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Earth

The Storms Of Ontario & The Chasers Behind Them

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Now that Storm Season is underway in Ontario, I felt it was time to write another article on the subject. This one will be a little different compared to the Silo articles I have written in the past. It will be about those golden moments when both the storm chaser and the breathtaking cloud structure will be in the same scene together. 

There are a lot of excellent storm chasers in our province who have an absolute love for weather.

I could write a entire paragraph with just the names of those in our province alone. Whether it be photographing, forecasting from home, or reporting the storms, the chasers share the same dedication and passion. They all have different qualities that make them enjoyable to be around and to share the experiences as a group. In this collection, you will see a series of photos showing the storm chasers in action across various parts of the province. I only wish I had more photos of everyone in the storm chasing community. 

This photo is of a man I have chased with for over 19 years now. He is my dad, Brian Chapman. He and I have worked along side each other for many years, tracking down numerous lightning storms, several tornadoes and epic squall lines like that which is visible in this photograph. This storm was taken on August 2, 2016, south of Goderich, Ontario. You can see the layering of the gust front shelf cloud as it approached our location. The storm also had golf-ball sized hail in it with damaging winds. There were unconfirmed reports of a tornado wrapped in rain and hail with this storm, just north of our location, according to fellow chasers in the area.

Brian and I chased for 9 years without portable radar, using radar at home. I would animate it in my head and figure out where we had to be. Also, while out there, we would use AM radio to gage how intense the storms were as well as their general location based on the intensity of the static on the station. We are both happy to have portable information now, but when that fails every now and then, we are both quite comfortable using only visual cues. 

It is hard to believe that Spencer Sills and I used to live 10 kilometres apart when we were kids. We were both crazy about the weather. I even went to church across the road from where he lived, yet we didn’t know each other until connecting on social media years later when our friendship grew into an unbreakable bond. He and I both used to chase on our bicycles when we were younger, before we could drive, if no adult was able to take us out.  That definitely led to some quick peddling back home at times.

We both have a background where instinct is a big part of chasing. We feel comfortable not having radar information. Spencer is an amazing forecaster and helped get me started in the world of forecasting. He is one of my all-time favorite photographers whether it is storm related or other various subjects. In this particular photo, you can see the huge shelf cloud coming across Lake Huron, just north of Grand Bend.

It was roughly 10 minutes after this, that we had an experience of a lifetime.   

In the photo above, you see that we have a very large and heavy rain/hail core coming at us. Not quite as green as in the previous photo but this storm was dropping hail around quarter-size. It was a long chase day, something Kyle Robertson and I are used to doing.

Both Kyle, my dad and I have something in common in this respect — that is, we will literally chase anywhere in any type of terrain for as long as necessary. We are comfortable no matter how heavy the trees are for blocking visibility because we always believe we will get that opening when we need it most. To give you an idea, we have all chased in the Bancroft area, north of Georgian Bay towards Sudbury and even on the north end of Manitoulin Island.

In this particular chase, we started in the Listowel area after leaving the Niagara region, ending up in the Owen Sound area before getting something to eat in Collingwood.  As we were on our way home, a line of storms fired up on Lake Erie, so we headed to Port Maitland and then across to Crystal Beach until 3:00 a.m. in the morning. This is typically how Kyle and I both are. We have a confidence in each other for getting us to the target area and that we will get amazing photos when we arrive. Kyle is one of the most determined, driven people that I know. He has a superb knowledge on the history of tornadoes in Ontario and is an excellent photographer. 

I don’t have many photos of myself while storm chasing.

I am often busy running from camera to camera. On June 12, 2014, close to Fonthill and travelling towards St. Catharines, there was a tornado warned storm that went through this area. It put on a tremendous lightning show along with very heavy rain as you can see on this roadway near the town of Rockway. My dad and I tracked this storm around midnight. Fortunately, it did not develop a tornado. Tornadoes are bad at anytime but when they hit at night, it can be a lot worse due to the fact that people are sleeping. It is a good thing that Ontario is not prone to having many tornadoes at night. It is still important to listen to all warnings but generally we have not had any really major tornadoes hit at night in recent years.

The photo above is another look at my dad doing what he loves to do which is videotaping  rotating wall-clouds. He used the vehicle in this situation to shield him and the camera from the winds. It helps to eliminate camera shake when hit by gusty winds. This rotating wall cloud, like most of them in the northern hemisphere, was rotating counter-clockwise. It was shortly after this that it tightened up into a nice cylinder shape before dissipating and eventually elevating over Lake Erie. 

My brother, Eric Chapman, doesn’t get to storm chase often but when he does, we often get to see some interesting cloud structure like this one.

This was a large outflow boundary that first developed near Grimsby, Ontario,  where it was still attached to the storm. We continued to track this storm all the way to Niagara Falls before following it south down the Niagara River to Fort Erie. At this point it had completely detached itself from the core of the storm. This is often when storms form a roll cloud but this one didn’t quite have those characteristics. I call these “rolling shelf clouds” because they have features of both. Generally, you can see the rolling effect in the bottom part of it, and at the same time it has a shelf-like feature above, but with no rain-core or storm attached to it.  

A little change of pace in the photo above.

My friend, Mark Robinson, also known as one of the Storm Hunters on The Weather Network, has a passion for extreme weather. He has chased storms like Hurricane Katrina, as well as the largest tornado in recorded history in the El Reno area, on May 31, 2013, that measured as much as 5.2 kilometres in width. That all said, he is very much dedicated to what we get here in Ontario. From storm chasing in the summer and winter, to hunting down the big autumn wind storms, like this one, that seem to hit at least once every November. This particular photo was taken in Crystal Beach, Ontario. A hot spot for big waves and strong winds during the fall and spring. 

A fellow storm chaser and friend of mine, Dave Patrick, a.k.a. “Tornado Dave“, is one of my all-time favorite chasers. After growing up in Grey County and chasing with my dad for around 5 years, Dave was the first storm chaser in Ontario that I learned about outside of our own team. It was when I came across his website, that I realized there were other dedicated chasers in our province.

It was really neat to study his site for years and then to finally meet him in March of 2012.

It was in August, 2013, after both he and our team were tracking the same tornado east of Arthur, that our friendship and bond grew. Like many of the chasers I have mentioned, Dave and I could talk for hours about storms, tornadoes and whatever else was in the sky. I have learned a lot from him for which I am truly grateful. He truly has a gift of reading both the sky in the daytime as well as at night. Although I don’t have any photos of him, I chose a photo of lightning because of the force of a person that he is and the dedication he demonstrates when documenting weather.  

   

The main focus for our team this year will be anything that forms a super cell tornado or waterspout.

Kyle, Brian and myself have documented so much in the way of thunderstorm activity now, that we only really need to work on adding to our already good-sized tornado and waterspout collection. It is also our true passion to try to figure out the puzzle of where the next major event could happen and to be there when it does. Waterspouts are easier in that respect, but it still requires a lot of work to make sure you are in the right location at the right time. As for tornadoes, our province averages about 12.5 per year or as I like to call it, 12 tornadoes and a funnel cloud. Many of them are short lived and can be quite sporadic with respect to where they form. So when you start to break it all down, to get the timing just right is more like an art form than anything else.

We never stop working on ways to improve the methods of forecasting and documentation. The waterspout you see in this photograph was taken on Halloween, 2017, on the most eastern part of Lake Erie, south of Fort Erie, looking east towards the city of Buffalo, New York. It was by far one of the best Halloweens I have ever had. I saw 9 waterspouts, 17 funnels and 2 spray rings that day. It was amazing to witness that over a span of only 2 hours.   

For the 2020 storm chasing season, I will only be out for supercell tornadoes, waterspouts, sprites, blue jets and local lightning work.

I have every other aspect of thunderstorms that I need ranging from the small to the big to the unusual. I have combined all of my years of data and have created a powerful, educational and entertaining series of programs that I present in person in front of crowds and which are now also available through online virtual presentations.  For the Silo, David. T. Chapman.

To learn more about Kyle Robertson, Spencer Stills and some of the storm chasers mentioned in this article, contact David T. Chapman at his link above. 

Earth

The Biggest March On Climate Change Ever

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Way back in 2014, our community decided on a crazy goal – the largest mobilization on climate change in history. So on September 23rd, we blew past our wildest expectations, with a climate march *6 times* the size of anything before it!!! This was 80 city blocks of New York:

World March For Climate 2014 Avaaz

And this was London, Berlin, Bogota, Paris, Delhi, and Melbourne…

World March For Climate 2014

Over 675,000 of us marched around the world. It was a beautiful expression of our love for all that climate change threatens, and our hope that we can save this world and build a society powered by 100% safe, clean energy. Together, we made history, but it’s just the beginning. The crucial Paris climate summit is 15 months from now — that’s where we need a global deal. By March next year, countries have pledged to make their national commitments — so our movement will divide to focus on these national targets. But every few months until Paris we’ll come together globally again and again, bigger and bigger, to beat a drum for change, for 100% clean energy, that our leaders can only follow. The movement we’ve been waiting for has begun.

With gratitude, Ricken, Emma, Alice, Iain, Nataliya, Patri, Oliver, Diego, Rewan and the whole Avaaz team

PS – We worked with thousands of organisations to make this day happen and particularly love our friends at 350. But our community deserves to celebrate the step we’ve taken. The Avaaz team and community played a central role in almost all the marches and events held. The Guardian called it “an organising triumph” for Avaaz and the BBC said “the marches brought more people on to the streets than ever before, thanks to the organisational power of the social media site Avaaz.” We fielded hundreds of organisers and thousands of volunteers, and donations from our community provided millions in funding to the effort. The challenges of our time call us to be better, and together we’ve done that, growing and changing into a new and more effective kind of movement, a movement that is now both online, and offline. Huge gratitude to everyone who made it happen.

Avaaz.org is a 38-million-person global campaign network that works to ensure that the views and values of the world’s people shape global decision-making. (“Avaaz” means “voice” or “song” in many languages.) Avaaz members live in every nation of the world; our team is spread across 18 countries on 6 continents and operates in 17 languages. Learn about some of Avaaz’s biggest campaigns here, or follow us on Facebook or Twitter.

Travel

Hong Kong Board Predicts This New Post Covid Tourism Landscape

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The Hong Kong Tourism Board (HKTB) hosted a web conference on April 24, 2020 to provide the latest updates on tourism development and introduce the HKTB’s strategic framework of recovery plan. HKTB Chairman Dr. YK Pang said that the Covid-19 pandemic has posed unprecedented challenges to Hong Kong tourism and put global tourism to a halt.

He continued, “The tourism landscape will be reshaped. In the post-pandemic world, we will see a shift in preference and behavior among travelers – the public health conditions of destinations, and the hygiene standards of transportation, hotels and other tourism facilities will become a top priority; people will prefer short-haul breaks and shorter itineraries; wellness-themed trips will become a new trend. It is an ideal time for us to review and rethink Hong Kong’s position in the global tourism market and elevate service standards. Together with the travel trade, the HKTB is going to map out the long-term development strategy for our tourism industry.”

source: statista.com

The web conference was attended by close to 1,500 representatives from travel agencies, attractions, hotels, airlines, the retail and dining industries, as well as Meetings, Incentives, Conventions and Exhibitions (MICE) and cruise sectors. Representatives from the HKTB’s worldwide offices also participated in the meeting to provide insights into the latest developments in various market regions:

Mainland Market

  • The Mainland has gradually resumed economic activities and people have returned to work.
  • Given the outbreak’s impact on the economy, consumers will become more price-conscious and pursue value-for-money holidays. After prolonged confinement, visitors will also place greater emphasis on health and nature. When choosing destinations for future trips, they will favor those that pose low risks to health.
  • The Meeting and Incentive market has slowed down as many activities have been postponed or will be held online.

Short-haul and New Markets

  • Domestic travel will be the major preference shortly after the pandemic, and outbound travel will resume soon after.
  • Regional competition will be fiercer than ever, as the tourism authorities and travel trade of various destinations are gearing up for intensive promotions to vie for visitors.
  • In Japan, Korea and Taiwan, the young and middle-aged segments will be the most eager to travel. Green tourism and the outdoors will be favored, while short-haul travel will be preferred due to financial and holiday leave constraints.

Long-haul Markets

  • Currently, governments are focusing on containing the outbreak within the region. A longer time is expected for these markets to recover and outbound travel may resume in the last quarter of this year at the earliest.
  • Ethnic Asian visitors are expected to be the first to visit Hong Kong after the pandemic.
  • Consumer sentiment is comparatively more positive in Canada, France and Germany and outbound travel is expected to recover at a faster rate in these markets.

The HKTB has announced earlier that it will be allocating HK$400 million (US$51.2 million) to support promotions by the trade. HKTB Executive Director Dane Cheng explained that the HKTB has devised a three-phase plan to reinvigorate Hong Kong tourism. The exact timeline will depend on the development of the pandemic.

Phase 1 (Now) – Resilience

  • The HKTB is preparing a recovery plan for Hong Kong tourism.

Phase 2 – Recovery

  • When the pandemic shows signs of abating, the HKTB will first focus on local market to promote positive ambiance in Hong Kong by encouraging locals to rediscover different neighborhoods and community cultures in order to send a positive message to visitors and restore their confidence in the city. Meanwhile, the HKTB will launch tactical promotions with the trade in selected markets based on the developments of individual markets to stimulate people’s interest to visit Hong Kong.

Stage 3 – Relaunch

  • Mega events and a new tourism brand campaign will be launched to rebuild Hong Kong’s tourism image.
Travel

Record-Breaking Global Mobility Grounded By COVID-19 Pandemic

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With global travel almost at a standstill, the latest results of the Henley Passport Index offer disturbing insight into the indiscriminate havoc caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Since its inception in 2006, the index has provided the authoritative annual ranking of global passport strength. Travel freedom has increased dramatically over the period in 2006, a citizen could travel to 58 destinations on average without a visa from the host nation; 14 years later, this number has almost doubled to 107. 

The first ranking of the new decade published in January this year conclusively confirmed that overall, people were the most globally mobile than we had ever been in the history of humankind, with the top-ranking passport (Japan) offering its holders access to a record-breaking 191 destinations without requiring a visa in advance. Just three months later, the picture looks very different indeed.

Australia's Coronavirus Travel Bans Feed Old Fears
The result of the latest travel ban in Australia. Image: jacobinmag.com

Japan’s passport continues to hold the top spot on the Henley Passport Index as we enter the second quarter of 2020, but the reality is that current stringent travel restrictions mean that most non-essential travel for Japanese nationals is heavily curtailed.

This is true for almost every country of course, as more travel bans are implemented daily, and ever-more stringent coronavirus lockdown regulations are imposed by governments worldwide. With 3.5 billion people, nearly half the global population, presently living in voluntary or mandatory confinement, the latest results from the index — which is based on exclusive data from the International Air Transport Association (IATA) — raise challenging questions about what travel freedom and global mobility really mean, both currently and in a deeply uncertain post-pandemic future.

Dr. Christian H. Kaelin, Chairman of Henley & Partners and the inventor of the passport index concept, points out that in an unprecedented global health emergency such as this, relative passport strength becomes temporarily meaningless. “A Swiss citizen can, in theory, travel to 185 destinations around the world without needing a visa in advance, but the last few weeks have made it apparent that travel freedom is contingent on factors that occasionally can be utterly beyond our control. This is, of course, something that citizens of countries with weak passports in the lower ranks of the index are all too familiar with. As public health concerns and security rightfully take precedence over all else now, even within the otherwise borderless EU, this is an opportunity to reflect on what freedom of movement and citizenship essentially mean for those of us who have perhaps taken them for granted in the past.”

Q&A: New travel ban shakes up airlines, passengers - NEWS 1130
Image: citynews1130.com

The future of international mobility after COVID-19

Commenting on the latest Henley Passport Index, bestselling author and the Founder and Managing Partner of FutureMap, Dr. Parag Khanna, says the combined effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on public health, the global economy, and social behavior could lead to much deeper shifts in our human geography and future distribution around the world. “This may seem ironic given today’s widespread border closures and standstill in global transportation, but as the curtain lifts, people will seek to move from poorly governed and ill-prepared ‘red zones’ to ‘green zones’ or places with better medical care. Alternatively, people may relocate to places where involuntary quarantine, whenever it strikes next, is less torturous.

In the US, both domestic and international migration were surging before the pandemic, with Gen-Xers and millennials shifting to cheaper, second-tier cities in the Sun Belt or abroad to Latin America and Asia in search of an affordable life.

Once quarantines lift and airline prices stand at rock bottom, expect more people across the globe to gather their belongings and buy one-way tickets to countries affordable enough to start fresh.”

This is supported by emerging research and analysis commissioned by Henley & Partners, which suggests that despite freedom of movement currently being restricted as a temporary measure, there is a risk that this will negatively affect international mobility in the long run. Political science researchers Uğur Altundal and Ömer Zarpli of Syracuse University and the University of Pittsburgh, respectively, note that public health concerns have historically been used to justify restricting mobility, but governments usually adopt travel restrictions temporarily, in response to short-term health needs. Until now, health security has not been a significant determinant or requirement when negotiating visa waivers, but Altundal and Zarpli warn that “increasing public health concerns due to the outbreak of COVID-19 may change thisthe quality and level of health security of a country could be a significant consideration for visa waivers in future”. The unprecedented and overwhelming focus on health security and pandemic preparedness we now see may change the face of global mobility forever.

On the other hand, Prof. Simone Bertoli, Professor of Economics at CERDI, Université Clermont Auvergne in France, says that the necessity of international collaboration in fighting the pandemic could ultimately reduce current barriers to international mobility. “Humanity is confronted with a truly global challenge against which no country ­— irrespective of its level of income — can fully protect itself. This pandemic could therefore trigger renewed and more intense international cooperation, something that has (so far) not happened with the other main global challenge that the world is currently facing, namely climate change.”

No Official Travel Ban In The U.S., But Isn't It Time To Self-Ban?

Brexit, travel bans, and changing timelines

The chaos caused by the COVID-19 pandemic has cast further doubt on the timeline for the implementation of the UK’s post-Brexit immigration system, according to Madeleine Sumption, Director of the Migration Observatory at the University of Oxford. The UK, currently in 7th place on the Henley Passport Index, with citizens theoretically able to access 185 destinations without acquiring a visa in advance, was set to end free movement with the EU in January 2021. However, as Sumption says, “The UK can only implement its new immigration system when the post-Brexit ‘transition period’ is over, and if this is extended to give negotiators more time to discuss trade and other issues, we may not be seeing the end of free movement with the EU quite yet.”

In the US, also in 7th place on the Henley Passport Index, the impact of travel bans implemented at the beginning of the year appear to have been compounded by the pandemic, according to Greg Lindsay, Director of Applied Research at NewCities. “For the children of a rising global middle class with more and more options, this pandemic may prove to be the tipping point in terms of choosing educational destinations. When the world gradually recovers with China, South Korea, and Singapore already succeeding in slowing the outbreak through effective quarantines don’t be surprised if the best and brightest take coronavirus responses into consideration when deciding on their future options.”

A unique hedge against volatility in an uncertain future

Commenting on the ever-expanding growth and popularity of the investment migration industry, Dr. Juerg Steffen, CEO of Henley & Partners, says: “We believe that in the post COVID-19 environment, investment migration will take on a dramatically enhanced importance for both individual investors and sovereign states. Acquiring alternative residence or citizenship will act as a hedge against the significant macro-economic volatility that is predicted, creating even more sovereign and societal value across the world.” For the Silo, by Sarah Nicklin.

Supplemental

Global Headlines for Q2 2020: growth in travel freedom over past decade

  • Japan retains its top spot on the Henley Passport Index, with a visa-free/visa-on-arrival score of 191. Over the past decade its travel freedom score has increased by 31 points: in 2010, the country was ranked 6th worldwide, with a visa-free/visa-on-arrival score of 160.
  • Singapore continues to hold onto 2nd place, with a visa-free/visa-on-arrival score of 190. Over the past decade Singapore’s travel freedom score has increased by 35 points: in 2010, the country was ranked 11th worldwide, with a visa-free/visa-on-arrival score of 155.
  • Germany remains in 3rd place, with access to 189 destinations compared to the 161 destinations its passport holders were able to access a decade ago. It shares 3rd position with South Korea, which has increased its travel freedom score by 38 points: in 2010, South Korea was ranked 13th worldwide, with a visa-free/visa-on-arrival score of 151.
  • The UK is currently ranked 7th on the index, with a visa-free/visa-on-arrival score of 185. Over the past decade the UK’s travel freedom score has increased by 19 points: in 2010, the country was ranked 1st worldwide, with a visa-free/visa-on-arrival score of 166.
  • The US is also currently ranked 7th on the index, with a score of 185. Over the past decade, the US’s travel freedom score has increased by 26 points: in 2010, the country was ranked 7th worldwide, with a visa-free/visa-on-arrival score of 159.
  • The UAE has seen the biggest increase in travel freedom over the past 10 years. In 2010, the country was ranked 65th worldwide, with a visa-free/visa-on-arrival score of 64. It is now ranked 18th, with a score of 171  which means the country has added a remarkable 107 visa-free travel destinations over that period. 
Earth

Landmark Deep Sea Mission To Boost Ocean Action & Science

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A deep-sea scientific mission to uncharted depths in the Maldives and Seychelles will gather valuable data to support the Commonwealth Blue Charter on ocean action and train local scientists.

The newest Commonwealth member country, Maldives, has joined Seychelles to launch a major joint scientific expedition to investigate unexplored depths of the Indian Ocean.

The ground-breaking multidisciplinary research mission, known as ‘First Descent: Midnight Zone’, was officially launched at the Commonwealth headquarters at Marlborough House. 

Led by the UK research institute Nekton, the goal is to boost the sustainable governance of Seychelles and Maldivian waters, including the protection of 629,000 km2 of ocean. 

It supports the Commonwealth Blue Charter – a shared commitment by member countries to protect the ocean from the effects of climate change, pollution and overfishing.
 

FD mission2.jpg

Minister for Fisheries, Marine Resources and Agriculture of the Maldives, Zaha Waheed, said: “It is vital to comprehensively understand what lies beneath our waters in order for us to be informed enough to take necessary actions towards a healthy and prosperous ocean.

“This mission will, for the first time, show a glimpse of what the deep sea features and the biodiversity it holds. It will also contribute to the wider goal of marine spatial planning and ocean governance.”

A 50-person crew will set sail on 16 March, using the world’s most advanced deep diving submersible, equipped with a suite of research tools including sensor and mapping technology.

The data they collect will help countries define conservation and management priorities and map out marine protected areas. It will also help measure the impact of climate change and human activity in the area. 

Commonwealth Secretary-General Patricia Scotland said: “We cannot protect what we don’t know and we cannot govern what we don’t understand. With 95 per cent of the ocean still unexplored by humans, we are only just beginning to grasp its profound influence on life, including its effect on global climate and ecosystems. 

“It is pleasing to see the commitments of our Commonwealth Blue Charter leading to such far-reaching and innovative science-backed ocean action in, with and for our member countries.”

The expedition will focus on undersea mountains or ‘seamounts’ in the Midnight Zone – depths from 1,000 to 4,000 metres, where biodiversity peaks. This zone holds critical indicators to measure the impact of the climate crisis, fisheries management, heat absorption, acidification, ocean carbon cycle, and plastic, agricultural and industrial pollution. 

DSSV Pressure Drop at sea. Photo: Nexton

The damage or overexploitation of seamounts can have widespread consequences on ocean health, food security, and other benefits the ocean provides, such as the discovery of new medicines.

Principal Secretary at the Ministry of Environment, Energy and Climate Change of Seychelles, Alain Decormamond said: “Seamounts form some of the most fascinating and richest locations in our waters and beyond in the wider Indian Ocean. We are therefore looking forward to exploring even deeper depths of our ocean to have a better understanding of natural characteristics and richness of these locations.” 

The mission’s principal scientist Lucy Woodall from the University of Oxford added: “We find the greatest biomass in the upper few hundred metres of the ocean, but the peak of biodiversity is in the greater depths, in the Midnight Zone, from 1,000 to 4,000 metres. That said, less than 300 of 170,000 known major seamounts found in this zone have been researched to date, and they remain one of the least researched parts of the ocean.”

Nekton is also working with Commonwealth countries to develop the tools, skills, knowledge and networks to sustainably manage the ocean. Seychellois and Maldivian scientists will join the expedition to conduct pioneering research into their national waters. This is supported by training programmes, research grants and fellowships with the University of Oxford.

Seychelles champions the Commonwealth Blue Charter action group on marine protected areas. To date, 13 countries have stepped forward to lead on 10 topics they identified as priorities.

For updates on the expedition, visit nektonmission.org 

For more information about the Commonwealth Blue Charter, visit bluecharter.thecommonwealth.org

The Commonwealth Blue Charter

The Commonwealth covers a third of the world’s coastal oceans, 45% of coral reefs and the majority of the world’s big ocean states and territories. Forty-seven out of our 54 countries have a coastline, and three of the remaining landlocked states border great lakes. The Commonwealth Blue Charter is a landmark agreement that engages all 54 Commonwealth countries to commit to actively co-operating to solve ocean-related problems and meet commitments for sustainable ocean development. Visit our website to learn how to join action groups.

Seychelles

The Seychelles Blue Economy Strategic Roadmap and Plan has been developed and implemented by the Government of Seychelles in partnership with the Commonwealth Secretariat. A key component of this, the Seychelles’ Marine Spatial Plan, is being undertaken in partnership with The Nature Conservancy. By March 2020 this will result in the sustainable management of all the Exclusive Economic Zone including 30% within the newly formed Marine Protected Areas (445,000 km2 of 1,336,559 km2). The implementing partner for the expedition is the Ministry for Environment, Energy and Climate Change. Seychelles champions the Commonwealth Blue Charter Action Group on Marine Protected Areas.

Maldives

Maldives Blue Prosperity Programme is being undertaken by the Government of the Maldives in partnership with the Blue Prosperity Coalition and the Waitt Institute.  The Programme begins in 2020 with a goal of the sustainable management of the Maldivian Exclusive Economic Zone including a spatial target of at least 20% within newly formed Marine Protected Areas (184,000km2 of 923,000km2). The implementation partner for the expedition is the Ministries of Fisheries, Marine Resources and Agriculture. First Descent: Midnight Zone is the third of four expeditions being undertaken in Maldives in support of Maldives Blue Prosperity.  #KanduFalhuDhiraasaa and #NooRaajje

First Descent: Midnight Zone 

First Descent is a series of missions undertaken by Nekton in partnership with Governments in the Indian Ocean region. Beginning in Seychelles in 2019, the Mission concludes with a State of the Indian Ocean Summit in October 2022 to deliver scientific consensus on the state of the Indian Ocean and to galvanise 30% protection by 2030. Each mission combines national commitments to ocean protection, marine spatial planning, applied research to inform ocean policy, inspirational communications to strengthen the public support for political action and investments in capacity development to create a legacy of long-term sustainable ocean governance. #MidnightZone #FirstDescent

Seamounts 

Seamounts are undersea mountains formed by volcanic activity. Scientists estimate there are at least 100,000 seamounts higher than 1,000 meters around the world. Recent estimates suggest that, taken together, seamounts encompass about 28.8 million square kilometres – a surface area larger than deserts, tundra, or any other single land-based global habitat on the planet. Seamounts attract an abundance of marine life, many of which are endemic to individual locations. Seamounts are productive fishing grounds for more than 80 commercial species worldwide. 

Nekton 

Nekton is an independent not-for-profit research institute working in collaboration with the University of Oxford and is a UK registered charity. Nekton’s purpose is to explore and protect the ocean. Nekton’s missions are supported by a unique alliance of 40 business, government, academia and civil society partners uniting behind a common purpose to explore and conserve the ocean. They include: 

  • Mission Partners (2): Omega, Kensington Tours 
  • Strategic Partners (8): The Commonwealth; Teledyne Marine, Sonardyne (Official Subsea 
  • Technology Partners), Caladan Oceanic (Expedition Partner), Associated Press (Official News Agency Partner), Inmarsat (Official Satellite Communications Partner), Blue Prosperity Coalition, Waitt Institute (Maldives Blue Prosperity). 
  • Collaborating Partners (17): CEFAS (Subsea Research Equipment); Deep Sea Power and Light, Paralenz, Bowtech (Subsea Camera & Light Partners); Triton (Submersible Partners); Priavo Security (Maritime Security); Technicolor, AXA-XL & Encounter EDU (Education); University of Oxford; Institute of Marine Engineering, Science & Technology – IMarEST; EYOS Expeditions (Logistics); Great Campaign (UK Government, Foreign & Commonwealth Office); Ocean Unite, Helly Hansen (Apparel), IUCN, Project Zero, Sky Plc. 
  • Founding Partners of Nekton (3): AXA-XL, Garfield Weston Foundation, Kensington Tours.

Blue Prosperity Coalition

The Blue Prosperity Coalition is a global coalition of NGO’s, academic institutions, and foundations working together to promote growth and prosperity while empowering sustainable management of marine resources and ecosystems. The coalition assists committed governments in developing and implementing sustainable marine spatial plans to protect the environment and improve the economy at the same time. Primary members in the Maldives partnership include Waitt Institute, National Geographic Pristine Seas, Scripps Institution of Oceanography, and Nekton. #BlueProsperity 

Waitt Institute

Established by Gateway, Inc. co-founder Ted Waitt in 1993, the Waitt Institute, partners with committed governments to develop and implement comprehensive, science-based ocean management plans that benefit both the economy and the environment with the ultimate goal of sustainable, resilient, and thriving seas that benefit all.

Travel

Most Say Coronavirus An On-going Threat As Countries Call For Travel Bans And Quarantines

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February, 2020; Paris, France – A majority of people across eight large countries say the coronavirus poses a high or very high threat to the world and an additional one in three say the virus is a moderate threat to the world.

More than one in two people in Japan (66%), Australia (61%) and the United States (55%) are concerned about the threat of the outbreak on the world. Canada (42%) and Russia (42%), the United Kingdom (43%), and Germany (47%) have slightly lower levels of high or very high threat. 

These are some of the findings of an Ipsos survey conducted online from February 7 to 9, 2020 among 8,001 adults aged 16 (18) -74 in Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Japan, Russia, the United Kingdom, and the United States.

Less Than One In Five Feel Coronavirus Outbreak Contained

On average, only one in five people (19%) agree the coronavirus outbreak has been contained and will soon be over, while more than twice as many disagree (46%). People in the U.K. (55%), Canada (51%), Australia (50%), and Japan (49%) were most likely to disagree the outbreak has been contained. One in three Russian respondents believe the coronavirus outbreak has been contained (33%).

Added to that, more than four in five (86%) people across these eight countries say they have seen, heard, or read a great deal or fair amount about the outbreak.

Together, this data shows that most people are closely tracking the coronavirus outbreak and are also worried the health epidemic will continue to worsen before it gets better.

In response, there is widespread support for significant actions to control the virus. On average, four in five (85%) people support mandatory screening of those traveling from infected countries, and there is a similar level of strong support for mandatory quarantine of those who could have the infection. Two-thirds (66%) of people agree the government should ban travel to and from impacted countries, and that airlines in their country should be restricted from flying to China.

Topline data follows:

Q. How much, if at all, have you seen, read or heard about the coronavirus outbreak?                  

USCanadaFranceUnited KingdomAustraliaGermanyJapanRussia
Base: All respondents10001000100010001000100110001000
A great deal42%40%67%39%42%27%39%29%
A fair amount43%45%28%54%47%49%53%48%
Not very much12%13%4%7%9%22%5%21%
Nothing at all2%1%0%1%1%1%1%1%
Don’t know1%1%1%0%1%1%2%1%
Summary
T2B: Great deal/fair amount85%86%95%92%88%76%92%77%
B2B: Nothing/Not much14%14%4%7%10%23%6%22%

Q. (The world) What level of threat do you think the coronavirus poses to each of the following?

USCanadaFranceUnited KingdomAustraliaGermanyJapanRussia
Base: All respondents10001000100010001000100110001000
Very high threat23%13%16%12%28%13%26%11%
High threat31%29%33%31%33%34%40%30%
Moderate threat32%38%34%42%27%35%27%36%
Low threat9%15%10%11%7%13%4%14%
Very low threat3%3%4%3%2%3%2%6%
Don’t know2%2%3%2%2%2%1%2%
Summary
T2B: High threat55%42%49%43%61%47%66%42%
B3B: Low threat43%55%48%56%37%51%33%57%

Q. (The coronavirus outbreak has been contained and will soon be over.) Do you agree or disagree with the following (is that strongly or somewhat?):

USCanadaFranceUnited KingdomAustraliaGermanyJapanRussia
Base: All respondents10001000100010001000100110001000
Strongly agree6%3%2%4%5%5%2%7%
Somewhat agree15%13%14%12%15%16%13%26%
Neither agree nor disagree26%26%30%22%26%33%32%28%
Somewhat disagree27%32%29%36%29%28%31%18%
Strongly disagree19%19%13%20%21%14%18%14%
Don’t know7%8%12%7%5%5%5%7%
Summary
T2B: Agree21%15%16%16%19%20%15%33%
B2B: Disagree46%51%42%55%50%42%49%33%

Q. (Total strongly & somewhat agree) To what extent, if at all, would you support or oppose each of the following measures?

USCanadaFranceUnited KingdomAustraliaGermanyJapanRussia
Base: All respondents10001000100010001000100110001000
Anyone travelling to and from infected countries should undergo mandatory screening83%86%87%86%88%78%78%91%
Government should impose mandatory quarantine for those who could have the infection79%83%84%84%87%74%80%84%
Airlines from my country should stop flying to China68%67%68%70%75%59%67%61%
The government should ban any travel to and from affected countries70%66%68%66%73%50%71%64%
Public transit systems in my country, including buses, subways, and trains, should be taking precautions to prevent the further spread of coronavirus73%60%56%61%70%48%76%72%
The government should send doctors, materials, supplies abroad to help countries affected by the virus61%55%52%49%52%62%56%56%
Airlines from my country should stop flying to other infected countries besides China62%54%59%57%59%44%46%54%

About the Study

These are the results of an Ipsos survey conducted February 7-9, 2020 on the Global Advisor online platform among 8,001 adults aged 18-74 in Canada and the United States and 16-74 in Australia, France, Germany, Japan, Russia and the United Kingdom.

The sample consists of approximately 1000+ individuals in each country. The samples in Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Japan, the U.K. and the U.S. can be taken as representative of these countries’ general adult population under the age of 75. The sample in Russia is more urban, more educated and/or more affluent than the general population and should be viewed as reflecting the views of the more “connected” segment of the population. The data is weighted so that each market’s sample composition best reflects the demographic profile of the adult population according to the most recent census data.

Where results do not sum to 100 or the ‘difference’ appears to be +/-1 more/less than the actual, this may be due to rounding, multiple responses or the exclusion of don’t knows or not stated responses.

The precision of Ipsos online polls are calculated using a credibility interval with a poll of 1,000 accurate to +/- 3.5 percentage points and of 500 accurate to +/- 4.8 percentage points. For more information on the Ipsos use of credibility intervals, please visit the Ipsos website. For the Silo, by Dianne Bankay.

This study did not have any external sponsors or partners. It was initiated and run by Ipsos with the intention to share our understanding about the world we live in and how citizens around the globe think and feel about their world.

About Ipsos

Ipsos is the world’s third largest market research company, present in 90 markets and employing more than 18,000 people.

Our passionately curious research professionals, analysts and scientists have built unique multi-specialist capabilities that provide true understanding and powerful insights into the actions, opinions and motivations of citizens, consumers, patients, customers or employees. We serve more than 5000 clients across the world with 75 business solutions.

Founded in France in 1975, Ipsos is listed on the Euronext Paris since July 1st, 1999. The company is part of the SBF 120 and the Mid-60 index and is eligible for the Deferred Settlement Service (SRD).

ISIN code FR0000073298, Reuters ISOS.PA, Bloomberg IPS:FP www.ipsos.com

Earth

Gucci Joins The Lion’s Share Fund To Support Wildlife Conservation

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NEW YORK, February, 2020 – Gucci, one of the world’s leading luxury fashion brands, has joined The Lion’s Share Fund, a unique initiative raising much-needed funds to tackle the crisis in nature, biodiversity and climate across the globe. 

Led by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and a coalition of businesses and UN partners, the Fund aims to raise over $100 million per year within the next five years for animal conservation, biodiversity and climate by asking brands to contribute 0.5% of their media spend every time an animal is featured in their advertisements.

https://youtu.be/qnT8yDfrP5M

Achim Steiner, UNDP Administrator, said: “This partnership with Gucci marks the continuing evolution of this innovative fund, which provides a unique opportunity for brands across all industries to join forces and help preserve and protect biodiversity across the globe. Wildlife populations are half the size they were just 50 years ago, and their habitats and ecosystems are destroyed at an unprecedented rate due to human activity. Lion’s Share is an idea that is as innovative as it is simple – and it makes a real impact on wildlife conservation.”

Achim Steiner Portrait
Achim Steiner

Marco Bizzarri, President and CEO of Gucci, said: “The Lion’s Share Fund is an important addition to our conservation strategy. Nature and wildlife provide Gucci with inspired creation that is an integral part of our narrative through our collections and campaigns. With the increasing threats to the planet’s biodiversity, groundbreaking initiatives like The Lion’s Share Fund have the potential to be transformative by organically connecting the business community with direct action to protect our natural habitats and most threatened species.” Bizzarri continued “In a similar way, since 2018, Gucci has been totally carbon neutral across our supply chain and we offset our remaining emissions every year through REDD+, which protects critical forests and biodiversity around the world.”

Image result for Marco Bizzarri, President and CEO of Gucci
Marco Bizzarri

Launched in September 2018, the Fund is already having an impact, providing a grant to improve critical radio systems for law enforcement officers protecting wildlife in Mozambique’s Niassa Nature Reserve and helping reduce the elephant poaching rate to zero, and providing a grant to help secure land for endangered orangutans, elephants and tigers in North Sumatra in Indonesia.

Animals appear in approximately 20 per cent of all advertisements in the world, yet despite this, animals do not always receive the support they deserve.

The Lion’s Share gives brands the opportunity to take urgent and significant action and play their part in protecting our planet.

For more information, visit TheLionsShareFund.com.

About GUCCI

Founded in Florence in 1921, Gucci is one of the world’s leading luxury fashion brands, with a renowned reputation for creativity, innovation and Italian craftsmanship.

Gucci is part of Kering, a global Luxury group managing the development of a series of renowned Houses in Fashion, Leather Goods, Jewelry and Watches.

For further information about Gucci, visit www.gucci.com

About The Lion’s Share Fund

The Lion’s Share was established in June 2018 by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) with FINCH, Mars, Incorporated, Nielsen and BBDO as founding members. The fund tackles the crisis in biodiversity and climate by asking advertisers worldwide to donate 0.5 percent of their media spend for each advertisement that features an animal. Those funds are pooled and distributed to projects globally that have a significant impact on animal conservation, habitat loss and the climate crisis. The Lion’s Share contributes to the Sustainable Development Goals, the UN’s universal call to action to end poverty and protect the planet.

About the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)

UNDP partners with people across societies to help build nations that can withstand crisis, and drive and sustain the kind of growth that improves the quality of life for everyone. On the ground in nearly 170 countries and territories, we offer global perspective and local insight to help empower lives and build resilient nations. For more information on UNDP, visit undp.org.

Earth

Canadian Group: Australian Wildfire Facts Blocked by IFCN

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(Calgary, Alberta) Australian wildfire facts are being blocked from public distribution by the International Fact Check Network (IFCN), Poynter Institute and facebook.  Friends of Science Society has issued a rebuttal to Climate Feedback’s Australian wildfire analysis, a member of IFCN, that claims human-caused ‘climate change’ is the culprit behind Australian wildfire stories, not arsonists or untenable fuel load.  In turn, relying on Climate Feedback’s ‘authority’, facebook has been demoting page quality of those who post Australian wildfire stories that don’t fit the climate catastrophe narrative. Friends of Science wildfire expert says “fuel rules” in the case of wildfires, not temperature.

Facebook and Poynter Institute have partnered in a journalism ‘integrity’ project intended to prevent the spread of false news, but instead, they are promoting a singular climate dogma narrative. Most mainstream media outlets toe the line on the pronouncements of Poynter’s IFCN/Climate Feedback without question. Friends of Science Society argues that this is contrary to the principles of freedom of the press and is damaging to the safety of the public. 

Decades of detailed wildfire research by the National Fire Protection Association, a global non-profit established in 1896, has shown that proper setbacks of shrubbery, removal of combustible material, and other house-proofing measures can significantly increase the likelihood that a house will survive a wildfire. Wildfire management techniques like clearing firebreaks and managing combustible fuel loads of dead or dry shrub vegetation and the cutting of firebreaks are well-known, successful wildfire risk reduction techniques.

In their rebuttal to Poynter’s “Climate Feedback”, Friends of Science Society points out that in Alberta, the 2011 statistics of human caused fires versus those caused by lightning reached 72% in the five-year average.  Human-caused wildfire includes arson, accidental or negligent activity and fires started from human infrastructure issues – like power lines sparking on contact with tree branches. Some of the largest Canadian wildfires, like the 2011 Slave Lake catastrophe, have been identified as arson.

For those people demanding climate action to reduce carbon dioxide from human industry, the grand irony is that poor forestry and fuel load management lead to wildfires which in turn emit huge quantities of carbon dioxide, as reported by Esquire.  Proper forestry management would reduce those emissions.

Many climate activists condemn Australia as being at fault for climate warming because it is a coal-producing nation. Based on those claims, Australia is facing economic trade wars by Greenpeace, BankTrack, and even Greta Thunberg.  But as discussed in Friends of Science Society’s “Burning Questions” 2015 report, wildfires, especially those that create huge Pyrocumulonimbus clouds, are a significant driver of climate change.  “The Untold Story of Pyrocumulonimbus” explains the complex findings of wildfire’s influence on climate and environment, with the research led by Mike Fromm of US Naval Research Lab. 

Likewise, Friends of Science Society’s report “Unfriend ENGOs – Befriend Facts” deconstructs the green trade wars against essential prime power industries like coal, natural gas and oil, driven by environmental groups acting as proxies for ‘green billionaires’ who are deeply invested in pushing global cap and trade, carbon pricing and their vested interests in renewables.

Climate activists, Poynter and facebook are suppressing freedom of the press and freedom of speech, while falsely proclaiming a climate emergency, a concept developed by a clinical psychologist in the US, intended to scare people into compliance. The same “Climate Mobilization” organization advocates for World War II style rationing, managed economy, and massive restrictions on freedoms.

On April 6, 2020, Friends of Science Society’s 17th Annual Event “Freedom of Speech! No Climate Emergency” will host investigative journalist Donna Laframboise to address these diminishing freedoms, and Dr. Roy Spencer, who will offer “10 Reasons Why There is No Climate Emergency.”

Friends of Science Society is an independent group of earth, atmospheric and solar scientists, engineers, and citizens who are celebrating its 17th year of offering climate science insights. After a thorough review of a broad spectrum of literature on climate change, Friends of Science Society has concluded that the sun is the main driver of climate change, not carbon dioxide (CO2).
Friends of Science Society
P.O. Box 23167, Mission P.O.
Calgary, Alberta
Canada T2S 3B1
Toll-free Telephone: 1-888-789-9597
Web: friendsofscience.org
E-mail: contact(at)friendsofscience(dot)org
Web: climatechange101.ca

Earth

The Commonwealth Opinion: Extreme Events Are Reversing Development Goals

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Cyclones in the Caribbean and Pacific, devastating bushfires in Australia, recurrent floods and droughts in Asia and Africa, increasingly bring tragic loss of life to our nations and communities, inflicting physical and mental trauma on survivors, and causing irreparable damage to centuries old ways of life and undermining prospects for future prosperity and growth.

The current bushfires in Australia have been among the most distressing manifestations, leading the government to declare a state of emergency.

The total cost to the economy of the bushfires with which Australia is grappling seems likely to run into billions of dollars. Continuous drying of undergrowth creates optimal conditions for bushfires, leading to tragic loss of human lives and destruction of infrastructure. There is devastating impact on the precious biodiversity of flora and fauna, threatening drastically to affect the ecology of the region. Heightened levels of air pollution in the affected and adjoining regions are having adverse impacts on the respiratory health of scores of people.

20190731_Secretary-General_op-ed_photo_landscape.jpg

Such extreme events are occurring with rising frequency, destroying the means of livelihood for millions people in Commonwealth countries, increasing vulnerability and reducing resilience. The Commonwealth collectively recognises that without well-planned and integrated national and international action, natural disasters and extreme events will continue to challenge the resilience of affected communities and smaller countries. The Commonwealth Secretariat is working alongside member nations to protect the environmental health of fragile and susceptible ecosystems, including through increased national preparedness for tackling natural disasters and mobilising resources.

For the arid and drought-prone member countries, which are highly vulnerable to dryness and bushfires, the Commonwealth provides support for governments to develop projects on sustainable and resilient landscape management, with the Commonwealth Climate Finance Access Hub (CCFAH) helping to unlock necessary financial resources. Similarly, by pooling information into a streamlined platform for better and more convenient access to information, the Commonwealth Disaster Risk Finance Portal currently in development will help countries find suitable sources of finance and support to deal with disasters.

On behalf of citizens of all Commonwealth countries, I express my heartfelt condolences to all families and communities who have lost loved ones in the tragic events of recent days. I commend the courage and commitment of firefighters, emergency service personnel and all others who are battling to rescue and protect people and property, wildlife and natural resources, or human infrastructure. In these testing times, the wider Commonwealth family stands in solidarity alongside the Government and people of Australia. For the Silo, by Patricia Scotland, Commonwealth Secretary-General

Featured photo- Luca Parmitano ESA Astronaut – Australia “Ash cloud” as viewed from the ISS International Space Station.

Earth

Prehistoric Trails Across Southern Ontario Farm Lands

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Haldimand Norfolk Archaeology

For over 25 years archaeological efforts have been ongoing to delineate where potential prehistoric trails exist across the landscape of southern Ontario.   Trails were created and used by the earliest inhabitants of the region after glaciers disappeared some 15,000 years ago.  One of the roles for a trail system was to help keep people alive.

The challenge to identify the existence of these trails is that they existed approximately 10,000 years ago.  The primary region for this research has been Haldimand-Norfolk County.  In the past seven years the search for prehistoric trail systems in these two counties has become increasingly intensive as part of the Haldimand-Norfolk Archaeological Regional Project (HNARP) http://www.hnarp.ca/ .

The premise of the regional project is to better understand how early people lived and managed their lives on a  landscape once rich with animal, plant, and raw resources such as rock for making stone tools.

A critical activity that has assisted this regional project is permission to walk over farm lands from supportive agricultural land owners to help find these trails.  Access to farm lands assists archaeologists to identify where people lived in the region.  The land mass of the two counties combined covers approximately 2,000 square kilometers.

Historically, it was always possible to read information written down and recorded about trails in the region.  This would include place names and popularly used trails.  Even oral history in Haldimand County by senior land owners some 30 years ago mentioned trails used by people to walk across the landscape to neighbouring farms, villages, and the shores of Lake Erie.

Haldimand Norfolk Archaeology

To date, archaeologists have identified artifacts left behind by people still exist after 10,000 years of changes to the landscape.  One piece of evidence has been the type of stone used for making tools.  Throughout the world people searched out different types of rock for making stone tools.

In Haldimand County, chert formations created over tens of millions of years ago can be found.  These chert formations have different identifying markers such as colours and fossils that make chert distinct from others.  It is these identifying markers that help chert to be identified from its original source and help to develop new evidence to show where and when people lived and crossed the landscape.

It is hoped that finding and identifying the different colour cherts and fossils in the rock will help archaeologists piece together Haldimand-Norfolk County’s long forgotten past.   For the Silo, Lorenz Bruechert.

Earth

Ministers Call On More Countries To Put Forward Stepped-Up Climate Crisis Education Plan

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Madrid, December 2019–Two pioneering countries this week committed to stepped-up climate and environmental education in order to equip a new generation with the knowledge, awareness and skills needed to navigate the emerging challenges of the 21st C.

Italy and Mexico, speaking at a press conference at COP25 in Madrid, urged other countries to follow suit in order to make strong, environmental education a world-wide phenomenon.

They proposed Earth Day in April next year as one of a series of milestones in 2020 where like-minded nations could announce higher ambition on climate and environmental education.

The plan is to have a critical mass of countries committed to the environmental and climate education agenda by the time of the UN climate conference (COP26) taking place in Glasgow, UK in November.

Lorenzo Fioramonti, Italy’s Minister of Education, Innovation and Research, said: “Young people are demanding that governments take climate change far more seriously. There are many areas of society where we must act, and act with increased ambition: compulsory education on these topics needs to be a key part of this national and international response to the big issues of our time”.

The Italian Education Minister said that Earth Day 2020 represents one of the key moments in this important year to recognize the centrality of climate and environmental education including through  ‘Teach-Ins’ as one way of raising awareness among the young.

He said he hoped other countries would take the same opportunity mark Earth Day’s 50th anniversary and the birth of the environmental movement.

Teach-ins, in which students organize debates and propose solutions to environmental challenges, was a key feature of the first Earth Day where over 20 million young people and citizens protested in 1970, triggering in the process new laws and action by the then US administration.

Martha Delgado, Vice Minister of Global Affairs in Mexico’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said her country had now incorporated mandatory environmental education into Mexico’s constitution as the first step in a new comprehensive plan.

“Mexico is now committed to mandatory environmental education at home, but we are also committed to promoting environmental education internationally. The challenges we are facing are national but also global. Young people everywhere need the knowledge to fully respond to what is unfolding on in our world,” he said.

“Great transformations can only be achieved through knowledge, awareness and the sense of collaboration. We are convinced that environmental education is the route to meeting Sustainable Development Goals, an essential tool to fight the climate crisis and can prompt a profound cultural change to contribute to our planet’s sustainability,” said Vice-Minister Delgado.

Kathleen Rogers, President of the Earth Day Network, said environmental literacy had been at the core of Earth Day since its inception in 1970 but that governments had not gone far enough.

“Young people, through movements such as Fridays for Future, have been asking governments to tell the truth about the climate and environmental emergencies that we are now facing—‘telling the truth’ needs to happen in the schools and universities, and needs to happen now,” she said.

Rogers said that while globally climate and environmental education exist across the spectrum, from decades of formal implementation to continued exclusion of the topic as a whole, it is time to make these critical subjects compulsory and to link them to civic education so that students will develop both the knowledge and the civic skills they need to fully engage in the solutions to climate change.

 “These are the core elements of transforming our societies so that a new, far better informed and active generation can emerge to ensure governments truly respond to the challenges of our time,” she said.

Patricia Espinosa, Executive Secretary of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), welcomed the announcements of Italy and Mexico as a key contribution to realizing the aims of the Paris Climate Change Agreement.

Under the Agreement governments are looking to enhance their Nationally Determined Contribution (NDCs) in 2020 as contribution to climate action but also the Sustainable Development Goals.

From Madrid and COP25, focus will also be on the Congregation for Catholic Institutes of the Holy See which has chosen Earth Day 2020 as a preparatory meeting for the Global Compact on Education that Pope Francis will launch on May 14th.  It aims to promote a global commitment that also teaches new generations respect for humankind and nature.

Earth Day Italia is working together with the Italian Ministry for the Environment and the Festival for Sustainable Education to support this initiative. For the Silo, Denice Zeck.

Travel

GlobalData : Travelers From Japan To France Set To Reach 1.3 Million By 2023

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The number of international travelers from Japan to France is set to grow from 1.1 million in 2019 to 1.3 million in 2023, increasing at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 4.6%, says GlobalData, a leading data and analytics company.  

GlobalData’s latest report: ‘Tourism Source Market Insight: Japan’ reveals that the Japanese are specifically drawn to Paris due to their perception that it is a romantic city. 

Ralph Hollister, Travel and Tourism Analyst at GlobalData, comments: “This substantial growth forecast illustrates that the Japanese source market is willing to sacrifice affordability and sometimes accessibility due to the cultural draw of a destination. The city is a popular tourist destination due to Japan’s fascination with all things French; cities such as Tokyo are filled with French patisseries and luxury French fashion outlets such as Chanel and Louis Vuitton.” 

Image result for japanese tourist in france
PR7476

According to GlobalData, France overtook Guam in 2018 to become the fifth largest outbound market for Japanese travelers. Guam is a destination which is much closer to Japan (average flight time of 3 hours 45 minutes, compared to 12 hours 50 minutes to France), thus making it more accessible and affordable also. However, Japanese travelers are willing to sacrifice these vital aspects of a holiday in order to experience  the French tourism product, due to the nation being heavily romanticized by the Japanese media. 

Hollister continues, “Air France and New Caledonia-based Aircalin have renewed their codeshare agreement for five years in October 2019. The airlines offer a daily service between Paris and Noumea, with additional frequencies during peak periods and optimized connections at Tokyo Narita and Osaka Kansai airports. This renewal will no doubt contribute to this accelerated growth rate.” 

It is clear to see that the majority of Japanese travelers are flocking to Paris, contributing to the growing issue of over-tourism in the capital. Atout France – the national tourism development agency, should focus on promoting less touristic cities to the Japanese source market such as Bordeaux. This city is popular for its gastronomy and many chateaux’s (castles), which are the type of famed stereotypes that attract Japanese travelers.  

About GlobalData

4,000 of the world’s largest companies, including over 70% of FTSE 100 and 60% of Fortune 100 companies, make more timely and better business decisions thanks to GlobalData’s unique data, expert analysis and innovative solutions, all in one platform. GlobalData’s mission is to help our clients decode the future to be more successful and innovative across a range of industries, including the healthcare, consumer, retail, financial, technology and professional services sectors.

Travel

How Everyone Can Afford Luxury Travel

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There is no denying that travel would be a lot more fun if you could crisscross the globe in comfort and luxury. Unfortunately, this kind of experience can end up setting you back a considerable amount of money. Naturally, this is something that few people can afford… Or is it? There is actually a way for you to enjoy a better class of travel without having to empty out your bank account. Here are the tricks to doing this:

Find Ways to Book Private Flights

There is nothing particularly enjoyable about flying commercial. The lines are long, the seats are uncomfortable, and there is a limit to how much luggage you can carry. At the same time, private air travel can often seem out of your reach. If you play your cards right, though, this doesn’t have to be the case.

The Gulfstream G650

For instance, if you are traveling in a larger group, check out Gulfstream G650 as an option. When you combine the overall cost of the commercial plane ticket prices, you may just discover that hiring a single plane is cheaper!

Furthermore, there may be other ways to get you discounts on your Chicago charter or other flights as well. See in many cases, people will only book a one-way flight. Of course, since the plane has to head back to its original destination, it ends up losing money. To counteract this, certain companies will offer lower rates for these flights, if you can change up your schedule a little.

Explore Less Popular Parts of the World

If you are going to go to a place that is a popular tourist destination, you will be unable to afford the top hotels there. After all, there will be a much higher demand for these spots. This is why you may want to look at other less traveled locations.

Whether you are looking for beautiful beaches, culture, or good food, you can guarantee that you can find a more remote option. Since these areas aren’t visited as often, the cost of accommodation is much lower. Thus, you can enjoy a luxurious stay without having to pay nearly as much.

Splurge Wisely

In an ideal world, you would be able to spend on whatever it is that you want. The reality, however, isn’t quite as accommodating. This doesn’t mean that you can’t splurge on certain luxurious items, though. Instead, it is about being careful about what you splurge on.

Look at your holiday and think about which areas you wouldn’t mind skimping on. For instance, instead of eating at the hotel, you should be able to easily find cheaper venues in the city. This may leave you with more money to go shopping at some high-end stores. It is all about managing a careful balancing act.

These are all of the ways that virtually any individual can afford luxury travel. So, if you put your mind to it, you will be able to enjoy a truly wonderful experience. The next time you have to plan a vacation, keep these following tops in mind for the greatest results.

Earth

When Planting Native Ontario Trees Use This Tree Atlas

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There are many reasons to plant a tree – to shade your home, help the environment, or just for the pleasure and beauty it brings. There are many questions when it comes to choosing the right tree. What kind of tree will thrive in my community, and on my property? How fast will it grow? Should I worry about choosing a native Ontario tree?

The Tree Atlas

You can get answers to those questions and much more information from an online Tree Atlas (ontario.ca/treeatlas).

The Tree Atlas shows you which trees will work where you live, your soil type, and other conditions to consider. It can also help you find the kind of tree that helps you achieve other goals, like offering shade to keep your home cool in the summer, attracting birds, or a fast-growing, bushy species to hide an unsightly view.

The Tree Atlas describes trees that are native to Ontario, so you’ll be planting a tree that’s adapted to the province and supports a healthy environment. You’ll also find tips on when and how to plant a tree to give it the best chances to thrive on your property.

Trees clean our air and water, help fight climate change, increase wildlife habitat, provide shade and help prevent flooding.  When you plant a tree, you’re helping the environment.

The Tree Atlas was developed by the Ministry of Natural Resources, so you can be confident that the information provided is accurate and reliable.

 Many Ontario towns and cities have tree planting programs – check with your municipality for tree planting information and assistance in your area. For the Silo, Emmilia Kuisma, District Strategic Officer Ministry of Natural Resources.

Earth

Renewable Energy Outlook for 2040 Includes Cancelling Your Print Newspapers

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Hey Silo readers! This infographic courtesy of FuelFighterUK demonstrates how production could look in 2040 and what is being done to make our world a greener place. The infographic covers the projected worldwide growth in energy demand, what is being invested to change the renewable outlook and some awesome eco-friendly innovations that have been made by technology companies. For the Silo, Louis Dixon


Energy Outlook For 2040 Infographic
Earth

Get Dirty And Grow Organic

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Rick’s lettuce- yummylicious

We’re too fat.  That’s what the media tell us.

We’re too lazy.  They say that too.  And North Americans in general are pretty unhealthy.  I’m saying that. Yet at the same time there are daily press releases about eating healthier, supporting local agriculture, the 100-mile diet, and buying organic produce.  Of course, that requires some thought and decision-making.  The default setting is to support economies of California or China, which we do, pay for the increasing cost of importing,which we do, and wonder what residual chemicals are in our salad greens, which we should.

I was at a high-end organic market in the GTA recently and I hate to say it, but the organic vegetables were a great disappointment.  I felt it was a misrepresentation of what organic produce should be.  But what if you grew your own? Or at least tried?

You don’t need a degree in agriculture, and don’t have to be intimidated by those who have been gardening for years.  It’s OK to be new.  It’s fun to be new.  There are all kinds of health benefits derived from gardening, aside from the produce itself.   And it gives you some time alone with your thoughts.

My advice is to just do it. 

Time and experience will be your best teachers.  Start simple, start small.  I had mini-gardens in townhouse patios and on apartment balconies for years.   At this point, I’m a big supporter of raised bed gardening for almost endless reasons. If you don’t want to go it alone, find a friend or two and have a competition. Like – who will have the first ripe tomato, (Grow the heirloom variety called stupice to win), or the biggest carrot, (oxheart will win, if you can find seed). The first thing to do is select your site.  Simply, the more sun the better.

The second step:  Prepare the bed. 

If you are going to put in a raised bed, you can just mound up the soil into a kind of plateau, or actually construct a container.  Avoid using pressure treated wood since the chemicals could leach out into the soil.  I’ve seen beds built with bricks and patio stones stood up on their edges.  I am
experimenting with various-sized lumber.

The next step is to add or amend the soil. 

The key is to add organic matter, and not just fertilizer pellets.  I think of it like feeding a child – you would never give your kids just water and vitamin pills and expect them to thrive.  Mixed organic matter (leaves, composted kitchen waste, composted manure, old straw…) builds the soil, feeds the worms, and adds the micro-nutrients that will eventually find their way into your vegetables.  Shortcuts are not sustainable. The most important rule is this:  feed the soil, and the soil will feed the vegetables.

If the soil is healthy, the plants will also tend to be healthy and be less susceptible to infestation by insect pests.  It’s one of the laws of nature that the sick and the weak are targets for the predator.  So it is in the garden.   Also consider “companion planting” for plant health.  Among other things I plant strategically-placed marigolds, nasturtium and herbs for insect control.

In selecting the plants for your garden, in the beginning start with what your family likes.  Even for the small garden you can get a pretty good yield in a small space.  For early spring grow leaf lettuce.  You can extend the season by picking off the outer leaves or cutting off the entire head about an inch above ground.  It will push more tender leaves until the summer heat arrives.

Love peas?

Try early bush snow peas, inter-planted with carrots and radishes.  All of them are great for small spaces. Grow herbs for your salads and seasoning.  You’ll decrease the desire for salt and sugar on your plate which will help you stay healthy. You just have to grow tomatoes. Locate a source for an heirloom variety.  Nothing compares with the taste of an old-fashioned vine-ripened tomato still holding the sun’s heat. For the Silo, Rick Posavad.

Earth

Climate Peril Book Highlights Predicted Ecological Catastrophe

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How do we know? "Orbital climate satellites will measure changes in energy that is entering and exiting the atmosphere as well as the effect that manmade greenhouse gases (GHG) or aerosols, are having on the atmosphere." http://green.blorge.com/2011/01/the-glory-climate-satellite-will-join-the-a-train/
Orbital climate satellites measure changes in energy that is entering and exiting the atmosphere as well as the effect that manmade greenhouse gases (GHG) or aerosols, are having on the atmosphere. image: green.blorge.com

A new, authoritative climate book puts all major aspects of the climate crisis into a broad national and international perspective, revealing that the gravity, imminence, and permanence of the crisis are widely misunderstood.

Climate Peril
Climate Peril: The Intelligent Reader’s Guide to Understanding the Climate Crisis (Northbrae Books) by energy and climate expert Dr. John J. Berger  has an introduction by Dr. Paul and Anne Ehrlich of Stanford University and a foreword by Dr. Ben Santer, an internationally respected climate scientist with Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory and the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change.

The book underscores the unprecedented urgency of the climate crisis, providing detailed revelations about the grave harm climate change is now doing to human health, national and international security, our economy, natural resources, including the oceans, and biodiversity. Climate Peril demonstrates, for example, that holding global heating to 2° C is no guarantee of climate safety, contrary to the assumptions of many policymakers, and that the world is very likely to exceed this limit anyway.

2degrees threshold

Readers have found that Climate Peril makes important findings of climate science easily accessible and helps them better understand the breadth of the climate threat to our economy and society. The book begins by explaining how the climate system naturally operates and then illustrates how human activity has disturbed it.

Climate Peril goes on to document the broad consequences of rapid climate change, drawing attention to its impacts on nature, the economy, human health, and national security. In the process, Climate Peril highlights our proximity to irreversible climate tipping points and to ecological catastrophe.

Supplemental- Why a two degrees C increase in global average temperature IS a big deal by Elizabeth May  https://www.greenparty.ca/blogs/7/2013-01-21/why-two-degree-celsius-increase-global-average-temperature-big-deal

Earth

Ontario Can’t Afford To Not Win War On Phragmites

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Phragmites is likely the largest invasive plant threat facing Ontario today. It has taken over our wetlands, invaded our ditches and can get a foothold just about anywhere. It’s the monster that keeps coming back – we can’t let our guard down.

Phragmites was first found locally in the Long Point wetlands 20 years ago.

Spraying of glysophate started at Long Point and Rondeau Provincial Parks in September 2016, and has proven 99.7 per cent successful. When the phragmites is dead, the seed bank of native species, like cattails, will reactivate. Although spraying works, it must be followed up by rolling or cutting and burning. On Long Point Bay, there is a combination of private, provincial and federal wetlands. Much of the private wetlands are in the hands of hunt clubs, most of which have been active in controlling phragmites.

The Crown Marsh and the Turkey Point beaches are provincial holdings.

The Canadian Wildlife Service land, which comprises most of the point itself and the Big Creek marsh, are federal. I recently attended the meeting of the Long Point Phragmites Action Alliance – a local group dedicated to fighting this invader. They donated $20,000 toward continuing spraying in the Long Point Crown Marsh last year. Their annual fundraiser, Rocking the Point, will be August 24th.

My office worked tirelessly to ensure phragmites were sprayed last fall at Turkey Point beach after several years of inaction by the previous government. This spring the dead plants were flattened and burned. The Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry is working with a number of conservation partners to coordinate prevention, control, research and management activities to help address this serious threat in recognition of the importance of the prevention, early detection, early response and eradication of invasive species.

This year the Ontario government is investing over $2 million in invasive species programs and education, and will be investing $850,000 in the centre to support ongoing research and management. Based in Sault Ste. Marie, the centre brings together government, academia, industry and Indigenous communities and organizations to conduct research, response planning, management and habitat restoration.

Early detection is especially important because once invasive species become established it is extremely difficult to remove them, potentially causing long-lasting damage to our environment.

For federal lands, thanks to the actions of MP Diane Finley, the Nature Conservancy of Canada (NCC) will receive $375,000 over the next three years to aid in the removal and prevention of phragmites growth in sensitive ecosystems. Recently, we saw another win for the ongoing control of phragmites with the Ontario Trillium Foundation’s significant contribution of $90,000 to NCC to purchase a boat to control this invasive. Now in its fourth year, the partners have effectively controlled phragmites in over half the coastal wetlands at Long Point and Turkey Point.

With the help of the Ontario Trillium Foundation funds, NCC will be able to continue monitoring the shorelines for phragmites – catching remnant populations before they spiral out of control. Early detection and constant monitoring and control are key to successfully eradicating those devastating invaders and returning the marshes and shorelines to havens for turtles, birds and waterfowl. Although $2 million has been spent on phragmites control in the area, we must be vigilant as the monster will return. For the Silo, Toby Barrett MPP for Haldimand-Norfolk.

Supplemental- The Ontario Phragmites Working Group.

Featured image- Phragmites Great Lakes region photo by Janice Gilbert 2007

Culture, Travel

5 Most Famous Hotels In London England

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London's Most Famous Hotels

Luxurious living, money and fame are things that spring to mind when thinking about hotels London. Many of them have stood the test of time and built a sterling reputation all over the world attracting many of the rich and famous.

Here we’ve compiled a list of the most renowned hotels in London.

Claridge’s, London

Claridge's London- 5 Star Hotel. Address: 49 Brook St, London, Greater London W1K 4HR, United Kingdom
Claridge’s London- 5 Star Hotel. Address: 49 Brook St, London, Greater London W1K 4HR, United Kingdom

Opened in 1854 Claridges London is one of the oldest hotels in the city. Located in London’s infamous Mayfair, Its clientele are among the rich and famous with celebrities such as Brad Pitt and Mick Jagger no stranger to its doors. TV favorite Gordon Ramsay also had his own restaurant there for a time.

Its décor and facilities boast the best in fine dining and luxury living unrivalled in London and has over its long lifespan attracted royalty from all over the world. The hotel was also the feature of a 3 part documentary series for the BBC entitled ‘Inside Claridges’.

The Connaught, London

The Connaught London. Five star Hotel. Carlos Pl, London W1K 2AL, United Kingdom
The Connaught London. Five star Hotel. Carlos Pl, London W1K 2AL, United Kingdom

Residing in Mayfair, the Connaught first opened its doors in 1815. The hotel allows both traditional British and contemporary design to co-exist by maintaining its Victorian exterior and completing a 70 million pound internal refurbishment by lead designer Guy Oliver.

This hotel and its staff have won many prestigious awards over its lifespan including its spa winning first prize in the spa category in the Hotel & Lodge Awards 2012 and it’s very own bartender Agostino Perrone winning International Bartender of the Year 2010.

Brown’s, London

Brown's Hotel London. Five star Hotel. 33 Albemarle St, London W1S 4BP, United Kingdom
Brown’s Hotel London. Five star Hotel. 33 Albemarle St, London W1S 4BP, United Kingdom

One of London’s most established hotels is Browns. Opening its doors in 1837, it celebrated its 175th anniversary in 2012 and has consistently attracted guests of wealth and fame, most notably President Theodore Roosevelt and Oscar Wilde.

Not only does this Mayfair hotel boast a stunning Victorian 5 star setting it is also within walking distance to some of London’s busiest attractions such as Hyde Park, Bond Street, Regent Street and some of its most famous landmarks.

The Great Northern Hotel

First opened in 1854, London's Great Northern Hotel is "an exquisitely designed luxury boutique hotel with an extraordinary location, literally within King's Cross Station and just 25 metres from the Eurostar terminus at St Pancras International."
First opened in 1854, London’s Great Northern Hotel is “an exquisitely designed luxury boutique hotel with an extraordinary location, literally within King’s Cross Station and just 25 metres from the Eurostar terminus at St Pancras International.”

Dubbed as ‘The World’s First Great Railway Hotel’ , The Great Northern is a stunning boutique hotel with rail connections to Europe and beyond via the Eurostar. It stands tall above the areas surrounding buildings and it’s a significant point of interest for all arriving into Kings Cross St Pancras station.

Designed by infamous architect Lewis Cubitt stood as the centrepiece for the steam revolution.

The Berkeley

The Berkeley Hotel London is a five star Hotel. Wilton Pl, Knightsbridge, London SW1X 7RL, United Kingdom
The Berkeley Hotel London is a five star Hotel. Wilton Pl, Knightsbridge, London SW1X 7RL, United Kingdom

The Berkeley is a five star deluxe hotel, located in Knightsbridge, London. Its history spans well over a 100 years and has even moved buildings. The infamous hotel began its life at Berkeley Street and served as accommodation for mail coach drivers travelling to the West Country.

In 1972 it moved to its current location, incorporating an entirely new refurbishment to include London’s only rooftop swimming pool. Aside from its unique facilities and décor the Berkleley has attracted numerous Michelin star chefs including Pierre Koffmann and more recently Gordon Ramsay and his Boxwood Café. For the Silo, Susan Varano.

Earth

Renewable Energy Housing Why & How To Do It

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Every year, the public is swarmed with a range of statistics, estimates and consequences of their energy consumption. On average, most households go through their energy supply for similar things, and despite some inconsistencies, could resolve most of their consumption issues with the same line of measures.

The use of renewable energy sources has been key to making private residential buildings all the more sustainable. It not only regulates their consumption, but also provides a clearer overview of how much energy is necessary to keep the household going, and ultimately allows homeowners to reduce their carbon footprint.

With so much research and preparation made against exploitation of limited resources, it is important to keep informed on the main reasons leading to this practice that concern each individual homeowner, as well as the key ways to get started with renewable energy generation.

What is Renewable Energy?

In order to get started with your housing energy improvements, it is important to know what kind of process you are dealing with. Renewable energy, specifically, is the process of generating energy from renewable sources like the sun, wind, soil, which are largely available in nature.

If done properly, this practice can be rather sustainable, meaning it will help homeowners regulate consumption, reduce expenses and contribute to a healthier environment.

Main Reasons for Renewable Energy Housing

As noted so far, this practice resolves some of the major concerns homeowners have, both on the micro and macro level. Ana from safeatlast.co has done the work for us, distinguishing a few top priorities that cause people to turn to renewable energy:

· Cost – Energy price soars, as well as additional expenses appearing over the years have had detrimental effects on homeowners’ budgets;

· Climate change – Greater awareness of the greenhouse effect has made people more concerned about their home’s carbon footprint;

· Control – People are alarmed by the realization that they have no idea how much energy they need to meet their everyday needs;

· The current state of the home – Construction characteristics, underground waters, insulation and other features could cause major problems, calling for a more permanent solution.

Top Ways to Achieve Renewable Energy Housing

Nowadays, there is a range of equipment, construction material and entire systems that can be installed into your existing homes in order to achieve greater energy conservation. Most of these make use of the natural, renewable sources of energy to improve the overall quality of life.

While they may be somewhat expensive as an investment, subsidiary programs and initiatives, as well as the long-term payout have gotten many homeowners interested in the following options:

1. Solar power systems – Solar panels placed on rooftops allow homeowners to use the sun’s heat to generate heating power for water, space heating, or electric power generation, alternatively;

2. Biomass boilers – Burning natural residues, these boilers help homeowners get rid of waste and keep their homes warm at the same time, all the while controlling their carbon emissions;

3. Insulation – Proper insulation is just as crucial as the systems listed above, with cavity wall, external and internal wall insulation, as well as high performance doors being the top picks among homeowners.

Earth

World Heritage Committee Adds 29 New Sites Including Alberta On UNESCO’s World Heritage List

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Baku, Azerbaijan, July—The city of Fuzhou (China) will host the next session of the World Heritage Committee in 2020. This decision concluded the work of the 43rd session of the World Heritage Committee, meeting in Baku since 30 June.

During this year’s session, the World Heritage Committee inscribed a total of 29 new sites on the World Heritage List (one in Africa, two in the Arab States, ten in the Asia Pacific region, 15 in Europe and North America including Writing-on-Stone Provincial Park in Alberta, Canada and one in Latin America).

The World Heritage List now features 1,121 sites in 167 countries.

The Committee approved the removal from the List of World Heritage in Danger of the sites of Humberstone and Santa Laura Saltpeter Works (Chile) and Birthplace of Jesus: the Church of the Nativity and Pilgrimage Route, Bethlehem (Palestine). One property has been added to the List of World Heritage in Danger: the Islands and Protected Areas of the Gulf of California (Mexico).

This session reaffirmed the potential of heritage in strengthening cooperation between States, with the inscription of the transboundary site of the Erzgebirge Mining Region/Krušnohoří (shared by Germany and Czechia) and the extension into Albania of the natural and cultural heritage site of the Ohrid Region (Northern Macedonia).

Cooperation and mediation work on heritage also allowed for consensus on decisions regarding the Middle East thanks to constructive discussion with the delegations concerned, notably Israel, Jordan and Palestine.

Several major archaeological sites were added to the List, including the Dilmun Burial Mounds (Bahrain), the Ancient Ferrous Metallurgy Sites of Burkina Faso and the iconic site of Babylon (Iraq), once the centre of the Neo-Babylonian Empire and site of the Hanging Gardens, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, which have inspired artistic, popular and religious culture worldwide.

The inscription of Babylon, combined with significant investment by Iraq, contributes to UNESCO’s efforts to rebuild the country and its flagship Reviving the Spirit of Mosul initiative.

Sites essential for the preservation of global biodiversity have also been inscribed. They include the Migratory Bird Sanctuaries along the Coast of Yellow Sea-Bohai Gulf of China (Phase I) (China) and the site of the French Austral Lands and Seas (France) with a record surface area of over 67 million hectares that is home to one of the highest concentrations of birds and marine mammals in the world.

Finally, the inscription of the sites of Budj Bim Cultural Landscape within Australia’s Gundijmara Aboriginal region, and of Canada’s Writing-on-Stone / Áísínai’pi, a sacred landscape of the Blackfoot (Siksikáítsitapi) people, recognizes the knowledge of indigenous peoples, essential for the preservation of cultural and natural heritage.

Significant efforts are still needed to enhance and preserve African heritage, which remains largely under-represented on the List. UNESCO also renewed its call for unflagging rigour, integrity and responsibility in the examination of nominations so as to ensure the credibility of the World Heritage Convention and its future standing.

The new natural sites are:

Migratory Bird Sanctuaries along the Coast of Yellow Sea-Bohai Gulf of China (Phase I) (China)

French Austral Lands and Seas (France)

Vatnajökull National Park – dynamic nature of fire and ice (Iceland)

Hyrcanian Forests (Islamic Republic of Iran)

Mixed site:

Paraty and Ilha Grande – Culture and Biodiversity (Brazil)

Cultural sites:

Budj Bim Cultural Landscape (Australia)

Historic Centre of Sheki with the Khan’s Palace (Azerbaijan)

Dilmun Burial Mounds (Bahrain)

Ancient ferrous Metallurgy Sites of Burkina Faso (Burkina Faso)

Writing-on-Stone / Áísínai’pi (Canada)

Archaeological Ruins of Liangzhu City (China)

Landscape for Breeding and Training of Ceremonial Carriage Horses at Kladruby nad Labem (Czechia)

Erzgebirge/Krušnohoří Mining Region (Czechia, Germany)

Water Management System of Augsburg (Germany)

Jaipur City, Rajasthan (India)

Ombilin Coal Mining Heritage of Sawahlunto (Indonesia)

Babylon (Iraq)

Le Colline del Prosecco di Conegliano e Valdobbiadene (Italy)

Mozu-Furuichi Kofun Group: Mounded Tombs of Ancient Japan (Japan)

Bagan (Myanmar)

Megalithic Jar Sites in Xiengkhuang – Plain of Jars (Lao People’s Democratic Republic)

Krzemionki Prehistoric Striped Flint Mining Region (Poland)

Sanctuary of Bom Jesus do Monte in Braga (Portugal)

Royal Building of Mafra – Palace, Basilica, Convent, Cerco Garden and Hunting Park (Tapada) (Portugal)

Seowon, Korean Neo-Confucian Academies (Republic of Korea)

Churches of the Pskov School of Architecture (Russian Federation)

Risco Caido and the Sacred Mountains of Gran Canaria Cultural Landscape (Spain)

Jodrell Bank Observatory (United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland)

The 20th-Century Architecture of Frank Lloyd Wright (United States of America)

For the Silo/UNESCO, Lucía Iglesias Kuntz.

Featured image: Description: Shield-bearing warrior and the distant Sweetgrass Hills
Date: 01/06/2017 
Author: Alberta Parks
Copyright: © Alberta Parks

Earth

Evaluation Of Practices Is Key For Lyme Disease Strategy

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Another year has ticked by and Lyme disease remains a problem across much of North America.

Over the years I have met with so many people – farmers, outdoor activists, friends, neighbours – who have come down with Lyme – so many, often young people, afflicted in the prime of their life.

Time and time again I am told our health care system seems unaware and unprepared to deal with what remains essentially a new and emerging infectious disease – a disease that mimics other ailments and all too often has flummoxed those not expert in tropical diseases or public health.

Compounding the problem is the confusing and somewhat dubious advice prevalent on social media.

We have government for a reason and to that end in 2015, I introduced legislation – a Private Member’s Bill – to mandate the Ontario Minister of Health to develop ‘A Provincial Framework and Action Plan Concerning Emerging Vector-Borne Diseases,’ to quote the title of the bill.

The bill passed second reading with all-party support and became the law of the land.

Given my previous background in both research and health, I felt bound to take a purely objective evidence and science-based approach to creating this legislation. I called for a provincial framework and an action plan through our Ministry of Health – a plan that, primarily, encompasses surveillance, education materials and guidelines – guidelines for prevention, identification, diagnosis, treatment and management, including emergency preparedness – and calls for the sharing of best practices provincially and across our country. It instructs the Minister of Health to bolster research collaboration among all concerned, particularly those in the public.

One of my goals is to facilitate an efficient, more effective allocation; essentially, of what I consider scarce health resources. Going back to prevention, it is much more cost-effective to prevent than to treat. We know that the worldwide cost of SARS, for example, was $40 billion, and the bill in Canada came in at $2 billion, so prevention is key. Prevention is certainly key when there is no vaccine or little in the way of effective treatment. When you are dealing with a particular affliction like Lyme, prevention is the only option.

A committee was struck because of my legislation, and three years after my bill passed, released recommendations in April 2018.

Their advice included a call for reviews of current tick surveillance activities; of current testing methodologies for diagnosing Lyme disease and other tick-borne illnesses; and a review of current clinical practice guidelines focussing on assessment, prevention and treatment.

The committee also, as in my legislation, calls for research, education and public awareness. It calls for improved communications to regulated health professionals regarding standards of practice for diagnosis and treatment, as well as, the provision of professional education, and a coordinated care model for patients at all stages of these diseases.

The spread of Lyme disease in Ontario is an important issue for the Ministry of Health.

Health Quality Ontario (HQO), in partnership with Public Health Ontario (PHO) and in collaboration with clinical experts, patients and caregivers across the province has developed a clinical guidance document for early-localized Lyme disease. HQO continues to review the evidence and has committed to making any necessary changes to the guidance document as the evidence warrants.

In my view, the Ministry of Health is making progress.

For the Silo, Toby Barrett -MPP for Haldimand-Norfolk.

Earth

Record Number Of Clean Beach Blue Flags Now Flying

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Pinterest
More Canadian beaches and
marinas awarded Blue Flags

2018 is another record year for Canada’s waterfronts, 27 beaches and nine marinas have been awarded a coveted Blue Flag, including our very first coastal flag at beautiful Aboiteau Beach, NB. The Blue Flag is the internationally recognized symbol of environmental excellence for beaches and marinas. Read on to find the best waterside spots to spend your Victoria Day weekend.
Time for
the Government
to step up on
plastic waste		 Only 11 per cent of Canada’s plastic waste is recycled.  Let that sink in for a minute.  This problem goes way beyond individual changes, we need the Federal Government to step up and take meaningful action before it’s too late. Sign the petition now to ask for a plastic free environment.
Banned chemicals found in products that babies chew, play and nap on A new study reveals that 86 per cent of tested products sold in Canada contain toxic chemicals, some of which are banned. Baby bibs, blankets and more were found to contain water and stain resistant chemicals linked to hormone disruption, and even cancer. Find out how you can take action.
Tell Canada that all high-carbon projects need an impact assessment What the frack?! The Canadian government is proposing to exempt fracking and in situ tar sands from the new federal environmental review process. We have until June 1st to fix this – send a letter now to tell the government that ALL high-carbon projects should get an impact assessment.
Earth

Canada Passes Bill Ending Captivity Of Whales & Dolphins

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OTTAWA, CANADA (June, 2019) – In Defense of Animals applauds Canada’s passing of Bill S-203, the Ending the Captivity of Whales and Dolphins Act, which passed through the House of Commons in Ottawa, Canada on Monday, June 10, 2019.

First introduced by Senator Wilfrid Moore in 2015, the legislation will officially make it illegal to hold any cetacean in captivity, for reasons other than rehabilitation and scientific research. Breeding or trading reproductive materials of whales and dolphins will also be prohibited. Any breach of this ban carries fines of up to $200,000.

“We applaud Canada for passing this progressive legislation, since whales and dolphins suffer greatly in captivity, no matter the size of the tank,” said Marilyn Kroplick M.D., President of In Defense of Animals. “The overwhelming support for this ban demonstrates how many Canadians are opposed to the inherent cruelty of keeping and breeding cetaceans.”

Two facilities currently hold cetaceans captive within Canada.

Vancouver Aquarium holds one dolphin captive. The ‘beluga breeding mill’ was shamed in #9th place on In Defense of Animals’ Ten Worst Tanks list, and faced significant public pressure regarding its cruel activities from many concerned citizens including world-famous Dr. Jane Goodall and thousands of In Defense of Animals supporters. The Vancouver Parks Board passed a captive cetacean ban in 2017, prompting the Aquarium to announce its plans to phase out its cetacean exhibit.

https://www.facebook.com/LeParadisDeLimage/videos/365798150957404/

Marineland in Ontario is placed as #2 Worst Tank and continues to hold captive more than 50 belugas, five bottlenose dolphins, and Canada’s last captive orca. All of these animals will be grandfathered in, so the passing of the Ending the Captivity of Whale and Dolphin Act will not directly impact them. However, Marineland will be required to halt all captive breeding at its facility, ultimately putting an end to the cetacean captivity industry throughout Canada.

Over 10,000 members of In Defense of Animals contacted Canadian decision-makers to support this historic bill, demonstrating significant public support for this important animal protection legislation.

Keeping dolphins and whales in captivity, forcing them to perform degrading tricks and being placed on perpetual display, is archaic and not in line with scientific discoveries about their significant cognitive and emotional sophistication.

The time has come for the unethical captive animal industry to dissolve–and Canada has taken steps to ensure this will happen. We urge Marineland to abide by the spirit of the Ending the Captivity of Whales and Dolphins Act, and the wishes of the Canadian people who stand by this landmark legislation, and release the dolphins and whales it holds captive to seaside sanctuaries.
For the Silo, Laura Bridgeman/IDA In Defense of Animals.

Travel

Rising Cost Of European Airline Snacks And Drinks

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German budget carrier Eurowings will now charge economy passengers for snacks and drinks on board its flights, the travel platform fromAtoB conducted research into the costs of food and drinks on different airlines.

• Ryanair charges more than other airlines for soft drinks and chocolate

• Ryanair and EasyJet menus relatively expensive

• German airlines offer the cheapest beer and best overall value for money

• Eurowings joins the majority of low-cost airlines, which now charge for snacks and beverages

Berlin, June 2019. None of us are keen to fork out for snacks and drinks on budget airlines, but since we are forced to dispose of liquids before going through security, we are often left with no choice. Travel platform fromAtoB compared the current prices for drinks and snacks in ten European low-cost airlines to see which are the worst offenders.

Water is often the first thing passengers need, and the price of this basic necessity can vary widely. EasyJet, TUIfly, and Wizzair all charge €2.50 for a 500ml bottle of water, while Ryanair and Pegasus charge €3. [One euro at time of publishing = $1.50 Canadian dollar]

Soft drinks also cost anywhere between €2.50 and €3 for varying sizes. The price per litre varies significantly between airlines. While TUIfly charges €6, Ryanair and Eurowings ask for €10. 

German airlines offer the cheapest beer

As is fitting for a country known for its beer, flights to and from Germany offer the best value, with a 330ml can costing just €3 with Eurowings and TUIfly. EasyJet makes passengers dig a little deeper into their pockets, charging twice as much, while a beer on a Ryanair flight will set passengers back €5.50.

Food for thought

The cost of a sandwich also varies significantly. The East European carrier Wizzair offers the cheapest options for just €4, while Eurowings passengers can expect to pay €5 for a chicken roll. Both Norwegian and Spanish airline Vueling charge €6.50 for a club sandwich.

TUIfly: best value overall

Almost all airlines offer a combined menu that often includes a sandwich, drink, and snack. A Wizzair meal deal costs between €6 and €8.50, while a meal alone with Norwegian costs €8.

TUIfly offers the best overall value for money, with all items on the menu totalling €35.84, compared the Norwegian menu which totals €52.09, and Easyjet at €50.         

The full data can be seen here.  

Comparing costs of European airline snacks and drinks

For the Silo, Carmen Cracknell.

Supplemental- The 10 Best US Airlines Ranked by Free Snacks https://mashable.com/article/best-airline-free-snacks/

Earth

Texas NRCS Accepting Conservation Applications From Rice Producers

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TEMPLE, Texas – Rice producers wanting to enhance current conservation efforts are encouraged to apply for a special Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP) sign-up.  Led by the USA Rice-Ducks Unlimited Rice Stewardship Partnership, the Gulf Coast Water and Wetlands Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP) and the Lower Colorado River Authority (LCRA), the RCPP provide an opportunity to enhance conservation on rice lands in 12 Texas counties. Applications for RCPP-CSP are accepted on a continuous basis, but to be considered for this funding period applications must be received by June 28, 2019.

The special sign-ups assists landowners and rice producers who voluntarily implement conservation and management practices that aim to provide waterfowl habitat on rice production lands.  Nutrient management and integrated pest management (IPM) to address water quality concerns are also a priority.  Although enhancements are limited, irrigation efficiencies are also a focus.   

“NRCS is pleased to partner with USA Rice and Ducks Unlimited and others in these RCPP efforts.  said State Conservationist Salvador Salinas. “RCPP-CSP provides an opportunity for rice producers to build their businesses while implementing conservation practices that help ensure the sustainability of their operations and improve the environment for Texas’ citizens.”

These special RCPP CSP sign-ups are targeted for rice production acreage in Brazoria, Calhoun, Chambers, Colorado, Fort Bend, Jackson, Jefferson, Lavaca, Liberty, Matagorda, Waller and Wharton counties. These projects will provide a special CSP allotment of approximately 110,000 acres in 2019 to Texas rice growers, 80,000 acres under Gulf Coast Water and Wildlife RCPP and 30,000 acres under the LCRA RCPP respectively.

“NRCS has updated the program to help producers better evaluate their conservation options and the benefits to their operations and natural resources,” said Rice Stewardship Coordinator Kyle Soileau. “Partnership staff can help producers see up front why they are or are not meeting stewardship thresholds and allow them to pick practices and enhancements that work for their conservation objectives. These tools also enable producers to see potential payment scenarios for conservation early in the process.”

For additional information producers interested in CSP or other conservation planning, technical and financial assistance can contact their local USDA service center or visit www.tx.nrcs.usda.gov.

Earth

The Consolidation Of North American Food

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Adam Jacob sent in this tell-all graphic that is pretty shocking. If these statistics are true then ‘it’s clear the small food producer is an endangered species. Unless of course, they start supplying the big chain corporate grocery store chains. And that will likely spell the end of family farm gate-retail…and that will spell the end of the family farm. It is so important to support local farm to table initiatives and preserve food that is not only grown for profit, but grown for quality and healthy consumption.

To learn more about the consolidation of (North) American food and the implications for Ontarians, visit Silo Direct Link to Frugaldad.com

 

Travel

The Many Cultural Charms Of Buenos Aires Argentina

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Obelisk in Buenos Aires
George at the obelisk…

Feel Cooler Than You Really Are. If you want to learn to dance the tango the place to be is Buenos Aires, Argentina. This is a city that expresses its passion and national pride through their music, soccer, dancing, horses, and writing earning it the title of “City of Cool”.

Buenos Aires, (English meaning Fair Winds) Argentina.
With a population of 2.7 million people this capital city of Argentina is a place oozing with charm and things to do. From the moment you begin wandering downtown streets you know it’s going to be interesting. It’s a place to be cool even if you aren’t. Okay, let’s make it clear, I’m not cool, but for some unknown reason I started to feel this way when I mingled with the Argentineans. They spoke, what sounded like to me, an exotic language (Castilian Spanish), and looked and dressed like they were right out of the pages of Vogue magazine. It’s a city that never sleeps, populated by residents obsessed with fashion and image. Slim is beautiful is an established and largely uncontested fact.

Curvy architecture emphasizes the ‘tango’ speed and ‘coffee’ streamlining of Buenos Aires culture

Architecture
The downtown architecture is quite different from the rest of Latin America. It is strongly influenced by European styles with more than the half of the city buildings being French style. Countless museums, historical buildings, shopping centres, and hotels are yours to discover. And if you do get the urge to learn to tango there are plenty of tango-dancing schools (known as academias) throughout the city.

Bueons Aires is also known as a “city of buildings”

The Tango
Tango music was born in the suburbs, notably in the brothels of poorer suburbs. Its raw sensual dance moves were not seen as respectable until adopted by the Parisian high society in the 1920’s and then all over the world. There are loads of places with free tango shows in restaurant-bars such as Gitanos, where you can also try the national drink. I found it more like herbal tea than anything and its drunk out of a pot-like container through a metal straw. Even though it was foul-tasting, Argentineans say, it’s more addictive than coffee. To each their own.

Walking and Safety
When you walk in any largely populated area don’t be silly and carry an expensive camera slung over your shoulder and don’t ever wear an expensive watch that sets you apart from the crowd. It’s like saying rob-me, rob-me. Use common senses; err on the side of caution. I hid my camera in a plastic shopping bag. Always cross street at crosswalk. I’ll say it one more time to be sure it sinks in…Always walk at crosswalks and don’t begin until all vehicles have come to a stop.

Streets are busy but have marked crosswalks and are well laid out

Recoleta Cemetery
Don’t pass up the chance to visit to the Recoleta Cemetery established in 1822. It’s the final resting place for Argentina’s wealthiest and most famous families and people. The mausoleums are fairly small, befitting the size of the cemetery in an urban setting, and it’s common for many members, and generations even, of the same family occupying one mausoleum. One grave that I did seek out was that of Eva Peron who was the wife of Juan Peron, 3 time president of Argentina. Both are idolized for their efforts to eliminate poverty and to bring dignity to the labour movement. Because of this they were despised by the oligarchy of Argentina’s wealthy and powerful. I found it strange and a bit sad that her neighbours in death are those that despised her in life. Her husband is buried in another cemetery in the city.

Mausoleum at the Recoleta Cemetery

Art and Craft Museums
These museums are all the rage here, with the top attraction being the Malba, which is dedicated to Latin American modern art, the Museo National de Bellas Artes (National Museum of Fine Arts) and Recoleta’s Cultural Centre.  You’ll find the general atmosphere in most of these places is more snooty than sincere. If art and crafts is not your thing, you’ll want to bypass all of these places and scout out somewhere to eat or sit on the grass in Plaza Francia. It’s easy to while away a few hours people-watching. I did both.

Where ever you travel, remember to take time to meet the local people. You will learn much about the culture of a place by watching and talking with citizenry.

The Obelisk
Another must see is to join the gaggle of tourists (and pigeons) that flock to the Plaza de Mayo. This is the site for some of the country’s most important historical occasions, including the revolution in 1810 which led Argentina gaining independence from Spain .If your legs are willing, take a stroll along Avenida Corrientes. When you get to the junction with Avenida 9 de Julio, which claims to be the world’s widest road where you can’t miss the famous Obelisk monument. For goodness’ sake use the pedestrian crossing if you don’t want to die! It’s the cities icon and the place the very spot where the Argentina flag was raised for the first time.       For the Silo, George Bailey.