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Army selects 3-D printed unmanned aircraft systems concept for future experiment - United States Army (press release)
http://www.army.mil/article/162445/Army_selects_3_D_printed_unmanned_aircraft_systems_concept_for_future_experiment/
Clean Sky signs Memorandum of Understanding with Swedish Regions
http://www.cleansky.eu/content/news/clean-sky-signs-memorandum-understanding-swedish-regions
Make in India: Sukhoi hopes to sign deal with Tata to manufacture airplane parts for Superjet - The Economic Times on Mobile
http://m.economictimes.com/industry/transportation/airlines-/-aviation/make-in-india-sukhoi-hopes-to-sign-deal-with-tata-to-manufacture-airplane-parts-for-superjet/articleshow/51025202.cms
Comparison of top guns: US F-16 jets vs Sukhoi 30MKI - Economic Times
http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/slideshows/nation-world/comparison-of-top-guns-us-f-16-jets-vs-sukhoi-30mki/slideshow/51024991.cms
CubeSats Moving Beyond Low Earth Orbit
http://demo2.aviationweek.com/space/cubesats-moving-beyond-low-earth-orbit
GAO Upholds Northrop Grumman Bomber Contract Over Protests - ABC News [feedly]
GAO Upholds Northrop Grumman Bomber Contract Over Protests
Federal auditors have rejected a protest by Boeing and Lockheed Martin and upheld an Air Force decision to award a lucrative new bomber contract to Northrop Grumman Corp. The Government Accountability Office, a nonpartisan congressional agency that ...
GAO Denies Boeing's Protest of Bomber Contract; Northrop Gets Back to WorkDefenseNews.com
US agency rejects Boeing protest of Northrop bomber contractReuters
Northrop Bomber Award Upheld After Lockheed-Boeing ProtestBloomberg
The Seattle Times -International Business Times -Washington Business Journal (blog)
los 117 artículos informativos »
Japan man guilty of flying drone to prime minister's office [feedly]
Japan man guilty of flying drone to prime minister's office
http://www.spacewar.com/reports/Japan_man_guilty_of_flying_drone_to_prime_ministers_office_999.html
A court on Tuesday convicted a Japanese man of landing a drone containing a bottle of radioactive sand from Fukushima on the roof of Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's office. The Tokyo District Court handed Yasuo Yamamoto, 41, a two-year jail term, suspended for four years, for forcibly obstructing the operation of Abe's office. Though convicted, the sentence means Yamamoto will avoid prison t
Russia, Iran ready to 'reinforce' military cooperation [feedly]
Russia, Iran ready to 'reinforce' military cooperation
http://www.spacewar.com/reports/Russia_Iran_ready_to_reinforce_military_cooperation_999.html
-- via my feedly.com reader
Boeing, Okay Airways Announce Commitment for 12 737s [feedly]
Boeing, Okay Airways Announce Commitment for 12 737s
http://boeing.mediaroom.com/2016-02-16-Boeing-Okay-Airways-Announce-Commitment-for-12-737s
Mitsubishi Signs First MRJ Lease
Aerolease Aviation signs LOI with Mitsubishi Aircraft for purchase of up to 20 MRJ
- Launch lessor in MRJ program -
Singapore, February 16, 2016 –
Mitsubishi Aircraft Corporation and Aerolease Aviation, LLC, an aircraft leasing company based in the United States, announced today that they have signed a Letter of Intent (LOI) for an order of ten firm MRJ90 aircraft with an option to an additional ten MRJ90 aircraft. Based on this LOI, both companies will move forward to conclude a definitive agreement in the near future. The LOI testifies to the high regard in which Aerolease holds the asset value of the Mitsubishi Regional Jet (MRJ), the next-generation regional jet. Aerolease is the launch lessor in MRJ program to select the MRJ. Deliveries to Aerolease are scheduled to commence in 2018.
Aerolease Aviation, LLC is an aircraft leasing company based in Miami, Florida. With the first order of brand new aircraft, the company aims to make a leap forward by exploring a new market of the MRJ as a partner. Jep Thornton, Partner, Aerolease Aviation is an aviation expert, who has been in aircraft leasing and trading business for more than 30 years and is the Immediate Past- President of the International Society of Transport Aircraft Trading (ISTAT), an organization that represents approximately 4,000 members worldwide who are involved in leasing, trading and financing aircraft.
Thornton said, "The accumulated experiences in aircraft manufacturing and strong financial background of the Mitsubishi group are great value to us. Moreover, we are extremely impressed with the MRJ's state-of-the-art aerodynamic design, Pratt & Whitney's game-changing GTF engine and the state of the art avionics suite from Rockwell Collins, which will make the MRJ the superior aircraft to its competitors. These factors encouraged us to move forward to select the MRJ for our portfolio. Aerolease is committed to cooperate with Mitsubishi Aircraft as an MRJ partner to promote MRJ in regional jet market and to expand its global customer base."
"This launch lessor order from Aerolease has a significant importance for the MRJ program," said Hiromichi Morimoto, President, Mitsubishi Aircraft Corporation. "We recognize the significantly important role which aircraft lessors have been playing in the aviation industry. We are proud to add a lessor partner to our order book at this very early stage of the MRJ program. We firmly believe that the asset value of the MRJ has been recognized in the aircraft finance market. This LOI will not only bring a positive impact on the lessor community, but will also contribute to expanding our airline customer base."
Thus far, 407 MRJ aircraft are on order and 20 will be added to its order book when Mitsubishi Aircraft signs a definitive agreement with Aerolease Aviation. The total of 427 MRJ aircraft include 233 firm orders with 170 options and 24 purchase rights.
Mitsubishi Aircraft anticipates demand of about 5,000 aircraft in the regional jet market over the next twenty years. Demand for regional aircraft is expected to increase for both airlines and leasing companies. This LOI with Aerolease enables the company to accelerate sales efforts in the regional jet market. Mitsubishi Aircraft remains firmly committed to the success of the MRJ program as well as the growth of Japan's aviation industry.
About Aerolease Aviation, LLC
Founded in 1986, Aerolease Aviation, LLC is a privately owned aircraft leasing company headquartered in Miami, Florida in the United States. Aerolease has been an active market maker in the conversion and leasing of used aircraft. Current portfolio consists of over 40 owned or managed Boeing B757 aircraft leased globally.
About MRJ
Mitsubishi Regional Jet is a family of 70~90-seat next-generation aircraft featuring the Pratt & Whitney's revolutionary PurePower® engine and state-of-the-art aerodynamics to drastically reduce fuel consumption, noise, and emissions, while offering top-class operational benefits, an outstanding cabin designed for heightened passenger flying comfort with large overhead bins. The MRJ carried out the first flight on November 11, 2015.
Publicado por JM en 12:12 , 0 comentarios
Cirrus Aircraft Unveils Enhanced 2016 SR Series
Duluth, Minn. (16 February 2016) – Cirrus Aircraft today announced enhanced connectivity, convenience, design and luxury in the new 2016 SR series aircraft, delivering an experience on par with luxury automobiles to both pilot and passengers. For 2016, all SR models are enhanced to heighten customer engagement, blending lifestyle comforts with wireless connectivity and personalization options while incorporating sophisticated new exterior designs and premium interior materials.
"Cirrus Aircraft is proud to produce the best-selling airplane in its segment for the thirteenth consecutive year, and for 2016 we've raised the bar again," said Todd Simmons, Cirrus Aircraft President of Customer Experience. "The reason for our success is simple: We never stop listening to our owners and operators, we never stop innovating and we never cease to provide the highest quality customer experience – whether on the ground or in flight. In 2016 we continue to refine the aircraft to enhance both pilot and passenger comfort and to leave an unmistakable impression on the tarmac, connecting customers to their aircraft in new and distinctive ways. The 2016 SR series is the most sophisticated aircraft we've ever produced – period."
Every 2016 Cirrus is delivered with a new Bluetooth® audio panel that allows for phone calls and music to be wirelessly connected and directed to any occupant in the cabin. Additionally, Cirrus is the first piston aircraft to incorporate Garmin Flight Stream in the cockpit, enabling wireless connectivity between mobile devices and the Cirrus Perspective® by Garmin® avionics flight deck as part of the new Digital Advantage Package. Pilots can now flight plan at home or at work, transfer flight plans to and from the avionics seamlessly, easily change route mid-flight, display a new and wide array of flight information including pitch, bank and GPS data, plus control the SiriusXM® radio – all via a mobile device.
For 2016, new aesthetics and convenience features amplify dedication to design. New pilot and co-pilot seats come equipped with a stow pocket for mobile devices to enable easy use during flight and new magnetic clasp side straps both secure headsets when not in use and reduce clutter in the cockpit. A thoughtful new overall seat design keeps pilots and passengers more comfortable on longer flights. Premium European leather, on par with the finest luxury automobiles, completes the look and feel of the interior.
New 2016 exteriors incorporate stunning and vibrant colors and designs. Cirrus partnered exclusively with Sherwin-Williams to expand exterior paint options and colors, offering three premium design collections: Carbon, Platinum and the new Rhodium option. Each aesthetic design suite caters to a different style, whether the colors sought by the customer are bright and bold like Solar Yellow or subtle and sophisticated like Sedona Red. The ability to offer a wider selection of rich and striking colors has opened the door for an array of aircraft design options, available for customers to experiment with through Cirrus' newly-added website color configurator. Taken altogether, these new options set the stage for those discerning customers who choose to pursue even more individualization through Cirrus Aircraft's exclusive Xi® personalization program – making their aircraft one of one.
A highlight of the 2016 SR line, a remote keyless entry system allows customers to easily lock and unlock both pilot and passenger doors. To accommodate for low-light situations, exterior convenience lighting illuminating both the steps and cabin were added, making for safer pre-flight and aircraft entry. A baggage compartment light was also added, activated simply by opening the baggage door.
For 2016, Cirrus Aircraft again leads the way in general aviation by bringing even more luxury and convenience features to the world's best selling high-performance piston aircraft.
Learn more about the enhanced 2016 Cirrus aircraft at cirrusaircraft.com.
Russian Institute TsAGI conducts tests of a "convert-o-plane" type unmanned aircraft
TsAGI specialists completed another cycle of work on an unmanned aircraft of the "convert-o-plane" type.
This advanced aircraft combines the advantages of a helicopter (the capability of vertical takeoff and landing) and an aircraft (speed, flying distance and endurance). It is designed to monitor terrestrial issues and solve transportation tasks. This unmanned aircraft is capable of being stationed at unequipped small-area bases, and in the future can be used in different fields.
The main feature of this type of aircraft is a straight wing of moderate aspect ratio. It is composed of thick aerofoils and was designed by Oleg Kudryavtsev, a junior researcher of TsAGI's Department of aerodynamics of aircraft and missiles, and Eugene Kovalenko, a Chief Designer of INNOTECH JSC.
Experiments to date show that, in general, the aerodynamic design is characterized by a high level of aerodynamic cleanness, which was expected for aircraft of this class. Aleksandr Kornushenko, a branch head in TsAGI's Department of aerodynamics of aircraft and missiles, and a supervisor of projects on the aerodynamics of unmanned aircraft, said: "This platform became possible through an integrated approach to the wing design and the overall aircraft configuration, our main criteria. There is still much to do in the field of dynamics, stability and controllability, structural strength and aeroelasticity."
In 2016 TsAGI will continue testing unmanned aircraft at its experimental facilities. The research will allow scientists to obtain critical data on aerodynamic characteristics, to test numerical methods, and to identify the peculiarities of construction flows in a wide range of angles of attack in aircraft and helicopter modes.
More info and pics: http://tsagi.com/pressroom/news/2489/
SINGAPORE: Comac works to optimise ARJ21 [feedly]
SINGAPORE: Comac works to optimise ARJ21
http://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/singapore-comac-works-to-optimise-arj21-422014/
SINGAPORE: Bombardier to take Q400 up to 90 seats [feedly]
SINGAPORE: Bombardier to take Q400 up to 90 seats
http://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/singapore-bombardier-to-take-q400-up-to-90-seats-422050/
US Army Looking Skyward on Rotorcraft FVL Project | Poles & Czechs to Collaborate on APCs | Lockheed Expecting Uptick in Orders From Asia Pacific [feedly]
Army Looking Skyward on Rotorcraft FVL Project | Poles & Czechs to Collaborate on APCs | Lockheed Expecting Uptick in Orders From Asia Pacific
http://www.defenseindustrydaily.com/army-looking-skyward-on-rotorcraft-fvl-project-poles-czechs-to-collaborate-on-apcs-lockheed-expecting-uptick-in-orders-from-asia-pacific-032813/
Mitsubishi X-2 Shinshin (ATD-X) Advanced Technology Demonstrator [feedly]
Mitsubishi X-2 Shinshin (ATD-X) Advanced Technology Demonstrator
http://www.airforce-technology.com/projects/mitsubishi-x-2-shinshin-atd-x-advanced-technology-demonstrator/
Mitsubishi X-2 Shinshin, also known as ATD-X (Advanced Technology Demonstrator-X), is a stealth experimental technology demonstrator and research prototype designed to demonstrate technologies required for Japanese indigenous fifth-generation fighter…
Proton-M Vehicle To Support ExoMars 2016 Mission Delivered To Baikonur [feedly]
Proton-M Vehicle To Support ExoMars 2016 Mission Delivered To Baikonur
http://www.aero-news.net/index.cfm?do=main.textpost&id=e06606b3-1900-45a9-8515-ef89101f91d9
Will humanoid robots build tomorrow's aircraft? [feedly]
Robots may build cars by the millions, but they still don't have much to do with assembling airliners – a task where human workers are still essential. To give the organics a helping manipulator, the Joint Robotics Laboratory (JRL) and Airbus Group have embarked on a four-year joint research project to develop humanoid robots that can work on aircraft assembly lines and free workers from tedious and hazardous jobs.
.. Continue Reading Will humanoid robots build tomorrow's aircraft?
Singapore Air Show – Day One
Tim Robinson and Bill Read report from the first trade day at the 2016 Singapore Air Show on 16 February.
The first official trade day saw cooler temperatures promised than the previous day, but it soon heated up out on the tarmac as visitors flooded outside to check out the static line or watch the flying display. However, while the day was extremely busy with a number of press conferences and almost every stand packed with official delegations, VIPs and top brass, the end of the day taxi wait saw some people fuming after extended queuing of more than an hour. The decision by show organisers to ban pre-booked taxis and Uber cars was not, it seems a popular one.
Lets take a look at some of the news highlights. - See more at:
http://www.aerosociety.com/News/Insight-Blog/4063/Singapore-Air-Show-Day-One#sthash.srPyG63y.dpuf
Publicado por JM en 8:09 , 0 comentarios
▼ feb 17 (19)
Army selects 3-D printed unmanned aircraft systems...
Clean Sky signs Memorandum of Understanding with S...
Make in India: Sukhoi hopes to sign deal with Tata...
Comparison of top guns: US F-16 jets vs Sukhoi 30M...
GAO Upholds Northrop Grumman Bomber Contract Over ...
Japan man guilty of flying drone to prime minister...
Russia, Iran ready to 'reinforce' military coopera...
Boeing, Okay Airways Announce Commitment for 12 73...
Russian Institute TsAGI conducts tests of a "conve...
SINGAPORE: Bombardier to take Q400 up to 90 seats ...
US Army Looking Skyward on Rotorcraft FVL Project ...
Mitsubishi X-2 Shinshin (ATD-X) Advanced Technolog...
Proton-M Vehicle To Support ExoMars 2016 Mission D...
Will humanoid robots build tomorrow's aircraft? [f...


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Harvard police investigating McDonald's robbery
By NORTHWEST HERALD
HARVARD – The Harvard Police Department is investigating a robbery at the McDonald's following an incident where a man threatened an employee with a hammer and demanded cash.
Around 1 a.m. Tuesday, Harvard police responded to the 24-hour McDonald's at 352 S. Division St. to a report of a robbery. An initial investigation indicates a man walked in brandishing a hammer and demanded money, according to the Harvard Police Department.
The employee gave the man cash — less than $500, police said. The man then hit the counter with the hammer, hard enough to damage the counter and left on foot. No one is currently in custody and the incident is under investigation, police said.
Officials declined to comment on whether the store had security footage of the incident.
Police describe the suspect at a 25-year-old man around 6 feet tall with a thin build, wearing a blue and white baseball cap, blue shirt and khaki shorts.
Company plans to make smartphones at former Motorola campus in Harvard
Timeline of Motorola campus in Harvard
Fire breaks out in Harvard's Starline Factory
Harvard Retirement Home to close after 34 years in business

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


Criminalize Conservatism: What Happens When You Ask For A Conservative To Lead You?
What Happens When You Ask For A Conservative To Lead You?
"Alabama GOP is getting what it asked for."
"They ran on the disingenuous rhetoric of no taxes and now they're getting exactly what they asked for. They refuse to talk about the 58% of companies that don't pay Alabama taxes, they won't talk about property or land use taxes, and they are still peddling the delusion that there's still lots and lots to cut. Hmmm... State Troopers office? Forensics Lab? Maybe, all those champions of largesse at the DMV?
"It turns out that the taxes they hate so much are the ones that pay for basic public services, which, by the way, is what government is supposed to provide because of that whole social contract thing. They asked for this and now they can try to figure out a way to run government without funding.
"The Republicans, that used to be Democrats until the Democrats quit being Dixiecrats, are now demonizing and blaming the actual Democrats while advocating Democratic policies and ideas because they suddenly discovered that it costs money to run a government which apparently is not a plank in the GOP platform. It's like Alabama conservatives have some sort of political multiple personality disorder..."
Naturally, your Conservative politician is going to be "pro-life..."
...and they get other things mixed up too..
...especially the ones who claim that God speaks to them!
And even more of them - if you really think that Conservative women are really "ladies."
...because that's just the way they are.
The basis of Conservative governance is simple: Lower taxes to zero for the rich and stop or eliminate any and all regulations that protect the consumer from fraud and corporate greed.
Conservatism claims to be God's Party and will lie and steal and kill to get what they want while pretending to be something else - like "legitimate businessmen."
Criminal cartels do this too, and to eliminate organized crime, we make their nefarious activities against the law.


The concept of 'Farmer Producer Organizations, (FPO)' consists of collectivization of Producers especially small and marginal farmers so as to form an effective alliance to collectively address many challenges of agriculture such as improved access to investment, technology, inputs and markets. Department of Agriculture and Cooperation under Ministry of Agriculture, Govt. of India has identified 'Farmer Producer Organizations 'registered under the special provisions of the Companies Act, 1956 as the most appropriate Institutional form around which the mobilization of farmers is to be made for building their capacity to collectively leverage their production and marketing strength. The Department of Agriculture and Cooperation (MoA) has setup 'Small Farmers Agribusiness Consortium' (SFAC), a society under DAC, as designated Agency to act as a single window for Technical support, Training needs, Research and Knowledge management and to create linkages to investment, Technology and Markets. SFAC provides all round support to State Governments FPOs and other entities engaged in promotion and development of FPOs.
The Centre for Advance Research And Development, (CARD), has been actively involved with around fifty thousand farming households on farming system based livelihoods since a decade and has notable presence in around ten districts of Madhya Pradesh and three districts of Chhattisgarh. CARD was working with the common interest groups/ federations of the farmers till 2014, when CARD consciously decided to approach SFAC for support and was sanctioned four FPOs; 2 each in Mandla and Dhar districts. This was the turning movement for CARD and we started the FPO formation process across all locations. We have already formed two FPOs in Ghughri and Anjania blocks of Mandla District namely 'Bal Ganga Farmer Producer Company Ltd.' At Ghughri and ' Sankta Mukta Kissan Producer Company Ltd.' At Anjania. Both of these Companies have been incorporated under the Companies Act with the Registrar of Companies, Gwalior on 30th March 2015 and 13 April, 2015 respectively. The two companies to be constituted under SFAC in Western Region are in the process of their respective incorporation and expected to attain the same, shortly.
The Organization further joined hands with 'Mahila Kissan Sashktikaran Programme (MKSP) and helped in constituting two more Companies namely 'Mahishmati farmer Producer Company Limited at Village Silgi and 'Mahima Farmer Producer Company Ltd.' At village Baniyatara, Post Semarkhapa of Mandla. The formation of two more Companies under MKSP at village Ghughari in Mandla and one Company in Dindori is expected to get their incorporation shortly. Similarly CARD is in the process of forming 3 companies in Ujjain, one in Dewas, Agar and Jhabua each, and two additional companies in Dhar. CARD proposes to have 20 FPOs under its umbrella by 2020.


For a few years people have been saying "Do you accept donations?" At first we didn't because we were so small that we feared the effort put into setting up donations might not be worth the cost of accepting them. But we've just hit our third birthday and people seem to like what we do. So if you want mySociety to keep doing democratically useful new things, or if you'd like to show your appreciation for the work done by the amazing developers and volunteers, please drop us a few pennies.


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The Sunday Times Magazine's The paint strippers
The art-deco artist de Lempicka used 'a Parisian prostitute as her model for one of the 20th century's most sensual paintings.
Nearly 80 years on, the photographer Patrick Nicholas and the journalist Nicholas Farrell, who collaborated on this special project, needed to find the right model to flesh out their daring reinterpretation.
"We convinced a 44-year-old divorced teacher from Rimini to pose for us," says Farrell. It so happened that the woman adored the original work — though she agonised over whether to make her name public. "She had said that she did not object to being identified, but at the photo shoot she changed her mind. Worried about what people would say, she must remain anonymous." The new work has been given the title La Belle Romagnola.
Since the success of the film Calendar Girls, even the most apparently conventional women in Britain seem surprisingly swift to remove their clothes for a charitable cause. But how many members of our Women's Institutes or Townswomen's Guilds would be willing to pose for pictures like these? These photographs feature not models or actresses, but ordinary women.
Venus of the Sherds
They are all Italian, and they are all volunteers. They took their clothes off not for charity but for their love of art.
Each picture is a take on a world-famous painting, in styles ranging from pre-Raphaelite to art deco. The works of art have been re-created down to the temperamental skies of Giorgione's Sleeping Venus, or the bold daubs of a de Lempicka portrait. But they have also been ingeniously updated: Ingres' Grande Odalisque is now equipped with a telephone; and in the Giorgione mock-up, as Venus sleeps, her mountain bike can be seen in the background.
Common to each is a beautiful female central subject in a state of tasteful undress. Patrick Nicholas, the photographer, captures the allure of his subjects without resorting to gratuitous smut. He has done the classical masters proud. "Painters have often reworked the old masters," says Nicholas, "the best-known example being an updating of Raphael's La Fornarina by Manet which shocked Paris in 1863 – Le Déjeuner sur l'Herbe. It shocked most notably for its vivid colours and for the use of modern people enjoying a bizarre, by the standards of any period, picnic."
"Just as Raphael used a beautiful but ordinary woman as a model (fornarina means 'baker'), I have been able to use extraordinary, ordinary women who have ordinary jobs. Extraordinary because they were prepared to commit to what must be an unusual and unnerving experience. Few of these women are beautiful in the conventional model sense, yet they are all striking in their different roles. The casting was perhaps the most tricky part of the project."
Back in 1989, Nicholas created a postcard that was his interpretation of an Ingres painting, La Grande Odalisque. The picture was smart, beautiful and sexy. A colleague, the British journalist Nicholas Farrell — a recent biographer of Mussolini – became involved, convinced the concept had greater potential: "It was my idea to turn it into a series of weekly posters wrapped around the newspaper I write for, La Voce di Romagna. But would I be able to persuade my paper to accept it — and its readers to pose for it?"
Farrell went to Gianni Celli, the owner of La Voce di Romagna, a regional daily paper in the Romagna area of northern Italy, now part of the larger Emilia-Romagna region, which includes Bologna and Rimini. He saw the potential immediately. Full nudity was out of the question but — even so — finding the women was going to be a huge problem, especially as they were not to be paid. Money would debase the project: the women should be volunteers, committed to the idea. They also decided the women had to be Romagnola. But, if a woman could not use money as justification for taking off her clothes and having the results published in a newspaper, then why would she agree?
To find such women, Celli and Farrell ran a full-page advert in the paper, showing Nicholas's take on The Birth of Venus by Botticelli, with a friend of a friend as Venus. They soon had their volunteer. Farrell thinks this might be because they are Romagnola women. "The Romagna has always had a fiercely independent history. The Romagnoli, of both sexes, have a reputation for being great fun."
Ultimately, he believes the Italian love of beauty inspired the women. Beauty, Farrell says, is seen as an integral part of function. "An ugly chair isn't an effective chair. If something is not bella it is not simply ugly; it is also wrong."
October 1, 2014 Press
Eigenhuis & Interieur's Loft In De Lichttoren Van Eindhoven
Black Label Magazine's Van Dijken Glas
Cleo magazine, Australia: Portrait of a Lady
Madison magazine – Portrait of a Lady
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> Palestinian Solidarity
Descendants Can Pursue Challenge to Illegal Rezoning in Environmental Racism Case, Louisiana Court Rules
San Francisco 'Green' Investor Christopher James relying on decades-old, corrupt rezoning to build massive grain terminal that would threaten health and safety of Black community Watch a short video...
Descendants Project Sues Parish to Invalidate Old Corrupt Zoning Ordinance That Threatens the Health and Safety of Black Historic Community
Billionaire Investor Chris James, hailed as a green hero, is behind project seeking to make use of an old zoning ordinance shrouded in corruption that threatens the health, culture, and very...
288 Organizations Demand Biden Administration Condemn Israel's Crackdown on Human Rights Groups
October 29, 2021, Washington, D.C. ‒ A broad coalition of more than 288 U.S.-based social justice, civil rights, and human rights organizations is calling on the Biden administration to condemn the...
Center for Constitutional Rights Denounces Israeli Government's Terrorist Designation of Leading Palestinian Human Rights Organizations
Cites Weaponization of "Terrorism" as Tool of Oppressive Regimes Throughout History October 22, 2021, New York – Following the announcement that the Israeli government had designated six human rights...
Resumption of ICC Investigation Into Afghanistan, While Welcome, Should Not Exclude Groups of Victims or Crimes Within Court's Jurisdiction
September 28, 2021 – Yesterday, the ICC Prosecutor announced that he had requested to resume the investigation into international crimes in the Afghanistan situation and that he would be focusing on...
International Criminal Court Shutters Investigation Into U.S. Torture
Prosecutor Seeks to Move Forward With Investigation Against Only Taliban, Islamic State-Khorasan Province September 27, 2021—Prosecutor Karim A.A. Khan of the International Criminal Court (ICC) this...
Center for Constitutional Rights Responds to the Horrifying Situation in Afghanistan
Calls for U.S. to be held accountable and offer asylum August 16, 2021, New York – The Center for Constitutional Rights expresses its profound sorrow and concern for the people of Afghanistan, who...
Bertha Justice Institute (6) Apply Bertha Justice Institute filter
(-) Remove Palestinian Solidarity filter Palestinian Solidarity


Earth's weather and seasons. 2nd Grade Science Worksheets and Answer keys, Study Guides and Vocabulary Sets.
What is Weather? Weather is what it feels like outside right now: hot, cold, windy, wet... There are Four Seasons: Winter, Spring, Summer, Fall. Seasons always come in the same order every year. Each season brings different weather. Winter is the coldest season and summer is the warmest. Some Kinds of Bad Weather: A thunderstorm, A blizzard, A hurricane.
Changes in the Earth and Sky: Understand characteristics of weather conditions and climate.
Measure weather conditions (e.g., temperature, precipitation) (See M02-S4C4-04 and M02-S4C4-05).
Record weather conditions (e.g., temperature, precipitation).
Identify the following types of clouds: Cumulus, stratus, cirrus.
Analyze the relationship between clouds, temperature, and weather patterns.


Twirl On His Haters: Slimmy Trimmy EJ Johnson Flossin' Yams Errrrrywhere!
Every since he got snatched last year EJ Johnson has been STUNTIN on these hoes… Magic's youngest son looked to be having a ball poppin tags at Barney's and Fred Segal in Beverly Hills Tuesday.
Okay EJ we see you. Yams on fleeeeek!
The paps caught EJ again Tuesday night partying it up at The Nice Guy in West Hollywood. Think he's wearing some of his new purchases?


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About Skills for the Future
Skills for the Future is a groundbreaking secondary education programme, fostering the next generation of entrepreneurs in Europe; empowering them with the insights, skills and confidence to innovate solutions to the numerous and complex challenges ahead.
Skills for the Future is an initiative of EIT RawMaterials, EIT Food, EIT Climate, EIT Urban Mobility, and EIT Manufacturing, five Knowledge and Innovation Communities (KICs), which are part of a larger network supported by the European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT) to spur innovation and entrepreneurship to overcome some of Europe's greatest challenges. The project is executed in partnership with Junior Achievement Europe, a leader in entrepreneurial education that connects students across the continent with industry mentors.
Through challenge-based learning, Skills for the Future empowered almost 2600 students across Bulgaria, Hungary, Italy, Portugal, and Slovenia from 2019 to 2021. In each country, students are brought into the EIT ecosystem of industry, academia, and research as they focus on specific themes: urban mobility in Bulgaria, climate change in Hungary, food in Italy, manufacturing in Portugal, and raw materials in Slovenia.
Bringing together a unique combination of academic expertise, hands-on problem solving and mentorship from industry leaders, Skills for the Future offers students and their teachers a new mode of learning that centers students as the source of ingenuity and vision.
With mentorship from industry leaders, more than 1000 students across the EU take on the challenge to build a more sustainable European society. Skills for the Future is comprised of four main elements:
Idea Camps
Communication Training
EU Skills for the Future Summit
Entrepreneurship Programme
At the beginning of the academic term in each country, 100 students from approximately 20 schools gather for an intensive 24 to 48-hour innovation exercise. Student teams tackle real-world challenges set by industry leaders who then serve as mentors as students brainstorm, research and develop innovative products or services to meet the challenge.
After developing their innovations, Idea Camp teams receive expert guidance and hands-on coaching to pitch their ideas to investors and the public. With insights from academics, science journalists and successful entrepreneurs, students learn to translate complex, scientific ideas into compelling narratives.
Following the Idea Camps, the top student teams from each country gather to showcase their innovations and collaborate across cultures to develop a vision for a sustainable Europe. At the summit, students receive further training to identify their core skills and qualities and how to utilise them effectively as part of a team. Meanwhile, their teachers receive training to incorporate challenge-based learning in their classrooms.
During the remainder of the academic year, approximately 300 students in each country work in teams to create mini-companies offering products or services that solve challenges related to raw materials, food and climate change. Some students may choose to further develop innovations generated during Idea Camps, while others will innovate new products or services. Student teams are paired with industry mentors who work with the students as they develop their entrepreneurial instincts, financial literacy, business development and communications skills. At the end of the school year, student mini-companies compete in national and European competitions.
About Girls Go Circular
Girls Go Circular supports schoolgirls, and more broadly, any student, to develop their digital and leadership skills while learning about the circular economy and finding solutions for a sustainable future. The project's methodology is based on a learning-by-doing approach which engages students in different activities such as online research, entrepreneurial role-plays or challenge-based exercises.
The online learning platform developed in the framework of the project – the "Circular Learning Space" – offers students the option of choosing between different learning modules on topics like e-waste, climate change, food, or robotics. These modules are based on a learning-by-doing approach, transferring knowledge and skills through an interactive, challenge-based structure, offers the participating students the opportunity to:
Acquire knowledge on the circular economy,
Gain insights into the steps taken by businesses towards the circular economy,
Improve their digital and entrepreneurial skills,
Come up with their own solution to societal and environmental challenges.
The Girls Go Circular project supports Action 13 – Encourage women's participation in STEM of the European Commission's Digital Education Action Plan and empowers schoolgirls in European countries defined as modest and moderate innovators (according to the European Innovation Scoreboard) to become future leaders and entrepreneurs.
Women and Girls in STEM Forum
Bringing together policymakers, industry leaders, and students to advance the European agenda on gender equality in STEM education and careers.
Every year, Girls Go Circular – in collaboration with the European Commission, Directorate-General for Education, Youth, Sport and Culture (DG EAC) – organises the Women and Girls in STEM Forum. This annual event has become a platform for leading voices of students, teachers, mentors, policymakers, researchers and industry working towards a truly equal and inclusive future of Europe. Over the past two years, the Women and Girls in STEM Forum has attracted over 1,500 participants to identify key actions to bridge the gender gap in STEM and ICT, dismantle gender stereotypes and empower girls to pursue career dreams in science and technology.
Girls and young women have a pivotal role in the event and inspire their peers and the audience, engaging in discussions on eliminating gender bias from STEM with EU policymakers, scientists, and entrepreneurs and sharing success stories to inspire the future EU action on these themes. The Women and Girls in STEM Forum also celebrates the participation of thousands of girls from 13 European countries in the Girls Go Circular project and offer them the opportunity to receive mentoring from leading professionals.
Get to know more about EIT, EIT Climate-KIC, Skills for the Future and Girls Go Circular clicking on the below links:
EIT: https://eit.europa.eu/
EIT Climate-KIC: https://www.climate-kic.org/
Skills for Future: https://eit-skills4future.eu/
Girls Go Circular: https://eit-girlsgocircular.eu/
Skills For Future - Business Casual csapat beszámoló


This Warm Quinoa Salad with Sofrito combines quinoa with sofrito. Quinoa is one of the few grains that can boast being a complete protein. It's a great addition to any vegetarian menu. Sofrito is the great invention of Hispanic cooking. It adds flavor to just about anything. There is no hard and fast rule for what goes into a "sofrito". As the seasons change, you can change up the vegetables and herbs you use, depending what is most fresh at the market. Onions, root vegetables, and aromatic dried herbs like thyme and rosemary in the winter, and soft summer vegetables and with fresh herbs, new garlic, or shallots in the summer. It'll always be good!
1. Put the quinoa, parsley sprig, cilantro sprig, and scallion greens into a saucepan with a lid. Add the 4 cups of water and t teaspoon of olive oil. Bring to a boil, then cover, turn heat down to low and simmer for 20 minutes. Take off the heat and set aside, covered until you are ready to use it.
2. Meanwhile, make the sofrito. Heat the remaining 2 tablespoons of olive oil in a large sauté pan over medium heat. Add the shallots and gently sauté for 2-3 minutes or until they start to soften. Add the peppers and zucchini, cook for another 2-3 minutes until they start to soften. Add salt to taste, turn the heat down and partially cover. Continue to cook until the shallots have started to caramelize and the other vegetables are very soft, about 10-15 minutes.
3. Remove the herbs and scallion greens from the quinoa. Fluff with a fork.
4. Remove the cover from the vegetables. Turn up to medium-high and add the ground cumin. Cook, stirring for 1 minute, then add the chopped parsley, cilantro, scallions, and lemon zest. Stir to mix well and cook for a minute to blend the flavors. Add the quinoa, a little at a time until the dish is about ½ quinoa ½ vegetables. Stir to mix. Just before serving, add the torn basil or mint leaves. Serve immediately.
Be sure to wash the quinoa well before cooking as the grain has a bitter outer coating, saponin that needs to be washed off before cooking. You can make the quinoa and store it in the fridge for up to 5 days to have on hand as a side.


Poor air quality is the largest environmental risk to public health in the UK, associated with short and longer term respiratory and cardiovascular problems. Approximately 40,000 premature deaths in England, or 300 in Bristol, can be attributed to NO2 and fine particulate matter pollution every year . Additionally, the most vulnerable members of society are often hit more by pollution creating and worsening health inequalities. Legally, concentrations of nitrogen dioxide (NO2) must not be more than 40 μg/m3 (microgrammes per metre cubed) as an annual mean (i.e. measured over a year). Yet across the UK there are many places that exceed these limits, including in Bristol.
How much of the problem is caused by non-residents driving into the city?
This will be established in the detailed modelling work we will do during 2018.
What is Nitrogen Dioxide (NO2)?
This is an excerpt from the Health Matters report by Public Health England.
NO2 is a gas that is produced along with nitric oxide (NO) by combustion processes. Together they are often referred to as oxides of nitrogen (NOx).
The Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (Defra) estimates that 80% of NOx emissions in areas where the UK is exceeding NO2 limits are due to transport, with the largest source being emissions from diesel cars and vans. Other sources include power generation, industrial processes, and domestic heating.
The Committee on the Medical Effects of Air Pollutants (COMEAP) has established that short-term exposure to NO2, particularly at high concentrations, is a respiratory irritant that can cause inflammation of the airways leading to – for example – cough, production of mucus and shortness of breath. Studies have shown associations of NO2 in outdoor air with reduced lung development, and respiratory infections in early childhood and effects on lung function in adulthood.
Epidemiological studies have also shown associations of outdoor NO2 with adverse effects on health, including reduced life expectancy. It has been unclear whether these effects are caused by NO2 itself, or by other pollutants emitted at the same time by sources such as road traffic.
What are the key phases of the project?
There are three key phases of the Plan.
Phase one developed and analysed a wide range of possible options to improve air quality in the shortest possible time. A long list of options was reviewed and screened to get to a short list of packages. We have published our shortlist of packages as part of the Strategic Outline Case (SOC) on our website.
In Phase two (April 2018 – 2019), we will carry out a technical assessment of the short-listed packages, assessing them against a range of outcomes (impact on air quality, health, traffic, equality, etc). We will also carry out extensive engagement work to get the views of residents, commuters, and other stakeholders on our packages, to make sure we've not missed anything important. This will enable us to select a preferred package of measures and determine how that package will be implemented, which will be presented in the Outline Business Case (OBC). We will also bid to government for both implementation and mitigation funding at this stage.
Phase three (2019) will involve fine-tuning of the preferred package of measures. We will engage with you to decide on the final details of design and implementation of the preferred package. This will allow us to put forward a final bid to the Government, in our Full Business Case (FBC), for funding to deliver the preferred package in 2019 – 2020.
What kind of options are you considering?
Defra's Clean Air Zone Framework states that local authorities should consider charging measures and non-charging Measures in their Clean Air Plan -. An example of a charging measure is a Clean Air Zone (see next section), while non-charging measures can be measures that encourage a shift to greener modes of transport or that mitigate the impacts of a charging measure. We have considered a long list of options across these two categories, before combining them into packages of complementary measures.
How have the options been assessed?
The measures on the long list have been assessed against a set of criteria provided by the government's Joint Air Quality Unit (JAQU). These criteria are based on the HM Treasury Green Book.
Firstly, measures unlikely to achieve NO2 compliance within the timeframe were removed from the long list. Remaining measures were then assessed against a multitude of criteria, including: public health impacts; social impacts; economic impacts and scheme cost. A copy of the scoring table for each measure against the assessment criteria is available as part of the Strategic Outline Business Case.
What would happen if we did nothing about air quality?
We have assessed a baseline option, which considers the scenario where there is no action taken by BCC on air quality. All options or measures are then considered against this baseline case. Under this baseline case, compliance with legal limits is not expected to be reached across Bristol until 2025. This would mean BCC and the UK Government would be in breach of the legal limits for another 7 years, during which time the negative impacts on public health would not reduce sufficiently.
How can I input into the decision-making process?
Despite the short time frame, we want to ensure you have plenty of opportunity to ask questions and offer your views. Along with a formal consultation period later in the year, we'll continually talk to as many people as possible from April 2018, starting with a series of drop-in sessions, workshops and other events.
We'll also build on the regular contact we've had with interested parties over the past months. This dedicated web page, a regular newsletter and social media activity will also keep you informed.
Throughout, we'll liaise with neighbouring local authorities and the West of England Combined Authority (WECA), recognising that solutions will undoubtedly involve our partners.
Come talk to us at one of our events.
A Clean Air Zone is a new mechanism proposed by the government to help cities tackle air pollution. It is a defined geographical area which requires polluting vehicle owners to pay a charge on entry to or movement within it. The charge is based on vehicle Euro standards. The aim is to accelerate the improvement in emissions of the vehicle fleet.
Charges would not affect every vehicle, just those that do not comply with levels set by government (see questions 2 & 3 for further information). Further information on the levels set by government can be found in the Clean Air Zone Framework, which sets out principles that should be followed when setting up a CAZ in England.
A CAZ is being considered in Bristol as part of a package of measures aiming to reduce air pollution to legal limits in the shortest time possible.
A decision has not been made to charge vehicles driving in Bristol. The feasibility study for Bristol's Clean Air Plan recommends several options that can help improve air quality in Bristol to meet legal limits. Some of these options involve Clean Air Zones of varying geographies and classes. These options will be developed further over the rest of 2018, with plenty of opportunities for the public and stakeholders to provide input. The government guidance for the study requires that we use a CAZ as a benchmark option.
Are there different types or classes of CAZ?
The Government guidance requires the CAZ classes above to be assessed in that order of preference (class A, then class B, etc). This means that a higher class of CAZ can only be considered if the lower class will not improve air quality in Bristol enough to meet legal requirements.
Whichever class is chosen, Euro 4 petrol (approx. 2006) vehicles or a Euro 6 diesel (approx. 2015) vehicles would not be charged, nor would electric or hydrogen powered vehicles.
Further information can be found in the Clean Air Zone Framework, which sets out principles that should be followed when setting up a CAZ in England.
What is a Euro Standard?
European 'Euro' emission standards aim to reduce levels of harmful exhaust emissions, by defining acceptable exhaust emission limits which become more stringent over time. Euro standards were first introduced in 1992 with Euro 1, when catalytic converters became compulsory on new cars. Euro 6 is the most recent standard.
Where can I find out what Euro Standard my vehicle is?
Unfortunately, there is no centralised official website and this is new territory for both local authorities and the government. We have asked government to provide this and this will be in place by December 2018.
Transport for London's online tool allows people to find out if their vehicle will be charged in the Ultra-Low Emission Zone:. This is not a definitive source of information.
How much of the city will be included in a clean air zone?
A large zone – this was roughly the Bristol urban area within the boundary of the M4 and M5 and excluding areas within Bath and North East Somerset (BANES) and North Somerset.
A medium zone, roughly the Air Quality Management Area. Two other variations of the medium zone were considered, to include two smaller Air Quality Management Areas in South Gloucestershire Council (but within the city of Bristol).
A small zone, within the inner ring road.
These boundaries are shown in the map, below left. The feasibility study indicated that a large Clean Air Zone would not achieve compliance with legal air quality requirements quickly enough because implementation time is very long. Therefore it will not be considered further.
As part of the initial work to assess responses to a CAZ, the medium boundary was revised as shown below (right). This is an indicative boundary to support modelling and will be subject to further consultation. Many factors will be considered before the final boundary is determined. These will develop as the Plan progresses and we welcome your thoughts.
Why can't Bristol go further?
The Council has a number of powers, but we are nevertheless constrained in a number of ways, requiring the co-operation of transport operators and the general public and more funding for improved infrastructure. Air quality is a national problem and therefore needs a coordinated approach to ensure standards in different cities are consistent and fair while cutting harmful emissions as much as possible.
We are ready to introduce changes which will make a positive difference to this significant public health problem in our city. The funding available is for measures that deliver air quality improvements in the shortest time possible, and mitigation for those adversely affected by measures to deliver compliance. This is the main reason why measures that take a long time to implement (such as a large Clean Air Zone, and large infrastructure schemes of the scale of Metrobus) are not being considered further as part of this Plan.
When will a Clean Air Zone begin?
There is too much uncertainty to give a date for when a Clean Air Zone be implemented, should that be the outcome of the technical work being undertaken 2018-19. The timescale will be dependent on the scheme selected and the many factors influencing difficulty of implementation. We believe that the soonest any of the UK city can achieve implementation of a CAZ will be 2021. Bristol started after the first wave of cities so it is likely to be after that. Bristol will aim to achieve compliance in the shortest time possible.
How long will the CAZ last?
How will a Clean Air Zone be enforced?
A CAZ would be enforced using Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) cameras placed at entry/exit points and within the CAZ. These cameras will capture vehicle movement on the monitored road(s) enabling chargeable vehicles to be determined. The exact locations and number of ANPR cameras will be determined as the Plan progresses, with plenty of opportunity for the public and stakeholders to have their say. The council already uses ANPR to enforce traffic regulations. The project will assess what new cameras and infrastructure are needed to enforce a CAZ, if it is needed.
Why isn't the council setting up a Low Emission Zone (LEZ) instead?
Clean Air Zones are similar to but not the same as Low Emission Zones. Clean Air Zones are intended to incorporate more than just restrictions to the most polluting vehicles. They will include other measures designed to complement a CAZ and, where possible, to mitigate some of the negative impacts. To ensure that we are consistent with other cities in the UK, we must use the Government's Clean Air Zone Framework rather than a city-specific LEZ. This consistency helps businesses to better adapt to the changes and avoids confusion for those travelling between different cities.
Some cities have chosen not to have a CAZ – why?
Each city has locally unique information about their air quality problems and likely future scenarios. Although air quality is a problem in many UK cities the degree of the exceedances (of legal limits), and the significance of certain sources varies greatly. Any action must be proportionate to the severity of the air quality problem. Hence, a CAZ may be required in one city but not another.
What is the difference between a CAZ and a congestion charge?
How will the council determine the level of the charge (price)?
The level of charge is dependent on a number of factors. The charge would need to be at the right level to discourage enough polluting journeys to achieve compliance through switching to a greener vehicle or using public transport, cycling or walking. However, the charge also needs to be set in consideration of local conditions, expected social and economic impacts and comparisons to other areas.
We are using stated preference surveys to provide further local insight into an appropriate charge level. This will be complemented by guidance from JAQU on levels of charges. We will engage with the public and stakeholders to assess the impact of such a charge.
Will the CAZ operate 24/7?
This is yet to be determined and will be assessed over the coming months, with inputs from technical traffic modelling work and our engagement work.
What happens if your vehicle is already within the zone and then you drive in the zone on another day?
It is likely that a CAZ will involve charging vehicles on a day-by-day basis. This means if you drive within the zone in any new 24 hr period you will be charged. There would not be a charge if a vehicle is parked within the zone and does not move. This will be discussed further during our public and stakeholder engagement work.
How do vehicles pay the charge?
This is still to be determined. It is expected that there will be an online system, with the Government intending to produce a national, centralised system to process charges so that the overhead costs for all the local authorities required to implement a Clean Air Zone are minimised. More details to follow.
What difference will a CAZ make to traffic levels?
The aim of the CAZ is to reduce NO2 concentrations within the city rather than reduce traffic levels. However, the CAZ may alter traffic from the present levels in the short term, as people adjust their travel choices. The difference in traffic would depend on what type of CAZ is implemented i.e. there is likely to be more of an impact on traffic if all vehicles including cars (Class D) were charged compared to a Class A being charged. Potentially, there will be a reduction in traffic on the roads within and approaching the CAZ as not everyone will have a compliant vehicle and/or be willing to pay the charge.
However, any congestion improvements are likely to be short term only. As vehicles are replaced with cleaner models and can drive within the zone without charge, traffic levels are likely to return to current levels or change in line with predictions.
What benefits would a CAZ bring beyond improved health and air quality?
Health and air quality improvements are the key aims of a CAZ. However, there is potential for a CAZ to bring secondary benefits. If a class D CAZ was introduced, a possible short-term benefit could be a reduction in the number of journeys made by private vehicles, which could reduce traffic levels, improve bus patronage and result in faster and more reliable journey times.
If fewer people are developing health problems than before then this could provide economic savings to the NHS and economic benefits from reduced absenteeism. It is also possible that some measures included as part of a CAZ will create better conditions / infrastructure / facilities for cyclists and pedestrians in Bristol, leading to public health benefits arising from increased active travel.
A Clean Air Zone could also improve the attractiveness of Bristol in the long term, as a healthier place to live, work and visit.
How can we be sure that a Clean Air Zone won't just push the traffic and the air quality problem elsewhere?
This is a risk, but we are aiming to achieve compliance with legal requirements across Bristol. As such, a CAZ would be designed to prevent the shifting of the air quality problem to other areas and significant modelling is being done to assess the risk of traffic displacement.
Will a CAZ lead to local "rat running"?
We have considered this when defining the boundaries of the CAZ and all efforts have been made to avoid this situation from arising. As part of the scheme assessments, traffic modelling was carried out to test the implications of each type and size of CAZ on traffic flows and routes. More detailed modelling will take place within the Outline Business Case which will be worked up over the next few months. As part of the engagement process we will be listening to the suggestions from the public and areas of particular concern can be discussed at events or raised through our social media channels or via email.
Will there be discounts for local residents?
We do not know at this stage whether a discount for residents will be included in the final package of measures. Legally, any exemptions or discounts cannot affect the timescale in terms of securing compliance.
However, exemptions and discounts will be considered as part of our assessment and informed by our public engagement work.
To ensure we capture your views we will be holding a number of drop in events, workshops, surgeries and a formal consultation period in 2018. This will provide you with the opportunity to comment as the project progresses and enable us to incorporate your feedback into the Clean Air Plan development.
A range of non-charging measures are being considered in order to mitigate the impacts of the CAZ, including the financial costs to residents living within the zone. The mitigation measures chosen will depend on the size and type of CAZ selected and the number of residents impacted. Government has provided a mitigation fund of £220m (the Clean Air Fund) to help local authorities and Bristol will bid for this funding in autumn 2018. We welcome your ideas to help us form the bid to government.
Will there be discounts for vulnerable groups (including elderly, disabled, low income households)?
We are aiming to ensure the final preferred package of measures does not disproportionately impact vulnerable groups of society. At this stage of the project, we are considering various mitigation measures. Exemptions and discounts will be considered as part of our assessment and informed by our public engagement work. To ensure we capture the views of these groups we will be holding a number of drop in events, workshops, surgeries and a formal consultation period in 2018. This will provide opportunities to comment as the project progresses and enable us to incorporate your feedback into the plan development.
How will you capture the views of businesses?
Implementing a CAZ could have negative as well as positive impacts for businesses and some businesses may be impacted more than others due to their specific business model and operational requirements. This will be given appropriate consideration as the package of measures is created. To ensure we capture your views we will be holding a number of drop in events, workshops, surgeries and a formal consultation period throughout the year. This will provide you with the opportunity to comment as the project progresses and enable us to incorporate your feedback into the Clean Air Plan development.
How might the CAZ affect the competitiveness of Bristol compared to other destinations?
Bristol would not be the only UK City to adopt a CAZ. 61 local authorities have been directed to reduce air pollution in the shortest time possible. For example, Bath is also considering introduction of a CAZ. We hope and expect that a cleaner, greener city will improve both residents' and visitors' experience of the city.
What happens to the money from charges in a CAZ?
The purpose of a CAZ is not to generate revenue but to improve the health of local residents by discouraging polluting journeys. We want to deter polluting journeys rather than raise money from them.
The money collected from a CAZ would go to central Government. The costs of running the central system would then be removed and what is left will be circulated to local authorities to cover the local operational costs of running the scheme. If there is any surplus revenue arising from the scheme, the revenue can only legally be re-invested to deliver improvements in local transport. So if there is any surplus money from the scheme it would be reinvested in the scheme itself and in sustainable travel options.
What is the government doing to force car companies to pay for this?
We recognise that emissions from diesel cars are the dominant source of NOx, and that under the "Polluter Pays" principle car manufacturers need to take responsibility for the problem, but securing funds from the industry is outside the control of local authorities. We, along with other local authorities, are discussing how to address this concern with national government.
I bought diesel because UK government said they were better for the environment! Now I'm told they're bad for air quality. What should I do?
To meet climate change targets, the Government encouraged the uptake of diesel vehicles based on their lower CO2 emissions. However, NOx emissions from diesel vehicles vary so widely from their type approvals that air quality in cities across Europe has not improved as predicted. The best solution would be for a greater share of journeys done by foot, by bike, or on ultra-low emissions vehicles, but we recognise that this is not possible for all. Encouraging greener modes of transportation including electric vehicles or travel using public transport are options we are exploring as part of the Clean Air Plan package of measures.
It's unfair that diesel purchasers should be penalised as they bought in good faith. Will there be a scrappage scheme?
The government issued a consultation in the autumn of 2017 to gather views on measures to support motorists, residents and businesses. This included a targeted scrappage scheme for car and van drivers in specific areas across the UK. In the government's response to the Clean Air Fund consultation it indicated that a national scrappage scheme would not be taken forward. However, other mitigation measures to help diesel car owners could be available if a Class D CAZ is implemented.
Why should cars be charged when lorries and buses are the problem?
Cars would only be charged with buses and lorries in a Class D CAZ. The contribution of lorries and buses to NO2 emissions varies between monitoring sites in Bristol. Overall, diesel cars cause 40% of the air pollution from transport in Bristol, while diesel buses and coaches cause 23% and diesel vans causing 22%. The Government's Clean Air Zone Framework advises us to consider emissions from buses and HGVs ahead of car emissions, but they are not the sole, or even major source of the problem. The overall aim of Bristol's Clean Air Plan is to bring about compliance with EU limit values in the shortest possible time. We are therefore considering a range of measures focused on a variety of transport modes.
Current evidence shows that the performance of EURO VI buses and HGV's is much closer to their type approval ratings than cars.
What are you doing to support businesses which will be affected by potential air quality measures?
We recognise a lot of small businesses in particular will have difficulty converting or replacing small vans or HGVs. Many of these businesses will be based outside Bristol but need to travel into Bristol. We will be engaging with Bristol's business community throughout the Clean Air Plan's development to assess the impact of any potential charging zone. We will also continue to liaise with the government, applying for grant funding when it is available, to ensure we can support businesses transition to using low-emission vehicles.
It's important to consider the impacts of a charging scheme an all sectors of society, and the study will report on this, but we do have to take action to secure improvements in public health which may mean restricting movements of polluting vehicles.
How have the CAZ boundaries been set?
We are considering a CAZ as part of our Clean Air Plan, though a decision to have a CAZ has not yet been made.
The size of a potential CAZ has not yet been confirmed. We are currently testing two possible boundaries – a "Medium" and a "Small" – please see the map showing the indicative boundaries which will be used in the modelling. The modelling will determine the optimum size needed to achieve compliance with air quality standards in the shortest time possible.
It is important to note that just because an area is not included within the CAZ boundary, it does not mean that air quality is of a lower priority here, or that the air is currently clean in that area. Although the CAZ is geographically defined, a CAZ will have the effect of cleaning up the vehicle fleet across the whole city and region because polluting vehicles will be charged to drive in those areas where there is the most demand to travel (the central area) and hence people will change their vehicle sooner than they otherwise would, or use a cleaner mode (if we decide to charge cars). The CAZ will also deter "through" trips for polluting vehicles, again improving air quality on the arterial routes that pass through areas that are not within the bounds of the CAZ.
We are also assessing, through traffic modelling, the impact of displacement, i.e. the extent to which drivers will try to avoid the zone by driving round it – and possibly increasing pollution in the non CAZ areas that border the CAZ. The medium zone reduces displacement in comparison with the small because it is further to drive to avoid the zone.
The boundaries of the CAZ are determined by assessing its desired effect on driver behaviour rather than purely ambient air quality levels.
In summary, just because the CAZ boundary does not include an area, it does not follow that the area will not benefit from the CAZ. We intend to ensure that everywhere within the city complies with the EU standards for pollution in the shortest time possible.
Can businesses claim tax back on any CAZ charges?
The approach to give tax relief for qualifying business journeys in Clean Air Zones should be covered by the current rules for travel and expenses.
There is one exception – there would be no tax liability where an employer reimburses an employee for the charge using their own vehicle on a business journey.
HMRC advise there is a lot of detail in the underlying travel rules so there is some more nuance but the position is basically as set out above.
These are a series of measures that will be implemented alongside a Clean Air Zone in order to further reduce NO2 emissions or mitigate the CAZ impacts. They include: encouraging active travel modes such as cycling, changes to parking systems, encouraging the use of public transport, and investment incentive measures. We will be consulting on these measures as part of our engagement work and we look forward to receiving your suggestions.
Why can't we just have non-charging measures?
The effectiveness of using non-charging measures alone to lower NO2 to legal limits was assessed as part of our technical work. Bristol City Council has achieved some success in reducing car trips over recent years, by promoting use of sustainable travel. Since the Air Quality Action Plan was published in 2004, there has been a sharp increase in cycling and use of public transport in Bristol. However, despite this improvement, demand for travel by car has risen due to population growth and rising economic activity in Bristol. Non-charging measures have not been sufficient to achieve compliance to date.
If we take the example of Metrobus, previous modelling estimated that this very large scheme will lead to a drop of NO2 concentrations by a maximum of 5% at some locations. This is equivalent to approximately 4µg/m3 at Rupert Street. However, at this location a drop of 20-30µg/m3 is required to achieve compliance with legal limits. Additionally, a scheme of the scale of Metrobus has taken 6 years to deliver, from initial planning to completion. This would be too long for meeting the government's requirement to achieve compliance in the shortest time possible.
To test the impact of using only non-charging measures in Bristol, an ambitious target was assumed for the Clean Air Plan; that a reduction of 5% in traffic levels could be achieved within 2 years. This assessment found that with this level of traffic reduction, the year we expect to achieve compliance would not change from the baseline case (or 'do nothing' case) year of 2025.
Sufficient non-charging measures are unlikely to be deliverable in the short term or be quicker to deliver than a charging scheme. The Council has been directed to achieve compliance in the shortest possible time, and therefore non-charging measures will be used to complement a CAZ and where possible designed to mitigate impacts.
What non – charging measures are being considered?
The Clean Air Plan considers a number of non-charging measures, summarised in the list below, a full list can be found in the SOC.
If I am charged to drive my car into the centre of Bristol, what alternatives would be provided?
The Clean Air Plan considers a range of measures that make it easier for residents and visitors in Bristol to make their journeys on cleaner, more sustainable modes of transport. These are detailed within the Strategic Outline Business Case, and summarised below.
The final package of measures will not be decided until December 2018 and we will be consulting and engaging with as many people as possible as the package is developed. We would like to hear from you about how a Clean Air Zone would affect your journeys, what alternatives you currently have, as well as where you would like to see improvements. Such feedback will help us develop solutions that are fair and robust.
Do each of the packages consider the same non-charging measures?
No, inclusion of non-charging measures varies across the packages considered. Further detail can be found in the the SOC.
I've thought of a non-charging measure that's not been considered. How can I share it?
We will hold a series of events such as drop-in sessions, workshops and others as part of our engagement programme We would encourage you to attend and discuss your ideas with our project team at one of these events. Alternatively, if you'd like to find out more about the project or have ideas that you'd like to share with us, please get in touch with us, either via email, our website, or social media.
Would planting more trees help?
This is a common suggestion, and the answer is complicated. Evidence from research is mixed. However, even if trees did make a difference the effect would be very small in comparison to the size of the problem and would not deliver compliance in the shortest possible time. Trees of course offer multiple other benefits in urban environments.
Two recent (July 2018) reports from ONS (Office of National Statistics) and AQEG (Air Quality Expert Group) have looked at this issue.
ONS – UK air pollution removal: how much pollution does vegetation remove in your area?
Isn't air pollution made worse by bus lanes?
Bus lanes enable a better bus service for the general public by encouraging a shift in travel option from private vehicles. Work done by BCC in assessing the effect on pollution of the introduction of a showcase route on Fishponds Road showed a small overall improvement in air quality after the introduction of the scheme.
Can't the council just improve bus services?
Bus services in Bristol are operated by a number of companies. Whilst the Council subsidises a small number of services, the vast majority are commercial services. BCC can influence the operation of these services through a number of mechanisms (e.g. traffic regulation conditions, bus partnerships) but the level of control is limited.
MetroBus, a rapid public transport system that will provide an express service to key destinations in the area using a combination of segregated busways and lanes, will use low emission vehicles.
Working with the bus companies to reduce the pollution from older buses has led to a retrofit project to reduce emissions from 35 of the most polluting buses from a grant awarded in 2015 and recently Bristol won £2.2m for cleaning up a further 81 buses operating in Bristol and South Gloucestershire..
As part of the Clean Air Plan, we are looking at several non-charging measures that help improve bus services and encourage a shift towards cleaner buses. We will work closely with bus operators, users and other stakeholders to develop and refine these measures as the Plan progresses.
Why do Defra's predictions differ from local ones?
Defra predictions are based on outputs from their Pollution Climate Mapping (PCM) model which is used to report legal compliance to the EU. The model is calibrated against measured concentrations from the national monitoring network (Defra's Automatic Urban and Rural Network – AURN), but does not take into consideration all data available from Local Authority monitoring networks. The verification process for the model is therefore reliant on fewer monitoring locations than local models, which can result in over or under estimations in the PCM model. Defra estimates this overarching uncertainty to be in region of +/-29% (Defra AQ Plan – Technical Report, pg 16). This varies by city. Only one monitoring station in Bristol is used for verification of the PCM modelling.
Conversely, local predictions use data from 4 automatic monitoring stations and 105 NO2 diffusion tube monitoring sites across Bristol. The difference between the number of monitoring stations used by each model is the driving factor for the difference in air quality predictions. Defra acknowledge that BCC data more accurately reflects the local circumstances, and this data will be used to determine the most appropriate course of action.
What air quality monitoring does Bristol City Council do?
Air quality monitoring in Bristol is comprehensive and long-standing. Bristol's monitoring network is focused on NO2 as the concentrations of this pollutant near busy roads exceed the health‐based national objectives and European Limit Values. The current air quality situation in Bristol is shown in this map, which shows measurements of NO2 from diffusion tubes at locations across the Bristol urban area.
BCC monitors NOx and NO2 using a combination of automatic "reference method" instruments and non – automatic (passive diffusion tube) monitoring.
In addition to the sites listed above operated by BCC, Defra operate two automatic sites measuring NOx and PM in St. Pauls and on Temple Way.
Wouldn't more monitoring help provide a clearer picture of the problem?
More monitoring is always beneficial and the existing monitoring network was expanded at the start of 2018 to support monitoring and evaluation of the Clean Air Plan. However, we already have a good picture of the existing air quality problem in Bristol from the extensive monitoring network in the city, which includes real-time monitoring and diffusion tubes. The evidence we have already makes it quite clear that action is needed to tackle poor air quality. Details of the existing data are provided in the Air Quality Annual Status Report which can be found here.
Citizen sensing, where citizens use low-cost monitors to take their own measurements of air quality, can often be to raise awareness about air pollution, but the data gathered cannot be used by BCC because the quality of the data is not high enough.
Have different monitoring methods been considered?
We have followed the Defra Local Air Quality Management Guidance (also referred to as LAQM TG16) when considering which monitoring methods to use. In Bristol, the majority of monitoring that has been carried out to date focuses on NO2 and particulate matter.
continuous monitoring stations – these record data in real-time, but are expensive to install and maintain.
diffusion tubes – these are cost-effective monitors that provide a wider coverage of NO2 concentrations but need to be replaced every month and that provide a better spatial coverage of NO2 concentrations.
Both monitoring methods are accepted by LAQM TG16.
The standard of instruments that can be used by local authorities is prescribed in LAQM TG16, and due to the difficulty of measuring concentrations of nitrogen dioxide in the parts per billion range, low cost sensors are not appropriate to use for this pollutant.
Particulate matter can be monitored using a large number of different technologies, but mainly by continuous monitors. Although newer, low-cost sensors have appeared in the market in recent years, they have not all received approval from Defra and large uncertainties remain over their performance.
Is it possible to have access to the data used in this project?
Where possible we will share the data once it has been approved and verified.
How does WECA fit into all of this?
Air pollution isn't just a problem in Bristol, but also in other parts of the region (such as Bath and parts of South Gloucestershire). Addressing air quality problems across the West of England requires coordinated action at a regional level, since the impact of any measure will likely be felt by road users across the region. We are working closely with the West of England Combined Authority (WECA) to ensure that emerging policy reflects the magnitude of the air quality problem and the urgent need to address it. This way, we can ensure the measures being considered can be integrated with, and support, the longer-term spatial planning and transport strategies for the area. This includes the Joint Spatial Plan, Joint Local Transport Plan and Energy Strategy.
What is the interaction between this project and the Joint Transport Study?
We are producing a Joint Transport Study (JTS) with the wider West of England local authorities as part of an ambitious programme of transport and planning policy reform. At this stage, WECA is considering the contents of JTS in order to produce a future vision and a final Joint Local Transport Plan for the West of England. We are working with WECA in the development of these plans, to ensure they are consistent with the progress of this Clean Air Plan.
If the need for a Clean Air Zone is based on EU limits, does Brexit change things?
The Air Quality Directive, which sets out the EU limits, has been transposed by UK law with the same limit values applying. The Government is committed to making the air cleaner regardless of the outcome of Brexit.
How will scrapping tolls on the Severn Bridge affect air quality?
We will carefully monitor air quality levels once the charges are removed during 2018 and in advance we will incorporate consideration of these changes in our technical work on the Clean Air Plan.
What does the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) say about CAZs?
Clean Air Zones are one of the measures recommended by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence, and considered to be cost effective in improving health.
NICE guidance also says we should consider a wide range of measures to reduce air pollution, not just charging vehicles. NICE cites encouraging walking and cycling, driving training to reduce emissions, actions to smooth traffic flow, and prompting the uptake of low and zero emission vehicles.
How do the fines the government face compare with the cost of funding the scheme?
The aim of our project is to reduce air pollution to legal limits in the shortest time possible. The main reason for this is improving public health – cost is not considered unless there are two schemes that are equally effective and quick. With regards to fines from the European Union, we do not know this information – please redirect your queries to JAQU.
What about the work being done as part of the Bristol Air Quality Action Plan?
This will continue because it addresses longer term issues and other pollutants than just NO2. The Air Quality Action Plan will be updated in 2019.
What is causing the air quality problem?
There are two forms of air pollution we are concerned about and which we measure. The first is particulate matter (PM), referred to as PM10 and PM2.5, depending on the size of particles being measured. The second is nitrogen dioxide (NO2). Concentrations of both vary across the city and according to the season, the weather and the time of day (mostly due to changing traffic volumes).
PM and NO2 is monitored in Bristol at various locations across the city. The PM levels at our monitoring sites have been below the EU and UK limits for several years. However, the levels of NO2 currently exceed EU and UK limits.
The results from our monitoring work consistently show much higher levels of NO2 near busy roadsides, and lower levels away from roadsides and traffic, indicating a direct link between vehicle movements and air quality.
Like NO2 pollution, we know PM pollution is linked to poor health. By tackling NO2 pollution, we will also help lower PM levels.
How much of an improvement is needed in Bristol to meet legal requirements?
Our predictions show that by 2021, there would still be 8 NO2 monitoring sites in Bristol that remain in breach of EU and UK limits if we don't take action now. These predictions are based on NO2 concentrations averaged over a year ("annual mean"), and projected forward based on Defra's future projections. They predict that without further action, Bristol would not meet legal limits until 2025.
Currently, some sites in Bristol experience NO2 levels of 90µg/m3, which is more than double the EU maximum limit of 40µg/m3.
This is to do with the alert levels set in the government's Air Quality Index. They relate to short term (daily) predictions and measurements of air quality. These are important for people with respiratory health problems but not strongly related to the long – term health effects on the population from poor air quality that are represented by the annual mean measurements. So pollution levels in Bristol as measured by the air quality index can be low throughout the year, but we still breach the annual mean objective for nitrogen dioxide.
Recent concentrations of nitrogen dioxide are shown in the map below. Dots displayed in yellow or red indicate that the air quality objective is being breached at these locations.
To understand the air quality problem in Bristol, we have collected data from an extensive monitoring network in the city. Bristol City Council monitors NO2 using a combination of automatic and non‐automatic (passive diffusion tube) monitoring.
In Bristol's recent Annual Status Report for 2017, NO2 concentrations are shown to still be at a similar level to those measured in 2000. Trends in NO2 concentrations have shown some slight improvement over the last 5 years. At some locations in Bristol city centre, annual mean concentrations exceed 60 ug/m3 and widespread locations of exceedance of the annual mean objective for NO2 exist. The city centre NO2 measurements all exceed the Air Quality Objective. Many other parts of Bristol, especially near busy roads and in the city centre, exceed national objectives and European limit values for NO2.
For more detailed information on air quality monitoring, please read the Annual Status Report (ASR) published by Bristol City Council.
For current air quality information visit our Open Data Portal.
What about pollution from Short Term Operating Reserve (STOR) Plants?
The UK Government has introduced new controls on medium combustion plant, which includes the category of generators known as Short Term Operating Reserve (STOR). The Medium Combustion Plant Directive has been transposed into UK law as the Environmental Permitting (England and Wales) (Amendment) Regulations 2018 and requires operators to submit to a permitting regime which introduces effective controls on emissions from these plants. This means that there will be stricter (non – planning) controls on diesel generators in future and they are unlikely to be permitted in cities without effective exhaust abatement.
Have you looked at other sources of pollution?
We are focusing on measures which will reduce the most harmful pollution affecting our communities but we will look at all options and investigate the most effective ways to reduce levels.
There are many sources of air pollution in Bristol, such as industrial sites, gas boilers and domestic wood burning stoves. However, the aim of the Plan is to reduce NO2 pollution within Bristol in the shortest amount of time since this is the pollutant that exceeds legal limits in Bristol. The dominant source of NO2 where people are exposed to pollution is road vehicles. Therefore, the focus of the current work will be on reducing emissions from vehicles, in order to achieve the aim of the Plan and improve air quality within the city in the shortest time. Other sources of pollution have been considered but are small contributors compared to vehicles.
What about pollutants other than Nitrogen Dioxide?
Bristol only exceeds the legal compliance levels for NO2 and the government directive to the Council is focused on NO2 only. Therefore, measures proposed by the Plan will be designed specifically to tackle NO2. Some measures to reduce NO2 may also impact on levels of other pollutants, and any changes to particulate matter (PM) or CO2 concentrations due to this project will be identified within the technical assessment. Actions to reduce PM concentrations will be set out in the council's Air Quality Action Plan (a separate document to the Clean Air plan).


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