text:
Dicerna Pharmaceuticals
Dicerna
Careers at Dicerna
Our GalXC™ Technology
Nedosiran
(DCR-PHXC)
DCR-HBVS
DCR-A1AT
A Message To Our Patients
Patient Advocacy Charter
Primary Hyperoxaluria (PH)
Alpha-1 Antitrypsin Deficiency-associated Liver Disease
Company Board of
Structured for success
Our board of directors comprises recognized leaders with diverse experience that will help take Dicerna to the next level. It includes experts in commercialization, management consulting, health policy, medicine and finance.
Douglas M. Fambrough, III, Ph.D.
Douglas Fambrough co-founded Dicerna in 2007 and has served as the Company's president and chief executive officer since 2010. His background as both a genomic scientist and venture capitalist has been instrumental in the evolution of the Company, from the development of its unique GalXC™ platform to its transformation into a successful, publicly-traded company.
Prior to Dicerna, Dr. Fambrough specialized in financing innovative life science technology companies as a general partner with Oxford Bioscience Partners, a Boston-based venture capital firm.
In 2003, Dr. Fambrough and two other investors created Sirna Therapeutics, a first-generation RNA interference (RNAi) pioneer; he served on Sirna's board of directors until Merck acquired the company in 2006. On Oxford's behalf, Dr. Fambrough invested in several ventures, including Solexa, developer of the dominant ultra-high-throughput DNA sequencing platform, which Illumina acquired, and Xencor, a leader in engineering antibodies to improve their therapeutic properties (Nasdaq: XNCR).
Before joining Oxford Bioscience Partners, Dr. Fambrough spent 10 years as a genomic scientist, most recently at the Whitehead/MIT Center for Genome Research, now known as the Broad Institute. He graduated from Cornell University and obtained his Ph.D. in genetics at the University of California, Berkeley.
Return to Board of Directors
J. Kevin Buchi
Kevin Buchi, the chief executive officer of Biospecifics Technologies Corp and the former president and chief executive officer of Cephalon, Inc. and TetraLogic Pharmaceuticals, joined the Dicerna board of directors in August 2018, and was appointed chairman of the board in January 2019. He previously served as corporate vice president of global branded products at Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Limited from 2011 to May 2012, after Teva acquired Cephalon in October 2011.
Mr. Buchi joined Cephalon in 1991 and, during his tenure, held various leadership positions, including chief financial officer and chief operating officer, before becoming Cephalon's chief executive officer in December 2010. In addition, Mr. Buchi currently serves as a director of Amneal Pharmaceuticals, Inc. and Benitec Biopharma Ltd. Mr. Buchi has previously served on the boards of several pharmaceutical companies, including EPIRUS Biopharmaceuticals, Inc., Alexza Pharmaceuticals, Inc. and Forward Pharma A/S.
Martin Freed, M.D.
Martin Freed, M.D., has been a member of the Dicerna board of directors since 2016. Dr. Freed has served as an independent consultant to several private pharmaceutical, biotechnology and healthcare companies, specializing in clinical and general pharmaceutical development and clinical and regulatory strategy since February 2015.
Dr. Freed co-founded and served as chief medical officer of Civitas Therapeutics, Inc., from December 2010 to October 2014 (acquired by Acorda Therapeutics, Inc.) and as senior vice president, clinical development of Acorda from October 2014 through January 2015.
In addition, Dr. Freed has served as chief medical officer and has provided strategic and operational planning and execution, as well as medical leadership for clinical pharmacology, development strategy and preclinical development, for multiple pharmaceutical companies including Avila Therapeutics, Inc., Taligen Therapeutics, Adnexus Therapeutics, Inc. (acquired by Bristol-Myers Squibb), and Vitae Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
Dr. Freed spent nearly 14 years at GlaxoSmithKline and its predecessor, SmithKline Beecham Pharmaceuticals, where he served in numerous roles including vice president, clinical development and medical affairs in the metabolism therapeutic area. He has authored over 100 publications or presentations.
Dr. Freed has been Board Certified in Internal Medicine, Nephrology and Clinical Pharmacology. He performed his internal medicine residency at Temple University Hospital and his nephrology fellowship at Yale-New Haven Hospital. A Fellow of the American College of Physicians, Dr. Freed received his B.S. with Distinction in biology from the University of Delaware and his M.D. from Pennsylvania State University's College of Medicine.
Patrick Gray
Patrick Gray joined the Dicerna board of directors in September of 2019. He currently serves as a member of the board and as chairperson of the audit committee of Tmunity Therapeutics, Inc. Mr. Gray previously served as a member of the board and as the chairperson of the audit committee of Civitas Solutions, Inc., from September 2014 to March 2019, Sancilio Pharmaceuticals Company, Inc., from February 2012 through August 2018, and Datto, Inc., from May 2015 through December 2017.
Mr. Gray spent 37 years with PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP ("PwC") until his retirement in 2009. He is a certified public accountant who spent 25 years as an Audit Partner at PwC. At the time of his retirement, Mr. Gray served as the lead partner for the PwC U.S. firm's Corporate Governance Group. Prior to that time, he held held various other leadership positions within the firm, including leadership of the PwC U.S. High Technology Group.
Mr. Gray holds a B.S. in Economics from The Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania.
Stephen J. Hoffman, M.D., Ph.D.
Stephen Hoffman, M.D., Ph.D., is an independent director and has served as a member of the Dicerna board of directors since November 2007. Most recently, he served as the chief executive officer of Aerpio Pharmaceuticals, Inc. from 2017 to 2019. Dr. Hoffman has been a senior advisor to PDL BioPharma, Inc. since February 2014. Prior to that, he served as a managing director at Skyline Ventures, a venture capital firm, from May 2007 until February 2014.
From January 2003 to March 2007, Dr. Hoffman was a general partner at TVM Capital, a venture capital firm. From 1994 to 2002, he served as president, chief executive officer and a member of the board of directors of Allos Therapeutics, Inc., a biopharmaceutical company, where he remained as chairman of the board until it was acquired by Spectrum Pharmaceuticals, Inc. in September 2012. From 1990 to 1994, Dr. Hoffman completed a fellowship in clinical oncology and a residency/fellowship in dermatology, both at the University of Colorado. Dr. Hoffman was the scientific founder of Somatogen Inc., a biotechnology company that in 1998 was acquired by Baxter International, Inc., where he held the position of vice president of science and technology from 1987 until 1990.
Dr. Hoffman currently serves on the boards of directors of AcelRx Pharmaceuticals, Inc. and Palleon Pharmaceuticals, Inc. Previously, he also served on the boards of directors of Genocea Biosciences, Inc., and Sirtris Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a pharmaceutical company that was acquired by GlaxoSmithKline in 2008.
Dr. Hoffman holds a Ph.D. in bio-organic chemistry from Northwestern University and an M.D. from the University of Colorado School of Medicine.
Adam M. Koppel M.D., Ph.D.
Managing Director, Bain Capital
Adam M. Koppel, M.D., Ph.D., managing director of the Bain Capital Life Sciences Fund, has been a member of the Dicerna board of directors since April 2017. He first joined Bain Capital Public Equity in 2003 and was a leader within the firm's healthcare sector until mid-2014; Dr. Koppel rejoined Bain Capital in 2016.
From mid-2014 to mid-2016, Dr. Koppel was executive vice president of corporate development and chief strategy officer at Biogen. Prior to initially joining Bain Capital, Dr. Koppel was an associate principal at McKinsey & Co. in New Jersey, where he served a variety of healthcare companies. In addition to Dicerna, he serves on the boards of directors of Solid Biosciences, PTC Therapeutics and Trevena.
Dr. Koppel received an M.D. and a Ph.D. in neuroscience from the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine. He also received an M.B.A. from the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania, where he was a Palmer Scholar. He graduated magna cum laude from Harvard University with an A.B. and A.M. in history and science.
Marc Kozin
Marc Kozin has served on more than a dozen boards in a variety of roles and on all committees. Previously, Mr. Kozin was a career strategy consultant, having served as president of L.E.K. Consulting's North American practice from 1997 to 2012.
Mr. Kozin began his career at L.E.K. in 1987 by helping to establish the firm's Boston office. He has over 30 years of experience in corporate and business unit strategy consulting, merger and acquisition advisory services, and value management both domestically and internationally. He also led the development of L.E.K.'s industry-leading life science strategic planning practice.
Mr. Kozin is lead director of UFP Technologies, where he has served as a director since 2006. In January 2013, he joined the strategy advisory board of HealthCare Royalty Partners, where he is vice chairman. On the non-profit side, he serves on the board of The Greenlight Fund.
Since 2012, Mr. Kozin has served on the boards of Endocyte, a small molecule-targeted therapeutic company since sold to Novartis; Dyax, an integrated biotechnology company since sold to Shire; OvaScience, a fertility company since merged with Millendo Therapeutics; and Flex Pharmaceuticals.
Anna Protopapas
President and Chief Executive Officer, Mersana Therapeutics
Anna Protopapas is president and chief executive officer of Mersana Therapeutics, a clinical-stage antibody drug conjugate company, which she joined in March 2015. Prior to Mersana, Ms. Protopapas was president of Millennium Pharmaceuticals, where she led Takeda Pharmaceutical Co.'s $1.3 billion oncology business.
Ms. Protopapas also served as the executive vice president of global business development for Takeda Pharmaceuticals, where she oversaw global acquisitions, partnering, licensing and venture investing. In this role, she led Takeda's $12 billion acquisition of Nycomed, a critical step in the company's globalization. Ms. Protopapas was a member of Takeda's executive committee and was elected a corporate officer in 2011. Earlier, Ms. Protopapas was an executive officer at Millennium Pharmaceuticals and served in various senior leadership positions, playing an integral role in the company's transformation from a genomics start-up to a fully integrated oncology leader.
Ms. Protopapas served on the board of directors of Ariad Pharmaceuticals from May 2015 to February 2017, when it was sold to Takeda for $5.2 billion. She also served on the board of Bioverativ from January 2017 to January 2018, when it was sold to Sanofi for $11.6 billion. She earned her bachelor's degree in science and engineering from Princeton University; a master's degree in chemical engineering practice from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology; and an M.B.A. from Stanford Graduate School of Business.
Cynthia Smith
Cynthia Smith has more than 20 years of broad leadership experience within the healthcare industry. Most recently she has served as chief commercial officer and a member of the executive team of ZS Pharma (acquired by AstraZeneca), where she led efforts to transition the company from the development stage to a commercial enterprise.
Prior to joining ZS Pharma, Ms. Smith served as vice president, market access and commercial development at Affymax, Inc. Earlier, she held various senior leadership positions in market access, corporate strategy, government relations and external affairs at Merck & Co. Before beginning her career in the biopharmaceutical industry, Ms. Smith served as a healthcare policy analyst in the White House Office of Management and Budget. She previously served on the board of Nivalis Therapeutics.
We interfere with disease
We use RNA interference, or RNAi, to create medicines that silence the genes that cause disease. Our goal is to provide life-changing therapies to people living with rare diseases and common diseases that have a genetic component.
©2020 Dicerna Pharmaceuticals, Inc. | Lexington, MA
Last revised Jan. 2020
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text:
Consumer groups encourage USDA secretary to continue efforts to make chicken products safer
By Coral Beach on September 14, 2022
Several groups, including Consumer Reports and STOP Foodborne Illness, have written to USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack in support of increased food safety efforts regarding Salmonella in poultry.
The groups describe current regulations as "antiquated" and encourage the secretary to move forward to develop new and enforceable standards that are product based. They say such changes are "a commonsense approach" and will help protect consumers from dangerous Salmonella-contaminated poultry.
"These reforms are urgently needed. Salmonella illness rates in the United States have not decreased in the last 20 years," the letter states. "Nearly a quarter of foodborne Salmonella illnesses are due to eating chicken or turkey."
The coalition of consumer protection groups says in its letter to the USDA secretary that is urges him to continue working toward updated testing standards, greater disclosure of establishment compliance with food safety standards, and improved foodborne illness outbreak surveillance tools.
"We strongly support a transition away from the current, unenforced, performance standard-based system to one that ensures every product bearing the USDA mark of inspection meets food safety criteria. We also commend your commitment to mitigating Salmonella risk through 'pre- harvest' measures, and exploring a Salmonella testing requirement for each flock of birds destined for slaughter," the letter states.
The letter acknowledges that Secretary Vilsack and the U.S. Department of Agriculture will encounter pushback from the poultry industry on any new regulations related to the control and reduction of Salmonella. Its letter also acknowledges that one industry group has already voiced its objection to the announcement of a proposed regulation that would allow the USDA's Food Safety and Inspection Service to treat Salmonella as an adulterant in breaded and stuffed raw chicken products. The move would in effect make it illegal for producers to sell Salmonella-tainted products in those categories.
In fact, soon after the USDA's August announcement about the plan to strengthen Salmonella regulation, the National Chicken Council spoke out against the move.
"The National Chicken Council and our member companies have invested millions of dollars and have worked for more than a decade to develop and refine best practices for these products to reduce Salmonella and protect public health. These efforts have been paying off, demonstrated by a significant decline in illness over the past seven years," said Ashley Peterson, the senior vice president of scientific and regulatory for the council.
"NCC (National Chicken Council) is concerned about the precedent set by this abrupt shift in longstanding policy, made without supporting data, for a product category that has been associated with a single outbreak since 2015," said Peterson. "It has the potential to shutter processing plants, cost jobs, and take safe food and convenient products off shelves."
A statement from the council went on to say the targeted products are labeled as raw and need to be cooked and that the group had tried to work with FSIS "to ensure the continued safety of these products."
The letter from the consumer groups countered Peterson's statement in its letter without naming the council.
". . . (T)hese products have been a consistent source of Salmonella infections for decades — causing 14 illness outbreaks, including one just last year — precisely because their appearance misleads consumers to believe that the products are ready-to-eat," the letter states.
"Prolonged efforts to warn consumers about these products through labeling have not worked. Common sense dictates that these products should be free of dangerous pathogenic contamination. However, to achieve real and sustainable progress in reducing the number of Salmonella infections, USDA will have to require stronger preventive measures for all raw poultry products, not just breaded and stuffed chicken products.
"We stand ready to support USDA in achieving significant reforms to protect consumers from Salmonella in poultry."
The letter is signed by the following groups:
Center for Foodborne Illness Research and Prevention
Center for Food Safety
Center for Science in the Public Interest
Consumer Federation of America
Food and Water Watch
STOP Foodborne Illness
(To sign up for a free subscription to Food Safety News, click here)
Tags: Center for Food Safety, Center for Science in the Public Interest, chicken, Consumer Federation of America, Consumer Reports, Food and Water Watch, National Chicken Council, National Consumers League, poultry, Salmonella, STOP Foodborne Illness, Tom Vilsack, USDA

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


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Q&A Christchurch City Council
A list of questions to Council planners.
Answers received in August 2015.
Our Questions are in Blue. Council answers in Black.
(Council contact: Helen Beaumont)
Questions emailed through to
Christchurch City Council on June 5 2015
I have been looking at Existing Use Rights in more detail because I am very seriously concerned about insurance companies asking for exemptions to exercise these rights in the coastal areas…
Could you please clarify for me which of the following earthquake introduced hazards can be ignored to allow the exercise of existing use rights:
Slope stability on hills
Rock fall hazard
Cliff stability hazards
Crust thinning
Dangerously high groundwater
Subsidence risk
High hazards (Multiple hazards)
Inundation
Erosion."
Existing use rights are available under section 10 of the Resource Management Act 1991. Land use activities that contravene a rule in district plan (or a proposed plan) may continue if the use was lawfully established and the effects of the use are the same or similar in character scale and intensity. Any rules in the district plan addressing the natural hazards listed above cannot be applied if they were not in place when the activity was lawfully established.
However under the Building Act 2004 the concept of existing use rights does not apply. Section 71 of the Building Act states the following:
"(1) A building consent authority must refuse to grant a building consent for construction of a building, or major alterations to a building, if—
(a) the land on which the building work is to be carried out is subject or is likely to be subject to 1 or more natural hazards; or
(b) the building work is likely to accelerate, worsen, or result in a natural hazard on that land or any other property.
(2) Subsection (1) does not apply if the building consent authority is satisfied that adequate provision has been or will be made to—
(a) protect the land, building work, or other property referred to in that subsection from the natural hazard or hazards; or
(b) restore any damage to that land or other property as a result of the building work.
(3) In this section and sections 72 to 74, natural hazard means any of the following:
(a) erosion (including coastal erosion, bank erosion, and sheet erosion):
(b) falling debris (including soil, rock, snow, and ice):
(c) subsidence:
(d) inundation (including flooding, overland flow, storm surge, tidal effects, and ponding):
(e) slippage."
"Planners have a statutory obligation to protect ratepayers and ensure sustainable development…The Ministry for the Environment also publishes a "Coastal Hazards and Climate Change: Guidance Manual 2008" for planners…And Regional policy statements, regional coastal (environment) plans and district plans are prepared under the RMA and must give effect to national policy statements and the NZCPS (RMA sections 62(3), 67(3)I, 75(3).)…While I can see that the Regional Policy Statement has recently undergone changes…I question how the Council planners will deliver their statutory obligations under NZCPS to protect people from 1/100-year event as the one that occurred in Dunedin this week?"
The primary mechanism to address the risk of flooding in the proposed Christchurch Replacement District Plan (pCRDP) is the mapping of Flood Management Areas (FMAs) with floor level controls. These afford greater protection than provision of a 1 in 100 year event and control floor heights of new buildings, filling and excavation to mitigate the risk of flooding from a 1 in 200 year flood event.
Further provisions are proposed in Stage 3 to address coastal hazards based on modelling of coastal erosion and coastal inundation taking into account climate change and sea level rise over the next 50 and 100 years.
"Which hazard maps are the current planning maps applying to land that has subsided below tidemark and below the Mean High Water Springs and subject to tidal inundation of saltwater?"
Where land is below Mean High Water Springs (MHWS) and is now part of the coastal marine area there will be no planning maps and no provisions in the pCRDP. However where land has subsided below MHWS and remains in the jurisdiction of Council (such as the areas upstream of the mouth of the Avon River) the district plan maps and associated provisions will apply.
There are a mix of operative and proposed provisions at present. The operative Christchurch City Plan (CCP) provisions include FMAs which have been revised. These new provisions in the pCRDP have no effect until beyond appeal. The Regional Coastal Environment Plan mapping and provisions for coastal erosion are operative.
There are also proposed coastal hazard provisions which have been notified in the Stage 3 Natural Hazards proposal. Hearings are set down for February 2016 and decisions not expected before April 2016.
What protections are in place in the interim after the changes have been made to the regional hazards maps and till the earthquake introduced hazards are identified as a part of the district plan update? When will these new hazard maps be implemented?
The coastal hazard mapping and associated provisions in the Regional Coastal Environment Plan remain operative until the proposed pCRDP provisons are made operative.
"According to the RMA 86(B) (3) (a), any notified hazard relating to water is implemented upon notification. Including the 12.3 FFL. Is there any legislation that shows that hazards that affect people life safety in coastal areas can by pass this legal requirement?"
Section 86B specifies when rules in proposed plans and changes have legal effect.
86B (3) Any rule in a proposed plan has immediate legal effect if it the rule –
Protects or relates to water, air, or soil (for soil conservation)
The council received a legal opinion in 2010 in respect to a plan change on flood hazard (Plan Change 32). In that legal opinion the question of whether the words "protects or relates to water" in Section 86B(3)(a) of the RMA results in rules in the Proposed Plan Change taking immediate legal effect. A summary of that legal opinion follows:
"We do not consider that the rules in PC32 protect or relate to water. They relate to and are for the purpose of protecting people and property from the natural hazard of flooding. In our view, the words "protects or relates to water" in Section 86B (3)(a) are intended to refer to activities which come within sections 14 and 15 of the RMA, rather than activities which come within section 9 of the RMA."
For clarification, we note that section 9 of the RMA relates to restrictions on the use of land, while section 14 and 15 relate to restrictions relating to water (taking, using and damming for example) and discharges of contaminants into the environment (into water, air or land) respectively.
"How can EUR be used where zoning decisions have not even been made after an earthquake? Please confirm if existing use rights can apply when zoning decisions have not yet been made and where the hazards caused by the earthquakes have not yet been mapped by planners."
Existing use rights provisions of section 10 of the Resource Management Act 1991 are designed to protect lawfully established land use activities.
"The Tidal Barrier is of concern… Firstly; these tidal barriers were rejected by the Ministry of the Environment in 2007 as a potential ecological disaster. Secondly; the cost is estimated to be in the range of 200m to 1.2bn. No budget has been seen for this. Where is the budget for this large project? Who will pay for it if it eventuates?
A tidal barrier is being investigated as one option for addressing the increased flood risk as a result of the Canterbury earthquakes. A pre-feasibility study has been commissioned by the Horizontal Infrastructure Governance Group (made up of the Christchurch City Council, the Canterbury Earthquakes Recovery Authority and the New Zealand Transport Agency) to assess the technical feasibility of building such a structure and to estimate the costs. If this project proceeds to a full feasibility study the budget would be debated as part of a future Council Long Term Plan.
"Ecan has objected that they have not been consulted on this project. How can this be if Ecan has been in charge of the CMA till a month ago?"
If this proposal was rejected in 2007 what is it that makes it more feasible today when the land lies lower, more pumping is required, active fault lines identified and more extreme events are proven to be occurring. Not to mention the financial strains on Council."
Environment Canterbury staff have been involved in the initial scoping of the tidal barrier investigation. They will be sent a copy of the final tidal barrier report now that the peer review work has been completed. Environment Canterbury does have statutory responsibility for activities seaward of the CMA boundary and would be expected to have role in consenting if the project went ahead.
Christchurch City Council on August 3 2015
treated as a LGOIMA request
Question 1a: The new Hold Zone, is council planning to buy uninsurable properties – if so how will this be done? Public works act? LINZ/new legislation? Converting houses to relocatable?
Response: The Council is not aware of any property owners who have been denied insurance and has no plans to buy any properties. There is no 'Hold Zone' in the proposed district plan provisions.
Question 2a: What structural repairs will be allowed on land that is subject to 50 year erosion (why exemptions and what are the consequences)
Response: The Stage Three proposals in the Proposed Replacement Christchurch District Plan seek to reduce risk to people, property and critical infrastructure in areas affected by coastal hazards by:
avoiding subdivision and development in areas at high risk of coastal erosion and sea water inundation over the next 50 years;
controlling subdivision and development in areas that will be affected by coastal erosion and sea water inundation in the 50-100 year period; and
enabling the modification of existing buildings to reduce the risk of coastal erosion and sea water inundation over the next 100 years.
Existing structures may be repaired and new homes rebuilt where the property owner has existing use rights under the Resource Management Act.
Question 3a: Ground Improvements of erosion prone land (CCC/BCA exemptions – consequences), If not exempted what is council liability?
Response: This is not a request for information held by the Council. It seeks a legal opinion/advice.
Question 4a: If we cannot get an insurance for erosion and we cannot hold a mortgage, what does council propose?
Response: As above, Council is not aware of any property owners who have been denied insurance.
Question 5a: Tidal Barriers, What if this is not feasible? Who carries the loss? Some land is at risk of imminent loss due to crust thinning and rely on area wide solution for the land to be habitable into the future.
Response: A tidal barrier is being investigated as one option for addressing the increased flood risk as a result of the Canterbury earthquakes. A pre-feasibility study has been commissioned by the Horizontal Infrastructure Governance Group (made up of the Christchurch City Council, the Canterbury Earthquakes Recovery Authority and the New Zealand Transport Agency) to assess the technical feasibility of building such a structure and to estimate the costs. If this project proceeds to a full feasibility study the budget would be debated as part of a future Council Long Term Plan.
Question 6a: Erosion maps operative, how will the earthquake damaged land be planned for. Why did ECan delete the erosion hazards of this map published last year?
Response: This question has been transferred to ECan to answer, as provided for in section 12 of the Local Government Official Information and Meetings Act 1987.
Question 7a: Managed retreat, (we see signals of forced retreat (by stealth), insurance companies and banks are retreating. what is the long term plan for the residents). (When can we expect the banks to start foreclosing on properties)
Response: This is not a request for information held by Council. It seeks an opinion on the response of the banking industry to coastal hazards.
Question 8a: Mean High Water Springs – The new CCC boundaries. How will this work? Ratepayers/CCC
Response: Where land is below Mean High Water Springs (MHWS) and is now part of the Coastal Marine Area (CMA) there will be no planning maps and no provisions in the proposed Christchurch Replacement District Plan (pCRDP). However where land has subsided below MHWS and remains in the jurisdiction of Council (such as the areas upstream of the mouth of the Avon River) the district plan maps and associated provisions will apply.
There are a mix of operative and proposed provisions at present. The operative Christchurch City Plan provisions include Flood Management Areas which have been revised. These new rules in the pCRDP have no effect until all appeals are resolved. The Regional Coastal Environment Plan mapping and provisions for coastal erosion remain operative.
There are also proposed coastal hazard provisions which have been notified in the Stage 3 Natural Hazards proposal of the pCRDP. Hearings are set down for February 2016 and decisions are not expected before April 2016.
Council is working with Environment Canterbury and the Department of Conservation to review the delineation of the mouths of both the Avon and Heathcote Rivers which has a consequential impact on the extent of the Coastal Marine Area in the lower reaches of these rivers. The technical work has been completed and we are now investigating the most appropriate legal mechanism to update the extent and mapping of Coastal Marine Area.
Question 9a: What is council liability if hazards are not registered on property?
Question 10a: What is a PIM?
Response: A project information memorandum (PIM) is a report issued by the Council upon request before, or with, a building consent. It contains information the Council has about the property that is likely to be relevant to a building proposal, such as sewer connections, existing drainage, flood, and hazards such as mass movement and land contamination.
A PIM is generated as a new document on request, and only includes current, relevant information about a property. If you are planning to do building work, a PIM will tell you what authorisations may be required, other than the building consent, such as a resource consent or service connections (water, sewer); what you need to get that authorisation, and what effect they may have on the design of the building work.
Question 11a: What happens if a PIM is issued before hazard maps are made operative?
Response: PIMs are required to include information likely to be relevant to the proposed building work. This includes identifying any potential natural hazards (as a special feature of the land concerned) that are known to the Council, even if those hazards are not currently included in the Council's District Plan.
Question 12a: Can an insurance company use an out of date PIM based on ground conditions before the earthquakes?
Response: The Council has no control over what documents an insurance company may use for any purpose. An owner is not required to obtain a PIM before carrying out any building work. However, if a PIM is not obtained, then where a building consent application is made, the Council still carries out the same assessments as if a PIM application had been made, for the purposes of considering the building consent application.
Question 13a: Who is liable if the property sinks due to incorrect hazard information?
Q1) We would appreciate the paper of the legal opinion in regard to the soil erosion (RMA) Reference (Question 5)
A1) The Council has not sought a legal opinion on soil erosion with respect to RMA matters.
Q2) There is a map of identified soil erosion risk that Ecan published last year. What is it with this map from the territorial authority? Is it operational? If not then why not?
A2) This question has been transferred to ECan to answer, as provided for in section 12 of the Local Government Official Information and Meetings Act 1987.
Q3) It would be appreciated if you could provide us with some explanations on EUR – Jack and Pack in this case. This is an example, please take as such. The building was demolished more than 12 months ago, let's assume the insurance company requests a Jack and Pack. Let's assume 11 months have passed and let's assume a resource consent is not required.
EUR – Jack and Pack in this case. This is an example, please take as such. The building was demolished more than 12 months ago, let's assume the insurance company requests a Jack and Pack. Let's assume 11 months have passed and let's assume a resource consent is not required.
On the other side of the river (Outside the CMA) the groundwater has been measured at 10cm from the surface (residential /peoples homes)
Insurance companies are requesting and council is approving EUR, building at 1976 floor levels.
A3) It's not appropriate for the Council to comment on a hypothetical scenario with so many variables. Other unknown influencing factors mean we could not give an accurate answer.
We can provide an explanation of EUR (existing use rights). Existing use rights are available under section 10 of the Resource Management Act 1991. Land use activities that contravene a rule in district plan (or a proposed plan) may continue if the use was lawfully established and the effects of the use are the same or similar in character scale and intensity. Any rules in the district plan addressing the natural hazards that you have listed cannot be applied if they were not in place when the activity was lawfully established.
"(1) A building consent authority must refuse to grant a building consent for construction of a building, or major alterations to a building, if —
(3) In this section and sections 72 to 74, natural hazard means any of the
Rebuilds therefore require a building consent. Floor levels for new dwellings would need to comply with the modern building code and will be set using the most up to date modelling information.
Q4) Our understanding is that no erosion risk applies as the map of erosion risk has not been made operational. (Since 2011). Land will not be subject to erosion risk till April 2016, when estimations are that 95% of insurance claims will be settled.
As per the "grandfather" request of the insurance companies (Stage 2 District plan), an old PIM report can be used for a new building consent. I am puzzled how I am to communicate how this system of risk transfer works.
A4) The coastal hazard mapping and associated provisions in the Regional Coastal Environment Plan remain operative until the proposed pCRDP provisons are made operative.
The Council has no control over what documents an insurance company may use for any purpose. An owner is not required to obtain a PIM before carrying out any building work. However, if a PIM is not obtained, then where a building consent application is made, the Council still carries out the same assessments as if a PIM application had been made, for the purposes of considering the building consent application.
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text:
Bactrocera tuberculata is een vliegensoort uit de familie van de boorvliegen (Tephritidae). De wetenschappelijke naam van de soort werd voor het eerst geldig gepubliceerd in 1916 door Bezzi.

Boorvliegen

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


We know a family who live nearby and sometimes offer to drive us to school (a 10-minute walk). I have done this a few times and find it so upsetting I now decline. A few days ago the we were leaving our home the same time as this family and after being offered a ride twice, and declined twice, I tried to continue walking with my son, enjoying the slightly fresh late May morning air.
They waved as they drove by and then pulled over onto the oncoming traffic lane and parked. The father opened his door and the backseat door and once again, smiling, offered to drive us. I felt so uncomfortable at this point, having thrice declined and now he's parked in the street nearly blocking traffic.
I hurry around to the passenger side, with a huge bag carrying the DVD player we are donating to the school in front of me.
My son scrambles into the backseat and I then spend the next five minutes repeatedly asking for the seatbelt and "where is the seatbelt" and "can you get the seatbelt..." The other two children are sitting in their carseats unattached. The father is busy trying to talk to me as an adult about various topics and all I want to do is get the seatbelt on my son.
We've had this experience before, as I've mentioned. The father laughs and says, "oh it's not that long a trip...it's just a short distance...it's not necessary for the short trips." This is a common thing I've seen in this neighborhood of privilege. Mamans and Papas piling toddlers and youngsters into Mini Coopers, Fiat 500s (original and new versions), Porsches (original and SUV versions) and other small cars. It's like a way to cling to their childhood, or to continue the tradition of their upbringing (the French Way), or demonstrate this act of civil disobedience (which the French LOVE to perform in a variety of ways).


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Castlevania: Harmony of Despair Review
Posted By George Reith | On 08th, Aug. 2010 Under Reviews | Follow This Author @GNReith
People trust too much. I love Xbox Live and I know it will continue on future Microsoft consoles, but some day (as with the original Xbox) the 360 will lose online support. Where does that leave us with games like Castlevania: Harmony of despair? A game that is so steeped in nostalgia, yet infused with entertaining new co-op mechanics that can only be enjoyed online. C:HD is a great game through and through, but some day in the future the lack of split-screen will make this game virtually unplayable and this saddens me deeply. That, and let's be honest, you can't high–five your buddies online can you?
The character roster only covers the more recent games in the seaedries, meaning Belmont fans will be disappointed
The game takes the Smash Bros. premise of throwing a bunch of characters from the series together to make up the character roster. You get Soma from Aria and Dawn of sorrow, Shanoa from Order of Ecclesia, Charlotte and Jonathan from Portrait of Ruin and, of course, the mighty Alucard from Symphony of the Night. The main game revolves around, what is effectively the boss rush mode from previous games in the series. You can see the whole castle from the get go, and are shown the boss you must eliminate and are told to go get 'em within the allotted time. There is no real plot behind the whole affair as such, but to be honest it really isn't necessary. The game is designed to be an action packed fangasm and, in this respect, it delivers.
It's certainly a shame that the character roster doesn't stretch as far back as to include the older Castlevania protagonists (Richter Belmont FTW), but personal preferences aside, the list is well balanced and each character requires a different play-style. Alucard and Soma wield the largest arsenal of weaponry, with Alucard retaining his attack evading mist form from SoTN. Charlotte and Shanoa are the magic wielders, absorbing projectile and glyph based spells respectively, and Jonathan works as the standard Belmont character with the whip and sub-weapons. Each character doesn't level up as such, but has a large variety of equipment, spells and weapons that can be found. It certainly keeps a sense of progression going throughout and it gives the game an added depth.
One of the more difficult bosses, merging a keen challenge with some frustratingly cheap attacks
The design aspect of C:HD is probably one of the strongest around, with the enemy design being solid as always. The level design is also excellent, effortlessly incorporating the new co-op aesthetics, whilst also providing multiple paths. The camera controls can take a while to get used to, but being able to zoom out and see the entire level allows you to plan your route and tactics and shows just how intricate some of the level design is. It does help keep the inevitable multiple play-throughs fresh, but with only six levels, the stages do become somewhat tiresome after a while. It's also nice to see the challenge ramping up quite quickly over the levels, to the point where this may be the hardest Castlevania yet! It's just a shame that the difficulty only feels balanced when you join in with a full team of six. Playing solo becomes a near impossible challenge sadly, and will no doubt lead to frustration.
As painful as it is trying to get through the game on your own, getting together with others can also be a problem. It can take a while to search for a game, and when you finally get the list of games it doesn't say whether there are any private slots or not. It becomes frustrating when private slots prevent you joining a game, and you are immediately booted back to the main menu as a result, and must start the search process from scratch. It isn't game breaking as such, but it does somewhat mar the enjoyment of the otherwise excellent co-op mode. If you feel like flexing your competitive muscles at any time you can always try the survival versus mode. It offers a decent distraction, but the lack of skill based matchmaking and the small arenas prevent it from being a particularly balanced or addictive competitive field. For all the complaints I've levelled at C:HD, when it all comes down to it the game retains everything about the old Castlevania games that we know and love. The main aspect that cripples the game in comparison to its predecessors is the lack of split-screen and system link options. It really does just feel like a missed opportunity. Ever since my review for Transformers: WFC I've found myself ranting about the lack of split-screen focus in gaming, but it is an ideology I will continue to champion as long as multiplayer games are still being foolishly made as online only.
While we're on the topic of where C:HD sits within the Castlevania franchise, it must be said that it's on a graphical par with previous titles. This is largely because the exact same sprites have been in use in the Castlevania games for the past thirteen years. It's a double edged sword as, whilst the sprites retain the same charm they always have, the visuals are starting to show their age and are nowhere near the HD level that the game's title so proudly displays. The music and SFX are similar to how they've always been, but the returning themes seemed to sit well with the returning cast of characters in the game. All the characters have had some new voice clips made for them, and whilst they won't be to everyone's taste, they aren't repeated enough to become too annoying.
The graphics aren't all bad, but they aren't quite as sharp as I'd have liked
So now we come to the big question. Is it worth your hard earned cash? It depends how dedicated a follower of the series you are, as I'm sure the hardcore fans will buy this anyway regardless of what I say. I would certainly recommend the game, especially if you have some buddies playing it, but with only six levels and a hefty 1200 MS point cost it might not be as good value as it seems. You can always try the demo if you are unsure, but I personally felt an 800 point price tag may have been more reasonable.
Konami have decided with C:HD not to fix what isn't broken, so anyone who has loved previous games in the series will fit right in. The game isn't pushing the limits of the franchise as such, but the new multiplayer focus is satisfying and good fun. This is where the advanced warning comes as, this is a game that should only be purchased if you know that you're friends will be doing the same. For all the things I love about C:HD it is very little fun on your own.
This game was reviewed on the Xbox 360.
Old-school side-scrolling gameplay hits the spot, Multiple characters are all unique and keep things fresh, Levels have multiple solutions and paths, A good challenge, Great Co-op gameplay
Difficulty doesn't scale based on number of players in a team, Some bosses have cheap attacks, No split-screen or LAN, Lack of levels means they can become stale
Castlevania: Harmony of despair brings back the classic Castlevania gameplay you know and love and fuses it with an exciting co-operative focus. Sadly a lack of levels and no split-screen play prevent it from being the classic it deserves to be
A copy of this game was provided by developer/publisher for review purposes. Click here to know more about our Reviews Policy.
Tagged With: CASTLEVANIA: HARMONY OF DESPAIR, Xbox Live Arcade
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Q: Can Rundeck Be Configured to Use Different Nodes If Someone Else is Already Running A Job On Current Node? I am trying to see if rundeck is capable of deciding if a node is currently busy runnning another job and it will switch to another node and ruin the job there instead.
For example, I am current running a job on NODE1, then another person logs into rundeck and decide to run their job on NODE1, but NODE1 is busy running my job so rundeck will automatically run their job on NODE2.
Thanks

A: This could be possible assuming the following design:
1) Create/use a resource model source plugin that sets attributes about the node's business. This can be a metric like load status or something else that you use to gauge rundeck utilization.
2) Write the job with a nodefilter to match on the attribute about utilization metric
3 ) Define the job to use the RandomSubset Orchestration strategy specifying to use 1 node.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


CryptoWall ransomware underwent an upgrade and is now at version 3.0, which features localized ransom messages.
In addition to the new feature, researchers also found victims have a choice of several addresses which all lead to the decryption service located in the I2P anonymity network. I2P is another anonymity network, similar to Tor, where traffic ends up encrypted multiple times and directed through a series of proxies to conceal the identity of the user.
CryptoWall, also known as Crowti, is ransomware that includes file encryption capabilities. As soon as it executes on a compromised computer, it starts encrypting the data on it.
At the end of the operation, the victim gets a ransom message and instructions on how to pay in order to receive the key for unlocking the files. The fee is $500, payable in 168 hours since the encryption process completes, in bitcoin digital currency.
French malware researcher Kafeine, as well as researchers at Microsoft found Version 3.0 of the malware.
In a blog post, Kafeine said the communication with the command and control server uses the RC4 encryption algorithm and uses the I2P protocol.
Kafeine tested the new CryptoWall sample and noticed the proxies did not work, as there was an error message upon trying to connect. The returned message said the I2P website was unavailable due to different reasons (congested network or inability to connect to relay systems) and the user should repeat the operation.
However, the cybercriminals prepared for such scenarios and provided instructions on how to access the decryption service hidden in Tor anonymity network.
Microsoft researchers said CryptoWall 3.0 infected 288 unique machines in two days, January 11 and 12.
A report in August 2014 from Dell SecureWorks Counter Threat Unit (CTU) found the cybercriminals behind the threat made more than $1.1 million over a six-month period (mid-March – August 2014) from 625,000 systems across the world.
CryptoWall has taken the place of CryptoLocker, which law enforcement authorities shut down last summer as part of an operation targeting the Gameover Zeus malware.


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Arts & Galleries
Kim Kardashian to Headline Fashion's Night Out
By Della Hasselle | August 16, 2012 7:53am
@dellahasselle
Kim Kardashian is one of many celebrities attending Fashion's Night Out on Sept. 6, 2012.
NEW YORK — New York's biggest fashion night of the year is back, this time bringing with it a little Kardashian star power, some fist-pumping and, of course, teeming masses of trendsetters.
Fashion's Night Out — a prelude to New York's Mercedes Benz Fashion Week — is a chance to catch all the hottest trends and see designers' newest collections.
But that's not all the city's swankiest stores have to offer.
The fourth-annual event started in Manhattan's stores in 2009 to bring a little boost to a faltering economy. But by last year, Fashion's Night Out had spread to 18 countries, with more than 4,500 events in the United States alone.
This year, the Sept. 6 event in New York promises once again to be the one of the biggest parties of the year for celebrities, models and spectators alike — from hair-braiding bars to comic book- themed dance parties.
Check out the guide below to navigate the city's hottest spots for this year's Fashion Week kickoff.
WHERE TO SEE THE STARS
For New Yorkers willing to elbow their way through the crowds for a chance to gawk at celebs, there are few better places than the star-studded events at Fashion's Night Out.
Lord & Taylor has loaded up on celebrities this year, with events featuring Kim Kardashian, reality star Jill Zarin, and ice skater and Olympic gold medalist Kristi Yamaguchi at the company's flagship store on Fifth Avenue and 39th Street. The store's events promise to come complete with free jewelry, complimentary tote bags and a free 2013 New York City Firefighter's Calendar, signed by one of New York's Bravest.
At Saks Fifth Avenue, Oscar de la Renta will make a grand appearance to showcase his new fragrance, Essential Luxuries. New York Knicks star Amar'e Stoudemire will also make an appearance, as well as designers Max and Lubov Azria.
For fashionistas toting tots around on Fashion's Night Out, Fashion CH Kids Night Out will be held at the CH Carolina Herrera Boutique on Madison Avenue. The kid-friendly party will be hosted by Herrera's daughter Patricia Lansing, Jerry Seinfeld's wife Jessica, and Stephanie Winston Wolkoff, Lincoln Center's founding fashion director. The event benefits Baby Buggy, a nonprofit organization that distributes children's products to more than 50 community-based organizations. Afterward, grown-ups can continue to party down with cocktails until 11 p.m.
STYLING BARS
For those who are looking to get primped in anticipation of Fashion Week, several spots around the city have plenty to offer.
Alisha Trimble will be showing her limited edition fall 2012 collection at ARROJO's Styling Bar from 6 to 9 p.m. at the store in SoHo. Gifts include a complimentary signature tote, a dip-dyed romper and special ARROJO goodies with purchase of items from the collection.
At New York & Company, spectators can get styled by TV personality and fashion expert Stacy London and her team from the fashion consulting company Style for Hire. DJ Scratch Academy will spin at the store on Lexington Avenue and East 58th Street, and champagne and macarons will be served while shoppers explore the fall collection at NY&C.
Revlon is pulling out all the stops on Fashion's Night Out. Makeup artist Gucci Westman will hold a full-on beauty party at Industria Studios on Bethune Street near Washington Street in the West Village, with personal consultations, manicures by celebrity manicurist Jin Soon, and a photo booth decked out with music, champagne and snacks. Tickets cost $50.
Some designers are adding a little extra flare to Fashion's Night Out, hosting blowout parties complete with costumes and other artistic elements.
Anne Fontaine is bringing a something special to Fifth Avenue with an "Anna Karenina"-themed party to display Fontaine's fall-winter 2012 collection.
"Inspired by the tragic heroine of Leo Tolstoy's famous novel, the collection is marked by the hazy atmosphere and winter of Russia from the late-19th century," the brand's website said.
3.1 Phillip Lim is exploring the fashions of comic book characters for the company's Fashion's Night Out party. At the event, the designer plans to unveil a hand-crafted window styled after the 2012 comic book "Kill the Night" and will offer signed copies of the book as exclusive gifts to his shoppers.
Finally, Henri Bendel will bring the circus to town at its Fifth Avenue flagship store. Cirque du Soleil's "Zumanity" promises to dazzle spectators with five free acrobatic performances. Along with the Las Vegas-like performance, the store will feature a casino night theme with Swarovski crystal giveaways and cocktails.
For a complete listing of Fashion's Night Out events, visit the event's website.
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Hand crafted like fine furniture, each wooden casket has it's own unique graining pattern. The natural warmth and beauty of wood is available in a variety of types. The interior material of a wood casket is typically either velvet or crepe.


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Iranian president Ahmadinejad in Zimbabwe for trade fair
Filed under: Africa,Archived,Asia,Economy and business,Iran,Mahmoud Ahmadinejad,Middle East,Morgan Tsvangirai,Movement for Democratic Change,Nuclear proliferation,Nuclear weapons,Politics and conflicts,Robert Mugabe,Zimbabwe — admin @ 5:00 am
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26 June 2015: Former Scottish Conservatives leader Annabel Goldie to stand down as MSP
25 June 2015: Petition pressures City of Edinburgh Council to review clause affecting live music scene
6 June 2015: Major haemorrhage linked to alcoholism announced as cause of Charles Kennedy's death
Iranian president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.
Image: Daniella Zalcman.
Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, the president of Iran, is visiting Zimbabwe to sign trade agreements with the country and meet with Zimbabwean president Robert Mugabe.
Ahmadinejad, in comments at the trade fair located in Bulawayo, said the amount of trade between the two nations should be increased. The Iranian president remarked that Zimbabwe and Iran made a friendship based on a principled stand against Western interference, and accused the West of seeking control over Zimbabwe's natural resources.
Mugabe commented: "Because of the principled positions we have taken at both the domestic and international level, Zimbabwe and Iran have been unjustly vilified and punished by Western countries. Be also assured, comrade president, of Zimbabwe's continuous support of Iran's just cause on the nuclear issue."
The US wants new UN sanctions against Iran, due to the latter's refusal to stop its uranium enrichment, saying that it it is intended for nuclear weapons. Iranian authorities, however, insist the programme is only for peaceful purposes.
According to the The Sunday Telegraph, the trades will consist of Iran supplying oil to Zimbabwe, in exchange for the latter's allowing Iran to obtain access to uranium deposits in the country. "Iran secured the exclusive uranium rights last month when minister of state for Presidential affairs, Didymus Mutasa visited Tehran. That is when the formal signing of the deal was made, away from the glare of the media," a Zimbabwean government source stated, as quoted by the Telegraph.
Ahmadinejad's visit brought another source of friction between Mugabe and Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai. Tsvangirai's Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) party said that Mugabe's invitation sent the wrong message to the rest of the world as Zimbabwe was re-engaging the West and trying to rebuild its economy. MDC sources said Tsvangirai flew to South Africa on Thursday, the day on which Ahmadinejad arrived.
In a statement, the MDC remarked that "Ahmadinejad's visit is not only an insult to the people of Zimbabwe, but an affront to democracy and to the oppressed people of Iran."
"Iran strikes secret nuclear mining deal with Zimbabwe's Mugabe regime" — The Telegraph, April 24, 2010
"Iran leader in Zimbabwe for trade" — Al Jazeera, April 23, 2010
"Iranian President Ahmadinejad, Opening Zimbabwe Trade Fair, Denounces West" — Voice of America, April 23, 2010
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Zimbabwe prime minister Tsvangirai ends cabinet boycott
Filed under: Africa,Archived,Morgan Tsvangirai,Movement for Democratic Change,Politics and conflicts,Robert Mugabe,Zimbabwe — admin @ 5:00 am
Other stories from Zimbabwe
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17 September 2011: Zimbabwe minister warns media
27 June 2011: Funeral held for former Zambian President Frederick Chiluba
Location of Zimbabwe
To write, edit, start or view other articles on Zimbabwe, see the Zimbabwe Portal
Morgan Tsvangirai, the prime minister of Zimbabwe, said on Thursday that he was calling off his boycott of the coalition government with president Robert Mugabe. The prime minister said he was giving Mugabe and his Zanu-PF party 30 days to work on "the pertinent issues we are concerned about".
Tsvangirai and his Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) party had pulled out of the coalition government three weeks ago, protesting what they called harassment of Mugabe opponents and accusing the president of not fulfilling the power-sharing agreement agreed to in February.
"We have suspended our disengagement from the GPA [Global Political Agreement] with immediate effect and we will give President Robert Mugabe 30 days to implement the agreement on the pertinent issues we are concerned about," Tsvangirai said. His move came after he attended a meeting in Mozambique with the Southern African Development Community.
"Zimbabwe's MDC pulls out of unity government" — Wikinews, October 16, 2009
"Tsvangirai ends Zimbabwe boycott" — Al Jazeera, November 6, 2009
"Zimbabwe's MDC calls off boycott" — BBC News, November 6, 2009
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Zimbabwean police raid MDC party\'s offices
Filed under: Africa,Archived,Crime and law,Morgan Tsvangirai,Movement for Democratic Change,Politics and conflicts,Robert Mugabe,Zimbabwe — admin @ 5:00 am
Zimbabwean police raid MDC party's offices
According to the Zimbabwean finance minister, a building belonging to Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai's Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) party was raided by police on Friday. The police had reportedly been searching for weapons.
Morgan Tsvangirai (2009)
Image: Harry Wad.
The MDC secretary-general, Tendai Biti, said that the house, located in a suburb of Zimbabwe's capital Harare, was "ransacked" by several dozen armed policemen after dark on Friday. One of the rooms in the building had been searched, and police confiscated what Biti called "valuable party documents".
…this is the price we now pay for that decision.
—Tendai Biti
The secretary-general accused President Robert Mugabe's Zanu-PF party of being behind the raid, wanting the country's unity government to fail, describing it as "provocation". "They are behind this attack. Our decision of pulling out of the inclusive government infuriated ZANU-PF and this is the price we now pay for that decision," he said.
The police have not yet released a statement regarding the raid.
Tsvangirai and his MDC party had pulled out of the coalition government last week, accusing Mugabe's party of not complying with the unity government deal made last year, and oppressing opponents. Mugabe, however, dismissed the boycott, calling it a "non-event", and said that his party would not alter its plans or agree to the MDC's demands.
"Zimababwe Zanu-PF party dismisses Tsvangirai unity boycott" — Wikinews, October 19, 2009
"Zimbabwe police 'raid MDC office'" — BBC News Online, October 24, 2009
"Zimbabwe police raid prime minister aides' house" — Associated Press, October 24, 2009
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Zimbabwe cabinet meets without MDC ministers after boycott
Zimbabwean president Robert Mugabe led a cabinet meeting on Tuesday without the presence of unity partner Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai, who was out of the country on a regional tour to appeal for help with mediation. This comes after Tsvangirai and his Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) party pulled out of the unity government several days ago, protesting what they called "dishonest and unreliable" behaviour by Mugabe.
Zimbabwe state media reported on Tuesday that President Mugabe will not recognise Tsvangirai's suspension of ties with the government until he is formally informed. The state-owned daily newspaper, The Herald, quoted Mugabe's spokesman, George Charamba, as saying Tsvangirai is still prime minister and is expected to attend cabinet meetings.
"Government is not run through media statements. In the same way that President Mugabe formally appointed him to the post of Prime Minister he must also communicate any decision to disengage or whatever it is they are calling it, in a formal manner," Charamba said.
"This can be done orally or in writing but in a formal manner. From that point of view nothing has happened. Until the communication is done formally the president has no reason or any grounds to think or know otherwise," he said.
Tsvangirai, who "disengaged" from the country's unity government last week, was accused by the newspaper of traveling without cabinet approval. The leader of the MDC party is on a ten-day trip of Southern African Development Community countries, who helped to negotiate the troubled power sharing agreement in Zimbabwe. Tsvangirai is not due to return to Zimbabwe until sometime next week.
According to The Herald, government officials said that Tsvangirai had attempted to obtain cabinet authority for his trip while en route to the airport, but was told that it was too late to receive it.
However, University of Zimbabwe political science professor John Makumbe said he believed Tsvangirai's partial withdrawal from the national unity government was long overdue and ZANU-PF's reaction is mere posturing. "Morgan Tsvangirai has done the right thing, he must light fires and make ZANU-PF run around putting the fires out. What he has been doing to date is agreeing to be treated like a tea-boy, he has been told what to do and he has done it without asking questions," Makumbe said.
He said that Mugabe's ZANU-PF party couldn't risk going it alone, as Tsvangirai has a stronger claim to legitimacy as his party won the elections in March 2008.
Ministers from a splinter faction of the MDC led by Arthur Mutambara attended the cabinet meeting. Mutambara, who is one of two deputy prime ministers, said at a news conference on Monday that he was talking to both Mugabe and Tsvangirai. He said the national unity government is Zimbabwe's only hope of moving forward. "We are determined to give this government a fighting chance because in our mind there is no plan B," Mutambara said.
Tsvangirai announced last week that his party would not withdraw from the unity government altogether, but would boycott the executive branch whose ministries it shares with the ZANU-PF party. He cited the reluctance of Mugabe to implement matters that had been agreed to in the so-called Global Political Agreement, which brought the national unity government to power.
Among the outstanding issues is the appointment of governors and the alleged harassment of his party members and Members of Parliament. His announcement came two days after agriculture deputy minister designate Roy Bennett was arrested and re-detained on charges of insurgency and terror. Bennett has since been released on bail, but Tsvangirai has said his party will not participate in government until all the issues he raised have been resolved.
This article includes material from Zimbabwe Cabinet Meets Without MDC Ministers by VOA News, which is in the public domain.
Ish Mafundikwa. "Zimbabwe Cabinet Meets Without MDC Ministers" — VOA News, October 20, 2009
"Zimbabwe cabinet meets without Tsvangirai" — Daily Nation, October 20, 2009
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Zimababwe Zanu-PF party dismisses Tsvangirai unity boycott
Filed under: Africa,Archived,Morgan Tsvangirai,Movement for Democratic Change,Robert Mugabe,Zimbabwe — admin @ 5:00 am
Zimbabwe's ZANU-PF party has said that government business will continue despite the opposition party's decision to stop working with its unity government partner. A spokesman for president Robert Mugabe dismissed the boycott by the leader of the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) Morgan Tsvangirai as "needless excitement".
Tsvangirai and his party had pulled out of the coalition government on Friday, saying that Mugabe had been "dishonest and unreliable".
Spokesman George Charamba said to the Sunday Mail newspaper that "the MDC-T has disengaged from nothing. It's sound and fury signifying nothing. The MDC-T president knows that. It's a poor protest," he said.
Charamba said that Mugabe has been too busy with ceremonial duties to react to Tsvangirai's boycott. "I suppose the president will find time when the right time comes," he said.
The Sunday Mail quoted Charamba as saying that a cabinet meeting will go ahead as scheduled on Tuesday and that binding decisions will be made despite the MDC boycott. "As you will certainly see on Tuesday, cabinet will be held. The agenda for the meeting has been circulated and decisions that are binding will be taken. Remember, cabinet does not function through a quorum."
As you will certainly see on Tuesday, cabinet will be held.
—George Charamba
Tensions between Mugabe's ZANU-PF party and the MDC have been constant since the unity government was formed early this year. Regional leaders pressured the parties to share power after last year's disputed and violence-plagued elections.
The latest crisis was sparked by the re-detention of Roy Bennett, a white farmer who the MDC has nominated to be deputy minister of agriculture. Bennett is awaiting trial on terrorism charges, and already spent a month in prison earlier this year before being released on bail. The MDC has said that he is innocent.
Tsvangirai said on Friday that if the political crisis escalates further, the only solution would be to hold new elections under international supervision.
"ZANU-PF Says Zimbabwe Gov't Will Operate Without MDC" — VOA News, October 18, 2009
Agence France-Presse. "Mugabe spokesman dismisses unity boycott" — Google News, October 18, 2009
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Zimbabwe\'s MDC pulls out of unity government
Zimbabwe's MDC pulls out of unity government
Morgan Tsvangirai in June 2009
Morgan Tsvangirai, the leader of the Zimbabwean Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) and the country's Prime Minister, has pulled out of the coalition government, accusing Zimbabwean president Robert Mugabe of being "dishonest and unreliable".
Tsvangirai and his MDC party said that they would pull out from the government until outstanding issues in a power-sharing agreement between Tsvangirai and Mugabe were resolved. He made the announcement following a crisis meeting that was called after the MDC treasurer general was indicted on charges of terrorism.
Tsvangirai said that "this party, for now, cannot renege on the people's mandate. However, it is our right to disengage from a dishonest and unreliable partner."
"In this regard, whilst being in government we shall forthwith disengage from Zanu-PF [Mugabe's party] and in particular from cabinet and the council of ministers until such time as confidence and respect is restored among us," he said.
The Prime Minister, however, added that the pullout would most likely be only temporary, and that the MDC would still conduct some activities in the parliament. "We are not really pulling out officially," Tsvangirai said.
A spokesman for the Zanu-PF party responded to Tsvangirai's move. "If MDC wants to disengage […] we don't have a problem with that. We were having problems with MDC, working together. We have been trying but it was not easy," said spokesman Ephraim Masawi.
The former Information and Publicity minister, Jonathan Moyo, who is a member of the Zanu-PF, accused the MDC of acting "childishly".
The Zimbabwean coalition government was launched eight months ago, after a heavily disputed election that was marred by violence. Tsvangirai obtained a majority of votes in the 2008 presidential elections, but decided to withdraw from a run-off election with Mugabe, claiming that Mugabe had used violence against his supporters. A deal was eventually made, under which Mugabe would retain his post, but Tsvangirai would assume the position of prime minister. Zanu-PF and Mugabe, however, have still been accused of being unwilling to give up their power or to reform.
"Crisis as Tsvangirai's MDC pulls out of coalition" — Daily Nation, October 16, 2009
"Tsvangirai boycotts Zimbabwe government after accusing 'dishonest' Mugabe" — Times Online, October 16, 2009
"Zimbabwe opposition protests against aide's trial" — CBCNews.ca, October 16, 2009
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Zimbabwean parliament passes unity government bill
The parliament of Zimbabwe has unanimously voted for a constitutional amendment allowing a coalition government to be formed between Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe and the opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) leader Morgan Tsvangirai.
Under the bill, Mugabe would remain president of the country, but Tsvangirai would take the office the prime minister. The latter is to be sworn into office on the 11th of February.
The bill, after being endorsed by the House of Assembly, was subsequently taken to the Senate, where it was passed without a single dissenting vote. Mugabe is expected to sign the bill into law on Friday.
Tendai Biti, the secretary-general for the MDC, stated that the new coalition government should give hope to the country, saying that "we have no choice other than to give this experiment a try."
Other people, such as political commentator John Makumbe, however, are wary of the deal. "I think Mugabe's plan is to compromise them, and I think he is going to play his usual devious games in that new government as well, try to grab all the powers for himself," Makumbe said.
Do you think that the new coalition government will work for Zimbabwe?
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Tsvangirai won the presidential election in March of last year, but not by a large enough margin to avoid a run-off election, held in June. Tsvangirai withdrew from those elections, citing state-sponsored attacks against his supporters.
The southern African country has been crippled by several crises recently, not least of which are a cholera epidemic, which has killed 3,323 people, and rampant hyperinflation, which has officially been measured at 231,000,000% per annum. The United Nations has estimated Zimbabwe's unemployment rate at 94%.
"Zimbabwe opposition agrees to join government" — Wikinews, January 30, 2009
"Zimbabwean rivals sign power sharing deal" — Wikinews, September 15, 2008
2008–2009 Zimbabwean political negotiations
"Zimbabwe passes unity deal bill" — BBC News Online, February 5, 2009
MacDonald Dzirutwe. "Zimbabwe's parliament passes unity government law" — NewsDaily, February 5, 2009
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Zimbabwe opposition agrees to join government
Filed under: Africa,Archived,Morgan Tsvangirai,Movement for Democratic Change,Pages with categorizable local links,Pages with defaulting non-local links,Politics and conflicts,Pretoria,Raila Odinga,Robert Mugabe,Zimbabwe — admin @ 5:00 am
Flag of the Movement for Democratic Change.
President Mugabe will share control of Zimbabwe's security forces under the agreement.
Image: Jeremy Lock.
Morgan Tsvangirai's Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) has agreed to join a government of national unity in Zimbabwe. Robert Mugabe will remain as president, while Tsvangirai is set to be sworn in as prime minister on February 11.
Despite the agreement, Tsvangirai and other MDC members expressed disappointment over the terms of the unity government. "We are not saying that this is a solution to the Zimbabwe crisis," Tsvangirai told reporters. "Instead, our participation signifies that we have chosen to continue the struggle for a democratic Zimbabwe in a new arena."
Among the MDC's concerns is the home affairs ministry, which oversees the police and security forces. Under the power sharing agreement, Mugabe and Tsvangirai will share control of this ministry, and the MDC says Mugabe could use that power to quell dissent as he had in the past.
Tsvangirai signed the agreement to take part in a unity government at a Southern African Development Community (SADC) summit in Pretoria, South Africa. Opposition leaders had been pressing Mugabe to relinquish control of the home affairs ministry and release imprisoned political activists as part of the power sharing deal. But Tsvangirai's party said they were pressured into accepting the deal by the SADC, who refused to condemn Mugabe.
Kenyan Prime Minister Raila Odinga called on the SADC to stop "treating Mugabe with kid gloves" at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland. "We hold the view that SADC could do more in trying to help the people of Zimbabwe resolve the crisis," said Odinga. "SADC should stand up and tell Mr. Mugabe enough is enough. It is time for him to leave."
Meanwhile, Western countries such as the United States remained skeptical regarding the prospect of true power sharing. U.S. State Department spokesman Robert Wood told reporters in Washington, "If and when there is a government in place in Zimbabwe that reflects the will of the Zimbabwean people, the United States will then look to see what we can do to continue to help."
Mugabe claimed victory in a runoff election in June 2008 which was widely seen by the international community as flawed. Earlier in March, Tsvangirai had garnered more votes than Mugabe in the general election, but the electoral commission said the opposition candidate did not receive a required majority of the votes. Tsvangirai then dropped out of the June runoff, claiming his supporters had been attacked and intimidated by state officials.
Regional heads of government have been trying to negotiate a coalition government since the election. Neither side had been able to come to an agreement over the distribution of cabinet posts. Tsvangirai sought a constitutional amendment to recreate the post of Prime Minister, whilst Mugabe had wished to maintain his Zimbabwe African National Union – Patriotic Front (ZANU-PF) party's hold on the main offices of state.
In the past year, Zimbabwe's economy has gone into freefall, with inflation so high as to be effectively unmeasurable, and an outbreak of cholera that has resulted in over 60,000 cases reported and over 3,100 killed. 6.9 million people, more than half the country's population, is in need of emergency food aid, according to the United Nations.
"Zanu-PF attempts to reassign Zimbabwean ministries, MDC angered" — Wikinews, October 12, 2008
Donna Bryson. "Zimbabwe opposition will join unity government" — The Associated Press, January 30, 2009
Celia W Dugger. "Zimbabwe Opposition to Join Government" — The New York Times, January 30, 2009
"Zimbabwe opposition says it's ready for unity government" — CNN, January 30, 2009
Brian Latham and Nick Salter. "Zimbabwe's Tsvangirai Will Join Coalition Government" — Bloomberg, L.P., January 30, 2009
Karin Brulliard. "Zimbabwe Opposition Will Join Unity Government" — Washington Post, January 30, 2009
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Zimbabwean unity talks fail
Zimbabwean unity talks fail – Wikinews, the free news source
Talks between Zimbabwean president Robert Mugabe and Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai have failed to reach an agreement on who will be in the unity cabinet.
A power sharing deal was signed approximately three weeks ago, as a way to resolve a crisis that has been ongoing since the elections over three months ago.
Nelson Chamisa, a spokesperson for Tsvangirai's Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) expressed grave concern over failure to reach a deal. He described it as "a threat to people's lives".
"People are dying," Chamisa said. "The humanitarian response has to be activated and you need a functional government to do that."
Thabo Mbeki, formerly the president of South Africa has said that he will continue to help secure an agreement between the politicians by mediating the discussion.
In the deal signed three weeks ago it was agreed that Tsvangirai is now the Prime Minister of Zimbabwe, acting as the head of the council of ministers. It was also agreed that Mugabe remains the president of Zimbabwe, meaning that he is still the chair of the cabinet.
The proposed cabinet contains sixteen seats from the MDC, while Mugabe's Zanu-PF has fifteen seats. The MDC also controls the police while Zanu-PF controls the armed forces.
The agreement also requires press freedom in Zimbabwe.
"Zimbabwe unity cabinet talks fail" — BBC News Online, October 4, 2008
"Still no agreement in Zimbabwe" — Radio Netherlands, October 4, 2008
"Zimbabwe rivals in historic pact" — BBC News Online, September 15, 2008
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Zimbabwean rivals sign power sharing deal
Filed under: Africa,Archived,Audio reports,Morgan Tsvangirai,Movement for Democratic Change,Politics and conflicts,Zimbabwe — admin @ 5:00 am
Zimbabwean president Robert Mugabe and opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai today signed a power sharing deal in the county's capital, Harare.
Speaking to crowds of people celebrating the deal, Tsvangirai said that "this unity government will let businesses flourish so our people can work and provide for their families with pride." He also said that "I've signed this agreement because I believe it represents the best opportunity for us to build a peaceful and prosperous democratic Zimbabwe."
Mugabe also spoke after the deal. "Let us be allies," he said. "People will want to see if what we promise is indeed what we strive to do … We are committed. I am committed. Let us all be committed."
Despite the agreement, there was some tension at the protest, with supporters of the two parties throwing stones at each other.
The deal means that Tsvangirai is now the Prime Minister of Zimbabwe, acting as the head of the council of ministers. Mugabe remains the president of Zimbabwe, meaning that he is still the chair of the cabinet.
Will the power sharing deal be a success?
The cabinet contains sixteen seats from Tsvangirai's Movement for Democratic Change, while Mugabe's Zanu-PF has fifteen seats. The MDC also controls the police while Zanu-PF controls the armed forces.
This audio file was created from the text revision dated 2008-09-16 and may not reflect subsequent text edits to this report. (audio help)
Audio Wikinews
"Zimbabwe rivals sign power pact" — The Australian, September 15, 2008
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