Welcome to my Patreon page! My name is Reggie Coleman aka Reggie-Regg. I am a local Christian Hip Hop artist from the D.M.V (D.C., Maryland, Virginia) area. I have been involved in CHH for 5 years now, mostly as a writer to begin with, but with the help of some of my close friends and family I was part of my first event early 2013. My first recorded track "Too Much", a remix to the hit song off Drake's 'Nothing Was the Same' album, provided me with a opportunity to test the waters as a artist/rapper and from that point on I've been able to perform at several venues and grow a pretty decent fan base. In 2015 I had the privilege of dropping my debut project entitled 'T.C.M.R. - theycallmereggie' which allowed old and new listeners to step into my world of music and life itself. From that time til now I have faced a few dilemmas that have put a hold on my music and capabilities as an artist.
Music has taken a backseat to my 9-5 job and the Retail Gods (TRG) do not let up man. If I get any time to do anything, it's mostly been to sleep, eat, and maintain good hygiene lol. On top of that, my priorities from a few years back have rapidly picked up which makes it even harder to schedule time to work on/create/record music. Financially (I'm not gonna lie) it has definitely been a huge struggle to go forth as well.
Music is definitely a big part of life now, but before it was even a thing for me I had an idea for a Christian clothing line. The idea for RHN (Respect His Name) was conceived in 2011 and I can now say that it was worth the wait because I am in pursuit of turning an idea into an actual thing and concept. In the near future I will have some rough drafts of the design and I'm slowly piecing together ideas for my collective group 'Watchboys' !
So now ... how did we get here? What led me to this point? Why crowdfunding? TBH, I wouldn't even know where to start. However, I can say that I struggled with the idea of running a campaign. WHY? Because in these 5 years of creating I have never looked for an easy way out. Realistically, I think we all imagine and picture things coming together quickly and instantaneously but we never imagine it actually happening. It's just us daydreaming or trying to emulate what we've seen some of the people we look up to do and achieve. But, the more I wrestled with this the more I saw opportunities being shut down, other people creating and making things happen, and my drive to pursue music slowing down more and more. So what led you to crowd fund? Support. Whether it was me at work, getting off/going to work, headed to the mall, in the neighborhood, etc. I saw a familiar face that supported my music. I would get the same response over and over 'Are you still doing music?' or 'Any new music out yet?' & it fired me to be sure that whenever they saw me again I would have a for sure response. Also, a few feature requested kept me going as well.
I am new to this whole crowdfunding thing, but the key thing in this current time I have learned that ultimately helped me make my decision is that I cannot do it all by myself. Alongside your success is help of some sort and that's what this is. With your help I can work towards bringing you new content at a more efficient and effective manor. Each pledge will help me complete not only my second project, but much more. I'm talking dope video ideas, beat production, the launching of my clothing line, etc. SUPPORT LOCAL!!!!!


In a busy kitchen, you need to have reliable benchtop equipment to suit the needs and demands of your business. We have hundreds of professional benchtop equipment to do just this, from commercial microwaves to toasters, from rice cookers to crepe makers. Power Hospitality Solutions has everything you need to create a beautiful commercial kitchen for your business.


Jules Spinatsch, a Swiss-born photographer, was awarded the 1st annual BMW-Paris Photo Prize for Photography in November 2004. The winning series of photographs, large-format abstracts of machine-groomed ski slopes illuminated only by the headlights of the snow cat machines that groom them late at night, is part of work-in-progress ironically named "Snow Management".
The new work shares a sensibility with Spinatsch's earlier bodies of work — the photographer's consistent examination of human obsession for control — over nature, politics, each other, and public perception.
Here, we are pleased to present photos from the just-completed, multi-year series that Spinatsch has made showing the "Temporary Discomfort" created when summits of government leaders temporarily take over cities around the world — and change those cities dramatically in the name of "security".
In a 10-minute audio interview for Lens Culture, Spinatsch talks about his thinking behind the "Temporary Discomfort" series, which was published in 2006 as a 128-page monograph by Lars Müller Publishers-CH.
Temporary Discomfort IV, Installation view, Kunstraum Walcheturm, Zurich-CH 23.1 - 13.2. 2003. World Economic Forum. Live discontinuous panorama composed of 1446 still shots over 6 days. © Jules Spinatsch, See the photographer's website for details.
200 Roma families who lived in a ghetto on the banks of one of Belgrades's most important rivers have been run off the land, which is now considered premium real estate coveted by the elite class. Matt Lutton reports.


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export {SqlBackupRunsServiceClient} from './sql_backup_runs_service_client';
export {SqlDatabasesServiceClient} from './sql_databases_service_client';
export {SqlFlagsServiceClient} from './sql_flags_service_client';
export {SqlInstancesServiceClient} from './sql_instances_service_client';
export {SqlOperationsServiceClient} from './sql_operations_service_client';
export {SqlSslCertsServiceClient} from './sql_ssl_certs_service_client';
export {SqlTiersServiceClient} from './sql_tiers_service_client';
export {SqlUsersServiceClient} from './sql_users_service_client';

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


text:
Q: Is there a way to decode octet stream file I need to extract useful/readable data from the following link in which the file is in .let format
https://physionet.org/content/gaitndd/1.0.0/als13.let
the file types is application/octet stream
please help me with proper data extraction so that I could use it

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


Maryland consistently ranks among the top states in the nation in Entrepreneurship and Innovation. In Maryland, the second most research-oriented state, about $6.30 is spent on research for every $100 in GDP annually. Innovative organizations in Maryland include the VA Maryland Research and Development Program, the Department of Defense Aberdeen test center, Johns Hopkins University, the University of Maryland, and the NASA Goddard Space Flight Center.
A cluster of private companies, such as Juxtopia LLC, also benefit from their proximity to the federally funded entities and universities, some of which spend billions of dollars on research and development. Federal and Maryland State R&D tax credits are available to help shoulder the costs related to R&D activities.
The Maryland R&D Tax Credit awards a refund of 10% of eligible R&D expenses in excess of the firm's average R&D expenses over the last four years. The goal is to provide an incentive for businesses to increase their R&D spending each year. However, expenses which have not increased above the previous year's average are still eligible for a smaller refund of 3%.
Eligible expenses for the Maryland credit are defined according to the same federal standard as defined in Section 41(d) of the Internal Revenue Code. The tax credit remains in effect until January 1, 2020, subject to extension by the General Assembly.
The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Maryland is one of the largest research and development programs in the VA system. The objective of the lab is to provide the medical center with state-of-the-art medical treatment abilities for Maryland's veterans. For example, the VA Robotics Center of Excellence is developing and testing new rehabilitation therapies involving robotics. One project, ReWalk, enables paraplegics to walk again through the use of a now FDA-approved robotic exoskeleton. ReWalk contains an on-board computer backpack and motion sensors that adjust for movement. The backpack performs much of the leg and arm movements, however the limbs are still benefitting from the range of motion which increases muscle strength and provides psychological benefits.
Johns Hopkins researchers explore topics ranging from the origin and fate of the universe to developing cures for brain cancer. The university holds an honored place among the world's greatest institutions of higher learning. Johns Hopkins Baltimore has been leading university R&D spending every year since 1979. In 2012, the university spent $2.1 billion on R&D, nearly $1 billion more than second place, University of Michigan who spent $1.3 billion. In 2011, roughly $40 billion in government R&D funding went to universities. The universities rely heavily on this funding as it accounts for over 60% of R&D budgets. The chart below shows the top 5 in university R&D spend.
The Maryland Stem Cell Research Fund (MSCRF) was established by the state of Maryland under the Maryland Stem Cell Research Act of 2006 to promote state-funded stem cell research through grants and loans. Since its founding, over $112 million in research grants have been committed; and the program's 2015 budget is $10.4 million.
The MSCRF was proud to recently announce the stories of two Johns Hopkins Hospital patients who were cured of sickle cell disease, lupus, and bone marrow failure from research funded by the MSCRF. These are just a few of the many diseases that doctors expect to be cured in the near future with recent advances in stem cell research and cell therapy.
Research supported and funded by grants from the MSCRF include a Johns Hopkins human stem cell project to create a miniature human retina in a dish. To create the retina, scientists used a technique which involves tricking an ordinary cell into reverting back to embryonic mode and then activating genes to direct the cell into forming the desired cell type, in this case a retina cell. The lab retina is not yet capable of producing a visual signal that the brain can interpret, however the retina can actually sense light. They are hoping the experiment will lead to technologies that can restore vision in people with retina disease.
Similar to Johns Hopkins University, the University of Maryland engages in a broad range of research activities. One area of developing research involves innovative solutions to help protect our citizens and national infrastructure from emerging cyber threats. These cyber threats are particularly pervasive in the electrical utilities industry since electric power is the hub around which all other critical infrastructure evolves. Terrorists therefore see this area as an ideal target. A report from the Department of Homeland Security revealed that the energy industry faced more cyber attacks between 2012 and 2013 than any other sector.
Improve U.S. energy security by developing indigenous and environmentally sustainable energy resources.
These initiatives are consistent with recent pressures on the utility industry to adapt a smarter more efficient electrical grid nationwide.
The Goddard Space Flight Center, located about 6 miles from Washington, D.C. is a major U.S. laboratory for developing and operating unmanned spacecraft. The center manages many of NASA's Earth Observation, Astronomy, and Space Physics missions. NASA's Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter is a robotic mission that set out to map the moon's surface. Launched in 2009, it spent its first three years collecting information about the moon and its environment. The satellite is equipped with seven powerful instruments used to collect data, making an invaluable contribution to our knowledge about the moon.
NASA's New Horizons satellite recently completed a 4 billion mile journey across the solar system. With speeds ranging from 30,000 to 50,000 mph, it took approximately a decade for it to arrive to its destination of Pluto, on July 14, 2015. "The exploration of Pluto and its moons by New Horizons represents the capstone event to 50 years of planetary exploration by NASA and the United States," said NASA Administrator Charles Bolden. The U.S. has now become the only country in the world to have visited each planet of the classical solar system. The images and data collected by New Horizons will take years for scientists to properly analyze to understand significant details about Pluto.
NASA recently awarded a $145 million contract extension to Stinger Ghaffarian Technologies for continued engineering work on hardware and software for spaceflights and ground systems. The contract extension includes $110 million in base funds and a $35 million option that covers four months of work. The company will perform the contract research work at the Goddard Space Flight Center.
The DOD's nationwide yearly R&D budget exceeds $63 billion Aberdeen Maryland is home to DOD's Aberdeen Test Center, Edgewood Chemical Biological Center, Army Medical Research Institute of Chemical Defense, Army Material Systems Analysis Activity, and a unit of the Army Research Laboratory.
Aberdeen Test Center: Federal funding at this center goes towards testing and developing military weapons such as guns, ammunition, night-vision devices, armored vehicles, and underwater marine systems.
Edgewood Chemical Biological Center: As the Army's main R&D center for chemical and biological defense technology, funding at this unit goes towards smoke/obscurant equipment and applications in toxicology, biosciences, biotechnology, respiratory design, and related life sciences.
Army Medical Research Institute of Chemical Defense: The institute specializes in medical countermeasures for use against chemical warfare.
U.S. Army Materiel Systems Analysis Activity: Research at this center involves predicting and developing weapon accuracy, target acquisition, rate of fire, probability of inflicting catastrophic damage, and system reliability.
The Aberdeen Proving Ground: A unit of the Army research laboratory, research at the facility involves ballistics of projectiles, guns, and missiles, armor protection, munitions survivability, munitions lethality, soldier/machine interface, human interaction with military systems, networking and telecommunications, scientific visualization and high performance computing.
Maryland regularly leads the way in research and innovation with these major DOD research clusters, NASA, the VA, and a slew of major research universities in the area. This allows the private sector to piggy-back off of innovative discoveries by large, federally funded organizations, making local private sector businesses just as innovative.
Based in Baltimore, Juxtopia specializes in developing innovative products and services ranging from wearable body monitors and digital displays to supporting IT infrastructures which improve human performance. The company is known for their CAARS (Context-Aware Augmented Reality System) technology, an eyewear technology that provides the user with visual and audio task based instructions projected onto the real world image.
For example, if a person needed instructions on how to change a flat tire, the eyewear could point to the nuts and bolts on the rim and provide visual instructions on how to dismantle the tire. Developers hope to use this software to provide medics with instructions on how to rapidly apply quick surgical procedures on the battlefield.
Jayfus Doswell, founder of Juxtopia, envisions a day where users could simply put on their goggles for step by step, live assistance. Doswell, born and raised in Baltimore states: "Maryland provides the best university research space," adding "we get a lot of things done faster just by being in this local area." Doswell supports that Maryland is home to a network of universities which provide opportunities for collaboration and attract eager and bright talent to the area.
Federal R&D spending has been an important component of Maryland's economy for many years and enables Maryland to be one of the most innovative states in the nation. Universities, government, and private companies alike are spearheading R&D to maintain this status.
Private sector businesses and operations in the state are benefitting from their proximity to large research hubs and advancing their discoveries through R&D. Both Maryland state and federal tax credits are available to stimulate and help shoulder the costs of this innovation.
Jennifer Reardon is a Project Coordinator with R&D Tax Savers.


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Quit Squad
Helping people on their journey to become smoke-free
We decided the campaign was going to be focused around telling the story of previous service users who have all successfully stopped smoking with the help of the Quit Squad.
We evolved the existing logo and brand to ensure continuity throughout the campaign. We worked with a selection of existing service users, potential service users, service providers, specialists, commissioners and decision makers in order to get a better understanding of what draws people to the service. Through this process we created "personas" of service users who had succeeded to become Smokefree and had done so by working with the Lancashire Care NHS Quit Squad. These were then used throughout the campaign to positively reinforce the benefits of quitting.
The overall message is clear, "You are four times more likely to stop smoking with the help of the Quit Squad". The campaign is very much based on public facing events, roadshows, face to face, health centre promotion and other locations where the footfall of the audience would be high. Whilst we continue develop the campaign, it is now in its second phase reaching out via social media channels through the use of campaign case study experiences and video related content.
As a result of this activity the service has seen an increase of referrals from partnering NHS organisations into the service. Furthermore, the number of those who have stopped smoking through using the service has increased 5% in the first set of evaluation results. However, the service is continuing to raise the profile and benefits of the service by launching "smokefree sports" to reach out to specific audiences at sporting locations across the region.
'I chose Creativeworld for a number of reasons; not only do they specialise in Health campaigns, they have a track record in delivering results. The energy and enthusiasm of the team comes across in the visual delivery of the campaign resources and they embed their team into the project to enable the Quit Squad to reach our objectives by reducing the number of smokers in Lancashire and therefore improving healthy outcomes for all.'
Gareth Beck
Team Manager, Lancashire Tobacco & Nicotine Addiction Treatment Service (Quit Squad)
Social Media Campaign Management
Leaflets and Posters
Lancashire Care Foundation Trust (Quit Squad)
quitsquad.nhs.uk
Colour Pantone
#3cb4e5
Our Last Project
AQUA - Advancing Quality Alliance

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


We supply and install a wide range of products including canopies, cycle shelters, pergolas, umbrellas and car ports across Berkshire.
If you're a school or business based in Berkshire and are looking to maximise your outside space then please take a look at our products below or get in touch.
We cover the whole of Berkshire including Reading, Slough, Bracknell, Maidenhead, Wokingham, Newbury, Woodley, Windsor, Thatcham, Sandhurst, Crowthorne, Ascot, Twyford, Wrsbury, Sunninghill.


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Sanat K Biswas
Assistant Professor (ECE)
PhD(2017), Space Vehicle Navigation, The University of New South Wales
Sanat holds PhD (2017) in space vehicle navigation from the University of New South Wales, M. Tech (2012) in Aerospace Engineering from IIT Bombay and B.E. (2010) in Instrumentation and Electronics Engineering from Jadavpur University.
Sanat's research interests include space vehicle guidance, navigation and control, orbit determination, GNSS-based navigation, non-linear dynamics and estimation algorithms. Sanat was associated with the Australian Centre for Space Engineering Research, where he did his PhD research. He also participated in the development of a nano satellite, UNSW-EC0 which was recently launched into a Low Earth Orbit. He received 2014 Emerging Space Leaders' Grant from the International Astronautical Federation for his research contribution in space engineering.
Email: sanat@iiitd.ac.in
Website: https://www.sanat-biswas.com/
Office: B-602 (R&D Block)
Space vehicle guidance, navigation and control, orbit determination, GNSS-based navigation, non-linear dynamics and estimation algorithms
Circuits and Signals, Digital Signal Processing, Linear Control System and State Space Methods, Optimal Control and Estimation, Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS)


In addition to the ongoing training they receive, managers at Citrix are supported through a variety of development courses.
Free BUPA private healthcare is provided for all employees and for their spouse or partner and dependants at home.
Citrix employees are eligible for a number of benefits including a share option scheme, childcare vouchers, employee assistance programmes and life assurance.


3D printed medical models are making impossibly complex surgical procedures possible (we just reported on two amazing ones this past week) but, just like in the manufacturing industry the application of 3D printing technologies is moving from prototyping to small series production, in the medical sector and more and more hospitals are using 3D printing to cut times and costs in an ever growing range of cases, even less sensational ones.
Replica3D, a company specializing in medical and commercial 3D printing, is reporting that 12 UK National Health Service (NHS) hospitals are using its Stratasys 3D printing technology to analyze the complexities of patient surgery prior to an operation. Most of all, since the British NHS is paid by people's taxes, it is already having a significant impact on reducing costs and times. The patient also benefits by allowing for minimally invasive surgery, shorter anaesthetic times and earlier discharge.
Replica3D is based at Salisbury District Hospital and thus can work in close proximity to surgeons and maxillofacial labs. It uses Stratasys' polyjet technology, specifically its Objet24 and Objet30 3D printers, to convert the patients' CT scans into physical and personalized, highly detailed (up to 14 micron accuracy) medical models that are used as surgical guides to test implants for size and fit pre-surgery.
This includes re-bending of titanium implant plates to the patient's exact specifications and preoperative investigations across maxillofacial, orthopedics, neurology, spinal and ears, nose and throat wards, to identify the correct procedure and improve outcome.
The company also produces a number of cranioplasty models in which the unaffected side of the patient's face is mirrored to produce a 3D printed reconstruction, prior to the fitting and placement of a titanium plate.
In all cases Replica3D's models are "carbon copies" of the refined DICOM data collected from CTI and MRI scans.
"Opting to purchase two Stratasys 3D Printers has also enabled us to double our capacity and, with more and more Trusts requiring our services, I believe that we will see a 50% increase in client demands within the next few months," Sherry concluded.
Medical applications of 3D printing are definitely booming and it looks like we are going to hear a lot more about it in the upcoming weeks. After that we probably will maybe not hear about so much, and that will mean that it has become the norm.


Portland, ME— A new study led by researchers from Biodiversity Research Institute (BRI) shows that Harlequin Ducks in coastal areas of Alaska's Kodiak and Unalaska islands are exposed to environmental sources of mercury and that mercury concentrations in their blood are associated with their local food source, mainly blue mussels.
Conducted in collaboration with the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), the study, carried out over a three-year period, focused on two geographically distinct locations in southwest Alaska—Kodiak and Unalaska islands.
The scientific paper Geographic and temporal patterns of variation in total mercury concentrations in blood of harlequin ducks and blue mussels from Alaska, published by the journal Marine Pollution Bulletin, is available online.
The U.S. Geological Survey is the science agency for the Department of Interior. The USGS provides impartial science information about the natural hazards that threaten lives and livelihoods; the water, energy, minerals, and other natural resources we rely on; the health of our ecosystems and environment; and the impacts of climate and land-use change.


We are currently registering for all programs. Registration is in person Monday-Thursday between 8am-4pm.
Please make sure you have the required documents when you come in to register. If you have any questions please call 302-683-3642.


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opendemocracy | 14.02.2014. original text
The challenge that embracing shame poses to the longstanding perversion of honour, is the struggle for women's human rights - the realisation of which will result in the entire community's advancement and healing.
The social construct and custom of honour maintains order for many societies in the middle east and Africa, south and central Asia, and the worldwide diaspora of these diverse communities. A woman, the physical manifestation of honour, embodies this involuntary burden through her every day actions and decisions – or lack thereof – from the moment she takes her first breath until the day she dies.
Honour (namus, onur, şeref, izzat) has many meanings in the context of these societies: modesty, shyness, decency, virginity, decorum, virtue, reputation, and pride. Upholding honour through arranged or forced marriages, zero tolerance for homosexuality, killings, female genital mutilation, women's confinement to the private sphere, and loyalty to an abusive husband and/or in-laws, is meant to guarantee a healthy society; one in which the family unit is strong, giving respect to the heritage and history of the people carrying out the ways of generations that came before. In practice and reality though, honour has been, and still is, the justification for long-established, community-sanctioned violence against women.
The absence of honour or a breach of the honour code, whether real or projected, is shame. Shame threatens the stability of a society as it upends the traditional powerbrokers (tribal elders, religious leaders, women whose livelihood is female cutting, passive or vindictive family members), and jeopardizes the status quo. Persistent incidents that result in shame are even more feared under suspicion that, perhaps, such occurrences are intentional efforts to effect change. And indeed, in recent years more and more women and men are embracing shame – having discovered that, within the shame, lies the key to individual human rights and dignity. Within shame - and the challenge that embracing shame poses to the longstanding perversion of honour - is the struggle for women's rights, the realization of which will result in the entire community's advancement and healing.
On February 14, the One Billion Rising movement reconvenes to rise for justice. Instructed to gather in front of the very infrastructure meant to protect and serve the people, across the globe advocacy groups, organizations, and individuals will employ the medium of creative movement, art, and music to channel pain, anger, frustration, and hope on the doorsteps of police stations, school houses, places of worship, and government offices. In doing so, One Billion Rising seeks to put the shame on the true culprits: the people and places that passively or actively dishonour the human rights of women. In this day of global unity, once again the world will witness how women and men are turning honour on its head in the ongoing fight to eradicate violence against women. Yet, this day merely symbolizes the every day and ongoing struggles undertaken by men and women in honour-based societies fighting against the abuse of power that is primarily exercised upon women and girls. After the day has finished and the Youtube videos have gone viral, the real work will continue.
In 2013 and continuing today, two stories that challenge the suffocating paradigm of shame and honour continue to unfold in the middle east – from the region's western reach in Morocco, to the heart of the conflict zone that Iraq and Yemen continue to be in the 'war on terror', to the questionably stable and wealthy Gulf states. These groundbreaking developments provide encouragement that the global movement for women's rights will continue to gain momentum, uniting men and women from all walks of life, who have been separated by oppressive political agendas; skewed religious ideologies; greed; fear of the "other;" change; authority; and ignorance. Again, it is the questioning and defying of the seemingly unshakeable grasp of shame and honour on society's moral fabric that repeatedly provides the means by which meaningful change becomes possible.
In March 2012, under Article 475 of the Moroccan penal code, a 16-year-old Moroccan woman was forced to marry her rapist. In upholding a law that allows a man to evade punishment for raping a woman, the presiding court performed its role in carrying out justice: restoring the lost honour of under-aged Amina Filali's family. The victim herself, forced to marry her perpetrator, was delivered into the hands of Mustafa Fellak, who continued to beat his wife/victim for seven long months, until she refused to endure any more. Swallowing enough rat poision to end her life, Amina's suicide sparked outrage in Morocco and abroad, igniting a discourse on the sinister prioritization of tradition and an unjust definition of morality, over the rights of the individual. In the past two years, steady national and international efforts to amend the Moroccan penal code finally bore fruit when, on January 23, 2014, Morocco's parliament unanimously amended Article 475 no longer allowing men to avoid punishment for rape through a forced marriage. Not only did the campaign achieve its main goal, but the victory has also served to spotlight the ongoing civil society-led contestation of remaining Moroccan legislation that, directly or inadvertently, sanctions violence against women in the name of honour. Having crossed a previously formidable threshold, the definition of honour for Moroccans is currently under re-construction.
As far back as 2003 efforts to stop FGM in Iraqi Kurdistan began when Kurdish women cautiously approached foreign medical workers about complications stemming from their circumcisions. The medical workers enjoined Kurdish activists, like Suaad Abdulrahman, Women's Project Director of WADI (Association for Crisis Assistance an Solidarity Development Cooperation), and along with her team, Suaad began travelling to remote areas of Iraqi Kurdistan: "At first, we didn't talk about FGM directly because the subject was still taboo and it was difficult to start these types of conversations in these socially and religiously conservative places. Instead, we talked to them about general health problems, and in the course of these conversations, the women began to open up. It soon became clear that FGM was the source of many of their physical, emotional, and sexual problems."
Ten years later, through the efforts of organizations including WADI and Hivos, khatana (circumcision in Sorani Kurdish) of women in Iraqi Kurdistan has significantly decreased. In October 2013, a report released by WADI analyzed interviews of 5,000 women and girls in areas of Kurdistan where, as of 2004, the rate of khatana was nearly 100 percent. Presently, in the areas of Suleimaniyah, Halabja, Raniya, Goptata, and Garmyan, 66-99 percent of women age 25 and older report that they have been cut; in the "pertinent age group of 6-10," however, the rate is now close to zero in Halabja and Garmyan. As of July 2012, seven small villages in Iraqi Kurdistan declared themselves FGM free zones. These communities serve as role models to other villages considering the same path, especially when awareness of the incentives that become available to villages that ban khatana becomes known. In the village of Toutakhel, for instance, in exchange for their commitment to ban khatana the inhabitants received basic school services and a small classroom.
But until women starting to speak out against the practice, a tradition mandated and condoned by the Shafi'i school of Islamic law that is abided by in Iraqi Kurdistan, no one spoke of khatana, as it dangerously bled into discussion of the taboo of sexuality and women's sexuality. Falah Muradkhin, Wadi's Iraq Project Coordinator, said " I found out that my mother and sisters had been cut only after I began this work. I never knew! And once I did, this work became very personal."
Determined to challenge the practice and to uphold the ban on khatana that finally went into effect in 2011, dedicated mobile teams of Kurdish female activists continue to travel from village to village, educating women on their legal rights to refuse this practice and the harmful psychological and physical effects it has on the female body and psyche. Joining the Stop FGM Campaign, Kurdish men now speak in public of the deleterious effects on intimacy, partnership, and marriage that they endure with wives whom they did not know underwent khatana as young girls. As far back as 2005, in a documentary film called "Handful of Ash," one man testified that "circumcision is similar to neutering animals," and had he known his wife was cut, "even if they paid me $10,000, I would not have married her."
Thomas von der Osten-Sacken, one of the founders of the Stop FGM Kurdistan Campaign, says "the fact that FGM is reported in the media when anti-FGM demonstrations take place, in parliament sessions and committee meetings, homes, and schools – a discussion that inherently involves sex and sexuality – indicates that something of a sexual revolution has transpired in Iraqi Kurdistan." While the goal of the alleged sexual revolution of Iraqi Kurdistan is not sexual liberation, it is a crucial development in the improvement of women's rights in this tumultuous part of the middle east. Local advocacy groups in Yemen, Oman, and Egypt have now approached the Kurdistan team to implement the same strategies in their countries, giving birth to the Stop FGM Middle East campaign.
From Morocco and Iraqi Kurdistan, to Sweden, South Africa and the United Kingdom - where an English teenager of Somalian origin went public with her rap against FGM, growing numbers of women and men in honour-based communities continue to rise against the social code they once believed to be the bedrock of social order. Preferring ostracization and persecution to silent suffering, and the willingness to embody shame instead of honour, marks an unmistakable evolution in an increasingly global movement to promote, uphold, and implement women's rights.


The Swiss Medical Board has recommended that no new systematic mammography screening programs be introduced, and a time limit should be placed on existing programs. Their review of mammography screening found the recommendations are based on outdated studies and the benefits do not outweigh the risks to women. One of the largest and longest studies of mammography to date found that mammograms have absolutely no positive impact on breast cancer mortality while 22 percent of women screened will be exposed to false positives and unnecessary treatment.
A popular antidepressant may promote breast cancer and even worse, it's frequently prescribed to the most at-risk group: women in their 40s and 50s. We've told you before about the dangers of SSRIs, an incredibly popular class of antidepressants that can cause violent outbursts—both homicidal and suicidal. But now, researchers have found another alarming side effect: they may promote breast cancer. About 70% of breast cancers are sensitive to estrogen—that is, estrogen contributes to their growth. Recently, researchers have found that paroxetine—the active ingredient in Paxil and Pexeva, some of the most widely prescribed SSRI antidepressants—has an estrogenic effect that likely promotes the development and growth of breast tumors in women.
Are regular mammograms doing more harm than good? For the past two decades, controversy has swirled around the question of the benefits of mammography. Unfortunately, breast cancer is a huge and thriving industry, and its powerhouses have lined up squarely in support of mammography. If every woman who is recommended to get a breast exam did so, it puts $8 billion dollars a year into the pockets of the radiology industry. But what does the science say? This past February, a twenty-five-year-long Canadian trial found no difference in death rates from breast cancer among women who had regular mammograms and those who did not. The Mammogram Myth may be beginning to crumble, but don't wait for the dust to settle— research safer ways to prevent, detect, and treat breast cancer.
The present-day definitions of Osteopenia and Osteoporosis were arbitrarily conceived by the World Health Organization (WHO) in the early 90's and then projected upon millions of women's bodies seemingly in order to convince them they had a drug-treatable, though symptomless, disease. The WHO's technical definition, now used widely around the world as the gold standard, is disturbingly inept, and as we shall see, likely conceals an agenda that has nothing to do with the promotion of health.
A study found that current users of statins for ten years or longer had an 83% increased risk of invasive ductal carcinoma and a 97% increased risk of invasive lobular carcinoma, when compared to never-users of statins. Among women diagnosed with hypercholesterolemia, current users of statins for ten years or longer had a 104% increased risk of invasive ductal carcinoma and a 143% increased risk of invasive lobular carcinoma. Even more appalling is the fact that statins have never been shown, in women and most men, to prevent heart attacks and strokes. Nor have statins been shown to significantly prolong a woman or a man's life. Perhaps women just need to say "No" to a statin prescription.
Mammograms: Where's the Wisdom in Using a Cancer Screen That Causes Cancer?
One of the largest and longest studies of mammography to date, involving 90,000 women followed for 25 years, found that mammograms have absolutely NO impact on breast cancer mortality. Several studies over the past few years have concluded that mammograms do not save lives, and may actually harm more women than they help, courtesy of false positives, overtreatment, and radiation-induced cancers. Besides the harm caused by overtreatment, the wisdom of radiating your breasts year after year, for decades, is questionable at best, considering the fact that ionizing radiation can cause cancer. Beware of the "new and improved" type of mammogram called 3D tomosynthesis, as it exposes you to even HIGHER doses of radiation than a standard mammogram.
There are already more than enough reasons for 'pink' to make you see red, not the least of which is the notion that exposing the healthy breasts of asymptomatic women to breast-cancer causing x-ray radiation for 'early detection' is the best form of 'prevention.' But now, adding to the growing awareness that mammograms don't make sense, a groundbreaking new study published in the British Medical Journal reveals regular mammogram screenings do not reduce breast cancer death rates – the only true measure of whether they benefit women who undergo them. Moreover, the study found that women in the mammography arm were more likely to be 'overdiagnosed' (a euphemism for misdiagnosed) with breast cancer that wasn't there.
An alarming new study finds that glyphosate, the active ingredient in Roundup weedkiller, is estrogenic and drives breast cancer cell proliferation in the parts-per-trillion range. Does this help explain the massive mammary tumors that the only long term animal feeding study on Roundup and GM corn ever performed recently found?
The Big Pharma Cartel has scared Americans into thinking that if they don't lower their cholesterol, they are a ticking time bomb that will eventually end with a fatal heart attack. It is an amazing feat when you consider that these drugs have never been shown, in any individual who has not had a heart attack or stroke, to save lives, prolong lives, or reduce the risk of a fatal heart attack. A recent study reported that in women, current users of statins for 10 years or longer had a 83% increase risk of invasive ductal carcinoma and a 97% increase risk of invasive lobular carcinoma of the breast as compared to never users. Among women with high cholesterol levels, current users of statins for 10 years or longer had a 204% increase risk of invasive ductal carcinoma and a 243% increase risk of invasive lobular carcinoma as compared to never users. Breast cancer is a plague affecting nearly one in seven U.S. women. There are many, many studies showing a lowered cholesterol level increases the cancer risk. It should come as no surprise that chemically lowering cholesterol levels will increase cancer rates.


*I received a sample product in order to conduct this review, however, all opinions are my own.
Today's review and giveaway is for something we all have to have, but probably not many of us actually ENJOY shopping for! Yep, we're talking swimsuits, and while swimsuit shopping was one of my favorite things to do in my younger (skinnier) days, let's just say it is NOT one of my favorite things now. It's so hard to find a suit that is flattering, and well, COVERS all the parts I need it to cover.
Distinctive and beautiful, Hapari swimwear is designed to enhance a woman's natural beauty — no matter her shape.
At Hapari, we believe that every woman deserves a fit that will flatter her figure because you should look and feel great while having fun in the sun. And that is why our swimwear is created from the finest fabrics and with body-shaping features to help you feel comfortable and confident!
Whether you're looking for a tankini, bikini, one-piece or plus size swimwear, we believe you should never sacrifice style for comfort and coverage. And with Hapari, you'll never have to!
I'm telling you guys, I absolutely love these suits! I got the chance to pick out any suit I wanted from Hapari's site! It was such a hard choice, I only decided and then undecided, and then redecided only about, oh, a thousand times! But, as you guys know, I am always looking for a good deal, and that is exactly what I did! When I checked out Hapari's "sale" section, my heart went pitter-patter! Oh so many great suits and all at wonderful prices- I was in heaven! I actually ended up getting TWO tops and one pair of bottoms that could coordinate between the two suits, so it was like getting two suits for the price of one!
Here are the two tops I chose, along with the brown tummy tuk bottoms- they all go together perfectly and I couldn't be happier! Sorry folks, but you are not going to see a picture of me in my swimsuit, not this year haha! I am not ready for that just yet! I am so happy with these two tops plus my one pair of bottoms. This will be perfect for when we go on vacation, I can just pack these three pieces and it will be like having two brand new suits! Love it!
Here's a picture of the suits, so you can see how great they look together and how perfectly everything matches! I love that Hapari has designed their site so that everything is able to be "mixed and matched", that takes all the guesswork out of swim suit buying, you just pick two pieces that you like,and you're done! Let me tell you guys, these are really great quality swimsuits, too. I am used to buying cheapie swimsuits every year, and I am now in love with the quality of Hapari's suits. I guess you really do get what you pay for!
As you guys can see, I am super duper in love with Hapari and I am definitely never going anywhere else to buy my swimsuits again! And... now for the best part...... Hapari Swimwear is so awesome, they are giving one lucky Flip Out Mama reader a $100 gift code of their own to pick out their own amazing swimwear and experience the Hapari difference! How exciting is that?! We're going to run the giveaway until 7/20/14, so hurry and get your entries in! Good Luck Guys!
I love the emerald green bandeau top with the matching colored bottoms.
I love the Denim Dancing Leaves V-Neck Tankini Top.
Love my hapari tankini with the twist top! It fits perfectly!
I keep hearing about this company lately. Good stuff!
I like the SOS denim tankini.
I really like the Capri and white bandeau!
I've had my eye on the Red Diamond Dot Twist Tankini for a while now. Lots of cute tops!
My favorites are the black Seaside drawstring and the denim Dancing Leaves vneck.
Mikado Hibiscus Plus Size V-Neck Tankini Top with a pair of board shorts and I am ready for the beach.


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The Big Interview - Ivor Kerslake, The British Museum
Ivor Kerslake - Head of Imaging & Photography at The British Museum
Words - Lou O'Shea
Photography Les Wilson - www.leswilson.com
Ivor Kerslake is Head of Imaging & Photography at The British Museum. In his role , which has so far spanned over 35 years, Ivor is responsible for providing a complete photographic and imaging service in support of The British Museum.
In this month's BIG INTERVIEW , I had the chance to meet and interview Ivor about his photographic work at The British Museum, the importance behind the image creation and how the inner photographic workings at The British Museum operate.
Ivor you are Head of imaging at the British Museum & have worked here for over 35 Years , what exactly does your role involve?
I manage a team of 8 photographers and imaging specialists in providing a creative, high quality service in support of the Museum's public and research programmes. I am the point of contact between the photographers and clients be they the Director or the sales team from our commercial arm, BM Images. I work closely with the Chief Photographer in setting style, maintaining deadlines and ensuring the final product is up to the standards we set ourselves.
Why did you choose to become a photographer?
I actually wanted to be a journalist when I was at school but a position arose with a commercial and advertising photographer in my home town of Bournemouth so I took the opportunity to learn and also earn some money at the same time.
You have had the opportunity to photograph some pretty incredible pieces of history what has been your favourite artifact?
I have been so fortunate in my career at the Museum to work on some fabulous things but the ultimate for me was photographing the marble sculptures from the Parthenon.
Why do you feel it is so important to have a record of historic artifacts?
There are so many reasons but for me it is being able to present the objects, via the web and through books, to people who may never have the opportunity to see them in person.
Albrecht Dürer print being photographed in the studio.
Do you know how many artifacts you have photographed over the years?
I really don't have a clue but I recently finished an online catalogue of African Gold Weights which numbered over a thousand objects in one collection.
How has digital & social media changed the way you work?
Through being able to communicate and share skills with like minded professionals. I think this has resulted in a much higher standard of photography being produced in the cultural heritage sector.
You have worked here for over 35 years what are the most influential changes in your working environment?
Without a doubt it is the transformation from film to digital. Having spent far too many years with chapped hands sloshing around in chemicals I would never like to go back to the old ways.
What is the most challenging part of your work? & how has your work evolved over the years?
Strangely, working in a Museum that has been around for over 200 years, the most challenging thing about my job is meeting production deadlines. When you are producing a catalogue, photography tends to be at the end of a chain that starts with conservation assessments of the objects and there never seems to be enough time to get the images to the publishers. We've not yet failed to meet a deadline though which is to the credit of my entire team.
Is it difficult to light & shoot such a diverse range of items?
Each object provides a challenge from highly polished metalwork to 4000 year old mummies but my team are highly skilled and experienced and I never fail to be impressed with stunning images they manage to produce.
Do you have a style of lighting you prefer to use in your work or do you have to tailor make this for each item photographed?
We like to think we have a recognisable style which shows the object to its best advantage. We tend to use neutral backgrounds so as not to detract from the beauty of the subject. I like to give the impression that there is one main source with a single shadow while in fact there could be up to six lights subtly placed to bring out fine details.
How is workflow organized, for example do you have a team of photographers , post production and multiple lighting set ups?
Each photographer is responsible for their own space and they tend to see the whole job through themselves from requesting the delivery of an object to the studio to processing the final image for uploading to the Museum's asset database.
What camera gear and lighting do you shoot with & why?
Since the adoption of digital technology we have stayed loyal to Phase One for our capture and Elinchrom for our lighting. While always looking at alternatives and new products on the market, the quality and support we have received from both of these companies has meant there is no advantage in changing at the moment.
Do you shoot all artifacts in the British Museum studio regardless of the size of the piece or do you sometimes have to shoot on location ?
We moved into a new suite of studios 2 years ago and now have the ability to shoot almost anything in the collection however some objects cannot physically be transported from their public display so we will load up a barrow and take the studio to them.
You recently refurbished the Photographic studio at The British Museum , tell us about the implementation & how the new studio space has changed your work?
Two years ago we moved into a completely new suite of studios as part of the redevelopment of the North West corner of the Museum. For the first time in my career the whole of the photographic department came together in the same space. This has enabled us to work together as a team feeding ideas off each other and being able to step in to give a hand to others when things get hectic.
Has your workflow / technology changed over the years since you began working at the museum?
When I started there were over thirty photographers working across the whole range of skills from processing film and producing thousands of black and white prints to producing 35mm slides for reference and lecture purposes. They were supported by a large administration team responsible for invoicing and despatch. With the advent of online access to images this changed and as a result the staff complement changed to reflect these changes.
How has digital changed the way you work?
In terms of workflow it is much better for a photographer to see the finished product almost immediately rather than have to wait for film to be processed. However I have always encouraged the team to get things right in the camera before pressing the shutter to minimise the amount of post production needed.
I understand that you have co written books on artifacts can you tell us a little bit about this?
A few years ago, Dr Ian Jenkins, a world renowned authority on the Parthenon sculptures asked myself and a colleague, Dudley Hubbard, to provide the photographs for a new book he was producing. The aim was to look at the sculptures from the perspective of the objects themselves and we were given creative licence to interpret them as we saw them. We worked every day for ten days, securing the area around us, and became a star attraction for the visitors who were most interested in what we were doing. (The Parthenon Sculptures in the British Museum, by Ian Jenkins with photographs by Ivor Kerslake and Dudley Hubbard is still available in the Museum bookshop and also online) The Parthenon sculptures in the British Museum are unrivalled examples of classical Greek art that have inspired sculptors, artists, poets and writers
Outside of your role at The British Museum, do you have an interest in preserving information such as Genealogy or archiving?
I have worked extensively on my own family history.
What's the most important bit of photographic equipment in your kit bag?
These days it's my glasses
You are retiring in September, do you plan to continue shooting?
I certainly intend to. I have spent 50 years taking photos for other people and would like to start working up a personal portfolio of my own.
What words of wisdom do you have for all the aspiring up and coming photographers reading this article?
Buy into every job that comes your way. The more you can relate to the subject the better the result will likely be. Triple check everything and do your homework before setting out on an assignment and try to minimise any surprises that will surely come along.
Filed in: Cultural Heritage, Elinchrom, Interview, Ivor Kerslake, Photographer, Photography, Professional Photography, Q&A, Studio Flash, Studio Lighting, The Flash Centre
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Real Madrid have not given up hope of signing Marcus Rashford and are preparing a £100m bid for the striker, while Tottenham turned down the chance to sign a Brazilian winger, according to the Transfer Deadline Day papers.
Real Madrid will reportedly make a £100m bid for Marcus Rashford before he signs a new deal at Manchester United this summer.
The report in The Sun claims that the Spanish giants have not given up hope of landing the England forward, who had been linked with a move to The Bernabeu when he was struggling to earn regular starts under Jose Mourinho at Old Trafford.
The 21-year-old was said to be seriously considering his United at that point but since Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's arrival, Rashford has started all seven Premier League games in which the Norwegian has been in charge.
However, that is not thought to be deterring Real, as they are refusing to give up in their quest to sign the player and want to do so before he pens a new contract.
The report also claims that Rashford will wait until the summer before making any long-term decisions about his future – news that has given Real Madrid a lift in their hopes of signing him.


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collaborate for a cure
UT system funds Houston researchers in new collaboration to cure cancer
Five cancer research teams have been selected to receive funds from a new initiative from the University of Texas. Photo via news.utexas.edu
In a renewed effort to move the needle on finding a cure for cancer, the University of Texas system has launched a new collaboration in oncological data and computational science across three programs.
Houston-based University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center has teamed up with two UT Austin schools — the Oden Institute for Computational Engineering and Sciences and the Texas Advanced Computing Center. The collaboration was announced this summer to tap into mathematical modeling and advanced computing along with oncology expertise to inspire new methods of cancer treatment.
"Integrating and learning from the massive amount of largely unstructured data in cancer care and research is a formidable challenge," says David Jaffray, Ph.D., chief technology and digital officer at MD Anderson, in a news release. "We need to bring together teams that can place quantitative data in context and inform state-of-the-art computational models of the disease and accelerate progress in our mission to end cancer."
Now, the first five projects to be funded under this new initiative have been announced.
Angela Jarrett of the Oden Institute and Maia Rauch of MD Anderson will develop a patient-specific mathematical model for forecasting treatment response and designing optimal therapy strategies for patients with triple-negative breast cancer.
Caroline Chung of MD Anderson and David Hormuth of the Oden Institute are using computational models of the underlying biology to fundamentally change how radiotherapy and chemotherapy are personalized to improve survival rates for brain cancer patients.
Ken-Pin Hwang of MD Anderson and Jon Tamir of UT Austin's Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering and the Oden Institute will use mathematical modeling and massively parallel distributed computing to make prostate MR imaging faster and more accurate to reduce the incidence of unnecessary or inaccurate biopsies.
Xiaodong Zhang of MD Anderson and Hang Liu of TACC will advance both the planning and delivery of proton therapy via a platform that combines mathematical algorithms and high-performance computing to further personalize these already highly tailored treatments.
Tinsley Oden and Prashant Jha of the Oden Institute and David Fuentes of MD Anderson will integrate a new mechanistic model of tumor growth with an advanced form of MRI to reveal underlying metabolic alterations in tumors and lead to new treatments for patients.
"These five research teams, made up of a cross section of expertise from all three stakeholders, represent the beginning of something truly special," says Jaffray in a release. "Our experts are advancing cancer research and care, and we are committed to working with our colleagues at the Oden Institute and TACC to bring together their computational expertise with our data and insights."
Later this month, the five teams will log on to a virtual retreat along with academic and government thought leaders to further collaborate and intertwine their research and expertise.
"Texas is globally recognized for its excellence in computing and in cancer research. This collaboration forges a new path to international leadership through the combination of its strengths in both," says Karen Willcox, director of the Oden Institute. "We are thrilled that leaders in government, industry and academia see the potential of this unique Texan partnership. We're looking forward to a virtual retreat on October 29 to continue to build upon this realization."
cancer researchuniversity of texasuniversity of texas m.d. anderson cancer centeroden institutemd andersontexas advanced computing centercancer
open for biz
Photos: Houston coworking company expands with new location


Use wherever you need a little keeper made from 10" squares. Make three boat planks, stitch together while flat, then tie the ends and set sail for beautiful adventures!
Organize your life, then untie to store flat. Layer cake friendly.
Finished size: 6" x 3" x 3"
Use with Stiff Stuff interfacing (purchased separately).


Learn Brand New Tips And Methods To Slim Down!
Many people find slimming down. The next fitness tips really are an effective weight reduction story.
Should you discontinue using red-colored meat in what you eat you'll slim down. Red-colored meat is extremely full of cholesterol and saturated fats and cholesterol and it is horrible for the heart. Rather than red-colored meat, move toward chicken, poultry, chicken or any other seafood.
You are able to stay with your weight loss program in a work or household party. Start by choosing fruits and veggies prior to making the right path to snacks that might be greater in calories. This allows you may still benefit from the fun without compromising unwanted weight. Don't announce your diet plan plans or create a giant deal from them while in a party simply do it.
Make certain you drink a sufficient quantity of water throughout your health. Most grownups have to drink around eight glasses every day to help keep themselves hydrated. Once the weather conditions are hot out you need to consume more. Consuming plenty of water keeps your digestive tract running easily and you'll feel fuller.
Running or more and lower the shore provides you with to reduce excess fat. The sand makes running around the beach harder than the usual pavement or grass and can work your legs and heart more difficult inside a shorter distance.
Write lower that which you have eaten, what time you consume and just how you are feeling by consuming. This makes you keep close track of your food intake which help you identify by eating according to feelings.
If you're finding traditional weight loss plans difficult, consider options like "Ally". This specific drug actively works to help reduce the quantity of body fat that you simply consume from being absorbed from your body. It leaves your body as weight. It will help for individuals that has challenge with nutritional modification.
Reduce the quantity of calories that you simply consume. There's two times the calories in a single body fat gram as in comparison to some gram of carb or protein. Take away the meals which have lots of body fat, use oils moderately, and cut lower on dairy.
Learn to decipher food label. A food that's body fat-free isn't always healthy. Browse the whole label to be aware what is within it.
When you begin watching your diet plan, try planning your foods around 2,000 calories daily. Make sure that every meal gives you essential nutrition and minerals inside your foods. If you will find any inadequacies, consider pairing your diet plan track of a multivitamin of some kind.
When visiting the mall, consider using a couple of products that you may want to put on, even when you're not able to purchase them on that day.
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As noted above, effective weight reduction requires time, motivation and persistence for the procedure. Lots of people possess a difficult time finding this stuff to copyright notice begin slimming down. Should you try this advice, you will find a way copyright notice in which can help you slim down.


Citilink Industrial Park (CIP) is a two-stage business park strategically located adjacent to the Townsville Ring Road.
It is approximately 10 minutes north of the Townsville CBD in the heart of the city's industrial precinct.
CIP has been designed to cater for large and small businesses and is approved for 44 lots ranging on size from 1900m2 to 7000m2. The approval ensures flexibility to increase lot sizes to suit customer's specific needs.
The layout of the park will allow it to cater to trucks up to B-Double size with all lots having direct access to the centre roads and easy access to both the Bruce Highway and The Townsville Ring Road. Covenants will guide the design of all buildings, protecting the substance of the project and ensuring the corporate image of the occupants is reflected in the high-standards of the premises.


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GoodWeave International
Features of GoodWeave
About GoodWeave
GoodWeave Nepal
About GoodWeave Nepal
Benefits of GoodWeave Nepal
Source and Uses of Fund
Workplace Monitoring
Certification of Carpets
Major Achievement
NGF Staff
Centre Based Rehabilitation
Community Based Rehabilitation (CBR)
School Based Rehabilitation
Advocacy and Preventive Social
Sponsorship Education Programme (SEP)
Early Childhood Development cum Day Care Centres
Medical Health Services
Non Formal Education (NFE)
Vocational Training Program
Livelihood Support/Weaving Opportunities
General Members - Carpet sector
General Members - NGO Sectors
GoodWeave Licensees
List of Licensees
Objectives of Nepal GoodWeave Foundation
Primary Activities of NGF
What is child labour?
Feedback for Improvements
Corrective Actions in Case of Non-compliance
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What is GoodWeave?
GoodWeave is the new name for the certification program and organization formerly known as RugMark. The GoodWeave label, publicly introduced in September 2009, is your best assurance that only adult artisans—not children—made your beautiful rug.
What does the GoodWeave label replace?
The GoodWeave label replaces the RugMark label on all rugs certified as of August 2009.
Is the RugMark label still valid?
Rugs shipped before August 2009 will bear the RugMark label. They are still for sale from some retailers and showrooms, and that certification remains valid. All of the RugMark labels are expected to be phased out by 2011, when only the GoodWeave label will appear in the marketplace.
Is Nepal RugMark Foundation also changing its name?
As of Fall 2011 Nepal RugMark Foundation have also changed its names to reflect the new certification name – Nepal GoodWeave Foundation. It will, however, continue to function as always, overseeing the rug certification program and fulfilling the mission of eliminating child labor and improving conditions in the carpet industry.
Has the organization's mission changed?
No. The move to GoodWeave is part of a long-term organizational strategy to strengthen our standards and encourage greater social and environmental responsibility in all facets of the carpet industry.
The new label provides a strong platform for future expansion of GoodWeave's programs and mission, but the core purpose remains the elimination of child labor and providing opportunities for children and families affected by illegal child labor.
How is the GoodWeave label different from the RugMark label?
The GoodWeave label looks different, with a new name and an updated logo and typeface. Both labels assure the buyer that the rug was made by adult artisans, not child labor, through inspection of looms and legally binding contracts with rug-making facilities.
GoodWeave introduced its new label in fall 2009 as a new member of the International Social and Environmental Accreditation and Labeling Alliance (ISEAL). ISEAL offers guidance on good practices for progressive organizations involved in standard-setting for social change. GoodWeave International is strengthening its standards and systems in compliance with ISEAL guidelines. See additional information in the section below regarding ISEAL.
Why was the label changed?
The GoodWeave label represents an important step in the organization's evolution. GoodWeave is responding to increasing awareness of social and economic issues in textiles with a more sophisticated standards program that will also allow the organization to continue its growth. While child labor is the most pressing and immediate issue to be addressed in the carpet industry, broader ethical, labor and environmental issues also require responsible responses. The GoodWeave label will also enable us to incorporate other textile products into one certification program in the future.
Finally, the new label and logo has a contemporary new look and a name that reflects GoodWeave's mission in the world of ethically produced textiles.
How does the GoodWeave label differ from fair trade or other labels?
GoodWeave offers the only independent, child-labor-free product certification in the handmade carpet industry. While other rug labeling programs make important contributions to weaving communities, GoodWeave is the only organization that conducts ongoing, unannounced inspections of the looms on which the rugs it certifies are made. GoodWeave believes that ongoing, random surprise inspections are a necessary enforcement mechanism to ensure that no children are forced to work – a component that is lacking in many certification systems. Furthermore, while certification programs like fair trade ban child labor in their standards, the GoodWeave program is the only one offering remediation in the form of rescue, rehabilitation and education for any child being exploited on a loom. GoodWeave works holistically to address child labor through a variety of community initiatives.
Like GoodWeave, the fair trade movement recognizes that child labor cannot be isolated from other issues such as adult working or environmental conditions. In this vein, GoodWeave is finalizing its new seven-principle standard that incorporates the key International Labor Organization conventions addressing adult wages, working conditions, forced and bonded labor and environmental.
About GoodWeave and ISEAL
What is ISEAL?
GoodWeave International is an Associate Member of the International Social and Environmental Accreditation and Labeling Alliance (ISEAL), founded in 2001 to define and codify good practices in standard-setting for progressive change. ISEAL defines its associate members as "organizations that are in the process of meeting requirements for good practice in either their international standard-setting or international accreditation practices and that have committed to the ISEAL Alliance Code of Ethics."
How is GoodWeave working with ISEAL to create standards for the GoodWeave label?
ISEAL provides guidance and models for meaningful, rigorous, transparent standards that are developed using input from all stakeholders and have effective complaint mechanisms, among other qualities. GoodWeave's standards are in process for full compliance with the ISEAL framework.
What does it mean to say you're developing better standards? Were the existing standards inadequate? When will the new standards be final?
GoodWeave began in 1995 as a small organization serving critical and immediate needs in the carpet industry. Since then, GoodWeave has helped thousands of children and families, but there's much more work to do. Simultaneously, consumers have become more sensitive to marketplace claims and want assurances that a label means what it says. To meet these expectations and to continue to grow and serve more children, families and communities, GoodWeave is in the process of updating and strengthening its standards to meet contemporary best practices.
Under the guidance of ISEAL, GoodWeave aims to strengthen its standards to meet the toughest tests of clarity, rigor and transparency; to be attentive to the needs of all stakeholders; to encourage rather than create barriers to change; and to establish effective complaint mechanisms that will speedily rectify any failures in oversight. Standards in development are developed through a comprehensive multi-stakeholder consultation process.
What is the loom inspection process?
To become licensed with GoodWeave, rug-making facilities agree to be monitored regularly and inspected at random by GoodWeave-authorized inspectors. Looms are registered with the monitoring and inspections office, and each finished rug includes a number on the GoodWeave label allowing end purchasers to track and verify its origin.
Do looms and importers pay a fee to use the GoodWeave label?
Manufacturers and importers pay associated licensing fees that fund GoodWeave. Retailer and showroom lead sponsors also pay fees for participation in GoodWeave in the countries where rugs are sold. Fees support GoodWeave's education programs and other community initiatives for former child weavers and their families, the inspection and certification process and other operational costs, including the GoodWeave consumer education campaign.
About Nepal GoodWeave Foundation
What is GoodWeave's mission?
The mission of GoodWeave is to end illegal child labor in the carpet industry and to offer educational opportunities to children.
What does GoodWeave do?
GoodWeave rescues children directly from the looms and strives to deter the illegal employment and exploitation of other children. GoodWeave also inspects and certifies carpet-weaving facilities and authorizes use of its trademarked label on rugs made at looms meeting GoodWeave standards. The certification program helps fund educational opportunities for children as well as support and resources for families and weaving communities.
Who founded GoodWeave, and when?
GoodWeave (formerly known as RugMark) was founded by Kailash Satyarthi, then Chairman of the South Asian Coalition on Child Servitude. After many years of rescuing Indian children from bonded labor in the carpet industry, only to see them replaced by others, Satyarthi wanted to create a market incentive for manufacturers to stop exploiting children on an industry-wide basis.
GoodWeave was formally established in 1995 by a coalition of nongovernmental organizations, businesses, government entities and multilateral groups like UNICEF.
What are some of GoodWeave's successes?
Through a combination of forces including GoodWeave's efforts, illegal child labor in the carpet industry has dropped by an estimated 75 percent since the organization was founded in 1995. GoodWeave has directly rescued several thousand children and deterred the employment of many thousands more. It has helped to build awareness by shining a spotlight on child labor, the hidden tragedy of the carpet industry. Though there is much more work to be done, GoodWeave's efforts are making it more difficult for looms to profit by selling luxury goods made by exploited children.
Once children are freed from the looms, GoodWeave makes every effort to reunite them with their families. GoodWeave runs its own education and rehabilitation facilities, and it partners with other organizations to support children's education. Other initiatives help create strong, financially independent communities by providing health clinics, adult literacy programs and worker health and training seminars.
Where does GoodWeave
India, USA and initiatives in the United States (also serving Canada), England (also serving Ireland and Australia) and Germany.
How can I support GoodWeave?
Exporters are invited to sell GoodWeave certified rugs and join GoodWeave as members and lead sponsors.
Any donation amount is welcome and appreciated and helps to give more opportunities to children in Nepal.
About Purchasing a Certified GoodWeave Rug
How can I be sure my rug wasn't made with child labor?
Ask and look for the certified and numbered GoodWeave label on the back of the rug. It's your best assurance that no children were exploited in the production process. Until 2011, you may still see the former RugMark label on imported rugs; this label is equivalent to the new GoodWeave label.
Will I pay more for a GoodWeave certified rug?
We estimate that the cost to the consumer is typically no more than half a percent of the total retail price. On a $2,000 rug, that comes to about $10. Certified GoodWeave rugs are available in many price ranges to fit your budget.
Is there a difference in quality in a GoodWeave certified rug?
Rugs that are made with experienced, adult hands are of a higher quality and more beautifully woven, since fine detail work takes years of practice and the patience of an adult weaver.
About Child Labor
What is child labor?
The International Labour Organization (ILO) recognizes child labor as work that is mentally, physically, socially or morally harmful to children. Instead of going to school and experiencing childhood, 215 million children around the world are involved in this type of work.1
Of those an estimated 250,000 children in South Asia are spending long days at the looms, working in poor conditions. In addition to interfering with child development and education, child labor also drives down adult wages, keeping communities trapped in a vicious cycle of poverty.
Of the total number of children working, 126 million are engaged in the worst forms of child labor, defined in ILO Convention 182 as "work which, by its nature or the circumstances in which it is carried out, is likely to harm the health, safety or morals of children," such as bonded labor, extremely hazardous work and other work that separates children from their families.
What is the economic impact of child labor?
Ending illegal child labor would help the global economy. The ILO's 2003 Investing in Every Child report shows that it would cost $760 billion over a 20-year period to end child labor. The estimated benefit in terms of better education and health is more than six times that—over $5 trillion in economies where child laborers are found.2
Isn't it true that children in poor countries must work to feed themselves and their families?
Child weavers often work as bonded laborers and never see a penny for their work. Those who are paid make far less than adult weavers, and adult weavers make less in environments where child labor is used because child labor drives down wages. 1,3
Aren't children allowed to work in some countries?
Child labor is illegal in India and Nepal, where GoodWeave certification efforts are based.
Some child weavers work at home, side by side with other family members. Aren't they better off than child weavers in factories?
Sometimes children working at home are worse off. It's easier for inspectors to enforce fair labor standards in a factory setting than in the privacy of a home. Anything can be hidden behind closed doors. It is legal for children to work in the home, as long as they attend school full-time and are not working against their will.
Isn't carpet weaving less dangerous than working with machinery or chemicals as some children do?
The health of child carpet weavers is very poor. Many develop respiratory illnesses, spinal deformities, impaired vision and cuts and wounds from sharp tools. Many sleep on the floor next to the carpet looms and are fed only one meal a day. This leads to malnutrition and stunted mental and physical development. 3, 4, 5
If children are forced to leave carpet weaving, won't they turn to crime or prostitution?
We ensure that rescued children have an opportunity to go to school. When they're old enough, children rehabilitated by GoodWeave have the opportunity to learn a trade if they'd like to.
In many countries, carpet weaving is an ancient and honored craft. Why deny children this form of cultural and intellectual expression?
Child laborers in the handmade rug industry typically aren't learning the craft of carpet weaving. They are usually given the most mundane, repetitious tasks because they're too young to execute complex designs.
Industry FAQs
How can selling GoodWeave certified rugs improve my business?
Importing, selling or specifying GoodWeave rugs is an excellent way to distinguish your business and capitalize on the growing market of consumers who are interested in buying socially responsible products. You'll also have the satisfaction of knowing you're helping end illegal child labor.
How does the GoodWeave certification process work?
GoodWeave recruits carpet producers and importers to make and sell carpets without the use of illegal child labor. By agreeing to adhere to GoodWeave's strict no-child-labor guidelines, permitting random inspections of carpet looms and paying associated license fees, producers receive the right to put the GoodWeave label on their carpets. The label provides the best possible assurance that children were not employed in the making of a rug. It also verifies that a portion of the carpet price is contributed to the rehabilitation and education of former child weavers. Who carries GoodWeave certified rugs?
GoodWeave rugs are available at approximately 1,000 showroom and retail locations throughout North America and through several online stores. To search our showroom and retail locations by name or zip code, click here.
What's the difference between GoodWeave and other labeling initiatives?
There are other "child-labor-free" labels on some rugs. GoodWeave is the only independent monitoring and inspection program working in India and Nepal. The other labels might represent organizations running social programs, but these programs are philanthropic in scope, do not include random inspections and are administered by the industry itself rather than by an independent nonprofit. Rug exporters simply pay a fee to these organizations to receive "no child labor" labels without actual inspections in their factories/loom sheds. These labels do not provide the same level of assurance as the GoodWeave label.
In addition, GoodWeave represents everyone involved in the South Asian carpet industry: manufacturers, importers, exporters, retailers and consumers. GoodWeave is funded by a variety of sources and is free from influence by any particular industry segment or individual government. Other labeling initiatives tend to represent single interest groups that see things from their own perspective and have their own agenda. GoodWeave has many voices but only one agenda: moving all South Asian child carpet weavers from looms to schools.
What is the exporters financial relationship with GoodWeave?
GoodWeave is administered by Nepal GoodWeave Foundation. By signing a License Agreement, importers agree to pay Nepal GoodWeave Foundation 0.25 percent royalty on the net import value (FOB price) of carpet shipments on a quarterly basis. Nepal GoodWeave Foundation spent this amount on the education and rehabilitation of former child laborers.
How do I become a GoodWeave licensed exporter?
Importers are the backbone of the GoodWeave program. Out of the small royalty fee on carpets paid by licensed exporters and importers are used to educate and train former child weavers. The balance of the fees helps to build consumer awareness about the importance of purchasing certified rugs.
How will being a GoodWeave Lead Sponsor support my sales?
As a GoodWeave Lead Sponsor, you can help end child labor in the carpet industry and promote your reputation for social responsibility. You will receive point-of-sale materials and publicity support with consumer and trade media..
Nepal GoodWeave Foundation
GPO Box: 12698 Kathmandu
Maiti Devi Marg,
Tel: +977-1-4439002/ 4436478
E-mail: info@goodweavenepal.org
Copyright © 2019 by GoodWeave. All rights reserved.


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The Reproductive Sociology Research Group supports research and teaching on the social and cultural implications of new reproductive technologies.
ReproSoc is led by Professor Sarah Franklin at the University of Cambridge.
Jan 29 Fending off the stork: Why do some people delay childbearing until it is (almost) too late?
Nitzan Peri-Rotem
Nitzan Peri-Rotem, January 2016 - available to download as a PDF.
Is it their high-flying career? Not finding the right partner? Or is it just that they don't like children? People may delay childbearing to later ages or remain childless throughout their life for various reasons. However, only a small minority declare not wanting any children, while many others could be described as ambivalent about childbearing or childless by circumstances. As sexuality is increasingly disconnected from parenthood, people may spend most of their reproductive years without giving too much thought about their fertility.
In most industrialized countries, couples have been postponing parenthood to an ever-later age during the past decades. In the UK for example, the average age of first time mothers has increased from 24 at the beginning of the 1970s to 28 in 2013[1]. Similar increases can be found across Europe (see Figure).
Source: OECD Family Database (2015).
The increase in women's age at first birth is associated with the spread of the contraceptive pill since the late 1960s; for the first time, women were able to delay marriage and motherhood without the penalty of abstinence or concerns about unintended pregnancy[2]. In parallel to that, the increasing participation in higher education and rising female employment have also provided incentives to postpone childbearing to later ages[3]. Other explanations to delayed parenthood have focused on cultural shifts, including the emergence of higher desires for self-fulfilment and personal development. Thus, decisions about family life and whether and when to have children were increasingly guided by own personal needs, rather than by social prescriptions[4].
Later parenthood is not without advantages. For example, being established in the labour market before having children enables parents to accumulate financial resources and to have a greater flexibility in the work place, which in turn facilitates the balance between family and work[5]. On the other hand, delaying childbirth, especially beyond the age of 35, may lead to involuntary childlessness or to having a smaller family size than initially intended. It should also be noted that while these risks are more pronounced for women, men are also affected by age-related decline in fecundity[6].
Across the Western world, highly educated women were those who have led the trend toward later parenthood[7]. This is hardly surprising considering the difficulties in balancing student and mother roles. In addition, these women are more likely to pursue a career and therefore, they would benefit more from postponing motherhood until they are well established on their career path. This delay is most likely to have contributed to the generally higher rates of childlessness among better educated women[8]. In turn, these trends have fuelled stereotypes of well-educated childless women who choose to postpone motherhood or avoid it altogether in order to focus on their career.
Nevertheless, a closer look into individual fertility aspirations and reasoning for remaining childless reveal a far more complex picture. For example, a number of studies from the UK and the US have questioned the extent to which timing of childbearing is the result of a conscious choice[9]; in many cases, the time and occurrence of childbirth depends on various circumstances that are often beyond one's control. These may include finding and keeping hold of a suitable partner, own and partner's fecundity and partner's childbearing intentions. Recent findings from the 1970 British Cohort Study show that less than a third of cohort members who were childless at the age of 42 reported that they did not want children[10]. This is consistent with previous research from the UK, showing that only a small minority of men and women across different age groups state that they wish to remain childless[11]. Moreover, in a stark contrast to the discourse in popular media, evidence from the UK, Australia and Finland show that career development is rarely reported as a dominant reason for not having children, either by men or by women[12]. For example, among those who intend to remain childless, more commonly cited reasons involve a desire for independence and reluctance to change one's lifestyle, rather than career or economic considerations[13].
While only few people clearly articulate their wish to avoid parenthood, most cases of childlessness could be placed along a continuum, ranging from those who are childless by circumstances (due to biological infertility or absence of a suitable partner) to those who are uncertain, undecided or generally ambivalent about childbearing[14]. Other people on this continuum are described as "perpetual postponers", meaning that they intend to have children at some point in the future, but keep on delaying it until it is "too late"[15].
One of the most intriguing finding from qualitative studies in Western societies is how rarely fertility intentions are discussed between partners and individuals in every-day life. In many cases, these intentions are never explicitly addressed and often remain vague, unthinkable and unimaginable[16]. It appears that the social and technological developments of recent decades, including the spread of effective means of contraception, prolonged time spent in education and a growing acceptance of consensual unions, enabled people to postpone parenthood without having to worry too much about the consequences of unintended childbearing. At the same time, the disconnection between sexuality and reproduction has led to a repression of intended fertility plans and created the illusion that we have more control of our fertility than is actually the case. Thus, while the biological clock has not stopped ticking, we are more likely than ever to keep pressing the snooze button.
[1] Office for National Statistics (2014). Live births in England and Wales by characteristics of mother 1, 2013. http://www.ons.gov.uk/ons/rel/vsob1/characteristics-of-Mother-1--england-and-wales/2013/stb-characteristics-of-mother-1--2013.html
[2] Mills, M., Rindfuss, R. R., McDonald, P., te Velde, E. (2011). Why do people postpone parenthood? Reasons and social policy incentives. Human Reproduction Update, 17: 848–860; Schmidt, L., Sobotka, T., Bentzen, J. G., Nyboe Andersen, A. (2012). Demographic and medical consequences of the postponement of parenthood. Human Reproduction Update, 18(1): 29-43.
[3] Ni Bhrolchain, M. and Beaujouan, E. (2012). Fertility postponement is largely due to rising
educational enrolment. Population Studies, 66(3): 311-27.
[4] Lesthaeghe R. (1995). The second demographic transition in Western countries: an interpretation. In: Mason, K. O., Jensen, A-M (Eds). Gender and Family Change in Industrialized Countries. Oxford: Clarendon Press, (17–62); Van de Kaa, D. J. (1987). Europe's second demographic transition. Popul Bul 42:1–59.
[5] Joshi H. (2002). Production, reproduction and education: women, children and work in a British perspective. Pop Dev Rev 28: 445–474.
[6] Schmidt et al. (2012).
[7] Mills et al. (2011).
[8] Miettinen, M., Rotkirch, A., Szalma, A., Donno, A. and Tanturri, M. (2015). Increasing childlessness in Europe: Time trends and country differences. Family and Societies. Working Paper 33.
[9] Cooke, A., Mills, T. A. and Lavendar, T. (2012). Advanced maternal age: Delayed childbearing is rarely a conscious choice. A qualitative study of women's views and experiences. International Journal of Nursing Studies, 49: 30–39; Hewlett. S. A. (2002). Creating a life: What every woman needs to know about having a baby and a career. New York: Miramax; Szewczuk, E. (2012). Age-related infertility: A tale of two technologies. Sociology of Health and Illness, 34(3): 429-443.
[10] Berrington, A. M. (2015). Childlessness in the UK. ESRC Centre for Population Change. Working Paper 69.
[11] Ni Bhrolchain, M., Beaujouan, E. and Berrington, A.M. (2010). Stability and change in
fertility intentions in Britain 1991-2007. Population Trends, 141: 13-35.
[12] Berrington, 2015; Cooke et al., 2012; Carmichael, G.A. and Whittaker, A. (2007). Choice and circumstance: Qualitative insights into contemporary childlessness in Australia. European Journal of Population, 23: 111-143; Miettinen, A. (2010). Voluntary or Involuntary Childlessness? Socio-Demographic Factors and Childlessness Intentions among Childless Finnish Men and Women aged 25-44. Finnish Yearbook of Population Research, 45: 5-24.
[13] Carmichael and Whittaker (2007); Miettinen (2010).
[14] McAllister, F. and Clarke, L. (2000). Voluntary childlessness: Trends and Implications. In Bentley, G.R. and Mascie-Taylor, N.C.G. (eds.) Infertility in the modern world: Present and future prospects, Biosocial Society Symposium Series (No. 12), Cambridge University Press, (pp. 189-237).
[15] Berrington, A. M. (2004). Perpetual postponers? Women's, men's and couple's fertility
intentions and subsequent fertility behaviour. Population Trends, 117: 9-19.
[16] McAllister, F. and Clarke, L. (2000); Szewczuk, (2012).
Feb 2 The Most Well-Paid Job in the World?
Jan 14 The Danish Girl – The Beauty of Be(com)ing a Woman
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