text:
Kerry to Cuba: "There is Nothing to Fear" (Includes Speech)
August 14, 2015 August 19, 2015 Circles Robinson	121 Comments
John Kerry speaking at the US Embassy in Havana on Friday morning. Photo: Ismael Francisco/cubadebate.cu
HAVANA TIMES — US Secretary of State John Kerry declared today in Havana that Cuba and the United States will mutually benefit from the re-establishment of diplomatic relations, adding – in Spanish – that the rapprochement between the two nations ought not prompt fears among people, DPA reported.
"The United States welcome this new beginning in its relationships with the people and government of Cuba," Kerry said following the ceremony, where three marines raised the US flag in Havana for the first time since relations were broken 54 years ago.
"We know the road to fully normal relations is long, but, precisely because of this, we have to start this instant," Kerry added, addressing several words in Spanish to the guests standing in the outer courtyard of the embassy located across from the Malecon ocean drive.
"There's nothing to be feared, as many will be the benefits we will enjoy when we allow our citizens to know each other better, visit each other more frequently, conduct business normally, exchange ideas and learn from one another," he declared.
Barack Obama's chief diplomatic officer also delivered some words of criticisms during his speech, reflecting the differences that still separate Washington and Havana.
"In effect, we are still convinced the people of Cuba would be better served by a genuine democracy, where people can freely choose their leaders," he said.
Kerry became today the first US chief diplomat to visit the island in more than 70 years. The two countries broke relations in January of 1961, two years after the triumph of Fidel Castro's revolution, when tensions between the capitalist and socialist blocs were high.
"We are sure this is the time to come closer: two peoples who are no longer enemies or rivals, but neighbors," Kerry insisted later in his speech, also in Spanish.
"Now is the time to unfold our flags, raise them and let the rest of the world know that we wish each other the best," the US politician added, quoting Cuban independence hero Jose Marti, making a joke about old anti-American slogans that were once popular in Cuba.
"If any of you are tempted to yell 'Yankee, go home,' believe me, I understand. As a Red Sox fan, that's how I've felt nearly my entire life," he said, alluding to the rivalry between the Boston Red Sox and New York Yankees.
After the ceremony, Kerry had planned a meeting with his Cuban counterpart Bruno Rodriguez.
On July 20, Washington and Havana officially re-established bilateral relations. The same day, Cuba reopened its embassy in Washington. The historic event was unexpectedly announced by presidents Barack Obama and Raul Castro mid-December last year, after months of secret negotiations.
The following is the complete speech by Secretary of State John Kerry at the flag raising ceremony at the US embassy in Havana on August 14, 2015.
SECRETARY KERRY: Please be seated, everybody. Thank you very, very much. Muchas gracias. Buenos dias. I'm so sorry that we are a little bit late today, but what a beautiful ride in and how wonderful to be here. And I thank you for leaving my future transportation out here in back of me. I love it. (Laughter.)
Distinguished members of the Cuban delegation – Josefina, thank you for your leadership and for all your work of your delegation; excellencies from the diplomatic corps; my colleagues from Washington, past and present; Ambassador DeLaurentis and all of the embassy staff; and friends watching around the world, thank you for joining us at this truly historic moment as we prepare to raise the United States flag here at our embassy in Havana, symbolizing the re-establishment of diplomatic relations after 54 years. This is also the first time that a United States Secretary of State has been to Cuba since 1945. (Applause.)
This morning I feel very much at home here, and I'm grateful to those who have come to share in this ceremony who are standing around outside of our facilities, and I feel at home here because this is truly a memorable occasion – a day for pushing aside old barriers and exploring new possibilities.
And it is in that spirit that I say on behalf of my country, Los Estados Unidos acogen con beneplácito este nuevo comienzo de su relación con el pueblo y el Gobierno de Cuba. Sabemos que el camino hacia unas relaciones plenamente normales es largo, pero es precisamente por ello que tenemos que empezar en este mismo instante. No hay nada que temer, ya que serán muchos los beneficios de los que gozaremos cuando permitamos a nuestros ciudadanos conocerse mejor, visitarse con más frecuencia, realizar negocios de forma habitual, intercambiar ideas y aprender los unos de los otros.
My friends, we are gathered here today because our leaders – President Obama and President Castro – made a courageous decision to stop being the prisoners of history and to focus on the opportunities of today and tomorrow. This doesn't mean that we should or will forget the past; how could we, after all? At least for my generation, the images are indelible.
In 1959, Fidel Castro came to the United States and was greeted by enthusiastic crowds. Returning the next year for the UN General Assembly, he was embraced by then-Soviet Premier Nikita Khrushchev. In 1961, the Bay of Pigs tragedy unfolded with President Kennedy accepting responsibility. And in October 1962, the missile crisis arose – 13 days that pushed us to the very threshold of nuclear war. I was a student then, and I can still remember the taut faces of our leaders, the grim map showing the movement of opposing ships, the approaching deadline, and that peculiar word – quarantine. We were unsettled and uncertain about the future because we didn't know when closing our eyes at night what we would find when we woke up.
In that frozen environment, diplomatic ties between Washington and this capital city were strained, then stretched thin, then severed. In late 1960, the U.S. ambassador left Havana. Early the following January, Cuba demanded a big cut in the size of our diplomatic mission, and President Eisenhower then decided he had no choice but to shut the embassy down.
Most of the U.S. staff departed quickly, but a few stayed behind to hand the keys over to our Swiss colleagues, who would serve diligently and honorably as our protecting power for more than 50 years. I just met with the Foreign Minister Didier Burkhalter, and we're grateful to Switzerland always for their service and their help. (Applause.)
Among those remaining at the embassy were three Marine guards: Larry Morris, Mike East, and Jim Tracey. As they stepped outside, they were confronted by a large crowd standing between them and the flagpole. Tensions were high. No one felt safe. But the Marines had a mission to accomplish. And slowly, the crowd just parted in front of them as they made their way to the flagpole, lowered Old Glory, folded it, and returned to the building.
Larry, Mike, and Jim had done their jobs, but they also made a bold promise that one day they would return to Havana and raise the flag again. (Applause.)
At the time, no one could have imagined how distant that day would be.
For more than half a century, U.S.-Cuban relations have been suspended in the amber of Cold War politics. In the interim, a whole generation of Americans and Cubans have grown up and grown old. The United States has had ten new presidents. In a united Germany, the Berlin Wall is a fading memory. Freed from Soviet shackles, Central Europe is again home to thriving democracies.
And last week, I was in Hanoi to mark the 20th anniversary of normalization of relations between the United States and Vietnam. Think about that. A long and terrible war that inflicted indelible scars on body and mind, followed by two decades of mutual healing, followed by another two decades of diplomatic and commercial engagement. In this period, Vietnam evolved from a country torn apart by violence into a dynamic society with one of the world's fastest growing economies. And all that time, through reconciliation, through normalization, Cuban-American relations remained locked in the past.
Meanwhile, new technologies enabled people everywhere to benefit from shared projects across vast stretches of ocean and land. My friends, it doesn't take a GPS to realize that the road of mutual isolation and estrangement that the United States and Cuba were traveling was not the right one and that the time has come for us to move in a more promising direction.
In the United States, that means recognizing that U.S. policy is not the anvil on which Cuba's future will be forged. Decades of good intentions aside, the policies of the past have not led to a democratic transition in Cuba. It would be equally unrealistic to expect normalizing relations to have, in a short term, a transformational impact. After all, Cuba's future is for Cubans to shape. Responsibility for the nature and quality of governance and accountability rests, as it should, not with any outside entity; but solely within the citizens of this country.
But the leaders in Havana – and the Cuban people – should also know that the United States will always remain a champion of democratic principles and reforms. Like many other governments in and outside this hemisphere, we will continue to urge the Cuban Government to fulfill its obligations under the UN and inter-American human rights covenants – obligations shared by the United States and every other country in the Americas.
And indeed, we remain convinced the people of Cuba would be best served by genuine democracy, where people are free to choose their leaders, express their ideas, practice their faith; where the commitment to economic and social justice is realized more fully; where institutions are answerable to those they serve; and where civil society is independent and allowed to flourish.
Let me be clear: The establishment of normal diplomatic relations is not something that one government does as a favor to another; it is something that two countries do together when the citizens of both will benefit. And in this case, the reopening of our embassies is important on two levels: People-to-people and government-to-government.
First, we believe it's helpful for the people of our nations to learn more about each other, to meet each other. That is why we are encouraged that travel from the United States to Cuba has already increased by 35 percent since January and is continuing to go up. We are encouraged that more and more U.S. companies are exploring commercial ventures here that would create opportunities for Cuba's own rising number of entrepreneurs, and we are encouraged that U.S. firms are interested in helping Cuba expand its telecommunications and internet links, and that the government here recently pledged to create dozens of new and more affordable Wi-Fi hotspots.
We also want to acknowledge the special role that the Cuban American community is playing in establishing a new relationship between our countries. And in fact, we have with us this morning representatives from that community, some of whom were born here and others who were born in the United States. With their strong ties of culture and family, they can contribute much to the spirit of bilateral cooperation and progress that we are seeking to create, just as they have contributed much to their communities in their adopted land.
The restoration of diplomatic ties will also make it easier for our governments to engage. After all, we are neighbors, and neighbors will always have much to discuss in such areas as civil aviation, migration policy, disaster preparedness, protecting marine environment, global climate change, and other tougher and more complicated issues. Having normal relations makes it easier for us to talk, and talk can deepen understanding even when we know full well we will not see eye to eye on everything.
We are all aware that notwithstanding President Obama's new policy, the overall U.S. embargo on trade with Cuba remains in place and can only be lifted by congressional action – a step that we strongly favor. For now – (applause). For now, the President has taken steps to ease restrictions on remittances, on exports and imports to help Cuban private entrepreneurs, on telecommunications, on family travel, but we want to go further. The goal of all of these changes is to help Cubans connect to the world and to improve their lives. And just as we are doing our part, we urge the Cuban Government to make it less difficult for their citizens to start businesses, to engage in trade, access information online. The embargo has always been something of a two-way street – both sides need to remove restrictions that have been holding Cubans back.
Before closing, I want to sincerely thank leaders throughout the Americas who have long urged the United States and Cuba to restore normal ties. I thank the Holy Father Pope Francis and the Vatican for supporting the start of a new chapter in relations between our countries. And I think it is not accidental that the Holy Father will come here and then to Washington, the United States at this moment. I applaud President Obama and President Castro both for having the courage to bring us together in the face of considerable opposition. I am grateful to Assistant Secretary of State Roberta Jacobson and her team, to our counterparts in the Cuban Foreign Ministry, to our chief of mission, Ambassador Jeff DeLaurentis and his extraordinary staff, for all of the hard work that has led up to this day. And I just say to our wonderful embassy staff, if you think you've been busy these past months, hold on to your seatbelts. (Laughter.)
But above all, above all, I want to pay tribute to the people of Cuba and to the Cuban American community in the United States. Jose Marti once said that "everything that divides men…is a sin against humanity." Clearly, the events of the past – the harsh words, the provocative and retaliatory actions, the human tragedies – all have been a source of deep division that has diminished our common humanity. There have been too many days of sacrifice and sorrow; too many decades of suspicion and fear. That is why I am heartened by the many on both sides of the Straits who – whether because of family ties or a simple desire to replace anger with something more productive – have endorsed this search for a better path.
We have begun to move down that path without any illusions about how difficult it may be. But we are each confident in our intentions, confident in the contacts that we have made, and pleased with the friendships that we have begun to forge.
And we are certain that the time is now to reach out to one another, as two peoples who are no longer enemies or rivals, but neighbors – time to unfurl our flags, raise them up, and let the world know that we wish each other well.
Estamos seguros de que este es el momento de acercarnos: dos pueblos ya no enemigos ni rivales, sino vecinos. Es el momento de desplegar nuestras banderas, enarbolarlas y hacerle saber al resto del mundo que nos deseamos lo mejor los unos a los otros.
It is with that healing mission in mind that I turn now to Larry Morris, Jim Tracey, and Mike East. Fifty-four years ago, you gentlemen promised to return to Havana and hoist the flag over the United States Embassy that you lowered on that January day long ago. Today, I invite you on behalf of President Obama and the American people to fulfill that pledge by presenting the Stars and Stripes to be raised by members of our current military detachment.
Larry, Jim, and Mike, this is your cue to deliver on words that would make any diplomat proud, just as they would any member of the United States Marine Corps: Promise made, promise kept. Thank you.
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121 thoughts on "Kerry to Cuba: "There is Nothing to Fear" (Includes Speech)"
nidal shehadeh
do the research on your own and you'll find it
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Ex-Security Head of Canadian Mine in Guatemala Convicted of Murdering Indigenous Leader Adolfo Ich


text:
The Journal of the American Oriental Society
Vol. 138 Nbr. 1, January 2018
The Bhagavadgita: A New Translation, Contexts, Criticism.
Author: Patil, Urmila
Position: Book review
The Bhagavadgita: A New Translation, Contexts, Criticism. Tr. GAVIN FLOOD and CHARLES MARTIN, ed. GAVIN FLOOD. Norton Critical Editions. New York: W. W. NORTON & Co., 2015. Pp. xviii + 206.
What could a new translation of one of the most translated religious texts possibly offer? The Bhagavadgita: A New Translation, Contexts, Criticism by Gavin Flood and Charles Martin reminds the readers that no matter how many translations of this influential narrative exist, there is always scope for a fresh perspective, choice of words, style, and presentation. This joint endeavor between a scholar and a poet combines academic and literary sensibilities in the translation, providing novice readers with a reliable and accessible rendition. For those with more advanced interests it supplies commentaries of influential thinkers in history and criticisms from contemporary scholars and thus offers a glimpse into the interpretive and historical aspects of the life of the Gita. This accompanying textual material is an instance of what Gerard Genette calls paratext, a liminal framework that mediates the meaning of a text for the readers. As paratext, the selected commentaries and criticisms act as a commentary that shapes the way the readers understand the text of the Gita. (1) The text and the paratext of this translation complement each other and make this a sound textbook for the study of the Bhagavadgita.
The translators retain the poetic character of the Gita by emulating its principal metrical arrangement, i.e., the sloka meter. Each stanza contains thirty-two syllables, divided equally between four lines of eight syllables each. To achieve this lyrical success, however, the authors acknowledge that they must limit the complexity and the precision of the original. Their self-aware approach is "analogous rather than imitative" and their translation is "not word to word or line for line, but stanza for stanza." New readers and students, the primary audience of this translation, will appreciate the clarity and poetic elegance of the stanzas. Those who know the original Sanskrit work and prefer a more literal approach may notice some imprecision and gaps. For instance, in II. 45 the term niryogaksema ("neither acquiring nor keeping," as Laurie Patton translates it) is left out entirely. Similarly, the translation of the term smrtivibhrama (lit. straying of memory) in II. 63 as "loss of mindfulness" seems to be a stretch. Likewise, the first line of IV. 29...
law of the case doctrine new york
tenant farming encouraged the rise of a new class of wealthy

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


– Donald Hall, 'Advent', in The Back Chamber: Poems (New York: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2011), 22.
A jubilance who overcomes our woes.
Love's history: for you and me hope's texture.
Of the free mind. All honest things are his.
Our wit cannot untie. He is time's Lord.
And at his birth-feast practice with him praise.
– Arnold Kenseth, 'A Praise in Advent', in The Ritual Year: Christmas, Winter, and Other Seasons: Poems (Amherst: Amherst Writers and Artists Press, 1993), 90.


text:
World Economic Forum moved to Singapore over coronavirus concerns
By Stephanie Nebehay, Silke Koltrowitz and John Geddie
FILE PHOTO: 2020 World Economic Forum in Davos
ZURICH/SINGAPORE (Reuters) – The World Economic Forum's annual gathering of political and business leaders will move from Switzerland to Singapore next year as the COVID-19 pandemic would make it challenging to host the event safely in Europe, organisers said on Monday.
It is only the second time the event, known informally as Davos after the Swiss ski resort where it is usually held every January, will be hosted outside Switzerland since its inception in 1971, and mark its debut in Asia.
"The World Economic Forum will convene the Special Annual Meeting 2021 in Singapore from 13-16 May. It will return to Davos-Klosters, Switzerland, for the Annual Meeting 2022," the organisers said in a statement, released a day earlier than planned after Reuters reported the news.
NYC's Economic Fallout from COVID with James Patchett, President and CEO of New York City Economic Development Corporation
https://podcasts.schnepsmedia.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/GMT20201201-170155_NEW-ZOOM-L_640x360-1.mp3
WEF president Borge Brende said in an internal email seen by Reuters that health and safety concerns linked to the current COVID-19 outbreak in Europe made it impossible to organise the meeting in Lucerne-Buergenstock as initially planned, while Singapore had been successful in dealing with the pandemic.
"After careful consideration, and in light of the current situation with regards to COVID-19 cases, it was decided that Singapore was best placed to hold the meeting," organisers said.
They had already decided in October to shift the annual meeting to Buergenstock in central Switzerland from the harder-to-get-to Alpine resort of Davos.
Moving the meeting to Singapore, the Southeast Asian financial hub and known as the Switzerland of Asia, will allow an in-person meeting, the "first global leadership event to address worldwide recovery from the pandemic", organisers added.
Singapore, which in 2018 played host to a historic meeting between U.S. President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, said its planned virus safety measures for the event could include on-arrival tests, pre-event and periodic antigen testing, as well as contact tracing of attendees.
"Despite the ongoing pandemic, we are confident that Singapore will be able to continue maintaining public health and safety while supporting the WEF's mission to effect positive change through collaboration and engagement," Singapore trade minister Chan Chun Sing said in a statement.
Chan said the WEF event would also have a special virtual component to allow for greater participation given travel difficulties posed by coronavirus contagion.
Singapore, a city-state and key global travel node, has kept its borders largely shut for most of 2020 and won international plaudits for its handling of the virus, which has included rigorous contact tracing and strict quarantine rules.
However, a plan to open a quarantine-free air travel bubble between Singapore and Hong Kong last month was abandoned at the eleventh hour, leaving questions over how easy it will be for Singapore to reopen borders without widely-available vaccines.
(Additional reporting by Emma Farge in Geneva; Editing by Kirsten Donovan and Mark Heinrich)
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text:
MyHSR Corp issues 2 tenders for HSR project
Participant looking at the Kuala Lumpur-Singapore High Speed Rail at the Land Public Transport Commission's (SPAD) Five-Year Report, Exhibition & Symposium at Kuala Lumpur
Thursday, August 27th, 2020 at Economy | News
by DASHVEENJIT KAUR/ pic by TMR FILE
MYHSR Corp Sdn Bhd is issuing two tenders to procure the services of consultants to assist with regulatory submissions authorities for the Kuala Lumpur-Singapore high-speed rail (HSR) project.
The two tenders are for the appointment of the Section 4 land consultant and the environmental, social and heritage impact assessment consultant.
This came after the government's announcement in May to resume discussions on the HSR project. Currently, Singapore and Malaysia are in discussions on the project and hope to conclude by year-end.
MyHSR Corp CEO Datuk Mohd Nur Ismal Mohamed Kamal encouraged local firms with relevant experience to participate in the tenders.
"These activities are a critical precursor component for the project and have a significant impact on the overall delivery of the project," he said in a statement yesterday.
Mohd Nur Ismal said the ensuing S.4 gazettement of a corridor width of 500m would facilitate additional works for the project, such as soil investigation and utility mapping, which will allow further refinement of the HSR alignment before the land acquisition exercise.
"Meanwhile, the planned environmental, social and heritage impact assessments will identify the potential sensitive receptors along the project corridor and mitigation measures will be proposed to minimise the environmental, social and heritage impacts," he added.
According to the company, deliverables from both sets of consultants will form part of the regulatory process as prescribed by the Land Public Transport Act 2010 (Act 715).
"The S.4 (Land Acquisition Act 1960) land acquisition plan and land acquisition plan booklet, as well as the environmental impact assessment will be displayed to the public during the requisite railway scheme public inspection process planned for early next year," MyHSR said.
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What's inside and what's isn't?
In February of 1997, a friend of mine, and a very good analyst, had an interview with Raj. He was selling Raj on his analyst abilities, picks, and his understanding of the software market.
Raj didn't want to know anything about that.
All he wanted to know was, the "local" info on Citrix. CTXS at that time, was involved with license negotiations with MSFT. Next to CTXS in Ft. Lauderdale, on Powerline Road was an Indian restaurant, that had an all you could eat lunch that was fantastic. I can tell you that on the day that CTXS reported earnings, you always had people eating lunch with ears wide open, trying to get an edge.
But if you sat in that restaurant for lunch, on that last Wednesday in February, twelve years ago, you would of seen CTXS employees with worried faces, and overheard this in hushed tones, "We're f*cked."
After the close, Citrix announced that MSFT jerked them around with negotiations. The stock got cut in half.
I thought that was one of the greatest pieces of "local" color that I ever heard.
Now, how is it that this local info and color gets prosecuted, but AIG's back-door 100 cents on the dollar bail-out of the banks doesn't even get a passing glance?
Even though it is close to $30 billion dollars?
And even though the taxpayer is covering that hit?
I guess the difference is that those guys are eating lunch with Bernanke and Geithner.
Because that information is "privileged" and its not "inside" at the all you can eat taxpayer buffet!
great story...man...i guess your're not a big fan of obama.
do you know why that columbian company's stock got pushed down from 9 to low 4s and now it's back to 8s?
missed my chance at $6.50...might pick some up in the 8s but trying to figure out the risk involved.
Someone thought they were doing a financing with a floorless convert at a discount to the market.


1. Melt butter, golden syrup and condensed milk. Pour over crushed biscuits and almonds. Mix well.
2. Press mixture into a greased or paper-lined tin.
1. Melt chocolate and copha. Mix together.
2. Pour topping over base.
3. Refrigerate until set. Cut into squares.


text:
Bułgaria, która weszła do Unii Europejskiej w 2007 roku, jest zaliczana przez Bank Światowy do krajów średnio rozwiniętych.
Jest krajem głównie rolniczo-przemysłowym, opartym na gospodarce rynkowej. Dzięki swojemu położeniu i wykorzystywaniu warunków naturalnych w ostatnich latach wzrosło znaczenie turystyki oraz rozwinął się sektor usług.

Gospodarka Bułgarii mocno ucierpiała na początku lat 90. z powodu likwidacji Rady Wzajemnej Pomocy Gospodarczej oraz upadku ZSRR, dokąd Bułgaria eksportowała większość produkowanych przez siebie produktów. Standard życia spadł o 40%, a nałożenie sankcji na Serbię oraz Irak przez ONZ spowodowało, że bułgarska gospodarka dodatkowo zahamowała swój rozwój. Dopiero w 1995 roku zauważono pierwsze symptomy zmiany w gospodarce, a także po raz pierwszy od 1989 roku wzrost PKB przekroczył 1,4%, wynosząc 2,5% w skali roku. Rządowi udało się zdusić inflację, która w 1994 wynosiła 122%, do 33% w 1995 roku. W 1996 roku inflacja wzrosła ponownie do poziomu 311%, co było głównie spowodowane dewaluacją lewa, decentralizacją banku centralnego oraz fatalną polityką agrarną rządu. W 1997 roku rząd bułgarski obniżył poziom inflacji za pomocą pakietów reformujących gospodarkę, a także ustabilizował kurs waluty narodowej.

Od 2007 roku poziom wzrostu PKB w skali roku waha się w granicach 6%. Bułgaria sukcesywnie dusi inflację, a także prowadzi politykę integracji z Unią Europejską.

Handel zewnętrzny oraz inwestycje
Od 1990 roku, wraz upadkiem ZSRR oraz całego bloku wschodniego, Bułgaria straciła dotychczasowe rynki zbytu swoich produktów, przez co musiała radykalnie zmienić własną politykę gospodarczą. Kraj rozpoczął starania o akcesję do Unii Europejskiej, a w 1996 roku wstąpił do WTO. Na początku lat 90. głównymi problemami bułgarskiej gospodarki były korupcja, brak prywatyzacji nierentownych przedsiębiorstw, rozbudowana biurokracja. Wszystkie te czynniki sprawiały, że Bułgaria posiadała najniższy wskaźnik inwestycji zagranicznych spośród wszystkich państw w regionie. Dopiero po roku 1997 roku stała się miejscem, w którym zagraniczni inwestorzy zaczęli lokować swoje fundusze. Podczas gdy wartość zagranicznych inwestycji w latach 1991–1996 wyniosła 831 milionów dolarów amerykańskich, wskaźnik ten w samym roku 2004 wyniósł 3,5 miliarda dolarów. W następnym roku wartość inwestycji zmalała do 2,3 miliarda dolarów, aby w 2007, wraz z akcesją do UE, Bułgaria pozyskała ponad 6 miliardów euro w ramach inwestycji zagranicznych.

Historia gospodarki po roku 1990

Reforma gospodarcza lat 90. oraz 2000
Na początku lat 90. bułgarska gospodarka potrzebowała znacznego wsparcia pieniężnego. W tym celu bułgarski rząd przeprowadził masową prywatyzację części sektora gospodarczego, jednak po roku 1995 proces ten został spowolniony. Dopiero w styczniu 1996 prywatyzacja w kluczowych sektorach bułgarskiej gospodarki rozpoczęła się na większą skalę. Bułgarski rząd zmienił również zasady dzierżawy części zakładów, a także planów ulg podatkowych dla inwestorów. W 1998 roku Bułgaria otrzymała trzyletnią pożyczkę na rozwój handlu, podatków i reformy rolnej. W 2002 roku Komisja Europejska pochwaliła w raporcie Bułgarię za zmiany dokonane w kwestii przekształcenia gospodarki na wolnorynkową oraz w dziedzinie wzrostu PKB.

Odbudowa po kryzysie z 1997
W kwietniu 1997 roku Związek Sił Demokratycznych wygrał przedterminowe wybory parlamentarne i rozpoczął wdrażanie planu mającego na celu ustabilizowanie bułgarskiej gospodarki. Trzycyfrowa inflacja została opanowana, a rząd wprowadzi pakiet stabilizacyjny, który obejmował:
 prywatyzację oraz likwidację przedsiębiorstw należących do rządu,
 wprowadzenie liberalnej polityki rolnej i kontynuowanie wdrażania elementów gospodarki rynkowej,
 reformę ubezpieczeń społecznych,
 reformę prawa oraz walkę z korupcją.

Kontynuując swoją politykę, rząd zmniejszył inflację do poziomu dwucyfrowego oraz rozpoczął proces integracji z Unią Europejską.

Bułgaria w UE
1 stycznia 2007 roku Bułgaria wstąpiła do Unii Europejskiej. Gospodarka bułgarska musiała natychmiast dostosować się do międzynarodowego prawa handlowego, jednak nie wpłynęło to negatywnie na rozwój gospodarczy. Wzrost gospodarczy przekroczył 5%, a dług wewnętrzny spadł z 67% w 2006 PKB do 22% w 2007.

W 2008 roku wprowadzono w Bułgarii podatek liniowy, który wynosi 10% i obejmuje wszystkich obywateli. Obecna stopa podatkowa jest jedną z najniższych na świecie oraz najniższą w Unii Europejskiej. Podatek CIT, wynoszący również 10%, ma na celu rozwój sektora prywatnego oraz ułatwienia, które mogą przyciągnąć zagranicznych inwestorów. Oba progi podatkowe są krytykowane przez partię opozycyjne ze względu na to, że obecne stawki dotykają najuboższą warstwę bułgarskiego społeczeństwa oraz klasę robotniczą, podczas gdy najbogatsi mieszkańcy Bułgarii odczuwają znacznie mniej niż wcześniej odprowadzany przez siebie podatek.

Gałęzie gospodarki

Transport

Transport drogowy
Bułgaria posiada także dość gęstą sieć dróg oraz autostrad. Łączna sieć dróg wynosi ponad 44 000 kilometrów, z czego 99% posiada utwardzoną nawierzchnię. Sieć autostrad wynosi 479 kilometrów i obejmuje pięć linii, którymi są:
 Autostrada A2 Czarnomorska – Warna – Burgas (w budowie)
 Autostrada A1 – Sofia – Burgas (w budowie)
 Autostrada A3 – Sofia – Jablanica oraz Warna – Szumen (w budowie)
 Autostrada Struma – Sofia – Saloniki (w budowie)

Transport kolejowy
Bułgaria posiada ponad 4300 kilometrów linii kolejowych, które są w większości zelektryfikowane. Największym przedsiębiorstwem kolejowym są Bułgarskie Koleje Państwowe, które obsługują większość połączeń krajowych, a także oferują połączenia do krajów sąsiadujących z Bułgarią: Grecji, Rumunii, Serbii i Turcji.

Główne porty morskie i stocznie
Głównym portem Bułgarii jest Warna, natomiast najważniejszym portem tranzytowym jest port w Burgasie. Innymi ważnymi portami w gospodarce Bułgarii są:
 Łom
 Primorsko
 Sozopol
 Bałczik
 Kawarna

Flota transportowa
Bułgarska flota transportowa liczy łącznie 75 jednostek o łącznej wyporności 872,653 GRT. W skład floty wchodzą następujące jednostki
 40 masowców
 17 statków towarowych
 6 kontenerowców
 4 chemikaliowców
 4 rorowców
 3 tankowców
 1 statek pasażerski

Porty lotnicze
W Bułgarii dynamicznie rozwija się transport lotniczy. Największe lotnisko w Sofii zostało ostatnio poszerzone, głównie ze względu na potrzeby ruchu turystycznego oraz tanich linii lotniczych.

Cywilne lotniska Bułgarii:
 Port lotniczy Sofia – 3 mln pasażerów
 Port lotniczy Warna – 1,5 mln pasażerów
 Port lotniczy Burgas – 1,8 mln pasażerów
 Port lotniczy Płowdiw – 40 tys. pasażerów

Transport rurociągowy
Bułgaria jest ważnym punktem tranzytowym w transporcie gazu ziemnego i ropy naftowej. Łączna sieć rurociągowa na terenie Bułgarii wynosi:
 Rurociągi gazu ziemnego – 2505 km
 Rurociągi ropy naftowej – 339 km

Turystyka
Bułgaria jest krajem o bogatej historii i dziedzictwem kulturowym. Oprócz tego posiada atrakcyjne naturalne krajobrazy, dzięki czemu kraj ten jest jednym z najbardziej popularnych miejsc odwiedzanych przez turystów z Europy. W ostatnich latach turystyka stała się ważną gałęzią gospodarki, zapewniając dużą liczbę miejsc pracy. Przynosi znaczne wpływy do budżetu państwa. W 2007 roku Bułgarię odwiedziło ponad 5,2 miliona turystów. 40% odwiedzających kraj pochodzi z Grecji, Rumunii oraz Niemiec. W 2008 roku liczba odwiedzających Bułgarię turystów miała wzrosnąć do ponad 6 milionów. W ostatnich latach Bułgaria zachęca coraz większą rzeszę turystów do odwiedzania kraju za pomocą intensywnej promocji na arenie międzynarodowej i tworzenia nowych odmian turystyki, takich jak agrokultura, zwiedzanie historycznych zabytków, ekoturystyka oraz turystyka sportów ekstremalnych.

Turystyka tradycyjna
Bułgaria posiada atrakcyjne kurorty do sportów zimowych położone głównie w miejscowościach Borowec, Bansko oraz Witosza. W czasie sezonu letniego bardzo popularne są kurorty na wybrzeżu Morza Czarnego. Największe miejscowości wypoczynkowe znajdują się w Sozopolu, Nesebyrze, Złotych Piaskach, Słonecznym Piasku, Świętym Własie oraz Albenie. Obecnie wśród gości odwiedzających kurorty letnie dominują Niemcy, Skandynawowie oraz Polacy, Rosjanie i Czesi, natomiast zimowe kurorty są popularne wśród Brytyjczyków.

Inne formy turystyki
Obecnie w Bułgarii rozwija się turystyka agrarna i kulturalna. Małe wiejskie ośrodki zapewniają wiele atrakcji na wolnym powietrzu, takich jak wspinaczka w górach czy spływy kajakowe w okolicach rzek.

Bułgaria posiada także liczne dzikie skały i pasma górskie, popularne wśród miłośników gór i sportów ekstremalnych. W ostatnich latach rozwinęła się turystyka rowerowa.

Dzięki intensywnej promocji zagranicznej Bułgaria zaistniała na mapach jako interesujące miejsce do zwiedzenia licznych zabytków oraz dziedzictwa kulturalno-historycznego. Zabytki z różnych czasów, m.in. rzymskich, bizantyjskich oraz tureckich, zostawiły trwały ślad w historii Bułgarii. Obecnie trwają starania o zwiększenie atrakcyjności miejsc o znaczeniu historycznym, jednak poza Sofią jest to utrudnione ze względu na słabo rozwiniętą infrastrukturę. Obecnie trwają prace nad poprawą stanu dróg, które w przyszłości zapewnią rozwinięcie wszystkich gałęzi sektora turystycznego.

Najważniejsze bułgarskie przedsiębiorstwa

Lotnictwo
 Air Via
 Bulgaria Air
 Bulgarian Air Charter
 Hemus Air

Sektor technologiczny oraz IT
 KenamicK Entertainment
 Haemimont Games
 Datecs
 Ontotext

Przedsiębiorstwa wydobywcze oraz rafineryjne
 Cumerio Med – miedź
 Największe przedsiębiorstwo wydobywające miedź oraz handlujące tym surowcem. W ostatnim okresie istnieje duży popyt na miedź, dzięki czemu w ostatnich latach przedsiębiorstwo odnotowuje przychody sięgające 2,3 miliarda dolarów w 2007. Obecnie przedsiębiorstwo zatrudnia ponad 1500 pracowników.
 Bulgargaz – gaz
 Bulgragaz to największe przedsiębiorstwo dystrybuujące gaz ziemny na terenie Bułgarii. Zatrudnia ponad 4500 pracowników. Dzięki znacznym podwyżkom cen gazu na rynkach światowych przedsiębiorstwo notuje dobre wyniki finansowe i obecnie jest jednym z najbardziej dochodowych przedsiębiorstw należących do bułgarskiego skarbu państwa. W 2006 roku dochód przedsiębiorstwa wyniósł ponad 700 mln dolarów.
 Petrol AD – ropa naftowa
 Przedsiębiorstwo zostało sprywatyzowane w 1999 roku. Od tamtego czasu dynamicznie się rozwija, notując dobre wyniki finansowe. Petrol AD to największa spółka zrzeszająca największe bułgarskie rafinerie i zakłady wydobycia ropy naftowej. W 2006 przedsiębiorstwo osiągnęło przychód w wysokości 1 miliarda dolarów, zatrudniając ponad 8000 pracowników.
 Kremikowci AD – stal
 Przedsiębiorstwo jest obecnie największym producentem stali w Bułgarii. Kremikowci AD posiada udziały w większości bułgarskich hut i zakładów przetwarzających stal. Przedsiębiorstwo zostało sprywatyzowana w 1999 roku, dzięki czemu zaczęło przynosić znaczne dochody. W 2003, po znacznym osłabieniu się lewa i spadkach cen na rynkach stali, przedsiębiorstwo odnotowało stratę w wysokości ponad 300 milionów dolarów. Obecnie przedsiębiorstw˛o stara się odrobić straty dzięki dobrej koniunkturze na rynkach światowych. Kremikowci AD zatrudnia łącznie ponad 7000 pracowników.

Przedsiębiorstwa państwowe
 Armimex – amunicja i sprzęt wojenny
 Bylgarski Poszti – poczta
 Bylgarska Telekomunikacionna Kompanija – telekomunikacja
 Bylgarski Darżawni Żeleznici – transport kolejowy

Członkostwo w CEFTA
Bułgaria wstąpiła Środkowoeuropejskiego Porozumienia o Wolnym Handlu w 1999 roku. Porozumienie obowiązuje pomiędzy krajami leżącymi w Europie Wschodniej. CEFTA zrzesza kraje nienależące do Unii Europejskiej – z tego powodu Bułgaria musiała zrezygnować z członkostwa w CEFTA w 2007 roku, podobnie jak Polska, która została wyłączona ze struktur porozumienia w 2004 roku. Partnerstwo w CEFTA umożliwiło Bułgarii swobodną wymianę towarów i otwarcie nowych rynków zbytu, m.in. w takich krajach jak Chorwacja, Albania czy Mołdawia.

Organizacja CEFTA ma na celu także przygotować kraje członkowskie do współpracy i przyszłego członkostwa w strukturach unijnych. Dzięki temu przyjęcie zasad wolnego handlu i innych elementów charakteryzujących współczesne demokracje zostały przyjęte przez Bułgarię w dużo szybszy i naturalny sposób niż to miało miejsce przed wstąpieniem w struktury CEFTA.

Energetyka

Mimo niewielkich pokładów bogactw naturalnych, takich jak ropa, gaz ziemny oraz węgiel, Bułgaria jest jednym z nielicznych eksporterów energii w regionie. Dzięki temu Bułgaria odgrywa ważną rolę dostawcy energii w regionie Europy Południowej, a sektor energetyczny stał się jednym z głównych sektorów gospodarki. Dzięki swojemu strategicznemu położeniu Bułgaria jest także jednym z głównych punktów tranzytu gazu ziemnego oraz ropy naftowej pochodzącej z Rosji.

Przedsiębiorstwa energetyczne
Aby polepszyć zdolności nadzoru oraz zwiększyć efektywność sektora energetycznego, 13 lutego 2008 roku rząd Bułgarii zdecydował się na nacjonalizację przedsiębiorstw Bulgargaz, NEK EAD i elektrowni atomowej w Kozłoduju oraz elektrowni wodnej Marica Iztok. Wszystkie wymienione przedsiębiorstwa i zakłady zostały połączone w spółkę, której właścicielem w 100% jest rząd Bułgarii.

Górnictwo
Większość pokładów bułgarskiego węgla stanowi węgiel brunatny. Całkowite rezerwy węgla ocenia się na około 4,5 miliarda ton. Największą kopalnią Bułgarii, z 70% rocznego wydobycia, jest kopalnia węgla brunatnego Marica Iztok. Inne ważne kopalnie znajdują się w okolicach Sofii i zagłębia Łom. w okolicach miasta Dobrudża znajduje się największa w Bułgarii kopalnia antracytów, która wydobywa około 95% całkowitego wydobycia tego surowca.

Na północy kraju znajdują się platformy wiertnicze oraz wydobywcze, wokół których wydobywa się śladowe ilości gazu oraz ropy.

Produkcja energii
Rocznie Bułgaria produkuje ponad 38 mld kWh (dla przykładu Rumunia, mająca ponad trzy razy więcej ludności, produkuje około 51 mld kWh). Pod względem ilości wyprodukowanej energii elektrycznej na jednego mieszkańca Bułgaria zajmuje czwarte miejsce wśród krajów Europy Wschodniej.

Energia atomowa
Bułgaria posiada elektrownię atomową w Kozłoduju, która wytwarza ponad 3760 MW rocznie, co jest równe 40% całkowitego zapotrzebowania Bułgarii na energię. W 2007 roku podjęto decyzję o budowie drugiej elektrowni atomowej w Belene, która ma produkować około 1000 megawatów rocznie.

Energia cieplna
Energia cieplna również jest ważnym źródłem do produkcji energii. Największym kompleksem energetycznym produkującym energię cieplną jest Marica Iztok.

Największymi elektrowniami cieplnymi są:
 "Marica Iztok 2" – 1450 MW
 "Warna" – 1260 MW
 "Marica Iztok 3" – 870 MW
 "Bobow Doł" – 630 MW
 "Ruse Iztok" – 600 MW
 "Marica Iztok 1" – 500 MW

Rząd Bułgarii w ciągu następnych kilku lat chce zainwestować ponad 2,5 miliarda euro, aby zwiększyć produkowaną moc w elektrowniach w kompleksie Marica Iztok.

Energia wodna
Bułgaria jest krajem o niskim potencjale produkcji energii wodnej. Obecnie kraj posiada 87 elektrowni wodnych, które wytwarzają energię o łącznej mocy ponad 2000 MW. Większość elektrowni mieści się w górach, gdzie znajduje się najwięcej rzek, potoków innych źródeł, które służą napędowi elektrowni. Największymi elektrowniami wodnym Bułgarii są "Bełmeken-Sestrimo" oraz "Dospat-Wacza", które razem produkują ponad 1400 MW.

Obecnie rząd Bułgarii planuje wydać 65 milionów euro na modernizację elektrowni wodnych.

Tranzyt energii
Na terenie Bułgarii znajduje się kilka dróg tranzytowych energii i bogactw naturalnych. Jedną z dróg transportowych jest ropociąg Burgas – Aleksandropolis oraz Burgas – Wlora.

Bułgaria jest jednym z krajów tranzytowych rosyjskiego gazu do Turcji i Grecji oraz Macedonii Północnej.

Przez Bułgarię będzie przebiegał także gazociąg Nabucco, który transportuje gaz ziemny z Rosji oraz Iranu do takich krajów jak Rumunia, Węgry, Austria i kraje Europy Środkowej.

Waluta

Walutą Bułgarii jest lew, który w obecnej formie został wyemitowany w 1999 roku.

Statystyki

 Współczynnik Giniego – 31,6%
 Wzrost produkcji przemysłowej – 11,3% (w trzecim kwartale)

Elektryczność:
 Produkcja: 45,7 TWh
 Konsumpcja: 37,4 TWh
 Eksport: 7,8 TWh
 Import: 0,0 TWh

Wykorzystywane źródła energii:
 Węgiel: 47,8%
 Energia atomowa: 44,1%
 Energia wodna: 8,1%

Produkcja i konsumpcja ropy naftowej:

 Produkcja: 3,000 bar/d
 Konsumpcja: 131,400 bar/d
 Rezerwy ropy: 15 milionów bar

Produkcja i konsumpcja gazu ziemnego:

 Produkcja: 407,000 mln m³
 Konsumpcja: 5,18 mld m³
 Rezerwy gazu: 5,7 mld m³

Rolnictwo:
 Główne produkty uprawne i hodowlane: owoce, warzywa, tytoń, trzoda chlewna, wina, buraki cukrowe
Rezerwy w złocie: 11,8 mld dolarów

Kurs lewa: 1 lew = ok. 2 PLN

Prognozy gospodarcze
Prognozy gospodarcze dla Bułgarii przedstawione przez Międzynarodowy Fundusz Walutowy:

Wzrost PKB:

Inflacja:

Zobacz też
 Gospodarka Unii Europejskiej

Przypisy

Bibliografia
 Małgorzata Willaume: Nowe kraje Unii Europejskiej. Bułgaria, Rumunia (2004)
 Przewodnik po Bułgarii Bułgaria Baedeker (2007)

Linki zewnętrzne

 Strona poświęcona gospodarce Bułgarii

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


Retirement was the theme of the week in the United States, here's our look at the best stories from this week in American sports.
Retirement was the theme of the week in the United States.
The start of the MLB season should have been the biggest story of the week, but two superstars decided to end their repsective careers and steal some of the spotlight.
A legend is hanging up his cleats.
The New England Patriots' all-time leader in receiving touchdowns Rob Gronkowski announced his retirement on Sunday.
While some may be doubting whether or not he stays retired, the Patriots wished him well on his way out with a touching tribute.
Gronkowski finishes his career as the Patriots' second-leading receiver in yards and fourth in receptions.
It was bad enough for Portland when C.J. McCollum went down with a knee injury two weeks ago but the Trail Blazers were dealt another blow on Monday.
Center Jusuf Nurkic suffered a horrific compound fracture of his tibia and fibula in Portland's double-overtime win over the Brooklyn Nets.
He is out for the season and Portland continue to wait for McCollum to get back.
The Blazers have a serious challenge on their hands in the Western Conference playoffs already and with Nurkic reduced to the role of spectator their task has become significantly harder.
The most intense month of the year is in full swing as March Madness enters the Sweet 16 this week.
It has been a relatively quiet start to the tournament as there have been very few upsets, but Duke and potential 2019 No. 1 overall pick Zion Williamson narrowly avoided an early exit against UCF.
The Blue Devils came away with a win, but did so by only one point after the Knights missed a tip-in attempt in the final seconds.
DUKE SURVIVES! The basketball gods were with the Blue Devils today as Aubrey Dawkins' follow JUST misses.
And it gets no easier for Duke, who should have their hands full with Virginia Tech on Friday when they match up in the Sweet 16.
The MLB season is officially underway as all 30 teams played on Thursday, a week on from the Oakland Athletics and Seattle Mariners contesting a two-game series in Tokyo.
And with Opening Day came a rare occurence as two games featured a battle between a Cy Young winner and runner-up from last season, marking the first time that has ever happened in MLB history.
Houston Astros starter Justin Verlander (2nd in American League Cy Young) took on Tampa Bay Rays pitcher Blake Snell (1st), while Jacob deGrom (1st in National League Cy Young) of the New York Mets and Max Scherzer (2nd) of the Washington Nationals also faced off.
Conor McGregor has always been one for drama and he surprised everyone this week when he announced his retirement from MMA and the UFC.
His retirement comes less than a week after he said he deserved a rematch with Khabib Nurmagomedov, who he submitted to in October in a UFC lightweight title bout, so it will be interesting to see if McGregor sticks to his guns on this one.


Perhaps the most immediate – and frustrating – challenge for consumers came in the form of supply shortages.
New Brunswick was forced to temporarily close more than half its stores due to supply shortages, while Labrador's only cannabis store closed its doors to restock again after being depleted of product for nearly two weeks following legalization. British Columbia, Alberta, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Quebec, and Nova Scotia all reported varying degrees of supply shortages in the days and weeks following October 17, 2018.
Industry insiders have blamed these shortages, in part, on the rigorous regulations imposed on licensed producers by Health Canada combined with lengthy waiting periods to have licenses approved in the first place.
But it was not just licensed companies that experienced issued with supply shortages following legalization.
Many existing – but illegal – brick and mortar dispensaries were either raided or told to shut down in the days following legalization. Many less-than-legal dispensaries were told that ceasing operation was absolutely necessary in order to maintain any hope of gaining an official permit and selling legal cannabis in the future.
As rumours swirl about other countries legalizing cannabis, some have speculated that Canada may already be falling behind in this new and emerging industry.
But this is not likely to be enough. Resolving the long-term, cannabis supply issue will take a more concentrated, collaborative effort on the part of both federal and provincial governments who will need to work together to streamline licensing, regulation, policy and production.
Featured image courtesy of Manthan.com.


2 And to our beloued Apphia, and Archippus our fellow Souldier, and to the Church in thy house.
3 Grace to you, and peace from God our Father, and the Lord Iesus Christ.
6 That the communication of thy faith may become effectuall by the acknowledging of euery good thing, which is in you in Christ Iesus.
7 For wee haue great ioy and consolation in thy loue, because the bowels of the Saints are refreshed by thee, brother.
9 Yet for loues sake I rather beseech thee, being such a one as Paul the aged, and now also a prisoner of Iesus Christ.
12 Whom I haue sent againe: thou therfore receiue him, that is mine owne bowels.
13 Whome I would haue reteined with mee, that in thy stead hee might haue ministred vnto me in the bonds of the Gospel.
14 But without thy minde would I doe nothing, that thy benefite should not bee as it were of necessitie, but willingly.
16 Not now as a seruant, but aboue a seruant, a brother beloued, specially to mee, but how much more vnto thee, both in the flesh, and in the Lord?
17 If thou count mee therefore a partner, receiue him as my selfe.
18 If hee hath wronged thee, or oweth thee ought, put that on mine account.
20 Yea, brother, let mee haue ioy of thee in the Lord: refresh my bowles in the Lord.
21 Hauing confidence in thy obedience, I wrote vnto thee, knowing that thou wilt also doe more then I say.
22 But withall prepare mee also a lodging: for I trust that through your prayers I shall be giuen vnto you.
25 The grace of our Lord Iesus Christ be with your spirit. Amen. Written from Rome to Philemon, by Onesimus a seruant.


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use Symfony\Component\Config\Loader\LoaderInterface;

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            new Doctrine\Bundle\MigrationsBundle\DoctrineMigrationsBundle(),
            new Knp\Bundle\MenuBundle\KnpMenuBundle(),
            new League\Tactician\Bundle\TacticianBundle(),
            new Sensio\Bundle\FrameworkExtraBundle\SensioFrameworkExtraBundle(),
            new Stfalcon\Bundle\TinymceBundle\StfalconTinymceBundle(),
            new Stof\DoctrineExtensionsBundle\StofDoctrineExtensionsBundle(),
            new OpenConext\MonitorBundle\OpenConextMonitorBundle(),
            new Surfnet\SamlBundle\SurfnetSamlBundle(),
            new Surfnet\ServiceProviderDashboard\Infrastructure\DashboardBundle\DashboardBundle(),
            new Surfnet\ServiceProviderDashboard\Infrastructure\DashboardSamlBundle\DashboardSamlBundle(),
            new Symfony\Bundle\FrameworkBundle\FrameworkBundle(),
            new Symfony\Bundle\MonologBundle\MonologBundle(),
            new Symfony\Bundle\SecurityBundle\SecurityBundle(),
            new Symfony\Bundle\SwiftmailerBundle\SwiftmailerBundle(),
            new Symfony\Bundle\TwigBundle\TwigBundle(),
            new Nelmio\SecurityBundle\NelmioSecurityBundle(),
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        if (in_array($this->getEnvironment(), ['dev', 'test'], true)) {
            $bundles[] = new Doctrine\Bundle\FixturesBundle\DoctrineFixturesBundle();
            $bundles[] = new Sensio\Bundle\DistributionBundle\SensioDistributionBundle();
            $bundles[] = new Sensio\Bundle\GeneratorBundle\SensioGeneratorBundle();
            $bundles[] = new Symfony\Bundle\DebugBundle\DebugBundle();
            $bundles[] = new Symfony\Bundle\WebProfilerBundle\WebProfilerBundle();
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        return $bundles;
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    public function getRootDir()
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        return dirname(__DIR__).'/var/cache/'.$env;
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    public function getLogDir()
    {
        return dirname(__DIR__).'/var/logs';
    }

    public function registerContainerConfiguration(LoaderInterface $loader)
    {
        $loader->load($this->getRootDir().'/config/config_'.$this->getEnvironment().'.yml');
    }
}

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


The Johnson Shoyama Graduate School of Public Policy (JSGS) is pleased to announce the appointment of Jennifer Ehrmantraut to the position of Director of Executive Education, effective October 3, 2016.
Ehrmantraut comes to JSGS after spending almost a full decade in the public sector. Most recently, she served as the Associate Deputy Minister of Highways & Infrastructure. Previous to this, she served as an Assistant Deputy Minister in the same ministry.
"We are absolutely thrilled to have Jennifer join our team," said Dr. Kathleen McNutt, JSGS Executive Director.
Ehrmantraut is also a certified management accountant and has a graduate certificate in executive coaching. She will succeed Giselle Marcotte, the former Director of Outreach and Training for JSGS.


text:
TCU's Uniqueness
Campus Features
Institute of Medical Sciences
Master Program/PhD Program in Pharmacology and Toxicology
Master program in Physiological and Anatomical Medicine
Master Program in Microbiology and Immunology
Master Program in Biochemistry
Dept of Nursing
Dept of Public Health
Dept of Laboratory Medicine and Biotechnology
Dept of Medical Informatics
Dept of Physical Therapy
Dept of life science
Dept of Molecular Biology and Human Genetics
School of Post-Baccalaureate Chinese Medicine
Dept of Social Work
Dept of Human development studies and Psychology
Dept of Oriental Language and Literature
Institute of Religion and Humanity
College of Education and Communication
Dept of Communication Studies
Dept of Child Development and Family Studies
Dept of English Language and Literature
Bachelor Program in Management of Service Industries
Bachelor Program on Digital Media and Technology
Admissons News
Tuition, Fees
Calendar (2019-2020)
Chairperson of the Department of English Language and Literature
I study the history of Buddhism, and was quite interested in the role of Buddhist bhikkhunis, so I came to Taiwan. Taiwan has a wealth of resources for studying Buddhism. When I started working at the Taipei Ricci Institute, a Chinese studies institute founded by a Catholic organization, the director at the time told me that I should study female influence on the development of Buddhism in Taiwan, especially the bhikkhunis of Tzu Chi. These bhikkhunis are outstanding, so I wrote a book entitled "Taiwan's Buddhist Nuns", and used many chapters to portray Tzu Chi's bhikkhunis and what they had done. They were really remarkable.
Another reason for me to come to Taiwan was that my husband, who is a Taiwanese. I live in Hualien and I like Tzu Chi University very much. I feel calm and peaceful whenever I walk onto the campus. Since joining Tzu Chi University, I think communication between the various departments is smooth and I have received a lot of help. Maybe some people think otherwise. They think the departments are very closed (silo), but communication means that we need to take the initiative, right? If we don't take the initiative to put forward our needs and thoughts, how can others understand us?
I majored in history at Cornell, and completed my master's program in Regional Studies–East Asia, at Harvard. Then I stayed at Harvard to complete my Ph.D. in History and East Asian languages. During my studies at these two Ivy League universities, I have met many outstanding people and scholars. We studied and conducted research, by making substantial individual efforts, and meanwhile, competing and collaborating with our peers, so that we made sound progress and developed ample ways to work with each other.
Each university has its missions and characteristics, and what we face has its causes and consequences. Tzu Chi University plays a vital role in the development of eastern Taiwan. There are many unique topics we can devote ourselves to exploring, such as Buddhism, charity, indigenous people, health and medical related topics, etc.
This coming semester, I will be chairperson of the Department of English Language and Literature. Our faculty members are very dedicated to teaching. They have spent a lot of time with the students, helped them become mature, and have laid a good foundation for the department. In the future, I wish that we can work together to assist the department to develop in a more diverse way. In addition to English literature, we may add additional cultural, gender and interdisciplinary elements into our curriculum.
I do not have a severe personality, but I can be stern. I choose to be strict with students. If we are too lenient with them, they might miss the opportunity to get better preparation for themselves. As a result, how will they excel in the workplace?
I can never bear my students using cellular phones in class. They might tell me they are using tablets or cellular phones to take notes or check information. I still don't know how to deal with this, but I will think about it.
Tzu Chi University, Tzu Chi University of Science and Technology and University of Indonesia Sign a Memorandum of Understanding
The Keys are in Our Hands: TCU's Freshmen Orientation Camp Encourages Students to Explore Their Lives
Turning Ideas into Actions, Tzu Chi University's Farmers' Market Inspires the Public to Love Mother Earth
Academia Sinica – Tzu Chi Collaboration to Develop COVID-19 IgM/IgG Detection kit
Admissons News (9)
Visit Tzu Chi University
701 Zhongyang Rd., Sec. 3, Hualien 97004, Taiwan
Contact Office of International Affairs
886-3-856-5301, ext. 1018
tcuoia@gms.tcu.edu.tw
Dates to note
Entry Visa and Alien Residence Certificate (ARC)
Inter-Campus Bus Schedule


"Whilst the room was adiquate enough and to a good standard, we had booked a refurbished room in the park hall village. After some confusion..."
"Reception and booking programmes should actively enquire if a guest is a Best Western member. I forgot and hence will get no points for my s..."
"Well organised and executed. All round a good experience...."
"I stayed here with a work colleague last week. This hotel is tucked away. However when you find it, you will be pleased you did. The Deluxe..."
The new-look, must-book BEST WESTERN Park Hall Hotel & Leisure Club is nearing completion of a multi million pound refurbishment program, which will result in even more excuses to drop by for a night or three! Of course, our surroundings (over 100 acres of beautiful wooded countryside) will be as stunning as they always have been, but fresh facilities will ensure an increased level of comfort within! Peaceful and relaxing, yet situated mere minutes from the M6 and M61 Mortorways at the heart of the North West, the hotel (and hotel village) are tastefully decorated and furnished for supreme comfort. . .
we have executive suites, four-poster suites and themed rooms too! In your spare time, you can treat yourself from head to toe in our excellent health club and spa Vitalia is a real oasis of relaxation! For food, the hotel's prestigious restaurant, Brookes, is second to none, while a huge selection of 19 conference suites accommodating from 2-700 delegates puts us in the enviable position of meeting all kinds of meeting requirement. Plus, the purpose-built team building arena is perfect for productive gatherings! Please note that all rooms located in the village complex are a short walk from the main hotel building. Restrictions in the swimming pool may apply for children.
Whilst the room was adiquate enough and to a good standard, we had booked a refurbished room in the park hall village.
Breakfast- excellent. I was not asked if I was a Best western member and forgot to hand my card in.
Reception and booking programmes should actively enquire if a guest is a Best Western member.


At Easttown Township Board of Supervisor meeting last night, the board vacancy was on the agenda. The supervisor appointment was announced and it did not go to Michael Wacey (D) who received the third highest number of votes in the November election. Rather, the decision was to appoint Republican Karl Romberger, an attorney to the Board of Supervisors.
Although the supervisor appointment was to be made by the four remaining members of Easttown Township's Board of Supervisors (all Republicans), it should be noted that they were split in their decision with Jim Oram and Betsy Fadem voting for Michael Wacey and Marc Heppe and Chris Polites voting for Karl Romberger. In the case of a tie, 2-2, Easttown's Vacancy Committee (Kim Richards) was to cast the deciding vote.
After I wrote the initial post on this issue, I was contacted by a member of the Easttown Township Democratic Committee – she wanted to explain the timing of Brandon Adams departure, the election results, etc. I asked her if it was true that Mr. Adams was aware (prior to the General Election) that he would not be able to serve if he were elected. I had previously heard this information and wanted to verify and she said yes, that his company had been acquired and that employees were not permitted to serve in this capacity. Fair enough; through no fault of his, the candidate would not be able to serve and it was too late to have his name removed from the ballot prior to the election.
Do I think that Michael Wacey should have been chosen as the replacement supervisor? Yes. His running for public office proved his interest in sitting on the Board of Supervisors and he received nearly 1,400 votes. But at the same time, I hold the Easttown Township Democratic Committee somewhat responsible for the outcome of the situation.
Good for Betsy Fadem and Jim Oram, both Republicans, who stepped up and voted to appoint Democrat Michael Wacey, rather than letting partisan politics govern their decision. And lastly, congratulations to Karl Romberger on his appointment to Easttown Township Board of Supervisors.
The Votes from Election Day 2017 are Counted — But Easttown Township is Looking for a Replacement Supervisor!
When you turned the calendar to 2018, you probably thought that Election Day 2017 was finally in the rear view mirror. Not so in Easttown Township. Although the election results are in, the township finds itself looking for a replacement supervisor.
On Election Day, Easttown Township residents were voting for two supervisors – four candidates appeared on the ballot, two Republicans and two Democrats. When the votes were counted, incumbent Betsy Fadem (R) received the most votes, followed by Brandon Adams (D). Michael Wacey (D) received the third highest and Fred Pioggia (R) the fourth highest number of votes. The supervisor seats went to the two candidates receiving the highest number of votes – in this case, Fadem and Adams.
With the New Year, Fadem continues to serve on the board of supervisors with Adams set to begin his first term. That is, until the residents learned Brandon Adams cannot serve – apparently his employer was acquired by a company (since the election?) that prohibits his serving in local government.
This is an unusual situation and there does not appear to be an automatic process to fill the vacancy. Although there isn't an automatic process, wouldn't it just make sense for the vacancy to go to the person whom received the third highest number of votes, which in this case was Michael Wacey. Both Democrats, it would seem a reasonable solution for Wacey to step in as supervisor for vacating Brandon Adams. Of course, that solution is only viable if Michael Wacey was available and willing to serve but according to the agenda from the January 2 meeting of the Board of Supervisors he is.
My name is Michael Wacey and I live at Beaumont Road, Berwyn. I want to thank the Easttown Board of Supervisors for all the time and careful thought that they put into their work. We are very lucky to have this Board to manage the affairs for our township. In the fall, I ran for Easttown Township Supervisor and came in Third. Ms. Betsy Fadem, an incumbent appointed Supervisor, came in first and Mr. Brandon Adams came in second. Mr. Adams will most likely resign on January second rather than take the office. He is doing this for personal reasons beyond his control. As the third-place finisher in November, the citizens of Easttown would reasonable expect this board to appoint met to fill the vacancy. The board has met with Mr. Adams. I have express to the board, in writing, my desire to serve the people of Easttown. As I see it, the board has three options in 15 days: 1) Appoint me in recognition of the wishes of the Easttown voters; 2) Appoint someone else such as Mr. Pioggia, the four-place candidate in November. Or someone who did not run; 3) Ignore the voters and conduct a search and appoint someone who did not run in November. As this directly affects me, I am here tonight to ask the board to let the citizens of Easttown know what the Board plans are.
Easttown Township seeks applicants for consideration of appointment to the Board of Supervisors. The term for this appointment is for two years, expiring on December 31, 2019. Interested residents should send a letter of interest/resume to Township Manager, Dan Fox, via email by end of business day on Wednesday, January 10, 2018.
The Board vacancy occurs if the elected official, Mr. Adams, announces his intention not to serve at the Board meeting on January 2, 2018. If this vacancy does occur, the Township will begin accepting resumes from interested candidates for one month beginning on January 3, 2018. If the Board cannot agree on an appointment for this vacancy, a fifth vote will be cast by the member of the Vacancy Committee.
According to the notice on the township website, today, January 10, 2018, is the last day to receive applications for the supervisor vacancy.
I know that the four remaining members of the Easttown Township Board of Supervisors are trying to do the right thing, especially given that the selection process to fill the vacancy is not automatic. However, here's my vote to keep it simple and drama-free by appointing Michael Wacey as the replacement supervisor. Wacey received the third highest number of votes in November and has stated that he is willing to serve. This should be an easy, uncomplicated decision.
The 11th Annual Historic House Tour (hard to believe that it's been 11 years!) is coming up in a few weeks and final preparations are in full swing!
Tickets for the 2015 house tour on Saturday, September 19, noon – 5 PM and Jazz & Just Desserts, the house tour preview party, on Sunday, September. 13, 6-9 PM at Duportail House are available online at www.tredyffrinhistory.org . The house tour is the largest annual fundraiser for Tredyffrin Historic Preservation Trust and all proceeds from ticket sales and sponsorships support historic preservation and the completion of the Living History Center at Duportail.
The 11th Annual Historic House Tour features an interesting mix of eight private historic homes in Tredyffrin, Easttown and Willistown Townships plus the Diamond Rock Schoolhouse, an octagonal one-room school house in the Great Valley. Discover the beauty of historic preservation on the tour, everything from a mid-1800's French Normandy hunting lodge on Valley Forge Mountain to Deepdale, the original 19th century stone farmhouse and the 1915 English Cotswold revival estate, 'Deilwydd'. Enjoy stops at two different 150-year old carriage houses and marvel at how the owners skillfully adapted the buildings to 21st century family homes.
Also included on the tour is a sprawling 1900's brick farmhouse in Malvern built by sisters, Ellen and Rebecca Winsor. Pro-suffrage activists from Haverford, the Winsor sisters were among 17 Pennsylvania women imprisoned for their "Silent Sentinel" picketing of the White House under President Woodrow Wilson.
We are still accepting sponsorships for the house tour, which helps to make the annual event possible. Ticket and sponsorship information is on the Trust website or you can email me at info@tredyffrinhistory.org.
It's great to see many individuals and companies supporting historic preservation through the house tour, along with a number of elected officials and candidates. Its history and the preservation of our historic buildings helps to make this community special!
As the saying goes, "If walls could talk what stories they could tell." Each featured property on the house tour has generations of original stories to tell! Hope to see you on the tour!
For taxpayers living in Tredyffrin and Easttown Townships, they saw no municipal real estate tax increase in 2014 or 2015. In the Tredyffrin Township 2015 budget presentation, it was announced that real estate tax assessments continue to grow and that the township saw "increased construction of both residential and commercial properties which are a major cause for the increased assessment." No real estate tax increase in Tredyffrin for 2015 follows a no real estate tax increase in 2014. Similarly, Easttown Township taxpayers received no real estate tax increase for the period.
In neighboring Radnor School District, taxpayers did not receive a real estate tax increase for 2014-15 whereas the taxpayers of TE School District saw their real estate tax bill increase 3.2 percent during the same period. Looking ahead to the 2015-16 budget for the two school districts, Radnor School Board announced this week that they will not seek exceptions and the proposed tax increase will not be greater than the 1.9 percent permitted by Act 1. TE School Board has voted to seek exceptions and the preliminary budget currently in discussion for 2015-16 includes a 3.68 percent tax increase.
Budget and Affordable Care Act on TE Special Meeting agenda tonight … Is this the precursor to outsourcing?
There is a special TE School Board meeting scheduled for tonight for 7 PM at Conestoga HS. The two items for priority discussion on the agenda are (1) The Board will consider options to close the projected budget imbalance of approximately $3.1 M for the 2014/15 school year and (2) Presentation of the impact of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) on the School District. Unfortunately, this important special school board meeting conflicts with both the Tredyffrin and Easttown Board of Supervisors organizational and regular meetings, which includes the swearing in of newly elected officials, previously scheduled for tonight.
In the District's draft budget (included in the agenda), the base model for the 2014/15 school year indicates a $3.1M budget deficit – this model assumes no tax increase from the Act 1 Index or referendum exception (PSERS, Special Ed). In the projection model that includes the Act 1 index (2.1% tax increase) the District's budget deficit is reduced to $1.2M. A third project model shows the budget deficit reduced to $141K if the District takes the referendum exception (1.1% tax increase) and the Act 1 index (2.1%). The $141K deficit project model would still requires the District to find other cost savings in addition to the 3.2% tax increase to the residents.
If the District imposes the 3.2% tax increase for 2014/15 school year, I think that would make the third year in a row they have imposed the maximum tax increase allowed by state law without a voter referendum. But here's the disconnect for me – on one hand, the Board has voted to take the maximum tax increase but … for the last several years, the District has come up with multi-million dollar budget surpluses. As examples, the 2011/12 year saw the District in a surplus position of $3.9M and for the 2012/13 year, the surplus was nearly $5M. The budget surplus is not reflected in the District's draft budget nor indicated in the next year's budget. The multi-million budget surplus is added to the District's fund balance and the taxes continue to rise.
Since the multi-million dollar budget surplus is taxpayer dollars, wouldn't it be great if the taxpayers had a say regarding the surplus? Here's an idea — Rather than adding additional millions of taxpayer dollars to the fund balance, what about using some of the budget surplus dollars for health insurance benefits to that all TESD employees as covered as required by the Affordable Care Act. Afterall, the District lists ACA and the TEEA teacher contract as the two items to impact the 2014/15 budget.
Following the District's 2014/15 budget discussion tonight, is an ACA overview by attorney Rhonda Grubbs. Her presentation will discuss how the federal law will affect TESD and its employees. Grubbs is an associate at Wisler Pearlstine, the law firm of Ken Roos, the District's solicitor. You may recall that Grubbs offered her legal opinion on the ACA at a TE school board meeting last spring in response to the District's aide, para and substitute teacher outsourcing debate. Don't get me wrong; I think a legal presentation on the ACA and how it will affect the District and its employees is important. However, in my opinion, residents and employees would have been better served by a third-party legal expert versus a representative from the District's contracted law firm. And what about an insurance expert – I'm certain that there is any number of local insurance consultants/experts who would make a presentation to the District (and I'm guessing would do so, free of charge).
Under the ACA, employers will be required to provide employees who work more than 30 hours per week with health care benefits. The federal mandate will go into effect for school districts in the 2014/15 school year. Currently T/E aides, paras and substitute teachers do not receive health coverage. For the record, T/E is the only school district in the area that does not provide health insurance for their employees – Great Valley, Radnor and Lower Merion school districts all offer healthcare coverage to all their employees.
After much debate, the Board decided not to outsource the aides, paras and substitute teachers for the 2013/14 school year. It is my understanding that 40% of the District's aides/paras did not return for the current school year. Although neither the school board nor the administration has confirmed it – I was told that the positions of non-returning aides/paras who worked 30 hours or more were outsourced. If this is true, than the number of District employees that need to be covered by the ACA has dropped since this issue was debated last year.
As follow-up, how has the outsourcing of the aides/paras worked out for the District? For the record, several parents, aides and paras have told me that the result has been less than satisfactory — it would be interesting to know if the administration and Board are pleased with the job performance of these contracted employees.
I cannot help but think that the administration and the school board may have already made up their minds about the ACA situation. Were it not for the pushback they received last year, I believe that the administration would have already outsourced the jobs of aides, paras and substitute teachers working 30 or more hours per week. Clearly, the handwriting was on the wall in 2013 for the District's aides, paras and substitute teachers and the 2013/14 school year may prove to be only a one-year reprieve for these employees.
Some have described tonight's planned Affordable Care Act presentation by the District's law firm representative as nothing more than a PR move but … I remain hopeful that some of our school board members will show their support of the District's aides, paras and substitute teachers and fight for them to keep their jobs (and their hours).
Easttown Township Annual Easter Egg Hunt, Saturday, March 16 — Free!
Bring your baskets and your cameras for the annual Easter Egg Hunt. Egg Hunt, Games, Prizes and the Easter Bunny will arrive on a Berwyn Fire Company Fire Truck.
Children of all ages are invited to attend.
After serving Easttown Township for 40 years, it was hard for many to believe that township manager Gene Williams was retiring. But retire he did. At the end of 2011, Williams retired and was succeeded by the township's assistant manager Mike Brown. Brown was on the job for about 18 months as the assistant manager, brought on to take over once Williams retired. Williams retired and Brown took over in January 2012. Barely a year later, we now learn that Brown was escorted from the township building last week and Williams is brought out of retirement to fill in temporarily until a new township manager can be hired. Why? Clearly, there is something behind Brown's sudden departure.
Looking for answers, I contacted Jim Oram, the chair of Easttown Township Board of Supervisors last week. Oram explained that a press release would be coming out today, which he kindly sent to me. Unfortunately, the press release offers no further information as to why Brown is suddenly without a job and that the township is once again looking for a township manager. There is a Board of Supervisors meeting tomorrow night so perhaps there will be further details at that time. For now, here's the official press release and we are left to wonder what happened.
Tredyffrin Police Superintendent Anthony Giaimo did not need the Sandy Hook shootings to prioritize school safety.
However, if you attended, or watched the TESD special safety meeting, or the District's Finance or regular school board meetings, you may have come away with the mistaken impression that the Tredyffrin Police Department is only peripherally involved in the school safety process. Sure, T/E Superintendent Waters and Kevin Buraks, president of the school board spoke of the good working relationship with the police departments (Tredyffrin and Easttown). Waters and Buraks rationalized the hiring of Andy Chambers as District's safety consultant because (1) need to act quickly following Sandy Hook; (2) Chambers knew the District buildings and (3) he was a lot cheaper ($125/hr.) than previous safety consultants. At the last school board meeting, someone mentioned the District had previously spent $100K for a safety consultant post-Columbine.
Beyond the obvious transparent issues that accompanied the hiring of Chambers, I could not help but wonder how this safety consultant was going to work with current police staff, given the reasons behind his departure from Tredyffrin. I also could not understand what Chambers was going 'to do' for the District that experienced Tredyffrin Police Supt. Anthony Giaimo and Easttown Police Chief David Obzud, and their respective departments. were not already doing.
For those like me, that may have been confused about 'who knew what and when' in regards to the school safety situation and Chambers hiring by the District, I clarified some of these points with Giaimo today.
Fact: Giaimo has 23+ years of experience with the Tredyffrin Township Police Department.
Fact: Neither Dr. Waters nor the school board consulted Giaimo before hiring Chambers. Giaimo was told a couple of hours before the announcement at the District safety meeting.
Fact: The school 'hardening' suggestions that the District is implementing were the personal recommendations of Giaimo, including the notification panic buttons, buzzer system and the ballistic film on windows and doors.
Fact: Giaimo has been actively involved in developing a crisis plan with administrators of each school and doing building safety assessment on District schools (as well as private and nursery schools). According to Giaimo, school safety has been an ongoing priority of his, not just post-Sandy Hook.
Fact: Waters and the District were fully aware of Giaimo's school safety and crisis plan – prior to the hiring of Chambers.
Fact: There has not been a District school safety meeting between Giaimo and Chambers.
Fact: It is unclear how Chambers efforts as the District's safety consultant will differ from efforts currently performed by Easttown and Tredyffrin Township Police Departments.
Fact: Representatives from the Police Department are on the District safety committee.
School safety has been an ongoing priority for Giaimo and he has been very proactive in his approach since becoming Superintendent. He has a good working relationship with Easttown Police Chief Ozbud and the two are committed to coordinating school safety response, regardless of which township the school is located.
I don't want to 'beat a dead horse' over the hiring of Andy Chambers; I accept the Board approved his hiring. However, it remains unclear to me what additional safety information the District will receive as a result of Chambers' hiring. Without a 'scope of work', it just appears that Chambers could be performing a duplication of effort at the expense of the taxpayers. It is my understanding that the school district will include Giaimo and Ozbud in any school safety decisions based on Chambers' recommendations.
Our police superintendent has the safety of our children as a continuing priority, not just because of Sandy Hook. Regardless of the number of Tredyffrin Police Department officers, Giaimo remains committed to school district safety. However, more important than ever, providing safety requires adequate police department staffing. If you agree, I strongly suggest attending Mondays Board of Supervisors meeting. (Click here for agenda). The Board of Supervisors has not authorized the two additional police officers recommended by the police department consultants, ICMA and approved in the 2013 township budget.
A Review of Radnor Twp School District's Teachers Contract … Will the Results Help T/E Teachers?
The following Community Matters post, "Signed, Sealed and Delivered … Radnor Twp School District & Teachers Union Ink 3-year Contract with Salary Increase … Is there handwriting on the wall for T/E Teachers?" is from March 23, 2011.
A year ago, the Radnor Township School District signed a 3-year contract with their teachers union( RTEA) that was surprising, given the economic situation of the times. Fast forward to 2012, and T/E is in the midst of their own contract negotiations. This post and the attached comments from a year ago, make for an interesting commentary to compare and contrast where we are in our own teacher negotiation process. Can we learn anything from the decisions of our neighboring school district?
It is now official, Radnor Township School District and the teachers union, Radnor Township Education Association (RTEA) have voted to approve three-year contract, September 1, 2010 – August 31, 2013. Below are some of the highlights of the contract.
Eligible teachers will receive a one-time retirement payment from $25K – $50K (depending on number of retirees). The retirement option is in effect for limited time to allow district to reduce payroll.
OK, so looking at the contract inked between the Radnor Township School District and RTEA, is the handwriting on the wall for T/E School District? So much for Gov. Corbett's recommendation for a one-year freeze . . . Radnor's teacher union only agreed to a 6-month freeze. However, after the 6-month salary freeze, the teacher union pulled off 7.5% salary increase for the following 2 ½ years of the contract.
Remember, if a teacher qualifies for a step increase, his or her salary increase would actually be higher than the average yearly salary increase. Radnor's teachers contract is remarkable given today's economy and budget shortfalls!
Easter Egg Hunt in Berwyn . . . Free Community Event for Children of All Ages!
Bring your baskets and your cameras for the annual Easter Egg Hunt. Thousands of eggs and each filled with a surprise! Children (all ages) are welcome and gift bags for all participants.


text:
Hundreds of U.S. citizens continue to be detained, new immigration data shows
Northwestern clinic's analysis shows average time of detention for U.S. citizens is 180 days
August 10, 2017 | By Hilary Hurd Anyaso
EVANSTON - An analysis of U.S. government data obtained by Northwestern University's Deportation Research Clinic shows that the U.S. government detained more than 260 U.S. citizens for weeks and even years, most in private prisons under contract with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). They were released after asserting their U.S. citizenship claims in immigration court.
The average time of detention for U.S. citizens was 180 days. ICE acknowledges that it is unlawful for ICE to detain U.S. citizens under deportation laws.
In response to the clinic's Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request, the U.S. government released data showing that between January 1, 2011, and June 9, 2017, immigration judges rescheduled hearings for 1,714 cases after respondents in deportation proceedings claimed U.S. citizenship. More than 650 of these claims succeeded.
"The new data show that the detention of U.S. citizens is not just a possibility, but a persistent fact," said Jacqueline Stevens, director of the Deportation Research Clinic and professor of political science in the Weinberg College of Arts and Sciences (WCAS) at Northwestern. Northwestern students Avery Miller and Elizabeth Meehan, both of WCAS, assisted with data analysis.
After an article ran in the New Yorker in 2013 about a U.S. detainee, in which Stevens was quoted and her research used, John Morton, then ICE assistant director, responded in a letter to the magazine and said "new safeguards to protect against the possibility of a citizen's detainment or removal" had been implemented.
The new data show that the detention of U.S. citizens is not just a possibility, but a persistent fact."
Jacqueline Stevens
director, Deportation Research Clinic
However, Stevens said within days of reading the letter she received two more letters from U.S. citizens detained by ICE. She then decided to fill out a FOIA request for data from immigration court cases adjourned based on claims of U.S. citizenship.
Stevens said another key finding from the data was that 30 percent of respondents who were represented by attorneys remained in the U.S., while only 17 percent of those without an attorney succeeded in their efforts to avoid deportation.
The clinic researchers performed cross checks on the released data using cases in clinic files and caution that the data are just the tip of the iceberg.
"We compared 23 randomly selected cases of U.S. citizens who had appeared in immigration courts since January 1, 2011, and only two were in this release, both of which I had brought to the attention of the government," Stevens said.
180days, on average, that U.S. citizens are detained by ICE
Stevens explained that cases could be missing from the data set because adjudicators may not realize the respondent has a claim to U.S. citizenship; may deport the person at the first hearing, which means there would be no rescheduling code, or may reschedule using a code for "seeks more time for any attorney," or another valid reason that is not the claim of U.S. citizenship.
Stevens also pointed out that two cases from files obtained under the Freedom of Information Act on behalf of U.S. citizens who had signed privacy waivers were coded as U.S. citizenship claim adjournments but also do not appear in the Excel output from the government.
As a result of current litigation under the Freedom of Information Act, Stevens recently received documents indicating that ICE has internal protocols for handling claims of U.S. citizenship that contradict its stated policy and the U.S. Constitution. She said she plans to release this analysis later this year following the final production of documents.
Topics: Buffett Institute, Research, Weinberg College of Arts and Sciences


text:
package sl.hr_client.net.acc.modifyinfo;

import android.content.Context;

import com.android.volley.AuthFailureError;
import com.android.volley.Response;
import com.android.volley.VolleyError;
import com.android.volley.toolbox.Volley;

import java.util.HashMap;
import java.util.Map;

import rx.Observable;
import rx.Subscriber;
import sl.base.utils.UtilsLog;
import sl.hr_client.R;
import sl.hr_client.data.DataUtils;
import sl.hr_client.data.bean.UserBean;
import sl.hr_client.utils.net.ResponseUtils;
import sl.hr_client.utils.net.VolleyUtils;
import sl.hr_client.utils.net.XStringRequest;

/**
 * Created by Administrator on 2017/5/2.
 */

public class ModifyInfoModel {

    public Observable<String> modifyUserInfo(final Context context, final String uID,
                                             final String uMaiBox, final String uPhone,
                                             final String uUserName, final String uClientKey) {
        return Observable.create(new Observable.OnSubscribe<String>() {
            @Override
            public void call(final Subscriber<? super String> subscriber) {
                String targetUrl = VolleyUtils.modifyUserInfoUrl;

                VolleyUtils.requestQueue = Volley.newRequestQueue(context);
                XStringRequest sr = new XStringRequest(VolleyUtils.VOLLEY_POST, targetUrl, new Response.Listener<String>() {
                    @Override
                    public void onResponse(String s) {
                        subscriber.onNext(s);
                        subscriber.onCompleted();
                    }
                }, new Response.ErrorListener() {
                    @Override
                    public void onErrorResponse(VolleyError volleyError) {
                        subscriber.onError(new Exception(ResponseUtils.responseOperate(volleyError)));
                    }
                }) {
                    @Override
                    public Map<String, String> getHeaders() throws AuthFailureError {
                        HashMap<String, String> headers = new HashMap<String, String>();
                        UserBean user = DataUtils.getNowUserByUID();
                        String uToken = user.getUToken() == null ? context.getString(R.string.null_value) : user.getUToken();
                        String uID = user.getUID() == null ? context.getString(R.string.null_value) : user.getUID();
                        headers.put("uToken", uToken);
                        headers.put("uID", uID);
                        return headers;
                    }

                    @Override
                    protected Map<String, String> getParams() throws AuthFailureError {
                        Map<String, String> map = new HashMap<String, String>();
                        map.put("uID", uID);
                        map.put("uMaiBox", uMaiBox);
                        map.put("uPhone", uPhone);
                        map.put("uUserName", uUserName);
                        map.put("uClientKey", uClientKey);
                        return map;
                    }
                };
                VolleyUtils.requestQueue.add(sr);
            }
        });
    }
}


text:
Sept. 1st.2022-David Connolly: Drayton Theatre
Start @ 10:01am in the Trinity United Church
26 Members in attendance
President John Sneyd opened the meeting by discussing this summer's travel experiences and how things have changed compared to prior to COVID-19.
President Sneyd passed on some correspondence received from Lloyd Taylor's family thanking the Club for the donation and condolences sent regarding Lloyd's recent passing.
Peter Turner was welcomed as the Club's newest member.
President Sneyd thanked the House Committee for their incredible efforts in setting up the chairs and preparing coffee prior to the meeting.
On September 29th, Trinity United Church is promoting a ribs and chicken dinner for drive-thru pick-ue catered by Jesse's-on-the-Green at the Guelph Country Club. Information can be found on our Club website and orders can be placed on-line or phoned in.
Activities – Ken Marchant
- The Night at the Races is tomorrow at Elora Raceway @6:30 pm. At tour of one of the stables is scheduled and you need to be there at 6:00 to attend this. Bring cash to pay at the door for entry and your meal. The seventh race is our race (for recognition) in the name of RCMC.
- There's a sign-up sheet now available for the Cabaret at the Arboretum in November.
- There will be a performance by "the Elderly Brothers" tomorrow at 1:00 at the Village by the Arboretum and Ken Marchant is one of the performers.
- There is a sign-up sheet to attend the Drayton Theatre production of Mamma Mia on November 12th at St. Jacob's Theatre Play House and already 20 members including spouses have signed up.
President John Sneyd introduced today's guest speaker, David Connolly.
Bio: David Connolly
David Connolly is the Associate Artistic Director of Drayton Entertainment and the Director of Education of their brand-new Youth Academy for the Performing and Technical Arts. He is also an active Disability and Inclusion Advocate who is deeply committed to changing the statistic of being the only amputee to have performed on Broadway. He has collaborated with artists including Katy Perry, Sir Andrew Lloyd Webber, Elton John, Sarah Jessica Parker, kd lang, Patti LaBelle, Sarah Brightman and many others. As an educator, David has been an Adjunct Professor and Advisor to the Musical Theatre Performance Programs at Sheridan College, Randolph College, Fanshawe College, St Lawrence College, Vander Cook College and most recently, the Hopkins Centre for the Arts at Dartmouth College.
For Drayton Entertainment, he has helmed over thirty productions including Mamma Mia!, Hairspray, Kinky Boots, many Panto productions and Disney's Newsies. For the screen, David has directed and choreographed several series for CBC Kids including their newest live action series, "Ukulele U." He holds an Honours Bachelor Degree in Musical Theatre Performance from Sheridan College, is a recipient of The Ontario Premier's Award of Excellence, The Waterloo Region Arts Award for Lifetime Achievement, and an Ambassador for both The War Amps' Child Amputee Program (CHAMP) and The Shriners Hospitals for Children.
Drayton Entertainment is a registered, not-for-profit charitable organization, and one of Canada's most successful professional theatre companies. From Broadway musicals, to laugh-a-minute comedies and riveting dramas, Drayton Entertainment presents the finest in live theatre for all ages on seven unique stages, at six venues, in five communities across Ontario: the Drayton Festival Theatre in Drayton, Hamilton Family Theatre Cambridge in Cambridge, Huron Country Playhouse in Grand Bend, King's Wharf Theatre in Penetanguishene, and St. Jacobs Country Playhouse and the Schoolhouse Theatre in St. Jacobs.
After an extended 'intermission,' our doors are open once again with memorable music, entertaining stories, laughter, applause, and maybe even a few tears as we celebrate the long-awaited return. Hear from Director of Education, David Connolly, about this exciting reunion with our patrons as well as our newest endeavor - The Drayton Entertainment Youth Academy - a performing and technical arts training hub, rooted in belonging, aimed at creating generational change.
The presentation was followed by a question and answer period.
John Sneyd thanked David Connolly for his presentation and gave him a token of our appreciation.
Next meeting: Thursday, September 15th will be John Douglas Dickie: Brief History - Evolution of the Canadian Airline Industry.
Adjournment @11:05am
Recording Secretary: Kerry Gennings