and human rights violations, African governments have sought to enhance their tattered images abroad since it can make the difference between more and less foreign Aid. In the process, they have paid millions of dollars to lobby groups at the expense of development and democracy instead pursuing the most cost-effective way— putting their houses in order, writes policy analyst Patrick Mutahi.
Benin: Five opposition parties to field single candidate in 2011 polls
Benin's main opposition political parties will field a single candidate in the 2011presidential elections, according to a protocol signed in Cotonou. The protocol said the African Movement for Democracy and Progress (MADEP), the Party for the Democratic Renewal (PRD), the Social Democratic Party (PSD), the Party of Benin's Renaissance (RB) and Key Force (FC) had decided to select a candidate for the 20 11 presidential election and future polls.
Chad: Escaping from the Oil Trap
the latest briefing from the International Crisis Group, examines the exploitation of oil revenues. Since 2003 they have contributed greatly to the deterioration of governance in Chad and to a succession of rebellions and political crises. The regime uses the revenues as a means to reward its cronies, co-opt members of the political class, and acquire the military means enabling it to reject genuine political negotiations. This has further limited space for the political opposition and civil society and helped keep the country in a state of political paralysis, stoking the antagonism between regime and opponents.
Gabon: City locked down amid riots
A night-time curfew has been declared in Gabon's Port Gentil after violence by opposition activists and attacks on French interests in the city. Earlier, opposition groups clashed with security forces in the capital, Libreville, after presidential election results declared Ali Bongo the winner. France, Gabon's former ruler, has told its 10,000 citizens to stay inside.
Guinea: Respect rights of opposition
Guinea’s coup government should respect the rights of demonstrators and end intimidation and threats against those who express dissent, Human Rights Watch has said. Opposition politicians and at least one human rights activist who have criticized the presumed candidacy of the coup leader, Captain Moussa Dadis Camara, for the upcoming presidential elections have been threatened in recent days.
Madagascar: Opposition wants army to head transition
Madagascar's opposition said on Thursday the military should take the top three posts in a power-sharing government after they failed to reach an agreement with the current leader on who should have control. Andry Rajoelina, a 35-year-old former DJ who ousted former leader Marc Ravalomanana with the aid a dissident army faction in a March coup, has until now remained steadfast in demanding his party retains the presidency and post of prime minister.
Nigeria: Bank chiefs charged
Nigeria has charged more than a dozen bank executives sacked by the central bank for causing losses that nearly crippled the country's banking industry. A spokesman for the Nigerian anti-financial crimes agency said on Monday the charges had been filed against 16 bank chiefs arrested for causing losses amounting to billions of dollars in bad loans for five ailing banks.
Africa: Body warns against a Doha deal at the cost of development
An African group participating in the two-day informal ministerial meeting in New Delhi has stated that a rapid conclusion to the Doha world trade talks should not come at the cost of developing countries’ concerns. “We should not lose sight of the development aspects for the round which ensure the integration of African and developing countries, particularly the least developed countries, in a fair multilateral trading system”, said Rachid Mohamed Rachid, trade and industry minister of Egypt, which is heading the African group at the Delhi meeting of the World Trade Organisation’s (WTO) Doha Round.
Africa: Poverty, inequality need home-grown solutions
A world-renowned scholar of public policy, Yehezkel Dror, recently reemphasised the point that policy and politics “closely interact, often overlap, and in part cannot be separated even analytically”. This seemingly obvious point, with far-reaching implications, has also been made by various eminent scholars. On poverty, Martin Ravallion — a leading scholar on issues of poverty — made, a while back, a similar point: that (poverty) measurement and (public) policy issues are often inseparable. Without doubt, poverty and inequality remain the most pressing challenges confronting Africa specifically. This is not to say that other continents and/or regions do not have a poverty and inequality challenge.
Global: Fragile states - a resource guide
This resource guide introduces some of the best literature on the causes, characteristics and impact of state fragility and the challenge of aid effectiveness and lessons learned from international engagement in these contexts. It highlights the major critical debates that are ongoing within the international development and academic community in relation to understanding and responding to fragile situations.
South Africa: The SA economy: Polarisation paralysis and the struggle for equity
An emerging description of the South African economy is captured in the words "polarisation paralysis." The term has several renderings and different emphasis across academic disciplines, with important nuance and extensions. Another rendering is that it might provide a metaphor for the first 100 days of the Jacob Zuma Presidency, but also sets the challenge for this term of government. Two features prefigure the shadow boxing over economic policy since the start of the Jacob Zuma Presidency.
South Africa: Threat to nationalise still hangs over mines
Debate on the nationalisation of the mining industry was revived in Parliament, with the chairman of the mineral resources portfolio committee saying the only way to avert it was to create a successful state- owned mining company.And a government official told the committee that such a company already existed, and had begun to build up an asset base.
Africa: Figures reveal extent of Africa's neglected diseases
Africa's neglected tropical diseases (NTD) burden is more than double the burden of tuberculosis and almost half that of malaria, a new analysis has found — raising questions about funding priorities. More than 500 million people in Sub-Saharan Africa suffer from seven key neglected infections, according to researchers writing in PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases last week (25 August).
Africa: House screening sees dramatic drop in malaria
House screening can reduce the amount of mosquitoes and prevent malaria related anaemia in children, a Lancet study has shown. Every 30 seconds a child dies of malaria and by 2006 over 247 million cases of malaria were reported resulting in a million deaths of mostly African children. It remains one of the world’s greatest childhood killers and accounts for close to 40% of public health funding.
Ethiopia: Thousands affected by acute watery diarrhoea
Ethiopian health authorities have dedicated three hospitals in the capital Addis Ababa to patients suffering from acute watery diarrhoea (AWD), according to a health official. Thousands of people have been infected and 34 killed by the outbreak, says the Health Ministry. Ahmed Imano, head of public relations in the ministry, said there were fears it could escalate with the rains.
Global: Children's participation in responses to HIV and AIDS
This document looks at the involvement of children, including young children, in responses to HIV and AIDS and examines issues around children's participation. It explores the challenges of enabling children to express their views and priorities effectively and suggests how they can best be supported through a range of appropriate media and communication approaches.
Uganda: Survey shows major ART training gaps for non-physicians
A survey of health facilities providing antiretroviral treatment in Uganda has found that nearly two-thirds of those providing ART are not doctors, and report major gaps in training. Two out of every five of this group had received no training in starting patients on ART and two-thirds had not been trained in how to monitor patients on ART. The findings were published in the August 23 edition of Human Resources for Health.
West Africa: Cote d'Ivoire gets first female presidential candidate
Former Ivorian Minister of Justice, Mrs. Jaqueline Lohoues-Oble, on Thursday announced her intention to run for the country's presidency, whose first round is scheduled for 29 November. Associate Professor of Law and Dean of the Faculty of Law at the University of Cocody, Oble, who was also a parliamentarian and senior adviser to Prime Minister Charles Konan Banny, is the first woman to run for a Presidential election in Cote d'Ivoire.
Zambia: Treating cervical cancer and HIV simultaneously
The HIV/AIDS epidemic may have contributed to the high incidence of cervical cancer in Zambia, where the number of cases is the second highest in sub-Saharan Africa, and HIV prevalence is one of the highest in the world. Women infected with HIV are thought to be three to five times more likely to develop cervical lesions that can become cancerous. "In a suppressed immunity due to HIV, the virus that causes AIDS makes women more at risk from infection," said Prof Groesbeck Parham, co-director of the Cervical Cancer Prevention Programme in Zambia.
Africa: Pan-African University could launch early next year
The first 'node' of a Pan-African University (PAU) — a continental network of institutions training postgraduate students and promoting research — could open its doors as early as February next year, an African Union (AU) official has confirmed. The node at the University of Stellenbosch in South Africa would be the first of five hosted by existing institutions across the continent, said Jean-Pierre Ezin, AU commissioner for science, last week (28 August).
Burkina Faso: NGO wins UNESCO prize for literacy education
One of the two UNESCO 2009 prizes for Literacy Education awarded by King Sejong and financed by the Korean Republic has been awarded to Burkina's "Tin Tua", an NGO in literacy and non-formal education, a press release from the UN special agency has said. The "Tin Tua" programme (Let's develop ourselves, in gulimancema, a local language in Eastern Burkina), got very good results by using the participants' mother tongue, producing material for specific reading and laying emphasis on issues of gender and sustained development of communities.
Sierra Leone: Schools in crisis as teachers go unpaid
Government’s refusal to pay the salaries of thousands teachers, while looking to recruit thousands more, has plunged the schooling system into crisis. With the new academic year poised to start, government and the national teachers’ union are still odds about payment for almost 3,000 teachers who have not received their salaries for over a year.
Global: Circumcision does not prtoect gays from Aids virus - study
Circumcision, which has helped prevent AIDS among heterosexual men in Africa, doesn’t help protect gay men from the virus, according to the largest U.S. study to look at the question. The research, presented at a conference, is expected to influence the government’s first guidance on circumcision. Circumcision “is not considered beneficial” in stopping the spread of HIV through gay sex, said Dr. Peter Kilmarx, of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
South Africa: Law failing lesbians on "corrective rape"
"Women are getting killed in the Western Cape," says Ndumie Funda, who runs LulekiSizwe in her "cabin" in the township of Gugulethu near Cape Town. The project is named after her late fiancée, Nosizwe Nomsa Bizana, who was gang-raped by five men and subsequently succumbed to crypto meningitis, and Bizana's friend Luleka Makiwane, who contracted HIV when she was raped and later died of AIDS.
South Africa: Anglican church welcomes and guides gay members
The Anglican Church of Southern Africa (ACSA) under the guidance of The Most Rev. Thabo Makgoba has passed a Resolution to provide Pastoral guidelines for the gay and lesbian members of the church living in covenanted partnerships. This decision comes after a Synod of bishops met at the Diocese of Cape Town from the 20 - 22 August this year which was held at St. Cyprians’ Church of Cape Town.
South Africa: Canada refugee ruling 'racist'
South Africa's ruling African National Congress has condemned as "racist" a decision by Canada to grant a white South African man refugee status. Brandon Huntley, 31, had told officials in Canada he could not return to South Africa after seven different attacks. They included three stabbings, which he said he had suffered as a result of his skin colour.
Africa: Fury at plan to power EU homes from Congo dam
Plans to link Europe to what would be the world's biggest hydroelectric dam project in the volatile Democratic Republic of Congo have sparked fierce controversy. The Grand Inga dam, which has received initial support from the World Bank, would cost $80bn (£48bn). At 40,000MW, it has more than twice the generation capacity of the giant Three Gorges dam in China and would be equivalent to the entire generation capacity of South Africa.
Africa: Trees 'vital to food security'
Countries tackling food insecurity and climate change adaptation can greatly benefit from agroforestry - integrating fleshy plants and trees into their farming systems, environmental specialists say. Sub-Saharan Africa has a history of food insecurity brought on by meagre rains, land degradation, declining soil fertility and bad management of resources, among other factors.
Global: Africa threatens walkout from climate talks
Africa's climate change negotiators led by Ethiopian Prime Minister Meles Zenawi have threatened to withdraw from the upcoming global climate change talks. The Ethiopian PM said Africa might have to walk out if the December climate negotiations in Copenhagen, Denmark, failed to agree with Africa’s minimum position. “If need be we are prepared to walk out of any negotiations that threaten to be another rape of our continent,” he said.
Nigeria: Abandoned tin mines endanger communities
ERA monitors visited Sabon-Barki community and Gyel District, both in Jos South LGA of Plateau State on August 5, 2009 in response to the growing call by impacted communities for a remediation of the ecological disaster and dislocation wrought on their environment and livelihood by nearly a century of tin mining and the failure of government at the federal and state levels to address the problem.
Southern Africa: Impact of climate change in South Africa: farmers' perceptions
This report outlines how climate change is expected to have serious environmental, economic, and social impacts in South Africa. It states that rural farmers, whose livelihoods depend on the use of natural resources, are likely to bear the brunt of adverse impacts. The research uses a “bottom-up” approach to gain insights from the farmers themselves based on a farm household survey collected from 794 households in the Limpopo River Basin of South Africa for the farming season 2004–2005.
Namibia: Government calls slow pace of land reform frustrating
The Namibian government has expressed frustration with the slow pace of the land reform programme, saying at the current pace of land resettlement, government will not meet its 2020 target of addressing the skewed land ownership pattern. In a startling revelation, the Ministry of Lands and Resettlement said that the land reform programme in Namibia had been slow.
Southern Africa: Research not trickling down to farmers
Farmers could be losing tonnes of crops every harvest just because no one has bothered to tell them that scientists have found more effective methods of using water to farm. Isaiah Mharapara, chief executive officer of the Agricultural Research Council in Zimbabwe said much research has been conducted on water availability, distribution and use, but most of the findings have not been given to the farmers to use.
Morocco: Citizen groups call for sit-ins to protest food price increases
A national committee against high food prices during Ramadan has called for protests and sit-ins in a number of Moroccan regions, starting with one in Berchid on September 11th, and another in front of the parliamentary building, said committee member Muhammed Ghafri. "A public protest organised by the campaign committee seems appropriate at this time of year, which coincides with summer, Ramadan, the start of the school year and the economic crisis, as we're faced with constant price rises," said Abdessalam Adib, the co-ordinator for the campaign against the rising cost of living.
Gabon: Election ruined by media censorship
The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) has condemned what it called "Gabonese government censorship and restrictions on media coverage of the presidential election, including denial of accreditation to at least four international journalists". In a statement from its headquarters in New York, US, the CPJ said that prior to the election, Gabonese government authorities denied accreditations to international journalists from French media outlets, including international broadcaster France 24 and weekly L'Express, which were known for their probing coverage of late President Bongo's health and wealth.
Mauritania: IFJ calls for release of online journalist
The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) has called for the release of Hanevy Ould Dehah, editor of Taqadoumy website, who was charged with “offending public decency” and sentenced to six months imprisonment by the court in Nouakchott. “This is an unduly severe and political judgment, especially as only one of the charges was finally retained,” declared Gabriel Baglo, Director of IFJ Africa Office. “Our colleague must be released,” he added.
Niger: CPJ expresses concern about imprisoned editor
The New York-based media rights group Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) has expressed concern about the health of imprisoned editor Abdoulaye Tiemogo, after his transfer from a hospital in Niger's capital, Niamey, to a prison in a remote town. A CPJ statement obtained by PANA quoted Zeinabou , wife of Tiemogo, editor of the weekly Le Canard Déchaîné, as saying the husband is suffering from malaria and is no longer receiving adequate medical attention in a prison in Ouallam, 88 kilometres to the north of Niamey.
Uganda: Four "Monitor" journalists face criminal prosecutions
Four journalists from Uganda's largest independent newspaper are facing criminal prosecutions, joining four others already charged since 2007, according to local journalists and news reports. Criminal prosecutions against the Monitor are on the rise against the backdrop of mounting national tensions in the lead-up to general elections in 2011. This month, President Yoweri Museveni, who is expected to seek re-election, warned private broadcasters against inciting public discontent with the government.
Africa: AU extraordinary summit on conflicts opens
The special session of the African Union's Conference on the examination and resolution of conflicts in Africa opened in Tripoli, Libya. This special session presided over by the chairman of the African Union, the Libyan Guide Mouammar Kadhafi, will examine the crisis and conflicts occurring in some parts of the continent, such as Somalia, Darfur and the Great Lakes region. Twenty-seven African heads of state attended the opening session.
Africa: Conflict and state fragility: assessing the impact of the financial crisis
It was thought that Sub-Saharan Africa would be largely unaffected by the financial crisis. However, as many Sub-Saharan African countries are dependent on foreign finance inflows and are even more dependent on commodity based exports, this has been swiftly revised. Subsequently, economists are now warning that although Africa is the least integrated region, it could actually be the worst hit. Furthermore, as the most conflict-ridden continent in the world, any subsequent exacerbation of resource scarcity could increase unrest across Africa.
East Africa: Ethiopian troops enter Somali town
Ethiopian troops have crossed into neighbouring Somalia and seized control of a town from Islamist fighters, witnesses say. Hundreds of troops reportedly entered the strategically important town of Beledweyne.
Niger: Desert flooding wipes out electricity, homes, livestock
Four days of intense rains in Niger’s northern Air Mountains and desert towns at its base have affected 7,000 households, damaged 3,500 homes and caused widespread livestock and agriculture losses mostly in the commune of Agadez, according to local officials. Agadez commune is one of 15 communes in Agadez region.
Nigeria: Government 'will not extend amnesty for militants'
The Nigerian government will not extend the 60-day amnesty offer to the country's oil militants when it expires 6 October 2009, according to President Umaru Yar'Adua. "Those who refuse to take advantage of (the) amnesty will be on their own after October 6, 2009," the President said at the opening of the 2009 Chief of Naval Staff Annual Conference in Uyo, capital of South-east Akwa Ibom state.
Sudan: Scores killed in south Sudan clash
At least 43 people have been killed in clashes between soldiers and cattle rustlers in south Sudan. Women, children and soldiers were killed after fighters attacked a settlement in the Twic East region of Jonglei state, on Saturday, Major-General Kuol Diem Kuol, of the southern Sudan People's Liberation Army (SPLA), said.
Africa: Finding and funding African innovators
How do you find the entrepreneurs and innovators in Africa who need investment funding to scale? There are really two big issues at stake. First, how to find the right people. Second, what funding level is needed. You’re not going to find the compelling African entrepreneurs while sitting in an office in the US or Europe. It’s only by spending significant time on the ground in the countries you’re wanting to invest in that you find the people you need to know.
Africa: New cables to kick-start new broadband era - study
Total broadband adoption in Africa will increase at a CAGR of 28 percent through 2013 as new undersea cables boost Africa's international bandwidth, a new report from Pyramid Research has stated. The report further said the undersea infrastructure will further reduce the number of coastal countries without any cable access from 19 to one.
South Africa: 12 days to satellite lift-off
The Department of Science and Technology's (DST's) decision to step up efforts to get SA's satellite off the ground seems to have paid off. The department announced this morning that the long-awaited SumbandilaSat will take to the skies in 12 days' time from its launch-pad in Baikonur, in Kazakhstan.
Uganda: Taking action to preent e-waste
To prevent e-waste in Uganda non-profit organisations IICD and Close The Gap will dismantle and recycle outdated or broken computers in Ugandan schools. More than 2000 cost-efficient high-quality used computers from the Netherlands and other European countries will be sent to schools in Uganda.
Cape Verde: Transnational Archipelago
AfricaFocus Bulletin Aug 18, 2009 (090818)
The headling in Cape Verde's bilingual A Semana on August 13, (http://www.asemana.publ.cv/spip.php?article44442 or http://www.asemana.publ.cv/spip.php?article44423), read "Clinton's visit to Cape Verde ignored by American media." And if coverage was sparse, historical perspective was even more strikingly absent. Search for mentions of "Hillary Clinton" and "Amilcar Cabral" on the web, for example. Apart from a few mentions of her landing at the Amilcar Cabral International Airport, the only reference one is likely to find is a Fox News attack on Obama administration green jobs czar Van Jones, because of his affiliation with an organization which once praised Amilcar Cabral in its newsletter.
Kenya: 2010 Peace Festival/ Conference
Drum Cafe, 19-25 September 2010
“THE DRUM CAFE”, is an innovative network of creative and performing professionals with the Central aim of re-defining drum music as a powerful medium of social change in east Africa. The first drum cafe was first hosted by Alliance francaise de Nairobi in September 2006 and supported by various individuals, cultural and artistic institutions. The DRUM CAFÉ 2010 PEACE FESTIVAL will be a seven day celebration presented by and for the various Kenyan ethnic subgroups and communities living in Nairobi.
South Africa: World Summit on Arts
The fourth World Summit on Arts and Culture, a project of the International Federation of Arts Councils and Culture Agencies (IFACCA), will take place in Johannesburg from 22-25 September, hosted by the National Arts Council of South Africa. Mike van Graan, Programme Director for the Summit and Head of the Arterial Network’s Secretariat will write this weekly column in the build up to the Summit, raising some of the themes and provocative issues that will be debated at the event.
Fahamu - Networks For Social Justice
Pambazuka News is published by Fahamu Ltd.
© Unless otherwise indicated, all materials published are licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 Unported License. For further details see: www.pambazuka.org/en/about.php
Pambazuka news can be viewed online: English language edition
Edição em língua Portuguesa
RSS Feeds available at www.pambazuka.org/en/newsfeed.php
Pambazuka News is published with the support of a number of funders, details of which can be obtained at www.pambazuka.org/en/about.php
To SUBSCRIBE or UNSUBSCRIBE go to:
or send a message to [email protected] with the word SUBSCRIBE or UNSUBSCRIBE in the subject line as appropriate.
The views expressed here are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of Pambazuka News or Fahamu.
With over 1000 contributors and an estimated 500,000 readers Pambazuka News is the authoritative pan African electronic weekly newsletter and platform for social justice in Africa providing cutting edge commentary and in-depth analysis on politics and current affairs, development, human rights, refugees, gender issues and culture in Africa.
In addition to its online store, Fahamu Books is pleased to announce that Yash Tandon’s Ending Aid Dependence is now available for purchase in bookstores in Tanzania, Ghana, Zambia, Malaysia, and Mauritius. For more information on the location of these stores, please visit Where to buy our books on the Fahamu Books website, or purchase online.
*Pambazuka News has now joined Twitter. By following 'pambazuka' on Twitter you can receive headlines from our 'Features' and 'Comment & Analysis' sections as they are published, and can even receive our headlines via SMS. Visit our Twitter page for more information: twitter.com/pambazuka
*Pambazuka News now has a Del.icio.us page, where you can view the various websites that we visit to keep our fingers on the pulse of Africa! Visit delicious.com/pambazuka_news


Attempted Finnair take-off from HK taxiway triggers investigation
An investigation was launched by Hong Kong aviation officials after a Finnair passenger plane attempted to take off from a taxiway rather than a runway at Chek Lap Kok.
The Airbus A340-300, carrying 260 passengers and 14 crew bound for Helsinki, began its take-off roll down the taxiway, parallel to the runway, early last Saturday and was spotted by an air traffic controller.
'The air traffic controller alerted the pilot immediately and the aircraft was stopped as soon as the aircraft began to move,' a spokeswoman for the Civil Aviation Department said. 'There was no danger to the aircraft or the passengers at any point.'
An investigation was under way 'to identify the factors which might have led to the incident'.
Finnair said it was 'giving all possible help to official investigators' and no disciplinary action was taken as investigations by Hong Kong authorities and Finland's Accident Investigation Board were under way.
Last week's incident follows one in September 2008 when a Hong Kong Airlines jet bound for South Korea tried to take off from a taxiway rather than a runway. In a separate case in January, another Hong Kong Airlines plane strayed onto an active runway, forcing a Cathay Pacific jet to abandon take-off.
The two incidents raised concerns over whether runway and taxiway markings at Chek Lap Kok were clear enough for pilots.
Asked whether the department believed improvements were needed, the spokeswoman said: 'As an investigation into the latest incident is still going on, it is too early to determine whether any further improvement work in respect of runway/taxiway markings is necessary. We would like to emphasise that the airfield marking and lighting system at the [airport] fully complies with international standards.
'In the light of the previous incidents, the Airport Authority ... in consultation with the [department] had implemented a number of measures including improvements to the lighting, ground marking and signage at the [airport] to assist pilots in maintaining their orientation.'
She said the department installed early last year an advanced system to give air traffic controllers information on aircraft movements on the airfield.
The probable causes of the incidents in September 2008 and January last year were 'loss of situational awareness by the operating crew', she said. The pilot and co-pilot in the 2008 incident were sacked.
Dave Newberry, a member of the Hong Kong Airline Pilots Association technical safety committee, said: 'Hong Kong is one of the best in the world in terms of layout and runways. Hong Kong is a very pilot-friendly airport.
'If people can go wrong in Hong Kong, God help them in places like Heathrow and JFK in New York.'
The problem of aircraft straying onto runways or trying to take off from taxiways was an industry-wide one caused by expanding airports worldwide.


text:
Description - The Lamington Man by Kel Richards
The freshly-baked lamington man leaps right off the baking tray and out of cook Matilda's house! A fast little fella, he challenges all who cross his path to a running chase but, alas, all are too slow to catch him! Soon the lamington man comes across a cunning crocodile who tries to trick the cocky cake. A classic tale with a satisfying conclusion.
Buy The Lamington Man by Kel Richards from Australia's Online Independent Bookstore, Boomerang Books.
Publisher: Scholastic Australia
Country of Publication:
Other Editions - The Lamington Man by Kel Richards
Book Reviews - The Lamington Man by Kel Richards

domain: library


Ships stopped at the Bolivar Roads anchorage await transit into the Houston Ship Channel off the coast of Galveston, Texas.
The morning sun begins to peek over mountains on the outskirts of Pocatello, Idaho.
The first light of the morning sun reflects in the still waters of a roadside wash near the Great Salt Lake’s Stansbury Island, Utah.
The morning sun shines through the trees near the peak of Clingmans Dome in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Tennessee.
The morning sun silhouettes trees on a pond’s shore near Pigeon Forge, Tennessee.
A light tower oversees a rail yard on the outskirts of Pocatello, Idaho, as the sun rises on the surrounding hills.
The sun rises on the Tandy Hills Natural Area, Fort Worth, Texas.
The first light of the rising sun illuminates the sky over Dallas’ White Rock Lake.
The waves of the Gulf of Mexico are smoothed by a long exposure as the sun begins to rise on the Galveston, Texas, beach.
The sun rises on Ballys, Paris Las Vegas, Planet Hollywood and the rest of the Las Vegas Strip.


text:
SAN ANTONIO – REEP Equity has purchased two apartment communities totaling 537 units.
The properties are the 273-unit 4000 Horizon Hill and the 264-unit Northgate Village.
JLL arranged acquisition financing through NXT Capital.
Our twice-weekly e-newsletter provides a quick overview of Texas real estate markets. Because your time is valuable.


text:
Criminal who built a £15,000 drug empire to pay for his WEDDING is jailed and was caught by EDF engineers who spotted 'hot wire' to his factory
- Henri Canning, 25, harvested cannabis plants in flat to fund big day
- But the railway worker's plot was foiled by EDF power engineers
- They spotted the wire leading to his makeshift factory in Folkestone, Kent
Henri Canning, 25, harvested hundreds of cannabis plants in his flat to fund his big day
A groom who amassed a £15,000 drug empire to pay for his wedding has been jailed after electricity engineers spotted a 'hot wire' to his factory.
Henri Canning, 25, harvested hundreds of cannabis plants in his flat to fund his big day.
But the railway worker was foiled by EDF power engineers who spotted the wire leading to his makeshift factory in Folkestone, Kent.
He was then arrested and charged with producing the class B drug.
The father-of-one was jailed for 32 months at Canterbury Crown Court after admitting the production of cannabis and illegally taking electricity.
Jailing him, Judge Heather Norton said: 'These are serious offences and you are a man of previous good character and someone who so many people speak so highly of you.
'Why you should find yourself doing these things to pay off debts, one of the reasons I am told, is because of your wedding debts.
'If that is right, then it is tragic that you should have got yourself into so much debts that the only way you thought you could pay them off was in the way you tried was running a cannabis factory.'
Jim Harvey, prosecuting, said Canning had racked up thousands of pounds worth of debt after his marriage starting his new life his wife.
He continued to rent his empty flat for three months and spent £3,000 setting up the factory to cultivated mass quantities of cannabis.
Mr Harvey told the court the newly wed father made as much as £15,000 from the sale of the drug.
The plot was only foiled when staff from EDF, who were working nearby, went to check a nearby electricity metre and found it had been tampered with.
The father-of-one was jailed for 32 months at Canterbury Crown Court after admitting the production of cannabis and illegally taking electricity
When detectives at Kent Police raided the property they found 113 of the plants - that would have landed the crook more than £20,000.
Mr Harvey added: 'Fortunately an electrical company had been carrying out work in the area and engineers became concerned about the prodigious amounts of electricity coming from the house.
'Police officers attended the property and discovered a small cannabis factory and later officials at the power company estimated that Canning had taken more than £2,100 worth of electricity illegally.'
Niall Doherty, defending, said Canning 'deeply regrets' what he has done and has agreed to repay the electricity firm.
He said Canning faced mounting debts as a result of his wedding and 'stupidly and naively' thought growing cannabis was a way to pay 'everything off'.
As well as his custodial sentence Canning was ordered to pay a victim surcharge of £120.
Most watched News videos
- Horrifying moment banned driver runs over six-year-old girl
- Aerials reveal catastrophic tornado damage in Jefferson City
- Crazed gunman storms into church and attacks worshippers
- Tour the inside of Oakland's secret Mormon temple
- Man beats his ex-girlfriend and attacks her hairdresser friend
- Moment a fan was viciously beaten by security after photo request
- Moment biker thinks he has found his buddy’s stolen dirt bike
- Panorama: Shocking moment hospital worker insults vulnerable patient
- Philadelphia cops shoot an unarmed special needs man
- 80-year-old pelted with milkshake as he campaigns for Brexit Party
- Morgan Beck posts adorable and heartbreaking video of late daughter
- 'What you got?' Vivacious mail woman hypes up teen to perform dunk

domain: news


text:
After kicking off the Super Bowl with Jennifer Hudson, the Sandy Hook Elementary School chorus is gearing up for the GRAMMYs.
Jennifer Hudson will help get this Sunday’s Super Bowl started with a little help from the Sandy Hook Elementary School Chorus.
The band asked fans and fellow musicians to help the families the quickest way possible: by donating whatever money they can.
Many of us are in shock and left feeling helpless following the horrific tragedy that struck the tight knit community of Newtown, Connecticut, this past Friday. Here are some ways to lend support.

domain: sociology


text:
“Muslims have nothing whatsoever to do with terrorism” says American Presidential candidate Hillary Clinton
Did Hillary Clinton get confused again? On Thursday, the UK Daily Mail said, the Democratic Party front-runner attacked anti-jihad conservatives for daring to notice that radical Muslims are involved in terrorist activities.
“Islam itself is not our adversary,” she said, reading her speech at the Council on Foreign Relations from a teleprompter. “Muslims are peaceful and tolerant people and have nothing whatsoever to do with terrorism.”
According to the Daily Mail, Clinton “slowed momentarily to mock three words – ‘radical Islamic terrorism’ – that Republicans often accuse President Barack Obama of purposefully avoiding.”
Moreover, she said that blaming radical Islamic terrorism for the Paris terror attack “is not just a distraction.” Using the phrase, she added, “gives these
FOR ENTIRE ARTICLE CLICK LINKClick here for the Top 12 Moments in Jewish History...LET THE ADVENTURE BEGIN! »


(MENAFN- The Conversation)
In 1887, Australian Museum scientists to Lord Howe Island, a tiny patch of land off the east coast of Australia. Among their many discoveries, they recorded“a large Blatta” – a type of – under a decaying log.
This was later described as , the Lord Howe Island wood-feeding cockroach. P. lata was noted as being highly abundant, playing a key role in nutrient recycling, and presumably a food source for the many birds on the island.
Alas, in 1918 from a shipwreck. By the late 20th century, P. lata could not be found despite extensive searches over multiple decades, and was assumed to have gone extinct due to rat predation.
But could it have survived in some unexplored pocket of the island? The crescent-shaped Lord Howe Island off the eastern coast of Australia is home to unique flora and fauna. John Carnemolla/Shutterstock
Putting the cockroach back where it belongs
In 2019, the New South Wales Department of Planning and Environment (NSW DPE) implemented the final stage of its highly successful (although at times controversial) on the island.
Following this, I and my colleagues from NSW DPE, Lord Howe Island Museum, Chau Chak Wing Museum, CSIRO's Australian National Insect Collection and the University of Melbourne became interested in the biology of P. lata and the potential to repopulate the island with this insect.
This was on the cards because in 2001, P. lata had been discovered on Blackburn and Roach islands, two small islands near Lord Howe Island. The wood-feeding cockroach doesn't go anywhere near people's homes. Justin Gilligan/DPE, Author provided
But hang on a minute: why would we want to put cockroaches, one of the most reviled creatures on Earth, back on a beautiful island after their seemingly fortuitous extermination?
Well, P. lata is, believe it not, quite cute and charismatic, and has no interest in going into people's houses. It is wingless, about 4cm long, and stays hidden in the forest, where it burrows into the soil and feeds on leaf litter and rotting wood by night.
In July we received funding from the Australia Pacific Science Foundation to investigate the genetics and ecology of P. lata from Blackburn and Roach Islands. So Maxim Adams, an honours student in our lab at the University of Sydney, and Nicholas Carlile from NSW DPE headed off to Lord Howe Island to begin the study. The wood-feeding cockroach was thought to be extinct for decades, after extensive searches turned up no populations on Lord Howe Island. Justin Gilligan/DPE
Bad weather prevented them from going out to Blackburn Island, so they decided to examine potential sites on Lord Howe Island that might have once been teeming with P. lata before the rats arrived.
They walked to a secluded area in the north of the island, and decided to turn over a few rocks. Literally the first rock they checked revealed a small congregation of the cockroaches! I was due to join them three days later, but they called me that afternoon with great excitement to relay the news. Maxim Adams and Nicholas Carlile under the banyan tree where they made the surprise discovery. Justin Gilligan/DPE, Author provided
They found a few others within a few metres under the same fig tree, but extensive searching over the next few days revealed none in other nearby areas or other parts of the island.
Not the same as their neighbours
We carried out some preliminary DNA tests upon our return to Sydney, finding the rediscovered Lord Howe Island population of cockroaches was distinct from the ones found on Blackburn and Roach islands.
It is possible the population hung on as a result of rodent baiting in the area. The baiting was done in recent decades to assist the survival of various other threatened species.
We are now carrying out more extensive DNA studies, including historical museum samples collected from the late 19th and early 20th centuries, and samples from Ball's Pyramid, roughly 20km southeast of Lord Howe Island, collected by Dick Smith in the 1960s. Ball's Pyramid is the eroded remnant of an ancient shield volcano, and part of Lord Howe Island Marine Park. Ashley Whitworth/Shutterstock
Through these studies, we hope to determine the relationship of the rediscovered population with those originally collected on the island a century or more ago and those on the outer islands. We also hope to uncover the origins and evolutionary history of P. lata.
The Lord Howe Island Group is a of global natural significance, and is home to more than 100 plant species found nowhere else on Earth, and many more endemic animal species. The biology of many of these species, particularly the island's invertebrates, remains mysterious.
We hope our use of DNA techniques will help us to establish P. lata as a model for understanding several million years of evolution on the Lord Howe Island archipelago, and aid the re-establishment of this shy yet charismatic creature on its homeland.
MENAFN provides the information “as is” without warranty of any kind. We do not accept any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information contained in this article. If you have any complaints or copyright issues related to this article, kindly contact the provider above.


text:
A Fort Lauderdale man is facing charges of threatening to kill President Trump, after he texted that he wanted to open the president’s skull “like the cantaloupe that it is,” according to authorities.
They say that 57-year old Cesar Saiz could get up to five years in federal prison for making the threats.
Court records state that Saiz sent the messages on July 18, telling an acquaintance that the only way to fix the country was to assassinate Trump. “Take the demon down,” Saiz reportedly texted. “I am ready for civil war.”
The other person reported the texts to local law enforcement the same evening, and officers were dispatched to Saiz’s home.
He yelled “freedom of speech!” upon seeing the officers, according to court records. He also told the officers that he been drinking for four days, and had been unemployed for over four months because of the coronavirus pandemic.
In his conversation with officers, Saiz “repeatedly expressed his disdain over President Trump, more specifically, the president’s response to COVID-19.”
He then gave officers his cellphone. Authorities discovered that he had at least two other conversations on the same day in which he discussed the desire to kill Trump.
Investigators also found that Saiz had conducted research into the 1963 assassination of President John F. Kennedy, and had searched for places to “volunteer” to assassinate Trump.
In addition, he had looked for a “union” to assassinate Trump, and offered his services as a marksman if anyone were to need to attack the president.
On July 19, one day after his encounter with authorities, Saiz apologized in a Facebook post. “Out of shear exasperation and stress brought on by over 4 months of quarantine and care taking for my parents I made an out of character mean spirited statement via text to an acquaintance,” the post read.
Prosecutors have argued that they want to keep Saiz in jail while he awaits trial, due to his history of mental illness and alcohol abuse, as well as previous legal issues, including a 1991 felony conviction for aggravated battery of a police officer and at least two domestic violence incidents.
They also allege that he engaged in witness tampering by contacting the acquaintance who reported his texts to authorities.
Saiz made his initial appearance in front of federal Magistrate Judge Patrick Hunt on July 22. He had a video hearing last Wednesday in order to determine if he would be held until the trial.
The outcome of that hearing is unclear, and Saiz remains at the Broward County Jail.
“This is not just saying, ‘God, I wish something bad would happen to Donald trump,’” says Gerald Greenberg, a former federal prosecutor. “This to me is bad stuff and he’s putting it out there on the internet.”
He adds that Department of Justice guidelines instruct prosecutors to consider more than just a defendant’s words when charging them with a speech-related crime.
“It has to be that they [prosecutors] see this particular guy’s words or this particular guy as something different than the venting that hundreds of millions of Americans are doing every single day,” he says.


text:
remain outside the scope
We will go to Bulgaria, located on the Balkan Peninsula, with a population of 9 million people, by a tourist bus! We sit down in Moscow – and straight to Odessa, and there it is just a stone’s throw away, Varna, Burgas, Kranevo, Primorsko, Nessebar … – but can you list all the pearls of Bulgaria. After all, it is one of the most popular tourist and resort countries.
Sandy beaches, good service and low prices – make this small Black Sea country a tidbit for tourists. Continue reading
Asia is a beautiful continent, here you are waiting for some of the most beautiful places in the world. This continent is rich in various cultures, each attraction has its own history. A vacation spent on this continent will certainly refresh you and give you an idea of some of the most amazing places and the opportunity to see breathtaking landscapes. Below are some of the best places in Asia that you should definitely visit.
Indonesia – Bali
Bali is a small fantastically beautiful island where the village of Batubulan is located, which is famous for its stone sculptures. The local culture is extremely rich, known for vivid performances. Continue reading
Safari, like hunting wild animals, originated in the nineteenth century. This term was coined by Captain Sir Richard Francis Burton, an English explorer, when high-class gentlemen enjoy hunting and killing animals in their natural habitat for that. Safari made it possible to prove his masculinity and hang a bag of hunting trophies on the wall in the library.
Currently, fortunately, there are not so many among us who consider hunting for amazing creatures of Africa as a sport, but we still like to experience the adventures of chasing and watching animals in the wild. Continue reading


text:
Terhi here today sharing a layout made with the new 'Out of the Blue' collection and fabulous watercolor powders we have in our store HERE (Rainbow Colors).
I was so excited about the powders that I immediately recorded a process video. I really want to share this new love with you all!
As said the background is made with Rainbow Powders (Watercolor Powders), but it also has some basic stencil work on top, and glitter.
Gorgeous and rich background always need a good embellishments to go with. So I took these lovely brand new silk flowers and added all three of them to my page. And like a cherry on top of a cake, my title has the same blue shade as the background has. It's all about details, right?
Enjoy the video and we'll see you soon!

domain: design


text:
The 30 hectares of Coudoulet are located just east of the vineyard of Beaucastel on the other side of the A7 motorway. For reasons that have now become obvious, Coudoulet is often considered the baby Beaucastel. The Coudoulet soil has many similarities to that of Beaucastel. It is made out of Molasse seabed covered by diluvial alpine deposits. These pebbles called “Galets Roulés” play a big role: They take in the heat during the day and let it if off slowly at night which gives a good start to the vines in the Spring.
The vintage :
The winter in 2014 was characterised by mild temperatures for the region and heavy rainfall until mid-March. The heat and water reserves allowed an early start to the vegetation. Spring was dry until late June, with signs of hydric stress in some sectors. However flowering and fruit set were optimal, guaranteeing a great crop. The months of July and August, particularly cool and wet, slowed the cycle of the vine, forcing the winemakers to strengthen surveillance of the vineyard. Early September starts off with two lovely sunny weeks, along with an optimal maturity of the grapes.
30 hectares in Côtes du Rhône.
Molasse seabed of the Miocene period covered by diluvial alpine deposits (rolled pebbles), identical to the vineyard of Châteauneuf du Pape.
Each variety is harvested manually and separately, then sorted in the cellar. The harvest is heated to 80°C (skins) and then cooled down to 20°C. Classic maceration occurs in cement tanks for 12 days. Pressing in pneumatic presses. Blending of the different varietals after malolactic fermentation. Ageing in Oak Foudres for 6 months.
Grenache : 40%
Mourvèdre : 30%
Syrah : 20%
Cinsault : 10%
16°C in tasting glasses.
Appearance: bright and lively, with great depth.
Nose: red fruits.
Palate: luscious, with hints of thyme.
"The 2014 Coudoulet de Beaucastel Côtes du Rhône is a Provençal, charming effort that’s loaded with dark berry fruit, bouquet garni, leather, and garrigue aromas and flavors. Rounded, forward and still with mid-palate depth, it’s geared for drinking over the coming 5-6 years. "
Jeb Dunnuck Note : 89/100 - 2015-10-01
"On the fuller side of medium-bodied, this respected red Rhône blend features punchy plum and berry fruit with good acid tension. And there are classic regional notes of lavender, licorice and black pepper in the background."
The Globe And Mail Beppi Crosariol Note : 90/100 - 2016-11-22
"Bright violet. Intense dark berry and cherry compote aromas are complemented by suggestions of licorice and candied flowers. Palate-caressing black raspberry and bitter cherry flavors pick up peppery spice and lavendar qualities on the back half. Rich yet lively, showing no excess fat. The juicy, focused finish is given shape by silky, harmonious tannins and leaves behind a gently sweet dark berry note."
Antonio Galloni Note : 91-92/100 - 2016-06-01
"This is a spectacular southern French red wine with 30 hectares of vineyards planted just east of the flagship vineyard Château de Beaucastel in the Rhône Valley thus it's often called "baby Beaucastel". Full-bodied with fleshy ripe blackberry jam and black raspberry preserves aromas and flavours. Rich and layered. Pair with roast beef.
Food pairings: braised meats, herbed steaks, venison."
Glorious Game Wine Glorious Game Wine Note : 93/100 - 2017-01-03


text:
One of the things that I love most about Spring is the beautiful flowers and the arrival of color into the landscape again. I decided to pull out my Flower Patch stamp set and coordinating Flower Fair Framelits Dies. I also pulled out my Flower Frenzy Bigz Die because I love the leaf branch in it. I decided to use some pretty green felt with it.
I’ve been thinking about how three of my favorite colors will soon be retiring, and it makes me quite sad. I’ve used two of them on this card — Strawberry Slush and Crisp Cantaloupe. I am really going to miss them, so I will probably be using them a lot before June gets here and I have to say farewell.
I paired a Project Life Grid Card with some Stacked with Love dsp for this card, The sentiment is from Hi There.
Enjoy your Monday! Thanks for stopping by!
I hadn’t played with the Flower Patch set and coordinating framelits in a long time so I decided to pull that set out to make a card. I saw this pretty and CAS card made by Maile Belles on Pinterest and loved the layout, so I decided to CASE it.
My base layer is the Pear Pizzazz layer. I then stamped the flower on a 4-1/4″ X 5-1/2″ piece of Whisper White card stock. I drew a line in very light pencil about 1″ from the edge and used my paper snips to cut up the line to the flower and then cut around the flower, letting the flower extend beyond my cutting line — in other words, the blue part of the flower is the same layer as the white card stock. Only the yellow part of the flower is popped up.
I added some In-Color sequins and stamped the sentiment in black ink. The leaves were stamped with Pear Pizzazz ink . The other colors I used were Coastal Cabana, Lost Lagoon, So Saffron, and Crushed Curry. A pretty simple card.
Enjoy your Thursday! Thanks for stopping by!
The sentiment on this card cracks me up! But I know a few people of whom it’s appropriate.
I started this card by using some fiber paste with the Stripes Decorative Mask. After I applied the fiber paste, I decided that I really should have mixed it with some Smoky Slate ink first. So once the paste was dry, I put the mask back on the card and used a sponge dauber to apply the ink. Different method, but similar results.
The Flower Patch set and coordinating dies are so fun! I love that there are so many different ways to build pretty flowers. I used a color scheme of Strawberry Slush, Calypso Coral, Crisp Cantaloupe, Pool Party, So Saffron, Pear Pizzazz, and Old Olive.
Enjoy your Saturday! Thanks for stopping by!
Woohoo! It’s Wednesday! And Wednesdays bring new sketches at Freshly Made Sketches. And the always creative Cindy Hall has a fabulous and challenging one for us. I guess that’s why it’s called a sketch “challenge”, right?
This sketch had me stumped for a while. I decided it would be a great sketch to show off some pretty dsp, so I looked through my stash, and decided I needed to cut into a sheet that I love from the Flowerpot package. And since it has flowers all over it, I decided to make a big flower using the Flower Patch stamps.
My son walked by while I was photographing this and said that he thought “blooming” is used as a bad word in England. I’m not sure how he would know that, but if it is, I apologize to those of you across the pond! It’s not meant that way here.
I used the coordinating Flower Flair Framelits dies to cut out the flowers. They sure do make it easier!
We hope you’ll join us and make your own card with the sketch! Jump on over to the Freshly Made Sketches site to see what the other designers made with it for some inspiration.
Enjoy your Wednesday! Thanks for stopping by!
Here we go again! Another Monday Montage Blog Hop for you. There are ten of us participating, so just follow the links at the bottom of each post to work your way through all ten posts.
I got a box of new Stampin Up! goodies last week and finally had a chance to sit down and play with the new stuff last night. It’s always a bit overwhelming to look at a pile of new products and know where to start. So I decided to start with the stamp set that was at the top of my wish list — Flower Patch. And to make this set even better, there are coordinating framelits!
I pulled out a sheet of dsp from the All Abloom dsp stack, and used Strawberry Slush, Rich Razzleberry, Pumpkin Pie, and Daffodil Delight ink for the flowers. The leaves use Pear Pizzazz and Old Olive.
I stamped off onto scratch paper first to get the lighter base shades on a couple of the flowers. Cutting everything out with framelits is such a time saver. On this first card, I kept the flowers pretty simple — basically just one layer.
While I had all of the ink pads and other supplies out, I decided to make one more card with the same color scheme and add more layers on the flowers.
I added a couple of colors on this one — Blackberry Bliss and Crisp Cantaloupe. I used some of the new Pumpkin Pie 1/4″ Cotton Ribbon on both of these cards– love it!
This is such a fun set because the layering opportunities are endless! I think the one layer flowers are just as gorgeous as the multi-layered ones.
Well, you’re ready to continue along the hop trail. You can venture onward to the always inspiring Breelin Renwick’s blog by clicking the “Next” button below, or you can work your way backwards and go visit the ever creative Wendy Weixler’s blog by clicking on the “Back” button. Either way, be sure to work your way through all ten blogs.
Enjoy your upcoming week! Thanks for stopping by!

domain: hobby


text:
Sparks fly as UK is hit by storms Dudley and Eunice
With the winds hardly died down from Storm Dudley, the UK is braced for Storm Eunice, an even more powerful weather system coming in off the Atlantic. The rail network has been especially hard hit, with all services suspended in Scotland on Wednesday and the same measures taken in Wales on Friday.
In a rare measure, London has been put on the Red Warning list – the highest level of meteorological alert – for the first time since 1987, the year still remembered as the Great Storm, when hurricane force winds brought lasting damage to the South East.
But even before that, the storm impacted rail. Network Rail, the UK infrastructure management agency, released this incredible shot (header picture) of a tree being blown down on the West Coast Main Line on Thursday (17 February). Remarkably, this was before the Meteorological Office issued a ‘red warning’ for the coming twenty-four hours.
Long weekend coming
The image of a tree contacting the overhead wires was captured by a Network Rail camera at Beattock Summit in Scotland, in the Dumfries and Galloway region. Beattock, well known to generations of railway workers, lies just thirty-minutes south of Glasgow and was immortalised in the WH Auden poem “Night Mail”. The summit was a challenge for steam hauled trains for over a century, and still requires skilled driving techniques to conquer. Freight traffic is often held in the passing loops at the summit.
With mainland Europe expected to be in the firing line again next week, the British Isles have already been experiencing the worst. All transport in the UK and Ireland has been affected already, and freight has not escaped the disruption. Network Rail teams have been out on the rails – particularly in the west of the UK, repairing damage and inspecting lines. With the even more powerful Storm Eunice approaching on Friday afternoon, hitting the south hardest – it is expected to be a long weekend for the track teams.
Do you want to read the full article?
Thank you for visiting RailFreight.com. Become a member of RailFreight Premium and get full access to all our premium content.
Are you already a member?
Do you have a free account? With a free account, you had access to read all premium content on RailFreight.com for free until 1 May 2023. From 1 May onwards you need a paid membership to read all premium articles. Questions? Call +31(0)10 280 1000 or see the FAQ.