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#YangGang's Achilles' heel
Photo by Greg Noire
Ana Cecilia Martinez, Copy Editing Coordinator
The Democratic presidential candidates running for the November 2020 election saw a continuation of the rise of single-issue candidates from the 2016 presidential election. Single-issue candidates build their campaigns on one issue they plan on completing within their term as president, should they become elected. They do this to give the public a distinct image of what to expect from them without requiring extensive research.
Voters started with 29 candidates to investigate last year. This led a majority of young voters to root for single-issue candidates because of the ease in research. However, what had seemed like a good idea for appeasing overwhelmed voters backfired. Because single-issue candidates focus on one issue, they can easily misrepresent their stances on other political issues and their overall platform. A prime example of this is Andrew Yang, who dropped out of the race on Feb. 11.
From the beginning, Yang established his focus on younger audiences by coining #YangGang on social media, ensuring his name became distinguished among bigger candidates like Joe Biden, Elizabeth Warren and Bernie Sanders. Yang began modeling after Sanders, who has a significant young follower base.
Yang's highlighted issue, "The Freedom Dividend," would have given citizens a monthly allowance of $1,000 to stabilize the economy, promote economic safety and equalize social justice for struggling U.S. citizens. This issue attracted young voters, who mostly identify as liberal Democrats. Because Yang's proposition was a liberal one, young voters, ages 18 to 44, composed 74% of his follower base, according to the Morning Consult.
It is easy to see why so many unintentionally uninformed voters thought Yang's proposal attractive; it made him look liberal. However, his views on other major political issues were largely moderate, which makes Yang less liberal than most believed. From opposing universal health care but expanding Medicare for some to opposing free college and canceling student debt for a few, Yang's political views are a mix of moderate and liberal, not strictly liberal, as most derived from his major proposal.
Yang's longer-than-expected Democratic presidential campaign showed the key problems with single-issue candidates: the image they present to the public can be misleading, and they manipulate younger voters.
Politicians should do a better job promoting younger voters to research candidates before supporting a candidate who may not align with their political group and stance. Similarly, politicians need to be more honest with younger audiences, a demographic which can be the deciding factor in elections.
Young voters have historically been absent in previous elections, but 2016 saw an increase in voters that had not been seen in decades. This came as no surprise — candidates took to social media to campaign toward swing voters. Using similar tactics, candidates running for the 2020 election are garnering the youth support they may need for the November election.
Instead of supporting candidates based on one of their political views, voters should extensively research candidates before solidifying their votes. The #YangGang should now be researching the final eight candidates still in the running rather than mourning Yang's exit from the presidential race.
#YangGang
Ana Cecilia Martinez, Managing Editor
Ana is a third-year English major with concentrations in creative and professional writing. She is the current campus correspondent, editor and event planner...
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Put a little sweetness into your day! I had this dessert pictured above, meringue with cream and yummy strawberries in season, and it was ever so sweet and delicious. For another yummy treat that you can enjoy any time of day, try plain Greek yogurt with fresh strawberries.
On May 3, 2015, the first Full Moon of Taurus, which is also titled the "Full Flower Moon" by the Farmer's Almanac, because of the abundant flowers everywhere during this time period, is a time also known as The Wesak Festival Celebration. During "The Wesak," Divine Grace and Mercy are released with incredible intensity, more so that at any other time of year. The Wesak Festival Celebration is interlaced with the Loving and Compassionate Energies of the Lord Buddha and the Lord Jesus Christ, and is a yearly source of inner strength and rapid spiritual development for all practitioners.
It is written that the Phenomena of Divine Energies released during this period penetrates the minds, hearts and souls of all people joining the event. This Grace manifests and an increase of Divine light, which showers onto and into everyone and everything, with an enormous radius of the various Celebrations taking place globally.
Starting April 21 and through May 3 ("The Wesak"), join me in mindful meditation and prayer with a focus on being open to receiving – physically, emotionally, mentally, and spiritually, the abundance of Divine Grace. Visualize this white light all around you, and shining into you, filling you with joy and healing.


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Événement Virtuel
Nature-based Solutions and People | Geneva Nature-based Solutions Dialogues
Lieu: Online | Webex
Organisation: Union Internationale pour la conservation de la nature, Geneva Environment Network
ODD14 | ODD15 | ODD3
The Geneva Nature-based Solutions dialogues aim to facilitate further engagement and discussion among the stakeholders in International Geneva and beyond, in the lead-up to a critical year for nature and society. The dialogues are convened by the Geneva Environment Network and the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).
About the Dialogues
We are facing a triple planetary crisis – climate change, nature loss and pollution. In this context, Nature-based Solutions (NbS) are a powerful ally to address a societal and environmental challenges. As per IUCN definition, NbS are actions to protect, sustainably manage and restore natural or modified ecosystems that address societal challenges effectively and adaptively, simultaneously providing human well-being and biodiversity benefits.
NbS are a powerful tool to facilitate and catalyse the engagement of cross-sectoral stakeholders to join forces towards the implementation of an ambitious Post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF) and move towards achieving the CBD 2050 Vision of 'Living in harmony with nature'. NbS also offer a pathway for synergies among several multilateral environmental agreements, including for biological diversity (CBD), climate change (UNFCCC), disaster risk reduction (Sendai Framework), desertification (UNCCD) and the wider Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) – and for mainstreaming nature conservation into sectoral decision-making processes.
In the lead-up to a critical year for nature and society, NbS offer an opportunity to address a wide range of urgent societal challenges. The year 2021 and the major upcoming negotiations should indeed mark a turning point towards a resilient world for future generations.
Join the Geneva Environment Network and the International Union for Conservation of Nature in a one-year journey, where experts from all over the world and different sectors will discuss throughout the year how NbS are relevant to various debates ongoing in Geneva.
More information about the dialogues
Nature-based Solutions and Health | 29 April
Nature-based Solutions and Ecosystems Restoration | 7 June
Nature-based Solutions and the Post-2020 Biodiversity Framework | 28 June
Decent Work Through Nature-based Solution for an Inclusive Socio-Economic Recovery | 30 August
Nature-based Solutions and Food | 13 September
Nature-based Solutions and the Ocean | 27 September
Nature-based Solutions for Building Resilience | 11 October
Nature-based Solutions and Cities | 25 October
Nature-based Solutions and Peacebuilding | 1 November
Nature-based Solutions and Water | 22 November
About this Session
The Nature-based Solutions and People Dialogue is the culmination of a year-long journey convened to explore diverse aspects of NbS and their relevance to the world's most pressing social and environmental challenges.
Nature is fundamental to the well-being of all people. Healthy ecosystems underpin diverse livelihoods and economies, cultures, and the enjoyment of a wide range of human rights, including the right to life. And it is people, through their diverse cultures, forms of knowledge, and agency – recognizing the specific roles and contributions of Indigenous peoples and local communities, women and men and youth – who protect, sustainably manage and restore the ecosystems on which we all depend.
2021 has been a momentous year for enhanced recognition of the interdependency of people, human rights, and nature. In October, the UN Human Rights Council adopted a landmark resolution formally recognizing that a clean, healthy, and sustainable environment is itself a human right (HRC 48/13). The IUCN World Conservation Congress Marseille Manifesto commits to respecting and harnessing the perspectives and agency of all citizens, highlighting the rights and roles of youth, indigenous peoples and local communities and women. Financial pledges for biodiversity and climate action in 2021 have included specific commitments for Indigenous peoples and local communities, in recognition of their critical roles as stewards of nature.
This dialogue session provided an opportunity to discuss and advance rights-based and gender-responsive approaches to Nature-based Solutions for people and the environment. Panelists will share their views and recommendations on how to ensure that Nature-based Solutions engage and support the diverse contributions of all people, with particular attention to the rights and roles of women and men, youth and Indigenous peoples and local communities. Convened just before Human Rights Day – and during the 16 Days global campaign to end gender-based violence – the dialogue will advance understanding of how Nature-based Solutions also can contribute to reducing gender gaps and barriers and to the realization of gender equality and human rights.
As the last dialogue in the 2021 series, the session concludes with reflections on key outcomes drawn from across the Geneva Nature-based Solutions dialogues.
By alphabetical order.
Razan AL MUBARAK
IUCN President | Managing Director of the Environment Agency Abu Dhabi | Mohamed bin Zayed Species Conservation Fund
Ramiro BATZÍN
Director Sotz'il | IUCN Global Counselor for Indigenous Peoples
H.E. Amb. Catalina DEVANDAS
Permanent Mission of the Republic of Costa Rica to the United Nations Office and other international organizations in Geneva
Mirna FERNANDEZ
Member of the Steering Committee of the Global Youth Biodiversity Network (GYBN) | Co-founder of the GYBN Bolivian chapter Kaaijayu (GYBN-Bolivia)
Mrinalini RAI
Director of Women4Biodiversity | CBD Women's Caucus
Kristen WALKER PAINEMILLA
Chair IUCN Commission on Environment, Economic and Social Policy (CEESP)
Jenny SPRINGER (moderator)
Director, Global Governance and Rights Programme, IUCN
Illustration by Daisy Hessenberger / IUCN
Welcome Message | Razan Al Mubarak, IUCN President
This dialogue is the culmination of a year-long journey and an occasion to celebrate the International Human Rights Day. It's an opportunity to demonstrate that the moral separation of ourselves from nature, instead of being part of nature, can only lead to the mismanagement of our natural resources. We witness today how unjust environmental conditions imposed on the poorest and the most vulnerable are not only unsustainable but are unethical and unhealthy.
The adoption of HRC 48/13 recognizing that a clean, healthy and sustainable environment is a fundamental human right, is a key step forward to bring about major change. As the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights stated, bold action is now required to ensure this resolution serves as a springboard to push for policies that will protect people and nature.
The current pandemic has led to significant setbacks for social and economic development. As we start recovery actions, we need to learn from our previous mistakes and prioritize responses that do no harm to both society and nature. By leveraging NbS as a crisis response, we can also go beyond « do no harm » to deriving benefits to people and nature, accelerating towards more sustainable approaches for long-term development and economic growth.
Ambition and progress cannot be achieved without collaboration and partnerships across sectors. This is why today we're calling for action, to break down siloes and create synergies for the common good of people and nature. The IUCN Global Standard on NbS aims to ensure that actions taken can simultaneously conserve ecosystems and address societal challenges. It offers a rigorous, consistent, and accountable framework that will help avoid the misuse of the concept and take this from local to the global scale. The Global Standard is a tool that supports the use of common language as the vehicle for creating cross-sectoral and trustful dialogue to achieve the ambition and progress for our society and generations to come. It requires robust social safeguards must be applied to recognize, respect, and protect human rights and support livelihoods. It emphasizes that Indigenous Peoples and local communities, women, and girls, and those whose rights must be upheld and advanced as part of the actions to conserve nature.
For we cannot achieve environmental justice if we do not strive for economic and social justice, underpinned by the universal goal of attaining human rights and dignity for all, a key outcome of the Marseille Manifesto.
The time to act is now. NbS and the ability to contribute to them must be equally accessible. We need all hands on deck to overcome today's challenges for the well-being of nature and people.
Setting the Stage | Jenny Springer, IUCN
Nature is fundamental to the well-being of all people, and underpins the realization of many human rights including the right to life. Recognition of this lens was significantly bolstered by the recognition of the Human Rights Council (resolution 43/18) of the human right to a clean, healthy and sustainable environment.
It is people through their diverse forms of knowledge and agency, who steward and conserve nature. Securing human rights, with a particular attention to those who face challenges to their rights and contributions, only strengthens nature conservation and sustainable use. Examples of which are inclusive participation, which leads to more informed and robust decisions, and securing rights of Indigenous Peoples to their land and resources.
IUCN defines NbS as "actions to protect, sustainably manage and restore natural or modified ecosystems that address societal challenges effectively and adaptively, simultaneously providing human well-being and biodiversity benefits." NbS focus on and open opportunities to benefit nature and people. From the close connection among nature, people, and human rights, NbS must take a rights-based approach.
Taking a rights-based approach means that NbS should be grounded in human rights standards and aim to promote and protect human rights. It should give particular attention to those facing inequalities and great barriers to their contributions. It should be gender-responsive and inclusive. It should also recognize Indigenous peoples and local communities as key actors with leadership roles in NbS.
The IUCN NbS Global Standard was developed to provide guidance on key elements of equitable and effective NbS. It includes Criterion 5 that sets the standard of having inclusive, transparent, and empowering governance processes. Key indicators include: NbS interventions must have feedback and grievance mechanisms. It must involve participation based on mutual respect and equality, and uphold Indigenous Peoples' rights to Free, Prior and Informed Consent (FPIC). Stakeholders who are affected by NbS should be identified and involved in all processes of the intervention. Decision-making processes document and respond to the rights and interests of all participating and affected stakeholders.
These elements provide a foundation to push for rights-based and gender-responsive approach to NbS. We need to recognize that Indigenous peoples are pioneers of NbS and have been doing so for centuries, as it is linked to their intrinsic relationship with nature. The wealth of their intricate knowledge on their diverse ecosystems are a major contribution to NbS. As such, securing rights to collective lands and resources are a vital foundation for the contributions of Indigenous knowledge and governance to NbS.
From a rights-based approach on NbS, these should recognize and promote indigenous systems' use, management and conservation of natural and cultural resources. NbS rely on diverse cultures and knowledge systems, and therefore must ethically engage with and uphold the rights of Indigenous Peoples and their knowledge holders. NbS should integrate actions for appropriate recognition for indigenous rights to lands, territories and resources, and channel direct support to locally-led actions by communities.
Regarding NbS and gender equality, we must recognize that all NbS have gender dynamics that shape natural resource management, the access, control and use over resources, and the diversity of knowledge. We also see that diverse women are leading NbS around the world. Therefore, NbS can and must contribute toward gender equality outcomes as part of a rights-based approach.
Key aspects of ensuring a gender-responsive approach to NbS include: inclusion of gender consideration throughout NbS projects, overcoming barriers to visibility and voice, gender analysis to inform planning and identify, mitigate risk factors, inclusion of specific actions to address differentiated needs, support for inclusive and participatory natural resource governance, and compliance and coherence with global human rights and gender equality policies and standards.
To advance a rights-based and gender-responsive approach to NbS, we need to learn from one another, to work together. The panel today allows us to listen to experts and learn from diverse range of experiences on how to ensure engage and support contributions of all.
Panel Discussion on Nature-based Solutions and People
Protecting Nature and Indigenous Rights through Participation | Ramiro Batzín, Sotz'il & IUCN
I want to start by expressing that in our Mayan calendar today marks the energy E, the day of the doad, of the white roads of our peoples, today is the day to undertake future actions and this event is one of them.
For indigenous peoples, to speak of NbS is to speak of the reciprocal relationship we have with Mother Nature, Mother Earth, and the balance that must exist between Mother Nature, the human being and the universe. For indigenous peoples these are interrelated and therefore Nature-Based Solutions must have Nature at the heart of their design and implementation.
NbS must start by recognizing, respecting and promoting the contributions, knowledge and rights that indigenous peoples have for their lands, territories and resources, as well as their traditional systems of use, management and conservation of natural and cultural resources, which are interrelated in the Ütz K'aslemal or indigenous model of life. In my case, the Kaqchikel Mayan life model. NbS must be added to strengthening indigenous forms of organization, its norms and statutes, our economic, social and cultural systems.
Today our mother earth faces the impacts of climate change and the COVID-19 pandemic, which can only be addressed if we apply solutions based on nature, but from an approach based on human rights, indigenous rights, and gender, particularly the participation of women and youth, where self-determination, free prior and informed consent is promoted.
At IUCN, the Standard for Nature-Based Solutions tells us about economic generation. It will be necessary to ensure that it is aimed at overcoming the poverty and extreme poverty suffered by millions of people in the world, including indigenous peoples. It talks about sustainable development. Similarly, we will have to ensure that it focuses on the common good and that it changes the model based on capital accumulation. It is time to look at the monetary and non-monetary in a balanced way.
Nature-based solutions must be promoted solely and exclusively to develop a sustainable process of use, management and conservation of nature, since like any instrument, there is a risk that it can be used as a weapon to exploit our resources excessively and violate our rights.
The IUCN Nature-Based Solutions Standard must be implemented in an inclusive manner, where indigenous peoples, and especially we IUCN indigenous peoples member organizations, are part of the governance, decision-making and implementation structure.
We, the Indigenous Peoples' Organization members of IUCN, join in monitoring and promoting the fulfillment of the Standard in its proper dimension and in line with the national and international legal framework. We also join in improving and strengthening the process already initiated by IUCN, to ensure that indigenous peoples are recognized and respected as equal and key partners in decision-making related to nature-based solutions and their implementation in a fair, equitable and inclusive manner.
I close by saying that for indigenous peoples the Standard of nature-based solutions has to support and know how to live with those birds that sing to us, with the ants that give us the early warning signs, with those trees that give us air, with those oceans full of life. Because those also provide us with solutions for our existence as indigenous peoples and humanity. Matyox.
Empowering People with Disabilities through Nature | Catalina Devandas Aguilar, Permanent Mission of the Republic of Costa Rica in Geneva
Thank you for bringing the importance of incorporating human rights-based approach to NbS, and for giving the opportunity to speak about the impact on persons with disabilities, where very often are left behind the equation. How do we make sure that the intersections and interdependencies among human rights, the environment, and NbS are inclusive of persons with disabilities. How can we ensure that every single person, including those with disabilities can exercise and benefit these rights, particularly in the context of HRC 43/18?
Despite the enormous impact of biodiversity loss and climate change has on persons with disabilities, it is very rare that they are included in the decision-making. We have many efforts that are normally inaccessible, non-inclusive of their views and needs, or not considering their support measures they need. As such, we are jeopardizing better results for everyone.
All the voices and perspectives need to be on board to create innovation, better outcomes, better governance, and to ensure we are advancing sustainably.
As persons with disabilities are more exposed to power cuts, heatwaves, floods, to the harsh impacts of a degrading environment, how do we ensure persons with disabilities thrive in NbS? There are four points:
Universal accessibility. We are not going to make sustainable and transformative change unless NbS are accessible to persons with disabilities, not only regarding physical access but access to information and communication. There must be an effort to help the disabled to participate in community projects.
Non-discrimination. We cannot move forward if we continue to discriminate persons with disabilities. Stopping discrimination means eliminating barriers, including attitudinal barriers, direct acts of discrimination against persons with disabilities from participating.
Broadened participation. From a rights-based approach, we need people to sit together at the same decision-making table. As such, we need to accommodate, especially those that are left behind traditionally, such as persons with disabilities. This means putting place strategies of outreach and allowing for conditions of engagement in a safe and meaningful manner.
Networks of support. In discussing NbS, we need to make sure that we enable persons with disabilities to be part of these sustainable solutions. To do so, we need to account that persons with disabilities may need specific forms of support especially within a new environment. This is supposed to be part of the network we are building together. Without this, we won't be able to succeed.
The diverse views and perspectives of persons with disabilities will enrich the discussion, so I thank you for giving us this space. Hopefully this is just one step towards the right direction.
Women & Nature : Fostering Gender Justice | Mrinalini Rai, Women4Biodiversity & CBD Women's Causus
Women matter, and this has been portrayed by those who have taken the floor before me: everybody has a role to play and their contributions must be recognized.
"Gender-based inequalities are pervasive across the world, acting as barriers to equitable and sustainable access, use, control and benefits related to land and natural resources. Women, for example, represent the majority of the world's poor (Oxfam, 2017), landless (FAO, 2011), illiterate (UN, 2015) and informal as well as unpaid workforces (UN Women, 2016). Even while bearing numerous and key responsibilities for managing natural resources (Jensen & Halle, 2013), women are under-represented in decision-making (UN Women, 2019), especially environmental decision-making (IUCN, 2015), with further inequitable legal rights and significantly restricted access to resources (OECD, 2019)." – Gender-based violence and environment linkages: The violence of inequality (IUCN, 2020)
We are talking about a human-rights based approach in biodiversity governance and climate spaces, but we need to step this up. The tools are there, but we are lacking in implementation. How can really ensure that there are policies and actions in place that address the systemic barriers women face in achieving their full potential and becoming the agents of change that we know they are, that we know we are?
Women, like Indigenous peoples and local communities, have an important role to play in NbS, particularly in the contributions to their livelihoods, their culture, and their wellbeing. As actions undertaken under the banner of NbS are potentially broad, there needs to be greater clarity on what can – and crucially what cannot – be counted as a NbS. When we speak of Indigenous Peoples, we also need to recognize the knowledge and culture of women, to recognize that women have also contributed to maintaining their relationship with nature. What is required, therefore, is to clarify what principles or safeguards should attach to them. This is related as well to the Global Standard, as it is fully gender-responsive, has accountability measures, and has rights of women and girls safeguarded in the standards across various processes in decision-making.
Reducing inequality and addressing gender-based violence are very crucial. As we are in the 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence, this is the time to discuss and address women's rights and gender-based violence, particularly within the environmental spaces we work in.
For NbS, (carbon) offsetting should be off the table. When we discuss NbS, we look at what nature gives and provides, but nature has linkages as well with Indigenous People's identities. Therefore, we shouldn't just look at the economic benefits of nature, but the whole eco-culture (livelihood, food, traditions, culture, etc.).
As such, we also need to harness nature and culture linkages: both scientific and traditional knowledge should be recognized equally. We also need to make sure that there are funding commitments, especially supporting communities and women-led programs. It is the hope that the right to a clean, healthy, and sustainable environment will be considered in future discussions on biodiversity and the climate.
Reimagining Conservation : Inclusive Finance | Kristen Walker, IUCN CEESP
What we've heard today is the importance of inclusion and the systems with which we work, and how we can reimagine the way we do things. One specific way is in how we operationalize these: we need to understand where resources come from. In Glasgow, we talked about the importance of NbS and the role of Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities (IPLC) in this context. We also heard a lot of government and philanthropic commitments related to these, such as USD 1.7 billion commitment for IPLC and the USD 5 billion for the Protecting Our Planet Challenge.
The big question now is, "How do these resources get to the communities and allow greater access for women?" The important conversation we need to have while looking at NbS and people is how we transform the systems by which we are working. There are many challenges and barriers in accessing these resources. Some of the conversations that we need to have on access aren't the most exciting: how do you change systems and categorizations when it comes to risk when governments give money to communities? How do we begin dialogues wherein communities are able to do the work they prioritize? The work includes listening more effectively from all these issues. We need to dialogue and discuss from various perspectives, coming together to imagine collectively towards the future we want.
We need to make sure that human rights are enabled, as well as the enabling environments. We need to work hand-in-hand with peoples, communities, organizations, and funders to make sure these resources get to the ground. We cannot have another study that says that less than 1% of climate funding over 10 years goes to IPLC.
I challenge everyone in this dialogue to think about how we can imagine conservation and climate change. How can we move collectively? Who are we missing in the table?
Global Youth Position Statement on NbS: The Rights of Future Generations | Mirna Fernandez, GYBN
I want to present the Global Youth Position Statement position on NbS, which is a collaboration of the Global Youth Biodiversity Network (GBYN), the youth constituency of the CBD, Youth4Nature, and YOUNGO, the youth constituency of UNFCCC.
NbS is gaining momentum, and has been a key pillar of major events: UNSG Climate Action Summit (2019) and GCA Climate Adaptation Summit (2021) and UNFCCC COP26. It has also been featured in the post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework discussions and important documents such as the Kunming Declaration.
There were also differing discussions in the climate and the biodiversity communities: there are communities that see NbS as opportunities to address the interlinked crises, while others see them as threats. There were also critical concerns that haven't been addressed.
Noticeably missing as well is a united youth voice across the climate and biodiversity communities, while discussions were ongoing.
We had a process in creating the statement. We first published an information brief for our communities showing different perspectives on NbS. We also developed a survey we shared with our community with over 1,000 responses, on which we based our statement. The results of which are available here.
Some of the key points are the following:
As final message, young people will not tolerate polluters and decision-makers who co-opt and misuse "NbS" to evade their responsibilities. We commit to calling out co-optation and false solutions, as well as the correct implementation of NbS on the ground, alongside the stakeholders, Indigenous Peoples, local communities, women, children.
What are the enabling conditions that must be in place to ensure that the rights of Indigenous peoples are safeguarded in the implementation of NbS? | Ramiro Batzín, Sotz'il & IUCN
It's important to recognize that 80% of biodiversity is found in Indigenous territories that occupy 22% of the Earth's surface. Their role is of particular importance both for the sustainable management of resources and the conservation of the environment and biodiversity. It is urgent to recognize and highlight that Indigenous women play a key role within their peoples in intergenerational transmission of their spiritual traditions, their history, philosophy, and in the defense of land, territory, and natural resources.
The territorial right, self-determination, free, prior, and informed consent, and traditional knowledge must be respected.
It must be an inclusive process that puts Indigenous Peoples at the center, that it has a specific safeguards on Indigenous rights especially the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, that Indigenous Peoples are in the governance structures and not just in dialogues. That decision makers recognize indigenous knowledge and their contributions and their way of life that they already have and that is a part of NbS.
NbS must recognize, respect, and promote the contributions, systems and rights of Indigenous peoples. We must live in harmony with Mother Nature and the Universe. Only in this way we will leave a legacy to our future generations, like the one we received from our grandparents. Thank you.
Conclusion and Key Takeaway Messages
Mrinalini Rai | Women4Biodiversity & CBD Women's Causus
If NbS is to go forward in the context of the CBD's post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework, I do hope that there would be much stronger safeguards and the reference to the contributions of women in the IUCN Standard itself, then reflecting it in a human rights-based approach within the whole structure to make it more enabling, inclusive, and transformative.
Kristen Walker | IUCN CEESP
It's important to ensure that Indigenous leadership is at all scales in looking at NbS, that we're hearing their voice in the updates, the design, in the transformation of the standards overtime. To ensure that it has an inclusive process, the principles and structures should also be accompanied by funding to support Indigenous Peoples and local communities, women and youth, so that they can execute the solutions and highlight the role they have in these.
Mirna Fernandez | GYBN
Our generation has seen unfortunately the promises of the Kyoto Protocol, the MDG and their targets failing. So that is why now, NbS will be featured in policy, especially this year in UNFCCC, where we asked for strong environmental safeguards that would put ecosystems integrity, human rights, among others.
Jenny Springer | IUCN
From the outset, we really need to be learning from one another, and finding ways to join hands and work together on collective efforts. This dialogue has been a good start in building that collaboration that we need to enhance going forward.
A Year-Long Journey on NbS: Looking back on the Geneva Nature-based Solutions Dialogues
Outcomes in Numbers
We thank the almost 1,000 attendees representing all regions in the world who participated in the Geneva NbS Dialogues from April to December 2021.
We held 11 dialogues on a variety of topics and issues related to Nature-based Solutions.
We have gathered a total of 83 speakers and moderators across the entire journey.
NbS in the Spotlight
The idea was to speak about NbS in a more technical way. NbS is everywhere, but what do we mean by them? By working on these, we are bringing all these sectors and people together to achieve national and national goals. As such, we aimed to highlight Nature-based Solutions ahead of various major negotiations, conferences, international decades, and world day celebrations:
Nature-based Solutions is a solution to the challenge of meeting our needs, including safeguarding human health, without further jeopardizing biodiversity and the health of the planet.
Humanity's destruction of nature is driving numerous risks to our well-being and health. Over 7 million die annually from polluted air, and another half a million from contaminated water.
Over this series of dialogues, it has been highlighted several times that we need to advocate transdisciplinary research to help address complex societal challenges and to integrate knowledge from different scientific and non-scientific stakeholders and communities. This is critical to simultaneously reduce the loss of and degradation of biodiversity and to enhance human well-being. It is also important to balance the necessity of what we do now and 2030 to live in harmony with nature by 2050. The next decade is our last chance to transform our relationship with nature.
We have already been facing the consequences of our broken relationship with nature for more than one year now due to COVID-19. The economic consequences have been severe and are foreseen to last over the next several years. Ensuring that the economic recovery is sustainable, green, and replicable as much as possible has been recognized globally.
Moving towards more NbS need to also be about ensuring sustainable, human-centered, and inclusive decent jobs. Conserving biodiversity will not only create jobs, but it will be less costly than non-action.
Many economic activities are directly dependent on nature and the consistent services they provide. For example, agriculture fundamentally depends on nature for soil fertility, pollination, and other factors.
To ensure nature health and to address challenges in a holistic and collaborative way, it is critical to bring together actors from the conservation sector and beyond to see where we can make a move, moving to a just and more equitable future for all, especially for the future generations. It is important to encourage local partnerships and solidarity towards the achievement of our goals. But most important is to rely on scientific and non-scientific knowledge: indigenous, local, traditional knowledge, systems, and practices.
To the end, the growing momentum for Nature-based Solutions is a critical opportunity for reframing the wrong understanding of the relationship between people and nature, and emphasizing how people are part of nature. By improving our relationship with nature, we could jointly walk towards a common goal, a just equal future that responds to the challenge of climate emergency and biodiversity loss. Nature-based Solutions offer an inclusive and holistic framing — based on solid environmental and social safeguards — to uphold human rights, and enable to a transition to a common goal.
– Veronica Ruiz, Programme Manager, Ecosystem-based Disaster Risk Reduction (EcoDRR), IUCN
In addition to the live WebEx and Facebook transmissions, the video will be available on this webpage.
The update on Nature-based Solutions provides relevant information and the most recent resources, news and articles from the various organizations in international Geneva and other institutions around the world.
16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence | UN Women | 25 November – 10 December
Access to a healthy environment, declared a human right by UN rights council | UN News |8 October 2021
Global Indigenous Agenda for the Governance of Indigenous Lands, Territories, Waters, Coastal Seas and Natural Resources | IUCN World Conservation Congress | 4 September 2021
Empowering women for nature-based climate action | SDG Action | 22 October 2021
NbS Youth Position | Global Youth Biodiversity Network, YOUNGO & Youth 4 Nature
Nature-based Solutions must be credible, measurable and inclusive | IUCN |10 November 2021
A People-First Approach to Nature Based Solutions: CARE-WWF Alliance Climate Adaptation Experiences | CARE
Indigenous Peoples are critical to the success of nature-based solutions to climate change | Townsend et al. | FACETS | 16 July 2020
Event: Her Safety Is Priority | Women4Biodiversity | 9:00 CET
In light of the 16 Days for Activism Against GBV, Women 4Biodiversity is hosting an event on voices from the Global South in addressing gender inequalities and advancing human rights in the post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


If you are in need of any financial help and willing to make use of your car to get a loan, then Auto Advance is the right choice for you! It has been listed as one of the best logbook loan providers by http://www.money.co.uk. The loans offered by the company range from £300 to £25,000 with the repayment period between 3 months and 3 years. Also, it has a representative APR of around 300.3%. Auto Advance, being a member of the Consumer Credit Trade Association and HPI, looks on to provide loans to its customers confidently and effectively. Although, it does not guarantee the cheapest interest rates, but it still is one of the top companies in the UK which provides industry leading rates and deals without any additional charges that may be hidden in other cases.
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The Cedar Bend Humane Society strives to develop great relationships with many organizations!
These partnerships include many community based entities such as the local media, veterinarians, local retail vendors, animal rescue groups, humane societies, and non-profit agencies.
By networking, we are able to make a substantial difference in the lives of many animals within our community!
The Cedar Bend Humane Society is grateful for the partnerships of the many organizations that help us to help hundreds of homeless animals each year!


3M™ Water Filtration Products, High Flow Series model BEV140 single cartridge water filtration system helps to improve the taste, appearance and consistency of your beverages at flow rates up to 2.1 gpm (7.9 lpm). BEV140 combines cyst and bacteria reduction with particulate and chlorine taste and odor reduction for up to 25,000 gallons (94,635 liters).
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text:
Чемпионат СССР 1973 года во второй лиге проходил в семи зонах. Победители зон в финальном турнире разыграли три путёвки в первую лигу.

Бомбардиры:
 Николай Русин («Говерла», 1 зона) — 29
 Виталий Якушкин («Терек», 3 зона) — 29
 Анатолий Кондратенко («Даугава», 2 зона) — 27
 Валентин Алёхин («Корд», 5 зона) — 22
 Александр Воронин («Торпедо» Владимир, 4 зона) — 22
 Дарвис Хамадиев («Уралмаш», 5 зона) — 19
 Виктор Кащей («Звезда» Кировоград, 1 зона) — 18
 Виктор Кедрус («Кубань», 3 зона) — 18
 Виктор Земледельцев («Сталь» Орел, 3 зона) — 18

Зональный турнир

1 зона

В рамках турнира определялся чемпион Украинской ССР.

В случае ничейного результата пробивались послематчевые пенальти. Команда побеждавшая в серии одиннадцатиметровых, получала одно очко, проигравшей очки не начислялись.

2 зона

3 зона

4 зона

5 зона

«Сура» Пенза расформирована в ходе первого круга.

6 зона

7 зона

Финал
Финал второй лиги проходил в один круг в Сочи и его пригородах Хосте и Адлере. Три лучших клуба — свердловский «Уралмаш», симферопольская «Таврия» и краснодарская «Кубань» — получили путёвки в первую лигу.

Итоговая таблица

Чемпионат РСФСР
В зачет чемпионата РСФСР учитывались матчи финального этапа между командами от РСФСР.

«Кубань», победившая в микротурнире российских команд, стала чемпионом РСФСР.

Примечания

Ссылки
 На www.rsssf.com
 На wildstat.ru
 В. В. Гнатюк «20 чемпионатов второй лиги 1971—1990». — Днепропетровск: «Редотдел облполиграфиздата», 1990. — 99 с.

Чемпионат СССР по футболу 1973
1973

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


text:
Researcher Map
< News | Thursday, January 5, 2023
Building momentum: Canadian Black Scientists Network partners with U of T Scarborough
When Maydianne Andrade co-founded the non-profit Canadian Black Scientists Network with other Black scientists across Canada two years ago, she felt there was a need to create a larger sense of community.
What she didn't anticipate was the rapid growth.
"We just see momentum building and building every year," says Andrade, a professor in the department of biological sciences at the University of Toronto Scarborough.
By the time the Canadian Black Scientists Network (CBSN) held its first annual national conferencevirtually in 2022 for Black excellence in science, technology, engineering, math and medicine (BE-STEMM), it had already grown from 20 members to 150. Now, as it prepares to host the second conference in 2023, it has more than 500 members.
As the CBSN was looking for a university partner to host the network for a five-year term, U of T Scarborough was an ideal choice. It had already been the virtual host for the first BE-STEMM conference, and as the home of the Scarborough Charter – a commitment from more than 50 Canadian universities to address anti-Black racism and to promote Black inclusion – there was a symbolic and practical alignment with the network's goals to remove barriers facing Black researchers and practitioners in STEMM.
"This partnership enables a variety of things. The first is to raise the visibility of the network," Andrade says.
"It really advances the vision of both organizations and also aligns with the institutions that signed the charter from across the country. It's providing essential support because although we are a virtual network, we do need some physical support – and the campus has been very generous in contributing to our operating requirements."
As the inaugural president of the CBSN, Andrade has witnessed the importance of the network's work with Black communities.
"It is a completely unique conference in Canada – and one of very few in North America – where you can hear more than one Black STEMM researcher talking about their work," she says. "In any one place we tend to be fairly small in number, [so] that visibility is lost.
She adds the conference is an opportunity to learn about the work that Black experts in STEMM across the country are pursuing.
"We're about research across all these different disciplines, but we're also about change. We're really about action," Andrade says. "We are here to get our people gainful employment, good career paths and to make sure that there are no barriers to their success."
A recent immigrant to Canada, Brenda Tibingana-Ahimbisibwe was looking to return to work now that her two young children are in school. But she wasn't hearing back from any prospective employers. Despite having trained as a medical doctor in Uganda and having a master's in public health from the University of Manchester, she was considering leaving science behind. But after attending the CBSN conference's virtual career fair, Tibingana-Ahimbisibwe landed a job with Statistics Canada.
"When you come as an immigrant, you don't really have any connections. Moving here, it was just my husband and me," she says. "It's quite daunting to re-enter your field at a level that matches your skills. You do need people with insight to help you navigate. You need support."
Albert Kaboré, meanwhile, was looking to transition to civilian life after retiring from the Canadian Armed Forces when he attended last year's career fair at the conference. Kaboré, who has a PhD in microbiology and immunology from Laval University, credits the conference with connecting him to his current position as the manager for evaluation impact and measurements with Genome Canada.
"I would really encourage people just to take advantage of that venue to showcase themselves and to widen their networks," he says.
The conference also includes a science fair where middle school and high school students can connect with Black mentors.
"It's important to have mentors of all sorts," Andrade says. "But particularly having someone who looks like you who has succeeded in this field is encouraging for youth."
Andrade says that graduate students, post-doctoral researchers, research associates, people in the job market and new Canadians are interested in meeting Black scientists who have succeeded in an ecosystem that's not always welcoming to them.
This year's conference, BE-STEMM 2023, will feature a panel on the challenges faced by skilled Black immigrants.
While the government makes it easier for highly educated and skilled newcomers to immigrate here, it's been well-documented that many find it difficult to find jobs in their field once they arrive. Systemic racism can make the problem even worse for Black newcomers.
"Black women are perhaps the most heavily negatively impacted," Andrade says. "This panel is going to be a discussion about that problem – about how we can change our systems. We are progressively seeing a gap in terms of skill in our labour markets in Canada and elsewhere, and we have the people who could fill those gaps. But we have to see them where they are."
(Photo credit: Nick Iwanyshyn)
Matthew DiMera
Leadership STEM UTSC
News | Tuesday, January 24, 2023
'How can we recover from this?': U of T student to explore work experiences of racialized and immigrant women in the Niagara region
Developing research from a University of Toronto master's student will explore how the COVID-19 pandemic influenced the work experiences of...
Economics Labour and demographic economics Recreation, leisure and tourism geography Social Sciences UofT
News | Wednesday, January 18, 2023
Developing project explores how technologies drive – and challenge – the search for missing people
A developing project from Kamari Maxine Clarke, a Distinguished Professor of Transnational Justice and Sociolegal Studies at the University of...
BRN Researcher Profile Series Law Social Justice Social Sciences UofT
News | Thursday, January 5, 2023
Charmaine Williams appointed dean of the Factor-Inwentash Faculty of Social Work
Charmaine Williams — an accomplished leader and community engaged researcher with a deep commitment to student success — has been appointed...
Leadership Social Work UofT
BRN@utoronto.ca
University of Toronto – Since 1827
We wish to acknowledge this land on which the University of Toronto operates. For thousands of years, it has been the traditional land of the Huron-Wendat, the Seneca, and the Mississaugas of the Credit. Today, this meeting place is still the home to many Indigenous people from across Turtle Island and we are grateful to have the opportunity to work on this land.


text:
US: Police Believe Man in Custody is Responsible for California Homeless Killings
Sat, 14 Jan 2012 00:00 UTC
© The Associated Press
January 13, 2012: A crowd gathers at the intersection of Imperial Highway and La Palma in Anaheim, Calif. Friday night following the discovery of a dead man behind a Carl's Jr.
Police in Southern California said Saturday they believe a man in their custody is responsible for all four recent killings of homeless men in Orange County.
Anaheim police said at a news conference that investigators have tied 23-year-old Itzcoatl Ocampo of Yorba Linda to the killings.
Ocampo was detained Friday night after a fourth homeless man was found slain in the parking lot of a fast-food restaurant.
Three other homeless men have been found stabbed to death in north Orange County since mid-December, and a task force of police officers, sheriff's deputies and FBI agents had been looking for the single suspect they believed was responsible for all three.
Ocampo could not immediately be reached for comment. A phone number listed in his name rang without an answer, and no one answered the door at two addresses listed in his name.
Also Saturday, mourners wept and placed flowers at the scene of death of the latest stabbing victim, who was described by friends as a Vietnam War veteran in his 60s named John.
He was found between 8 p.m. and 9 p.m. Friday in a Carl's Jr. parking lot at the intersection of La Palma Avenue and Imperial Highway in Anaheim, police said.
Marilyn Holland, an Anaheim resident who befriended the victim and regularly brought him oatmeal raisin cookies, said he was uncharacteristically nervous since police warned him to stay vigilant in the days after the killings began.
"He told me he thought he was being followed," Holland said. "I told him after pay day I was going to get him a cellphone, so he could call 911 if anything happened. Normally he would refuse help but he was willing to accept the phone because he was scared."
Holland was paid Friday but didn't get the chance to get the phone to her friend.
Several witnesses reported an assault in progress, and officers arrived to find the homeless man dead near a trash bin in the restaurant parking lot. Witnesses followed a man who ran from the lot and led police to him, Anaheim police Sgt. Bob Dunn said.
"We were having dinner in the area and saw about 40 police cars scream into the parking lot. I ran over and hugged my friend, screaming, 'Please tell me it's not John!' But it was," Holland said, fighting back tears.
Police set up a large containment area at the crime scene in a search for the killer and scoured nearby neighborhoods, including a mobile home park, Dunn said.
A police bloodhound traced the scent from Ocampo's belongings back to the scene where the attack occurred, about 10 miles northeast of the Disneyland Resort, authorities said.
Ocampo, of nearby Yorba Linda, was being held without bail for suspicion of murder, Dunn said.
A task force of law enforcement officers from Anaheim, Placentia, Brea, the Orange County Sheriff's Department and the FBI had been formed to investigate the killings of the three other homeless men.
James Patrick McGillivray, 53, was killed near a shopping center in Placentia on Dec. 20; Lloyd Middaugh, 42, was found near a riverbed trail in Anaheim on Dec. 28; and Paulus Smit, 57, was killed outside a Yorba Linda library on Dec. 30.
Police and advocates have been urging those living on the streets to head inside or buddy up in the wake of the killings.
Source: The Associated Press
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Finally, Marsha! I've waited weeks to see what this box looked like from the side and inside and I am not disappointed. This is such a great looking box and would be wonderful for gifting some cards to a few of my special friends. Thanks so much for sharing. Expect to be CASEd.
Wow! You did it! Love seeing the followthru on the SCStutotial. Wonderful box Miss Marsha. Love the design elements and the sophisticated look.
Thanks, Jean! It was a fun box to put together and surprisingly easy, too.


This adorable guy is a sweetie! For this baby boy's Newborn session, his mama wanted to incorporate some Ohio State Buckeye love since his daddy is a fan. We also used some gray and teal in his photos to go with his nursery, which is in those colors.
To see more of this little guy, check out his Sitting session and his Standing Session, which we incorporated with family photos.


text:
To Raise Financially Savvy Kids, Give Money Lessons a Reboot
By Sara Rathner
Sara Rathner
Senior Writer/Spokesperson | Credit cards, travel rewards, debt payment
Sara Rathner is a NerdWallet travel and credit cards expert. She has appeared on the "Today" show and CNBC's "Nightly Business Report," and has been quoted in The New York Times, The Washington Post, The Wall Street Journal, Yahoo Finance, Time, Reuters, NBC News, Business Insider and MarketWatch. Before joining NerdWallet, Sara worked at The Motley Fool for nearly 10 years. She also worked as a freelance personal finance writer and paraplanner and has a bachelor's degree in journalism from Northwestern University.
Edited by Kenley Young
Kenley Young
Assigning Editor | Credit cards, credit scores
Kenley Young directs daily credit cards coverage for NerdWallet. Previously, he was a homepage editor and digital content producer for Fox Sports, and before that a front page editor for Yahoo. He has decades of experience in digital and print media, including stints as a copy desk chief, a wire editor and a metro editor for the McClatchy newspaper chain. Email: [email protected].
Many elder millennials may have learned to manage money much like our parents did: waiting for statements to arrive in the mail, balancing checkbooks and paying in cash. But if you're planning to impart the same lessons to your own children, ask yourself a few questions first.
Is this still how you deal with your finances? How often do you carry cash anymore? Do you even know where your checkbook is? If the respective answers are "no," "rarely" and "maybe in that box I never unpacked since moving six months ago," then the money lessons of the '90s aren't going to cut it for the next generation.
The way we handle money had already been changing dramatically, but the pandemic accelerated those changes. One example: A September 2020 American Express study found that since the COVID-19 outbreak began, 70% of merchants had customers request contactless payment options, and 73% of merchants prefer customers to pay with a card or app instead of cash.
So trade in those old-school money lectures for a primer on plastic and digital payments. By the time your kids become financially independent, they may thank you for it.
Begin credit lessons at a young age
Because cash is tactile, it provides a natural way to introduce younger kids to money. But according to Gregg Murset — founder and CEO of the BusyKid app, which teaches kids about money management — you don't need to stick to coin counting for long.
"I think kids are very smart these days, and they can learn that a quarter equals 0.25 in like five minutes," he says.
Since cash is out and cards are in, there's little reason to avoid introducing credit and debit lessons as soon as possible. Swap checkbook lessons for monitoring bank and credit accounts online. Show your kids what a credit card statement looks like.
You can also talk about building credit history by showing them your credit report.
Help kids track earning, spending and debt
Rosanna Agado, who recently moved from the Seattle area to Glasgow, Scotland, maintains a spreadsheet for her three kids. Rather than give them their weekly allowance in the form of cash, Agado and her husband act like a bank account and lender combined.
When one of their children decides to buy something, the parents pay and deduct the total from that kid's savings. The kids are allowed to go into debt and aren't charged interest, but they must skip however many weeks of allowance are needed until the debt is repaid.
Their eldest son, who is 14, now has a bank account with a debit card, and while Agado doesn't monitor his purchases, she does check the balance daily. "Having that freedom of having the card to spend on his own, it's like credit card light," she says. "He knows there's a limit on what he can spend."
If something seems unusual, Agado discusses the purchase with her son to verify that it's accurate — not to judge his decision, but to teach him the importance of monitoring his account for suspicious activity.
Open up about your own credit habits — and mistakes
Credit cards can be a much-feared financial product because of the risk of getting into high-interest debt, but they can be a useful tool, too. Sharing your credit triumphs and errors with your kids can help them make confident decisions as adults.
Agado and her husband don't want credit to be a mystery to their kids. They discuss topics like credit card rewards, which card to use for which purchase and what happens if you take on debt or miss a credit card payment. "One of the main driving forces was the fact that my husband and I both destroyed our credit when we were younger," she says.
Hover less, trust more
Money talks are important, but kids learn even more when they apply those lessons to real-life purchasing decisions. Let your kids choose what to buy, within reason, even if you think they're making a frivolous choice that will blow through a month's worth of their allowance. Much as you learned from your own regrettable decisions, your children can do the same. Better a $10 mistake at 13 than a $10,000 mistake at 33, after all.
"I think it's a big mistake for parents to helicopter their kids too much when it comes to money," Murset says. "I would much rather kids buy something with their money and have the heartburn that comes with remorse."
This article was written by NerdWallet and was originally published by The Associated Press.
About the author: Sara Rathner is a NerdWallet travel and credit cards expert. She has appeared on the "Today" show, Nasdaq and CNBC's "Nightly Business Report." Read more
Best Credit Cards of 2023
Best Balance Transfer & 0% APR Credit Cards
NerdWallet's Best Credit Card Tips for January 2023
Find the right credit card for you.
Whether you want to pay less interest or earn more rewards, the right card's out there. Just answer a few questions and we'll narrow the search for you.
Dive even deeper in Credit Cards
How to Pick the Best Credit Card for You: 4 Easy Steps
by Claire Tsosie
Why Nearly Every Purchase Should Be on a Credit Card
by Virginia C. McGuire, Paul Soucy


text:
Prophets of Rage's New Song 'Made With Hate' Hits Back at Fascism
Listen now.
Prophets of Rage Aiming to Release New Song Before Summer's End
Tom Morello gives Loudwire the scoop in an interview at Sonic Temple.
Tom Morello: 'Don't Wait Around' for Rage Against the Machine
The guitarist talks at Sonic Temple.
Tom Morello on Atlas Underground Tour + Prophets of Rage Disc
2019 is looking like quite the exciting year for the guitarist.
Tom Morello Plays 'Wikipedia: Fact or Fiction?'
He discusses his days as an exotic dancer and his early band with Adam Jones of Tool.
Prophets of Rage's B-Real Opens Dr. Greenthumb's Weed Dispensary
In the neighborhood of Sylmar, B-Real met with fans during the ribbon cutting ceremony for Dr. Greenthumb's, which specializes in high quality bud.
Prophets of Rage Question 'Who Owns Who' in New Video
Here's something to tide you over as we wait for Prophets of Rage's next album.
Listen to Prophets of Rage's New Single, 'Heart Afire'
The band that includes three-fourths of Rage Against the Machine has released a new song.
Dave Lifton
Prophets of Rage Reveal New Song, 'Heart Afire' From Next Album
Get your first taste of Prophets of Rage's upcoming disc with a track dropping just in time for their summer tour.
Prophets of Rage Tease 'Different Direction' for Next Album
Plus, according to the band, a new song will be arriving this weekend.
Swedish Rage Against the Machine Fan Subs in for Tom Morello
Watch as fan Mike Svensson bounds across the stage playing with Prophets of Rage on 'Bulls on Parade.'


An adaptable and flexible addition to your classroom. This sturdy cube frame is made from thick wooden beams (5cm) and has 11 holes at intervals of 93mm on each upper beam (44 holes in total) – for attaching ribbons, mobiles, fibre optics and other accessories. The flexibility of this frame means that it can also be used to create your own reading den or cave.
Attach ribbons, fibre optics, the possibilities are endless.
Create dens or reading dens.


The continued warm and relatively dry weather has benefited construction progress to repair the mudslide which occurred along West River Parkway on June 19, 2014.
Five walls are needed to repair the hillside. Wall three near the hospital and Wall two near the parkway are the most critical to the stability of the slope and are the most challenging to construct.
Eight-four micro-piles, the foundation for Wall three, are drilled and grouted and Veit & Company has begun to pour the concrete cap. Earthwork below the cap and construction of the vertical face of the wall will follow.
The drilling of vertical footings for Wall two has also begun.
As a result, Veit & Company is on track to re-open the parkway and trails at the end of December 2015. Some construction items will remain for the 2016 construction season and will require an additional four to eight weeks of parkway closure in late spring and early summer.
West River Parkway is also affected by the reconstruction of the Franklin Avenue Bridge by Hennepin County. The parkway under the west pier of the bridge will be closed from April-October of 2016 for the bridge deck replacement. Parkway and trail traffic will be detoured.
The MPRB appreciates the public's patience during this complicated and challenging project.


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It's "Selection Sunday" and that means the selection committee will announce the 68 tournament teams for the 2019 NCAA March Madness.
Our Pic of the Day contest is coming to an end and with that, we are announcing the grand prize winner from the past eight weeks of pictures.
Our Pic of the Day contest continues and we have a new winner to announce!


Spacehog is a group best known for the single "In The Meantime" which is on their debut gold album, "Resident Alien."
Influenced by David Bowie, Queen and T-Rex, Spacehog formed in '94, just a year before their major success. Sophomore set, "The Chinese Album," featured a more "artsy" sound. R.E.M.'s Michael Stipe contributed vocals on "Almond Kisses" and Spacehog secured an opening tour slot with Pearl Jam. Even so, the set failed to deliver the anticipated sales so Spacehog were dropped by their label.
"The Hogyssey" which arrived in '01 came out on the indie Artemis imprint. The Tour of Brotherly Love, opening for the Black Crowes and Oasis, didn't alter Spacehog's declining fortunes.
Following the slide into oblivion, bassist/vocalist Royston Langdon married American actress Liv Tyler. The '03 marriage lasted a little over five years.
Another short-term venture began in '06 when Royston and his brother, Spacehog guitarist Antony Langdon, formed Arckid. The line-up also included a third brother, keyboardist Christian Langdon, and eventually, another Spacehog vet, drummer Jonny Cragg.
Spacehog reunited in '08 for two L.A. shows. From there, the group began work on their comeback album "As It Is On Earth." After the album was recorded, but still a year before its release, they added multi-instrumentalist Timo Ellis.


On February 7-8th, the World Evangelical Alliance hosted an Egypt Summit in Washington D.C. in cooperation with the Coptic Evangelical Organization for Social Services (CEOSS), Evangelical Theological Seminary in Cairo.
Through WEA's network of churches and ministries, the two-day gathering brought five Egyptian evangelical leaders together with thirty leaders from various evangelical organizations to discuss the needs of the nation and Egyptian Christians in post-revolutionary Egypt. Concerns about the needs of minorities, and the uncertainties facing government and society at this time of transition, and what the future holds for Christians in Egypt, were addressed.
The possibility of an increasingly Islamist-type government naturally raised many questions about possible limitations on Christian institutions and civil society, and potential increased discrimination and sectarian violence against Christians in local communities.
Despite these possibilities, the Egyptian leaders expressed their hope for a much brighter future despite the huge obstacles faced by the whole nation and the particular issues that they face as a minority.
They also have great hope in the young people, who have led the protests for change in Tahrir Square and other parts of the country. Hope also lies in newfound freedoms such as the freedom of the press the voice that all the people now have, and the freedoms exercised in electing the Parliament. And there is growing interfaith dialogue between Christians, moderate Muslims and the Orthodox Church.
"The reality is that many Egyptian Christians wouldn't think twice about leaving Egypt if they had the visas to do so. However, we cannot leave Egypt because this is our calling from God." said Ramez Atallah from the Bible Society of Egypt.
"Although the Lord gave us the calling to focus on mission through His mandate in the Great Commission, we believe that our calling now is securing religious freedom for all people; this is the very most basic human right," said Andrea Zaki, General Director of CEOSS. "If we lose the right to share Christ, then we lose our present and future," he added.
The WEA will continue to monitor the developing situation in Egypt, in connection with the Fellowship of Evangelicals in Egypt, and provide insight on how the global community can help.
"The Egypt Summit not only provided an opportunity for us to receive on-the-ground insights into the situation facing our brothers and sisters in Egypt, but it also helped our Egyptian counterparts relate to similar experiences, successes and failures from other parts of the world. Now we need wisdom and understanding from God to know how best we can support the Church in Egypt in light of all that we have seen and heard," said Geoff Tunnicliffe, Secretary General, WEA, at the conclusion of the summit.


This wine comes from a small family winery located to the southeast of the Comune di Montalcino, its sunniest zone. The name "Corte dei Venti" refers to the fact that the area is always ventilated by Mediterranean breezes which, among other factors, ensure season-long favourable and optimal conditions for growing grapes. The Monaci family and their experienced enologist are dedicated to following the time-honoured traditions of making high-quality, authentic wines.
Rating: 91+ and recommended in "100 Wines to Drink Now" in Le Guide de L'Espresso: I vini d'Italia 2018.
Grape Variety: 100% Sangiovese grosso.
Aging: 12 months in wooden barrels, tonneaux or barriques, followed by a minimum of 4 months in the bottle at controlled temperatures.
Tasting Notes: Intense and lively red colour with very bright hues. Clear, fresh aroma of fresh red fruit combined with tertiary aromas including dried tobacco. Ample, persistent and lively on the palate with a subtle and fine tannic structure.
Food Pairing: Try this lighter "younger brother" of Brunello with red meats, game stew, lamb stew, veal, pasta with meat sauce, bruschetta, and many cheeses, such as Fontina.
Serving Temperature: 16°C (room temperature or a little bit lower).


The Total product concept refers to the bundle of services offered by a product/service. As an example for fitness equipment total product can be explained can be explained as all the benefits customers receive by using the product, from good health to the psychological feeling associated with using the product to the time saved by purchasing the good online to the after sales services provided by the manufacturer.
Total product concept is used by the customers when evaluating the products among different brands and they distinguish benefits and go for the product which provides them with best value for the money paid. Due this reason, companies use total product concept to differentiate their products from competitors and create a unique position for them in the market.
The basic core can be defined as bundle of functional benefits. Basic core includes all main benefits that a firm promises to deliver. Mainly the customer expects core needs to be satisfied with basic core features of a product and customer satisfaction greatly depends on the functional benefits. If the basic core fails in a product, the product is going to be a failure as it is the core benefit customers expect and failure can be resulted in a major dissatisfaction in the mind of the consumer.
As an example Aerobic exercise machines contributes to a good health of a person by delivering oxygen and nutrients due to increased blood circulation. This can be identified as the core action of above mentioned type of fitness products. Some of the exercise machines promises burn more calories and lose weight and thereby make the body healthy. This also can identified as a basic core for the product as customers purchase fitness products with the intention of losing weight, burn unwanted calories. Apart from examples provided exercising muscles of whole body, building strong and flexible muscles and making the body to sweat more can identified as ways in which fitness equipment makes the body healthy.
Another core benefit expected from a fitness equipment is to provide a good body shape while burning all the unwanted calories and by shaping up muscles. Men prefer to build their muscles where as women prefer to maintain a slim figure.
Accessory ring include added-value benefits which are not directly paid for but yet received. Accessory ring includes benefits which customers receive as extra value added services apart from the main benefits promised. Organizations use these benefits to build competitive advantage by differentiating products from the competitor.
Portability of fitness equipment makes it easier to use it anywhere the customer wants but this would not be the main benefit that a customer expects from the product. This is an added value which motivates customer who is traveling place to place very often to purchase the product as the product can be used anywhere.
Some fitness equipments provide an opportunity to get a help from instructor or trainer as to how to use the equipment in a proper way. This services are provided free of charge when a new customer purchases a product.
Fitness equipment sellers provide after sales services such as maintenance of the equipments, providing solutions via hotline or some other means for the problems that customers face when using the product and suggesting fitness tips for customers to enhance the performance of the product. These services may persuade customers to recommend the products to others as it enhances the customer experience.
Some exercise machines provide information about the current performance and the amount of calories burnt and as an advanced option, some equipment provides the facility to store these data and retrieve those whenever needed to perform an evaluation.
Psychological ring is formed by benefits resulting from the consumer's feelings associated with owning/using the product. This includes all emotions and thoughts of a customer regarding the ownership of the product and it may differ from customer to customer hence it may be little difficult to obtain it as we have to analyze the consumers' minds to obtain information.
The customer's knowledge and thinking that he will gain a good health may persuade him to use the equipment which makes him mentally healthy.
In countries like Sri Lanka only high income earners can afford to buy a fitness product. Due to this using a fitness product gives a social status of high income earner and this leads to a mental satisfaction derived from owning a fitness product.
Time is taken or saved when products/service are purchased; this can be good or bad. This relates to time consumed when purchasing and using the product. These benefits can be important factor for customers who have busy life styles.
Since most fitness products are being sold via internet and teleshopping and delivered to the doorstep this reduces the time spent in customer travelling from store to store to find out the best fitness equipment suits their requirement. Just by a click or a telephone call customer can make the purchase and pay for the service using credit cards. One best example is teleseen marketing found at www.teleseen.com .
People spend hours and hours in going to gyms and this time can be saved by purchasing personal fitness equipment. This can be identified as a important benefit for customers with busy lifestyle.
Nice topics. I really like this.
nice emphasis.i was wondering if this site can comprehensive examples of about five(5) products that benefit the total product concept.
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Greg is a mechanical engineer, and the founder and CTO of Rotoliptic Technologies Inc. He has over 15 years' professional experience in the natural gas engine, hydrogen power, and clean tech industry.
Previous to Rotoliptic, Greg was a Director on the board for PowerDisc Technology, CEO of a previous startup in sales and manufacturing, and has performed lead technical roles at Cummins Westport natural gas engines, dPoint energy recovery systems, and PowerDisc hydrogen fuel cells. During this time, he had invented and filed 10 patents resulting in a number of commercial successes.


Introducing technologies is one of the most common ways that agricultural research and development organizations assist the farmers they serve.
The danger is that innovations are introduced without due attention to the demand side – paying insufficient attention to the actual problems faced by farming communities; their constraints and opportunities; and whether the new technologies actually match the local context.
In the livestock sector, ILRI staff are often called on to advise smallholder livestock keepers on feed technologies. To ensure the relevance and quality of the advice we provide, we have started to develop a "discussion tool" to help us avoid ad hoc and narrow decision making processes.
'TechFit' is designed to bridge the space between rural communities and technology developers. It has been developed by ILRI for animal feed interventions but can be adapted to other technologies.
TechFit is designed to be a simple, practical discussion tool that non-experts can use to inform the selection of the most appropriate technologies in specific locations and contexts.
TechFit supports decision making by systematising the way we collect, structure, screen and prioritise possible feed technologies and interventions using a set of general approaches, generic classifications and critical parameters from multiple angles (technical, institutional, policy, social and economic).
We expect to use the tool in situations where livestock has already been prioritized as a promising livelihood option, and where feed is identified as the most pressing constraint to address.
A related Feed Assessment Tool (FEAST) can be used to identify these situations and potential interventions. More information about FEAST is at https://fodderadoption.wordpress.com/feast.
To deploy the tool, development and extension workers together with researchers facilitate a participatory process involving members of the local community during which information about the local situation is collected, scored and entered into a simple spreadsheet.
Comparing the scores generated from the site with scores previously agreed by experts for the different feed technologies results in a shortlist of potential 'best-fit technologies' – those which most closely match the need for and availability of land, labour, cash, input delivery, and knowledge and skills.
The short-listed technologies are then investigated more intensively using conventional action research approaches to ensure they are cost-effective and suited to the local agri-ecological and socio-economic context.
TechFit has been trialled in a few situations and we are still refining the methodology. We welcome inputs, feedback and contributions from interested people.


Two Cures for State Spending Binges?
How will the new federal healthcare law affect wages and taxes? Dramatically—and negatively. It will exert downward pressure on wage rates, especially for workers earning below average wages. And it will lead to higher taxes on about 73 million taxpayers who earn less than $200,000 per year. Those are just two of the harmful consequences we can expect to see unless the law is repealed, Independent Institute Research Fellow John C. Goodman said in his testimony last week before the U.S. House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform.
First, let's consider the effects on wages. The minimum benefits package of the law is expected to cost $12,000 to $12,500 for families in 2016, according to the Congressional Budget Office—an average of nearly $6 an hour for a worker. But that's a large amount for someone earning a low hourly wage. "Ten-dollar-an-hour workers and their employers cannot afford $6-an-hour health insurance," Goodman writes. "If they bought it, only $4 would be left for cash wages and that would violate the (cash) minimum wage law." Unskilled workers therefore are at risk of losing their jobs.
Location: The Heritage Foundation; 214 Massachusetts Ave., N.E.; Washington, D.C.
2) Two Cures for State Spending Binges?
State governments have adopted more than a dozen types of institutions to help control their spending. Unfortunately, most reforms have yielded disappointing results. However, according to Matthew Mitchell and Nick Tuszynski, who examined state spending in the summer issue of The Independent Review, two measures have been clearly effective in helping states get their spending habits under control: the item-reduction veto and separate spending and taxing committees.
How—and how well—do they work? An item-reduction veto allows a governor to cut spending in particular program areas, enabling him or her to negotiate spending proposals more effectively. States with an item-reduction veto reduced spending per capita by $451, compared to $100 for those with a line-item veto.
U.S. intervention during the Libya rebellion has been touted as a model for future American military campaigns—especially in Syria—but U.S. assistance of the Libyan opposition is producing harmful unintended consequences. "In Libya, after Gadhafi's fall, there are armed militias galore, tribal friction and tensions between the oil-rich east and more populous west," writes Ivan Eland, director of the Independent Institute's Center on Peace & Liberty.
Big-box retailers like Walmart often take heat for a variety of reasons, but their overall effect for poor consumers has been dramatically helpful, according to Independent Institute Research Fellow Art Carden. In an interview for the Birmingham News, he tells why.
"First, retail has been at the forefront of productivity growth over the last few decades," says Carden, who recently joined the faculty at Samford University in Birmingham, Ala. "Second, Big Boxes generally and Walmart specifically have driven down prices, with most of the benefits going toward people at the bottom of the income distribution.
U.S. Department of Waste, Fraud and Abuse–or Is It Education?


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Peter Schiff won't back down: 'The dollar is going to crash, buy gold'
The dollar index has risen for nine-straight months and recently hit a 12-year high vs. the euro. The greenback's robust rise caught a lot of traders by surprise; for years the conventional wisdom was the dollar was heading down the tubes because of America's runaway debt and the Fed's easy money policies. Now, sentiment has now swung 180 degrees to where "everyone" it seems, is bullish on the almighty dollar.
But some things never change. Peter Schiff, CEO of EuroPacific Capital, remains steadfast in his uber-bearish view.
"I'm surprised it's rallied this much but that doesn't mean it's permanent," he tells me in the accompanying video. "When traders wake up to reality and realize how wrong these [bullish dollar] bets are, they're going to unwind these trades and the dollar is going to unwind quickly."
The 'reality' according to Schiff, is the U.S. economy has not "recovered" and the Federal Reserve is not going to raise rates anytime soon.
Related: Schiff: The Fed is "bluffing," no rate hike in 2015
"When people realize we can never raise rates and it's permanent QE, that the Fed can't shrink its balance sheet and has no ability to control inflation – they'll be no place to hide," he says. "The real move of the dollar is going to be a crash."
Schiff, who is known for making dramatic statements, has been calling for the dollar's collapse for years now. But like any true believer, the dollar's recent ascent has made him more steadfast in his view vs. changing course.
[Get the Latest Market Data and News with the Yahoo Finance App]
"I don't think it's going to take decades" for the dollar to tumble; "I'm surprised it's taken this long," he says. "But I do believe the fact we've had to wait so long, it's an even bigger pay day. All the problems have gotten bigger. The Fed has inflated the mother of all bubbles."
Predictably, Schiff believes the dollar's demise will reward those who've followed his long-standing advice to buy gold. "Gold's going a lot higher," he says, recalling his past forecasts ranging from $ 2000 to $ 5000 an ounce. "There's no real ceiling on gold because there's no floor on the dollar," he says.
In the interim, Schiff says he's long foreign stocks and can bide his time because he's not leveraged against the dollar.
Related: The Black Swan in Plain Sight – King Dollar
While it's tempting to snicker at Schiff's perms-bullish stand on gold (and perms-bearish view on the buck), it's important to remember he was warning about the housing bust when most policymakers and pundits were singing the virtues of the housing boom. And, he makes a fair point about how central bankers around the world — not just the Fed — are trying to invite inflation via extraordinary measures, including negative interest rates.
"There's a new mantra: 'price stability is bad. If we don't force consumers to pay more for things they need and want, all hell's going to break loose,'" he quips. "It's like firemen coming to your house to set fires, not put them out."
Take it from someone who knows something about inflammatory language.
Aaron Task is Editor-at-Large of Yahoo Finance. You can follow him on Twitter at @aarontask or email him at [email protected]
Previous Post : Dollar Set for Worst Week Since '13; S&P Futures Rise
Next Post : Dollar currently on a 'pause': Analyst
Posted on : March 20, 2015 by Dollar Index


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Home › Editor's Soapbox
This Is Why It's No One's Place To Call Caitlyn Jenner's Transition "Too Soon"
Lianna Hursh
She's only asking us to call her Caitlyn.
But despite that fact, people have made some distinctly opinionated comments on Caitlyn Jenner's gender transition. Immediately after the new her debuted on the cover of Vanity Fair in June, media praised the former Olympic athlete for the courage and bravery she displayed in going public with her story. And like many celebrities who've shared their truth with the public, Caitlyn first appeared to be surrounded by positive support – however, it didn't take long for some to turn their backs on her. For the past couple of months, Caitlyn Jenner has faced her fair share of critics.
It started with her looks. Some said she was too beautiful, others said she wasn't beautiful enough. Some said she was too big, others too thin. And of course, as per usual, people eventually moved on to bigger and better ways of "othering" Caitlyn, questioning her intentions, doubting her purpose, and attacking her character. Some called her transition a publicity stunt, claiming she was only in it for the fame. Others insisted her transition was merely an attempt to save Keeping Up with the Kardashians' ratings on E!, arguably the most insulting assertion of all.
What's the newest criticism, you might ask? Well, according to The View co-host Raven-Symone, it's that Caitlyn's transition is "too fast, too soon."
As a gay woman, Symone said on Monday's episode of The View:
"When I came out, I didn't go and go hardcore and be like, 'I'm going to save the world for LGBT.' You've got to learn it. You've got to learn it first, and she's not, really."
Before I start breaking this statement down, you should know that I'm not going to spend much time discussing Raven-Symone. That's So Raven happens to be a staple of my childhood and the fact that she would say something this judgmental, despite her rather impressive collection of outlandish opinions, is truly disappointing. But with that personal bias aside, I'm not going to focus on Symone for one very simple reason, a reason that she herself seems to have forgotten – it's not about her.
No one has the right to decide what makes a decision "too soon," whether we're speaking about gender transitioning or not. If Caitlyn Jenner decides to publicize her experience via social media and/or on television, she has the right to do so, just as I have the right to wake up at 10 a.m. on a Sunday morning and eat an entire bowl of ice cream. You don't have to agree with the way Caitlyn has chosen to share her story, and you might think I'm pretty gross, but that doesn't make either scenario "too soon."
Calling Caitlyn's transition "too soon" or "too fast" is no less insulting than calling her "too thin." For 65 years of her life, she lived in a body that she felt wasn't hers. Until only months ago, Cait spent her entire life hiding her true identity to avoid hurting her family and to steer clear of the critical wrath that is the media. If you ask me, choosing to be who you really are after 65 years of living otherwise is anything but too soon.
Caitlyn Jenner did not wake up one random morning at age 65 and think to herself, "I think I'm going to be a woman now." That's not how gender, human nature, or however you want to categorize it, works. This was something she lived with for the majority of what will be her life, and to discredit that fact insults all transgender individuals and their struggle to live as their true selves. If you don't agree with Caitlyn's decision to publicize her story on I Am Cait, don't watch the show. We're not living in George Orwell's 1984. There's no one controlling your television remote. No one is telling you what to watch or what to do.
As angered as I am by comments like Symone's, more than anything, they make me sad. They make me think about all the transgender individuals, young and old, who watched The View on Monday night – the struggling souls who may now be convinced that it's too soon for them to be who they really are. And more than anything, they make me hope that despite these deprecating statements, such individuals don't lose sight of one vital, simple truth…
It's never too soon (or too late) to realize what's important in your life and to fight for it.
PHOTO CREDIT: Splash
Every Time We've Spotted Caitlyn Jenner Doing Her Thing
Caitlyn Jenner	, Call Me Cait	, gender transition	, op-ed	, Raven Symone	, transgender


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From one entrepreneur to the other, if you're thinking about or planning to participate in the Plan and Pitch, DO IT! You will learn so much about your business – from marketing and advertising to narrowing down and appealing to your target market. The eight hours of coaching are enough to push your business forward, and this makes winning an amazing bonus, but not the only way to walk away with a prize.