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Ecuador-Peru [Guayaquil] War - 1863
Ecuador-Peru Border Dispute
US Operation Safe Border
Peru has not been involved in any significant international conflicts since the end of its border dispute with Ecuador in 1998. Ecuador and Peru have had a disputed border since colonial times. The conflict with Ecuador dated back to the post-independence period. Following independence, Ecuador had been left without access to either the Amazon River or the Río Marañón, the region's other major waterway, and thus without direct access to the Atlantic Ocean.
The most successful of Peru's early military presidents, General Marshal Ramon Castilla (1845-51, 1854-62), brought some degree of stability and order and a more disciplined military force. Castilla' s force was successful in a brief border conflict with Ecuador and a naval blockade of that country in 1859.
In 1939, Manuel Prado y Ugarteche (1939-45), a Lima banker from a prominent family and son of a former president, was elected president. He was soon confronted with a border conflict with Ecuador that led to a brief war in 1941. In an effort to assert its territorial claims in a region near the Río Marañón in the Amazon Basin, Ecuador's military occupied the town of Zarumilla along its southwestern border with Peru. The Peruvian army responded and defeated the Ecuadorian army.
The 1941 war with Ecuador was a major success for Peruvian forces. Peru had established the first paratroop unit in the region and used it to good effect; the first combat in the hemisphere involving airborne troops resulted in the capture of Ecuador's Puerto Bolivar July 27, 1941 . By the end of the month, when military actions had ceased, Peru held Ecuador's southernmost province of El Oro and much of the disputed eastern jungle territory that had been part of Ecuador since the 1830s.
After several incidents, in July 1941 a conflict erupted significant proportions between Peru and Ecuador, which culminated in the occupation of part of Ecuadorian territory by Peruvian forces and the signing of the Rio Protocol which set the borders between the two countries. Military actions were carried out both on the coast and in the Amazon, and in both theaters will share a stake naval forces.
In the Pacific, the main elements of the squadron, composed of cruisers Admiral Grau and Colonel Bolognesi, the Guise and Villar destroyers, submarines and the four "R", established a naval blockade between Zorritos and Jambelí Channel. The work of the squadron on the coast adversary was complemented by the fleet of patrol boats operating from Tumbes controlling the area of the Esteros, capturing two small Ecuadorian fittings, of Payana and Matapalo and the Ecuadorian boat Hualtaco, contributing also in the capture of Puerto Bolivar.
Meanwhile, in the eastern region of the Amazon River Flotilla it provided valuable logistical support during operations to evict the invaders, to participate actively and decisively in the battle in which the capture of Rocafuerte, on the Napo River was achieved. It should be noted that during the blockade of the Ecuadorian coast, the Villar pursued the Ecuadorian gunboat Abdon Calderon, opposite the Canal Jambelí on 25 July 1941. This persecution, in which some shots were exchanged, he concluded while the ship Ecuadorian fled to hide in the marshes.
The Plaza Alipio Rosales was built in memorial of the Tumbesinos who offered their lives during the conflict with Ecuador in 1941. Zarumilla was a calm scenario of the 1941 Glorious Campaign. The pampas of Zarumilla were the site of the combats against Ecuador in making the Peruvian nationality prevail in this department.
Following a war in 1941 in which Peru defeated Ecuador, the two parties concluded the 1942 Rio de Janeiro Protocol of Peace, Friendship and Boundaries that defined the border and provided for its demarcation. The demarcation process broke down in the late 1940s, however, after more than 90% of the border had been successfully demarcated, when U.S. Army mapping aircraft discovered geographic discrepancies that did not accord with the protocol.
Despite important and delicate territorial questions which remained unresolved, in 1952 Peru and Chile, together with Ecuador, embarked on a process of maritime co-operation with a view to protecting the adjacent sea from the predatory activities of foreign fleets.
The Rio Protocol of February 1942 awarded to Peru some 205,000 square kilometers of previously disputed Amazon territory. Ecuador repudiated the Rio Protocol in 1960, and border incidents occurred periodically thereafter. Peru was concerned about Ecuador's unwillingness since the 1960s to accept the Protocol of Rio de Janeiro of 1942 (Rio Protocol), which defined a border between Peru and Ecuador that gave Peru most of the previously disputed Amazon territory.
The January 1981 incursion by Ecuadorian troops that led to a partial mobilization of forces by both countries. In 1981 Ecuadorian forces, using Paquisha as a base, attempted to secretiy regain access to the Amazon through a seventy-eight-kilometer border zone, erroneously demarcated for the Rio Protocol. Peru rebuffed the Ecuadorian forces militarily with loss of life on both sides.
The dispute was resolved, much to Ecuador's displeasure, by the original guarantors of the Rio Protocol—the United States, Argentina, Brazil, and Chile.
Peru proudly claimed to have the first preserved submarine museum in Latin America. The BAP Abtao, formerly the BAP Tiburon, was built in 1954 in the USA by The ELectric Boat Co, Groton, Connecticut. She was deployed in the conflict against Ecuador in 1981, but her crew of 40 did not see combat. Decommissioned after 46 years of service, the boat was prepared for preservation by SIMA Shipbuilding and opened as a submarine museum in January 2004.
Periodic incidents since indicated that problems remained, particularly along a seventy-eight kilometer stretch of the border known as Cordillera del Condor, which was never marked off under the terms of the Rio Protocol. Improving Peru's relations with its neighbors, particularly Ecuador and Chile, was a priority in the mid-1980s. Although some productive discussions were held with Ecuador, including a historic visit by Peru's minister of finance to Quito in October 1985, progress was limited by competition with both the Ecuadorian and Chilean military establishments.
Border problems with Ecuador continued to surface from time to time. By 1992, however, the proportion of Peruvian forces deployed in the border areas had declined to 66 percent of personnel. Tensions between Peru and Ecuador increased in 1992 after Ecuadorian troops were alleged to have crossed the border in July in a section that had been marked off; Ecuador denied the charge. However, urgent conversations between the two governments led to an interim agreement in October in hopes of avoiding a new border crisis.
In early 1995, Peru and Ecuador engaged in sustained combat in a remote undemarcated area. Dozens were killed, hundreds wounded, and escalation to cities was feared. As Guarantors of the 1942 Rio Protocol, the United States, Brazil, Argentina, and Chile became actively engaged in the search for a diplomatic solution. With Guarantor help, Ecuador and Peru agreed on February 17, 1995, to stop fighting and seek a peaceful settlement of all remaining issues between them.
By October 1995, Guarantor military observers (MOMEP) had organized the withdrawal of some 5,000 troops from the disputed Cenepa Valley and supervised demobilization of 140,000 troops on both sides. The combat zone was demilitarized and Ecuador and Peru began to contribute officers to the observer mission. The United States initially provided most logistical support for MOMEP, but in November 1997, the other Guarantors assumed greater responsibilities, most notably with Brazil providing helicopter support.
In 1996, the Foreign Ministers of Ecuador and Peru worked out the topics and procedures for formal talks. In discussions in Brasilia between April and September 1997, Ecuador and Peru presented their positions, which remained far apart. On November 26, however, the parties accepted a Guarantor proposal to focus talks on four areas: a) a commerce and navigation treaty; b) a comprehensive agreement on border integration; c) fixing the land boundary; and d) mutual security issues.
In Rio de Janeiro on January 19, 1998, Ecuador and Peru signed a workplan that set up four commissions, one in each Guarantor capital, to address the four areas identified in November. Both nations appointed national figures to the commissions, which were installed simultaneously February 17. The workplan set May 30 as the target date for completion of a definitive settlement, which would complete the demarcation of the border and guarantee Ecuador access to the Amazon River in perpetuity.
On 18 January 1999, Peruvian President Fujimori and Ecuadorian President Mahuad presided over a ceremony to celebrate completion of the demarcation of the Lagartococha-Guepi region. The Presidents have solicited assistance from the United States and other countries in clearing the Santiago-Yaupi and Cenepa regions of landmines. Mines emplaced during and after the 1995 conflict must be removed at least from the areas immediately around prospective border stones before demarcation can occur.
The Commerce and Navigation Treaty addressed Ecuador's longstanding demand for access to the Amazon River. The treaty requires Ecuador and Peru to grant reciprocal most-favored-nation trade status—obliging each to grant the other any benefits or privileges enjoyed by any other trade partner—~and establishes a'binational commission to implement its terms and resolve any disputes. Although the teaty does not specify which Amazon tributaries Ecuador may use, the Napo, Curaray, Tigre, Pastaza, Morona, Santiago, and Maranon rivers are all tributaries to which Ecuador could claim navigation rights.
In 1998, Peru and Ecuador signed a peace treaty ending the 1995 conflict, and in 2001 both governments signed separate agreements with the OAS for coordinating international support for demining; in 2006, the OAS combined both programs under a single coordinator. Peru and Ecuador began simultaneous demining in October 2006, and in July 2007, signed a protocol that created a bilateral medical evacuation plan, established periodic exchanges of information, allowed transfers of equipment between demining teams, and authorized joint training.
On 25 October 2008 Peru-Ecuador talks commemorating the ten-year anniversary of the Brasilia (Itamaraty) Peace Accords, which the Presidents and full cabinets of both countries attended, reflected strengthened bilateral ties and augured new development projects for the shared border region. The personal interactions between Presidents Alan Garcia and Rafael Correa were warm and friendly. Both leaders publicly stated that further steps towards integration and border development would help their countries offset the effects of the global economic downturn and also promote peace in the region. Perhaps the most tangible outcome of the meeting was a renewed bilateral commitment to humanitarian demining through the establishment of a joint trust fund.
The Governmentof Peru planned by 2019 to remove 29,000 anti-personal mines located in the province of Condorcanqui (Amazonas department) in an area of approximately 22,000 square meters. The army of Peru placed the mines after its brief 1995 conflict with Ecuador. Seventeen indigenous communities in both Ecuador and Peru, with a total population of 2,000 persons, live close to the hazardous zone. Although statistics are incomplete, the GOP estimates that since 1999, 300 Peruvian soldiers and civilians have suffered injuries from mines, with at least one fatality. Peru's chances of advancing toward a legitimate state, democratic governance and good government depend on the success obtained in dis- suading the Armed Forces from exercising, influencing or placing condi- tions upon political authorities, a temptation that has been very present throughout Peru's republican history. To achieve this, Peru first needs to design a new doctrine of security and national development, eliminate the politicization of military institutions and articulate a new vision of the role the Armed Forces should play in the defense of the national sovereignty and the maintenance of internal order, especially now that the historic conflict with Ecuador has been resolved.
Page last modified: 05-06-2016 20:46:49 ZULU


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The Twin Cities were at the center of a major international story Tuesday after a dentist from Eden Prairie was named by conservationists as the hunter who illegally killed Cecil, a beloved lion who lived in Zimbabwe's Hwange National Park, with a bow and arrow in early July.
Asked about the allegations against him, Walter Palmer, 55, told the Star Tribune early Tuesday that "obviously, some things are being misreported," but did not elaborate. In a statement issued Tuesday afternoon, Palmer said he believed he was acting legally when he killed the lion.
The Zimbabwe National Parks and Wildlife Authority and the Safari Operators Association said Tuesday that Theo Bronkhorst, a professional hunter, lured Cecil to a farm owned by Honest Trymore Ndlovu, where the lion was killed by an American tourist. Both Bronkhorst and Ndlovu have been arrested, and Zimbabwean authorities said they are looking for Palmer in connection with the case.
Here's what we know about Palmer:
According to a profile on his business website, Palmer is from North Dakota and graduated from the University of Minnesota dental school. He is married with two children.
He practices general and cosmetic dentistry in Bloomington. His office was closed Tuesday and a note on the building referred visitors to a Minneapolis public relations firm.
Dave Denney
Gallery: Gallery: Cecil the lion remembered at Walter Palmer's dental office
Palmer pleaded guilty to federal charges in 2008 related to the poaching of a black bear in Wisconsin two years earlier. Palmer and others transported the bear, which was killed 40 miles outside of a legal hunting zone, to a registration station inside the legal area. Palmer was sentenced to one year of probation and fined nearly $3,000.
In the spring of 2003, Palmer was convicted in Otter Tail County in western Minnesota and paid a small fine for fishing without a license, a misdemeanor.
Palmer was listed as a member of the trophy hunting organization Safari Club International. His profile on SCI's website lists 43 kills, including caribou, moose, deer, buffalo, a polar bear and a mountain lion. SCI announced Wednesday that it was suspending the memberships of Palmer and his Zimbabwe-based guide.
State records show Palmer has held hunting and fishing licenses in Minnesota, Florida and Alaska.
In a 2009 article on big-game hunting, the New York Times reported that Palmer killed a near-record sized elk with a bow and arrow in Northern California.
Palmer told the Times that he can hit a playing card from 100 yards with his compound bow and he eschews bringing a firearm on hunting trips as a backup.
Palmer reportedly paid more than $54,000 for the hunting trip to Zimbabwe.
A neighbor described Palmer and his wife as very private.
In 2009, Palmer agreed to a settlement with the Minnesota Board of Dentistry over allegations that he sexually harassed a receptionist. She alleged that Palmer made comments about her breasts, buttocks and genitalia. Without admitting guilt, Palmer settled and paid $127,500 to the woman, who also was his patient. The settlement included references to his bear-hunting conviction and "substandard record keeping."
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service announced Thursday that it is investigating the killing of Cecil the lion. The agency announced Friday that it made contact with a representative for Palmer late Thursday.
A Zimbabwean official on Friday called for Palmer to be extradited to the African country to face charges related to the killing.
Zimbabwe calls for extradition of Minnesota dentist
Longtime acquaintance defends Palmer as 'very bright, honorable guy'
Zimbabweans baffled by foreign concern over slain lion
Read the full statement from Walter Palmer
This post was last updated at 3:44 p.m. on July 31.
Matt DeLong is the Star Tribune's digital projects editor. He has worked on many digital initiatives, from election planning to the Minnesota Beer Bracket to helping tipsters contact reporters securely. He has reported on extremism in the state and written reader guides on many topics, including Minnesota gun laws, voting and out-of-state Vikings bars. DeLong oversees the Star Tribune Minnesota Poll and curates the daily Talkers afternoon newsletter.
matt.delong@startribune.com 612-673-4854 mattdelong
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redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


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Alice Park, Bath: Where playtime's for all ages
Children will find many places to hang out in Alice Park
Given to the people of Bath as a gift from a local benefactor 80 years ago, the tranquil Alice Park is thriving, as Chrissy Harris discovers
What makes a park work? It's a question I have thought long and hard about in a decade spent sitting, standing, pushing swings, sheltering from downpours and eating spready cheese sandwiches in various recreational open spaces.
My research has concluded that it's not the size or the location or the quality of the playground equipment that matters. It boils down to how a place feels and Alice Park in the Larkhill area of the city just feels nice.
Turn up on a sunny Saturday morning and you'll be greeted by the sound of bells and whistles as kids ride their bikes and scooters around the brilliant mini-road network while others take part in football, rugby or netball sessions.
Next to the well-stocked play area, grown-ups sit back and enjoy coffee, cakes, breakfast, lunch and more at the locally renowned Alice Park café.
It's not just people who visit the Park (c) Ian Redding
Away from the hustle and bustle, there is a community allotment, where volunteers invite park visitors to learn more about gardening and growing their own fruits and vegetables. It's all very...Bath.
"Alice Park really is quite special," says Kathy Cook, local resident and member of Transition Larkhall, which runs the community garden.
"It's held in trust to the people of Bath and it's very much our park. I think that changes the tone and makes it so unique."
Alice Park was given to the city in 1938 by Herbert Montgomery MacVicar of nearby Batheaston as a memorial to his late wife, Frances Alice Harriet.
Children enjoy taking their (non-motorised) wheels to the mini-road network in Alice Park
The wealthy gentleman wanted to establish the eight-acre park as a 'facility for the enjoyment and sporting achievement of local children'.
"It's a great place to bring the kids," says Somerset photographer Dan Pearce.
"There are loads of things to keep them occupied. It feels safe, friendly and they love playing on the equipment."
"My daughter has grown up here," adds Kathy Cook. "She learnt to ride her bike in the park and we've had lots of party picnics over the last 20 years.
Children of all ages enjoy hanging out in Alice Park
"She's away at university now and life has a different rhythm but I still enjoy coming here."
Many regulars agree that Alice Park has grown, very organically, into a destination where people of all ages can come and spend some quality time.
This is largely down to the fact there is such a great (licensed!) café on site. Owner Tony Hickman has, by all accounts, been instrumental in attracting more visitors to the park and keeping them there with barista-quality coffee and freshly prepared food. Since taking over the lease 10 years ago, he has also organised regular events, including DJ nights and evening meals, as well as kids' parties and wedding receptions.
"I wanted to create somewhere that I would want to go if I didn't have kids," he says, laughing.
The community garden's wooden shelter
"Not all red and yellow plastic chairs and dinosaur-shaped chicken nuggets – I didn't want that.
"I wanted people to be able to come here, listen to some good music, have a coffee, do some emails and, oh by the way, the kids are playing nicely just over there."
Tony and his family have gradually built up a loyal customer base, thanks to this very balanced approach.
There are plans to improve the café building further and add to the landscaping to help make Alice Park an even nicer place to be.
There are also proposals to join up the pathways to allow visitors to enjoy a circuit walk and there are ongoing talks with the Lawn Tennis Association, which is keen to refurbish the six tennis courts at the site. The pond area looks set to be improved and the play equipment is in line for a facelift.
And, after four years of discussions, it also looks as though a skate park will be set up in the north-west corner.
This all makes for a pretty exciting crib sheet and it's hoped the improvements will help establish Alice Park - tucked in behind the busy London Road - as 'one of the area's top amenities'.
"This is becoming a destination location," says Tony, who admits he looks forward to coming to work every day. "We're not really on the way to anywhere. You come here because you want to come here."
Visit the Alice Park website here.
A perfect present...
In 1938, Alice Park was given to Bath for use as a public park by Herbert Montgomery MacVicar of Batheaston as a memorial to his wife, Frances Alice Harriet.
The park and cottages were laid out and constructed (for the reputed sum of £325,000) between 1937 and 1940.
The two park keepers' cottages were designed by Geoffrey Jellicoe, one of the principal figures of landscape design in Bath at the time.
In June 1944, Queen Mary visited Alice Park to plant fruit trees in the grounds.
During the Second World War, an underground air raid shelter was constructed so that park visitors could seek refuge from German bombs. It then became a store for sports equipment but has now been filled in with concrete.
Herbert Montgomery MacVicar died in July 1957, at the age of 85 with no children. He was buried at the Church of St John The Baptist in Batheaston next to his wife.
Community gardening...
A patch of waste ground hidden behind a hedge is now Alice Park's thriving community garden, with raised vegetable beds, a wildlife pond, herb planters, seating and a shelter.
A team of volunteers from Transition Larkhall's food group worked to turn the forgotten section of land into a place where locals and visitors can meet up and learn about gardening.
"We are a nation of gardeners and I love the idea that we have a place to come together and do something that makes a difference," says volunteer Kathy Cook, who helped to set up the site in 2010.
"We wanted a resource for people to use," says Kathy, adding that everyone from pre-school children to people with mental health issues have benefited from spending time in the garden.
The volunteers hope more locals will get involved to help keep this spot ticking over for years to come. Weekly Sunday drop in sessions run from 10am-12noon until the winter. There is also an evening session on Wednesdays from 6-7pm.
Find out more at apcg.co.uk.
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Ur Rehman Mayar, H. 2014. The role of the New Deal in supporting countries transition out of fragility: A g7+ perspective. GREAT insights Magazine, Volume 4, Issue 1. December 2014/January 2015.
The New Deal was born against a background of ineffective responses in the form of development intervention to countries affected by conflict and fragility. Responses varied from military interventions to softer tools of diplomacy and development programmes, often delivered in an incoherent fashion. The recipient countries have rarely been on the deciding seats of these, whereas experience has shown that the peacebuilding and statebuilding is primarily an endogenous process and has to be led by the country itself.
Conflict and crisis drive and trap the country in the state of fragility of institutions, which further complicates the vicious circle of poverty. All components are intrinsically linked to each other and to kill the cycle they each need to be addressed in a holistic mechanism. Traditionally practiced quick fixes to building a strong foundation have not been successful. Sustainability of the intervention and the outcome thereof has to be ensured, which in the context of fragility, requires helping build durable, sound, and context-specific solutions. These should serve as a fertile ground for resilience, and thus support a country on its pathway out of fragility. This, in practice, would mean supporting building and nurturing of the state institutions, in order to help them be more responsive and effective to address the needs of the people. However, there is no one single and scientifically proved approach workable universally. This means that we need to challenge and change the decade-long established approach based on common assumptions.
External support can help catalyse change. The care with which development interventions are formulated for fragile states can be the difference between enabling and maintaining a peaceful society served by effective state institutions or bringing internal tensions to a boil resulting in furthering the gap between the state and societies. However, the multilateral system of development cooperation is composed of actors with varied and diverse priorities, beliefs and mindsets. The increasing number of inter-relating actors serving in a multi-dimensional approach leads to further fragmentation, duplication and lack of coherence. This severely hampered progress in fragile states and increased the need for a stronger unity of views on the ways and approaches for development intervention. There was, in short, an urgent need for a unified, but 'adaptable-to-context' approach and framework of development intervention in fragile and conflict-affected states.
The New Deal – how can it help the transition from fragility to resilience?
With the New Deal, we have, for the first time ever, a unified, agreed and context-adaptable framework. This allows for increased opportunities for a multitude of actors to align behind one vision articulated through inclusive consultation and led by the country in need, which – in turn – improves the chances for resilience. It allows for a clearer division of labour between development partners, and thus for a stronger harmonisation and coherence in effort. Most importantly perhaps, the notions of trust, confidence, partnership and mutual accountability are central, which changes the relationship between country and development partners from a donor-recipient one into a (developing) partnership. Endorsed by more than 45 countries and development partners, the New Deal has started to shift the line of thinking for development intervention in countries in fragile situations.
Seeing unsatisfactory results in fragile states, a self-selected group of fragile countries (g7+) came together to discuss the parameters for a new approach to engage with fragile states. These discussions were held under the umbrella of the International Dialogue for Peace Building and Statebuilding, an international forum between fragile and conflict affected countries, their international partners and civil society, established in Accra in 2008. This culminated in a 'New Deal for Engagement in Fragile States', presented and endorsed as part of the at the 2011 High Level Forum for Aid Effectiveness in Busan.
The New Deal aims at fundamentally shifting the engagement in fragile states, through inclusive country-led and country-owned transitions out of fragility, based on a joint understanding of the specific drivers and conflict and fragility.
The Peacebuilding and Statebuilding Goals (PSG's) are intended to define and measure progress in peacebuilding, and include Legitimate Politics, Justice Economic Foundations, and Revenues and Services.
The FOCUS principles aim to clarify the process a country and its development partners undertake, and comprise of a fragility assessment; One Vision, one plan; a Compact; using the PSG's to monitor; and Support to political dialogue leadership.
The TRUST principles aimed to hold development partners accountable in order to create mutual trust, through risk-sharing; the use and strengthening of country system and capacities and timely and predictable aid.
The New Deal is currently being implemented in seven countries, and others are following (Sierra Leone, Liberia, South Sudan, Democratic Republic of Congo, Afghanistan, Somalia, Comoros, Central African Republic and Guinea Bissau are in the planning phase).
Today, the g7+ has a membership of 20 countries. The International Dialogue continues to facilitate discussions between the g7+ countries, donors, and civil society on the implementation and progress of the New Deal. A New Deal implementation monitoring exercise was recently concluded and an independent review will be conducted before the end of 2015, when the formal pilot phase of the New Deal ends.
The New Deal has affected the understanding of the fragility and remedies thereto. First it recognises, or rather has as its basis, the interdependence of peace and development. Effective, inclusive and transparent institutions are at its core, and all are guided by the pivotal importance of helping improve state-society relations. Secondly, by recognising that the service delivery is the responsibility and function of the state institutions, it centres the role of development intervention on enabling the state institutions meet their obligation. Thus the New Deal tends to avoid that development partners assume a parallel estbalishment to the state institutions. Further, it outlines a vision of the transition out of fragility that is not a one-step process; it acknowledges that it is a long-term process, with a number of different phases a country will have to travel through, one step at the time.
The Fragility Spectrum in particular serves an important function, as it lays out – for each country – what its different stages from crisis to resilience look like, and what transition steps are necessary to move out of fragility. Although many aspects of this fragility spectrum are highly context specific, many others are shared. This provides a good – and growing – basis of understanding of what the key elements of a transition from fragility and resilience are. As such, it provides a middle ground between 'one-size-fits-all-solutions' and 'every context is fully different', and it is exactly this middle ground that has been missing in peacebuilding and statebuilding practice.
How can the full potential of the New Deal be fulfilled?
The New Deal calls for transformative shifts in policies and strategies, it calls for a break from business-as-usual, both on the side of development partners as on the side of g7+ governments, and even on that of civil society. Such transformative shifts require deep political support and buy-in. Without this fundamental commitment to breaking away from business-as-usual, the step-change that is necessary will not come forth. Incentive structures within development partner agencies based on the tendency for quick results, and the domestic pressures they face, reduce their ability to fundamentally change the way they do business. The recent New Deal Monitoring report shows a mixed picture, where we can see both the more politically sensitive issues lagging behind in implementation (e.g. measuring progress on the Peacebuilding and Statebuilding Goals – PSGs, changing ways to deal with risk), as well as those that require a fundamenal shift in incentives (e.g. making use of country systems strengthening capacities).
It is thus necessary to sustain and deepen the commitment to the New Deal principles. To be clear, this does not necessarily mean a rigid implementation of the process steps of the New Deal; the New Deal was never intended to be a 10-step guide to peacebuilding and statebuilding. It means taking the vision, the values and principles of the New Deal seriously, and making all necessary efforts to make this vision a reality. The New Deal is inherently a political process, and it should not be reduced to a technical exercise. Buy-in must broaden at the level of the development partners (where it should expand beyond development agencies), as well as at the level of g7+ governments (where it should expand beyond the New Deal focal ministries ).
The International Dialogue on Peacebuilding and Statebuilding has helped in providing space to the members (development partners, g7+ governments, and civil society) to speak about those challenges in a frank and honest manner and pave the way to the reforms needed to be instilled. Yet, in order to widen the sphere of discussion to broader constituencies, we will need to elevate the image and profile of the dialogue, ensure it is supported by strong technical policy infrastructure, but also has a heightened political profile.
This was never as relevant as it is today where we are embarking upon a new phase of negotiations on the post-2015 Sustainable Development Goals. The PSGs were developed in response to the acknowledgement that conflict-affected and fragile states lagged far behind in achieving the Millennium Development Goals. The sustainability of the impact of the benchmarks of MDGs achieved with the help of influx of development aid is a question mark. A new development framework will need to take this history into account, and incorporate a goal on peaceful societies and effective institutions as these are fundamental if we are serious about empowering these countries to fight poverty and fragility. Knowing the degree to which these new Sustainable Development Goals will influence the policy agenda in the years to come, the inclusion of this goal is of the highest importance to the g7+. Without this goal it is hard to see how the vision of the New Deal can become reality.
The post-2015 agenda has also been an opportunity for the g7+ to profile itself more prominently in the inter-governmental, diplomatic domain. Our Special Envoy, then-chair of the g7+, H.E. Minister Pires, was a member of the High Level Panel formed by the UN Secretary General to advise on the post 2015 agenda. The g7+, in collaboration with other International Dialogue members, have actively advocated for the inclusion of peacebuilding and statebuilding in the post 2015 agenda during and in between the UN General Assembly meetings every year since 2012. The most recent example is the g7+ High Level Side event held on the 22nd September in New York, which has again shown how the collective voice of conflict-affected countries in fragile situations can go far.
Yet, an agreement on the inclusion of a goal on peaceful societies and effective institutions is only the beginning. The way targets will be set and progress will be monitored will be the real testing ground for this new framework. Maintaining a balance between global goals and locally identified and applicable targets will be a challenge to come. The New Deal, and in particular the Fragility Spectrum, can assist in the elaboration of mechanisms for implementation and monitoring. The New Deal thus does not only provide evidence on the relevance of peace and effective institutions in the post 2015 agenda, but will also facilitate the aftermath discussion on the nitty-gritty of the post 2015 framework such as the indicators and benchmarks.
For the g7+, these issues are not academic; they are a matter of life and death. The g7+ is deeply committed to supporting its member states in their transition out of fragility and is grateful for the members of the International Dialogue on Peacebuidling and Statebuilding and other key constituencies who are equally committed to the cause. But the road is still long, and will be bumpy.
The outbreak of violence and conflicts in Central African Republic and South Sudan – as well as the Ebola outbreak in West Africa – is an alarm bell for the regional and global actors to take all measures to help prevent the countries falling back into crisis. It should strengthen the resolve to address the root causes of fragility in these countries, and to help them break out the vicious circle they find themselves in. In times of crisis, good principles and commitments tend to be marginalised in favour of immediate crisis response. Yet, it is especially in times of crisis when sustained attention to the underlying weaknesses is warranted.
The road out of fragility is long, and setbacks along the way can be expected. But only with sustained attention – based on the values, principles and commitments of the New Deal – can countries break out of the traps they are in to the benefit of their citizens and the world at large.
Habib Ur Rehman Mayar is a Senior Policy Specialist at g7+.


Throughout her musical career, which spans over three decades, Jett is known for such classic hits as "I Love Rock N' Roll," "I Hate Myself For Loving You" and her cover of Tommy James' "Crimson and Clover," all of which went to the Top 10 on the Billboard Hot 100 charts.
In the strong opener "Any Weather," she collaborates with Dave Grohl from the Foo Fighters and it is followed by the upbeat and catchy "TMI."
Equally noteworthy is "Soulmates to Strangers," meanwhile "Make It Back" contains killer guitar riffs.
"Fragile" is yet another solid track, but the album's highlight is the infectious "Reality Mentality," which is one of her best vocals to date.
"Different" showcases her versatility as an artist and the CD closes with the soaring and optimistic ballad "Everybody Needs a Hero."
In summation, veteran rock star Joan Jett is back with her latest CD "Unvarnished." Her vocals are fresh and captivating and her guitar playing is still remarkable. This collection garners 4 out of 5 stars.
After two nominations for the prestigious Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in the past, this will hopefully be the project that will help secure her induction into the coveted Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum, where she rightfully deserves to be.
For more information on Joan Jett and her latest album "Unvarnished," check out her official website.


One of the Best Genetic Engineering Explainers, Ever!
An easy to understand Explainer on the subject of CRISPR, a complex Bio-Medical subject that we all should learn about. The text is easy to understand. Graphics are fun and help immensely to tell the story. Even the music is supportive of the theme. It all adds up to storytelling at its best.


text:
package com.github.alphahelix00.discordinator.d4j.permissions;

import sx.blah.discord.handle.obj.Permissions;

import java.lang.annotation.ElementType;
import java.lang.annotation.Retention;
import java.lang.annotation.RetentionPolicy;
import java.lang.annotation.Target;

/**
 * Method annotation for Discord4J command Permissions
 *

 *
Created on:   6/25/2016

 *
Author:       Kevin Xiao (github.com/alphahelix00)

 * @see PermissionDefaults
 */
@Retention(RetentionPolicy.RUNTIME)
@Target(ElementType.METHOD)
public @interface Permission {

    /**
     * Gets whether or not the command requires a bot mention in order to be called
     *
     * @return required mention boolean value, default to false
     */
    boolean requireMention() default PermissionDefaults.REQUIRE_MENTION;

    /**
     * Gets the array of Permissions required for this command
     *
     * @return array of Permissions, default to SEND_MESSAGES and READ_MESSAGES
     */
    Permissions[] permissions() default {Permissions.SEND_MESSAGES, Permissions.READ_MESSAGES};

    /**
     * Gets whether or not the user can call this command through a private message to the bot
     *
     * @return allowed to call command through private message boolean value, default to false
     */
    boolean allowPrivateMessage() default PermissionDefaults.ALLOW_DM;

    /**
     * Gets whether or not the command will trigger the bot to send a private message in response
     *
     * @return private message reply boolean value, default to false
     */
    boolean forcePrivateReply() default PermissionDefaults.ALLOW_DM;

    /**
     * Gets whether or not the command call message will be removed upon execution
     *
     * @return remove call message boolean value, default to false
     */
    boolean removeCallMessage() default PermissionDefaults.REMOVE_CALL_MESSAGE;

}

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


text:
Ed Markey slammed for disrespecting the…
Ed Markey slammed for disrespecting the American flag
Senator's team downplays photo showing flag on a porch floor
Senator Ed Markey at home, with the flag rolled up on the porch floor. (Photo from @EdMarkey)
By Hillary Chabot | hillary.chabot@bostonherald.com | Boston Herald
PUBLISHED: June 15, 2020 at 6:09 p.m. | UPDATED: June 16, 2020 at 7:57 a.m.
U.S. Sen. Edward Markey, currently in a heated re-election battle against U.S. Rep. Joseph P. Kennedy III, scrambled to downplay outrage after the Malden pol publicly posted a photo showing the American flag sitting on his porch floor.
The campaign reacted quickly once the flag issue was raised last week, replacing the picture with a similar photo where the Star Spangled Banner was nowhere to be found.
"The flag was placed there only for a short time after the bracket the flag was on in front of the house broke during high winds. The bracket has been repaired and the flag flies again," said Markey campaign spokeswoman Liz Vlock.
The gaffe came right before Flag Day on June 14, a day celebrating the adoption of the famed Stars and Stripes as the official flag of America. The flag is never supposed to touch anything below it, especially the ground or the floor, according to the official U.S. code for flag handling.
"This is what our @EdMarkey @SenMarkey thinks of our US flag," Mike Monahan, a member of the Boston Redevelopment Authority, tweeted last week along with Markey's picture. Monahan, International Vice President at the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers union, said he's supporting Kennedy, Markey's opponent in the U.S. Senate race.
"Senator please pick it up off the porch — you're a US Senator! @joekennedy @RepJoeKennedy," tweeted Monahan.
The flag photo was also called out by political strategist Ted Dooley, former Executive Director at College Republican National Committee.
Senator Ed Markey.
"Oh. I just feel bad for the staffer who didn't catch this. Yikes. Honor old glory, folks, it's not a partisan issue. #masen #mapoli," tweeted Dooley, who also made note of the Markey campaign's nearly identical replacement photo without the flag.
"Yikes. Sen Markey posts a campaign photo of him on his porch with an American Flag on the ground behind him (also on his porch). Gets called out for it, deletes and reposts photo with the flag photoshopped away. Not a good look. #masen #mapoli," Dooley tweeted.
Pressley, Clark, Markey slam maskless colleagues as more lawmakers test positive for coronavirus after U.S. Capitol lockdown
Pressley pushes impeachment, Massachusetts delegation calls to remove Trump or limit his power after mob storms U.S. Capitol
Congress fails to honor 4 Americans killed in Benghazi terrorist attack
2020 politics in review: Trump vs. Biden, Markey vs. Kennedy and Black Lives Matter
Coronavirus vaccine rollout: Charlie Baker, senior advocates rip pols who 'cut the line' for a shot
The picture was not photoshopped, it was replaced with another photo, said the Markey campaign.
Markey's flag was prominently displayed flying freely from his front porch in several photos the campaign tweeted out over the weekend as the senator met with hospitality union members outside his home.
The pictures also featured a patriotic bunting with a bright red stripe at the top, then white and blue stripes draped across Markey's porch. Unfortunately that, too, ran afoul of the United States official flag code.
"Bunting of blue, white, and red, always arranged with the blue above, the white in the middle, and the red below, should be used for covering a speaker's desk, draping the front of the platform, and for decoration in general," reads the U.S. Code.
Edward Markey
Joseph P. Kennedy III
Hillary Chabot | Herald radio host/columnist
More in Opinion Columnists
Ferriabough Bolling: King's legacy lives on in historic Black political victories
Road rage charge and outburst at media raise questions about DA Rachael Rollins' job prospects
Howie Carr: Coronavirus relief funds are a scammer's delight


text:
Service industry workers protest restaurant restrictions in march on Breckenridge Main Street
Taylor Sienkiewicz
tsienkiewicz@summitdaily.com
Paytone Tracy, an employee of the Myla Rose Saloon in Blue River, marches with demonstrators in Breckenridge on Monday, Nov. 23, while protesting the prohibition of in-person dining at restaurants.
BRECKENRIDGE — A stream of service industry workers marched Monday down Main Street in Breckenridge to protest COVID-19 restrictions in Summit County, particularly those that closed indoor dining, resulting in reduced hours and pay along with uncertainty for workers.
The Breckenridge Police Department helped to close off part of Main Street, and the group chanted, "Let us work," "All or nothing" and "We have bills too" while waving signs that said things such as "How far is too far?" and "We want to work."
The group was made up of Summit County workers who expressed frustration about the variances in the restrictions by industry, citing the indoor dining closure while other industries — like retail, lodging and skiing — have been able to stay open.
Alexandra Cooper, who works at Myla Rose Saloon and has a child in elementary school, was upset about the impact of the restrictions on her life as well as the effect on small businesses and other locals.
"Schools are shut down," Cooper said. "I can't even go see my therapist because offices are shut down. My work closed — which is my livelihood — but tourists are flooding in, and it's not OK. If you're going to close everything else down … and then let tourists come in to short-term rentals and let Vail (Resorts) stay open … it just seems incredibly unfair."
Event organizer Savannah Wahaus, who works at The Uptown on Main and Yo Mommas Cantina, said she has been personally affected by the restrictions. Working at The Uptown on Main was her full-time job, but now she has only one shift on her schedule next week.
"My purpose is to put a face to all of the people that are being put out of work by this new, mandated shutdown of the county and the state," Wahaus said Sunday. "So I want to show all the people that are worried about not working, that want to work and that kind of feel left in the dark with all this."
Wahaus shared concerns that there is no plan in place to help workers negatively affected by the restrictions. While workers were able to receive unemployment benefits during the shutdown in March, Wahaus said some people have used up their unemployment benefits and might not be able to receive unemployment if they are out of work again.
Wahaus said she feels the restaurant industry has been singled out and blamed despite doing everything it can to follow safety rules and stay open.
Summit County service industry workers march down Breckenridge Main Street in protest of new restrictions, particularly those aimed at the service industry.
Posted by Summit Daily News onMonday, November 23, 2020
Walking down Main Street, Nicodemus Piazzo, one of the organizers of the event and an employee at Downstairs at Eric's, said the protest was meant to stand up against what he called the unfair shutdown of indoor dining at restaurants.
"Restaurant workers have been the people out here enforcing masks the most, party sizes the most," Piazzo said. "We've followed all these rules, and then we're the ones still getting left in the dark without a clear plan ahead. So we're not protesting the virus. We're not protesting shutdowns in general. We're just protesting this halfsy one that only affects indoor dining. …"
Piazzo said he has had four friends move out of town because of the restrictions, which he said are not the right solution.
A Summit County service industry worker holds a sign Monday, Nov. 23, while protesting the prohibition of in-person dining at restaurants.
Summit County service industry workers march past the Gold Pan Saloon on Monday, Nov. 23, in Breckenridge while protesting the prohibition of in-person dining at restaurants.
Ginger Perez, an employee at Downstairs at Eric's in Breckenridge, holds up a sign Monday, Nov. 23, while protesting the prohibition of in-person dining at restaurants.
Brandon Quevedo, an employee of The Canteen Tap House and Tavern in Breckenridge, marches Monday, Nov. 23, with demonstrators in Breckenridge while protesting the prohibition of in-person dining at restaurants.
Mac McNamara, manager of the Myla Rose Saloon in Blue River, marches Monday, Nov. 23, with demonstrators in Breckenridge while protesting the prohibition of in-person dining at restaurants.
Summit County service industry workers stand at the intersection of Main Street and Park Avenue in Breckenridge on Monday, Nov. 23, while protesting the prohibition of in-person dining at restaurants.
Ginger Perez, an employee at Downstairs at Eric's in Breckenridge, sits on the shoulders of Kyle Rocco on Monday, Nov. 23, while protesting the prohibition of in-person dining at restaurants.
Paytone Tracy, an employee of the Myla Rose Saloon in Blue River, marches Monday, Nov. 23, with demonstrators in Breckenridge while protesting the prohibition of in-person dining at restaurants.
Luke Ahrenholtz stood at the protest with a sign that said, "No dough means no dough." Ahrenholtz works as a dishwasher at a restaurant in Frisco and said he understands that the state is trying to slow the spread of the coronavirus but that there are businesses that have been following the restrictions already set in place.
"Every single day I go in, I wear the mask. I make sure I keep my hands washed. I wear the gloves," Ahrenholtz said. "We're doing everything right, so the fact that we keep getting shut down on the state level, I think, is what's really frustrating. I'd like it if the local government here was able to determine can we be open (and) at what capacity."
Adrian Holcomb, who owns Rocky Mountain Tattoo Emporium, said he came to the protest because he had to do something to save the town. Holcomb said there won't be a town left to reopen if current restrictions stay in place.
"Some of us barely survived the first lockdown, and another lockdown might be enough to wipe us out all the way," Holcomb said.


See what happens when I take a week off...people go crazy and start drinking colored beer.
A growing, comprehensive list of what's on tap at your local better beer bars...click here, visit there, imbibe.
Today we profile Lotsa Pasta, a local business around for 30 years next month, and one that the family that owns it is very proud of.
Today I tried to share a beer...and was almost completely turned down. Read on to find out how I dealt with such rejection.
What do you do when a beer becomes the object of your affections?
Today we profile Laura Holmes and how her businesses, P Is For Possible & Kluster Happy Jewelery, keep her busy...and happy.


Whether your home is vacant or just needing finishing touches, Element Realty strongly believes in making the best first impression. That is why the cost of staging is included in our commission.
Learn more about how we help our buying clients purchase with peace mind and knowing what all their options are when purchasing your home.
Learn how our listing services can help make the sale of your home or property easier and how we partner with you to help sell your home.
We pride ourselves in working hard for our clients and really trying to understand what it is they are looking to accomplish. Element Realty aims to make the sale or purchase of real estate as simple a process as we possibly can. Our goal as a Brokerage is to try and help you and yours find a home or investment that will be best suited to your needs and wants.
The reason this brokerage came into being is because we wanted to be able to provide our clients with a full service experience when selling their home. This is why they have partnered with Elevate Home Staging and Design Inc to help provide Home Staging & Furniture rentals. We are very excited to be working in combination with such a valuable resource for our listing clients. We believe these services are complimentary to one another and will provide Element's clients more options moving forward.
We have discovered, at Element Realty Inc, that we are only good at selling what we are truly passionate about and we are passionate about real estate and the opportunities and advantages well purchased real estate can have on our client's lives. Whether it is for investment or for personal, real estate opens doors and allows people to invest in owning property that will benefit their families for years to come.
We take our responsibility as a Real Estate Brokerage very seriously and strive to work at the highest ethical standards possible. We will be straightforward and truthful about our opinion of value and what the concerns are, if any. We aim to present the pros and cons to purchases and sales being considered, even if it may cost us the sale.
We truly love what we do and are excited at the prospect of helping more families and investors find properties that help improve their lives. Our hope is that we can help make the process of buying or selling your home easier and that you feel more in control of the process.
One of our Realtors would love the opportunity to sit down with you and help you see how our services are unique to you and what you need to move onto this next part of your Real Estate journey. Please visit the Contact page to have one of or team members contact you and help you see the Element difference.


Spending a holiday in Derawan Archipelago is one thing. For the next adventure, Berau District still has lots of nature and culture attractions for travelers. Here is a reference. The name is Bekudung Betiung Traditional Ceremony, which is the signature event of Tumbit Dayak Village in Berau. Not to mention it is the part of Dayak Gaai Tribe's culture. The locals have been doing the ceremony for generations and these days it becomes another interesting attraction for visitors. In a nutshell, people in Tumbit Dayak conduct the ceremony to show gratitude to the God for abundant crops and wellness.
As mentioned earlier, the ceremony is done after the harvest season. There is another purpose of doing the ritual, though. The locals also perform Bekudung Betiung as the sign of the maturity of local boys, which is called Lamko. Either way, the event is quite merry and it lures lots of crowds, including nearby villagers and tourists. Such annual ceremony lasts for about 7 days and 7 nights, in fact! No wonder, travelers would be able to enjoy such festivity and spend more days in Berau, because they want to join the ceremony and merge with the locals.
There is an important rule for those who live or stay in Tumbit Dayak Village when the ceremony is in progress. What is it? They are prohibited in leaving the village! In accordance with local culture, people show disrespect when leaving the village during the procession of Bekudung Betiung. In other words, all people must stay and enjoy such 7-days ceremony. It sounds like a strict rule, doesn't it? Therefore, tourists should be committed to join the event from the beginning to the end without breaking any rules. If not, the locals would fine them.
As stated before, Bekudung Betiung also represents the maturity of local boys. In this case, there is a special house involved during the ritual and the name is Sunta. Within a certain time, the boy should stay in such house and get trained intensively. He might learn several skills, especially the ones for fighting. Hopefully, he can use the skills for numerous purposes like protection, hunting, etc. Apart from war skills, the boy also learns several craft arts like weaving and carving. The thing is this type of ritual seems boring to tourists. No wonder, many visitors choose the other type of Bekudung Betiung (the gratitude for wellness and abundant crops).
Even though the ceremony is open for tourists, it applies several rules to everyone. Leaving the village during the procession is prohibited and tourists are not allowed to cause any disturbance. Taking pictures is possible, as long as they have obtained permission from the elders. Overall, what they need are a good communication and decent behaviors.
Dayak Sumbit Village is located in Sambaliung Sub-district. From Tanjung Redeb, the trip may take about 2-3 hours, depending on the traffic. The distance is 78 km, actually. Here is the tip. Travelers should take H. Isa III Street for a faster trip to their destination.


text:
Monday's TV Talk Shows: Jay welcomes Bill Cosby
January 10, 2010 | 9:00 pm
Click here to download TV listings for the week of Jan. 10-16, in PDF format
This week's TV Movies
The Early Show Morgan Freeman. (N) 7 a.m. KCBS
Today Valerie Bertinelli; author Suze Orman. (N) 7 a.m. KNBC
KTLA Morning News (N) 7 a.m. KTLA
Good Morning America Alan Mulally; Dr. Regina Benjamin; Mark Halperin; John Heilemann. (N) 7 a.m. KABC
Good Day L.A. (N) 7 a.m. KTTV
Live With Regis and Kelly Valerie Bertinelli; Nathan Fillion ("Castle"). (N) 9 a.m. KABC
The View A day of hot topics; Patricia Heaton. (N) 10 a.m. KABC
The Doctors 11 a.m. KCAL
The Dr. Oz Show Dr. Oz discusses how stress in relationships can make one ill. 11 a.m. KTTV
Rachael Ray 2 p.m. KCBS
The Martha Stewart Show Cat show: breeders Collette Burnett and Deb Lamb; veterinarian Dr. Phillip Raclyn. (N) 2 p.m. KNBC
The Bonnie Hunt Show Gary Sinise; Bob Harper; Ian Gomez ("Cougar Town"). (N) 3 p.m. KNBC
The Tyra Show Designer Tina Knowles. 3 p.m. KTLA
Oprah Winfrey Peter Walsh. (N) 3 p.m. KABC
Dr. Phil The Dr. Phil Family: Alex's custody battles; Erin reacts to some of her critics. (N) 4 p.m. KCBS
The Ellen DeGeneres Show Matthew Broderick; Mary J. Blige performs; Jillian Michaels ("The Biggest Loser"). (N) 4 p.m. KNBC
The Tyra Show A teenager who is legally able to strip in some states due to a loophole in the law. 4 p.m. KTLA
The Dr. Oz Show Painful intercourse; a woman addicted to sleeping pills. (N) 5 p.m. KTTV
Dr. Phil Steve Harvey. (N) 7 p.m. KCAL
Tavis Smiley Alan Alda and Tobey Maguire. (N) 7 and 11 p.m. KCET
The Jay Leno Show Bill Cosby; Mike "The Situation" Sorrentino. (N) 10 p.m. KNBC
The Daily Show With Jon Stewart (N) 11 p.m. Comedy Central
Lopez Tonight Jackie Chan; interview and performance by Ke$ha. (N) 11 p.m. TBS
Charlie Rose (N) 11:30 p.m. KCET
The Colbert Report (N) 11:30 p.m. Comedy Central
Late Show With David Letterman Jennifer Connelly; Paul Teutul Sr.; Ryan Bingham. (N) 11:35 p.m. KCBS
The Tonight Show With Conan O'Brien Gary Oldman; Dax Shepard; Vampire Weekend. (N) 11:35 p.m. KNBC
Jimmy Kimmel Live Ray Romano; Kim Kardashian; the Mighty Mighty Bosstones. 12:06 a.m. KABC
The Late Late Show With Craig Ferguson Mila Kunis; journalist Bob Schieffer. (N) 12:37 a.m. KCBS
Late Night With Jimmy Fallon Maggie Gyllenhaal; David Ortiz; Lenny Clarke. (N) 12:37 a.m. KNBC
Last Call With Carson Daly David Gray performs. 1:36 a.m. KNBC


text:
Plastic in Our Oceans
Our addiction to plastics has big consequences
Leah Payne
The plastic drinking straw you threw in the garbage could end up in the belly of a sea turtle. Where does the plastic we use end up? Some ends up in our oceans.
Remember that iced latte you had last summer? What if you found out the plastic straw you used ended up in the ocean, eaten by a sea turtle or dolphin? Believe it or not, even if you disposed of it properly, it may be the case.
Although we would like to believe that the plastic we discard on a daily basis disappears, this couldn't be further from the truth. In the ocean plastic either collects on beaches or moves with the tides, eventually accumulating in ocean gyres—giant, continually rotating whirlpools formed by currents and weather patterns.
Except for a relatively small percentage of debris from ships and fishing boats, most plastic debris originates on land. It ends up in the oceans, blown by the wind, carried by waterways such as streams and rivers, or blown off garbage trucks or other vehicles. Even when we take care not to litter and to dispose of our plastic waste at the dump, plastic can end up in the oceans when landfills are not well managed.
According to Christianne Wilhelmson, executive director of Georgia Strait Alliance (a BC-based environmental group), "It's the millions of these minor incidents that build up." Indeed, Fisheries and Oceans Canada claims that an estimated 6.4 million tonnes of garbage enter the oceans every year.
Chemical contamination
Instead of decomposing in the environment, plastic breaks down into tiny pieces scientists call "microplastic." These tiny plastic pieces act as magnets for toxins, absorbing chemicals such as persistent organic pollutants (POPs)—harmful chemicals that stay in the environment without breaking down. "These compounds don't mix with water but they stick to plastic, so the plastic becomes toxic over time," says Marcus Eriksen, executive director of the California-based organization 5 Gyres.
For instance, polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and the infamous insecticide DDT have both now been phased out, but they remain in the environment and have been detected in marine plastic.
Other harmful chemicals still in use that have been detected in plastic marine debris include polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), the flame retardant polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), and bisphenol A (BPA).
Animals at risk
Plastic debris hurts more than just the natural landscape. "It affects wildlife in two ways: entanglement and ingestion," says Eriksen.
For instance, according to Bettina Saier, director of the Oceans Program at World Wildlife Fund Canada, "140 species have been found entangled in marine plastics; some of them, such as leatherback turtles, are endangered; others, such as rare whales, have been found drowned."
Animals also frequently consume plastic, thinking it is food: "86 percent of turtles, 44 percent of marine birds, and 43 percent of marine mammals have plastic in their guts," says Saier. "In the case of filter feeders like whales," says Wilhelmson, "they open their mouths and consume plastic indirectly."
To sea turtles that eat jellyfish, for instance, a plastic bag ebbing and flowing in the waves looks like dinner. When the plastic fills up in the stomachs of these animals, they feel full, so they eat less and end up dying of starvation.
Up the food chain
The POP-laden microplastic ingested by marine animals may cause harmful effects on the entire food web. One recent study suggested that bottlenose dolphins with high levels of PCBs are more likely to have anemia, hypothyroidism, and a weakened immune system. Plus, POPs can disrupt the reproductive hormones of birds.
Studies have also concluded that the high levels of PCBs in the indigenous people of Alaska, Greenland, and Canada come from the high levels of these compounds found in the marine mammals they traditionally eat. This realization shows us just how intertwined humans are with all of the other species with whom we share this planet.
Wilhelmson agrees: "We use the environment as a laboratory experiment, and we're the guinea pigs … It's an inevitably harmful view to see the environment as apart from us."
The root of the problem
Plastic itself isn't the culprit—it's doing exactly what it was designed to do: be incredibly durable and persistent. Unfortunately, these qualities allow it to remain in the environment for so long—from 300 to 600 years, according to optimistic estimates. According to Saier, however, "Durability of plastic ensures that wherever it is, it does not go away. The persistence
of this debris was recently illustrated by accounts that plastic swallowed by an albatross had originated from a plane shot down 60 years previously some 9,600 km away."
Research shows us that the solution to marine plastic goes further than avid recycling or refusing to litter, because the heart of the problem is a society built on disposable, single-use plastic. "We need to kick the plastic habit. Plastics are great for a lot of things: computers, hospital equipment, and safety gear. But plastic is a bad idea for single-use disposable products, like bags and straws," says Eriksen.
Be an activist
Individuals can easily reduce the amount of plastic they contribute.
Avoid single-use plastic
Wilhelmson urges consumers to actively refuse single-use plastic. She champions small actions
for making a huge difference.
Try to avoid the plastic disposable options of these everyday products, and instead opt for reusable versions:
cutlery, plates, and drinking straws
water and pop bottles
coffee cups, lids, and stir sticks
shopping bags (including those used for produce and bulk)
egg cartons
food storage wraps and containers
razors and shaving products
Disposable options of these products are relatively new—generations ago, people made do with other materials that were friendlier on the earth, such as ?paper, wood, metal, glass, or cloth. Thankfully, more and more reusable options are available today at many natural health retailers.
When options are not available, Saier urges consumers to choose products made from recycled plastics—and always recycle them.
Place pressure on companies
Wilhelmson suggests bringing plastic packaging back to the store to send the companies the message that consumers don't want unnecessary plastic waste. She says, "As consumers, we're very powerful, but we don't often realize it. When consumers demand change and companies see an economic impact, they will change."
Eriksen agrees that pressure needs to be placed on companies, but adds, "The plastic bag industry won't stop on its own." That's where government legislation comes in.
Place pressure on the government
Wilhelmson believes that "the government has a very linear view of the world—if it's bad for industry, they won't support it … They have yet to understand that there's no economic health without environmental health."
However, she recommends putting pressure on the government at a municipal level: "They're generally closer to the people and have more innovative solutions." Demanding plastic bag bans is one example of municipal pressure.
According to Mark Johnson, spokesperson for Environment Canada, the Canadian government is engaging in many ongoing efforts to stop plastic marine debris. For instance, "In October 2009, the Canadian Council of Ministers of the Environment (CCME) approved the Canada-wide Action Plan for Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) and the Canada-wide Strategy for Sustainable Packaging." In these programs, companies take into account, and are responsible for, the entire life cycle of a product.
Wear natural clothing
A recent study uncovered a scary truth about some of our favourite fashion statements: microplastic can come off synthetic fabrics in the wash, therefore contributing to marine debris. Wearing clothing made from natural fibres may solve this problem. Good choices include cotton (organic is best), wool, bamboo, and hemp.
Fisheries and Oceans Canada encourages beach cleanups as one common and effective way for small groups of citizens to get involved. It recommends contacting Stewardship Canada (stewardshipcanada.ca) for more information.
The debate continues about the role of governments, companies, and citizens in the fight against marine plastic pollution. One thing, however, is clear: we all have contributed to this problem, and we all have a responsibility to make things better.
Biodegradable plastic to the rescue?
Biodegradable plastic products, such as those made from corn, are becoming more popular, but they may not be the answer to marine debris. "We have to be careful about what biodegradable means. Biodegradable does not necessarily mean good, safe, nontoxic," says Wilhelmson. "Plus, if it's corn plastic, it raises the questions of raising food crops for products."
Eriksen adds that corn plastic is only biodegradable when shredded to increase its surface area and left in a warm, wet, microbe-rich environment. This doesn't occur in landfills or the oceans. Additionally, biodegradable plastics don't stop the cycle
of producing consumer products to be thrown away.
The verdict? "Overall, [using] is not a very helpful solution, and it's extremely complicated," says Wilhelmson.
Saier encourages citizens to "become a member of a group that creates awareness for plastic pollution and finds solutions to effectively reduce harmful plastic."
Hook up with one of these activist organizations for resources, campaigns, and a support network:
5 Gyres - 5gyres.org
Georgia Strait Alliance - georgiastrait.org
Greenpeace Canada - greenpeace.org/canada
Ocean Conservancy - oceanconservancy.org
Plastic Pollution Coalition - plasticpollutioncoalition.org
Save Our Seas Foundation - saveourseas.com
World Wildlife Foundation Canada - wwf.ca
There are five major ocean gyres, and each one accumulates plastic waste:
1. North Pacific Gyre
2. South Pacific Gyre
3. North Atlantic Gyre
4. South Atlantic Gyre
5. Indian Ocean Gyre
The gyres are fluid systems that shift and move constantly; therefore, it's very difficult to measure the exact sizes of each of the gyres. However, some estimates have been made. According to the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the North Pacific Gyre is "roughly estimated to be approximately 7 to 9 million square miles … equivalent to approximately three times the area of the continental United States."
Single-use plastic can lurk right under our noses—literally. The exfoliating beads in certain scrubs and face or body washes contain plastic, which ends up in the oceans after it's rinsed away. These plastic pieces are so small they can be ingested by creatures at the very bottom of the food chain, such as plankton.
Choose natural scrubs and washes that use oatmeal, apricot seed, or walnut husk as exfoliating beads.
Leah Payne is a writer, editor, and sustainability blogger based in Vancouver, BC. (Headshot credit: Notting Hill Photography)
leahstellapayne.com


The Band Mate Android app template is the place to start to build your band or music portfolio app. We've looked at the best music apps on the market and built a template with a sleek, flat design, and complete focus on showing off the music, and sharing music. This template is fully optimised for Android Lollipop. Start with the template, connect to the SoudCloud API and hook it all to your social media feeds for a super useful, super popular band app.
* the app. It also creates the Navigation Drawer on left side.
* setting up the Left side drawer.
* the Header and Footer contents of left drawer if you need them.
* particular tab position. You can customize this method as per your need.
*            the position of tab selected.
* this method as per your need to display specific content.
* Set the action bar title text.


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text:
Putin Led Russian Aerospace Forces in Syria, Political Resolution - Russian MP
© Sputnik / Sergey Guneev
On December 11, Russian President Vladimir Putin, speaking at Hmeymim Air Base, ordered the withdrawal of Russian troops from Syria after the complete defeat of the Daesh terrorist group in the country.
MOSCOW (Sputnik) – Russian President Vladimir Putin took part personally in commanding the Russian Aerospace Forces in Syria, Russian upper house speaker Valentina Matvienko said Wednesday.
"As a member of the Security Council, I can say that the President personally dealt with the command of the Russian Aerospace Forces in Syria and the preparation of political reconciliation," she told reporters.
READ MORE: Syrian Hmeymim Group Ready to Partake in Local Reconciliation Committees
The victory of Russia over Daesh (ISIS) in Syria made it possible to change the situation in the Middle East and the attitude towards Russia around the world, Matvienko said.
"Russia defended its national interests and the interests of the whole world in Syria," Matvienko added. According to her, as a result of the efforts of Russian forces and the Syrian army, Syria's integrity was preserved.
© AP Photo / Hassan Ammar
Russia Pulling Out Troops From Syria, What's Next? Five Things You Should Know
Putin has said earlier that two Russian military bases will continue to function in Syria — Hmeymim and Tartus.
On September 30, 2015, the head of the Kremlin administration, Sergei Ivanov, announced that Syrian President Bashar al-Assad had asked Russia for military assistance. President Vladimir Putin submitted a proposal to the Federation Council to adopt a resolution granting consent to use the Russian Armed Forces abroad. The Federation Council unanimously supported the President's appeal. The military objective of the operation was to provide air support to Syrian government forces in their opposition to Daesh.
Syrians Praise Role of Russian Troops Yet Concerned Over Military Withdrawal
Coalition to Continue to Support Partners in Syria Amid Russian Troops' Pullout
Troops Pullout From Syria 'Shows Success' of Russian Anti-Terror Fight
Daesh, Russian Aerospace Forces, Vladimir Putin, Valentina Matvienko, Syria, Russia
18:17Porn Fans May Soon Get Physical Feel of Their VR Girls Thanks to Cutting-Edge AI Glove


Other than starting a war (or a series of small wars)  and the huge government spending on weapons and military infrastructure that war entails, the next-favorite capitalist means of rescuing an economy on life-support is to increase the money supply and stoke inflation.  Sometimes, as in the present circumstances, the situation is so desperate that a government may feel the need to start a "perpetual war" and to massively increase the money supply at the same time.
Big Business and the financial sector really could care less about rising prices and the cost of living. That is why when the government reports that "core inflation" is "tame", it has teased out all the data relevant to individuals who live by wages, that is, such "irrelevant" and "volatile" data as the cost of energy, food and housing. Big business and the financial sector could care less whether the costs of energy, food and housing literally determine how, and whether, the majority of us live or die.
The only inflation factor that Big Business and the financial sector really care about is Wages, that is your wages. If prices rise, but your wages, relative to your cost of living, remain static, then "inflation" only bites you, dude. The bite taken out of your hide translates into someone else's profit-meal ticket. Thus, when prices rise but wages do not, it is as though a portion of workers' wages is being ripped off. On the other hand, if your wages rise commensurate with the increase in the real cost of living, then the increase in the costs of goods and services goes back into your wages. In that circumstance, money inflation does not give the owner class anything extra to bite into.
Not coincidentally, inflating the money supply (and consequently devaluing the dollar) will also allow the U.S. government to stealthily default on its own debt issues. Because of the dollar's reserve status, we pay for our imports from countries like China, in dollars. The merchants deposit these dollars in their countries' central banks, or exchange them for their local currency. The central banks often turn around and purchase U.S. treasury bills and bonds. By inflating the dollar, the U.S. government will pay back less on both principal and interest. This is also why mortgages benefit the debtor during inflation. Therefore, if, 1) by no longer reporting on M3, the Federal Reserve can increase M3 by more than the previous track record of a hefty 8.22% per year, and 2) the Administration masks the true increase in the cost of living, thus freezing or forcing down wages, then 3) it can engineer an increase in the profitability of corporations, and an apparent growth in the economy . . . all at workers' expense, of course.
Why would the Treasury and the Federal Reserve Bank want to do this? The answer is that the Collective We are in deep economic and environmental doo-doo. Somewhere in the supercomputers at the US Treasury or Federal Reserve, they have run an economic simulation which has analyzed the various humongous hairballs that 21st Century human beings have coughed up: a) Global Warming (or, better characterized as Global Weather Weirding because as the oceans warm and the ice caps melt, various parts of the globe's weather will change in different ways), b) overall natural resource depletion, c) pandemics caused by industrial food production (like bird flu), d) health and environmental problems caused by industrial pollution and foolhardy uses of mercury, pesticides, plastics, fluoride, cell phones, etc., e) radiation exposure due to DU weapons, nuclear armaments, nuclear power generation waste and Chernobyl-like accidents, and f) the peaking of easy light, sweet oil production such that petroleum extraction and refining will become progressively more energy intensive for every bit of energy you can get out of a barrel of oil.
When the Treasury and the Federal Reserve Board (and the Pentagon, too) ran their computer simulations, they came up with the TINA (There Is No Alternative) answer of inflating M3 to keep the global economy chugging. This is the only remedy that Free Enterprise/Open Market "cultists" (like those who populate America's power centers) could accept even though, paradoxically, the world and American economies have been totally and deliberately stage-managed since the end of the Second World War. However, even the TINA answer of inflating M3 is ultimately precarious, and hence the steep, steep rise in gold prices.
What, then, makes these instruments -- checks, paper money, and coins -- acceptable at face value in payment of all debts and for other monetary uses? Mainly, it is the confidence people have that they will be able to exchange such money for other financial assets and for real goods and services whenever they choose to do so.
We really are a faith-based world, but not in the religious sense that Mister Bush intends it. The "faith" in the currency comes from the implicit confidence in the societal stability that will allow future exchanges using the currency. In as much as military might is the ultimate enforcer of that stability, military might is the ultimate guarantor of any form of money. Nevertheless, as we saw during the U.S. Army's slow motion meltdown during the Vietnam War, and as the retired generals are beginning to gnaw their knuckles about today, the stability of the military might itself depend on the stability of the larger society and society's confidence in itself.
Thus, if the Government tries to use intimidation, force and military oppression, at home and abroad, to maintain the "stability" of domestic and world systems (gee whiz, has Mister Bush tried to do any of that???), then it inevitably undermines the confidence of society in itself and in its own institutions... which, in turn, further undermines faith in the economy and the monetary system. As the repeated application of intimidation, force and military oppression continue to undermine social confidence, then Leaders usually look for other means to artificially pump up "faith", such as hyping religion as a metaphysical way to buttress "confidence" in an otherwise disintegrating world. That is historically what Leaders have always done and are doing today.
The process of disintegration can occur like water torture over many years, or it can fail catastrophically. Which brings us right back to TINA and why the Administration has stopped reporting on M3. By obscuring M3, the feds can sneakily inflate the economy, and indirectly, fizz up the stock markets (the stock markets being yet another confidence game which will reach maximum bubble dimensions just in time for the mid-term November elections, fancy that!).
What the ownership class and its leaders will not suffer, however, is this simple truth: the best guarantee of confidence in the stability of the economy is simply to allow people to live well and to prevent or alleviate as much human suffering as possible. Alas, permitting the Many to live well necessarily means that they must have more material benefits, which, in turn, means that those who have more material benefits now are not going to give up any part of their stash to allow everyone else to do better. Thus, are the Powerful Ones and the Owners hoisted on their own petards, and, once again, the resort to TINA and the non-solution of the obliteration of data about M3.
So let us return to the stealthy inflation that is engendered by not reporting on M3 and the accompanying petrification of wages. Unfortunately, wage earners everywhere will bear inflation on their shoulders because wages, specifically your wages, are, practically speaking, frozen whenever the Government pronounces that "core inflation" is "tame". If inflation is reported to be "tame", then real wages will not rise in sync with rising real prices. When the Administration and its media lapdogs thus report that you should be assuaged because "core inflation is tame", they are deliberately deceiving all the Little People of the world because all that is really tame is your wages and your own paycheck! The profits, the difference between the rise in prices for essential goods and services and your stagnant wages, will fatten the large corporations and overseas debt will be reduced with the payment of inflated, less valuable dollars. All the while your real well-being and security will become progressively more tenuous. Of course, this undermines societal confidence and erodes faith in the economy and in money. And so the economic death spiral continues.
Once an economy has "matured" (as it has in the United States) and once there is no more free lunch like that afforded by cheap and abundant hydrocarbon fuels, then capitalism (which is great for producing consumer goods and advancing "technology", but hardly worth anything for improving the overall lot and well-being of the masses) reverts back to what it really is: an economic form of cannibalism. Capitalism either eats surplus Labor or, if surplus energy is available, it consumes energy. When there ain't no more surplus energy to consume, then Labor has to eat less so that Owners can continue to eat more; and when the "food" runs out, Owners will start to eat Labor alive. Ultimately, in truly straitened times, the Owners end up eating one another. That's why, when the economy starts to splutter, capitalists, resolutely united against the rest of us, still eyeball one another as a victim to devour. It's that economic Donner Family Bar-B-Que that the Administration is desperately trying to forestall by surreptitiously shooting up digital growth hormones into the economy's sclerotic arteries.
Real income for working people has actually been trending downward over the years. In inflation-adjusted terms, on average, working men and women are actually making less money than in the 1970s and our quality of life is going down. The demise of union pension funds, the under-funding of public schools, the deterioration of public health programs, the curtailment of library hours and the cutting of worker salaries all contribute to the general decay in the standard of living. What we need to appreciate is how the economic and financial shenanigans of the Administration, such as its recent elimination of reporting on M3 data, are deliberate steps toward unraveling the, albeit minimal, progress made since WWII by the Northern Hemisphere's middle and working classes, all in the cause of preserving profit for the ownership class.
The Administration has nominated all of us as the "Squeezees". In the Administration's mind, dismantling all of the remaining social services and safety nets, and gradually reducing the majority of us to medieval peonage (and, eventually, human hamburger), is a noble and necessary suicide mission to rescue capitalism. It won't work in the long run, of course, but meanwhile we've all been volunteered for the mission.
1) M3 is the aggregate of M0, M1 and M2, the total money supply, plus the total of all commercial and industrial loans that are financed by large denomination Certificates of Deposit and Eurodollars (essentially, the amount of dollars held outside of the control of the Federal Reserve, in European banks, or other central banks.). M0 is the total of all physical money; M1 is M0 plus the amount of money in checking and bank demand accounts; M2 is the total of M0 + M1 plus savings accounts, money market accounts and CD up to $100K. M3 includes such mysterious accounts as those huge and possibly unstable hedge funds and derivatives that the major money institutions use to try to spread the risk of their clients' low quality and highly speculative investments. M3 may total more than 3-4 trillion dollars in excess of M2. Obviously, M3 dwarfs the actual amount of physical dollar bills and coins that are in circulation.
2) The Electronic Frontier Foundation's website is a good place to learn about this issue. The problem starts with some major ISPs and the back-bone telecommunication companies trying to implement a "fee" for sending e-mail, and will graduate to charging different rates for "prioritizing" the delivery of your e-mail and creating a tiered system for the delivery of web content based on ability to pay. In short, your "friends" in Congress and in the telecommunications industry, even as you read this, are colluding and working on legislation to strangle the Internet and curtail your access to alternative information websites like this one.
3) Money is created all the time by the Federal Reserve Board and by the banks. A loan creates money, as does the sale of government bonds as do numerous other complicated financial instruments created in years past to expand and protect "money" without public scrutiny or control.
4) The never-ending "War on Terror" of the post 9.11 era, like the 50-year "Cold War", is intended by Republicans and Democrats alike to create a permanent "war economy" that creates "wealth", keeps capitalism sputtering along and maintains the status quo domestically and worldwide. The fact that a lot of people die in the process of preserving economic interests is viewed by technocrats and the political sociopaths who pass for "leaders" as just so much "collateral damage." In the geopolitical and economic chessboard, the pawns -- like in Vietnam, Serbia, Haiti, Rwanda, Chile, Iran, Iraq and the NYC Twin Towers -- are always sacrificed for the "good" of the game and the preservation of the capital playing pieces.
5) Inflation is created by monetary policy. It is the cause of, not the effect of an increase in "prices" or wages.
6) This is why all those deepwater wells, heavy oil and Canadian shale oil deposits won't relieve rising hydrocarbon prices. The energy return on the phenomenal investment necessary to extract and process these deposits will be passed on in the form of phenomenal increases in prices.


text:
Q: Unable to open image file in Android - File not found exception I have this app installed in my device (Nexus s).
It caches some images if you use this app. This is why it shows cached images in my device's gallery.
I use cursor to get the path
final String[] columns = { MediaStore.Images.Media.DATA };
Cursor imagecursor = managedQuery(
        MediaStore.Images.Media.EXTERNAL_CONTENT_URI, columns,
        MediaStore.Images.Media._ID + " = " + id, null, MediaStore.Images.Media._ID);
if (imagecursor != null && imagecursor.getCount() > 0){
    imagecursor.moveToPosition(0);
    String path = imagecursor.getString(imagecursor.getColumnIndexOrThrow(MediaStore.Images.Media.DATA));
    Log.d("path", path);
    File f = new File("file://" + path);
    Log.d("check_file", "" + f.exists());
}

I get the path:

/mnt/sdcard/cache/hk.ignition.podcast/cartoon/2/http%3A%2F%2Fbigcity.learnenglishapps.com%2Fimages%2Fcartoons%2Fset2%2Ffast-food-new-1.png

Downloaded image is:
http://bigcity.learnenglishapps.com/images/cartoons/set2/fast-food-new-1.png
When I pull the file or explore it with file manager like Astro, its there.
But when I check if file exist, then it says false.
Is there any character issue?
Update:
Removing file:// worked to check if file exist.
Next is, I'd like to open that file in gallery.

*

*should I use this path to open image?
But that not worked:

    Intent intent = new Intent();
    intent.setAction(Intent.ACTION_VIEW);
    intent.setDataAndType(
                Uri.parse("file:///mnt/sdcard/cache/hk.ignition.podcast/cartoon/2/http%3A%2F%2Fbigcity.learnenglishapps.com%2Fimages%2Fcartoons%2Fset2%2Ffast-food-new-1.png"),
                "image/*");
    startActivityForResult(intent, 3);

*

*Or I should try to get content:// style path from MediaStore?

Update 2:
Solved using :
Uri.fromFile(f);

Instead of Uri.Parse(). As it builds / character from encode format.

A: Change new File("file://" + path) to just new File(path)

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


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text:
« The Good Inside Me
Dead State: Fallout »
May 13, 2019 by JBronder
Stick Together (The Awkward Squad – 2) by Sophie Henaff
Officer Anne Capestan and her squad of misfits must turn their attention to a more personal case–the murder of Capestan's ex-husband's father, a lifelong member of the Paris police force who had no shortage of enemies.
After their successful solving of three cold cases and exposing corruption at the very highest levels of the Paris police force, Officer Anne Capestan's team of oddballs and no-hopers should be in a celebratory mood. However, now despised by their colleagues at 36, quai des Orfevres and worried for their future, morale has never been lower among the members of the Awkward Squad.
Capestan is doing her best to motivate the team, but even she cannot maintain a cheerful facade when she has been assigned to investigate the murder of Officer Serge Rufus, the father of her ex-husband. Worse, it soon appears that his murder is linked to two other victims, both of whom were warned by the killer before they struck.
Can Capestan marshal the forces to solve another hopeless mystery, or will her team's previous success be proven just a fluke?
Sophie Hénaff is a journalist, author and former Lyonnaise bar owner. She began her journalism career as a critic at Lyon Poche, before moving to Paris to write for Cosmopolitan, where she established her own humorous column, "La Cosmolite". The Awkward Squad was first published as Poulets grillés in 2015, and was her first novel.
Anne Capestan's team did an amazing job solving three cold cases and showing the level of corruption in the police department. But that has had the opposite effect with them being even more hated. Things are not going to get better when Anne is asked to look into the murder of her ex-father in law. It seems his case is similar to two others where the victims were warned by the killer before they became the next victim.
This is a great sequel to The Awkward Squad. The team is down and depressed even after their big win. They are not hated more so for their exposure of the corruption. Anne doesn't know if she can rally her team to look into her ex-father in laws death. But the group comes together with snark and humor to help find the killer.
I really liked the first book and enjoyed Stick Together. It is full of humor and I just love how the rejects are the ones solving the cases. This is a wonderful series and I can't wait to see what the Awkward Squad gets into next.
I would like to thank Quercus for the opportunity to read and share this book.