text:
Municipal Systems Bill: Department's response to submissions
A summary of this committee meeting is not yet available.
PROVINCIAL AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT PORTFOLIO COMMITTEE
DEPARTMENT'S RESPONSE TO PUBLIC SUBMISSIONS ON THE MUNICIPAL SYSTEMS BILL; AUSTRALIAN STUDY GROUP REPORT-BACK
Relevant Documents:
Local Government: Municipal Systems Bill
Department's separate responses to each of the chapters of the Bill
[if this document takes too long to down load, e-mail info@pmg.org.za for it to be e-mailed to you]
The members who participated in the Study Group that went to Australia provided feedback on their visit. They illustrated some of the differences and similarities between South Africa's and Australia's local government structures and practices. A discussion followed.
The Department presented an overview of the issues raised in the public submissions on the Municipal Systems Bill and provided detailed responses to issues raised in the submissions concerning specific chapters of the Bill. There was very little discussion of these presentations due to time constraints.
[The presentations of Ms Manche (Overview of the Public Submissions & General Comments) and Mr Sekele (Chapter 3 - Public Participation) are summarised in these minutes because the texts of the presentations were not distributed in the meeting. The texts of the remaining presentations were distributed. They are therefore not summarised in these minutes and can be obtained from PMG).]
Committee Programme
The Chair, Mr Y Carrim (ANC), set out the programme for the following weeks:
On 6 & 7 June there would be public hearings on the Traditional Leaders Discussion Document. The Ministers of Agriculture, Mineral and Energy Affairs, Justice and Safety and Security had been invited to the meeting on 6 June. The budget debate will take place on 8 June. He indicated that the report on the budget would be sent to the party leaders.
He said that he had asked for permission for the Committee to meet three times a week (Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday) as of the week beginning 12 June. He noted that Friday meetings would extend into the afternoon.
The Chair noted that the Committee would meet each day for the whole day during the first week (26 – 30 June) of the recess period, provided there is consensus and permission is obtained. He stated that there were a number of pieces of legislation that the Committee still had to look at.
Australian Study Group Report-Back
The Chair introduced the representatives from National Democratic Institute for International Affairs (NDI) who were involved with this tour. He said the study group had gone to Australia to look at the relationship between public participation, performance management and service delivery in that country. He said, however, that the group's focus had expanded once they were there.
The Chair noted that a formal report would be distributed once finalised.
The Chair remarked that Australia had been through a similar process of amalgamation about ten years previously. He said that members had undertaken the study to broaden their political and practical horizons. He added that the tour had also been positive in that the members had got to know each other better.
He stated that the study tour was "remarkable". He said that the group was well balanced, in terms of gender and party representivity. He added that over half the delegation comprised new members and that they had conducted themselves "adroitly". He said that NDI had been extremely efficient in their organisation and that he was grateful to them.
The Chair said that the group had tried to do too much in the five days that they were in Australia. They covered four cities: Brisbane, Melbourne, Sidney and Canberra. He remarked that the Committee had worked very hard. He said that while each of the members had stuck to their own party's beliefs, the delegation expressed a national interest. He added that the Australian people had been warm and welcoming.
The Chair stated that the group had met with a wide range of stakeholders. He noted that the Australian and South African societies are very different. He said that there is a very different division of powers: The States are very powerful and Local Government does not have original constitutional powers. He said that the Australian notion of Integrated Development Planning is different from South Africa's but that there are similar problems concerning performance management. There are similar conflicts between officials.
One of Australia's central challenges was the establishment of national Key Performance Indicators (KPIs). He noted that there had been tensions between national and local government KPIs. He commented that councillors are entitled to request a performance assessment of themselves. He said that South Africa should not be too ambitious with its performance management system – Australia is still struggling.
Regarding public participation, he said that the public is entitled to arrive thirty minutes before a council meeting to ask questions. There is an opportunity to ask further questions after the meeting. He urged the members to consider this possibility but remarked that there are dangers in applying this system in South Africa.
Mr M Bhabha (ANC) addressed public participation. He said that Australia's society and resources impact on the development of their particular legislation. The legislation mirrors society and there is a culture of participation.
Mr Bhabha noted the particular way in which the different tiers of government work together. He said that local government does not have specific listed powers. Legislation conferring powers on municipalities is widely phrased and the municipalities are not permitted to act ulta vires the legislation.
He emphasised that Australians have the view that if there is no infrastructure, everything falls apart and that there is therefore a heavy emphasis on roads. He mentioned the experience of Victoria during amalgamation. Councillors were expelled and were replaced by administers during the transitional period. He said that Australia had introduced a concept of "best-value" rather than "economic imperatives". He stated that a difficulty with outsourcing is that the municipality is in a position of economic dependence for a number of years after a tender is awarded. It is expensive to set up a service again if a contract fails –the municipality's resources initially used for these services prior to outsourcing will have been allocated elsewhere. He said that a high degree of monitoring is required to ensure that contracts do not fail.
He said a common database should be set up. It should provide detailed information concerning transitional arrangement and the procedures and provisions of the Bill. Local governments would be able to refer to this information instead of consulting different lawyers who have different opinions.
He said that he did not agree with the power that Australian CEOs have over their staff. He remarked that there is insufficient accountability for the finances they receive. He added that there is little consultation and discussion between municipalities.
Ms G Borman (DP) commented that Mr Carrim had been an excellent leader and said that NDI's organisation had been outstanding. She noted that some of the differences between Australia and South Africa had been discussed. She said that Australian municipalities have more flexibility and are therefore able to be more creative and innovative. She stated that after having been to numerous places it was clear that, because municipalities are so different, legislation could not operate uniformly. She stated that South African legislation should similarly recognise the differences between municipalities. She stated that she was grateful to have been a member of the study group.
Mr P Smith (IFP) said that he was also very grateful. He remarked that the delegation had been well lead by Mr Carrim and said that the study had been well organised by NDI. He commented that the notion of "best value" had been discussed. He also noted the degree of flexibility accorded to Australian municipalities and remarked that they have very different outlooks. He said that individual municipalities are left to do their own thing and that most are successful.
Mr Smith remarked that the difference between rural and urban municipalities in South Africa is very clear. Urban municipalities have access to significantly greater resources. However, in Australia the rural municipalities usually have a higher budget expenditure per capita than urban municipalities – rural municipalities are better resourced.
He remarked that the physical infrastructure and facilities are impressive: the offices are very well equipped and municipalities are generally very well resourced. He noted that the relationship between the CEO and the Council in Australia is crucial.
Mr Smith said that in South Africa there is a system of listing the specific powers and functions of each local government body. He noted that Australia had used this system until ten years previously but the current position involves the notion of competency: local government can do anything in the interests of the people it serves as long as it is not in conflict with national and state programmes.
Ms M Lobe (ANC) noted that public participation had been looked at. In Australia there are annual electoral meetings. These encourage better performance. She said that municipalities have different strategies regarding public participation. For example, different newsletters are distributed to wards within municipalities. It is recognised that each ward has different needs. An important issue is that of the collection of rates. She noted that the Australians had been asked to come back to the Committee with information in this regard.
Mr Schuller (NDI) noted that leadership and local government management is crucial. He said that the Australians have a number of staff training programmes. Concerning public participation, he indicated that municipalities conduct customer surveys to gauge the response to the quality of service provided. He added that the results of these surveys are published and this allows for comparison between municipalities. He noted that where mayors appraise CEOs there is openness.
Ms N Patel emphasised that contextualising was important – Australian concepts and activities must be clearly understood in their context if they are to be properly applied in South Africa. Ms E Martin thanked the Chair for his leadership.
Mr S Pheko (PAC) said that he was interested in the position of municipalities in rural areas. He asked Mr Smith to elaborate. He noted that the lack of resources in aboriginal areas had been mentioned. A member asked about the level of participation of indigenous people. Attention was drawn to Mrs Borman and Mr Smith's points concerning the flexibility of municipalities to do "their own thing" and there was concern that this could be disastrous in South Africa.
Mr M Nonkonyana (ANC) asked whether the system of municipalities in Australia is similar to the system of counties in Canada. He also asked about the level of participation of indigenous people. It was commented that the different newsletters for each ward furthers accountability – it can be seen which councillors are doing better than others. This also furthers public participation.
Mr Smith said that the groups' agenda had been too packed to do everything that they had wanted to do. He noted that the group had not been able to establish in detail how the Australian financing system works. He stated that 30% of revenue comes from rates. The large proportion of revenue raised from rates would not necessarily be possible in South Africa. He said that in Brisbane the group had not had the opportunity to visit what the Australians regarded as "problematic rural municipalities". He repeated that rural municipalities often have a higher per capita expenditure than urban municipalities – people who live in rural areas are not "thrown in the rubbish".
Ms Lobe emphasised that a rural area in South Africa is very different from a rural area in Australia – Australian rural areas have resources and skills. She noted that there are a number of aboriginal areas that are still isolated and do not have access to the national fiscus. She said that the group had not visited the north of Australia where most aboriginal communities are situated. She remarked that from what the group had observed in the places it had visited, aboriginal people did not really participate in local government for political reasons.
Ms S Rajbally (MF) asked the delegation to elaborate on the issues of cross-subsidisation and different legislation for different municipalities. Rev A Goosen requested information concerning the protection of aboriginal burial grounds and special lands.
Mr J Kgarimetsa (ANC) commented that the input from the group had been useful. He remarked that the Committee was asking for information concerning the best practices the group had observed in Australia and what elements can be implemented in South Africa. He said that this should be the key content of the group's report.
Mr Smith noted that one of the reasons for the relative lack of success of local government in northern Australia was because of cultural differences. The Chair remarked that there was not time to answer all of the members' questions. He said that most of the issues would be addressed in the report. He said that the group had not gone to look at local government in general but rather at specific elements. Therefore, some of the members' questions could not be answered. Regarding the questions concerning aboriginal people. He said that these issues had been raised by the delegation in Australia. Lessons could be drawn from Australia in this regard, but he emphasised that Australian and South African society is fundamentally different in these respects.
He said that most of the members' questions had been answered. He stated that South African municipalities do not have the capacity to publish different glossy magazines for each ward. Regarding flexibility, he stated that there might be a case for greater flexibility down the line, but the ANC agrees this is not what is wanted at this stage. Regarding legislation, he noted that each State drafts its own fairly open legislation in terms of which municipalities operate.
The Chair noted that he did not have easy answers for Rev Goosen. Although his questions dealt with important issues, they were not germane to the Bill. He commended the conduct of the opposition part members and said that there had been good co-operation.
Department's Response to Public Submissions on Municipal Systems Bill
Ms J Manche introduced the representatives from the Department: Mr F Louw, Mr P Bouwer, Mr E Afrika, Mr S Sekele and Mr C Pakade. Ms Woodridge could not attend due to illness but her report would be forwarded. She proposed that the department meet with the Australian study group to discuss the Australian experiences of issues such as performance management.
Ms Manche noted that the Department had already gathered a wealth of information for the development of policy. This includes information from foreign countries. She said that she was proposing a meeting to discuss matters such as performance management and IDPs in detail.
She gave a brief overview of the issues raised in the hearings while the other departmental representatives went through the individual chapters of the Bill in detail.
General Comments made about the Bill include:
· The Bill needs to be aligned with the Municipal Finance Bill: the Bills must "talk to each other". Ms Manche noted that the Department had hoped that the Bills would have been introduced at the same time. The Finance Bill is, however, eight months behind.
· There are elements in the Bill that are in conflict with the Local Government Transition Act. Ms Manche remarked that the Department must go through a process of reviewing and repealing legislation.
· When there are issues of development, the attitude should be pro-poor.
· The Commission on Gender Equality had raised the issue of "citizenship". Ms Manche noted that the Bill has tried to make it clear that communities, residents and ratepayers all have rights and duties.
Gender Issues:
· The Bill does not define 'poor'. A definition should be included that takes into account impact of socio-economic factors on women.
· The Bill lacks references to the notion of citizenship, which is racialised and gendered.
· The municipalities' rights should include the promotion of gender equality. (It was later pointed out that 'rights' should be 'obligations').
· Women's issues should be a focus area.
Public Participation:
· There is a lack of explicit reference to the need to build the capacity of the public to participate. This had been included in an earlier version of the Bill but had since been left out. Ms Manche noted that this was omitted because it requires the municipalities to do too much.
· The Bill should provide for the direct involvement of communities in decision-making, implementation and monitoring.
· The municipal councils should not be allowed to prohibit members of the public from attending their meetings. Ms Manche remarked that the point had been made that there are situations where council meetings must be closed.
Integrated Development Plans:
· The Bill over-regulates and over-prescribes.
· There should be alignment with other national and provincial legislation.
· There is no reference to the promotion of local economic development in the Bill. Ms Manche commented that this is implicit in the Bill.
· There was a call for the formation of IDP forums/committees.
· The issue of land restitution and IDPs was raised.
Performance Management and Public Administration
· The objectives and scope of performance management should be fully set out.
· There should be a sanction for the failure to perform. It was asked what happens if a municipality fails to perform or to meet its obligations.
· A central concern is how to deal with current CEOs in the move to fixed-term contracts for employees. Ms Manche said that the Department is seeking legal opinion here.
· The constitutionality of the obligation that salaries be disclosed. Ms Manche commented that individual salaries would not be disclosed, only the typical salaries of each level of employee. She added that this is important for transparency.
· The powers of city managers was raised.
· The transfer of staff to third party service providers should be in line with labour laws.
· Regulations on tariff increases could deter investors.
· The Bill should be aligned with the National Framework Agreement.
Tariffs and Credit Control:
· There was a call to define poor households and basic services.
The municipality as a preferred creditor should be reviewed.
· It was submitted that welfare is a function of national government and the question was raised regarding what the role of local government is in the area.
· Debit order payments should be used rather than employees' power to deduct.
· Municipalities should not have the discretion to allocate the payment by a person into any account.
Regarding issues of gender, the Chair noted that there is a vacuum in the bill. He suggested that parties should prepare about a page setting out proposals of where gender matters could be included in the Bill. Ms Lobe suggested that sexual harassment should be included as a distinct offence in the code of conduct. The Chair noted that this is the first concrete proposal. All the members were in agreement.
Mr Smith commented that defining 'community' to incorporate notions of gender sensitivity was too cumbersome. He stated however that, politically, gender sensitivity is important.
The Chair noted that the Committee would go through the Bill clause by clause at a later stage and at that point it could be discussed at what points issues of gender should be included.
The Chair asked whether the proposed obligation on municipalities to promote gender equality should be integrated into the municipalities' other obligations or whether it should be stated as a separate clause. The Department indicated that it should be stated separately. The members all agreed.
Mr Smith submitted that obligations in s 4(2) should be balanced with the notion of citizenship. Citizenship relates to the rights in society, which include the right not to be discriminated against on the grounds of gender.
The Chair emphasised that the Committee was merely alerting the Department to the conceptual issues and said that the Committee would go through the Bill clause by clause at a later stage – only general comments should be made at this stage. He stated that he was concerned about the lack provision for building of the capacity of the public to participate. He requested the Department to address this.
He remarked that he was struck by the land restitution issues raised in the public submissions. He doubted whether the issues raised were credible. Mr Afrika (Department) remarked that this is an important issue but it does not need to be addressed specifically in the Bill. He said that if it is included, the Bill would start to look like a shopping-list.
Mr Sithole stated that there are local government structures that are affected by land restitution. He said that there could not be effective development until the land questions are addressed.
The Chair said that, while he did not have a mandate from the ANC here, he agreed that there should not be a shopping list. He added, however, that land restitution is an important issue and should be mentioned specifically in a few lines within the IDP provisions. He requested that the department investigate whether it would really be "debilitating" to include this provision in the Bill.
Regarding IDPs, Mr J Ngubeni (ANC) raised the issue of capacity. He said councils should be required to develop procedures to facilitate participation. He noted that a problem arises when the Bill states that people must participate but they cannot do so unless they have the capacity. He noted that there are also difficulties in encouraging the participation of disadvantaged groups.
The Chair emphasised that the Committee should really be providing the Department with political directives.
Mr Smith raised the issue of political and executive responsibilities and who should be sanctioned for non-performance. He said that the relationship between the executive and the council had not yet been unpacked. The Chair noted that this is important but asked whether there was not agreement that there should be some form of sanction. It was agreed that some form of mild sanction is required.
Ms Manche stated that she had picked this up as an issue. The Department has looked at the option of having the MEC intervene and at the option of financial sanctions. She noted that financial sanctions are not really an option as this involves withholding the equitable share. Legal opinion has indicated that this is not possible. Consequently, the Department favours the power of the MEC to intervene. Mr Smith asked whether he could see the legal opinion concerning the equitable share. Ms Manche said that she could make it available.
The Chair noted that the Department is sympathetic to the problem that tariff increases could deter investors. There is a need to balance the need for tariffs, to look at the framework agreement and to consult trade unions against the need not to discourage investment.
Mr M Lekgoro (ANC) raised the issue of people who are able to pay for services but are, for example, lodgers who stay in poor households and so avoid paying for what they consume. He asked whether there was not a better way of recovering the actual costs of services provided and consumed by these people. Mr Pakade (Department) said that these issues that have been discussed by the Department together with the issue of credit control. He said that a decision had been taken in consultation with relevant stakeholders that the Bill would not include everything. He said that the Bill should provide guidelines and a policy framework within which municipalities can choose options. He added that the details could be dealt with in the regulations.
Mr Ngubeni observed that the Bill refers to a 'national policy on indigents'. He asked what is being referred to. He noted that the question of arrears is also addressed. He asked from how far back arrears would be calculated.
Ms Manche remarked that poor household who wanted to be subsidised would have to register. The municipalities would then conduct random checks to determine whether there are other people living in the house earning an income. If there are, this will be taken into account when determining the subsidy to be granted.
Regarding the indigent policy, Ms Manche said that the Department had issued guidelines dealing with indigents and that municipalities could decide on a policy that is relevant to their own circumstances. She said that there is no 'national indigent policy'.
Regarding arrears, she noted that municipalities are to reach their own agreements. She commented that the department was looking at limiting arrears that could be claimed to a certain number of years or the value of the house. She stated, however, that there is a general limit of three years at the moment. She added that each municipality has to make its own decision concerning the interest to be charged.
Mr Ngubeni drew Ms Manche's attention to s 89(c), which speaks of 'any national policy on indigents'. Ms Manche stated that there is no such policy at this stage and that this is included in the Bill to make provision for if and when a policy is developed.
Mr E Magashule (ANC) raised the issue of consent. He noted that the target is the poor who are coerced into consent. Ms Manche stated that the recommendation is that there should be a movement towards residents being willing to enter into agreements and away from coercion.
The Chair remarked that there had been comments on the general overview. He urged that comments on the department's specific responses to the submissions on each chapter should be limited to questions of clarity.
Chapter 3 – Public Participation
Mr Sekele stated that the Department was working from the premise that councils should work with the community concerning service delivery. He said that this was in line with the local government paradigm that was developing internationally. He said that there is an attempt to look at four broad issues:
· Forms of participation: The hearings had raised a number of issues here. The premise is that councils are elected bodies that have the right to govern. They do, however, have the obligation to consult, conduct comment procedures where necessary and involve the community in meetings where appropriate. He commented that council should nevertheless be entitled to sit "on its own".
· Who participates? A number of submissions focussed on how to ensure that the marginalized and poor participate. Section 8 calls for the participation of these people.
· There is a duty on councils to promote public participation. The Department has had to deal with three issues here. Firstly, councils have the responsibility to build the capacity of the public. Secondly, councils need to fund community participation. This has had to be deleted – the councils may be overburdened. Thirdly, councils have a duty to make facilities available to the public.
· Management of participation. There a re a number of issues here. Firstly, the question is in which areas the council should be obliged to involve communities. In the areas of developing IDPs and service delivery communities must be involved. Secondly, the question is: what is enough participation? He asked whether this could be dealt with in legislation and suggested that it would be better addressed in the regulations if it is to be addressed at all.
Mr Sekele raised the issue of the openness of council meetings. He repeated that councils have the prerogative to govern – they must be able to make decisions. However, if a meeting is to be closed, certain requirements must be met. He raised a question concerning what the rights of members of the public who attend open council meetings should be – should they have observer rights or rights to participate?
Mr Nonkonyana questioned whether the Bill made adequate provision for the participation of people in rural areas. He asked about participation through rural structures.
Mr Smith remarked that in Australia the emphasis is on surveys. He asked whether the Department had given any thought to this.
Mr Ngubeni noted that bylaws remain in force indefinitely. He asked how the public could participate in these.
The Chair indicated, because of time restraints, that the Department did not have to respond to these questions. They are constructive questions that should be borne in mind. He said that the ANC would consider Mr Nonkonyana's points.
The Department provided detailed responses to the public submission dealing with Chapters 5-9 of the Bill. Owing to time constraints, the representatives read through their presentations and there was no discussion. The texts of the presentations may be obtained from PMG.
At the end of the presentations the Chair thanked the Department for its comprehensive report and adjourned the meeting.
No related
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Indian English poetry is the oldest form of Indian English literature. Indian poets writing in English have succeeded to nativize or indianize English in order to reveal typical Indian situations. Henry Louis Vivian Derozio is considered the first poet in the lineage of Indian English poetry followed by Sri Aurobindo, Sarojini Naidu, Michael Madhusudan Dutt, Toru Dutt among others.
Indian poetry in English has a longer and more distinguished tradition than Indian fiction in English.
Nissim Ezekiel is considered to be a pioneering figure in modern Indian English Poetry.His first book, A Time to Change, was published in 1952. The significant poets of the post-Derozio and pre-Ezekiel times are Toru Dutt, Michael Madhusudan Dutt, Sarojini Naidu, Sri Aurobindo and Rabindranath Tagore. Some of the notable poets of Ezekiel's time are A. K. Ramanujan, R. Parthasarathy, Gieve Patel, Jayant Mahapatra, Dom Moraes, Kamala Das, Keki N. Daruwalla, Arvind Krishna Mehrotra, Shiv K. Kumar, Arun Kolatkar and Dilip Chitre. Rabindranath Tagore wrote primarily in Bengali and created a small body of work (mainly prose) in English and was responsible for the translations of his own work into English.
If Indian poets in English are less well known abroad than the novelists it is probably because their concerns are personal, local and yet universal; they do not write, at least not directly about the nationalist and postcolonial political and cultural themes that the West patronizingly expects, even demands, from the formerly colonized.
Other notable 20th century poets of English poetry in India include Eunice De Souza, Gieve Patel, Kersy Katrak, P. Lal among others.The younger generation of poets writing in English are Abhay K, Adil Jussawalla, A. J. Thomas, Anand Thakore, Anju Makhija, Anjum Hasan, Arundathi Subramaniam, Hoshang Merchant,Anupama Raju, Madan Gopal Gandhi, Arundhathi Subramaniam, Bibhu Padhi, C. P. Surendran, Desmond L.Kharmawplang, Dileep Jhaveri, E.V. Ramakrishnan, Anuradha Bhattacharyya, Gopi Kottoor, Jayanta Mahapatra, Jeet Thayil, Jerry Pinto, K Srilata, K. V. Dominic, D. C. Chambial, T. Vasudeva Reddy, Bibhu Padhi, Kumar Vikram, Kynpham Sing Nongkynrih, Makarand Paranjape, Akhil Katyal, Linda Ashok, Mani Rao, Meena Kandasamy, Menka Shivdasani, Fengkha Deep Daimari, Lalthanmawia, Manohar Shetty, Mustansir Dalvi, Nandini Sahu, Priya Sarukkai Chabria, Rachana Joshi, Ranjit Hoskote, Rita Malhotra, Nar Deo Sharma Robin Ngangom, Nitoo Das, Rukmini Bhaya Nair, Sridala Swami, Sumana Roy, Sudeep Sen, Sukrita Paul Kumar, Nalini Priyadarshni, Gopi Kottoor, Vijay Nambisan, Vihang A. Naik, Tapan Kumar Pradhan, Yuyutsu Sharma and Joshy K J among others.
Modern expatriate Indian poets writing in English include Meena Alexander, Ravi Shankar, Sidhartha Bose, Shanta Acharya, Sujata Bhatt, Tabish Khair, Vikram Seth, Vijay Seshadri and Yuyutsu Sharma among others.
Notable anthologies of Indian English Poetry include Ten Twentieth-Century Indian Poets ed. by R. Parthasarathy, Three Indian Poets: Nissim Ezekiel, A K Ramanujan, Dom Moraes ed. by Bruce Alvin King, The Oxford India Anthology of Twelve Modern Indian Poets ed. by Arvind Krishna Mehrotra, Reasons for Belonging: Fourteen Contemporary Indian Poets ed. by Ranjit Hoskote, 60 Indian poets ed. by Jeet Thayil, Harper Collins Anthology of English Poetry ed. by Sudeep Sen, Anthology of Contemporary Indian Poetry edited by Menka Shivdasani published by Michael Rothenberg in 2004 ; Ten: The New Indian Poets. Edited and Selected by Jayanta Mahapatra & Yuyutsu Sharma. New Delhi/Jaipur: Nirala Publications, The Dance of the Peacock: An Anthology of English Poetry from India edited by Vivekanand Jha widely representative of Indian English poets among others.
See List of Indian English poetry anthologies for a more comprehensive list.
Muse India – Satish Verma Young Writers Award, Hyderabad, India.
Khushwant Singh Poetry Prize – It was started in 2015.
Srinivas Rayparol Poetry Prize – The Srinivas Rayaprol Poetry Prize was instituted by Srinivas Rayaprol Literary Trust in 2000. Hyderabad, India.
RL Poetry Award – The award was instituted by Linda Ashok in 2013. Hyderabad, India.
^ "Contemporary Indian Poetry, "Like an Abhang, Unfinished"". BigBridge.Org. Retrieved 7 June 2016.
^ "Anthology of Contemporary Indian Poetry Edited by Menka Shivdasani". Michael Rothenberg. BigBridge.Org. Retrieved 9 June 2016.
^ Yuyutsu Sharma, "Ten: The New Indian poets: Edited and Selected by Jayanta Mahapatra & Yuyutsu Sharma" (review), 27 October 2012.
Das, Sisir Kumar. A History of Indian Literature (3 volumes). New Delhi. Sahitya Akademi, 2000.
Iyengar, KRS. Indian Writing in English. New Delhi. Sterling Publishers Private Limited, 2002.
King, Bruce. Modern Indian Poetry in English. New Delhi. Oxford University press, 2004.
Roy, Pinaki. "Indian English Poetry: A very brief History". Contemporary Indian Poetry in English. Eds. Sarkar, J., and S. Mondal. New Delhi: Authors Press, 2016 (ISBN 978-93-5207-113-5). Pp. 11–29.


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Impact on Marriage
COVID-19 Impact on Marital Quality
The COVID-19 pandemic has forced many of us to social distance, keeping us away from our co-workers, loved ones and friends. But it also has forced immediate family members, including couples, to spend more time together.
Researchers at Indiana University's Kinsey Institute are studying how the pandemic is affecting marital quality, sexual behavior, reproductive planning and health, and individual and family well-being. The study suggests that, overall, early in the pandemic, most married individuals reported a positive impact on their marriage.
"At the time of the study, the pandemic was causing increased stress, worry, housework and childcare for some married persons, resulting in strain on the marriage," said William L. Yarber, Provost Professor in the School of Public Health at IU Bloomington and senior scientist at The Kinsey Institute. "However, for the most part, individuals reported an increased sense of teamwork and connection."
William Yarber
Yarber and a team of researchers from Kinsey are presenting their findings at the annual meeting of the Society for the Scientific Study of Sexuality. The findings are preliminary and have not yet been published in a peer-reviewed journal.
Researchers surveyed a national sample of 1,117 married individuals (both heterosexual and same-sex marriages) ages 30-50 years old, in mid-late April 2020.
Overall, more participants agreed that the pandemic was having a positive impact on their marriage, with 74% agreeing it strengthened their marriage and 82% agreeing it made them feel more committed to their marriage.
In addition, 85% agreed the pandemic was helping them appreciate their spouse more, helping them appreciate what a good life they had before the pandemic, and was bringing their family together.
On the other hand, 63% agreed the pandemic was stressing their family, 54% agreed it was testing their marriage and 35% agreed it was straining their relationship with their spouse. Additionally, 21% agreed it was damaging their marriage, 20% agreed it was causing them to question their marriage and 16% agreed it was causing them to think about separation or divorce.
"What we found is even though many individuals experienced some stress from the pandemic, the overall marital emotional satisfaction stayed about the same for the majority of both men and women," Yarber said. "However, more women experienced a decrease rather than increase in emotional and sexual satisfaction during the pandemic. Whereas, for men, about equal proportions experienced an increase and a decrease."
When it comes to emotional satisfaction, 17% of women reported a decrease while only 11% reported an increase in their satisfaction with the emotional aspects of their relationship with their spouse and 72% reported no change. For sexual satisfaction, 17% of women reported a decrease and 9% reported an increase, while 74% reported no change.
Researchers found women's decreases in emotional satisfaction were significantly correlated with higher ratings of overall stress because of coronavirus and increased work stress for their spouses. For men, decreases in emotional and sexual satisfaction were significantly correlated with increased work stress for themselves since the pandemic started and higher levels of worry about their careers/jobs and finances.
Additionally, half of women (52%), in either heterosexual or same-sex marriages, reported they were having sex about as frequently as before coronavirus, with the other half being equally split (24% each) reporting either more frequent or less frequent sex. Significantly more men than women reported having sex more often since coronavirus, with significantly more men in same-sex marriages (55%) than in heterosexual marriages (35%) reporting this.
Both men and women reported engaging more in talking with their spouse about sex, sleeping in the same bed with their spouse, touching and cuddling.
Stephanie Sanders
"Early in the pandemic, the effects on gendered division of household and childcare labor can be seen as contributing to negative impacts of the coronavirus on marriages," said Stephanie A. Sanders, Provost Professor and Peg Brand Chair in the Department of Gender Studies and senior scientist at the Kinsey Institute. "Although stress and worries related to the pandemic were correlated with negative impacts for both women and men, increased childcare and increased housework were correlated with negative impact for women, but not for men in heterosexual marriages."
The researchers will conduct another national study to see how the impact as changed as the pandemic has continued.
Other researchers involved in the study are Robin R. Milhausen, Cynthia A. Graham, Karen Vanterpool, all of the Kinsey Institute and John M. Kennedy, of IU Bloomington's Center for Survey Research.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


The 606's Bloomingdale Trail — a 2.7-mile-long elevated path that runs through four Chicago neighborhoods— has proven the adage: If you build it, they will come.
The massively ambitious redevelopment framework for a large, North Side parcel of land was finalized on Monday evening.
In the coming months, construction crews will begin building a pair of affordable housing developments along The 606 in Humboldt Park.
There's a lot to like about Chicago's snazzy 606, the 2.7-mile greenway that slices through the Northwest Side, built on what used to be an elevated freight rail line.
Local aldermen want to curb gentrification along The 606 by making it more expensive to build homes along the trail.
Despite the bitter wind, Kim Wasserman showed me around La Villita Park. Occupying 21 acres in the middle of this city's largest Mexican-American neighborhood, the park used to be a brownfield and illegal dump.
The 606 was a magnet for anti-gentrification demonstrations last year—and that was even before a report detailed just how sharply housing costs have spiked near the popular rail-to-trail pathway.
Since at least the 1950s, the Chicago neighborhoods of Wicker Park and Bucktown have been shaped by transportation networks.
New research suggests urban green space like parks and greenways may play a role in diminishing crime.


text:
Guardianship/ConservatorshipAudrey Gardner2022-03-04T20:45:54+00:00
You may find yourself in a position where it is necessary to have a Guardian or Conservator appointed for a loved one who does not have the capacity to make or communicate health care and/or financial decisions on their own. We, at Eckert Byrne, have the skill and compassion to assist you with obtaining a court appointment as Guardian or Conservator. We will assist with petitioning the Probate & Family Court, whether it is for an aging adult who no longer has the capacity to make informed decisions, an incapacitated minor turning eighteen years of age, or a minor who may require a court appointed fiduciary to access inherited funds.
What Is a Guardian?
A Guardian is someone appointed by the court to make health decisions for an individual who does not have the capacity to make informed decisions regarding their own health, safety and medical needs. A petitioner can request either a General Guardianship or a Limited Guardianship for the incapacitated individual. The Probate & Family Court gives preference to Limited Guardianships allowing the incapacitated person to retain some powers whenever possible. Under a Limited Guardianship the individual may be given power to make some decisions regarding self-care, routine health care, or home and community life. The Court relies heavily on a Medical Certificate or Clinical Team Report prepared by the individual's physician to help them determine the powers given to the Guardian.
What Is a Conservator?
A Conservator is someone appointed by the court to make financial decisions for an individual who does not have the capacity to make informed decisions regarding money, property, or business affairs. Again, the Conservatorship can either be general with a broad range of powers, or it can be limited allowing the individual to retain some powers such as retaining a spending allowance, making gifts or donations of their choice, use of credit, or to plan a budget.
Who Can Be Appointed Guardian/Conservator?
For a Guardian, the incapacitated person may petition the Court him/herself or any person interested in the welfare of the individual alleged to be incapacitated may petition the court to be appointed Guardian. For a Conservator, any individual may petition the court to have a Conservator appointed for him/herself, or any person interested in the welfare of that person, such as a parent, guardian, custodian, or individual who would be otherwise adversely affected by dissipation or mismanagement of assets.
For most individuals this is an unfamiliar process within a situation they never expected to be in. We, at Eckert Byrne, can help you answer questions such as:
How long does the Guardianship/Conservator process take from the time I file the Petition?
What if there is an immediate need for the appointment of a Guardian or Conservator because an emergency situation exists?
Can I obtain an appointment as Temporary Guardian?
I am told I need the Court's authority to administer anti-psychotic medications. How do I obtain this authority?
What are my responsibilities once I have been appointed? Will I be required to provide the Court with annual reports?
Are there additional costs for reporting and will I, as Guardian, be responsible to pay these?


For all direct debit cancellations, please complete this online form in full.
Please note one months notice is required for membership cancellations.
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text:
link_t *link_create(
    char *_class,
    char *href
    ) {
    link_t *link_local_var = malloc(sizeof(link_t));
    if (!link_local_var) {
        return NULL;
    }
    link_local_var->_class = _class;
    link_local_var->href = href;

    return link_local_var;
}

void link_free(link_t *link) {
    if(NULL == link){
        return ;
    }
    listEntry_t *listEntry;
    if (link->_class) {
        free(link->_class);
        link->_class = NULL;
    }
    if (link->href) {
        free(link->href);
        link->href = NULL;
    }
    free(link);
}

cJSON *link_convertToJSON(link_t *link) {
    cJSON *item = cJSON_CreateObject();

    // link->_class
    if(link->_class) {
    if(cJSON_AddStringToObject(item, "_class", link->_class) == NULL) {
    goto fail; //String
    }
    }

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    if(link->href) {
    if(cJSON_AddStringToObject(item, "href", link->href) == NULL) {
    goto fail; //String
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fail:
    if (item) {
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link_t *link_parseFromJSON(cJSON *linkJSON){

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    cJSON *_class = cJSON_GetObjectItemCaseSensitive(linkJSON, "_class");
    if (_class) {
    if(!cJSON_IsString(_class))
    {
    goto end; //String
    }
    }

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    cJSON *href = cJSON_GetObjectItemCaseSensitive(linkJSON, "href");
    if (href) {
    if(!cJSON_IsString(href))
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        _class ? strdup(_class->valuestring) : NULL,
        href ? strdup(href->valuestring) : NULL
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end:
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redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


Air conditioning is a must-have when summer temperatures soar. An effective cooling system performs double-duty, not only providing precise temperature control, but also removing moisture so you feel less sticky and more refreshed. While people tend to get tired and sluggish in hot temperatures, working capacity increases in comfortable conditions. With the installation of a central air conditioner, you'll enjoy your ideal temperature in any room of your home. Bedrooms can be kept cool, even on the hottest summer night, promoting a restful sleep. Because the air is filtered, it is free from dust, microorganisms, bacteria, pollen, dander, and other contaminants that aggravate symptoms of allergies and asthma. The benefits of a reliable cooling system are endless, and when you call the team from Energy Services Air Conditioning, Heating & Electrical, installation is simple.
At Energy Services Air Conditioning, Heating & Electrical, we build relationships with our customers through top-level service. By focusing our extensive resources, expertise, and 100% commitment to each and every project we take on, we have been recognized with an A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau. We specialize in whole-home performance, ensuring that the systems in your home operate in peak condition, providing total comfort, superior efficiency, and healthy indoor air quality. Through superior installation techniques, cutting edge technology, and the most innovative products on the market today, we deliver the cooling power you need to forget all about the weather outside.
Replace Your Old A/C and SAVE Money!
If you are living with an older cooling system, chances are the quality of the air it's circulating throughout your home is not as good as it should be. After about ten years of operation, the majority of air conditioning units turn into a breeding ground for germs, allergens, and mold. A unit manufactured prior to 2000 will produce far more pollutants than a modern, more efficient alternative. Today's cooling systems also include sophisticated temperature and humidity controls, as well as filtration systems, to remove airborne contaminants and maintain consistent comfort.
Air conditioning that is oversized, or too powerful for the space it is expected to cool, will drop temperatures too quickly, and fail to adequately remove moisture or reach optimum efficiency levels. A unit that is undersized will run constantly but fail to provide the relief you need on overly hot days. The professionals from Energy Services Air Conditioning, Heating & Electrical have the extensive training, years of practical experience, and commitment to your complete satisfaction to accurately size your new system. We will take the time to take exact measurements, factoring in such things as windows, doors, crawl spaces, ductwork, hot or cold spots, local climate, and quality of the home's insulation. By pairing your needs with the perfect system, and providing conscientious installation work, we ensure rewarding results that stand up against intense usage.
For new construction or upgrades, call Energy Services Air Conditioning, Heating & Electrical and we'll design a system that answers your every expectation. We specialize in central air, heat pumps, and ductless air conditioners, and partner with Carrier to bring you the most meticulously designed, rewarding solutions in home temperature control. We recognize the importance of your investment into your family's comfort, and strive to facilitate your project in every possible way, including financing. Through Wells Fargo Financial National Bank, we offer convenient monthly payments, special financing terms, and convenient online account management, allowing you to invest in superior efficiency without over-extending your budget. Call Energy Services Air Conditioning, Heating & Electrical and expect quality treatment, cutting-edge products, and unmatched comfort.


text:
Cochin Muziris City Tours
About Kerala
KERALA - God's own country
With the Arabian Sea in the west, the Western Ghats towering 500-2700 m in the east and networked by forty four rivers, Kerala Enjoys Unique Geographical Features that have made it one of the most sought after tourist destination in Asia. An equal climate. A long shortline with serene Beaches. Tranquil stretches of emerald Backwaters, Lush hill stations and exotic Wildlife, Waterfalls, Sprawling, Plantations and Paddy fields, Ayurvedic health holidays, Enchanting art forms, Magical festivals. Historical and cultural monuments, An exotic cuisine.....All of which offer you a unique experience, And what is more, every thing of this charming destination is only a two hour drive from the other. A unique advantage no other destination can offer.
Yes, we are sure you would like and love. The magnificent Beauty of this God's own country. Hearty welcome to Kerala.
KERALA FACT FILE
Location: Southwestern tip of India, Area: 38.863 sq.km, Population 35 Million, Capital: Thiruvananthapuram (Trivandrum). Language: Malayalam, English is widely spoken, Religion: Hinduism, (60%), Christianity (20%), Islam (20%), Time; GMT +5:30, Currency: Indian Rupee (1 US $ = 60 Indian Rupees), Climate, Tropical, The official flower of Kerala - Cassia (Golden shower), the tree - Coconut tree, the Bird - Hornbill, the Animal - Elephant.
Aaron Tours
Door No: XXIV 737
Near St. Michael's L.P. School
PO. Kottapuram 680667
Kodungallur, Thrissur, Kerala, India
e: ron@cochinmuziristrails.com
www.cochinmuziristrails.com
COCHIN - MUZIRIS TRAIL
We are conducting different kinds of day tours from Cochin in Kerala State, India.
GOD'S OWN COUNTRY
With the Arabian Sea in the west, the Western Ghats towering in the east and networked by forty four rivers...
Jewish Heritage Tour
We have 3000 year old Jewish History. Jews and Synagogues can still be seen in Kerala. We conduct Jewish Heritage tour.
© Copyright 2014|Cochin Muziris Trails.


text:
ingenico-ramps-up-its-transformation-acquisition-of-bambora
Ingenico ramps up its transformation: acquisition of Bambora. H1 2017 Trading update.
Ingenico Group, (Euronext: FR0000125346 - ING), global leader in seamless payment, today announced the acquisition of Bambora, a fast growing player in payment services, from Nordic Capital for a total consideration of €1.5 billion. The transaction will be fully financed through available cash and debt. The financial leverage will remain below 3x EBITDA leaving Ingenico flexibility for future M&A.
Key milestone in the execution of Ingenico's strategy
Expand its own acquiring capabilities on top of existing partnerships in order to enhance the full-service offer
Step up the approach of the fast growing end-to-end payment solutions market for SMBs in Europe
Extend the geographical exposure of the online and in-store segments
Accretion on Ingenico's economics from 2018 and beyond
Organic growth profile enhanced by 1 to 2% per year
c.5% EPS accretive impact in 2018 (before synergies and PPA)
€30 million of run-rate synergies to be realized over 3 years leading to an EPS accretive impact of c.13%
Headquartered in Stockholm, Bambora employs more than 700 people across Europe, North America and Australia. The group provides a one-stop shop offer to address both Enterprise and SMB markets. Bambora delivers in-store, mobile and online services through end-to-end payment solutions for over 110,000 merchants and enterprises globally. The backbone of its offers consists of a merchant acquiring platform and a customer centric approach relying on an in-depth expertise of full-service offering and value-added services such as fast digital onboarding or data analytics. Bambora, whose model generates more than 90% recurring revenue, reached a gross revenue of €202 million in 2016.
In the next two years, gross revenue and EBITDA are expected to grow over 20% and 30% respectively.
This acquisition represents a key milestone in the execution of Ingenico Group's strategy towards payment services with a disruptive approach and:
Enriches Ingenico's customer centric offer with complementary technological skills
Adds a dedicated direct-to-SMB sales' channel to the Retail Business Unit
Leverages Enterprise combined portfolios with end-to-end payment solutions, including online acquiring capabilities in Europe and specific advanced functionalities for cross-border companies globally
Brings scalable assets with a complementary footprint and increases its online and in-store offer in the Nordics, North America and Australia through the addition of new Gateways
Expands our presence in Australia with POS managed services and full estate management offering.
Anticipating the future evolutions of commerce, Ingenico Group has, in recent years, been pursuing a strategy of expanding its offering towards integrated payment services. The acquisition of Bambora represents a key milestone in our strategic plan providing a more integrated client offering and omnichannel solutions. Coupled with the investments made in our platforms and the development of new technological features, Bambora will enhance our customer centric approach and will reinforce our online and in-store positioning through a perfect complementarity. This transaction will be additive to our growth profile and will create value for our shareholders, customers and employees. In parallel, our half-year performance enables us to reiterate our 2017 objectives." said Philippe Lazare, Chairman and CEO of Ingenico Group.
With our one stop shop payment services, our cross border acquiring capabilities and our customers' digital approach, Bambora fits perfectly with Ingenico's strategic initiatives to address market evolutions and focus on merchants' needs. The combination of our scalable end-to-end solutions with Ingenico's assets will create great value to our customers by helping them to drive performance. I am very excited about pursuing our development alongside Ingenico and being fully involved within the integration process to offer a world class experience to our customers." said Johan Tjärnberg, CEO of Bambora.
Bambora is an excellent example of entrepreneurial business innovation, and yet another great Swedish unicorn leveraging strong local tech capabilities to create a global digital leader. Bambora is the result of a strong vision based on deep insight into the market, followed by fast and innovative execution by the management team that I would like to thank for their dedication and exceptional work. With Ingenico Group as new owners, Bambora will be able to further leverage its technology platform and strong team within Ingenico's footprint for even faster growth and expansion." says Fredrik Näslund, partner, NC Advisory AB, advisor to the Nordic Capital funds.
Bambora's top management will reinvest a meaningful part of their proceeds in Ingenico shares and will be fully involved in the development of Bambora within Ingenico.
The closing is expected to occur by the end 2017, subject to approval from the relevant regulatory and antitrust authorities, and after the consultation of the employee representative authorities.
Half-year results in line with our 2017 objectives
Revenue of €1,222 million
Up 5% on a comparable basis1
Up 8% on a reported basis
Solid performance across most regions
Back to positive organic growth in North America in the second quarter
Excluding Brazil, organic growth1 of 6% in the first half
Continued positive momentum in ePayments
EBITDA2: €244 million representing 20% of revenue
Objective for 2017 maintained
Organic growth1 c. 7%
EBITDA2 margin slightly above 20.6%
Key figures3
Performance in the first half 2017
In the first half of 2017, revenue totaled €1,222 million, representing an 8% increase on a reported basis, including a positive foreign exchange impact of €12 million. Total revenue included €832 million generated by the Smart Terminals and €390 million generated by Payment Services.
On a comparable basis, revenue was 5% higher than in the first half of 2016, a result that included a 3% increase in Terminals and an 11% increase in Payment Services.
Our new organizational framework is now in place. In H1, the Retail Business Unit reported a revenue of €516 million, an increase of 5% on reported figures. On a comparable basis, the increase in revenue was 3%, driven by a good performance in ePayments but impacted by a strong terminals renewal cycle that has taken place in 2016 in Europe.
The Banks and Acquirers Business Unit posted a revenue of €706 million, an increase of 10% on reported figures and including a positive foreign exchange effect of €12 million. On a comparable basis revenue increased by 7%, fueled by a strong demand in Europe and Asia despite a lack of dynamism in Brazil regarding the macroeconomic uncertainties.
Gross profit up 4%
During the first half of 2017, the adjusted gross profit reached €512 million, or 41.9% of revenue. Excluding China, the adjusted gross profit as percentage of revenue represented 43.7% of revenue, or a 10 basis points increase compared to the first half of 2016 pro forma adjusted.
The gross profit in the Terminal division grew by 5% to €385 million, or 46.3% of its revenue following a less favorable geographical mix and components' shortages in China.
Within the Payment Services division, the gross margin rate fell by 290 basis points to 32.4% of its revenue, resulting from the current investments in our platforms and an evolution of our client and geographical mix.
Operating expenses contained over the semester
In the first half of 2017, the adjusted operating costs were €291 million, representing 23.8% of revenue compared to 25.1% in the first half of 2016. As discussed last February, the investments in our platforms tend to decrease all along the year as the forecasted plan has been achieved.
EBITDA margin and profit from operating activities
EBITDA was €244 million in the first half of 2017, equal to 20.0% of revenue compared to 21.5% in the first half of 2016. We remain confident with our full year EBITDA margin objective as H2 2017 will benefit from a better geographical mix and operating improvements.
After accounting for Purchase Price Allocation and other operating income and expenses, profit from operations totaled €191 million, compared with €184 million in the first half of 2016. The Group's operating margin was equal to 15.7% of revenue, versus 16.2% in the first half of 2016.
As announced in February 2017, our new organization will enable us to optimize our operating model through higher end-to-end industrial and R&D efficiency, sharing modules across platforms and leveraging scale to optimize our costs.
In that purpose, we have initiated an operational excellence plan with the involvement and commitment of all local managers. We expect cost efficiencies to reach between €20 and €25 million on a full year basis through a continuous improvement plan and efficiency in our procurements. Our operational excellence plan will be rolled out over time.
Free cash-flow
During the first half of 2017, Ingenico Group's operations generated a free cash flow of €69 million, 8% higher than the prior year leading to an FCF/EBITDA ratio of 28.1%, an increase of 190 basis points. This improvement mainly resulted from the lower tax paid during the semester that has benefited from the geographical mix evolution. In parallel, the Group continued to invest in its activities with CAPEX amounting to €38 million.
Ingenico Group confirms its 2017 objectives:
A revenue growth around 7% on a comparable basis
A slight increase of the EBITDA margin compared to 2016 (20.6%)
The details of the transaction will be discussed on a Group telephone conference call which will be held on the 20th July 2017 at 8.30am Paris Time (7.30am UK). The call will be accessible by dialing one of the following numbers: +33 (0)1 70 99 32 08 (from France), +1 646 851 2407 (from the US) and +44 (0)20 7162 0077 (from other countries) with the conference ID of: 962556. Download the presentation.
This press release contains forward-looking statements. The trends and objectives given in this release are based on data, assumptions and estimates considered reasonable by Ingenico Group. These data, assumptions and estimates may change or be amended as a result of un certainties connected in particular with the performance of Ingenico Group and its subsidiaries. These forward-looking statements in no case constitute a guarantee of future performance, and involve risks and uncertainties. Actual performance may differ materially from that expressed or suggested in the forward-looking statements. Ingenico Group therefore makes no firm commitment on the realization of the growth objectives shown in this release. Ingenico Group and its subsidiaries, as well as their executives, representatives, employees and respective advisors, undertake no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements contained in this release, whether as a result of new information, future developments or otherwise. This release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy or subscribe for securities or financial instruments.
About Ingenico Group
Ingenico Group (Euronext: FR0000125346 – ING) is the global leader in seamless payment, providing smart, trusted and secure solutions to empower commerce across all channels, in-store, online and mobile. With the world's largest payment acceptance network, we deliver secure payment solutions with a local, national and international scope. We are the trusted world-class partner for financial institutions and retailers, from small merchants to several of the world's best known global brands. Our solutions enable merchants to simplify payment and deliver their brand promise.
About Bambora
Bambora helps businesses grow. With a suite of simple payment products, it's easy to keep track of daily transactions both online, in-store, or in-app. Founded in 2015, Bambora has been built with assets having significant experience in the payments industry. Now an international presence, with more than 700 employees, customers in 70 markets, and 300 commercial partners, Bambora processes €55 billion per year. For more information, please visit www.bambora.com
About Nordic Capital
Nordic Capital is a leading private equity investor in the Nordic region with a resolute commitment to creating stronger, sustainable businesses through operational improvement and transformative growth. Nordic Capital focuses on selected regions and sectors where it has deep experience and a proven track record. Core sectors are Healthcare, Technology & Payments, Financial Services, Industrial Goods & Services and Consumer & Retail, and key regions are the Nordics, Northern Europe, and globally for Healthcare. Since inception in 1989, Nordic Capital has invested €11 billion through eight funds. The Nordic Capital Funds are based in Jersey and are advised by six advisory companies, which are based in Sweden, Denmark, Finland, Norway, Germany and the UK. For further information about Nordic Capital please see: www.nordiccapital.com
[1] On a like-for-like basis at constant exchange rates
[2] EBITDA is not an accounting term; it is a financial metric defined here as profit from ordinary activities before depreciation, amortization and provisions, and before share-based compensations.
[3] Preliminary unaudited financial results for the period ended as of June 30, 2017. Review procedures related to the half-year consolidated accounts have been carried out. Review report will be issued after reviewing the half-year financial report.
Press Release PDF 1.94 MB
Presentation PDF 2.85 MB
Hélène Carlander
Global Press Officer
(T): +33 7 72 25 96 04
Email: helene.carlander@ingenico.com


which was in his own words, that neither himself nor twenty of the corporation looked upon the nomination of Mr. Herne and me as an accommodation, that they did not mean to oppose me but intended to nominate somebody in opposition to Mr. Herne.
and acquaint him that I have had repeated kind, unsought-for invitations from a great number of the inhabitants of Bedford, declaring their friendship from many years knowing me, for my being of the county and a neighbour. But I cannot yet determine absolutely upon an affair of such importance.
The precarious situation of my interest at Bedford, occasioned as well by the unreasonable disgust my old friends in that town have taken to Sir Thomas Hatton, as by the little assistance and cordiality of the corporation towards me, has obliged me by the advice of all my friends to put a test to the gentlemen of that body by which their sincerity might be proved, and a means thereby be given me to bring back such a number of those who have of late deserted me, as might ensure the election of Mr. Vernon and Sir Thomas Hatton.
At the general election of 1774 Sir William Wake stood together with Robert Sparrow, a brother-in-law of Sir Robert Bernard; while Lord Ossory, having declined an invitation to his brother to contest the borough, offered his own and the Woburn interest to Samuel Whitbread and anyone who would join him. 'This', wrote Whitbread to Sandwich, 5 Oct., 'for want of time has fallen upon my friend Mr. Howard' (the prison reformer). 'I need not tell your Lordship who our enemies are.'5 He sent Sandwich a list of the honorary freemen created in 1769, and asked him to try and prevent them (presumably Huntingdonshire men) from coming to the election—'we are much threatened with our new made freemen'. When defeated, Whitbread and Howard petitioned, questioning the votes of non-resident freemen and of recipients of certain charities. The House determined on 23 Mar. 1775 that the limitation 'being householders of Bedford' referred to inhabitants only, but disallowed some votes of recipients of charities which was sufficient to wipe out Sparrow's slender majority over Whitbread.
The corporation are at last unanimous, and without a single dissenting voice had pledged themselves to support with the utmost of their industry, interest, and power Mr. Colhoun, whom you have recommended. ... The inhabitants of the town who have not hitherto been in our interest, I have reason to believe are unanimously with us. They sent a message to me desiring to wait upon me. I received them. They desired to know our political sentiments; finding them to agree with their own, i.e., against the Coalition etc., they declared the utmost satisfaction, and determined to preserve the peace of the town. The corporation are bitter against any junction, coalition or connexion with Mr. Whitbread, which of course we shall carefully avoid. The corporation have likewise unanimously determined to give single votes to Mr. Colhoun, and not to give any countenance to any other candidate whatever, but to be contented to carry their own one member, Mr. Colhoun, separately and alone.
A junction between the two present candidates ... would be hurtful to both, but most especially to Mr. Whitbread; the prejudices of whose friends are still stronger than the prejudices of our friends.
Next day Tooke reported difficulties caused by remarks of Colhoun's favouring Fox but which, when questioned, Colhoun tried to explain away. When on Friday, 2 Apr., a meeting of Bedford freeholders resident in or near London was held at the Globe Tavern, opposition arose to Colhoun. Tooke, as he told Bernard, fought the battle of his life, and the meeting finished 'with an unanimous resolution to support Mr. Colhoun as the candidate, provided he should sign a certain test, to which [no] honest man can possibly object'. Colhoun was returned, and promptly joined Fox. Whitbread, on the other hand, adhered to Pitt.
1. Add. 35351, ff. 248-51, 265-6; Bedford mss, unbound.
2. Bedford mss 42, f. 186; 43, ff. 76, 146.
3. Bedford mss 53, ff. 128, 144, 152; 55, f. 240; 56, ff. 170, 178, 182.
4. Wiffen, Mems. House of Russell, ii. 579; Ann. Reg. 1769, p. 128; Almon, i. 445.
7. Mss of the Duke of Manchester, Hunts. RO.


text:
The Dorset Garlic Farmer Taking the UK by Storm
The morning I call Mark Botwright on his mobile phone, he is standing in a garlic field in Dorset. It is a field he has come to dominate as the UK's #1 garlic farmer. Along the way, his garlic has won plaudits from Nigella Lawson, Hugh Fearnley Whittingstall, Yotam Ottolenghi, Michel Roux, Mark Hix and others, and he's won Great Taste awards for the last four years. To be honest, I'm a bit surprised that the man who's been on the BBC, US and Canadian TV and in all the papers has spared the time for a nascent local food blog, but it soon becomes clear. This farmer loves talking about garlic.
© Tom Moggach for New Covent Garden Market
How South West Garlic began
The story of how South West Garlic Farm started is now the stuff of legend. Mark's wife, Wendy, gave him three garlic cloves as a gift when his main business was livestock farming. 19 years later, and the farm is now growing 90,000 elephant garlic bulbs on 10 acres near Bridport. Along the way, it's become an obsession, and the farm close to being the leading producer in Europe.
If Hollywood were to turn his story into a movie, there would be a great montage sequence of planting and picking garlic, cut with shots of standing out in the Dorset drizzle. All the ingredients are there for an uplifting feelgood blockbuster.
For a start, it's a story of triumph over adversity. Prior to turning his hand to garlic, Mark was a livestock farmer with 600 head of sheep. "I've always been in farming, so there's never been any money involved or the money to buy anything," he jokes. Then Mark injured his back, and foot and mouth looked set to deliver the final blow. But Mark had plans for the 100 or so bulbs he'd been growing on the farm at that point.
A change of focus
So a livestock farmer became Mark the Garlic. Almost two decades later, the animals he does keep on the farm are for providing fertiliser. "We're trying to become bio dynamic," he says, "so that everything has a job to do. The cattle are here to produce meat, but also to produce top quality manure. The whole process has now gone full circle."
In many ways, his success has taken him by surprise. "For 16 years, all I did was grow garlic to produce seeds to keep going forward," he explains. "But about five years ago, I knew that by 2016 I would be holding probably the largest seed stock of elephant garlic in the world. In two years' time, we'll be at our peak. We'll be producing two million bulbs of elephant garlic."
A global phenomenon
That means that every day Mark is fielding calls from all over the world, as well as appearing on TV. "The other day there was a lady who'd been writing a paper just about garlic for five years," he says. I suspect he gives anyone who does call as much time as they need, whether it's to give advice on storage and growing, or recipes.
"Garlic is easy to grow but I get emails every day from people asking me why they can't grow it. It's incredibly hardy and I think people mess around with it too much," he explains.
The Black Garlic revolution
Any dreams of a quiet life were crushed when Mark 'discovered' black garlic. It's been a sensation.
"I needed to find a way of having product to sell in the winter when times are harder and we'd sold out of summer stock," he says.
"That's when I found the 4,000 year old recipe for the black garlic. We were looking for a way to preserve the garlic without adding anything to it and we don't do any refrigeration. It's as natural as possible. I found this recipe online and it took me three and a half years to perfect it. It was designed for putting garlic in earthernware pots and leaving them out in the sunshine. That doesn't really work in the UK."
Found most commonly in Korean cuisine, black garlic uses fermentation to preserve the garlic head. It's been called the 'new truffles' with a taste that is not really that garlicky, but sweet, earthy and tangy.
"I took it around to lots of festivals and they thought it was amazing. Chefs had no idea what it was. They all thought it was garlic in balsamic vinegar," he says.
Next up is garlic sea salt. "We harvested a lot of wild garlic in the spring and made the product," he says. "We gave it six to eight months to see how we performs, and now have 200 kilos to start selling next week [late November]."
The wonderful world of garlic
At the moment, South West Garlic farm grows Garlic Scapes, Elephant, Morado and Iberian Fresh Garlic. Scapes are the long, thin stalks of the garlic flower with a peppery flavour and texture like asparagus.
"They're incredibly popular," Mark says. "We have to grow six times more garlic each year just to keep up with demand. But the window for the whole crop is just four weeks and they only produce one scape per plant."
"We're trying to steer away from the Mediterranean varieties which are the Morado and the Iberian. They're very fussy soft neck varieties. We're going now for more hardnecks. Russian-style Elephant garlic which love the cold weather. They just seem to do better. I prefer them. They look nicer and they have more flavour because they've been in the ground longer."
Ah, yes. The flavour. I ask Mark why it is that the garlic I buy from the supermarket has almost no perceptible flavour or aroma.
Getting garlic wrong
"We don't supply supermarkets," he points out. "The reason the garlic you're having is bad is because it's probably spent 9 to 10 months in a chiller fridge with inert gases, and it's lost its way."
Most of the garlic that finds its way onto our shelves is from China. "There's two papers been written about growing practises in China because they use human waste as a fertilizer and we don't know how treated that waste has been. A lot of UK farmers apply human waste but it's so well treated you might think it's mud. But that's generally put on fields where wheat or barley is grown for animal feed.
"They were also caught bleaching some of their white varieties. Garlic can get staining on the skin from different soil types, like a heavy clay. They were bleaching them because people prefer nice clear looking stuff. We've been brainwashed." Aesthetic appeal is also the reason why bulbs are sold without a root. "It's so mechanically processed," says Mark. "That's just what they do with chopping the roots off, to prettify it."
While Mark's wife Wendy can take credit for sowing the seeds of an idea, I'm still curious to know what drives the garlic farmer. "I like growing things," he says. "I love keeping animals and being in the outdoors. I'm standing in a field right now. It's freezing but I'd rather be out here than indoors. But I'm inspired by my grandfather. I'm 53 now and I was messing around in his garden from when I was about three. I was always fascinated. He was an incredibly good vegetable grower."
He also adds a poignant coda to his story. "I lost my parents when I was 21 and they're definitely up there watching. Any time I plant something in the ground, the next day it always rains."
Like many other people I'm sure, I first came across Mark the Garlic by following his prodigious Twitter output and following the links to his website. Even garlic growers need to master social media.
"I'm completely self-taught," he says. "You've just got to keep banging away. I never think 'why am I doing this?' We've got about 11,000 followers. I link to other stories to educate people and make them aware of what's going on, and share recipes. I speak to a lot of people about black garlic and I'd say 99.9% of people have never heard of it so I've got a long, long way to go. I get people contacting me from all over the world wanting to talk to me about it."
Once I've come to the end of my questions, I let Mark get back to keeping the crows off his garlic. I wouldn't mind betting that he'll hardly make a few steps before his phone rings again, with another list of questions at the other end of the line. And I'm just as sure that he would answer them all with the same enthusiasm.
If you'd like to leave a comment or share a garlic tip, please do so below. Or if you've got a story to tell, get in touch on editor@dorsetgourmet.com
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Assayony, Mohammed O.; Mahmoud, Sabri A.
Holistic recognition of isolated words is an essential task in several daily life applications, e.g., bank check processing and postal address reading. In this work we present a system for the automatic recognition of Arabic handwritten words based on statistical features extracted by Bag-of-Features framework that exploits the discriminative power of Gabor features. A handwritten text image is filtered by a set of Gabor filters of different scales and orientations for extracting texture-based local features. The response of the Gabor filters are organized into two layouts, viz. the Statistical Gabor Features and Gabor Descriptors, and fed to the Bag-of-Features in order to produce statistical representations for the handwritten text. The produced features are utilized in a holistic handwritten word recognition system that is applied on handwritten Arabic checks legal amounts public dataset. The effective parameters of the two layouts as well as the Bag-of-Features framework are experimentally evaluated and the optimal values are used in reporting the final recognition accuracies. The best average recognition accuracy achieved by the produced features is 86.44% which is promising in such challenge dataset of large number of classes.


Located in leafy Edgbaston, near Birmingham city centre, the Blue Piano is the perfect location for your special day.
With a restaurant, bar, lounge, garden and accommodation on site, the Blue Piano can cater for wedding parties from 20 up to 200 guests.
Bespoke sit down or buffet menus can be created to suit the style of your day and up to 70 guests can be accommodated for a sit down meal with private dining rooms available for smaller parties. Our menus start from as little as £15 per head.
Perfect for photographs, our picturesque courtyard garden is a lovely location for a drinks reception with an outdoor cocktail bar that can be utilised during sunny weather. A marquee can be set up to cater for larger wedding parties.
The bar and comfortable drawing room are available to use throughout your day for an indoor drinks reception or just for guests to relax. Our eight en-suite guest rooms can be booked exclusively to accommodate you and your guests.
As a popular live music venue in Birmingham, we can arrange the best local live bands and DJ's to suit your style. There is also a real 'blue piano' in the restaurant and pianists are available to play throughout your day or you are more than welcome to play yourself!


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Real Name: Patsy Palmer
Nick Name: Palmer
Birth Place: Bethnal Green, United Kingdom
Zodiac Sign: Gemini
Favourite Color: Black
Address: Patsy Palmer 42 8 Flitcroft Street London WC2H 8DL UK
Home » Biography » Patsy Palmer Bio, Age, Weight, Height, Career, Personal Life, Net Worth, and more
Patsy Palmer Bio, Age, Weight, Height, Career, Personal Life, Net Worth, and more
Posted By: Saba Altaf | November 22, 2018
Who is Patsy Palmer?
Patsy Palmer is an English well-known actress, and also radio representative worked in some TV dramas. Patsy career starts from a children's program named as "Grange Hill," but she was famous for soap serial EastEnders "Bianca Jackson" in which she was cast since 1993-1999 and leave this drama in 2014. Palmer performed in some TV dramas and released her on her autobiography. Her mother was the first supporter of her she believes in the talent of her daughter. In 1984 patsy was a screen debut on the TV show "The Gentle touch in 1984". She became famous for the passage of time. Palmer was always very talented and won the hearts of many with her acting skills.
The early life of Patsy Palmer:
Patsy Palmer was born on 26th May 1972 her birthplace was Bethnal Green, London. Palmer started her education career from "Global primary School" and got her secondary education from "Hagerstown Girls secondary school" she has two elder brothers "Albert and Harry" her mother give her a nickname pat. Patsy mother encourages the abilities of her daughter she wants her to learn that talent of acting professionally. As a result, she gives a chance to Patsy Palmer learn, and she from "Anna Scher's" this was a reputed acting school in London. Pat belonged to a good family and had a good early life. She got good studies.
Professional Life of Patsy Palmer
When she starts with "Anna Scher's her name was Julie Harris after that she changed her name, and her mother's given nickname used as her first name. Patsy was screen debut after her TV show "The Gentle Touch" She took part in the small series roles like "Tricky Business" Making News" "Clarisse" etc.
Moreover, she cast in a series Bianca Jackson" in 1983 which give her more popularity and publicity in her field. She got her a lot of fan from this show. Other projects didn't give her that much progression.
Achievements of Patsy Palmer:
Patsy nominated for national TV award in 1996; the nomination was for the award of the most popular actress. It was the biggest achievement for her.
She won Award as the best actress in 2000 for her acting from 3 different platforms name as "TV Quick/TV Choice Award, inside soap award, British soap award" and get awards in 2008, 2009, 2010. This was the biggest achievement for her.
Latest work of Patsy Palmer:
Palmer is working on some of the new projects and soon we will able to see her in new dramas. Some of the dramas will become a super hit.
Interesting Facts about Patsy Palmer:
Patsy Palmer used drugs and got caught for that in the 1990s she also admitted it that she was taking them from the age of ten.
Palmer married two times in her life. She has a lot of children and now living a happy life with her children.
She was one of the most seen celebs of soap serial who got too many awards for her acting skills.
Patsy Palmer Relationships:
Patsy got married two times in her life. Pat has four children. Her first baby born in 1962 named as Charley she was in a relationship with boxer his name is "Alfie Rothwell," in 2000. She gives birth to one more baby Fenton, then in 2001 patsy give birth to Emilia than Palmer gave birth to one more kid after ten years Bertie. Pat settled with her family in "Western Terrace" and later on shifted to "Kemptown Brighton," England.
Palmer proved as Drug addicted in the 1990s and admits this fact and told that. "I have started "experimenting" with alcohol and drugs from the age of ten "and at the age of 24she strop addiction and she speaks publicly that "We don't have a drink in our house."
Patsy Palmer Net Worth:
Patsy Palmer 26 May 1972 in "Bethnal Green," London is a British nationality holder actress. Palmer performs on a "children shows Grange Hill," but she got publicity from her character in the "Bianca Jackson" after that patsy appeared in the British TV "soap opera EastEnders." Palmer cast since from 1993–1999, and again appeared in this serial April 2008 and left that in 2014. Actress performed in numerous TV dramas. The actual worth of this lady is $100000, and she is living a lush and stable life.
Patsy Palmer Houses:
Patsy is living with her family in Kempton Brighton. This is her property this is the reason she has shifted here. No other property is present on the record.


Retirement Planning - Are your Prepared?
Browsing through the financial press today I came across a couple of references to AXA's Retirement Scope research. AXA explains on their website that the purpose of the research is to better understand retirement issues worldwide. It explores workers expectations and retirees experiences across 26 countries.
33% of working Australians know the amount of their future retirement income.
the retirement income of the average Australian was $1,917 a month which was enough to cover household expenses.
Our brief analysis of these points is that there is a need for many more Australians to be more focused on retirement needs and not just in the last few years leading up to retirement but also in earlier stages of life. One trap is that it is very easy to forget about assets held in superannuation accounts as access to this money is restricted. However, it is our experience that earlier attention to contribution towards and the investment of these superannuation assets can make a significant difference to people in retirement.
For a brief analysis of what people should be thinking about in various life stages take a look at our Financial Planning for Life Stages page on our site.
Please drop us a line if you are concerned / interested in knowing more about whether you are making the most of strategies to build the size of all of your financial assets in preparation for retirement and in particular whether your superannuation assets are being wisely managed.


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You are here: Home»Arts & Entertainment»Culture»BULLYING RAMPANT IN NYC SCHOOLS
BULLYING RAMPANT IN NYC SCHOOLS
Written by Special to the Filipino Reporter
The New York City Department of Education is not providing teachers sufficient resources and training to protect students from bullying and bias-based harassment, according to an overwhelming majority of city teachers surveyed in a report released by the Asian American Legal Defense and Education Fund (AALDEF), New York Civil Liberties Union, Sikh Coalition.
"Any staff training on harassment that my school did last year was conducted in a lackadaisical, perfunctory manner," said Pat Compton, a longtime teacher at Lafayette High School in Brooklyn who retired at the end of the 2009-10 school year.
"While some information on harassment and bullying is presented as a single item at the staff conference at the start of the school year, it is always done very briefly, as a single point on the agenda. Not much has changed since the Chancellor's Regulation was passed."
The report, Bullying in New York City Schools: Educators Speak Out, summarizes the results of a survey conducted during the 2009-2010 school year of 198 city teachers and school staff representing 117 public schools in four boroughs.
It assesses the Department of Education's (DOE) progress in enforcing Chancellor's Regulation A-832, which was issued in September 2008 to address student-to-student bullying and bias-based harassment.
The report also assesses the effectiveness of the DOE's "Respect for All" program, a diversity training initiative launched in 2007 primarily to combat homophobia in city schools that was expanded last year.
The vast majority of respondents reported that their schools have inconsistent procedures for responding to reports of bullying, leave it up to individual teachers to respond, or ignore incidents entirely.
"Given the lack of consistent procedures to implement the Chancellor's Regulation, it is critical that the DOE provide stronger guidance and more resources to ensure safe learning environments for our city's 1.1 million students," said AALDEF Executive Director Margaret Fung.
"We have long known that too many students suffer from bullying in their schools because of their race, ethnicity, religion or sexual orientation," said Amardeep Singh, director of programs at the Sikh Coalition.
"This report tells us why: Few teachers know that they have an obligation to protect students from bias-based bullying. The Department of Education must invest resources into ending this dynamic. Otherwise the city's good intentions to combat bullying are merely good intentions lacking substance."
Among the report's key findings:
• Only 14 percent of teachers and staff surveyed said they believe that the Chancellor's Regulation and the Respect for All program are "effective" or "very effective" in addressing bullying and bigotry in their schools.
• Although the DOE's two-day Respect for All training is available to all k-12 teachers, only about 30 percent of respondents said teachers at their school were even offered training.
• Only about 31 percent of respondents said students in their schools received diversity or Respect for All training.
Respondents who were offered Respect for All trainings reported a lack of specific training on how to respond to bias incidents.
Teachers also expressed concerns that they would be unable to make use of the training because of a lack of commitment from administrators.


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Invest Home > Communities > British Columbia > North Coast > Kitimat-Stikine
Investing in Stewart, British Columbia
Regional District: Kitimat-Stikine
Stewart possesses a rich history fostered by its founders, explorers, visitors and the precious minerals they sought. Strategically located in the heart of the Golden Triangle, Stewart has a continuous one hundred year history of facilitating mining and forestry development.
In the early 1900's, steamships transported passengers and goods into Stewart long before there wer... Read More
In the early 1900's, steamships transported passengers and goods into Stewart long before there were any roads. The railway was the only other means of transportation that was used. In 1906, the HMS Discovery from Seattle brought the first gold rush pioneers into Stewart.
By 1910 there was a full main street of stores, including four blocks, a population of 10,000 - 4 steamers a week, two very large wharves, 4 newspapers, many hotels and every kind of business. However, Stewart's dreams of expansion and of establishing permanent port facilities at the terminus of a transcontinental Canadian Railway never materialized.
Today, the economy of Stewart is supported by a varied range of industries including logging, mining and mining exploration and is destined to become a major port for distribution of ore and logs. Stewart deep sea, ice-free Port delivers easy and fast access to Asian Pacific markets and it is a viable alternative to Prince Rupert and Vancouver. Shorter turnaround times and private storage and loading facilities make Stewart the port of choice in northern B.C.
http://www.districtofstewart.com
View facts and figures about Stewart, BC to help inform your investment research. Click the title to expand and display the statistics.
Deklan Corstanje
Kitimat-Stikine Regional District
AHOY BC
District of Stewart
Invest in Northwest
Metlakatla First Nation Nisga'a Nation
Tsetsaut Skii Km Lax Ha Nation


This handmade, wire wrapped pendant is made with a rare natural stone called Ocean Jasper (with druzy). The material is mined out, which makes it hard to find, with the better material even more hard to find. This is a beautiful orby stone with the coveted orangy pink salmon orbs against the darker green background. Through in the plentiful druzy and you have a stunner.
I made the setting with solid sterling silver- not filled, coated or plated. I chose a simpler design so as not to compete with the stone and I added some reinforcement at the tip where there is some druzy. The pendant has a nice silver look with overwhelming the OJ.


3. Construction of waterfall berm between upper and lower ponds.
5. One of two Bio-Falls, before plants and fish are added.
7. Right after installation of aquatic plants and fish.
When Southern California coastal residents, the Culbertsons, turned to Van Ness Water Gardens to construct a pond for them, they already had a good idea what they wanted as theyd had a pond in their previous residence. Beautiful, moving water and easy to maintain they said. The results delivered on all counts.
Over 5,000 gallons in size, the pond is actually two ponds. A smaller upper pond cascades over a berm into a larger pond. A single EPDM butyl rubber liner was installed, along with two Skimmers on the near side of the lower pond, and two BioFalls. A pair of 4,000 gallons-per-hour pumps move the water from the skimmers in the lower pond to the Bio-Falls.
The upper pond was planted with a mixture of plants valued for their ability to consume nitrogen and phosphatesParrots Feather, Pennywort, Azure Pickerel, Cattail and Water Iriswhich prevents the build-up of the nutrients which would feed algae growth.
Oxygenating grasses are placed throughout both ponds. Water Hyacinths are floating atop each BioFalltheir long, dangling roots are an effective natural filter.
The biological filters and skimmers complete the job of keeping the pond looking natural and maintenance to an absolute minimum.
2. EPDM butyl rupper liner in place: in-pond and perimeter rocks being positioned.
6. Bio-Fall, with Water Hyancinths added to aid the natural filtering process.
8. One month later - what a beautiful result!


SalafiTalk.Net - Lost Money on the street?
» Lost Money on the street?
Posted By Topic: Lost Money on the street?
What should the Salafee do regarding money one sees on the street?
Ex. You get out of your car and on the sidewalk you see money and there is no one around.
What should one do concerning money one sees on the ground,with no owner around to claim it? Is it permissible to take or should we just leave it?
Look to the post by our Brother Daawud Adib "hafidhahullaahu Ta'Alaa" under "Affairs of Fiqh" by the title "The Fiqh of the Amazing story".
May Allaah grant jennah firdous to those involved in getting this knowledge to the people. AMEEN!


The daughter of Pavithra, part of the third generation working with Vimor, currently manages the store. She spent a lot of her childhood at Vimor seeing all the beautiful sarees and learning. Vipra with her background in textile design and commerce gained a wealth of work experience in varied workplaces. In between school , college and work she would help out at the store and exhibitions .She worked an apparel buying house that dealt with international brands ,following which she worked at Fab India for over 4years and then finally joined Vimor.