Structure and Life , World

Saint Louis and the History Channel

2009-08-31T18:44:00.000-07:00

Watching the History Channel tonight regarding the I64 project and the sad conditions regarding our city’s sewers. Basically the last couple of shows involves the dire need for more funding needed to upgrade America’s infrastructure.

Instead of spending so much money on needless issues (and I am not talking about the Health care system here)…..imagine the bridges, dams, roads, sewers, levees that could be saved and kept up to date if local, state, and federal governments would get their act together. Imagine if a dam broke and not to mention the levees of New Orleans and the fiasco with Ameren UE regarding Taum Sauk reservoir spilt over December 14, 2005.

Don’t fool with Mother Nature because she fights back.

Not only was Taum Sauk a major issue, but over FOUR THOUSAND dams are unsafe and according to the History Channel the number of unsafe dams have quadrupled since 2001.

Average age of US dams are over 50 years old! States have cut inspections to the bone. Texas had seven inspectors for over 7400 dams and could only see over 230 dams….I am like wow.

???????????

Ok, off my soapbox…….for the moment.

Dating and the military

2009-08-18T19:23:00.000-07:00

My first exposure to military dating was during AIT.

Well, in basic one of the drills expressed an interest in me despite the fact the senior drill told him he needed to “behave” though I personally did not do anything to direct such attention towards myself. What with getting up at oh god thirty hours in the morning along with the fierce training, PT, marches, learning, getting all bruised up, losing my voice HOW could anyone find this then 17 year old attractive?

Anyway, he persisted and I kept him at arm’s length and when he was stationed at Fort Gordon (where I also went) he still wanted to go out and I still said no.

Through the years I have seen men and women hook up through the military, some relationships lasting, allot going to the wayside.

In Korea my mouth about dropped to the ground (can you imagine that?) seeing the kind of “in-discretionary” behavior coming from unit members. Mind you, I never dated in high school so everything I was experiencing was a shock to the senses.

Now of course there are some honorable men and women out there who are faithful to their spouses, who really want to see things work out. I have seen both men and women cry over broken hearts.

Now, what really gets me going….are people who cheat on their military partner when they are deployed or away for additional schooling. I am not talking about those men and women who cheat on their spouses/boyfriends/girlfriends while deployed but those who stay true to the honor of the uniform, to the code. Those who sacrifice themselves for the greater good, for our country and get shafted because their partner couldn’t “wait” for them to come home.

How lame is that?

Anyway, I just had to vent and wonder at times where people’s heads or at…especially those who find out you serve in the military and find it “distasteful” to go out because there is always the chance that you might get deployed.

‘nough said.

Not a Goodbye Party

2009-08-05T08:21:00.001-07:00

The team threw me a party for my impending departure to Team B. I had tears in my eyes reading the stuff written on the erasable chalkboard in the conference room. The food was delicious…meatballs, salad, all kinds of deserts, pasta, my chicken fried rice (received compliments…bought the mix at Aldi’s—LOVE that store)…soda etc…and of course good company…laughed and laughed.

I know it’s greener pa$tures as far as where I am headed however one cannot put a pricetag on good company and wonderful co-workers.

They will be sorely missed.

A Bronx Dream

2009-07-27T04:50:00.000-07:00

I really enjoyed watching this documentary regarding inner city kids in the Bronx learning about the Irish culture and the music. Though a part of me feels there should be more done regarding their individual ethnic heritages I am glad there are programs such as this one which gives these kids a positive outlet and keeps them off the streets:

Known as the Keltic Dreams it was inspired by Caroline Duggan:

The Keltic Dreams Irish Dancers, are a group of 33 children ages 7-12 from Public School 59, PS 59 in the Bronx, NY. The school is situated in a low Socio Economic area in the Bronx and has a 95% poverty rate. The students are all African American and Hispanic and have no background in Irish culture. Hired by the Department of Education, I, Caroline Duggan, moved to New York over 4 years ago and began teaching music in the school. I had no intention of staying more than one year in the school but fell in love with the children’s drive to become professional. After being constantly asked by the children why I spoke funny I told them that I was from Ireland. The fascination began with questions about the Irish lifestyle, leprechauns and Irish dance. They questioned me about a huge photo of Riverdance I had hanging in the classroom . I showed the children a few steps and was truly amazed by how quick they grasped even the most complicated steps. They were fascinated with the Riverdance video from Radio City, which I still show them on a regular basis. Especially how the show incorporated different cultures into Irish dancing. With this idea in mind and with the amazing support of the principal and school, I began an Irish dancing program after school twice a week. The group The Keltic Dreams was born and have since had their own one hour show on The Plaza at Lincoln Center, in the Bronx Botanical Garden for Bronx week , St Barnabas Nursing Home, on the Band shell at Central Park, at Lehman College in the Bronx and in The Manhattan Mall at Herald Square NYC. They were the sole performers at the St Patrick’s Day Parade in Queens for Mayor Bloomberg and afterwards all the students marched in the parade joined by their parents. The Irish dance program has encouraged huge parental involvement, bringing the whole community together!!!! Much to my surprise some of the children had never been to Manhattan before they performed in these shows!!

Another trip to Chicago

2009-07-16T19:30:00.001-07:00

Taking my car in to get an oil change and to see if I need an alignment. I swear, we need health insurance for cars!

Going to Chicago this weekend because my sister had an accident with a dog, don’t want to get into details but as her sister it is my obligation to ensure she is doing ok. Which she is. Just needs some moral support so won’t be blogging much over the weekend and into next week since will be taking Monday and Tuesday off.

Edit: Sister called, says not to worry about coming up, we’ll do something for my 41st b-day. UGH….8 more years until I am 50……ay mamasita! Going to Saint Charles this weekend to pick up a few items to send in a care package. She seems to be doing better. Thank GOD!

Inspiration to write

2009-07-10T21:13:00.001-07:00

I googled myself (yes am that bad) and found something I wrote awhile back here in the Saint Louis Writer’s Guild:

How do you motivate yourself? How do rejections affect your writing? Janet Terrell wrote the following article on motivation for St. Louis Writers Guild.

From the time I was thirteen years old I had an urge to express myself. I used to write out my stories longhand. Then my father gave me an old Remington typewriter, the kind that had the horrid dual ribbon with the black stripe on top and the red on bottom. Even though it was a labor of love, I still sometimes wondered what motivated me to write.

What I have found from my own personal musings is that writing is more than putting words to paper. It takes a lot of thought, time, and energy. I have asked myself many times: What motivates a person to write, to expose their soul to the world? What compels a writer to express his or her views and ideas in characters and a storyline? Most important, what encourages a writer to persevere through the highs and lows of the writing process to reach the end of a story, or what’s even more challenging, a novel?

For me, motivation comes from inspiration, and inspiration arises out of my surroundings. I typically write in an environment that evokes my creative juices. I tend to gravitate towards calm places away from my family and cat. I love sitting on my bed with my laptop, door shut, allowing my mind to focus on the task at hand.

I began my first novel more than twenty years ago. I had watched the television mini-series North & South. I was inspired. This movie was all I needed to embark on my venture into the world of Historical Romance. However, what I found from reading a variety of this genre is that I do not like heavily laden novels dripping with sex or drowning in too many historical particulars. I had heard that one should write what one loves to read and so I was motivated to create historical romances that combined sex and history without overdoing it.

One of the ways I motivated myself to finish my first novel was by listening to inspiring music. The soundtrack to the movie Gladiator did it for me. Each song has its own special theme. I wrote my scenes to the music, thinking of various ways to bring out the meaning to the reader.

On a more personal level, I was inspired to share my work with the world. There is little in life that is more disquieting than the prospect of sharing one’s work with others. There is the potential risk of rejection from agents and publishing houses, however, a writer who is true to his or her craft will persevere. Even if he or she receives tons of rejection letters, they can be regarded positively. Rejection slips are nothing more than an opportunity to redirect energy into improvement. My advice is that a writer seek out any weaknesses, address them, and move on.

Sometimes the publishing industry can make a writer feel defeated. However, it’s important to realize that rejections are not always an indication of the quality of one’s writing. Sometimes perfectly good work is just not marketable at a given point in time. Sometimes a publisher has recently released something very similar. A writer seeking commercial publication should expect some difficulties finding a publisher. Self-publishing one’s work is a now a popular option given the advancements in technology that make it easier and less costly. Many new authors find this route easier. However, I highly recommend that those who choose to self-publish hire an editor to ensure a quality product.

What motivates one person to complete a novel may not work for another. It is incumbent upon writers to discover the circumstances that best stimulate their personal motivation to write. For myself, I allow all of my five senses to completely encompass me. Writing is not just placing words on paper from my point of view; it is a full body experience where emotions are caught up in the moment—not unlike a characters’ emotions are caught up in a romance, a loss, or rejoicing. Writing, to me, is not something that can be forced. Genuine creativity comes when the spirit and mind work in harmony, and that is where I find my motivation is at its peak of power.

My Country…

2009-06-30T18:32:00.000-07:00

Part of me wants to disappear and drive to the Rockies…fell instantaneously in love with the topography of Colorado when I was driving to Vegas and became simply gobsmacked at the sheer heights and ethereal beauty of our country.

Whenever I travel cross country (which seems quite often these days) I am astounded by the vastness of our great nation….of our highway systems, people traveling….the variety of beauty contained within our nation: when it comes to our citizens, myraid of customs, down to simply watching the miles of roads passing me by.

Reminds me of the song America the Beautiful (used to belt this one out as a kid whenever I had a chance). :^)

O beautiful for spacious skies,
For amber waves of grain,
For purple mountain majesties
Above the fruited plain!
America! America!
God shed his grace on thee
And crown thy good with brotherhood
From sea to shining sea!

O beautiful for pilgrim feet
Whose stern impassioned – stress
A thoroughfare for freedom beat
Across the wilderness!
America! America!
God mend thine every flaw,
Confirm thy soul in self-control,
Thy liberty in law!

O beautiful for heroes proved In liberating strife.
Who more than self the country loved
And mercy more than life!
America! America!
May God thy gold refine
Till all success be nobleness
And every gain divine!

O beautiful for patriot dream
That sees beyond the years
Thine alabaster cities gleam
Undimmed by human tears!
America! America!
God shed his grace on thee
And crown thy good with brotherhood
From sea to shining sea!

O beautiful for halcyon skies,
For amber waves of grain,
For purple mountain majesties
Above the enameled plain!
America! America!
God shed his grace on thee
Till souls wax fair as earth and air
And music-hearted sea!

O beautiful for pilgrims feet,
Whose stern impassioned stress
A thoroughfare for freedom beat
Across the wilderness!
America ! America !
God shed his grace on thee
Till paths be wrought through
wilds of thought
By pilgrim foot and knee!

O beautiful for glory-tale
Of liberating strife
When once and twice,
for man’s avail
Men lavished precious life !
America! America!
God shed his grace on thee
Till selfish gain no longer stain
The banner of the free!

O beautiful for patriot dream
That sees beyond the years
Thine alabaster cities gleam
Undimmed by human tears!
America! America!
God shed his grace on thee
Till nobler men keep once again
Thy whiter jubilee!

By Katherine Lee Bates

Getting “to know” the library again

2009-06-24T20:37:00.000-07:00

"A new adventure awaits!"

Ever since grade school I have held such an intense fascination for books. They were my form of escape.

Through college I used to live at the library eager to get into my hands a brand new world…reading pages upon pages of the most delicious…exciting adventures…always imagined myself in the position of the heroine.

I miss those days–reading the classics, one of my favorites were those penned by Charlotte and Emily Brontë .

Planning to get a library card and renew my lifelong passion.

The New Nation – Internet Edition

2009-06-15T00:38:00.000-07:00

Story Summary:…Even when Dr Abdul Kalam, then President, raised the subject based on my inputs there was no sincere attempt to clarify the position….Technically the tests should be carried out against a non-vaccinated group….Independent private studies (Dutch & German) have revealed that vaccinated children suffer much more than their un-vaccinated counterparts….There are no tests to determine the effects of multiple vaccines….As per senior doctors quoted by the Times of India, Children suffer from less that 2% of vaccine preventable illnesses but 98% of the vaccines are targeted towards them….Children are vaccinated simply because parents can be frightened to forcefully vaccinate their children….Parents have been advised against vaccinating in private clinics and hospitals….Vaccines contain heavy metals, cancer causing substances, toxic chemicals, live and genetically modified viruses, contaminated serum containing animal viruses and foreign genetic material, extremely toxic de-contaminants and adjuvants, untested antibiotics, none of which can be injected without causing any harm….The CDC of USA, the vaccine watchdog, has publicly admitted that its much-publicized 2003 study denying any link between vaccines and autism, is flawed….The Autism epidemic is found only in those countries that have allowed mass vaccinations….In the year 1999, the US Government instructed vaccine manufacturers to remove mercury from vaccines with immediate effect….The brain being made mostly of fat cells, most of the mercury accumulates there giving rise to the peculiar symptoms of the autistic children….As per a Tehelka article on Autism, if one considers the WHO limit for mercury in water, they are receiving 50,000 times the limit….It destroys the brain causing severe memory and attention problems….The majority of symptoms displayed by autistic children match symptoms of heavy metal poisoning….Majority of the school shootings by the children in the USA have been committed by autistic children….As per a recent study the MMR vaccine has an adverse effect on the vital mucosal immune system….The DPT also causes children to regress giving rise to fears that multiple live virus vaccines are an important cause behind autism….Before the autism epidemic, it was already well known that vaccines have caused the cancer epidemic in todays society….This serum has helped many cancer causing monkey viruses, 60 found so far (SV 1 to SV60), to enter the human blood stream….It is also known that it is the use of green monkey serum in vaccines that has led to the transfer of the Simian Immune deficiency Virus (SIV) from monkeys into humans….Infantile jaundice and also infantile diabetes is also scientifically connected to the toxic vaccines….The OPV has also let loose a new strain of polio in both India and Africa….Deaths and permanent disability from vaccines is very common and known by the medical community….They are instructed by the Government to keep quiet and not to associate such cases with vaccines….Suppressing these diseases causes the immune system to remain undeveloped causing the various autoimmune disorders like diabetes and arthritis that have become epidemics today….The mothers milk therefore does not contain natural antibodies and can no longer protect the child against illnesses….In the USA vaccine adverse effects are recorded and the Government offers compensation of millions of dollars to victims (the most recent case in its Vaccine Court may have received upto $200 million in damages)….The Indian Government simply refuses to acknowledge that vaccines can cause deaths and permanent disability….We still do not know enough about the human immune system and therefore should not interfere with it….In India the Government assures the population through massive advertising campaigns that vaccines are extremely safe….Senior medical doctors have challenged even the vaccines recommended by the Government of India….The BCG vaccine for tuberculosis has been extensively tested in India as long back as 1961 and found to be totally ineffective….The Hep-B vaccine introduced recently is not meant for children at all, it is a vaccine for a sexually transmitted disease that should be targeted only at promiscuous adults….The doctors themselves avoid giving the DPT to their children and relatives as per a survey amongst US health care professionals….The Rotavirus vaccine, Hib vaccine, HPV vaccine and the various multi virus vaccines being introduced without any kind of testing is only because the vaccine manufacturers and the doctors administering them want to ensure a good income from them….They care two hoots about medical ethics and the fate of the children who will receive these vaccines….Various independent studies, notably the Dutch and the more recent German study, comparing vaccinated with unvaccinated children have found that vaccinated children are prone to asthma, dermatitis, allergies, hyperactivity etc. The death rate amongst vaccinated children is much more than the unvaccinated ones….The powerful countries can spread lethal epidemics by just polluting the vaccines with bio warfare agents….This is obviously at the instance of foreign (read US) vaccine giants who are shifting base to India reeling at the tremendous opposition to vaccines in US and European countries….The Govt of India is planning a vaccine park at Chennai where these vaccine MNCs will set up base….As per the IOM, USA, vaccine research for a probable link between vaccines and autism should not be conducted….The IOM concluded that efforts to find a link between vaccines and autism must be balanced against the broader benefit of the current vaccine program for all children…

Times Online - Science Central - WBLG: The Times Debate: Your Genetic Future

2009-06-09T06:42:00.000-07:00

Story Summary:…Kari bridled at this, eyes blazing like lava floes in Giless wonderful phrase, and insisted this was simply untrue….But I sided with Helen on another issue, which provoked a less predictable explosion from Kari and a declaration that I was unimpeachably wrong….This time, Karis ire was inspired by my comment that most genetic effects are probabalistic, not deterministic….Most people wrongly still think of genetics as primarily a deterministic science, a matter of effects that are written in the genes, when genetic influences are usually much more fuzzy….Ownership of one of these does not mean that you will get this disease or that, only that your genetic risk is higher than average….This has to be taken into account when we think about genetic discrimination….It means that assessing somebodys suitability for a job on the basis of their DNA would not only be unfair, but also misguided….This doesnt means that genetic testing will not have great medical utility….It will — not least in identifying higher-risk people who might usefully be screened early for diseases such as breast and prostate cancer….Pick your candidate on the basis of his or her genes, and you stand a very good chance of missing out on the one who would perform best….Mark Hendersonis Science Editor of The Times, and a double winner of the Norwich Union / Medical Journalists Association awards….He is the author of 50 Genetics Ideas You Really Need to Know….He is the author of 50 Genetics Ideas You Really Need to Know….Sam Listeris the Health Editor of The Times….She has a PhD in space physics from Imperial College but has long given up being a proper scientist….She has a PhD in space physics from Imperial College but has long given up being a proper scientist….Read the Full Story

Come, let's change the life and let's change the world - together - for one and for all!

2009-06-07T03:09:00.001-07:00

Will you run with me, enjoying and free?

I promise you, you will lose nothing but for your worries.

Come, let's change the life and let's change the world - together - for one and for all!

I am addressing you...

You - who still are left with some fire within!

Just don't let it extinguish, just keep it burning till you keep running!

But let's stop for a moment and take a close look at the facts of life first; using our gray matter intelligently in order to ascertain what has gone wrong and where.

Come; let's, at least, try to change the life and let's, at least, try to change the world - together - for one and for all!

Even trying is its own fun in itself!

Let's change the world!

...the way we live,

...the way we love,

...the way we learn,

...the way we earn,

...the way we play,

...the way we slay,

...the way we rule,

...the way we fool,

...the way we act,

...and interact,

let's change it all,

and break every wall,

between man and man,

O yes, we CAN!

What has gone wrong, and where?

2009-06-07T03:08:00.001-07:00

I lived many years a victim to all the socio-economic pressures on to my psyche that it preys on us with.

But then one fine morning I said enough was enough.

I came out of the maze.

I stepped out of the rat race.

But that didn't mean that I stopped running.

I did that at my own pace.

And surprisingly I discovered I ran faster than I did when I was running to win!

Structure For Life

2009-06-03T20:12:00.000-07:00

Welcome to Structure for Life, the practice of Erin Herdina, Certified Advanced Rolfer in Minnetonka, Minnesota. I am dedicated to enhancing the health and well-being of my clients through Structural Integration, the science and art of Rolfing.

If you are not yet familiar with Rolfing or Structural Integration, I've provided information About Rolfing that I hope you will find useful:

Questions? Need a consultation?

If you have comments or questions about my services, or if you simply want more information, please contact me.

Thank you for visiting and I look forward to working with you.

Biodiversity

2009-05-31T06:05:00.000-07:00

UNESCO: A key actor in the fulfilment of the global biodiversity agenda

©Ventoux BR

Biodiversity, the variety of life on Earth, is disappearing at an unprecedented and most likely increasing rate. This situation contradicts the international "2010 Biodiversity Target", which aims at significantly reducing the rate of biodiversity loss by 2010. Science and governance for conserving and sustainably and equitably using biodiversity are key elements to decrease the rate of its loss. Since its early days, UNESCO's Man and the Biosphere Programme has initiated programmes and activities focusing on the diversity and the resources provided by nature, humans' impacts on biodiversity, as well as how biodiversity affects human activities. These initiatives are intended to contribute to the fulfillment of a global biodiversity agenda

Special Rapporteur focuses on the right to education of persons in detention

2009-05-29T17:06:00.001-07:00

Kenitra Penitentiary, Morocco

27-05-2009
People in detention constitute a highly marginalized group that faces endemic violations of its right to education, according to a report recently presented to the United Nations Human Rights Council.

The annual report of the Special Rapporteur on the right to education notes that a disproportionate number of persons in prison come from poor, discriminated and marginalized groups.

An estimated 30 percent have learning disabilities. Global statistics suggest that at least 1 million children are detained, of which many have a history of school failure. There is no guarantee, according to the report, of access to education for all children in detention. The report also assesses education programmes for children living in prison with their mothers and draws attention to the status of women in prisons. It details complex educational challenges faced by prisoners, including the absence of educational materials, waiting lists of up to three years for courses, staff shortages, the absence of learning spaces and the withdrawal of educational “privileges” as a punitive measure.

Learning in prison through educational programmes is generally considered a tool of change. Their value can be judged by the impact on recidivism, reintegration and employment outcomes upon release. The report demonstrates an urgent need to redouble efforts to respect, protect and fulfill the right to education. It recommends that public education be made available to all detainees to at least cover the compulsory education curriculum.

22 New Sites Join the UNESCO's World Network of Biosphere Reserves

2009-05-28T01:58:00.001-07:00

Have a look at the photo gallery below

©UNESCO-MAB
Geres /Xures BR

The 21st session of the International Coordinating Council of the Man and the Biosphere Programme (MAB-ICC) is held from 25 to 29 May 2009 on the Island of Jeju, Republic of Korea. Today the MAB-ICC decided to add 22 new sites from 17 countries to the UNESCO's World Network of Biosphere Reserves (WNBR) which now counts 553 sites in 107 countries. The new sites include:

Lagunas de Montebello, Mexico, is set in a hydrological region of high biological diversity. Its location - in the area that connects the Highland region of Chiapas and the coastal plain of the Gulf of Mexico, which corresponds to the central massif - makes it particularly important. The karst landscape and more than 50 lagoons of varying sizes give the area its scenic beauty. The site is critically important for water harvesting and climate regulation. Local communities are involved in the management of the site's ecological resources. They practice a range of agricultural activities increasingly focusing on practices compatible with conservation function. For example the traditional coffee production has shifted to organic production with organic conversion of the grain which, together with reforestation and tourism activities have emerged as alternatives which support the sustainable development of the area.

Fuerteventura, Spain, is the second biggest island of the Canaries archipelago, close to the West African Coast. It includes a wide range of ecosystems from desert or semi-desert areas to coastal and marine habitats. While the island is characterized by a rich diversity of marine species, including dolphins and cachalots, as well as marine turtles that reproduce on its beaches, the biosphere reserve also represents one of the world’s major geopalentological observatories. Development of sustainable ecotourism practices is the major focus of the population living on the island. The island is also investing in the increase of its renewable energy capacity, mainly through wind-based and solar energy production and is representing itself as one of the models for the implementation of the European Union's Directive on Renewable Energy.

Flores Island, Portugal, part of the western group of the Azores archipelago, represents the surface part of a seamount close to the Mid Atlantic Riff. It was created by volcanic activity which started less than 10 million years ago. The biosphere reserve includes the whole emerged area of Flores Island and some adjacent marine areas with significant landscape, geological, environmental and cultural assets. High cliffs dominate most of the coastline, which is dotted with islets. The area supports traditional fishing and attracts valuable tourism, specifically for diving, whale and dolphin watching and shore walking.

Delta del Orinoco, Venezuela, is characterized by great biological diversity in its terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems, home to more than 2,000 plant species and a wide array of land and water fauna. The biosphere reserve’s biodiversity is complemented by the cultural wealth of the Warao people. Promoting productive activities within the site creates opportunities to strengthen the Warao communities, secure their settlements and improve their living conditions.

Mount Myohyang, Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, is a sacred site as, according to legend, it was the home of King Tangun, forefather of the Korean people. The scenic mountainous area rises nearly 2,000 metres above sea level. Its spectacular rocks and cliffs provide a habitat for 30 endemic plant species; 16 plant species that are globally threatened and 12 animal species that are also endangered. A wide variety of medicinal herbs also grows in the site.

Shinan Dadohae, Republic of Korea, comprises an island archipelago in the southwest of the country. It includes terrestrial and marine areas as well as large tidal flats, which are home to a great diversity of species and serve as resting places for rare migratory birds. Traditional forms of fishing (e.g. hand-fishing) and salt production are still practiced in this area.

Great Sandy, Australia, a terrestrial, coastal, marine area, features the largest rainforest stand on sand in the world. It includes the natural site of Fraser Island with its freshwater dune lakes, which was inscribed on UNESCO’s World Heritage List in 1992. The local community Burnett Mary Regional Group for Nature Resources Management has promoted the designation of the area as a biosphere reserve fostering ecotourism and niche organic agriculture.

Nokrek, India, is a biological hotspot in the state of Meghalaya featuring undisturbed natural ecosystems and landscapes. Besides harbouring elephants, tigers, leopards and hollock gibbons, the area is also noted for its wild varieties of citrus fruit which may come to serve as a genepool for commercially produced citrus.

Pachmarhi, India, is located in the heart of India, in Madya Pradesh State, and includes tiger and other wildlife reserves. At the interface of several types of forest - tropical, moist and dry as well as sub-tropical hill forests - the area is considered a botanist’s paradise. Through their social and cultural traditions, local tribes contribute to conservation of the forest while drawing on a variety of resources for nutrition, agriculture and income generation.

Similipal, India, is a tiger reserve in the eastern Indian state of Orissa, which used to be the hunting ground of the Maharajah of Mayurbhanj. This tropical environment abounds with tigers, elephants, panthers, deer and numerous plant species, making it a living laboratory for environmental scientists. The area’s tribal inhabitants depend on agriculture, hunting and collection of forest products for their livelihoods but additional sources of income are badly needed to alleviate their poverty.

Giam Siak Kecil – Bukit Batu, Indonesia, is a peatland area in Sumatra featuring sustainable timber production and two wildlife reserves, which are home to the Sumatran tiger, elephant, tapir, and sun bear. Research activities in the biosphere include the monitoring of flagship species and in-depth study on peatland ecology. Initial studies indicate good potential for sustainable economic development using flora and fauna for the inhabitants’ economic welfare. The site is also an interesting experimental area regarding carbon dioxide (CO₂) in the context of carbon trade mechanisms.

Mui Ca Mau, Viet Nam, on the southern tip of the country, demonstrates ecological succession systems on new alluvial lands. Its conservation value is further marked by its role as the boundary between mangrove and Melaleuca forests, and as a reproduction and breeding area of marine species. Plans for the sustainable development of the site focus on ecotourism and cultural tourism to showcase the inhabitants’ rich heritage. Training is also planned to improve agriculture and fishing.

Jabal Moussa, Lebanon, is located on the shoulders of the western slopes of the northern Mount Lebanon Chain facing the Mediterranean Sea to the west. It is a relatively large (6,500 ha), wild and unspoiled area protected by municipal laws that aim to conserve its ecological integrity, natural systems and species. Jabal Moussa is renowned for the unspoiled historic Adonis Valley with its ancient agricultural terraces and trails that date back to Roman times. The valley features rivers and streams, rangeland with landraces, mixed forests with oak, pine and olive groves and many economically important plant species, as well as undisturbed wildlife habitats that are home to wolves, hyenas, hyraxes, birds and reptiles.

Lajat, Syria, is located in the southernmost point of Syria on the border with Jordan. The site, known for its extremely diverse biological richness, encompasses some of the most striking landscapes in the region. It offers significant opportunities for developing ecologically sustainable human activity, through existing rotation grazing schemes, landscape restoration and excavations, and development of the Lajat archaeological ruins. Lajat also provides educational opportunities to illustrate the importance of fauna and flora in local life and economy as well as the interdependence of cultural and biological diversity.

Biosphäre Bliesgau, Germany, is applying the concept of the “in-between-city” approach to link two very contrasting landscapes, densely populated and urbanized in the north in the town of St Ingbert, and sparsely populated and rural in the south. It supports extensive ongoing research on ecological changes in its urban, suburban and rural areas in the context of global climate change. The range of activities demonstrating sustainable development, including educational and environmental awareness initiatives, is a source of inspiration for the region. A special Biosphere Association has been established for the site.

Swabian Alb, Germany, is located in the European Jura, with beech forests and extensive orchards as well as pine and spruce forest, grassland and extensive meadows. Close to Stuttgart, it covers a total area of 84,500 ha and has a population of 150,000. Programmes for sustainable development for the biosphere include agriculture and forestry, green businesses and ecotourism, as well as the promotion of local products and cottage industries and there are plans to bolster renewable energy use, notably for transportation. The biosphere includes the Münsingen Military Training Area in the Hilly Alb, an area that was closed to the public during 110 years, until 2005. It remained undisturbed; retaining the characteristics of 18th and 19th century cultural landscapes and is one of the largest noise-free areas in Baden-Württemberg.

Altaisky, Russian Federation, is located in the North-Eastern and Eastern Altaï along major mountain ranges. Noteworthy for its biodiversity and cultural heritage, it covers 3,532,234 ha and is home to 15,000 inhabitants. The core area is a part of the Golden Mountains of the natural UNESCO World Heritage site of Altaï. The site, which cooperates with Ubsunurskaya Kotlovina Biosphere Reserve and the Khakassky national reserve, is important for tourism, including the development of green tourism. Established as a reserve in 1932, it is among the areas of the world least affected by human intervention and has rich flora and fauna. Indigenous populations living in the biosphere’s transitional area include Tubalars, Chelkants, Telengits, Kumandins, Telengits, Kumandins, and Teleuts.

Vhembe, South Afica is world renowned for its rich cultural and biological diversity. It includes northern part of the Kruger National Park, Makuleke Wetlands Ramsar Site, the Soutpansberg and Blouberg bio-diversity hot spots, as well as the Mapungube Cultural Landscape World Heritage Site and the Makgabeng Plateau with more than 1000 rock art sites. Human activities in the site are predominately agricultural, including production of subtropical fruits and vegetables, cattle and game farming and hunting. The Venda, Shangaan and Sepedi people, who are the main population group in the area, have a rich history of traditional indigenous knowledge ranging from wood carving and drum making to traditional healing.

Desnianskyi, Ukraine is located in Eastern Polesie, along the Desna River. With a total surface of 58,000 ha, the site covers a mosaic of ecosystems, including forests, rivers, lakes, flood plains, bogs. It is an important site for environmental research, including monitoring of rare species such as bears and lynx. The main human activities focus on agriculture, forestry, fishery and sport hunting. Main sustainable development activities include organic agriculture and green tourism on the Desna river as well educational activities developed in the context of the ‘Desnianski Zori”ecological camp for schoolchildren. Tranfrontier sustainable tourism is being developed in collaboration with the Russian Federation with efforts to establish a Transboundary Biosphere Reserve between the two countries.

Geres /Xures is a transboundary biosphere reserve situated between Portugal and Spain and established on the basis of the biogeographical continuity of the Sierras Galaico-Miñotas and associated valleys shared by both countries. The importance of the site from an ecological standpoint is due to the richness of forest and peatland ecosystems and a high level of endemic species which had developed under both oceanic and Mediterranean climatic influences. With local communities forming an integral part of the regional landscape, sustainable development centres have been established in the biosphere reserve to support municipalities in their efforts to strengthen the environmental sustainability criteria in local development. With a joint management plan both countries will be able to benefit from each other’s experience and cooperate in the sustainable management of ecosystems and related services of shared characteristics for the benefits of local communities.

Cu Lao Cham – Hoi An,Viet Nam, is a coastal/island/marine site in the central part of the country, which is particularly known for its marine species such as corals, molluscs, crustaceans and seaweed. The biosphere reserve also contains Hoi An, a cultural world heritage site, which is an ancient trading port evidencing the fusion of Vietnamese and European cultures. The linking of cultural assets and natural values in terms of biodiversity, Cu Lao Cham – Hoi An is well poised in promoting sustainable ecotourism.

Tasik Chini, Malaysia, is the country’s first site as a UNESCO designated biosphere reserve. Located in the southern part of the Malaysian peninsula, the site is the water catchment area of Tasik Chini Lake situated in the centre of the biosphere reserve. The lake is a sanctuary for many endemic freshwater species on which intensive research and monitoring is carried out by various research institutions. Handicraft production (such as textiles) around the lake and its tributary rivers are seen to have great development potential for the larger area.

World Heritage Committee to meet in Seville to inscribe new sites on UNESCO’s World Heritage List

2009-05-27T07:56:00.000-07:00

Photo © UNESCO/Renato Valterza
Seville Cathedral

The World Heritage Committee will consider requests for the inscription of new sites on UNESCO’s World Heritage List when it meets for its 33rd session in Seville, Spain, from 22 to 30 June.

During this year’s session - to be chaired by María Jesús San Segundo, the Ambassador and Permanent Delegate of Spain to UNESCO - 35 States Parties to the World Heritage Convention will present properties for inscription on UNESCO’s World Heritage List. Three of those countries - Burkina Faso, Cape Verde and Kyrgyzstan - have no properties inscribed on the World Heritage List to date.

Thirty new properties in total were submitted for inscription on the World Heritage List this year: 4 natural, 23 cultural and 3 mixed (i.e. both natural and cultural) properties, including 4 transnational nominations. In addition, 7 extensions to properties already listed have been proposed (see list below).
The Committee will also review the state of conservation of the 30 World Heritage properties inscribed on the List of World Heritage in Danger and may decide to add to that list new properties whose preservation requires special attention. The List in Danger features sites which are threatened by a variety of problems such as pollution, urban development, poorly managed mass tourism, wars, and natural disasters, which have a negative impact on the outstanding values for which the sites were inscribed on the World Heritage List.

One of the properties on the List in Danger, the cultural landscape of Germany’s Dresden Elbe Valley, will come under particular scrutiny as the Committee will decide whether to remove the property from the World Heritage List because of the building of a bridge in the heart of the landscape.

To date, the World Heritage List recognizes 878 properties of “outstanding universal value,” including 679 cultural, 174 natural and 25 mixed properties in 145 States Parties.

The Convention encourages international cooperation to safeguard the common heritage of humanity. With 186 States Parties, it is one of the most widely ratified international legal instruments. When signing the Convention, States Parties commit to identifying sites for potential inscription and to preserving sites on the World Heritage List, as well as sites of national and regional importance, notably by providing an appropriate legal and regulatory framework.

The World Heritage Committee, responsible for the implementation of the 1972 Convention, comprises representatives of 21 countries, elected by the States Parties for up to six years. Each year, the Committee adds new sites to the List. The sites are proposed by the States Parties. Applications are then reviewed by two advisory bodies: cultural sites by the International Council on Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS), and natural sites by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), which inform the Committee of their recommendations. The International Centre for the Study of the Preservation and Conservation of Cultural Heritage (ICCROM) provides expert advice on conservation and training in restoration techniques.

The World Heritage Committee also examines reports on the state of conservation of inscribed sites and asks States Parties to take appropriate conservation and preservation measures when necessary. The Committee supervises the disbursement of over $4 million annually from the World Heritage Fund, aimed, among other purposes, at emergency action, training of experts and encouraging technical cooperation. UNESCO’s World Heritage Centre is the Secretariat of the World Heritage Committee.

Accredited journalists will be able to attend the opening ceremony of the 33rd session (22 June), which will include the participation of the Chairperson of the World Heritage Committee, representatives of the government of Spain, the Director-General of UNESCO, Koïchiro Matsuura, the President of UNESCO’s General Conference, George N. Anastassopoulos (Greece), and the Chairman of UNESCO’s Executive Board, Olabiyi Babalola Joseph Yaï (Benin). They will be informed of the work and decisions of the Committee in regular press conferences during the Committee session.

Natural properties submitted for inscription to the World Heritage List:
The Wadden Sea (Germany and the Netherlands);
The Dolomites (Italy);
Tubbataha Reefs Natural Park (extension to the Tubbataha Reef Marine Park, the Philippines);
Korean Cretaceous Dinosaur Coast (Republic of Korea);
Lena Pillars Nature Park (Russian Federation).

Cultural properties submitted for inscription to the World Heritage List:
The Architectural and Urban Work of Le Corbusier (Argentina, Belgium, France, Germany, Japan, Switzerland);
City of Graz – Historic Centre and Schloss Eggenberg (Extension to the City of Graz Historic Centre, Austria);
Tangible Spiritual Heritage of St. Euphrosyne of Polotsk (Belarus);
Stoclet House (Belgium);
Cultural property of the historic town of Jajce (Bosnia and Herzegovina);
Gold Route in Paraty and its Landscape (Brazil);
The Ruins of Loropéni (Burkina Faso);
Cidade Velha, Historic Centre of Ribeira Grande (Cape Verde);
Historic monuments of Mount Songshan (China);
Historic town of Grand-Bassam (Côte d’Ivoire);
Sites of Great Moravia: Slavonic Fortified Settlement at Mikulčice – Church of St Margaret of Antioch at Kopčany (Czech Republic and Slovakia);
The Causses and the Cévennes (France);
From the Great Saltworks of Salins-les-Bains to the Royal Saltworks of Arc-et-Senans, the production of open-pan salt (Extension to the Royal Saltworks of Arc-et-Senans, France);
Schwetzingen – A Prince Elector’s Summer Residence – Garden Design and Freemasonic Allusions (Germany);
Shushtar Historical Hydraulic System - Bridges, dams, canals, buildings and watermills from ancient time to present (Iran);
The Triple-arch Gate at Dan (Israel);
Italia Langobardorum. Places of power and worship (568-774 A.D., Italy);
Sulamain-Too Sacred Mountain (Kyrgyzstan);
The Mercury and Silver Binomial on the Intercontinental Camino Real. Almadén, Idrija and San Luis Potosí (Mexico, Slovenia and Spain);
Mehrgarh, Rehman Dheri and Harappa as an extension to the Indus Valley Civilization Sites (Extension to the Archaeological Ruins at Moenjodaro, Pakistan);
Sacred City of Caral-Supe (Peru);
Royal Tombs of the Joseon Dynasty (Republic of Korea);
Church of the Resurrection of Suceviţa Monastery (Extension to the Churches of Moldavia, Romania);
Levoča and the Work of Master Paul in Spiš (Extension to Spišský Hrad and its Associated Cultural Monuments, Slovakia);
Tower of Hercules (Spain);
Seruwila Mangala Raja Maha Viharaya (Extension of the Sacred City of Kandy, Sri Lanka);
Farms and Villages in Hälsingland (Sweden);
La Chaux-de-Fonds / Le Locle, Clock-making town planning (Switzerland);
Pontcysyllte Aqueduct and Canal (United Kingdom).

Mixed properties submitted for inscription to the World Heritage List:
Mount Wutai (China);
Lonjsko Polje Nature Park - A Living Landscape and the Floodplain Ecosystem of the Central Sava Basin (Croatia);
The Cultural Landscape Orheuil Vechi (Republic of Moldova).

Please note that States Parties can withdraw a nomination request before the start of the Committee meeting.

Jean Michel Jarre acts as Master of Ceremonies for the Global Launch of the International Year of Astronomy (2009)

2009-05-25T17:38:00.000-07:00

10-05-2009 2:25 pm Mr Jean Michel Jarre, UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador, served as Master of Ceremonies the Global Launch ceremony of the International Year of Astronomy(2009), which took place at UNESCO Headquarters on 15 and 16 January.Mr Jean Michel Jarre during the ceremony.jpg

The Year, a joint initiative of UNESCO and the International Astronomical Union (IAU), which was proclaimed through Resolution 62/200 adopted by the United Nations General Assembly in December 2007, has the ultimate aim of encouraging citizens of the world, especially young people, to rediscover the universe in which we live and to promote widespread access to the basic sciences and to increase scientific literacy, especially among youth. The Year also aims to promote the role of women in astronomy and the sciences and help developing countries strengthen their capacity in the astronomical sciences.

Also participating in the Global launch opening ceremony were Mrs Catherine Cesarsky, President of the IAU, Mr Reynald Seznec President and CEO of Thales Alenia Space, and Mr Giuseppe Pizza, Vice-Minister for Education, Universities and Scientific Research of Italy.

In his opening address, Mr Matsuura, Director-General of UNESCO, began by noting that “the celebration of the International Year of Astronomy (IYA) is the culmination of the vision and hard work of many partners.” He continued by paying tribute to the IAU, whose leadership had been instrumental in making this vision a reality.

He highlighted that the Year provides us with a fantastic opportunity to expand the knowledge and understanding of the universe, its stars and planets, and their link to and impact on our daily life, and enable all people to explore the wonders of the universe and appreciate the benefits of its study for society

There are quite a few events taking place throughout the Year, notably the eleven cornerstone projects. These projects are comprised by such events as the worldwide observation of “100 Hours of Astronomy”, a round-the-clock awareness-raising event spanning all the continents and scheduled to take place from 2 to 5 April, and the “Dark Skies Awareness” project, which aims to preserve and protect dark night skies in places such as urban cultural landscapes, national parks and sites connected with astronomical observations.

Mr Matsuura highlighted UNESCO's thematic initiative, “Astronomy and World Heritage”, whose main objective is to establish a link between science and culture and acknowledging the cultural and scientific values of properties connected with astronomy. The Director-General ended his intervention by underscoring that the sky belonged to all of mankind, regardless of beliefs and religions and was therefore a tool for peace and understanding among the peoples of the Earth.

NESCO Publications

2009-05-24T16:56:00.000-07:00

UNESCO publications consist of substantive material published for external audiences. They concern a variety of media, including print, electronic and multimedia, and include both free
Publications and Distribution Plan – overview 2008 and 2009

The following resources provide easy to consult information on UNESCO publications issued in 2008 and planned for 2009:

Publication and Distribution Plan – Titles published in 2008 (PDF, 25 p): key information about publications issued in 2008

Publication & Distribution Plan – Titles to be Published in 2009 (PDF, 25 p): key information about publications planned for 2009

UNESDOC@lerts Publication: on this page, you can subscribe to the UNESDOC Publication Plan alert, which gives you personalized access to information on new UNESCO publications.

New biosphere reserves to be announced

2009-05-24T06:18:00.001-07:00

The 21st session of the International Coordinating Council of the Man and the Biosphere Programme (MAB-ICC) will be held from 25 to 29 May on the Island of Jeju, Republic of Korea. The MAB-ICC will review progress made since the Madrid Action Plan (MAP) for Biosphere Reserves was adopted at its 20th session in Madrid, Spain in February 2008 and decide on proposals for the future of the Programme. Among the decisions, new sites will be added to the UNESCO's World Network of Biosphere Reserves (WNBR).

Thirty-six proposals from 25 countries* will be examined by the MAB-ICC. Selected sites will join the Network that currently comprises 531 sites in 105 countries.

Biosphere Reserves are areas designated by local and national authorities to serve as places to test different approaches to integrated management of land, water and biodiversity. As such, Biosphere Reserves are being promoted as working models for sustainable development, as a specific MAB contribution to the UN Decade of Education for Sustainable Development (2005-2014).

The award ceremony for the winners of the US$6,000 2009 Michel Batisse Award for Biosphere Reserve Management - Boshra Salem (Egypt) and Gorshkov Yu (Russian Federation) – will also take place during the MAB Council meeting.

Launched in the early 1970s, the Man and the Biosphere Programme (MAB) develops the basis and proposes an interdisciplinary research agenda, within the natural and the social sciences, for the sustainable use and conservation of biological diversity, and for the improvement of the relationship between people and their environment globally. It uses its World Network of Biosphere Reserves as a vehicle for knowledge-sharing, research and monitoring, education and training, and participatory decision-making.

***

* Australia, Brazil, Chile, Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, Finland, Germany, India, Indonesia, Iran, Lebanon, Malaysia, Mexico, Mongolia, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Russian Federation, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Syria, Ukraine, United Kingdom, Venezuela, Viet Nam, Zimbabwe

MedLiHer, Mediterranean Living Heritage

2009-05-23T01:58:00.001-07:00

* Meetings
* 25/26-05-2009, Paris: Opening seminar of the Mediterranean Living Heritage project (MEDLIHER)

Contribution to implementing the Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage in Mediterranean partner countries

With the support of the European Union, UNESCO has launched the Mediterranean Living Heritage Project (MEDLIHER) to support the implementation of the Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage in Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon and the Syrian Arab Republic, with the participation of the Maison des Cultures du Monde (France).
Location of Mediterranean MedLiHer partners
©UNESCO

The project’s overall objective is long-term capacity-building for implementation of the Convention in the Mediterranean countries, in particular by developing national safeguarding projects and supporting the participation of States Parties in international mechanisms. The action is also intended to improve regional cooperation and exchange of skills/experience by establishing a network of institutions and developing a web portal with a database.

MEDLIHER is co-funded by the European Union through its Euromed Heritage Programme, which aims at contributing to mutual understanding and dialogue between cultures through the Mediterranean region by the valorization of cultural heritage. Euromed Heritage 4 (2008-2012) creates new opportunities for people’s awareness and appropriation of their extraordinary common cultural heritage.

Following a selection process led by the European Commission’s Co-operation Office and the delegations to Morocco and Syria with the support of the RMSU, MEDLIHER was selected together with other 11 projects within Euromed Heritage 4.

* Project description
* Partners and contacts
* Opening seminar : 25/26-05-2009, UNESCO Headquarters (room IV)

MedLiHer, Mediterranean Living Heritage

2009-05-23T01:58:00.000-07:00

Africa Week at UNESCO from 25 to 29 May

2009-05-21T04:09:00.000-07:00

“Africa Within its Cultural and Sports Dynamics” is the theme this year for Africa Week, organized at UNESCO headquarters from 25 to 29 May. Several events organized by the Africa Group of member states to mark Africa Day (25 May) will highlight the continent’s wealth in these domains. Also in the context of Africa Week, the President of the Republic of Mali, Amadou Toumani Touré, will present a lecture on 29 May entitled “Conflict management: the example of Mali”.

For the whole week an exhibition (in Miró hall and the Salle des Pas Perdus) will present individual stands (African arts and crafts, sports and traditional games), multimedia stands including one for the African Nations Cup (CAN) to be held in 2010 in Angola, and other special stands devoted to the 2010 soccer World Cup (South Africa), the “Arts Nègres” world festival (Senegal), and the reinstallation of the Aksum Obelisk (Ethiopia).

Four films will be screened during the week: Le Ballon d’or, by Cheik Doucouré, with Salif Keita (25 May, 6 p.m.); Endurance, a tribute by British director Leslie Woodhead to Haile Gebreselassie, young Ethiopian who won the 10.000 metres at the Atlanta Olympics in 1996 (26 May, 6 p.m.); Destiny, by Youssef Chahine (27 May, 6 p.m.); and La rivale by Edouard Carrion from France (28 May, 6 p.m.).

Lectures and debates (Room IV) will address the following topics: Africa-Caribbean: cultural identity and development issues (26 May, 4 p.m.); Sport and development in Africa: challenges (27 May, 4 p.m.); and Cultural diversity assets…in the context of the global crisis (28 May, 4 p.m.).

On 29 May, the President of the Republic of Mali, Amadou Toumani Touré, will make an official visit to UNESCO. After a meeting with Koïchiro Matsuura, Director-General of UNESCO, he will give a lecture (Room I, 10.35 a.m. to 12.15 p.m.) entitled “Conflict management: the example of Mali” to the Ambassadors and Permanent Delegates.

On the same day, an Anti-Doping Forum will be held, with athletes from Africa and the diaspora, including: Zinedine Zidane, Hadhari Djaffar (Comoros), Sergado (Côte d’Ivoire), Sammy Traoré (Mali) and Simão Mate (Mozambique).

Africa Week will end on 29 May with a cultural and artistic evening (6 p.m., Room I, by invitation).

21st Session of the International Coordinating Council of the Man and the Biosphere (MAB) Programme

2009-05-20T09:38:00.000-07:00

25-29 May 2009
Jeju KAL Hotel,
Jeju City,
Jeju Special Self-Governing Province,
Republic of Korea

The 21st session of the MAB-ICC will be held from 25 to 29 May 2009 in the Island of Jeju, Republic of Korea. The MAB-ICC will review progress made in the implementation of the Madrid Action Plan adopted at its 20th session and decide on proposals for the future of the Programme. Among the decisions, new sites will be added to the UNESCO's World Network of Biosphere Reserves

Education and culture top priorities for UNESCO Director-General’s first visit to Iraq

2009-05-19T01:35:00.000-07:00

Literacy, higher education and the restoration of a World Heritage site were top priorities when Koïchiro Matsuura, Director-General of UNESCO, and Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki met in Baghdad on 7 May. Following their meeting the Director General signed three memoranda of understanding with the Government of Iraq.

“UNESCO’s leadership in education and cultural heritage builds on our existing work and notable successes in Iraq since we started here more than six years ago,” the Director General said. “We are adding to our activities now with the support of the Government of Iraq and we appreciate this vote of confidence.”

The memoranda of understanding focus on two critical areas for the Iraqi government, education and the preservation of historical sites. The Iraqi government will co-finance the following activities:

• A National Literacy Campaign: Designed to reduce illiteracy by 50% in the next five years. Illiteracy is currently pegged at about 5 million people.

• Establishing the College of Archaeology: To be located at the universities of Samara and Kofa for the purposes of developing a national capacity to maintain and protect the heritage of the country for future generations.

• Restoration of the Al-Malawyah Minaret, the Great Mosque, Samara: Part of the Samara Archaeological City, which was placed on the list of World Heritage Sites in danger. UNESCO has been actively involved in restoration of historical sites in Iraq, including the Great Mosque of Samara, as well as protecting Iraqi antiquities.

The Director General’s delegation included Her Highness Sheikha Mozah Bint Nasser Al-Missned in her capacity as both First Lady of Qatar and UNESCO Special Envoy for Basic and Higher Education. Her Highness confirmed that Qatar will fund three UNESCO education projects in Iraq focusing on Curriculum Review, Support to Higher Education and Support for Iraqi Academics.

In addition to his meetings with the Prime Minister, the Director General spoke by telephone with President Jalal Talabani and with the president of the Kurdistan Regional Government, Masoud Barzani. The Director General also visited the Iraq National Museum, which will soon reopen to the public following a UNESCO supported restoration that included capacity building and equipment for the museum’s laboratories, which were looted and destroyed in March 2003.

The Director General thanked the Special Representative of the Secretary General and head of the United Nations Assistance Mission for Iraq, Staffan de Mistura, and the UNAMI staff for their assistance in making this important visit possible. UNESCO’s office for Iraq prepared the visit in close cooperation with UN SGSR and Mr de Mistura accompanied Mr Matsuura throughout his visit.

Focus

2009-05-17T18:33:00.000-07:00

Saving our nearest relatives

Humanity’s closest relative, the gorilla, is in danger. Development, poaching and war have been decimating one of the only animal species which, like us, can use tools. Nevertheless, UNESCO’s gorilla preservation projects have begun to bear fruit on this International Year of the Gorilla, 2009.

Protecting
gorillas begins
with education

The main objective of the International Year of the Gorilla is to mobilize decision-makers and the public to save this great ape species, a species capable of intelligent thinking, 95% of whose DNA is identical to ours. This is of vital importance as populations have been declining in recent decades..

Every animal species is valuable and has a part to play in maintaining the ecological balance of its natural habitat, but the cause of the gorilla elicits particular sympathy because they are so similar to us. So much so that their name, has its root the Greek word gorillai, meaning tribe of hairy women, used by the Carthaginian, Hanno the Navigator, who sailed along the coast of West Africa in the 5th century B.C. and spotted hirsute creatures, some kind of ape if not actual gorillas, on his voyage

In the absence of visual evidence from Hanno’s journey, it is impossible to tell whether gorillas are indeed the “hairy women” he named. Up to date complete data about the gorillas is still not always available, but modern science divides them into two species - Eastern and Western gorillas - and four subspecies

Social organization

Each subspecies has feeding, physiological and life style differences. But all gorillas are migratory and live in groups of five to 30 individuals dominated by one silverback adult male, typically 12 years of age or older. The silverback is the strong, dominant leader who is the centre of attention, makes all decisions, mediates conflicts, determines the movements of the group, leads the others to feeding sites and takes responsibility for the safety and well-being of all.

Younger males, called blackbacks, may serve as backup protection. Males will slowly begin to leave their original troop when they are about 11 years old, travelling alone or with a group of other males for 2–5 years before they attract females to form a new group and start breeding. Gorillas are vegetarian but silverbacks have been known to kill the young child of their predecessor. They will then mate with the female whose child they killed.
Gorillas only breed every three or four years. Because of their migratory lifestyle, they require a lot of space, which is why UNESCO favours the definition of large landscapes for their preservation, areas that include a wide buffer zone with biosphere reserves where people can find sustainable livelihoods. Education projects to help the inhabitants understand, respect and maximize the benefits of sustainable resource management are essential for the success of these preservation projects.

All species are important

Mambaele Mankoto of UNESCO’s Natural Science Sector is heartened by the recent increase observed in gorilla populations in the Virunga National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage site. This improvement can be attributed to ambitious programmes for conservation of biodiversity in regions of armed conflict launched by UNESCO in 2000 with the United Nations Foundation and the European Union. The projects have focused heavily on helping forest guards carry out their all-important work. “But conflicts are still latent and we must not lower our guard,” cautions Mankoto, who highlights the need to convince donors to provide funds for projects that specifically target gorilla preservation.

One way to reduce hunting for bushmeat and traditional medicine is to convince local populations that gorillas are worth more alive than dead. Conservation institutions in the RDC and the Rwandan National Parks Office have concluded an accord whereby gorillas that come from RDC to Rwanda are visited by tourists there and Rwanda pays a share of the profit, US$ 30,000 dollars per annum on average, back to the RDC. Mankoto welcomes this as a fine example of transboundary cooperation within UNESCO’s mandate of peace-building with the gorillas as ambassadors.

Nevertheless, gorilla tourism must be managed with care, as contact with humans can have a negative impact on these great apes whose immune systems are unprepared for some of the diseases we carry. Humans also continue killing gorillas not just for bushmeat but also for cultural reasons. While some people still believe that placing a gorilla bone in a baby’s bathwater will fortify the child, the major threats facing our closest animal cousins remain deforestation, road-building, traps laid for other animals and mining.

Mankoto for his part hopes that the International Year of the Gorilla - launched by the United Nations Environment Programme’s Convention on Migratory Species (CMS), the UNEP/UNESCO Great Apes Survival Partnership (GRASP) and the World Association of Zoos and Aquariums (WAZA) - will serve as a plea for this animal which, in captivity, has proven it can acquire an impressive mastery of human sign language.

In their natural habitat, gorillas provide valuable services in forest husbandry as they make clearings along their migratory path, allowing the sun to reach the underbrush, and digest seeds of species which they disseminate in their feces. Mankoto reminds us of the need to resist anthropocentrism: “All species are important; the loss of any species represents and impoverishment of the environment, physical, cultural and spiritual.”

Member States

2009-05-16T16:34:00.000-07:00

With the entry of the Republic of Singapore to UNESCO in October 2007, the Organization has now 193 Member States and 6 Associate Members.

The Sector for External Relations and Cooperation (ERC) and the Africa Department (AFR) ensure liaison with Member States. While AFR covers the Member States from the Africa region, ERC is responsible for relations with the Member States from the four other regions and with Associate Members.

Relations with Member States are also ensured by the Directors and Heads of the UNESCO Regional, Cluster and National Offices.

Most Member States have established Permanent Delegations to UNESCO which, headed by Ambassadors, undertake liaison between the Organization and their governments.

Almost all Member States have established a National Commission for UNESCO. The UNESCO National Commissions are national cooperating bodies set up by the Member States for the purpose of associating their governmental and non-governmental bodies with the work of the Organization.

Member States and Associate Members designate one or several Ministries responsible for relations with UNESCO and/or Ministries in UNESCO's fields of competence.

UNESCO emphasizes its efforts to involve nationally (Parliamentarians) and locally elected representatives (Cities and Local Authorities) in its action.

2008 Félix Houphouët-Boigny Peace Prize is awarded to President of Brazil Lula da Silva

2009-05-16T01:55:00.000-07:00

The President of Brazil, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, was chosen today as the laureate of UNESCO’s 2008 Félix Houphouët-Boigny Peace Prize. The award ceremony will take place in July.

Announcing the jury’s decision, former President of Portugal Mario Soares declared: “The jury has decided to give the Félix Houphouët-Boigny Prize to Mr. Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, President of the Federal Republic of Brazil, for his actions in pursuit of peace, dialogue, democracy, social justice and equal rights, as well as for his valuable contribution to the eradication of poverty and the protection of minorities’ rights.”

The Félix Houphouët-Boigny Peace Prize - created in 1989 and awarded by UNESCO annually – honours people, organizations and institutions that have contributed significantly to the promotion, research, preservation or maintaining of peace, mindful of the Charter of the United Nations and the Constitution of UNESCO.
Previous laureates of the Prize include Nelson Mandela and Frederik W. De Klerk; Yitzhak Rabin, Shimon Pérès and Yasser Arafat; King Juan Carlos of Spain and former US President Jimmy Carter; Senegalese President Abdoulaye Wade and former President of Finland Martti Ahtisaari. Several of them have later been awarded the Nobel Peace Prize.

The President of Brazil, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, was chosen today as the laureate of UNESCO’s 2008 Félix Houphouët-Boigny Peace Prize. The award ce

2009-05-14T18:10:00.001-07:00

UNESCO opens its doors for “European Night of Museums”

2009-05-13T16:44:00.000-07:00

For the first time, UNESCO will participate this year in the European Night of Museums and open its doors* to the public on 16 May. Visitors will have the opportunity to tour the premises free of charge and view some of the art objects on display.

From 8 p.m. to 1 a.m. (last entry at midnight), visitors can admire works including “The Fall of Icarus” by Pablo Picasso; the “Spiral” mobile by Alexander Calder; Isamu Noguchi’s “Peace Fountain” and “Japanese Garden”; the “Wall of the Sun” and “The Wall of the Moon” by Joan Miró and Josep Llorens Artigas; “Walking Man” by Alberto Giacometti; an untitled tapestry by Le Corbusier; and a mural by Rufino Tamayo, “Prometheus Bringing Fire to Mankind”.

Thanks to the generosity of artists and Member States, UNESCO’s artistic heritage is the largest within the United Nations system. The collection was started more than 50 years ago, coinciding with the construction of Headquarters.

UNESCO thus extends its patronage to the European Night of Museums, an initiative by the Council of Europe linked to celebrations for "International Museum Day" on 18 May, launched by the International Council of Museums (ICOM). UNESCO aims to highlight the role of museums in promoting cultural exchange, education, development of mutual understanding and peace among peoples.

Development of Nanotechnologies: a Key Debate in the Arab States

2009-05-12T17:16:00.000-07:00

An important meeting on nanotechnologies and development in the Arab States, to take place from 18 to 19 May 2009, in Doha (Qatar), will provide an opportunity for participants to consider the modalities of implementation of the ethical guidelines and policies which COMEST addressed to UNESCO Member States in 2007.

Development of Nanotechnologies: a Key Debate in the Arab StatesDuring the meeting in Doha, UNESCO will continue its reflection that it began on nanotechnologies in an effort to study and formulate ethical principles and guide their development.

The phenomenal advancements in nanotechnologies raise key questions for the scientific community and public opinion: What are the issues at stake related to health and the environment? What are the risks of military and biomedical applications? How can universal access to new discoveries and state-of-the-art technologies be ensured?

The forty participants, from different regions of the world, will be invited to provide answers and to exchange views on the conditions of implementation of the recommendations and strategies on ethics in the Arab region. These were developed and addressed to UNESCO Member States in 2007, by the World Commission on the Ethics of Scientific Knowledge and Technology (COMEST).

At the crossroads of several scientific disciplines – such as electronics, mechanics, chemistry, optics, and biology – which manipulate objects the size of a nanometer (one billionth of a meter), there is potential for nanotechnologies to affect all facets of human activity: information and communications technologies, materials, energy, water, space, medicine etc.

Furthermore, nanotechnologies are a major challenge to scientific policy. Nanotechnologies have essentially evolved in a field where the traditional distinction between science and technology is difficult to maintain, due to scientists and engineers having to work together, breaking down the boundaries between disciplines and allowing approaches and technologies to converge. The study of nanotechnologies therefore requires a holistic approach based on a true interdisciplinary dialogue.

Aware of all these issues, UNESCO has taken various initiatives to develop a global overview of the ethical dimensions of nanotechnologies and to examine the implications of these initiatives on its Member States, as well as the measures that can be taken.

One expected outcome at the close of the doha meeting is that the Arab region, which has experienced first-hand the rapid development of this new technology, will take heed of all these issues – in particular, the ethical dimension – and will therefore be capable of implementing the recommendations formulated by COMEST, which essentially consist of three maxims: establishment of an ethical framework, raising public awareness and promoting debate on nanotechnology, and the need for ethics education.

Education and culture top priorities for UNESCO Director-General’s first visit to Iraq

2009-05-12T01:29:00.001-07:00

Literacy, higher education and the restoration of a World Heritage site were top priorities when Koïchiro Matsuura, Director-General of UNESCO, and Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki met in Baghdad on 7 May. Following their meeting the Director General signed three memoranda of understanding with the Government of Iraq.

School for sustainability

2009-05-11T03:41:00.000-07:00

What are the implications of ESD for the Arab region?

ESD is an imperative in Jordan, and across the whole Arab world, because although sustainability is more than a concept, it’s not yet a culture. Raising awareness in schools, universities, the public sector, and private companies is crucial if we are to make the most of our precious resources, and provide opportunities for our youthful population.

The Arab world faces serious development challenges: 5.7 million of our children are not enrolled in school, almost three and a half million of them are girls; 8.9 million of our young people are illiterate; and only one in four young people has a job. We must put young people at the top of our local, regional, and global agendas.

60% of our region is under the age of 30, that’s 70 million young people in the Arab world. They need our help in order to become all they can be. And that means that we need to create jobs, urgently. We need to be graduating young people with the skills and the tools they need to participate competitively in the global and regional job market. ESD is a key foundation block for us.

I am pleased that there have been some significant strides in this field. Last year, a group of dynamic business leaders established the Arab Sustainability Leadership Group, which I am proud to chair. Not only are members publishing sustainability reports and engaging civil society and business leaders, they are practicing their businesses in ways that support economic vitality, ecological integrity, and social equity. And that’s a smart start; they are great role models, but there’s still a long way for us to go.

What aspects of Education for Sustainable Development are particularly important to you and your country?

We recognize that all aspects of ESD are important for Jordan to prosper now and in the future. But given our water scarcity issues, water education and management are very important to us, as well as caring for, and making the most of, all our natural resources – our beautiful nature reserves, for example.

Additionally, ESD is important for us from a gender perspective. I’m proud that we’ve achieved gender parity at all levels of education in Jordan; in fact we have more girls at university than boys. But that doesn’t translate into workforce figures yet. Traditional mindsets still result in girls getting married and having children early, not joining the labour market – although, I’m pleased to say that this is changing. ESD is important to teach children and parents how girls can play a crucial and productive role in Jordan’s development.

Can you mention some specific projects?

To be honest, it’s still a fledgling concept, but we’re working very hard to increase awareness and visibility of ESD. For example, Jordan established a national ESD working group with members from government, universities, NGOs, and the private sector to promote ESD across all sectors; and ESD has been included in legislation to protect the environment.

The Royal Society for the Conservation of Nature (RSCN), with the Ministry of Education, has been integrating environmental concerns into the Jordanian curricula to ensure that environmental awareness is developed at an early stage. The RSCN organizes nature teams at schools, has founded over 1000 conservation clubs at local schools, and has prepared ESD manuals.

Several NGOs are active in providing non formal education and informal education opportunities for youth and women all over the country. These initiatives are conducted in places, and at times, to suit the rhythm of women who have to balance caring for their families with learning new skills.

We are also one of four countries in the Arab region (the others being Lebanon, Oman and Tunisia) with clear public budgets for ESD – proof of our commitment to creating lasting change.
Not many people know this, but Jordan is blessed with stunning nature reserves. They have enabled us to develop several award-winning sustainable tourism and eco-tourism projects, which help us both protect and promote the things that are most precious to us. Together with the Royal Society for the Conservation of Nature, and several other NGOs, we’re working hard to strike a balance between developing these areas, and encouraging people to visit, which generates income for local communities.

World Heritage

2009-05-10T07:33:00.000-07:00

IN FOCUS
Earth heritage: A common past... and future
The history of Earth spans some 3.5 billion years. In recognition of the 2008 International Year of Planet Earth, this issue will focus on the world’s geological heritage and help us understand the key events in the history of life on our planet, beginning with an overview of the primary World Heritage sites that display geological values.

Treasures and challenges of World Heritage volcanoes
Volcanoes have played an important role in the geological history of the Earth, and they still modify and transform the landscape. Many natural sites inscribed on the World Heritage List include active or dormant volcanoes.

Eons of erosion: Karst landscapes on the World Heritage List
The word karst stems from karra or gara, meaning stone. The karst landscapes of the Škocjan Caves (Slovenia) and South China Karst (China) World Heritage sites are both characterized by caves, dry valleys, gorges, natural bridges, fluted rock outcrops and large springs.

Icons of the record of life: Fossil World Heritage sites
Fossils are evidence of ancient life in the form of bones, shells tracks, trails, carbonized impressions, moulds or casts. World Heritage fossil sites have played a significant role in reconstructing and demonstrating this history.

CLOSE-UP
Global Network of National Geoparks
Geoparks use a holistic approach to conservation where all aspects of the natural and cultural heritage are valued, conserved and promoted under the geopark label.

FORUM
Interview
Peter Bobrowsky, Secretary General of the International Union of Geological Sciences, and Andrew Goudie, President of the International Association of Geomorphologists

Advisory Bodies
World Heritage at IUCN's World Conservation Congress

Conventions
Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity comes into being; Convention on the Protection of the Underwater Cultural Heritage enters into force

Profile
Preserving Petra: Dr Talal Akasheh and the Geographic Information System

NEWS
Preservation
Rehabilitation of San Sebastian Fortress; Disaster Risk Reduction Programme developed for World Heritage sites; Altai Mountains Workshop; Australian Funds-in-Trust support activities in Asia-Pacific; Lalibela Conservation Action Plan implemented; Reactive monitoring mission to Edinburgh; Workshop on birthplace of the Lord Buddha; Aksum Obelisk restored following reinstallation; Indian mayors visit five French cities; World Heritage Cities Act; Riga and Lyons cooperate; Periodic reporting: what have we learned?

In Danger
Consolidation of the Humberstone and Santa Laura Saltpeter Works; Mining incompatible with World Heritage status of Mount Nimba; New crisis at Virunga National Park; LRA Rebels attack Garamba National Park Headquarters.

Outreach
Patrimonito Volunteer Camps a success; Fellowships awarded for World Heritage; Sacred Mountains; European Commission contributes €2.5 million to Central Africa World Heritage Forest Initiative; Tides of Time; 'Alliance of World Heritage Cultural Landscapes' formed; Spain honours the UNESCO World Heritage Centre; Launch of 2009 International Year of Astronomy; World Heritage Centre receives World Tourism Award; UNESCO signs partnership with the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA); Ashok Khosla new President of IUCN; Joining of volcanic forces; ICOMOS elects new leadership; 2008-2009 World Heritage map available; Sky race for heritage; Jim Charleton.

IN PRINT AND ONLINE

World Heritage Scholarships in U.S. National Parks

2009-05-09T03:53:00.000-07:00

As part of a commitment to sharing its expertise, the US National Park Service (NPS) is offering training opportunities to qualified candidates who wish to learn from the US experience in managing and protecting World Heritage Sites. All expenses paid extended residencies in US parks designated as World Heritage Sites will be available to site managers and staff of World Heritage Sites in developing nations.

The training opportunity will allow selected individuals to work alongside NPS professionals in a variety of areas including resource management, concessions, interpretation and education, planning, and law enforcement. The NPS Office of International Affairs, in cooperation with park partners, will pay for and arrange for travel to the US, while individual host parks will provide housing and a modest living stipend.

Candidates should be English speakers willing to spend a minimum of 6 weeks in the US. Residencies of up to 4 months can be arranged. The Office of International Affairs will assist each selected individual in securing the appropriate visa to allow entry to the United States.

Introducing Democracy

2009-05-07T18:17:00.001-07:00

Introducing Democracy

80 Questions and Answers

By David Beetham and Kevin Boyle with cartoons by Plantu

Democracy and Power series

Ce titre est disponible.

15,00 € €

Livre, 134 pages, figures, 2nd revised edition, first published in 1995

Format: 21 x 14.5 cm

2009, 978-92-3-104087-0
What is democracy? What is the relation between democracy and individual rights? Is majority rule always democratic? How can democracy be maintained and improved?

This book tackles these and other questions about democracy, covering six broad areas:
- basic concepts and principles,
- free and fair elections,
- open and accountable government,
- individual rights and their defence,
- democratic or civil society,
- the future of democracy.

This revised edition also takes into account new challenges facing our societies, from international terrorism to the HIV and AIDS pandemic.

Its clear exposition of democratic theory and practice will be of value to students, activists, civil servants and interested citizens across the world.

For Journalists * Press Releases * Media Advisories * Director-General * Contacts News Features * Interviews * In Focus

2009-05-06T17:16:00.000-07:00

Entitled “The Future of Knowledge Acquisition and Sharing”, the forum will take place at UNESCO Headquarters in Paris on 11 May from 10.00 a.m. to 6.30 p.m. (Room IV). It will bring together international experts, decision-makers and private sector representatives to address three main questions: How will we acquire and share knowledge in 2025? How will technology shape lifelong learning in 2025? How will knowledge acquisition and sharing change in higher education and research?

The Forum will be opened by the Director-General of UNESCO, Koïchiro Matsuura. Roberto Carneiro, Former Minister of Education of Portugal and now Dean of the Institute for Distance Learning at the Portuguese Catholic University, will give the keynote address.

Speakers will include:
Talal Abu-Ghazaleh, Chairman of the Talal-Ghazalah Organization;
Lidia Brito, Former Minister of Science and Technology of Mozambique;
Brenda Gourley, Vice Chancellor of the Open University of the United Kingdom; Thierry Karsenti, Canada Research Chair on Information and Communication Technologies in Education;
Bruno Lanvin, Executive Director of INSEAD eLab;
Gillian M. Marcelle, Wits Business School, South Africa;
Jai Menon, Vice-President of the Technical Strategy and Global University Programmes of IBM;
Claudia Morrell, Founder and CEO of the Multinational Development of Women in Technology (MDWIT);
Rinalia Abdul Rahim, Former Executive Director of the Global Knowledge Partnership, Malaysia;
Francisco Sagasti, former World Bank Director of Strategic Planning and current Chairman of the Scientific Advisory Board to the Prime Minister of Peru;
Michelle Sellinger, of Cisco's Internet Business Solutions Group, Asia-Pacific.

UNESCO’s Future Forum series aims to contribute to the understanding of global trends and related societal challenges, to assess their impact and to determine UNESCO’s response.

Nollywood rivals Bollywood in film/video production

2009-05-05T17:23:00.001-07:00

India remains the world’s leading film producer but Nigeria is closing the gap after overtaking the United States for second place, according to a global cinema survey conducted by the UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UIS).

According to the survey, Bollywood produced 1,091 feature-length films in 2006 compared to 872 productions (in video format) from Nigeria’s film industry, which is commonly referred to as Nollywood. In contrast, the United States produced 485 major films.

The three heavyweights were followed by eight countries that produced more than 100 films: Japan (417), China (330), France (203), Germany (174), Spain (150), Italy (116), South Korea (110) and the United Kingdom (104).

These and other findings were collected through a new international survey launched by the UIS in 2007 with financing from the Government of Québec.

“Film and video production are shining examples of how cultural industries – as vehicles of identity, values and meanings – can open the door to dialogue and understanding between peoples, but also to economic growth and development. This conviction underpins the UNESCO Convention on Cultural Diversity” said Koïchiro Matsuura, the Director-General of UNESCO. “And this new data on film and video production provides yet more proof of the need to rethink the place of culture on the international political agenda.”

Overall, the survey yielded data from 99 countries. It is important to note that response rates were limited especially among African countries where there is a general lack of statistical information on cultural issues.

Despite its limited coverage, the survey provides a unique perspective on how different countries and regions are transforming traditional approaches to the art and industry of filmmaking especially in video and digital formats.

In particular, the explosive growth of Nollywood attracts considerable attention, especially in developing countries looking for alternatives to the U.S. or European models of film production and distribution, which require considerable investment. To begin with, Nigerian filmmakers rely on video instead of film to reduce production costs. And as the survey points out, Nigeria has virtually no formal cinemas. About 99% of screenings occur in informal settings, such as “home theatre.”

Finally, the UIS survey reveals another key element of the Nigerian success story: multilingualism. About 56% of Nollywood films are produced in Nigeria’s local languages, namely Yoruba (31%), Hausa (24%) and Igbo (1%). English remains a prominent language, accounting for 44%, which may contribute to Nigeria’s success in exporting its films.

The survey also revealed considerable linguistic diversity in film production in Spain and Canada. In Spain, almost 69% of films were produced in Spanish, 12% in Catalan, about 9% in English, 4% in Basque, almost 3% in French and 4% in other languages. In Canada, 67% of films were produced in English and 31% in French in 2006.

Despite these results, English remains the dominant language in filmmaking globally. In total, 36% of films produced in 2006 were shot in English, according to the survey.

U.S. films continue to dominate admissions globally. Although the survey is not exhaustive, a clear trend emerges when considering the provenance of the top ten films viewed in diverse countries (see Figure 1 below).

All of the top ten films seen in Australia, Bulgaria Canada, Costa Rica, Namibia, Romania, and Slovenia were made in the U.S., according to the survey. There were however some notable exceptions.

Bollywood productions were the obvious favourite in India. In France, seven out of the top ten films were French. And in Japan and Morocco, domestic productions accounted for five out of the ten most widely viewed films.

The survey also addressed additional issues related to the digitalization of films, the types of cinemas available in selected countries and information concerning co-productions and distribution networks. The UIS has prepared a short analytical paper on these data (available in English and French). All of the results can also be accessed at the UIS Data Centre.

International media professionals adopt Doha Declaration

2009-05-04T17:07:00.000-07:00

Some 250 media professionals from around the world adopted a declaration emphasizing the importance of media in communicating across cultural differences at the close of a two-day international conference entitled “Potential of Media: Dialogue, Mutual Understanding and Reconciliation” in Doha (Qatar).

The “Doha Declaration on the Potential of Media: Dialogue, Mutual Understanding and Reconciliation”, was one of the major outcomes of the conference on press freedom organized by UNESCO and the Doha Center for Media Freedom in the Qatar city on the occasion of World Press Freedom Day 2009.

The Declaration stresses that independent and pluralistic media are essential for ensuring transparency, accountability and participation as fundamental elements of good governance and human rights-based development. It furthermore notes that freedom of opinion and expression are essential for free and democratic societies and contribute to a better understanding of and a dialogue among cultures.

The Doha Declaration urges media and professional associations to commit themselves to improving the professional qualifications of journalists, and to exercise the highest ethical and professional standards in their work.

It calls on States to provide the conditions that will enable journalists and media professionals to do their work freely and safely without intimidation, such as the establishment of legal frameworks that guarantee freedoms of expression, thought, conscience and religion. The Declaration furthermore calls on States to ensure rigorous and independent investigations and prosecutions in cases of harassment and violence against journalists and bloggers, and to put an end to impunity.

UNESCO is called upon to use the Declaration as a reference for the Organization’s activities in the area of freedom of expression.

World Press Freedom Day (2-3 May) celebrations and the award ceremony of the 2009 UNESCO World Press Freedom Prize were held in Doha to mark the 12th anniversary of the creation of the Prize.

The late Lasantha Wickrematunge was awarded this year’s Press Freedom Prize posthumously. Mr Wickrematunge was assassinated on 8 January this year. His niece, Ms Natalie Samarasinghe was at the ceremony to receive the award. “By recognizing Lasantha’s achievement, we are sending the message to the perpetrators that killing the messenger is not the solution,” Ms Samarasinghe said. The award is supported by the Cano and Ottaway family foundations and by JP/Politiken Newspaper LTD.

In his award presentation speech, the Director-General of UNESCO Koïchiro Matsuura stated that the Prize “seeks to draw attention to the importance of press freedom and the danger media professionals face in many parts of the world.” He furthermore added that by challenging attitudes and stereotypes, “the media can help strip away the prejudices and ignorance that breed suspicion. It can promote an acceptance of difference that values diversity as an opportunity for learning and understanding.”

As he handed over the award, Mr Matsuura declared that “today we pay tribute to Lasantha Wickrematunge’s struggle for freedom of expression and give thanks for the life of this remarkable journalist.”

H.E. Dr Hamad Bin Abdulaziz Al Kuwari, Minister of Culture, Arts and Heritage of Qatar welcomed and addressed the participants at the start of the ceremony.

Also in attendance at the award ceremony were Her Highness Sheikha Mozah Bint Nasser Al-Missned and H.E. Sheikh Hamad Bin Thamer Al Thani, Chairman of the Board, Doha Center for Media Freedom.

Her Highness Sheikha Mozah Bint Nasser Al-Missned later took the floor. In her closing remarks, Her Highness spoke of the essential role of responsible and professional press in bridging cultural divides. “This, in my view, is the path towards achieving reconciliation among people and cultures,” she said.

The Conference was co-organized by UNESCO with the Doha Centre for Media Freedom.

Global Action Week 2009: Open Books, Open Doors – How to Promote Reading

2009-05-04T02:20:00.000-07:00

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29-04-2009
“Unless an entire family or community becomes literate, a literate environment cannot exist”, said Indian linguist and professor Chander J. Daswani during a round table discussion focused on building, maintaining and promoting literate environments held on 23 April 2009 as part of UNESCO’s activities for Global Action Week.

The theme of this year’s annual advocacy campaign, held from 20 to 26 April 2009, was “Youth and adult literacy and lifelong learning.”

Moderated by Mr Saturnino Muñoz Gomez, Director of UNESCO’s Bureau of Public Information, the round table discussions centred on how to encourage newly literate learners to maintain reading and numeracy skills, a difficult prospect in many isolated areas of the world which face a lack of access to books, newspapers, libraries, teachers and basic infrastructures. "The main obstacle we face is the lack of literacy materials in Zulu” said Ms Itumeleng Hilarih Lebajoa, Programme Director for Operation Upgrade, an NGO based in South Africa that has promoted the autonomy of women for more than 40 years, and was a recipient of the 2008 UNESCO Confucius Prize for Literacy. “We have no local newspaper and no library, so there is little social incentive to maintain literacy skills. People want to read about solutions to their lives: how to run a successful small business, how to earn a living from livestock.”

The importance of holistically addressing lives through literacy programmes was echoed by Mr Gerard Bureau of ATD Quart Monde, an NGO based in France that received an Honourable Mention from the UNESCO-Bilbao Prize for the Promotion of a Culture of Human rights in 2008. “When we live in extreme poverty, we live in a world of illiteracy”, he said. “We lose housing, resources and our desire and ability to maintain literacy skills.” Mr Björn Larsson, an award-winning Swedish author, echoed this sentiment, going further to say that “You also have to learn how to write to learn how to read. We have to encourage youth and adults to tell stories using their imagination, otherwise they will remain locked in daily reality.”

Panellists agreed that the widespread use of television has had a negative impact on reading and decreased the motivation to acquire literacy skills. "The problem is that the education system is rigid and based on rote learning. People don't learn critical thinking and free expression and give up reading when they leave school” said Ms Maud Stéphan-Hachem, Professor of Information and Communication at the University of Lebanon in Beirut, referring to the Arab region. “Lack of new titles, small print runs and the difference between spoken and written language are additional obstacles. There is demand in the Arab States for religious books,” she said, “but these again encourage rote learning rather than discovery.”

The need for books that speak to the imagination was stressed by Mr Larsson. "I often go to schools where I meet young people, especially boys, who say they don't like to read. We have to find the right kind of texts that encourage them to read… When well done, a literature of imagination encompasses the whole of a person and has a profound influence.”

Broadening the concept of literacy for different populations was another subject addressed by Mr Kenneth Eklindh, acting Chief of the Section for Inclusion and Quality Leaning Enhancement at UNESCO, who spoke about the urgent need to promote alternative ways of communicating. In particular, he addressed the necessity to recognize the communication needs of the visually impaired and widening their access to Braille, stating that 85 per cent of those who have learned Braille are employed and contributing to the larger society, but a staggering 80 million blind persons still do not have access to Braille.

Several panellists insisted on the importance of learning literacy in a mother tongue before going onto a second language, stating nonetheless that multilingual literacy is way of the future. Positive changes towards increasing motivation of literacy were also discussed, mainly due to new technology trends. Professor Daswani drew attention to the advent of subtitles in mother tongue languages on television programmes and the use of mobile phone text messaging in several of the nine Indian scripts. Furthermore, Ms Stéphan-Hachem informed participants that in Lebanon, more than 80 public libraries now exist in isolated areas that offer a wide variety of reading materials and have turned into lively places for discussing local issues. Similarly, Mr Bureau described a real thirst for learning how to read in the poorest environments, citing his experience in setting up makeshift mobile libraries in Burkina Faso, Haiti and Guatemala.

The role of Media in Intercultural Dialogue

2009-05-03T04:07:00.000-07:00

Cultural references determine our identity and the ways in which we construct reality; they affect the perception of ourselves, the way we encounter others, and the way we interact with the world. The media greatly influences not only what we think, but also how we act.
Globalization is not only an economic and technological process. Increased interaction among people, the free flow of information, and cultural interdependence are also consequences of our globalizing world. Communicating across cultural differences is a central challenge of the contemporary world. The media, then, has a true “mediating” role to play in encouraging global awareness.

The emergence of a new paradigm in international relations – in part through the launching of the Dialogue Among Civilizations in 2001 – introduced a global agenda in which the concept of dialogue became a priority principle in the relations between civilizations, cultures and peoples. The global agenda sought to elaborate common ethical standards as a means for addressing threats to peace and security . This commitment underlined that intercultural dialogue and respect for diversity are necessary for the advancement of human rights .

The Universal Declaration on Cultural Diversity was adopted in 2001, recognizing cultural diversity as a common heritage of humanity as well as the potential of intercultural dialogue. The Convention states in its preamble that: “culture should be regarded as the set of distinctive spiritual, material, intellectual and emotional features of society or a social group, and that it encompasses, in addition to art and literature, lifestyles, ways of living together, value systems, traditions and beliefs”.

This was complemented in 2005 by the Convention on the Protection and Promotion of the Diversity of Cultural Expressions. Article 2 stresses the interdependence of diversity and the respect for fundamental freedoms: “Cultural diversity can be protected and promoted only if human rights and fundamental freedoms, such as freedom of expression, information and communication, as well as the ability of individuals to choose cultural expressions, are guaranteed.”

With these frameworks in mind, it is important to emphasize that the use of information and communication to ensure that different cultures have the space to freely express themselves – on their own terms – is vital to advancing mutual understanding among peoples and between cultures. The media has the ability to facilitate this intercultural dialogue. By challenging prevailing attitudes and assumptions concerning the many “others” in our world, the media can move beyond scripted stereotypes, stripping away the ignorance that breeds mistrust and suspicion, thus promoting a tolerance and acceptance of difference that values diversity as an opportunity for understanding.

One of the main challenges when advocating for freedom of expression –and a frequent road block in the way of tolerance and understanding – arises from the tension when expression offends or confronts another’s culture or identity. A well-debated recent example of this tension is what has been referred to as the “Danish Cartoons Affair” (2005).

UNESCO gave place for a debate during the 174 Executive Board in which the interrelation and inseparable connection between freedom of expression and respect for religious beliefs and symbols was underscored. UNESCO’s Executive Board on that occasion adopted a unanimous decision, “upholding the exercise of freedom of expression in a spirit of mutual respect and mutual understanding” and urged “mutual respect for cultural diversity religious beliefs and religious symbols.” The debate highlighted the role media can play to deepen differences or to create knowledge about others and their history in order to enhance better inter-cultural understanding.

Respecting cultural difference while preserving freedom of expression will always appear as a tension to be debated and negotiated in any democratic society. Frank, even harsh speech is our right unless given with the intention of inciting discrimination, hostility or violence. Any attempt to restrict the right to freedom of expression must be balanced against this criterion. And yet, our rights concerning religion and culture must also be respected. There is no hierarchy between the various human rights. They exist in a nexus relationship and it is exactly this mutual respect for all rights that ensure the single human individual her dignity.

It is crucial to recognize that cultural diversity is enriched by the experience and contributions of all nations, cultures and peoples . Cultural diversity promotes universal values and establishes a common ground where no single culture can claim a monopoly. While it is true that diversity can cause division, intolerance and even violence, a media that is free, pluralistic and professional provides a forum for the non-violent negotiation of differences.

World Press Freedom Day 2009

2009-05-03T04:06:00.000-07:00

The potential of media in fostering dialogue, mutual understanding and reconciliation will be the topic of UNESCO World Press Freedom Day 2009 to be celebrated on 2-3 May 2009. As the only UN agency with a mandate to defend freedom of expression and press freedom, UNESCO has placed mutual understanding, and dialogue through media at the core of its mission.

Indeed, UNESCO’s Constitution, adopted in November 1945, states that the Organization will “collaborate in the work of advancing the mutual knowledge and understanding of all peoples, through all means of mass communication” and “promote the free flow of ideas by word and image”.

At this year’s conference and celebrations, UNESCO invites participants to explore the enormous potential of media to serve as a platform for dialogue and a vehicle for understanding.

UNESCO’s International Bioethics Committee will meet in Mexico City

2009-04-28T18:34:00.001-07:00

UNESCO’s International Bioethics Committee (IBC) will meet in Mexico City (Mexico) from 4 to 6 May. This 16th session, organized in cooperation with the Consejo Consultivo de Ciencias of the Presidency of Mexico, will be followed by a European Commission-UNESCO conference, which will bring together experts and members of national bioethics committees from all over the world from 7 to 9 May.

Three main topics will be presented at this session of the IBC: social responsibility and health, the principle of respect for human vulnerability and personal integrity and the issue of human cloning and international governance. Furthermore, there will be an overview of the situation of bioethics in Latin America and the Caribbean.

The 16th session will be opened on 4 May (9.15 a.m.) by Alonso Lujambio Irazábal*, the Mexican Minister of Education, Pierre Sané, UNESCO Assistant Director-General for Social and Human Sciences and Adolfo Martínez-Palomo, Chairperson of IBC. The opening ceremony will be followed at 10.00 a.m. by a progress report on the UNESCO bioethics programme, especially the REDBIOETICA initiative, which concerns Latin America and the Caribbean. The topic Bioethics in Latin America and the Caribbean: experiences and perspectives will take up the rest of the day.

On 5 May (10 a.m. to 1 p.m.) there will be a presentation of the draft IBC report about human cloning and international governance. The IBC was a pioneer in the field of cloning, creating the foundations of the Universal Declaration on the Human Genome and Human Rights (1997), which condemned cloning for human reproduction as contrary to human dignity. Since then, more than 50 countries have passed laws to forbid cloning for reproduction. However, voices have been raised, especially by scientists, to demand a different treatment for therapeutic cloning. At the request of UNESCO’s Director-General, an IBC working group has started to consider this issue in order to determine whether the latest scientific, ethical, social, political and legal developments justify a new initiative at the international level. The afternoon session will be devoted to the draft IBC report about social responsibility and health.

The session on 6 May will concern the principle of respect for human vulnerability and personal integrity (morning) and the IBC’s work programme for 2010-2011 (3 p.m. to 4.30 p.m.), before the closing by Patricia Espinosa Cantellano, Mexican Minister of Foreign Affairs, Pierre Sané, Adolfo Martinez Palomo, and the new IBC chairperson, to be elected during this session.

The European Commission-UNESCO Conference, which will follow on 7 May, aims at strengthening the capacities of bioethics committees. It will bring together experts and members of national committees at all stages of development. The conference, organized with the financial support of the European Commission, will be structured around three major themes: emerging bioethics issues, building an international network of national bioethics committees and the committees’ engagement in ethical discourse.

Basic issues in evolution. A Darwin 200 Symposia

2009-04-28T02:02:00.000-07:00

This year sees the celebration of the bicentenary of Charles Darwin’s birth as well as the 150th anniversary of the publication of his most famous book “On the Origin of Species by Means of Natural Selection”.

Darwin revolutionised our understanding of nature and evolution and has become a household name: his life fascinates thousands of people who study his works or visit places associated with his life.

A large number of celebrations are taking place this year to celebrate Darwin’s life and work.

UNESCO and The International Union of Biological Sciences (IUBS) are pleased to announce the "Darwin 200" programme to celebrate the 200th anniversary of Charles Darwin birthday in 2009.

The aim of Darwin 200 will be to celebrate the impact of Darwin's ideas on current scientific knowledge. The programme comprises a series of scientific symposia and satellite meetings that will take place on five continents.

EFA Global Monitoring Report 2009

2009-04-26T19:23:00.000-07:00

Education for All - Global Monitoring Report

Overcoming inequality:
why governance matters

Despite much progress since 2000, millions of children, youth and adults still lack access to good quality education and the benefits it brings. This inequality of opportunity is undermining progress towards achieving Education for All by 2015.

Who are these individuals and groups? What are the obstacles they face? How can governance policies help break the cycle of disadvantage and poverty? What policies work? Is education reform integrated into the bigger picture? Is the international community making good on its commitments?

Unless trends change, 700 million adults will still be illiterate in 2015, says UNESCO’s Director-General

2009-04-26T09:24:00.000-07:00

22-04-2009
The Director-General of UNESCO, Mr Koïchiro Matsuura has voiced concern that literacy remains a preeminent global challenge, as well as being one of the most neglected Education for All goals.

His comments came during the 2009 Global Action Week which this year focuses on youth and adult literacy and life-long learning.

“Achieving literacy for all is a collective responsibility”, the Director-General said. “According to estimates from the 2009 EFA Global Monitoring Report, unless current trends are changed, 700 million adults will still be unable to read and write in 2015, only 10 per cent fewer than today. We simply cannot let this happen.”

A staggering 776 million young people and adults, or 16 per cent of the global adult population, are currently on the margins of society due to a lack of literacy and numeracy skills. To this end, the Director-General mentioned UNESCO’s close collaboration with Member States and EFA partners to advocate for greater strategic collaboration, innovation and policy shifts in the field of literacy, notably through its role as global coordinator for Education for All and the UN Literacy Decade (2003-2012), as well as through country-level programmes such as the Literacy Initiative for Empowerment (LIFE).

As illiteracy continues to disproportionally affect disadvantaged populations and the gender gap remains unchanged with women still comprising two-thirds of illiterate adults, Mr Matsuura urged the international community to focus on expanding access to basic education and improving the quality of teaching and learning, beginning with an urgent scaling-up of financial resources.

This year’s Global Action Week events provide opportunities to raise the status of literacy on policy agendas and emphasize the indispensable role literacy plays in the achievement of all of the internationally agreed development goals. Under the slogan ‘Open Books, Open Doors’, coinciding with World Book and Copyright Day, a range of activities will take place at UNESCO headquarters in Paris on 23 April at UNESCO HQ.

UNESCO Executive Board meets from 14 to 30 April

2009-04-25T07:25:00.000-07:00

UNESCO’s Executive Board, chaired by Ambassador of Benin Olabiyi Babalola Joseph Yaï, is to meet from 14 to 30 April in Paris for its 181st session. The session will be marked by the visits of the President of Benin, Boni Yayi, and the United Nations High Representative for the Alliance of Civilizations, former President of Portugal Jorge Sampaio. It will also feature a thematic debate on UNESCO’s role as lead agency in Education for All (EFA).

The Board’s plenary sessions will take place from 20 to 22 April, and then on 25, 29 and 30 April. President Yayi of Benin will address the Board on 20 April at 3 p.m. and the UN High Representative for the Alliance of Civilizations will speak on 23 April, also at 3 p.m. The thematic debate on UNESCO’s role as the lead agency for EFA and coordination among convening agencies, with special emphasis on progress on EFA in Africa, will be held on 25 April.

Notable items on the agenda of the 181st session include: consideration of the procedure to be followed for the nomination of the Director-General of the Organization; the global economic and financial crisis and its effects on education; the Draft Programme and Budget for 2010 2011; the establishment of institutes and centres under the auspices of UNESCO; and the report by the Director-General on a detailed plan of action for UNESCO’s strategy for action on climate change.

During its two yearly sessions, the Executive Board brings together 58 of the 193 Member states of UNESCO to oversee the execution of the programme adopted by the Organization’s General Conference. The Secretariat, under the leadership of the Director-General, is responsible for the implementation of the programme.

World Press Freedom Day 2009: Dialogue, mutual understanding and reconciliation

2009-04-23T21:34:00.000-07:00

The way the media influences thought and action and its capacity to foster dialogue, understanding and reconciliation will be the focus of discussions at a UNESCO conference marking World Press Freedom Day 2009, to be held in Doha (Qatar) on 2 and 3 May.

In his message for World Press Freedom Day 2009, the Director-General of UNESCO Koïchiro Matsuura stressed that: “We must strengthen our efforts to build a media that is critical of inherited assumptions yet tolerant of alternative perspectives; a media that brings competing narratives into a shared story of interdependence; a media that responds to diversity through dialogue.”

Based on the premise that only a free media will innately contribute to the dialogue and understanding across divides, the two day programme will be divided into four sessions, during which media professionals from around the world will discuss:

• The capacity of the media for intercultural dialogue and mutual understanding;
• The need to establish ethical and professional standards in order to build models of accountability as well as effective self regulation for journalists;
• What specific place for media in promoting interreligious dialogue and mutual understanding?
• Media and enhancing dialogue as a tool for empowering citizens.

The conference has been organized under the patronage of Her Highness Sheikha Mozah Bint Nasser Al- Missned, consort of His Highness the Emir of Qatar Shiekh Hamad Bin Khalifa Al Thani.

H.E. Sheikh Hamad bin Thamer Al Thani, Chairman of the Board, Doha Center for Media Freedom (Qatar) will open the event with George Anastassopoulos, President of UNESCO’s General Conference, and Abdul Waheed Khan, UNESCO Assistant Director-General for Communication and Information.

South-African journalist Allister Sparks, the author of several critically acclaimed books on his country’s transition from apartheid including, most recently, Beyond the Miracle: Inside the New South Africa, will present the keynote speech.

During the conference, Mr Matsuura will present the 2009 World Press Freedom Prize, awarded posthumously to murdered Sri Lankan journalist Lasantha Wickrematunge. Mr Wickrematunge’s widow, Sonali Wickrematunge, will accept the prize, which is supported by the Ottaway and Cano foundations and JP/Politiken Newspaper LTD.

UNESCO, U.S. Library of Congress and Partners Launch World Digital Library

2009-04-22T17:32:00.000-07:00

UNESCO and 32 partner institutions today launched the World Digital Library, a Web site that features unique cultural materials from libraries and archives from around the world. The site includes manuscripts, maps, rare books, films, sound recordings, prints and photographs. It provides unrestricted public access, free of charge, to this material.

The launch took place at UNESCO Headquarters at an event co-hosted by UNESCO Director-General Koïchiro Matsuura and U.S. Librarian of Congress James H. Billington. Directors of the partner institutions were on hand to present the project to ambassadors, ministers, delegates, and special guests attending the semi-annual meeting of UNESCO’s Executive Board.

Mr Billington first proposed the creation of a World Digital Library (WDL) to UNESCO in 2005, remarking that such a project could “have the salutary effect of bringing people together by celebrating the depth and uniqueness of different cultures in a single global undertaking.” Mr Matsuura welcomed the proposal as a “great initiative that will help to bridge the knowledge divide, promote mutual understanding and foster cultural and linguistic diversity.” In addition to promoting international understanding, the project aims to expand the volume and variety of cultural content on the Internet, provide resources for educators, scholars, and general audiences, and narrow the digital divide within and between countries by building capacity in partner countries.

The WDL functions in seven languages – Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Portuguese, Russian, and Spanish – and includes content in more than forty languages. Browse and search features facilitate cross-cultural and cross-temporal exploration on the site. Descriptions of each item and videos, with expert curators speaking about selected items, provide context for users and are intended to spark curiosity and encourage both students and the general public to learn more about the cultural heritage of all countries.

The WDL was developed by a team at the Library of Congress. Technical assistance was provided by the Bibliotheca Alexandrina of Alexandria, Egypt. Institutions contributing to the WDL include national libraries and cultural and educational institutions in Brazil, Egypt, China, France, Iraq, Israel, Japan, Mali, Mexico, Morocco, the Netherlands, Qatar, the Russian Federation, Saudi Arabia, Serbia, Slovakia, South Africa, Sweden, Uganda, the United Kingdom, and the United States.

“UNESCO welcomes the creation of the World Digital Library which reflects the values and priorities of our Organization,” Mr Matsuura declared. “WDL offers an invaluable platform for the free flow of information, for international solidarity, for the celebration of cultural diversity and for the building of inclusive knowledge societies. With projects like the Digital Library, the cultural and societal potential of digital technologies come into their own.”

“We are honoured to be working with so many great libraries in this venture,” said Mr Billington, “and thankful for the strong support that UNESCO has given to this project. What we launched today is a first step. We look forward to seeing this project realize its ambition to bring people together, deepen our understanding of each other, and help electronically oriented young people enjoy what is best in traditional culture, using the new media.”

Her Highness Sheikha Mozah Bint Nasser Al-Missned, UNESCO Special Envoy for Basic and Higher Education and Chairperson of Qatar Foundation, congratulated UNESCO and the partner institutions on the launch of the WDL, and stated that “Qatar is very proud to be a founding member of this remarkable international collaboration.” Her Highness noted that “universal education is the key to international understanding,” and “this endeavour will do much to develop the appreciation of other cultures and nations.”

The National Library of China (NLC) contributed manuscripts, maps, books, and rubbings of steles and oracle bones that span the range of Chinese history from ancient to modern times. “The World Digital Library project offers a brand-new platform for showcasing the diversity of the world's civilizations,” said Dr. Furui Zhan, Chief Librarian of the NLC. “This endeavour enables cultural exchange while bringing together different countries and peoples in mutual understanding and enrichment. The spirit of equality and open understanding comes into full view with the creation of this World Digital Library. The National Library of China is ready to work in close cooperation with the World Digital Library, continuing to promote in concert the prosperity and progress of all human civilizations.”

Examples of other treasures featured include Arabic scientific manuscripts from the National Library and Archives of Egypt; early photographs of Latin America from the National Library of Brazil; the Hyakumanto darani, a publication from the year 764 from the National Diet Library of Japan; the famous 13th century “Devil’s Bible” from the National Library of Sweden; and works of Arabic, Persian, and Turkish calligraphy from the collections of the U.S. Library of Congress.

Ahead of the launch, Mr Matsuura invited UNESCO Member States to encourage their cultural institutions to participate in the development of the project. He noted that their participation would contribute to a truly universal digital library that showcases the cultural heritage and achievements of all countries. Mr Matsuura also highlighted the synergies between this initiative and UNESCO’s Memory of the World Programme, noting that the WDL should help provide public access to digital versions of collections on the Memory of the World register.

One of UNESCO’s main mandates is to promote the free flow of all forms of knowledge in education, science, culture, and communication. The Organization therefore promotes education, research and exchanges through the improved and increased availability of content on the Internet. To this end, it collaborates with a number of partners on the creation of digital and other repositories.

USEUM International N°240

2009-04-21T22:45:00.000-07:00

Underwater Cultural Heritage

Museum240-Large-eng.jpgTable of Contents

Editorial

Exploration and Preservation

* Submerged cultural sites: opening a time capsule David Nutley
* The impact of commercial exploitation on the preservation of underwater cultural heritage Tatiana Villegas Zamora
* Preservation in situ: “the preferred option” Martijn Manders
* Conservation of underwater cultural heritage: characteristics and new technologies Jean-Bernard Memet

Why Create an International Convention?

* Why and how will underwater cultural heritage benefit from the 2001 Convention? Thijs Maarleveld
* The 2001 UNESCO Convention on the Protection of the Underwater Cultural Heritage: advantages and challenges Ulrike Koschtial
* Safeguarding Brazil’s underwater cultural heritage: legal protection and public archaeology Gilson Rambelli

New Frontiers, New Concepts

* Underwater archaeological trails Francisco J. S. Alves
* A resource for sustainable development: the case of Croatia Jasen Mesić
* Underwater archaeological exploration of the Mayan cenotes Luis Alberto Martos López

UNESCO presents exhibition on reconstruction of Aksum obelisk

2009-04-20T14:59:00.001-07:00

An exhibition – photographs and a video installation – at UNESCO will celebrate the reinstallation of the Aksum obelisk. The show will allow visitors to learn about the history of the Ethiopian site and to view the key stages of reinstalling the monument, 24 metres high and weighing 150 tons.

Open to the public from 4 to 15 May (9 a.m. to 5.30 p.m.), the exhibition will be inaugurated on 23 April by Koïchiro Matsuura, the Director-General of UNESCO, in the presence of the Ethiopian and Italian ambassadors to UNESCO, Adelech Haile Mikael and Giuseppe Moscato.

The artists in the show, who are from Ethiopia, Belgium, France and Italy, were invited by UNESCO to visit Aksum and to express their vision of the restoration of the obelisk, a symbol of Ethiopian culture.

Their works highlight the uniqueness and magnitude of the project. The monument’s history has been eventful: erected in the 4th century then vandalized in the 7th, the obelisk was hauled off to Rome at Mussolini’s orders and set up near the Circus Maximus, finally returning to Aksum in 2005.

The artists - Tito Dupret, Theo Eshetu, Michel Ravassard, Hiwot Gebre Geziabeher, Michael Tsegaye and Paola Viesi – share their interpretation of these events. The gigantic, 15-screen video installation by Theo Eshetu, Ethiopian artist living in Rome, draws on his dual perspective. Hiwot Gebre Geziabeher, a schoolgirl from Aksum who learned photography with Michael Tsegaye, takes the local inhabitants’ point of view. Included in the show are films and photos depicting the extraordinary restoration work and Aksum’s lifestyle and culture. For an even better sense of the project’s scope, a 3D projection offers visitors a simulated tour of the Aksum archaeological site with the work in progress.

With this exhibition, UNESCO is celebrating the successful reinstallation and showing how a cultural project can help reconcile two countries with conflict in their past.

Education for All (EFA) International Coordination

2009-04-16T15:49:00.000-07:00

The Big Read: Global Action Week 2009
Puts Spotlight on Literacy

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Global Action Week 2009 (April 20 to 26) focuses on youth and adult literacy and life-long learning to raise awareness about the global literacy challenge.

Worldwide, some 776 million adults lack literacy skills, 75 million children are out of school and millions more leave school early without acquiring basic literacy and numeracy skills. Literacy is a basic right. It is a fundamental condition for being part of today’s knowledge societies. Literacy is a key to reduce poverty, increase economic opportunities, improve child and maternal health, prevent HIV and AIDS and encourage political participation.

Global Action Week, led by the Global Campaign for Education, will send a strong signal to policy-makers and the international community on the importance of one of the most neglected Education for All goals. More political commitment, more effective literacy programs and more funding are required to make literacy a basic right for all.

The highlight of the campaign is the “Big Book”, a collection of short stories about how education changes lives. “Big Read” events will be organized, during which individuals will read from this book and sign a statement at the back of it calling for more commitment and investments to ensure that everyone is able to read and write.

The Global Action Week is an advocacy campaign organized each year by the Global Campaign for Education. UNESCO, as coordinator of the EFA movement and of the United Nations Literacy Decade (2003-2012), supports this campaign and will be organizing activities around the world related to the “Big Read.”

Check this site regularly for stories, videos, presentations and studies about literacy and Global Action Week 2009.

UNESCO, Library of Congress and partners launch World Digital Library

2009-04-15T16:56:00.001-07:00

UNESCO and 32 partner institutions will launch the World Digital Library, a Web site that features unique cultural materials from libraries and archives from around the world, at UNESCO Headquarters on 21 April. The site will include manuscripts, maps, rare books, films, sound recordings, and prints and photographs. It will provide unrestricted public access, free of charge, to this material.

The launch will take place at a reception co-hosted by UNESCO Director-General Koïchiro Matsuura and U.S. Librarian of Congress James H. Billington. Directors of the partner institutions will also be on hand to present the project to ambassadors, ministers, delegates, and special guests attending the semi-annual meeting of UNESCO’s Executive Board.

Media are invited to attend a pre-launch press conference, which will take place at UNESCO Headquarters in Paris on 21 April at 11 a.m.

Mr Billington first proposed the creation of a World Digital Library (WDL) to UNESCO in 2005, remarking that such a project could “have the salutary effect of bringing people together by celebrating the depth and uniqueness of different cultures in a single global undertaking.” In addition to promoting international understanding, the project aims to expand the volume and variety of cultural content on the Internet, provide resources for educators, scholars, and general audiences, and narrow the digital divide within and between countries by building capacity in partner countries.

The WDL will function in seven languages – Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Portuguese, Russian, and Spanish – and include content in a great many other. Browse and search features will facilitate cross-cultural and cross-temporal exploration on the site. Descriptions of each item, and videos with expert curators speaking about selected items, will provide context for users, and are intended to spark curiosity and encourage both students and the general public to learn more about the cultural heritage of all countries.

The WDL was developed by a team at the Library of Congress. Technical assistance was provided by the Bibliotheca Alexandrina of Alexandria, Egypt. Institutions contributing content and expertise to the WDL include national libraries and cultural and educational institutions in Brazil, Egypt, China, France, Iraq, Israel, Japan, Mali, Mexico, Morocco, the Netherlands, Qatar, the Russian Federation, Saudi Arabia, Serbia, Slovakia, South Africa, Sweden, Uganda, the United Kingdom, and the United States.

Examples of treasures that will be featured on the WDL include oracle bones and steles contributed by the National Library of China; Arabic scientific manuscripts from the National Library and Archives of Egypt; early photographs of Latin America from the National Library of Brazil; the Hyakumanto darani, a publication from the year 764 from the National Diet Library of Japan; the famous 13th century “Devil’s Bible” from the National Library of Sweden; and works of Arabic, Persian, and Turkish calligraphy from the collections of the Library of Congress.

One of UNESCO’s main mandates is to promote the free flow of all forms of knowledge in education, science, culture, and communication. The Organization therefore supports initiatives to improve and increase content on the Internet. To this end, it collaborates with a range of partners on the creation of digital and other repositories.

Troubled water

2009-04-13T12:17:00.000-07:00

Increased demand, waste and insufficient investment: water shortage may come sooner than we think. Although water covers three-quarters of the world’s surface, only 0.0075% of this immense volume is available for humanity’s use. Some countries have already reached the limits of their resources.

We must act now, warns the just-launched United Nations World Water Development Report, “Water in a changing world”, which assesses the global water situation. The UNESCO Courier examines some strategies for better management.

Under water cultural heritage

2009-04-11T06:19:00.000-07:00

Chapter 1: Exploration and Preservation

* Submerged Cultural Sites: opening a time capsule David Nutley
* The Impact of Commercial Exploitation on the Preservation of Underwater Cultural Heritage Tatiana Villegas Zamora
*

In Situ Preservation: 'the preferred option' Martijn Manders
* Conservation of Underwater Cultural Heritage: characteristics and new technologies Jean-Bernard Memet

Chapter 2: Why Create an International Convention?

* How and Why will Underwater Cultural Heritage Benefit from the 2001 Convention? Thijs J. Maarleveld
* The 2001 UNESCO Convention on the Protection of the Underwater Cultural Heritage: advantages and challenges Ulrike Koschtial
* Safeguarding the Underwater Cultural Heritage of Brazil: legal protection and public archaeology Gilson Rambelli

Chapter 3: New Frontiers, New Concepts

* Underwater Archaeological Trails Francisco J. S. Alves
* A Resource for Sustainable Development: the case of Croatia Jasen Mesic
* Underwater Archaeological Exploration of the Mayan Cenotes Luis Alberto Martos Lopez

The Big Read promotes literacy during Global Action Week, 20-26 April

2009-04-10T05:53:00.000-07:00

Global Action Week 2009 (April 20 to 26) focuses on youth and adult literacy and life-long learning to raise awareness about the global literacy challenge.

Worldwide, some 776 million adults lack literacy skills, 75 million children are out of school and millions more leave school early without acquiring basic literacy and numeracy skills.

UNESCO World Press Freedom Prize 2009 to be awarded posthumously to Sri Lankan journalist Lasantha Wickrematunge

2009-04-07T07:32:00.000-07:00

The late Sri Lankan journalist and editor of the Sunday Leader Lasantha Wickrematunge, who was assassinated on 8 January this year, has been named laureate of the 2009 UNESCO World Press Freedom Prize. The Director-General of UNESCO Koïchiro Matsuura today endorsed the choice of the Prize’s jury of 14 professional journalists from all over the world.

“Jury members were moved to an almost unanimous choice by a man who was clearly conscious of the dangers he faced but nevertheless chose to speak out, even beyond his grave,” said Joe Thloloe, President of the jury and Press Ombudsman of the Press Council of South Africa, referring to the laureate’s posthumous editorial in which he voiced his commitment for press freedom at the risk of his life. “Lasantha Wickrematunge continues to inspire journalists around the world,” added Mr Thloloe.

Mr Matsuura welcomed the choice of Mr Wickrematunge: “In awarding the 2009 World Press Freedom Prize to a committed journalist who opposed war, UNESCO, along with media professionals from all over the world, recognizes the important role that freedom of expression can play in fostering mutual understanding and reconciliation, the theme of this year’s World Press Freedom Day celebration.”

The Director-General will present the World Press Freedom Prize in a ceremony on May 3, World Press Freedom Day, which UNESCO will celebrate this year in Doha, capital of Qatar.

Born in 1958, Lasantha Wickrematunge trained as a lawyer and was a member of the Sri Lankan Bar Association. While working as an attorney-at-law, he began working as an investigative reporter for the Sun/Davasa newspaper.

In 1994, Mr Wickrematunge started the Sunday Leader with his brother and used the publication to campaign vigorously against the war between Sri Lanka’s army and Tamil rebels.

In 2000, Mr Wickrematunge secured a court victory which led to the abolition of the law that allowed the government to curb the media. In November 2007, the Sunday Leader was damaged in an arson attack that Mr Wickrematunge said resembled a “commando action.”

Mr Wickrematunge expected to be assassinated and went so far as to write an editorial for publication after his death. It appeared in the Sunday Leader on 11 January 2009, three days after he had been murdered. In his editorial, Mr Wickrematunge voiced his commitment and readiness to die for press freedom: “[…] there is a calling that is yet above high office, fame, lucre and security. It is the call of conscience.”

Created in 1997 by UNESCO’s Executive Board, the Press Freedom Prize is awarded annually to honour the work of an individual or an organization defending or promoting freedom of expression anywhere in the world, especially if this action puts the individual’s life at risk. Candidates are proposed by UNESCO Member States, and regional or international organizations that defend and promote freedom of expression.

Since its creation, the US $25,000 prize - financed by the Cano and Ottaway family foundations, and by JP/Politiken Newspaper LTD - has been awarded to the following laureates: Lydia Cacho (Mexico, 2008), Anna Politkovskaya (Russian Federation, 2007), May Chidiac (Lebanon, 2006), Cheng Yizhong, (China, 2005), Raúl Rivero (Cuba, 2004), Amira Hass (Israel, 2003), Geoffrey Nyarota (Zimbabwe, 2002), U Win Tin (Myanmar, 2001), Nizar Nayyouf (Syria, 2000), Jesus Blancornelas (Mexico, 1999), Christina Anyanwu (Nigeria, 1998), Gao Yu (China, 1997).

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon in Paris for CEB meeting hosted by UNESCO

2009-04-05T02:32:00.001-07:00

United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon came to Paris to attend the annual meeting of the CEB (UN System Chief Executives Board for Coordination), hosted by UNESCO on 4-5 April, following his participation in the G-20 Summit in London.

On his first visit to UNESCO since his election to the head of the UN, the Secretary-General addressed delegations and staff at an information meeting at Headquarters on 3 April. The session was webcast to all UNESCO Field Offices.

On 6-7 April, Ban Ki-Moon will be in Istanbul (Turkey) for the second Forum of the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations, aimed at advancing intercultural understanding.

UNESCO Director-General to G-20: “Invest in education”

2009-04-03T08:09:00.000-07:00

Koïchiro Matsuura, the Director-General of UNESCO, has written to the leaders of the Group of 20 nations, meeting in London this week, to plead the cause of education.

Mr Matsuura said world leaders must tackle systemic and financial problems at the same time as the fundamental issues that determine long-term economic development, such as education. The Director-General stressed that “Expenditure for education is one of the most productive investments that a country can make. […] Research shows that by extending the average period spent at school by one year, per capita GDP is increased by 4 to 6 %. By injecting resources into education now, not only would we stimulate economic recovery, but we would also contribute to stronger growth in the future and guarantee global stability in the long term. This is why UNESCO proposes including education on the agendas of all international meetings aimed at resolving the current crisis.”

The Director-General added, “Investing in science, innovation and new technologies, including green technologies, is also fundamental for stimulating economic growth while contributing to a sustainable environment. UNESCO is already working with many countries, especially in Africa, to develop scientific policies and build human and institutional capacities in order to promote innovation.”

“Responding to the global crisis, which is of unprecedented magnitude and complexity, will require unfailing cooperation and international solidarity. The organizations in the United Nations System, including UNESCO, of which all the G20 countries are members, have the ability to undertake coordinated and strategic action,” said Mr Matsuura, stressing that “multilateralism will be vital for finding common solutions to the current challenges.”

The Director-General continued, “The crisis risks wiping out the gains of recent years - attained after major efforts - especially in developing countries, and compromising progress towards the development goals set by everyone, including the Millennium Development Goals. With the population of Africa expected to double in the next 35 years, cutting investments allocated to the reduction of poverty now is the best way to cause social disaster. […] I exhort the G20 to urge aid donors to reverse the current trend of decreasing aid commitments and disbursements.”

Longitudinal Investigation of Fertility and the Environment (LIFE) Study

2009-03-31T07:19:00.001-07:00

Principal investigator: Germaine M. Buck Louis, Ph.D., M.S.
The Longitudinal Investigation of Fertility and the Environment (LIFE) Study (http://www.lifestudy.us ) is designed to examine the relation between ubiquitous environmental chemicals, lifestyle, and human fecundity and fertility. The primary exposures of interest include persistent chemicals (e.g., PCBs, PBDEs and PFOS) and lifestyle factors (e.g., stress, cigarette smoking, caffeine, and alcohol usage). The LIFE Study will follow 800 couples in two states as they try to become pregnant for up to 12 at-risk menstrual cycles. Women who conceive will be followed through delivery. Primary outcome measures include fecundability, pregnancy loss, infertility, and infant gestation and birth size.

DESPR Collaborators

· Enrique F. Schisterman, Ph.D.
· Aiyi Liu, Ph.D.
· Rajeshwari Sundaram, Ph.D.
Selected Publications

Lynch CD, Jackson L, & Buck Louis GM. (2006). Estimation of the day-specific probabilities of conception: Current state of the knowledge and the relevance for epidemiologic research. Paediatric and Perinatal Epidemiology, 20 (Suppl 1):3-12. [Abstract]

Louis GMB, Lynch CD, & Cooney MA. (2006). Environmental influences on female fecundity and fertility. Seminars in Reproductive Medicine, 24(3):178-190. [Abstract]

Buck GM, Lynch CD, Stanford JB, Sweeney AM, Schieve LA, Rockett JC, Selevan SG, & Schrader SM. (2004). Prospective pregnancy study designs for assessing reproductive developmental toxicants. Environmental Health Perspectives, 112:79-86. [Abstract]

Rockett JC, Buck GM, Johnson CD, & Perreault SD. (2004). The value of home-based collection of biospecimens in reproductive epidemiology. Environmental Health Perspectives, 112:94-104. [Abstract]

Lobdell D, Buck, GM, Weiner MJ, & Mendola P. (2003). Using commercial telephone directories to obtain a population-based sample for mail survey of women of reproductive age. Paediatric & Perinatal Epidemiology, 17:294-301. [Abstract]

50th anniversary of Nubia Campaign

2009-03-29T03:18:00.000-07:00

© UNESCO/ Nenadovic
Flooding of Philae Monuments

UNESCO, Egypt and Sudan have started commemorating the 50th anniversary of the Nubia Campaign, a defining example of international solidarity when countries understood the universal nature of heritage and the universal importance of its conservation.

The Egyptian and Sudanese governments’ request - in April and October 1959 respectively - for UNESCO’s help to save the 3,000-year-old monuments and temples of ancient Nubia from an area that was to be flooded by the Aswan Dam marked the start of unprecedented campaign.

“A moving demonstration of the miracles that can be achieved by international cooperation,” in the words of the Director-General of UNESCO, Koïchiro Matsuura who sent a message to the participants of a meeting held in Egypt to commemorate the Nubia Campaign. “Saving the temples and artefacts of Nubia became an urgent priority transcending national interests and pride, and, as we all know, the international community brilliantly rose to that challenge. Need it be further stressed that such international solidarity is more than ever timely in the current period of global, financial, environmental and social crisis…”

International expertise and funds were mobilized to dismantle and reassemble six groups of monuments in new locations. The scale of the 20-year project and the immense technological challenge it generated were unprecedented in UNESCO’s history. A total of 22 monuments and architectural complexes were relocated with the assistance of 40 technical missions from five continents.
The success of the Campaign inspired the development and adoption in 1972 of UNESCO’s World Heritage Convention and the inscription of sites on UNESCO’s World Heritage List on which the Nubian Monuments from Abu Simbel to Philae were inscribed in 1979.

UNESCO to hold World Conference on Education for Sustainable Development in Bonn (Germany)

2009-03-25T08:38:00.001-07:00

© Tang Ming
Two primary school students observe a dying fish in Baicao River, Sichuan Province

The UNESCO World Conference on Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) will be held in Bonn (Germany) from 31 March to 2 April. Entitled “Moving into the Second Half of the UN Decade”, the event will bring together some 700 experts and stakeholders.

Organized in partnership with the German Ministry of Education and Research, the conference marks the midpoint of the UN Decade of Education for Sustainable Development (2005-2014), for which UNESCO is the lead agency.

The conference will underline the relevance of ESD to all of education; promote international exchange on ESD, especially between North and South; assess results of the Decade’s implementation; and develop strategies for the future. A final declaration will be adopted reflecting debates and proposing guidelines for the next five years.

Among the conference’s highlights, Queen Rania of Jordan, international advocate for education, and Graça Machel, international advocate for women's and children's rights and former Minister of Education and Culture in Mozambique, will present keynote speeches.

Thirty-six ministers from all over the world have already confirmed their participation in the conference’s High-Level Segment (31 March). The session will provide an opportunity for ministers and UN representatives to discuss experiences related to DESD implementation.

On 1 April, all participants will be invited to sign up for workshops at ongoing ESD projects in the Bonn region, to promote international exchange of good practices. An exhibition during the conference will showcase 25 ESD projects from around the world.

Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) seeks to integrate the values and practices of sustainable development into all aspects of education. The World Conference on ESD is one of UNESCO's four global Education Conferences organized in 2008-2009 to discuss education priorities.

Water and Global Change

2009-03-23T04:21:00.000-07:00

Over the last decade much attention and many resources have been devoted to the documentation and prediction of climate variability and change. Simultaneously, there has been rapid development in advanced data capture and advanced data transfer technologies. Substantially less progress, however, has been made towards translating technical and scientific advances into information useful to water managers and policy makers world wide. Water resources and water resource systems are still generally managed under a “business as usual” framework.

Climate, water policy and management Since about 1980 there has been a distinct change in our understanding of the nature and origin of the statistics of hydrological variables, as measured in an individual catchment or region. Previously the assumption was that these statistics are entirely haphazard in nature and indeterminate in origin, and do not change with time. Thus the most important hydrological variables (such as precipitation, runoff and potential evaporation) are sampled over a calibration period (of perhaps only a few decades), and the statistics observed within that period are then used as the basis for hydrological design and water resources management. Now, however, there is increasing realisation that the nature of the locally observed statistics of hydrological variables is not stationary and may contain long-term trends caused by global-scale phenomena.At the seasonal to interannual timescale, the influence of El Niño and La Niña on hydrological statistics (and the occurrence of extreme hydrological events such as floods and droughts) is now well recognised – even catchments remote from the Pacific may be affected. There is also observational evidence of a relationship between the strength of the Asia-Australian monsoon and El Niño, and indications that these phenomena are together related to seasonal variations in Siberian snow cover. Similarly, recent studies suggest an association between the North Pacific Oscillation and precipitation in Europe and the Middle East. These relationships (and others yet to be identified) can generate seasonal distortions in the statistics of hydrological variables, thus threatening the validity of the operational rules applied to water management systems.There are indications that the strength of important fluctuations in the global climate (such as those associated with El Niño and the Asian-Australian monsoon) may themselves vary at the decadal timescale, which brings into question hydrological designs based on observations made over 30 years or less. Moreover, model studies suggest, and observational evidence tends to confirm, that an enhanced hydrological cycle is likely to be an important consequence of global climate change caused by "greenhouse warming". Some developed countries now have the capability to use models and data gathered with advanced technologies (such as remote sensing) to improve the prediction of the impact of multiple stresses present in individual catchments. Such improved management tools are, however, rarely applied in the extensive regions of the world where water-resource issues are most extreme and where their potential benefit for human welfare is greatest. Thus, it is clear that the basic paradigm, that is, the assumption of stationarity that underlies hydrological design and management (e.g. flood management), is open to question, but, in the absence of reliable alternative understanding and methods, current practice is locked in place by professional and legal precedents. There are now huge opportunities to develop hydrological understanding relevant to these policy issues. The past success of the scientific community now involved in the Global Energy and Water Cycle Experiment (GEWEX), the International Geosphere Biosphere Program (IGBP), and the Climate Variability and Predictability programme (CLIVAR) engenders optimism. It is likely that new and beneficial understanding of the Earth's hydrological cycle will emerge in the course of the next decade under the World Climate Research Program. Remote-sensing systems are now better able to provide global observations to monitor fluctuations and change in the Earth's atmosphere, oceans and continents. Field measurements using reliable, unsupervised hardware with remote data capture is now feasible. Meanwhile, the explosive growth of computer technology promises the capability to describe the entire globe with models having a grid scale of just a few tens of kilometres within a few years. Further, it has fostered a revolution in information transfer, bringing the capability to transfer data and knowledge at unprecedented rates.HELP will complement the global data that GEWEX and CLIVAR will provide with simultaneous, in situ hydrological observations in representative research catchments around the world. A particular focus of attention will be on extreme events (floods and droughts). An education programme is also required, to promulgate the use of modern hydrological monitoring and data transfer techniques and to disseminate the understanding and application of the relationship between global processes and regional hydrology.

The hydrological science contribution The overarching question that motivates research into water and climate is:

how can knowledge, understanding, and predictive modelling of the influence of global variability and change on hydrological variables and remotely sensed data be used to improve the management and design of water resource, agro-hydrological and eco-hydrological systems?

Subsidiary issues for study include:

* How significant is the relationship between the statistics of hydrological variables and observable global phenomena, and how does this change with location?
* How can remote data capture, and advanced information transfer technologies best be applied to improve the management and design of water systems?
* How can predictions of seasonal-to-interannual variations be used to improve the management of water, including for disaster prevention (floods and droughts)?
* How significant are multi-decadal fluctuations in climate, and how can knowledge of such fluctuations be used to improve the design of water systems?
* What is the hydrological significance of potential anthropogenic climate change, and how can predictions of such change best be used to improve design of water systems?

THIRD PHASE OF HELP- GLOBAL CALL FOR PROPOSALS

2009-03-23T04:19:00.000-07:00

The first HELP phase (1999-2004) was a pilot phase and the second phase (2004-2008) operationalised the HELP principles. While the first two phase were very successful in bringing together scientists, policy makers and stakeholders implementing integrated water resources management there is still a need to help solve new challenges such as:

* Climate change-poverty-water sector adaptations
* Water-poverty-environment nexus
* Energy-water-poverty nexus
* Demand for bio-fuels ensuing competition for land and water resources used for food production
* Globalization and trade policies for food security
* The changing role of state and local actors in the water
* Gender and the feminisation of agriculture and other water-intensive sectors.

Recent progress on the HELP initiative has been captured in a special volume of Water SA 34(4) containing selected papers from the ‘HELP in Action: Local Solutions to Global Water Problems – Lessons from the South’ symposium, Johannesburg, South Africa 2007.

http://www.wrc.org.za/publications_watersa_sa_help_sp_edition.htm

HELP network is currently calling for proposals for the third phase. The next HELP call is likely to be in 2013.

During this phase HELP is being organized along the focal areas linked with IHP-VII themes. You are required to nominate focal areas of interest in your HELP basin. Please complete Form-A to renew an existing HELP basin and Form-B for the new HELP basin.

Recognizing that not all necessary information or evidence of support will be readily available by the 20th January 2009. This is not of concern, please submit your proposal and provide additional information as it becomes available.

Please send your proposal electronically to G.Gobina@unesco.org at the IHP-Secretariat by the 20th of January, 2009.

Opportunities for Students to Link with the UNESCO IHP-HELP Program

Currently there are exciting opportunities for students to link with the HELP program through targetted research with the HELP basins on various aspects of integrated water resources management. Should you be interested to join the HELP network as an intern please contact Mr Shahbaz Khan : s.khan@unesco.org.

PAST EVENTS:

HELP Participation at the IV International Symposium on Transboundary Waters Management

A special HELP session on transboundary basins was organised at the IV International Symposium on Transboundary Waters Management (15-18 October 2008, Thessaloniki).

For further information on the Symposium - http://www.inweb.gr/twm4

HELP Regional Coordinating Units Planning Meeting

A meeting of the regional coordinating units was held at UNESCO HQ on the 7th and 8th of May 2008 under the guidance of Shahbaz Khan the new Global Coordinator of the international HELP Programme. This meeting was aimed at aligning HELP with the IHP-VII directions and to plan the future of HELP.

The new HELP themes are:

*
Water and global change
*
Water, food and energy nexus
*
Water and ecosystem services
*
Water and human health
*
Empowering stakeholders to resolve conflicts
*
Water education based on proven practices

Key actions from the RCU planning meeting are listed below:

* Update of HELP website for all basins
* Regular HELP Newsletter
* Self evaluation of HELP basins
* Lists of funding sources (global list including RCU contributions) made available on the web
* Publications (HELP affiliation of authors, database of publications available on the web)
* Call/invitation for new proposals (Fall 2008)

INTERNATIONAL WORKSHOP ON WETLANDS AT LAKE OF ANNECY-SILA

The French HELP basin "Pays de Savoie, Annecy, Mont Blanc, Leman" launched a new initiative related to Integrated Management in high watersheds. This new project initiated by the Syndicat Intercommunal du Lac d'Annecy (SILA) is based on the theme "Integrated Management of Wetlands". The main output of the project is the creation of a sub-network between HELP basins managers and other partners to share techniques, tools and information on wetlands management issues.

A technical workshop entitled "International workshop on wetlands at Lake of Annecy – SILA" was organized in Annecy, France on January 31st and February 1st 2008. A field trip in the wetlands of Lake of Annecy is planned on February 2nd, the international day of wetlands.

Should you be interested to join this technical sub-network and share your experiences or current projects on wetlands management please contact Mrs Charnay at: Berengere.CHARNAY@sedhs.com

HELP SOUTHERN SYMPOSIUM 2007 4-9 November 2007

Local Solutions to Global Water Problems - Lessons from the South.

The International HELP Symposium “Local Solutions to Global Water Problems- Lessons from the South” aims at bridging the gap between science and policy to solve “water related issues” at the local, national and international levels. HELP is creating a new approach to integrated catchment management through the creation of framework for water law and policy experts, water resource managers and water scientists to work together on water-related problems.

Participation of the 67 basin organizations from 56 UNESCO partner countries makes this a tremendous knowledge sharing opportunity on how to put HELP into action.

The HELP International Symposium is being organized by the Department of Water Affairs and Forestry (DWAF) in partnership with UNESCO HELP. It will be held in Pretoria, South Africa. Highlights will include technical and poster sessions, thematic discussions, workshops, receptions and a field trip to the Olifants River HELP basin.

For all information on the HELP Symposium, see the new HELP Symposium Website

EU LAUNCH OF THE DUNDEE CENTRE FOR WATER LAW, POLICY AND SCIENCE

The European Union launch of the Centre took place in Scotland House in Brussels, Belgium, on 28 November 2006. The launch included an afternoon discussion on water issues and EU initiatives. One of the most important tools to ensure implementation of a policy regarding integrated water management is a solid and responsive legal framework. Within this context, it is most important that water lawyers, water scientists and water users work together on water-related problems. The establishment of a global centre that will uniquely interface water law and policy with the biophysical sciences and engineering would provide an opportunity to ensure this relationship is effective and develop legal frameworks in line with stakeholders' needs and requirements.

It was during its 33rd session, in 2005, that the UNESCO General Conference approved the establishment of the IHP-HELP Centre for Water Law, Policy and Science at the University of Dundee, Scotland, United Kingdom. The Centre is strongly linked to HELP and is based at the International Water Law Research Institute (IWRL) of the University of Dundee in Scotland.

Presentations, speeches and details on the event can be found on this link.

WATER IN MOUNTAINS. INTERNATIONAL SYMPOSIUM 2006

The International Symposium "Eau en Montagne" took place in Megeve, France,September 20-22, 2006. Selected members of the HELP network were invited to present current research and projects on specific issues in mountainous catchments.The "Europe INBO 2006" International Conference on the Implementation of the European Water Framework Directive also occured during the Symposium.

Proposals for the 3rd Phase of HELP are currently being considered. Check publications under the You and HELP section for relevant forms.

2009-03-23T04:16:00.000-07:00

Why H.E.L.P. ?

At present there is a "Paradigm Lock" between outdated accepted practices adopted in water resource management for the benefit of stakeholders and the application of more recent scientific findings. Scientific research is isolated by lack of proven utility, whilst water policy and management is isolated by legal and professional precedence.

The HELP Approach on the ground:

The first step is the “Assessment Stage” of HELP, which synthesises existing knowledge, integrates such information across disciplines as part of IWRM, and provides two main types of outputs:

- simulation of future change scenarios (e.g., land-use, demography, or socioeconomics) in the water cycle and supply/demand for different future catchment states, as well as checking model predictions based on known changes in the catchment environmental-social status.

- definition of “gaps” in scientific knowledge (e.g., process hydrology understanding) that require development of a technical implementation strategy by hydrologists in collaboration with basin stakeholders and managers. Such steps are taken to support already-defined land-water management and policy issues.

The outputs from the Assessment Stage answer a common criticism from policymakers, especially at the national-government level, that scientists do not share knowledge with users. Integration of knowledge across disciplines provides a product for improving IWRM as well as for informing the public. This can be achieved by simulating alternative management decisions (i.e., via DSS) linked with ecohydrology and socioeconomic sustainability.

After establishing an agenda for scientific research and creating a science plan, HELP advances to a Research Stage This second stage requires continued dialogue with land-water managers and policymakers to ensure that research results are used to update management and policy tools. The manager’s role is critical since basin managers are at the fulcrum of HELP. To be effective, managers must have a thorough appreciation of scientific research and its role in enhancing management and policy . The promotion of a “bottom-up” approach within the network of HELP basins and close linkages between those basins, allows sharing and exchange of information on IWRM across a spectrum of environmental and sociocultural/socioeconomic conditions. Such steps move beyond the macroscale and address the intricacies and complexities of IWRM down to basins at the mesoscale (~10 000 km2) and even to communities at the microscale (~ 10 km2).

How is HELP managed?

The HELP programme is managed at three levels:

Global Level through the Global Secretariat - Strategic Planning and Directions

Regional Level through the Regional Coordinating Units - Operational Planning and Management

Basin Level through the Basin HELP Groups - Implementation of HELP Philosophy

Key HELP contacts are given below:

- Global Secretariat:

Mr Shahbaz Khan, Chief Sustainable Water Resources Development and Management Section, UNESCO Paris

- RCU for Australasia and South East Asia:

Mr John Blackwell, Charles Sturt University, Australia

- RCU for Latin America and the Caribbean:

Ms Pilar Cornejo de Grunauer, FIMCM-ESPOL, Guayaquil, Ecuador.

http://www.fimcm.espol.edu.ec/webpages/help/index.htm

- RCU for North America:

Mr Edwin Engman, Goddard Earth Sciences and Technology Center NASA Goddard Space Flight Center.

- RCU for Europe:

Ms Patricia Wouters, UNESCO HELP Centre for Water Law, Policy and Sciences, University of Dundee, Scotland, UK.

Finding a Buyer of Structured Settlement Payments

2009-03-18T20:52:00.000-07:00

Many people that are currently receiving a stream of monthly structured settlement payments do not realize that it is possible to sell all or a portion of their payments for a lump sum of cash. Access to these funds could provide funding to meet the current life needs of one's family instead of waiting for a future stream of inflexible payments structured over a long period of time. This process of entering into a contract to sell ones legal right of receiving future structured payments to settlement companies in exchange for the present value of the money is called factoring. A large number of companies now offer cash for a structured settlement payment. When evaluating your options, try to work with financially sound companies that are competent and ethical. These factors are important considerations to note of when you compare the knowledge and integrity of a company or corporation as well as their dollar offers.

Sarjatik System – IX – Planets affect Environment, Life and the Earth?

2009-03-16T21:00:00.001-07:00

New Delhi, India: February 8, 2008 – IR Summary – Released by Lord Vishnu Bhakt Swamy Raj Baldev.

The Sarjatik System of Occult Astrology is a scientific system that explains how the planets affect the Earth, Environment, Regions and Human Life? It clarifies that the planets only affect the human life maximum by 24% and not 100%. In fact, 76% influence of planets on life comes other factors like genetic properties from parents, regional effect, environment of one’s upcoming, the history of past destiny from deeds of previous birth, the paternal background, among others.

190. Swamy Raj: “My reverend Lord Vishnu, You have been kind enough to explain to me various factors of different effects on life up to 76%.”

191.“ That is – Maximum 8% genetic effect, 8% labor or income, 8% strategy, 12% effect of the Earth planet, 19% family background and 21% destiny. What about stars, My Lord?”

192. Lord Vishnu: “Yes, my dear Swamy, the remaining effects on human life are 24%, caused by different planets and objects in the Solar System.”

193. “The people think that planets and stars do everything in their life, which is not correct, it is their misconception, delusion or false imagination.”

194. “They affect the life of a human being only to a certain extent and do not cover all events of life. The planets or stars or any other concerned space objects are not responsible for all proceedings of life of a person, place, region or the Earth.”

195. “The calculation of planets, if properly computed, indicates what is right time to start a thing, its middle or end and that too depending on the nature of the task or mission, whether one really qualifies it or not.”

196. “Similarly, the planets and stars can indicate the negative period for a certain type of job, travel, or any type of initiative, undertaking or task. Wherever, the stars do not support a particular or job, its alternative is the best solution to seek from expert astrologers."

197. "Each type of planet has it own potency and power and its effect is different every femto second. Their distance from the Sun and the Earth are important factors, their orbiting position count and their effect on life on the Earth is according to the strength of their degrees."

198.Lord Vishnu continued: "If the degree of the planet or object is commanding or powerful, it shall influence on the Earth, its atmosphere and life.

199. "Since all planets and objects shed their rays on the Earth collectively, each planet partly loses its individual potency and merges into the total effect of their orbiting positions on the Earth. The power of planets and concerned objects should be worked out individually and jointly for their combined effect."

200. "All planets and their shared effect do not influence every body equally; the effect changes on every person even if a thousand people are born at the same time, place and date, shall have divergent life effect since they cannot be alike in their previous birth and cannot be similar in destiny wise."

201. "All planets of an individual should be read with the planets of one’s parents and their place of birth, if possible the names of grand parents should be included in the calculation of Occult Astrology, particularly when a child born."

202. Swamy Raj: “My dear Lord of Lords, kindly let me know in short how the planets affect the human life and what’s the broader formula to work out the predictions of a person?

203.Lord Vishnu: Each planet has its own composition of either gaseous, rocky or of other natures with mixed matter and energy. According to its mass, composition, gravity, distance from the Sun and the Earth and its orbital position, it releases its energy and rays that fall on the Earth.

204. "That depending on the orbit and distance of each planet or object from the Earth and the Sun, they shed their effect on the Earth through their rays and that eventually affect the human life."

205. "The planets and objects that come in the way of the Earth by blocking its rays. touch the Earth and affects its atmosphere, which is continuously changing every femto second."

206. "Each human catches the signals of these planets through various organs of the body. The Sun affects the whole body and also affects through third finger from the thumb."

207. “To cite an example of Jupiter, it releases its rays through hair, ears, first finger from the thumb, both hands and feet. Its rays are auspicious in Cancer and inauspicious in Capricorn."

208. “When a child is born, all stars collectively shed their rays on it, the auspicious planets and concerned objects shed inject their rays as per their strength. Similarly, the inauspicious planets shed their rays and neutral planets discharge their own rays."

209. "Thus the child attains the individual as well as collective strength of all planets and as per their nature and strength the child is influenced by them as and when the planets change their course and come either closer to the Earth or go far away from the Earth."

210. Lord Vishnu continued: It is important to work out the effect of planets of the parents along with the child. The names of each parent influences the child, and while working out the details of the child astrologically, it is important also to work out the name of the mother, maiden name so as to make the calculation of the child specific. (Further publication Discontinued)."

Note: The above 210 texts published in International Reporter under Sarjatik System of Occult Astrology are derived from ‘Vishnu Jyotish Puran’,and released by Vishnu Bhakt Swamy Raj Baldev. The series of Vishnu Jyotich Puran is very long, only VIII installments are published in International Reporter earlier, and it is the IXth installment. The entire puran (Book) shall be released by Media International Limited, New Delhi, later on very shortly. The puran sheds light on Universe, Life and Occult sciences.

raj.baldev2007@gmail.com

How to Sell Structured Settlement Payments

2009-03-15T09:10:00.000-07:00

Many people who receive monthly annuity payments under a settlement agreement do not realize they can sell all or a portion of their stream of annuity payments in exchange for a cash lump sum. Getting paid this money can be a way to help fund the current life needs of your family. Receiving the cash now rather than waiting a period of a year or more for a stream of inflexible payments structured in the future can be a big advantage to some people. Factoring is the name of the process of selling ones legal right to receiving future structured payments in exchange for a the present value of that money. This sale becomes a legal contract with the settlement company.

Companies now offer to pay for your rights to receive future annuity payments under structured agreements. The settlement companies offer annuitants the benefit of direct access to cash.

To receive more information please fill out the form on the right.

On January 22, 2002, President George W. Bush signed new protective legislation. This law was designed to protect any individual who has received a settlement annuity as part of a lawsuit or settlement that wishes to sell their structured payments. Under the law a court would have to authorize a transaction to sell future settlement payments. A transaction must in the best interest of the annuitant, their family, dependents or estate to be approved. If a court order and approval is not received, a federal excise tax of 40% would be paid on the total payments sold. This law is intended to help people who receive offers of cash for their annuity payments from being defrauded or taken advantage of by settlement buyers or even their own families.

You have probably seen advertisements urging you to "sell a structured settlement payment". Many beneficiaries wonder if they should sell and cash out, especially if they are in a situation where they need the money. This is a major financial decision and you would be well advised to carefully evaluate your options before making a decision. You need to determine if selling all or even a portion of your guaranteed settlement payments is in your best interest. It usually takes about two months from the date you start to complete a sale and for you to receive the cash when you sell insurance payments. For more information please fill out the form on the right.

Best LIFE-Environment projects

2009-03-13T05:18:00.001-07:00

Website: ec.europa.eu/environment/life/project/bestlifeenv.htm

In October 2005, the EU Member States represented on the LIFE-Committee, together with the LIFE Unit, have identified the 24 best LIFE-Environment projects completed during 2004 and early 2005.

The main aim of the Best Projects exercise is to promote the LIFE projects selected as 'the best practices' by focusing part of the European Commission's and individual Member States communication actions on helping them to further disseminate their results. This is a pilot exercise. However, if 2005's trial run is successful, the initiative will be repeated with more substantial resources for 2005-2006.

All 24 projects will be featured in an online publication to be published in December 2005. The publication will focus on the projects' innovative qualities and results, as well as their possibilities for replication. The document will be available from the website, and those subscribed will be informed by a LIFEnews alert.

The five projects selected as the 'best of the best' included four relating to energy and transport (in no particular order):

* STIRLING Motor implemented by Mayer & Cie.
* SMILE implemented by Agence de l'Environnement et de la Maîtrise de l'Energie
* BBMpassiv implemented by BBM - Beschaffungsbetrieb der MIVA
* ENERWASTE implemented by Matadero Frigorífico del Nalón

Of the 24 projects, a total of 9 were related to energy and transport as follows:

* SMILE (France) - Sustainable Mobility Initiative for Local Environment.
* STIRLING Motor (Germany) - Miniature block-type thermal power station based on a long-lived Stirling motor.
* IEM in Hospitals (Germany) - Development of environmental management systems in hospitals from four European Regions and integration in QM-Systems.
* TANDEM (Italy) - Pilot action for promoting EMAS among local bodies operating on a large territory (provinces and main municipalities) in TANDEM with Local Agenda 21.
* ENERWASTE (Spain) - Implementation of an AD facility at a Spanish slaughterhouse for a sustainably closed energy and waste cycle.
* ECOBUS (Spain) - Collecting used cooking oils for recycling as biofuel for diesel engines.
* BBMpassiv (Austria) - Multifunctional company and administration building with logistics and cultural centre in passive house standard in sustainable timber construction.
* ENERLAB (Latvia) - Energy labelling of apartment buildings.
* EQUATION (Netherlands) - Demonstration and dissemination project for stimulating architects and local governments to build in a sustainable way with the help of innovative design tools.

Schuff Steel Company Starts Structural Steel Erection on Phoenix Children`s Hospital Expansion Project

2009-03-13T05:08:00.000-07:00

PHOENIX--(Business Wire)--
Schuff Steel Company started steel erection on Phoenix Children`s Hospital`s
11-story patient tower, which is part of the hospital`s expansion project.
Schuff Steel Company is a subsidiary of Schuff International, Inc. (OTC: SHFK),
a leading family of companies providing fully integrated steel construction
services.

Schuff is erecting approximately 6,300 tons of structural steel for the
765,000-square-foot facility and plans to complete the steel portion in
September 2009. Schuff fabricated all of the steel for the hospital at its four
Arizona steel plants located in Phoenix, Gilbert, Eloy, and Flagstaff. Kitchell
Contractors is the general contractor on the project.

Other Arizona health care projects Schuff has been involved with includes Mayo
Clinic, Banner Children`s Hospital, Banner Ironwood Hospital, Banner Gateway
Medical Center, and Scottsdale Healthcare. Across the country, Schuff has
provided steel services for over 45 health care facility construction projects.
Other major Arizona projects erected by Schuff include Casino Arizona, Phoenix
Convention Center Expansion, Sheraton Phoenix Downtown Hotel, the Arizona
Cardinal Stadium, and the Glendale Spring Training Facility for the Los Angeles
Dodgers and the Chicago White Sox.

About Schuff International, Inc.

Schuff International, Inc. (OTC: SHFK) and its family of steel companies is the
largest steel fabrication and erection company in the United States. The
32-year-old company constructs major projects throughout the country. Schuff
offers integrated steel construction services from a single source. Professional
services include design-build, design-assist, engineering, BIM participation, 3D
steel modeling/detailing, fabrication, advanced field erection, joist and joist
girder manufacturing, project management, and single-source steel management
systems. Major market segments include industrial, public works, bridges, health
care, gaming and hospitality, convention centers, stadiums, mixed-use and
retail, transportation, and international projects. Schuff International, Inc.,
which is headquartered in Phoenix, AZ, owns and operates nine steel fabrication
plants and two steel joist-manufacturing plants. Companies include Schuff Steel
Company located in AZ, NV and CA; Schuff Steel-Midwest Division located in
Overland Park, KS, Ottawa, KS, Chicago, IL and Denver, CO; Schuff Steel-Gulf
Coast, Inc., located in Houston, TX; Schuff Steel-Atlantic, Inc., located in
Orlando, FL, Albany, GA and Atlanta, GA; Schuff Steel Management
Company-Southwest, Inc., located in Gilbert, AZ; and Quincy Joist Company
located in Quincy, FL and Buckeye, AZ. Schuff employs approximately 1,500 people
throughout the country

back to Buildings & Structures Homepage Floating Floors Picture Floating floors are used extensively in new developments to prevent acoustic and vi

2009-03-13T05:07:00.001-07:00

Floating floors are used extensively in new developments to prevent acoustic and vibration disturbance from propagating through a building structure especially where quiet spaces are located near noisy areas.

System function. There are two fundamental elements to a floating floor; the acoustic air gap (usually 50 – 100mm) provides the acoustic isolation whilst the elastomeric isolators act to decouple the floor from the rest of the building structure preventing the propagation of structure-borne vibration.

Farrat's floating floor systems have been developed to provide high levels of acoustic and vibration performance whilst being economical, easy and quick to install either by Farrat or the contractor with Farrat supervision. They can be used in a vast array of applications including: cinemas, performing arts facilities, bowling alleys, instrument & nanotechnology facilities etc.

Farrat can advise on the most suitable type and grade of floating floor system and provide full specification, predicted natural frequencies, damping ratios, layout drawings, installation instructions and if necessary site installation or supervision.

Structural Vibration Isolation

2009-03-13T05:00:00.000-07:00

Structure-borne vibration is becoming a serious concern as structures become lighter in weight and built closer to major sources of vibration such as railway lines and industrial plant etc.

Vibrational energy will take the path of least resistance and a stiff lightweight structure offers an excellent path to transmit the vibration from the transmitter to the receiver. The first measure of vibration control should be to isolate the source but if this is not sufficient or possible then measures can be taken to isolate or dampen the intermediate structure.

Incorporating materials into a structure with a lower stiffness than adjacent materials (such as elastomeric isolators) will effectively reduce the transmission of vibration in either direction. They also provide a degree of structural damping which will reduce any vibration disturbance as well as being very important when a structure is as risk from the effects of resonance as it is the only way to control the amplitude of vibration.

Elastomeric isolators can also be used a resilient seatings since they possess the added advantages of being able to absorb bending, torsion and rotation modes and can eliminate the risk of local stress concentrations which may arise from thermal expansion / contraction or ground settlement. These features, combined with the intrinsic damping of elastomeric materials make them far superior to lighter weight, glass fibre equivalents.

Farrat offers a comprehensive range of multi use elastomeric isolation materials (seen below) which can be used in all areas of construction to reduce structure-borne vibration and acoustic transmission across a wide frequency range. Our complete confidence in the material properties and performance is based on thorough lab testing as well as extensive, long term experience of use in a variety of scenarios.

Structural Steel Destruction of the Towers' Steel Remains

2009-03-11T06:09:00.000-07:00

The only constituents of the Twin Towers that survived the "collapses" in the form of recognizable pieces of any size were their metal parts, such as pieces of structural steel and aluminum cladding. 1 Virtually all the non-metallic parts of the towers and their contents were converted to microscopic dust particles or small unrecognizable fragments.

Building 7, though also reduced to a short pile of rubble, was not as thoroughly pulverized as the towers. Large sections of the building's perimeter wall could be seen on the rubble pile.

The surviving fragments of steel from the Twin Towers, most of them between 10 and 30 feet in length, and the larger remaining steel sections from Building 7, were essential to any serious investigation of the collapses. These catastrophic failures were at least as deserving of careful study as other rare events that are studied intensively, such as the aviation disasters investigated by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). Normally, great care is taken in preserving the evidence from structural failures and crime scenes.

No such effort was made to preserve the evidence of the unprecedented and unexplained collapses of skyscrapers WTC 1, WTC 2, and Building 7 in lower Manhattan -- easily the three largest and least understood structural failures in World history. Indeed the evidence was destroyed with remarkable speed and efficiency.

SUPPER STRUCTURE

2009-03-07T08:41:00.000-08:00

Twin 3,650-hp MTU 4000 V16 diesels, which Bassani claims will give the boat a 45-knot top speed and around a 40-knot cruise speed. Go for these, and you’ll also save about $8 million on the asking price (which is $16.55 million when the yacht is equipped with twin diesels, $24.83 million as tested, with triple gas turbines).

The 118 WallyPower is a high performance superyacht integrating technology with design, resulting with unique and marked characteristics like the vertical bow, the air inlets, and the deck superstructure.

Reduced: 47% of original size [ 540 x 360 ] - Click to view full image

The technical solutions contribute to the yacht appeal, like the shape of the bow that allows for a 50 per cent reduction of the vertical acceleration, and the superstructure design that features flat surfaces in order to be transparent.

Reduced: 47% of original size [ 540 x 360 ] - Click to view full image

The yacht features all the spacious comforts of a mega yacht together with the nautical characteristics of coast-guard boat: while remaining comfortable on board, guests are capable of cruising at 60 knots not only in flat seas but also in rough waters.

Reduced: 47% of original size [ 540 x 360 ] - Click to view full image

The tender garage in the bow is exposed when a triangular section of the foredeck lifts on three hydraulic rams revealing a storage compartment for a Zodiac, scuba gear ,fishing supplies and all the other water toys you can imagine.

The saloon is designed with the same relaxed life of the cockpit; the drop-down bulwarks increase the view from inside. The teak planes are covered with cushions to serve as sofas, while the spaces between the teak planes contain various functions such as additional seating, tables, storage and technology. The teak soles are a continuation of the deck teak enhancing the inside-outside living concept of the yacht.

Reduced: 47% of original size [ 540 x 360 ] - Click to view full image

The spacious galley encloses the crew mess with 15? plasma screen. The galley is equipped with professional oven and stove, as well as plenty of fridges

The forward deck of the yacht features the cockpit with a large pop-up bimini roof and tables accompanied by sliding seats. This system provides the opportunity to modify the layout according to various situations and requirements, from dining to sun-bathing or a casual living area.

The motorized aft sliding gangway just off the poop deck serves as a very large passerelle (dock or diving platform at water level) when completely extended, and as swimming ladder when folded.Watching it extend or retract is mesmerizing.

The superstructure is elegantly built in strong and light weight carbon fiber and PVC foam covered with laminated glass.
The hull is carbon; the passarelle is carbon. Even the bath fixtures are carbon composites.

Just about the only major surface that is not carbon fiber is the decking.Both for its unmatched beauty and longevity in the marine world traditional teakwood was the choice.

The superstructure is made of a carbon frame to which the glass panels are glued. The glass is composed of Lexan and a triple laminate of glass.

The deck, cockpit, navigation, dining and saloon areas have been conceived as one continuous element. Inside the superstructure, the atmosphere if that of a New York style loft. The open space incorporates three areas, from stern to bow: the saloon, the dining/seating area, and the navigation cockpit.

The owner?s stateroom is forward, featuring a king size bed. Plenty of storage is provided by the side cabinets. A 20? plasma screen is mounted in the aft bulkhead. The cabin has plenty of natural light coming for the top skylight.

The owner?s double en-suites share the bathtub and shower.

On Incarnation- The Beginning of our True Life- The Soul

2009-03-07T08:38:00.001-08:00

===========

To explain why such a process is a little more complicated, we need to go back to the beginning of the progress of the un-individualized soul, and once we have the understanding of this process correctly, we can better understand the process required for the soul that has undergone the re-incarnation.

At the instant our Father desires or intends for something to exist, the thing He desires comes into existence. Of those things, our soul, and by the soul I mean the complete soul consisting of the two “halves”, came into existence in the same manner. This is why Jesus said in the first century, “before Abraham was, I am,” which meant that before the man Abraham existed in the flesh, Jesus existed as a soul. Of course, this not only applies to Jesus himself, but also all of those souls created, including yourself, since we were all created at the instant of God’s intention.

But we existed in an un-individualized form, meaning that we were not at the time conscious of our own existence or individuality. At this time, the soul could be said to have an “instinct”, and many God determined actions are included within its instinct, the primary action being to find a spirit and mortal body into which to incarnate to become an individualized form. There are many other actions of course, including the feeling within the soul that it must answer the questions of life, such as “Why am I here,” “Where am I going,” “What is my purpose,” and similar questions which we all want to answer if we stay close to our feelings during our life.

Each soul could be considered in human terms to have a genetic imprint,
which comes directly from our parent, our Father and Mother, who is our God and Creator. At the time of human conception, when the egg and sperm cells combine, the genetic imprint of two further bodies begins, the body of the material, which man classifies as the DNA structure of the material body, and the body of the spiritual, which man cannot classify currently, but which also has a genetic blueprint which could be considered to be similar to the material body.

I cannot at this time discuss the intricacies of this process, since,
besides being very difficult for most to understand, it is not the point of my discussion. At a later time, these matters will be discussed with the medical fraternity, and I expect that their understanding of many medical and psychological procedures will deepen, with the resultant change to many medical practices currently used generally.

Now half of the soul incarnates into the body prepared. For the purposes of our discussion I shall still refer to it as the “soul”, but the reader needs to consider that it is the half of the soul that I am now referring to. The “first half” of the soul may incarnate into any material body in the earth plane, and this process is generally a random choice, in a similar nature to the randomness of a sperm finding and impregnating the egg in the process of reproduction. The second “half”, since it has an affinity to the first half, often remains in close proximity to the first half that has become incarnated, and in almost all cases, will incarnate into a body where it has a high likelihood of finding its soul mate during its existence on the
earth. This is a provision of our Father’s Love.

So the soul (remember the half of the soul), which is the real man or woman, has gained individuality, and, if left to a proper natural course, will continue its cycle of growth while contained with the spiritual and mortal bodies.

The first body that the soul becomes aware of is its mortal body. Once the brain of that body is able to adjust to its surroundings, awareness comes to the soul and that soul sees in a mirror a person, which it believes defines its existence. So, the soul which did not have an individuality, now has an individuality, and has a consciousness of the same, and believes that the person in the mirror, that others see, is the complete definition of who it is.

Now, many “souls” will go through their entire material existence without being conscious of any other part of themselves, and by this I mean that they are not really conscious that they also have a spiritual body, and a soul, which are both attached to the material body while it remains alive. Also, the soul often thinks of its material body as the “real person”, since it may not be conscious of these other concurrent parallel existences of itself.

As time progresses, the mind of the spirit body, through the exercise of the brain of the material body, may begin to become aware of “spiritual things”, which cannot be explained using a material analysis of the universe in which it “appears” to exist, although, I must say, is definitely supported by a scientifically open examination the material universe. This process is often accompanied by a “realization” of the existence of a higher being, which it now refers to as the “God” of which its conception may be correct or in error, depending on the information supplied by other “souls” within the material world.

Also, this same soul, while exercising its mind and brain, may become more aware of the spiritual body in which it is encased. And, in doing this, it may even come to understand the different areas where different types of information are being process while it is having the experience within the material world. Of course, if this process does not occur while the soul is attached to the material existence, it may occur during its existence while it is attached to its spiritual existence.

While the soul has the material experience, although it may not be aware of the fact, it is concurrently having a spiritual experience, and a soul experience. All it needs is an awareness to occur before it can really live a complete experience, and this is the fact whether it is in a material or spiritual world.

So, to summarize, the soul, before incarnation, is not personally aware of its own existence, or of its own “personality”. When it incarnates, during the process of living, it gains awareness, and now has individuality. Please understand that I am loosely using the term “process of living”, since some material bodies perish while in their mother’s womb, either by miscarriage, or by a miscarriage of Love through abortion, but they nevertheless are souls with individualization.

Large wooden home in Vietnam

2009-03-07T08:32:00.000-08:00

Large wooden home in Vietnam One's first house At home due to be built all the way wood is Don's expensive and to Vietnam are made in Nghi Phu, Vinh city-Nghe An, attracting not only people of Nghe An province where many people other to see Who is shocking, strange lùng before a house in a two this is not. Minister Le Doan Hop VHTT also have to place to see the architecture of this house. Owner of it is Cuong Tran - nickname is "Cuong Tho. Works with a two Home is located on the campus nearly 4000 m2, surrounded barrier wall is solidified over 3 m high, built very elaborately, OP to 5 rock types. Mount lợp barrier wall with the glaze tile eel waves as giant dragons blockade lấy campus. A mason told us: Each member lợp on the tile wall barriers cost of 2500, the total cost to build barrier walls fresh nghẹt 2 billion. This is certainly a record in the construction barrier wall. Record is the next tree is written uom inside barrier wall. I have to count all the trees found several dozen written to two people not embracing Xue, price per tree from 50 to 100 million, told the owner to buy in many places, transportation of uom available, as will be done in house in campus, to create a harmonious space with the house. More stupid than when you walk on campus in the air before labor by hundreds of people are rampant construction of such a large school. Break your eyes I'm home timber giant 8 sleeps on roof area of 400m2 with 46 wooden columns high cloves 6 to 8 m with round Vanh 1.2 - 1.4 m. Eight corner mái dispose as curved roof home village is đắp the cloud and dragon nụ cerulean eyes very start. Roofs overlap tube sound ways of enamel paint nhẵn light dust grains are not clickable! 46 Except for round timber columns, left everything to the wood for the glue, away from home ... sculpt all the flower pictures are very sophisticated. Besides the record of area in a house to 400m2, the house also has the largest record is the timber. Every woodworker wings as revealing that the number of timber owner used to house convention about 500m3 cloves into wood gas. He made you do the job with us to calculate: to have wood products that housing must exploit to 5 ha of forest wood raw cloves of 500 years old. Behind the house is the house building, wooden columns also a way ancient area of several hundred square meters. Heard this will be in place by ... cannot. Connecting the two houses is a coffee shop to be made of wood is also a way of not. This is the house in wood largest, most expensive Vietnam, what should you make any shady ran as a "the metamorphosis", a "Forbidden City", a "from and" Greek "... through with it also reflects the level of due process .. "Superman" Cuong Tran Top woodworker Nam Dinh are engraved state Born in 1964, is the second son of Mr. Tran Tho, a Vietnamese doctors treat the famous and rich in Nghe An. People Nghi Phu said his children are very Thọ "blood" business and see all the rich, in which Tran Cuong as "superman". Tran Cuong each of the team. Between decade of the 80 centuries ago, he moved to work in the company agricultural materials Vinh city. Implementation guidelines on capital in business, he is married Lan Anh rental business in building materials. Those with the company he said that, walking it, Mr. Cuong also very hard, the only business you sad English Poland-out, but he always Cuong out to overcome the Laos, where he is very familiar to traders, spent on Vietnam. Mr. Cuong famous for two products in the fields and tamper. The 1990s it was Don Mr. Cuong "sập to" take more than 2 billion, nearly a year of budget xứ Nghệ this city at the time, so he Cuong still not as smooth. Own this, replied that they had called him a "superman". Around 1995, 1996, people see only English Poland business building materials, as Mr. Cuong then was director of Co. Red River. Of business primarily by the company are import, export of timber. People feel like after the break he Cuong buy both wings cloves timber forest resources in your country of Laos. He completely owned timber market cloves Vietnam, and then exported to Taiwan, China. In 2000, he made house 4 storeys in block 7, Le Loi hoành page that the cause of "the university" in Vinh city must of lost my body. Add this more they respect him as "superman". Cuong his life only once risk. It is 2002, he was Police to Hanoi, and must proceed from the suspension, because I smuggling. After that out, nor Co. Red River in his work anymore. Moneybox buy farms in Thanh Chuong district to afforestation, planting fruit trees, purchased some land in Cua Lo beach, Vinh city. In addition, information from the ones of his household Highway: He turns to contribute capital to the Company Phu Nguyen Hai, a private company with big potential in Nghe An are many business fields, including exercise mechanical loading and ore mines. In this company he received only positions Deputy Director. Those households on road Tran Cuong were friendly to him as human work, always confused money and make the vehicles with no one. And in particular have very good health. Every respect be twice as "superman Nghệ land", as more time go to the house this big, people continue to call him a "superman". This is the house he expected short-term construction materials must be unique and expensive houses in his right is not the same house any time. Home instead of subjects? Mr. Chu Huu Dinh, music of Cuong Tran is also designed, directed construction this house for him in person and hire stepchild necessarily a translation, take 100 million to China as samples home. Although to the ancient Chinese as the Dinh Hoa's, te tướng Save gu, and "From the Greek, Forbidden City, but do not form the lot, he eyes the father. Mr. Dinh said that they have the real wood, but actually to have no state, more graphics sculpt that draw directly from a raw material paste into another timber should not be learning anything. Return to water, his father children "having a rice mắm", "with stars such as," as Mr. Dinh said. According to Dinh, wood used to make this house over the one thousand block, the contributions of ten years training. So, sorry do not do houses for hoành page. Mr. Dinh also adds, he advised of the re put money, wisdom to create a 100% of culture to show that not only China or the past to create new projects with long life time that Nghệ land at this time as well as to the neck and completely pure culture. So his son-in-law agreed to ask the wife stands to make. With new ideas that same year, a dozen years later still as new, and he is the design of self in and conduct construction. The process of construction, said of his star, 50 hand carpenter Nam Dinh, dozens of construction workers to do so. He was wrong to do it again, fear not expensive as long as you properly. Who reset, the rest of his days. And he actually did: four architects to design the wall as a campus, for his dismissal because he is not level! Owner with a contractor in time woodworker sculpt 50 The he, for all his work. His strong hand to the children re lo fever wife as hard as any of his wife is the head of people do now. Mr. Dinh still very confident, in the: Children who ask for the parent secure. And he is guiding and making the house is just the stepchild. Mr. Dinh said: "We do house, which is where the houses are long - time - of - Ward as Don's galaxy. He explains: "Long-time - of - Ward is the architecture of Temples, shrines look. We house only sculpt the flowers, birds 4 spring - summer - to - east. This is the scenic beauty and close to people. He just go and will see. " I acknowledge by him. He only hands say: "to have more graphics in 8 corners of the roof is the symbol of the mushroom cloud and dragon." He emphasized: "May the dragon and the dragon, not nhé!". Finally, he concluded: "We want to give a life of eternal culture, unique and a work by Vietnam not reproduce what the architecture of China ...". Asked about the amount of construction, lightweight features of his: "Some three dozen billion, how much is where. The most expensive wood, the wood is we already have it. Other materials is not their country lack. " Great house this is the 100% culture or do not need the expert assessment. Scatter but we saw this house in the Vietnamese workers who work a reality. But as Mr. Cuong home in to, so expensive, how in the end, when Mr. Cuong only 3 people (husband and she his daughter). Play started, here are a couple houses fathers put up money as dowry for her daughter after this unique?
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The structure of the cave in "The Myth of the Cave". what's the symbolic meaning of the different elements?

2009-03-07T08:17:00.001-08:00

the cave is
A. a symbol of ignorance hence the darkness.
may also represent safety to some degree.
also our primative beginings.

B. prisoners are "kept in the dark" this represents forced ignorance.

C.the fire is an artificial light that creates distorted images.light represents ultimate or pure knowledge there fore fire would be mans conceived knowledge tainted and disformed by his own fears ,ignorance and personal agenda.

D. in this "light"the puppet master reveals a distorted version of reality to his captives. a comfortable version that does, nt mess with the puppet masters agenda.

E.hands are tied .feet are bound.symbolizing the helplessness of the prisoners to break free.
and or the fact that the bonds are composed of the misplaced trust they have of their captors.

i have more info at this site if you wish to see it.

peace><>

MEDIA AS LIFE WORLD

2009-03-05T03:16:00.000-08:00

MEDIA AS LIFE WORLD

I. MEDIA AS AUTOBIOGRAPHY

When speaking or writing about media we still tend to think in terms of channels to which sender and receiver are connected, a temptingly simple but inadequate definition. Current media theory proposes the "Gutenberg Galaxy" has run its course,that the electronic media itself has become the "message" and its forms are to be understood as "extensions of man"¹ Following Marshall McLuhan and considering the stunning developments of the "new media" theorists such as Neil Postman, media is analyzed not only as a metaphor and representation of knowledge, but as an activity, one shaping our social envoirment and subject to media ecology.² This shift in understanding necessitates a fundamental change in our relation to media, and in our thinking. Yet although the distinctions between reality and imagination, truth and fantasy seem to vanish, and the acceptance of media as an authentic lifeworld the next step, media theory is still reluctant to face this consequence. Signification, representation, the ideology of an independent reality as the measure of truth — these are compelling and long-held presuppositions not easily cast aside.

A phenomenological view, however, allows us to skip over the question of whether the world of new media is real or not and instead describe how the new media shows itself to us. We then become aware of the seductive intensity, the speedy flow, and the open audio-visual textuality with which music videos, for example, "blur previously distinct separations and boundaries, such as those between popular and avant©garde art, between different genres and artistic modes, between past,present and future".³ Artistic media have long been considered as possessing a reality of their own, and the artist's work is often viewed as autobiography. In the new media of cinema⁴ the trend toward self-potrayal is perhaps most obvious. Phenomenologically, such 'writing' of one's life in media reveals its structure as an in-between which is neither subjective nor objective. It fulfills an intentionality which transforms 'objective' material and 'subjective' goals into a living process. A lifeworld is commonly "lived through"⁵ silently, the need to acknowledge is largely unfelt; in the case of mass media however only we can be held responsible for its superficiality. The model of nature with its self-evident presence is replaced by the model of technology which has to constantly give evidence and defend its presence anew.

In the technological age we can not simply live our lives, we have to write — and rewrite — them, or others will do it for us. Having been changed into this autobiographical 'writing', communication can now be defined as authentic, as a responsible style of media. The difference between the "life lived through" and the world of media is still a sharp one in terms of perception, as Maurice Merleau-Ponty indicates,⁶ but is an abstraction in terms of intersubjectivity as the basis of communication. In a lifeworld shaped by technology we consider as humane that for which we as artificial beings can and must take reponsibility.⁷ That society and mass media usually live our lives for us is entirely our own fault and not due to any flaw in the structure of these modes of our existence. We are, by nature, the artificial ones; rejecting our artificiality for a more 'natural' mode of being is a naive denial of our potential as well. Consequently our search need be for the authentic mode of artificiality. The artificial lifeworld created by us in the new media is of itself a fulfillment of humanness — a frightening outlook if one regards American prime time televesion as an example.

II. MUSIC VIDEOS: FROM YOUTH CULTURE TO ARTIFICIAL LIFE

McLuhan's pragmatic children use music videos as their "own comfy space" and as a "radio station for the eyes",⁸ enjoying the pleasure and magic of their youth culture. With the start of 24™hour cable MTV in 1981, music videos became the life style of an entire generation. Dweezil Zapa, the gifted son of a famous father "watches hours of MTV every day",⁹ and he is neither uneducated nor unemployed. MTV alone plays 75-110 clips a week, each with a life span of 9-18 weeks; other channels (Black entertainment Television, to name just one) add to this number. Performers like Michael Jackson and Madonna have attained a personal iconographic power apparent on any street.

In the eyes of one shocked admirer of Plato, the "ambition" of these young people seems to be "to win fame and wealth in imitating the drag queen who makes the music". Professor Bloom denounces music videos for turning life into " a nonstop, comercially prepackaged, masturbational fantasy".¹⁰ And Kuan Hsing Chan, an observer even more knowledgeable in video culture shows deep concern when he writes: "If ecstasy of communication, fascination, desire, schizophrenic corruption of temporality and spatiality, obscenity (of sexuality), collage, quotation, fragmentation and non-unity are the key terms to describe MTV, then we have moved from the question of 'what does it mean' to 'what does it do?'"¹¹

Since music videos are at the core of todays youth culture, such harsh reaction to their seeming corruptive influence is predictable. Every youth culture antagonizes mainstream culture, criticizes the parent generation, and develops its own language and gestures, invents its own style and idols. Undeterred by the intended shock effect of the new and unfamiliar, by the strangeness of certain appearances, a phenomenological approach will continue asking how the phenomenon of music videos shows itself to us, as long as it remains unknown. It should be noted that music videos are appreciated outside the youth culture as well. Station VH-1, for instance, is geared specifically to adult audience. Music television is one of the few media hybrids interactively using other telecommunications media and live events for two-way communication in order to spark imagination and interest of its viewers. These channels are continually re-evaluating and re-defining themselves, and in so doing retain the vitality of the avant-garde.

III. INNOVATIONSIN COMMUNICATION: THE PHENOMENON OF MUSIC VIDEO

Music Videos are made for nearly every single released today and have become a major force in the music market. The leading channel MTV reaches 36 million people. Music videos have influenced, changed, colonized, cannibalized, and merged other types of media. And the viewer has become a collaborator. Music television seeks the constant feedback of its audience, altering its programming accordingly. Music videos seem to be a postmodern response to Richard Wagner's "Gesamtkunstwerk", the attemp to unite the arts in the grand opera. Though music videos are only 'operetta' they should not be underestimated: there is no question that this new medium is here to stay. Michael Jackson's recent 17-minute video "Bad", directed by none other than Martin Scorcese, is a clear indication that music videos are about to break out of their rigid format.

A phenomenological awareness is less interested in the content of the music video — decisive is rather the way it manifests itself. That many music videos represent "male street culture, social rebelliousness, and fantasies of female conquest",¹² and that there is an answer from a "female culture" is not our concern here. Music videos are clearly an integral part of contemporary youth culture and for this reason alone an interesting field of research for both sociologists and semiologists. Nonetheless, our line of questioning will be the inovations in communication which music videos indicate apart from and beyond their role in youth culture, changes in the way we communicate with ourselves and with one another. This development is by no means restricted to music videos. But perhaps most visible in music videos — or perhaps they are simply the most fun to analyze! Their colorful and anarchistic texture, filled with shock images, their visual variety and ability to cut through clutter stimulates a sense of creativity too often missing in the technological life world.

Before we consider the phenomenon of music videos in detail, I would like to stress the point that music videos belong to cinema and its aesthetics. The movement-image is, according to Deleuze, the basic unit of the cinematic discourse. This unit, a totality encompassing time and space not only makes the difference of opposing entities clear, it also allows them to be experienced as separate and distinct yet belonging to the whole. The movement image, as a process, does not destroy the identity of the cinema, of movement and image. In the mode of unity the instant and the whole, immobility and change, self-awareness and a sense of the other are experienced in their discretness as two differing and dialectically joined moments and, precisely through this relation, in their oneness. The cinematic movement-image gives us together and as one unit both the instant (i.e. the smallest perceptual unit of the shot) and the whole (which is our sense of change, flow, and duration).¹³

The music video is grounded in this a-centered unity of the movement-image which allows us a communication in-between. The characteristic modi of such communication are manifest in the music videos and can be understood as creation of a life world in which mediation becomes the reality. Our music video examples will include performance clips as well as concept clips. We shall be viewing two iconographic videos in which the performer is spotlighted: Prince's "You've got the look" and Michael Jackson's "Bad". Both pieces are edited, but you need to see only a few minutes to get the point; the details deserve our attention. In their shortness and compactness music videos reveal a structure often similar to that of a poem. Viewed in its entirety the concept clip "Dear God" from XTC offers a unique opportunity to find out how the problem of theodicy has changed since the time of Leibniz.

Let us now examine music videos within the modern structural perspectives of time, space, matter, language, person, and truth in relation to their postmodern counterparts of presencing, rupture, hyperreality, writing, happening, and exposure.

1. FROM TIME TO PRESENCING
Time in music videos is created by cutting and montage. At first glance, performence clips seem to deal with real time, and concept clips to have more freedom in time disruption.¹⁴ But how do music videos generate a sense of time? The rhythm, the pulsating beat, constitutive of most music videos, defines time. The driving, unrelenting beat, whether of sound and/or the visual beat marked by the rapidity of the image's movement, creates a time without past and future.The " reign of the presence"¹⁵ is obvious and total. Even quotation of the past as Madonna's "Who's that Girl?' is merely material for an overwhelming universal coexistence, a time process of pure moments which could be called presencing.

The power of this presencing in music videos literally wipes out the sense of space. The stage character of the environment makes space appear artificial and interchangeable. The idea of progress which can create space has been abandoned in music videos. The beat, the gestures, the drive may still be rebellious but ultimately go nowhere. Prince's cruising and Michael Jackson's "loose — limbed prowess" demonstrate a stunning formalization of street rap, the art of movement without moving, a flowing with the beat in stillness. XTC's "Dear God" may seem to be narrative in composition and have a beginning and an end, but this impression is contradicted by the video's surrealistic elements. What we have is the presence of a nightmare without end and a narrative continuing on like a broken disk.

2. THE ABSENCE OF SPACE: RUPTURE AND DECENTRALIZATION
A sense of space provides security and helps satisfy our desire to determine our place in the world. Merleau-Ponty points out that space is the distance between the body and the objects which create our own sphere.¹⁶ Emotional distance allows us the experience of being the center. In music videos space is present in absence only, as rupture and decentralization. Immediate access to emotions and images destroys any sense of personal. Behavioral as well as spatial scope have diminshed. The "global village" realizes the end of distance: where barriers have fallen there can be no space. And the ruthless use of even the most expressive symbols has forgotten space. Rupture, experienced through distortion, need not be spectacular, as in heavy metal videos, it can be achieved through subtle changes, all the more effective. The video "Dear God " goes out of tune; this is effected by (a) varying shutter speed, (b) reversing tape direction, and (c) varying playback speed. Relevant to disorientation, Deleuze notes the viewer of cinema is acentered, lacking a fixed point of view. Technical manipulation in music videos and a "floating" viewer together create the rupture of personal space and a spreading out of presence. Temporality has become ever more important, incorporating all that which has formerly the realm of spatiality.

3. THE PERCEIVED WORLD: MATTER AS HYPEREALITY
The slant of distortion is how music videos perceive our being™in-the-world, but this is not a pessimistic view. In fact it reveals a multiperspectivity which gives us more authentic world than the fake narratives of print media and television. The layerings in the beginning of Prince's video create, by superimposition of different perspectives, hyperreality which is according to Merleau-Ponty more real than reality. Out of Michael Jackson's rumble dance on stage of a New York subway platform in which film, music and dance are equally balanced, emerges a coherence in dissonance which is the material side of most music videos. Even "Dear God" is a realistic look-alike, only to turn surrealistic after a few moments.

4. WRITING THE DIFFERENCES OF LANGUAGES
Music videos can be viewed as an example of Jaques Derrida's criticism of our traditional logocentrism with its predominance of the verbal language. The lyrics are composed of jokes and puns, intending to be self ridiculing and confusing. Difference, not identity, is at stake. The equality of verbal, visual, audio, and body language breaks the spell of meaning and reveals the whole of language which is beyond our instrumental grasp. Disconnection, distortion in pitch, and contradiction are on all levels the movens/ stimuli.

Critics have attacked the non-narrative structure of music videos as impotent, unable to create an authentic lifeworld, and as an escape into the abstract. But the fact is that STOP MAKING SENSE creates a life world in its own right experienced and shared by millions who view music videos. Michael Jackson has been accused of "evading reality" and seeking an "occult solution",¹⁷ but his streetwise dialogue is meant to overcome a ghetto reality by stylization. This creates an artificial lifeworld in which communication is split and re-split in an interchange rather than the writing of differences, the play of non-elimination, and changes in perspectives are needed in a lifeworld shaped by the violence of identity.¹⁸

Even the concept videos which have a message do not usually preach it, as we can see in "Dear God"; it is not a straight forward theodicy, but a tricky process of thinking without abstraction.

5. ICONS, PERSONS, AND LIFE HAPPENING
Commonly understood, a person is defined as a certain life history, developing an identity in an intersubjective communication. Perhaps the most startling observation in music videos is that despite the personal iconographic power of the performers, the process of identification is not encouraged. This is not to say that there is no strong business interest in repeating the hero identification attributed to youth culture. The popularity of the "Madonna Style" was notorious and visible through the USA.¹⁹ But there are some significant differences worth noting. Icons such as David Bowie, Prince, Michael Jackson, attempt to diffuse their role model and obliterate (to some extent) race, sex, and age. Icons celebrate the bad and ugly, scorning the dictates of a traditional aesthetic. Michael Jackson looks very much like a yelling women! Involvement in a peer group becomes non-personal; it is no longer an interpersonal but an interfunctional relation, an interchange of performer, viewer, producer, engineer. Music videos suggest a life as life happening, and the icons offer keys to this lifeworld of music videos much closer to art than to so-called reality, that which we conceive to be reality. Make it happen, let it happen! Without history, without future, without present, only happenings exist.

6. THE EXPOSURE OF TRUTH
The play of the revealed and the unrevealed (and the never to be revealed) is the play of truth as disclosure, according to Heidegger.²⁰ Music videos do not intend to be true, and in their elusive concreteness reveal what a direct approach would miss. When our interpretational models of meaning disappear quite a different view of things open up to us. Music videos expose a lifeworld which already exists but is still hidden from a knowledge which knows too much. Does this mean Michael Jackson is exposing the bad as a fundamental, Prince the ambiguity of appearance, and XTC the absurdity of the human condition? Much too simple. Music videos can not be utilised for meaningful messages. The creative how is the "message". Music videos offer an exciting example of a concrete comprehension and critical thinking of a kind which leads to discovery not meaning. Amazement and wonder are not eliminated from this process, on the contrary, they are "traces"(Derrida) of and toward a world on the horizon of technology.

IV. CONCLUSIONS

Should mankind live to see its future (which is not very likely) music videos can be considered as the first hints of a lifeworld shaped by the conditions of a fully developed technology. We pride ourselves on our state-of-art technologies, blind to the actual primitiveness of these advancements. Present technology is still in its earliest development stages. The high technology of coming generations is a self-evident life technology functioning as naturally and imperceptibly as the techniques of breathing and walking. Outwardly this technological world organized by a computer society, urban living, automated production, genetically engineered organisms, etc. will appear much more the same as our world today. But the human attitude will be totally different. That which compells us to live in unrecognition, as instruments, that which makes our life inhuman, can by the same token develop our authentic human potential, given the opertunity to enfold within a non-instrumental manner of living. Human beings will be considered — as were the ancient greeks — to be able to assume responsibility for their "bios" and act free as artists, whatever their work may actually be. This life would be a truely artificial life and the fulfillment of humanity. This life style will be characterized by a wider range of life techniques which we cannot yet imagine — but it is likely that music videos will expose to us some of the future modes of living. Like Moses, we shall never set foot in that promised land, but music videos, although only an accompanying phenomenon of contemporary life, give us a strobe-light glimpse of a lifeworld already here but not ours.

Notes

¹ Marshall McLuhan: îUnderstanding Media. New York : Signet books 1964.
² Neil Postman: Amusing Ourselves to Death. New York: Viking Books, 1985.
³ E.Ann Kaplan: "History, the Historical Spectator and Gender Address", in : Music Television. Journal of Communication Inquiry, Winter 1980(10/1), p.6.
⁴ This term is used to describe the unity of film, television, music, photography, and video. Cf. Gilles Deleuze: Cinema 1,Minneapolis: University of Minnesota Press,1986, chap 4.
⁵ Maurice Merleau-Ponty : Phenomenology of Preception, trans. Colin Smith, London: Routledge & Kegan Paul, 1962.
⁶ Maurice Merleau-Ponty : "Film and the New Psychology", in:Sense and non-Sense, ed. Dreyfus, Evanston: Northwestern University Press, 1964, p.48ff.
⁷ Carl Mitcham: "Responsibility and Technology: The Expanding Relationship", in: Technology and Resposibility, ed.Paul Durbin,Dordrecht: Reidel, 1987, p. 5-39 ; cf. now: Wolfgang Schirmacher: "Homo Generator: The Challenge of Gene Technology", in the same volume, p. 203-205.
⁸ Barry Walters: "Like it or Not : MTV Lives", in: The Village Voice, June 2, 1987, p.39.
⁹ US, March 9, 1987, p.54.
¹⁰ Allan Bloom: The Closing of the American Mind, New York:Simon & Schuster, 1987.
¹¹ Kuan-Hsing Cheng: "MTV: The (Dis)Appearance of Postmodern Semiosis, or the Cultural Politics of Resistance", in: Journal of Communication Inquiry, Winter 1986 (10/1), p.66
¹² Lisa A. Lewis: "Female Address in Music Videos", in: Journal of Communication Inquiry, Winter 1987 (11/1), p.74.
¹³ Cf. Deleuze : Cinema 1, op. cit.
¹⁴ Cf. B. Walters: "Like it or Not: MTV lives", op. cit.
¹⁵ David J. Tetzlaff: "MTV and the Politics of Postmodern Pop", in: Journal of Communication Inquiry, Winter 1986 (10/1), p.83.
¹⁶ Cf. Merleau-Ponty: "Film and the New Psychology", op. cit.
¹⁷ Stephan Holden: "The Dark Side of Peter Pan", in: The New YorkTimes, Sunday, Sept. 13, 1987 (Pop View).
¹⁸ Jaques Derrida: Margins of Philosophy, ed. A. Bass, Chicago: The University of Chicago Press, 1982, p.3f.
¹⁹ Lewis, op. cit.,p.80.
²⁰ Martin Heidegger: " The Turning", in: Heidegger: The Question Concerning Technology, trans. William Lovitt, New York: Harper & Row, 1977, p. 36-49.

My special thanks to Carol Froehlich, Producer, BMG New York, for her assistance in the selection and editing of music videos discussed in this paper.

What are Structured Settlements?

2009-03-03T05:40:00.001-08:00

Historically, personal injury or product liability lawsuits were settled by the exchange of a single lump sum cash payment in return for the release of claim in a lawsuit. Under this arrangement, it was up to the individual and their families to manage the large initial sum and to use it to provide for the victim's medical and income needs over their entire lifetime. Structured settlements laws were created to help reduce the difficulties faced in these types of situations and to help provide the claimant and their families with long-term financial security.

Structured settlement payment agreements are unique in that they focus more on the beneficiary's financial needs and may provide payments for a certain period of time or throughout the injured persons life time. Formally recognized by the U.S. Congress in 1982, structured settlements are voluntary compensation agreements between the injured person and a defendant(s).

Structured settlements enable the beneficiary to receive a series of periodic payments instead of a cash lump sum. Most settlement agreements are entered into privately (e.g., a pre-trial settlement) while others, usually involving minors or persons deemed mentally unfit, may be created by a court order.

Structured settlements are a creative solution in that the payment amounts and the future annuity timetable are completely up to the parties negotiating the structured agreement. Rather than receiving a single lump sum, victims can receive a customized stream of annuity payments. Using structured settlements, annuity payments may be in equal amounts at regular intervals, or they may be paid in periodic lump sums. Larger intermittent payments are sometimes used to provide for anticipated future needs such as funding; a college education, medical equipment replacement (motorized wheelchairs), or planning for retirement. It is important to note however, once the parties have agreed to the structured settlement annuity amounts and timetable, the plaintiff cannot make changes. When unexpected financial emergencies arise individuals may consider selling all or some of their payments for a lump sum of cash. To receive more information please fill out the form on the right.

Properly structuring payment benefits is very important. Most victims and their lawyers know that structured settlements are tax-free to the injured party. There are other factors however that you and your financial advisor should consider. Special tax ramifications on the investment income of the settlement proceeds need to be considered. In some cases, receipt of a large sum can result in loss of public benefits. It is important for the victim that the structured settlement benefits are properly structured so that the principal can be invested, and that the investment income remains tax free to the injured party. Structuring payments properly can also avoid the loss of public benefits. These are all important financial considerations.

How To get Cash for Structured Settlements

2009-02-28T21:52:00.001-08:00

If you have a structured settlement and you need a lump sum of cash right away, you may consider getting cash for your structured settlement. You can sell your settlement to a private note investor or a lending institution. But keep in mind that this move is not without some risk. Read on to discover some important information about how to get cash for a structured settlement.

When you apply to get cash for a structured settlement, you have to keep in mind that this can be a complicated process. You should have a structured settlement specialist help you. This person may be an attorney or a financial professional that has had specialized training.

Selling your annuity payments will assign all rights to future payments to the institution that you sell your payments to. But it is important to remember that in most cases you can choose to sell your annuity payments in parts or you can sell the whole thing. For example, if your annuity payments are set up over a period of thirty years, you may choose to sell only two years worth.

The very first thing you should do before getting cash for a structured settlement is to figure out how much money you need. What are you going to be using the money for? Do you need to pay off mounting medical bills? Do you have high interest credit cards that are eating up your budget? Once you determine the amount that you need and what you need it for, you will have a clearer picture of how much of your annuity payments to sell.

The next thing you need to do is to get all of your structured settlement details together. You need to have the name of the life insurance company that backs your annuity payments. You also need to know the exact dates of payment disbursement, how much the payment is going to be and how many payments you have left.

When you meet with your investor you need to let him know how much money that you need and how many payments your are going to sell. He will take this information, calculate the present day value of your settlement and connect you with those individuals or organizations that can give you the most money for your annuity payments.

Before you try to get cash for a structured settlement, carefully weigh the pros and cons. Make absolutely sure it is something that you want to do. When you sell your structured settlement you are giving up future income. If you do opt to get cash for your structured settlement, use the money wisely.

Annuities After Retirement

2009-02-24T03:22:00.001-08:00

The difference between people who look forward to their retirement and those who wonder if they will ever retire is the fact that the former group has made investments in annuities. There are two phases in an annuity investment, the accumulation phase or the period when you pay a premium or premiums and the pay out phase when you begin to receive income from the investment.

Annuities are designed to help people live independently and comfortably in their retired years and truly make them the golden years. Insurance companies offer individuals a chance to buy an annuity by making a one-time payment or several premium payments and assure them a certain rate of return that may be revised from time to time. There are many types of annuities that can be used to plan for your retirement and to ensure that little changes in your lifestyle after you stop working. The different types of annuities include deferred annuities, equity-indexed annuities and immediate annuities.

The income received from the annuity would depend on many factors such as the age of the investor, rate of return, etc. Women usually receive less income than men because they have a longer life expectancy. Also if partners hold the annuity jointly then the income received is lower.

Some features of annuities after retirement:

* Tax is deferred on annuities and is paid on the gains one receives as income from the annuity. Since one is in a lower tax bracket, the tax is thus affected. Also the gains from the annuity are taxed as ordinary income.

* Only the part of the income that is considered as gains are taxed and not the rest of the investment.

* After your working years you can decide to receive income from the annuity for the rest of your life or for a fixed period of time.

* The income can be received as the investor wishes, on a monthly, quarterly or yearly basis.

* In cases where people have not invested in annuities before their retirement they may choose to do so later. There is no age limit on investment in annuities. For such investors the immediate annuity may be the most appealing. The immediate annuity begins paying income to the investor virtually as soon as the annuity is bought.

* If required payment from an annuity can also be deferred until the investor is ready to receive it.

* If the retired person has a bulk sum of money then investment in an immediate annuity will supplement the other sources of income.

Your retirement can be secure and enjoyable by investing in an annuity. If you haven’t created a personal retirement plan with an annuity, it is never too late to start. Buy an annuity today!

Retirement Income Annuities

2009-02-24T03:21:00.001-08:00

Retirement Income Annuities are ordinary deferred annuities, but with an additional feature...a decreasing term life insurance rider that provides term life insurance with a face amount that decreases each year the policy is in force.

The effect is that if the annuitant reaches retirement age...for example, 65...the decreasing term insurance death benefit expires and annuity payments begin providing long term income. If, however the annuitant dies before reaching this age, the decreasing term insurance death benefit is combined with the value of the annuity and then paid to the annuitant's beneficiary in any settlement option chosen.

A number of financial products now offer significant security for retirees. Consider annuity policies, which allow you to invest a chunk of your savings in return for regular payouts. Annuities got a famously bad rap in the 1990s because of their unfamiliar - and surprisingly steep - fees. Since then, the variety of products has grown and some of the fees are down, especially if you shop around. Moreover, today there is an annuity to suit every stripe, and many are "unbundled," allowing consumers to customize their annuity just as they might tweak a new car purchase to add side-curtain airbags.

Even with all the bells and whistles, annuities still roll out of the factory on one of two basic chassis. Fixed annuities yield a steady stream of income for a set number of years or the rest of your life. Variable annuities can also provide regular checks, but they tie the amount of your payouts to the performance of an investment portfolio. Both types allow you to choose whether to begin receiving payouts immediately (in monthly, quarterly, or annual installments) or at a later date. And both varieties pay out partly taxable money - you are taxed only on your gains, not your original investment - at regular income-tax rates, an important fact to weigh when considering annuities for your financial plan.

Just like a new-car purchase, you then start adding options. You can buy fixed annuities and tack on inflation protection for your payouts; you can choose to add a death benefit - or not. Some policies offer an option for long-term-care insurance, which raises your payouts if you become disabled. On certain variable annuities, you can opt to have your portfolio value (and thus your payouts) reflect your performance only in neutral or good years.

Structured Settlement

2009-01-05T10:15:00.001-08:00

The Benefits of a Personal Injury Structured Settlement

Prior to 1982, if you were injured in accident and awarded a settlement, you had to take it in one lump sum. This one time payment caused a lot of problems for people who did not know how to manage the money correctly. After the injured party spent all of the money on things that were not related to their medical care or injuries, they were left wondering how they were going to pay for their future medical needs.

In 1982, the law was changed to a personal injury structured settlement plan. This type of payment plan consists of sending the injured party a monthly or annual payment over a period of time. This type of settlement plan gave people the security of having income on a regular basis.

When a structured settlement payment plan is in place, the injured party will be able to receive the funds necessary to pay for their medical care. If the injured party is confined to a bed or even to a nursing home, the monthly payment from the structured settlement will alleviate the worries that the family may have about how to afford care for their loved one.

The decision to change from lump sum payments to structured settlement payments was not made without careful deliberation. Studies have shown that about 30% who received a lump sum payment due to an accident spent all of the money within two months. Further studies revealed that 90% of the people spent all of the money within five years.

For a lump sum payment to be beneficial for the injured party for future medical expenses it must be invested and administered over time. Since most people do not have experience in investing money, the injured party must hire a financial advisor to invest the money for them. When a huge sum of money is invested, the returns on the investment are taxable. In addition, when you hire a financial advisor you run the risk of getting the wrong person and having your money disappear due to theft or just plain mismanagement of the funds.

A personal injury structured settlement can be beneficial because it is tax free. The money is backed by a life insurance company and delivered to the injured party in annuities or smaller monthly or yearly payments. The reasons that personal injury structured settlements are beneficial are many. For example, if a victim dies and leaves behind minor children, the personal injury structured settlement payments can provide for food, housing and education for these minors.

So as you can see, personal injury structured settlements are a good thing. The money will be there if needed. The injured party and family members will not have to worry about financing future medical expenses. If you are ever injured in an accident and your attorney suggests structured settlements, it may be a good idea to take him up on this offer.

The Benefits of Structured Settlement Annuity Payments

2008-12-30T21:41:00.003-08:00

The Benefits of Structured Settlement Annuity Payments

Getting injured in an accident or becoming disabled due to medical malpractice can ruin your life and the lives of your loved ones. But if you have taken it to court and won your case then there is hope. This hope comes in the form of structured settlement annuity payments. Read on to discover a little more about this type of payment structure and how it will benefit you and your family.

Structured settlement annuity payments are the payments that you will receive after you win a lawsuit. These annuities are an alternative to getting a one time lump sum from your settlement.

So why are structured settlement annuity payments better than a single lump sum? The reasons can be as diverse as the person receiving them. Let’s look at a few of the benefits of structured payments.

1. Structured settlement annuity payments will allow you to have income over a lifetime. You will be guaranteed a monthly or yearly check for the duration of your life.

2. These payments can be used for living expenses, medical bills or medical equipment, education or however else that you see fit.

3. A structured settlement payment plan will prevent you from spending your whole settlement in just a few short years. Unfortunately, a lot of people have no constraint when it comes to spending, so a payment plan will do away with the temptation to spend your money foolishly.

4. A payment plan also deters friends and relatives from asking for a loan or a handout. It is amazing how many friends you will discover when you come into some money.

5. Money received from structured settlement annuities are not taxable. This simply means that this is not considered income and will not be taxed at the end of the year.

6. If the recipient of a structured settlement is already receiving social security, the income generated from these payments will not affect your social security benefits. Social security cannot decrease your benefits because you are receiving structured settlement payments.

7. Structured settlement payments can be customized on a yearly basis to factor in for cost of living or additional expenses that may become apparent. That means that you can request that your payment amount be raised.

8. Structured settlements are protected from creditors and divorce. You cannot lose any amount of your settlement to a creditor that sues you or to your spouse in a divorce proceeding.

So if you are injured and have won the case, your attorney may talk to you about structured settlement annuity payments. Listen to his advice and the advice of a good financial advisor. A structured settlement may be the best way for you to receive your payments.

Structured Settlement Broker

2008-12-30T21:41:00.001-08:00

The Importance of Choosing a Good Structured Settlement Broker

If you have won an case where you were awarded a large sum of money, you may be offered the money in payments over a specific period of time. This is called a structured settlement. This type of payment system will provide you with a guaranteed income on a regular basis until the whole settlement is paid. But for this whole process to work properly, you need the services of an experienced structured settlement broker.

It is the job of the structured settlement broker to help the parties understand the costs involved and to come up with a proper financial analysis. An experienced structured settlement broker will be able to develop the best payment plan that will best benefit the recipient.

A structured settlement is paid out by annuities that are backed by a life insurance company. These annuities can be paid in several different ways. The payee may choose to get a partial lump sum initially and then receive payments on a monthly basis, a quarterly basis or a yearly basis.

The payment structure can be changed over the life of the payment schedule in some cases. If the payee has medical needs arise, he can request an increase in payments to cover these costs. It is vital to have an experienced structure settlement broker working with you if this becomes the case.

Structured settlements can also be sold to get a cash payout. People may opt to do this if they need a large sum of cash right away. But it is important to keep in mind that selling a structured settlement will decrease the amount of money that you will get because you are given only a fraction of the total settlement sum.

If you sell your structured settlement, you are also giving up a guaranteed monthly income. These structured settlement payments are tax exempt and protected from creditors and divorce settlements. So you need to positive that the annuity payments are something that you want to part with.

Selling your structured settlement payments is a complex process and will take the advice of a good structured settlement broker. You should also consult your attorney before you decide to sell. You must be very careful in who you choose to sell your settlement to. Like everything else out there, there are unscrupulous companies that will take control of your settlement and not pay you. Some companies will not want to give you a fair price for your structured settlement. Therefore, it is critical that you have your attorney or structured settlement broker guide you when selling your structured settlement.

So never hesitate to employ the services of a structured settlement broker.

Why Sell a Structured Settlement?

2008-12-27T08:42:00.000-08:00

A structured settlement is a payment that you will receive monthly, quarterly or yearly if you have been injured in an accident and are entitled to compensation. These payments may come for a few years or they may be set up to come over a lifetime. A structured payment is a guaranteed check to help support you and your family. But sometimes people want to sell a structured settlement. You may be asking yourself why someone would want to do this. Keep reading to uncover a few good reasons for selling a structured settlement.

The reasons that someone will sell a structured settlement are different for each individual. But one of the biggest reasons for selling is that money may be needed for a major operation or for medical equipment that can help enhance the life of the recipient. Sometimes, money is needed for other family members that have a health crisis.

For some people, selling off a structured settlement will allow them to purchase a home. Having a place to live without the worry of a mortgage or being evicted is enough of a reason for certain individuals to sell a structured settlement.

There are those that may be particularly savvy with the stock markets. These people may choose to sell a structured settlement to invest in stocks or bonds that will make them more money in the long run. This is probably the smartest reason to sell a structured settlement. But you must know what you are doing to make this work.

Older adults that have been involved in an accident and are getting structured settlements may choose to sell so that they can help their children or grandchildren. An older adult who receives a structured settlement for life realizes that they may not have many years left and may decide to use the money to enhance the lives of their children.

Regardless of the reason that someone may choose to sell a structured settlement they must do so carefully. They need to enlist the aid of a lawyer or financial specialist who is trained to sell structured settlements. Make sure that the individual that buys the settlement is on the up and up. You should also shop around for buyers, because one buyer may offer a higher price than the other.

Selling a structured settlement is a big decision and should not be taken lightly. When you sell a structured settlement you are virtually giving up a lifetime of steady income for a fraction of the price. But if you are positive that it is the best route to take, then by all means, go for it!

Annuity Payments

2008-12-27T08:41:00.000-08:00

Sell Structured Settlement Annuity Payments

Structured settlement annuity recipients receiving payments over time can convert their future payments into cash.

You can choose to receive a lump sum cash payment for all or just some of your structured settlement annuity payments to:

Eliminate debt
Pay off high-interest credit cards
Reduce your medical bills

Stone Street Capital is a leading lump sum structured settlement annuity company that can convert your future payments to cash.

The Lump Sum Option

The lump sum option gives you flexibility to sell your structured settlement annuity payments and get the up-front cash you need now. Life changes happen fast. Even though a structured settlement may have been the right choice at the time, things may have changed and you need money now.

Structured Settlement Annuity Buyer

Stone Street Capital will purchase your future payments for your settlement annuity payments resulting from a:

Personal Injury Settlement
Medical Malpractice Settlement
Wrongful Death Settlement
Lawsuit Settlement

About Stone Street Capital

Stone Street Capital is America's leading structured settlement annuity buyer. We are the oldest, most respected firm in the lump sum industry. For nearly 20 years, we have helped thousands of structured settlement annuity recipients convert some or all of their annuity payments into cash. We can help you too.

Cash for Annuity Payments

2008-12-25T02:25:00.001-08:00

Do you own an annuity but need to access cash now? Stone Street Capital can turn some or all of your annuity cash payments into one lump sum of cash if you:

Inherited an annuity payments and prefer cash
Prefer a different investment vehicle
Need a large amount of money but do not want a high interest loan

Whatever the reason, Stone Street Capital makes it easy to get cash for annuity payments.

The Lump Sum Option

A lot can happen during the time that you chose an annuity and today. It’s for this simple reason Stone Street Capital began offering the lump sum option nearly 20 years ago. Choosing the lump sum option with Stone Street Capital means you have the ability to turn some or all of your annual annuity cash payments into one large lump sum of cash.

How Do I Sell Annuity Payments?

If you are interested in converting some or all of your annuity into cash, or simply want to know how much you can get right now, call us today at 1-800-LUMP-SUM (800-586-7786).

About Stone Street Capital

In 1989, Stone Street Capital was created to give annuity owners, like you, financial options. Our unique programs allow you to tap into finances that would otherwise be out of reach. It's for this reason that so many annuity owners contact us again and again - because we get you access to the money you need. It's that simple.

Sell Annuity Settlement Payments

2008-12-24T21:26:00.000-08:00

Structured settlements are set up for a reason - to provide you with income over time. However, things change and your situation may require you to access cash now.

Stone Street Capital offers annuity settlement recipients the option to receive a lump sum cash payment for all or some of your structured settlement annuity payments to:

Pay off your home mortgage
Reduce or eliminate debt
Pay medical bills
Pay off credit cards or other loans

The Lump Sum Option

Choosing the lump sum option with Stone Street Capital can give you the flexibility to sell annuity settlement payments and get the up-front cash you need now. Receiving annuity settlement payments over time may have been the right choice previously, but your situation may have changed. Even the best prepared person can face financial hardships.

Immediate Cash When You Sell Annuity Settlement Payments

You may sell annuity settlement payments resulting from a:

Structured Settlement Personal Injury
Wrongful Death Settlement
Medical Malpractice Settlement
Lawsuit Settlement
Annuity

Let Us Help You

You may have many questions about the lump sum option. Our staff of experienced professionals understands your concerns. Whether you are ready for a free quote, or have additional questions about a lump sum transaction, we are here to help.

About Stone Street Capital

For almost 20 years, Stone Street Capital has been a leader in the specialty finance industry. With over $1 billion in originated transactions, we have helped thousands of clients nationwide. We can help you too.

Sell Annuity Information

2008-12-24T21:25:00.000-08:00

Sell Annuity Information

If you are one of the many annuity owners looking for information on selling annuity payments, you are not alone. For almost 20 years, Stone Street Capital has helped thousands of annuity owners or recipients cash in their annuity payments for a large lump sum.

Why Cash in Now?

There are many reasons that cashing in your annuity makes sense.

You may want to invest the cash into other products
Your tax situation may have changed
You need access to a large amount of money and a loan does not make sense

Whatever the reason, Stone Street Capital makes selling annuity payments fast and easy.

Sell Annuity Information

There are many reasons why cashing in some or all of your annuity payments makes sense. It could be an unexpected expense or change in your financial situation has occurred, or perhaps you were not the original owner of your annuity and would rather free up your money that would otherwise be out of reach.

Whatever the reason, Stone Street Capital makes it easy to convert some or all of your annuity payments into cash.

How Much Will You Get?

Fill out the quote form on this page or call 1-800-LUMP-SUM and one of our Annuity Lump Sum Experts will present you with customized lump sum options that match your needs.

Not ready for a quote just yet? Call 1-800-LUMP-SUM (800-586-7786) to receive more information on selling annuity payments and explore your options.

There is no cost and no obligation of any kind.

Why choose Stone Street Capital?

We are the annuity lump sum experts: Founded in 1989 we have been helping settlement and annuity recipients for nearly 20 years.
We have closed over $1 Billion in transactions
Stone Street Capital puts annuity owners' rights first - We've lobbied to change restrictive laws and open up new financial alternatives for annuity owners.

Get Cash For Structured Settlement Payments

2008-12-23T06:27:00.000-08:00

Structured settlement recipients: you can choose to receive lump sum cash for your structured settlement payments to:

Pay off credit cards and other bills
Eliminate debt
Reduce your medical bills

Whether you are ready to receive cash for structured settlement payments or simply have questions about the lump sum option, call us today.

1-800-LUMP-SUM
(800-586-7786)
Free Call. Free Quote.

Receiving structured settlement payments is an excellent way for people to protect their financial security. But what happens when there are unexpected life changes? Isn't it great to know that you have an option to get cash for your:

Structured settlement payments
Personal injury structured settlement payments
Structured settlement annuity payments

The Lump Sum Option

The lump sum option gives you flexibility to turn structured settlement payments into the immediate cash you need now. Even though a structured settlement may have made sense previously, life changes. No matter how prepared you are, sometimes you need cash to handle unforeseen circumstances. Accessing cash for structured settlement annuity payments may be the answer.

Immediate Cash When You Sell Structured Settlement Payments

You can sell structured settlement payments resulting from a:

Lawsuit Settlement
Medical Malpractice Settlement
Personal Injury Structured Settlement
Wrongful Death Settlement
Structured Settlement Annuity

We Can Help You

The decision to sell structured settlement payments should not be taken lightly. While many times, the lump sum option makes sense, sometimes it doesn't. Our staff of experienced professionals understands you may have questions about the lump sum option. We will work with you to help you decide if getting cash for structured settlement payments makes sense for you.

About Stone Street Capital

Stone Street Capital has been a leader in the specialty finance industry for almost 20 years. In that time we have helped thousands of people receive immediate money for their future payment streams. Since 1989, we've paid over $1 Billion to people all across America and we are focused on helping our customers. We can help you too.

Eastern Colonial India

2008-12-23T06:26:00.000-08:00

The Settlement of Structure of Eastern Colonial India/Paramita Majumdar. Delhi, Gagandeep Pub., 2007, xvi, 272 p., tables, maps, diagrams, ISBN 81-88865-01-X.

Contents: Acknowledgements. 1. Introduction. 2. Settlement structure. 3. Economic structure. 4. Migration. 5. Conclusion. Bibliography. Index.

"The form of settlement in any particular region reflects Man's relationship with the environment. The pattern and structure of settlement in a space along with the organization of population provides fair idea about the levels of development achieved by that region. The history of Bengal presidency and the province of Bihar and Orissa have been most significant in the context of colonial rule in India. It went through most turbulent periods in terms of economic casualty, political instability, social transformation and cultural syntheses. The perceive the vicissitudes of changes in every sphere, the region is one of the best. Being a highly involved and complex area and the scene of many political events which shaped the society and economy, it is interesting to know how these forces played a decisive role in shaping the settlement structure of the region. The present study is an attempt towards understanding the settlement structure of the two provinces during 1901 and 1931. The main objectives of the study are as follows:

1. To observe the temporal variation in settlement structure in terms of density, distribution, growth and size of settlements.

2. To analyse the occupational distribution of the population in order to understand the economic structure of the settlements.

3. To analyse the difference in the density of population and settlement growth by observing the pattern and trend of migration.

Well illustrated with tables, maps and diagrams the book would meet the requirements of geographers, sociologists, historian, researchers and all others interested in the subject." (jacket)

the view of US. structured settlement

2008-12-23T03:10:00.000-08:00

Structured Settlements in the United States

The United States has enacted structured settlement laws and regulations at both the federal and state levels. Federal structured settlement laws include sections of the (federal) Internal Revenue Code^[1]. State structured settlement laws include structured settlement protection statutes and periodic payment of judgment statutes. Medicaid and Medicare laws and regulations affect structured settlements. To preserve a claimant’s Medicare and Medicaid benefits, structured settlement payments may be incorporated into “Medicare Set Aside Arrangements” “Special Needs Trusts."

Structured settlements have been endorsed by many of the nation's largest disability rights organizations, including the American Association of People with Disabilities ^[2] and the National Organization on Disability ^[3].

[edit] Definitions

The United States definition of “structured settlement” for federal income taxation purposes, found in Internal Revenue Code Section 5891(c)(1) (26 U.S.C. § 5891(c)(1)), is an "arrangement" that meets the following requirements:

A structured settlement must be established by:
- A suit or agreement for periodic payment of damages excludable from gross income under Internal Revenue Code Section 104(a)(2) (26 U.S.C. § 104(a)(2)); or
- An agreement for the periodic payment of compensation under any workers’ compensation law excludable under Internal Revenue Code Section 104(a)(1) (26 U.S.C. § 104(a)(1)); and
The periodic payments must be of the character described in subparagraphs (A) and (B) of Internal Revenue Code Section 130(c)(2) (26 U.S.C. § 130(c)(2))) and must be payable by a person who:
- Is a party to the suit or agreement or to a workers' compensation claim; or
- By a person who has assumed the liability for such periodic payments under a qualified assignment in accordance with Internal Revenue Code Section 130 (26 U.S.C. § 130).

[edit] Legal Structure

The typical structured settlement arises and is structured as follows: An injured party (the claimant) settles a tort suit with the defendant (or its insurance carrier) pursuant to a settlement agreement that provides that, in exchange for the claimant's securing the dismissal of the lawsuit, the defendant (or, more commonly, its insurer) agrees to make a series of periodic payments over time. The insurer, a property/casualty insurance company, thus finds itself with a long-term payment obligation to the claimant. To fund this obligation, the property/casualty insurer generally takes one of two typical approaches: It either purchases an annuity from a life insurance company (an arrangement called a "buy and hold" case) or it assigns (or, more properly, delegates) its periodic payment obligation to a third party which in turn purchases an annuity (which arrangement is called an "assigned case").

In an unassigned case, the property/casualty insurer retains the periodic payment obligation and funds it by purchasing an annuity from a life insurance company, thereby offsetting its obligation with a matching asset. The payment stream purchased under the annuity matches exactly, in timing and amounts, the periodic payments agreed to in the settlement agreement. The property/casualty company owns the annuity and names the claimant as the payee under the annuity, thereby directing the annuity issuer to send payments directly to the claimant. If any of the periodic payments are life-contingent (i.e., the obligation to make a payment is contingent on someone continuing to be alive), then the claimant (or whoever is determined to be the measuring life) is named as the annuitant or measuring life under the annuity.

In an assigned case, the property/casualty company does not wish to retain the long-term periodic payment obligation on its books. Accordingly, the property/casualty insurer transfers the obligation, through a legal device called a qualified assignment, to a third party. The third party, called an assignment company, will require the property/casualty company to pay it an amount sufficient to enable it to buy an annuity that will fund its newly accepted periodic payment obligation. If the claimant consents to the transfer of the periodic payment obligation (either in the settlement agreement or, failing that, in a special form of qualified assignment known as a qualified assignment and release), the defendant and/or its property/casualty company has no further liability to make the periodic payments. This method of substituting the obligor is desirable for property/casualty companies that do not want to retain the periodic payment obligation on their books. Typically, an assignment company is an affiliate of the life insurance company from which the annuity is purchased.

An assignment is said to be "qualified" if it satisfies the criteria set forth in Internal Revenue Code Section 130. Qualification of the assignment is important to assignment companies because without it the amount they receive to induce them to accept periodic payment obligations would be considered income for federal income tax purposes. If an assignment qualifies under Section 130, however, the amount received is excluded from the income of the assignment company. This provision of the tax code was enacted to encourage assigned cases; without it, assignment companies would owe federal income taxes but would typically have no source from which to make the payments.

Definition of structured Settlement

2008-12-23T03:06:00.001-08:00

A structured settlement is a financial or insurance arrangement, including periodic payments, that a claimant accepts to resolve a personal injury tort claim or to compromise a statutory periodic payment obligation. Structured settlements were first utilized in Canada and the United States during the 1970s as an alternative to lump sum settlements. Structured settlements are now part of the statutory tort law of several common law countries including Australia, Canada, England and the United States. Although some uniformity exists, each of these countries has its own definitions, rules and standards for structured settlements. Structured settlements may include income tax and spendthrift requirements as well as benefits. Structured settlement payments are sometimes called “periodic payments.” A structured settlement incorporated into a trial judgment is called a “periodic payment judgment."

according to WIKIpedia.com !

Definition of structured Settlement

2008-12-23T03:06:00.000-08:00

Structure and Life , World

Saint Louis and the History Channel

Dating and the military

Not a Goodbye Party

A Bronx Dream

Another trip to Chicago

Inspiration to write

My Country…

O beautiful for spacious skies,For amber waves of grain,For purple mountain majestiesAbove the fruited plain!America! America!God shed his grace on theeAnd crown thy good with brotherhoodFrom sea to shining sea!

O beautiful for pilgrim feetWhose stern impassioned – stressA thoroughfare for freedom beatAcross the wilderness!America! America!God mend thine every flaw,Confirm thy soul in self-control,Thy liberty in law!

O beautiful for heroes proved In liberating strife.Who more than self the country lovedAnd mercy more than life!America! America!May God thy gold refineTill all success be noblenessAnd every gain divine!

O beautiful for patriot dreamThat sees beyond the yearsThine alabaster cities gleamUndimmed by human tears!America! America!God shed his grace on theeAnd crown thy good with brotherhoodFrom sea to shining sea!

O beautiful for halcyon skies,For amber waves of grain,For purple mountain majestiesAbove the enameled plain!America! America!God shed his grace on theeTill souls wax fair as earth and airAnd music-hearted sea!

O beautiful for pilgrims feet,Whose stern impassioned stressA thoroughfare for freedom beatAcross the wilderness!America ! America !God shed his grace on theeTill paths be wrought throughwilds of thoughtBy pilgrim foot and knee!

O beautiful for glory-taleOf liberating strifeWhen once and twice,for man’s availMen lavished precious life !America! America!God shed his grace on theeTill selfish gain no longer stainThe banner of the free!

O beautiful for patriot dreamThat sees beyond the yearsThine alabaster cities gleamUndimmed by human tears!America! America!God shed his grace on theeTill nobler men keep once againThy whiter jubilee!

By Katherine Lee Bates

Getting “to know” the library again

The New Nation – Internet Edition

Times Online - Science Central - WBLG: The Times Debate: Your Genetic Future

Come, let's change the life and let's change the world - together - for one and for all!

What has gone wrong, and where?

Structure For Life

Questions? Need a consultation?

Biodiversity

UNESCO: A key actor in the fulfilment of the global biodiversity agenda

Special Rapporteur focuses on the right to education of persons in detention

22 New Sites Join the UNESCO's World Network of Biosphere Reserves

Have a look at the photo gallery below

World Heritage Committee to meet in Seville to inscribe new sites on UNESCO’s World Heritage List

The World Heritage Committee will consider requests for the inscription of new sites on UNESCO’s World Heritage List when it meets for its 33rd session in Seville, Spain, from 22 to 30 June.

Jean Michel Jarre acts as Master of Ceremonies for the Global Launch of the International Year of Astronomy (2009)

NESCO Publications

New biosphere reserves to be announced

MedLiHer, Mediterranean Living Heritage

MedLiHer, Mediterranean Living Heritage

Africa Week at UNESCO from 25 to 29 May

21st Session of the International Coordinating Council of the Man and the Biosphere (MAB) Programme

25-29 May 2009Jeju KAL Hotel,Jeju City,Jeju Special Self-Governing Province,Republic of Korea

Education and culture top priorities for UNESCO Director-General’s first visit to Iraq

Focus

Social organization

All species are important

Member States

2008 Félix Houphouët-Boigny Peace Prize is awarded to President of Brazil Lula da Silva

The President of Brazil, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, was chosen today as the laureate of UNESCO’s 2008 Félix Houphouët-Boigny Peace Prize. The award ceremony will take place in July.

The President of Brazil, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, was chosen today as the laureate of UNESCO’s 2008 Félix Houphouët-Boigny Peace Prize. The award ce

UNESCO opens its doors for “European Night of Museums”

For the first time, UNESCO will participate this year in the European Night of Museums and open its doors* to the public on 16 May. Visitors will have the opportunity to tour the premises free of charge and view some of the art objects on display.

Development of Nanotechnologies: a Key Debate in the Arab States

Education and culture top priorities for UNESCO Director-General’s first visit to Iraq

School for sustainability

What aspects of Education for Sustainable Development are particularly important to you and your country?

Can you mention some specific projects?

World Heritage

World Heritage Scholarships in U.S. National Parks

Introducing Democracy

For Journalists * Press Releases * Media Advisories * Director-General * Contacts News Features * Interviews * In Focus

Nollywood rivals Bollywood in film/video production

India remains the world’s leading film producer but Nigeria is closing the gap after overtaking the United States for second place, according to a global cinema survey conducted by the UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UIS).

International media professionals adopt Doha Declaration

Global Action Week 2009: Open Books, Open Doors – How to Promote Reading

The role of Media in Intercultural Dialogue

World Press Freedom Day 2009

UNESCO’s International Bioethics Committee will meet in Mexico City

Basic issues in evolution. A Darwin 200 Symposia

This year sees the celebration of the bicentenary of Charles Darwin’s birth as well as the 150th anniversary of the publication of his most famous book “On the Origin of Species by Means of Natural Selection”.

EFA Global Monitoring Report 2009

Unless trends change, 700 million adults will still be illiterate in 2015, says UNESCO’s Director-General

UNESCO Executive Board meets from 14 to 30 April

World Press Freedom Day 2009: Dialogue, mutual understanding and reconciliation

The way the media influences thought and action and its capacity to foster dialogue, understanding and reconciliation will be the focus of discussions at a UNESCO conference marking World Press Freedom Day 2009, to be held in Doha (Qatar) on 2 and 3 May.

UNESCO, U.S. Library of Congress and Partners Launch World Digital Library

USEUM International N°240

UNESCO presents exhibition on reconstruction of Aksum obelisk

An exhibition – photographs and a video installation – at UNESCO will celebrate the reinstallation of the Aksum obelisk. The show will allow visitors to learn about the history of the Ethiopian site and to view the key stages of reinstalling the monument, 24 metres high and weighing 150 tons.

Education for All (EFA) International Coordination

UNESCO, Library of Congress and partners launch World Digital Library

Troubled water

Under water cultural heritage

O beautiful for spacious skies,
For amber waves of grain,
For purple mountain majesties
Above the fruited plain!
America! America!
God shed his grace on thee
And crown thy good with brotherhood
From sea to shining sea!

O beautiful for pilgrim feet
Whose stern impassioned – stress
A thoroughfare for freedom beat
Across the wilderness!
America! America!
God mend thine every flaw,
Confirm thy soul in self-control,
Thy liberty in law!

O beautiful for heroes proved In liberating strife.
Who more than self the country loved
And mercy more than life!
America! America!
May God thy gold refine
Till all success be nobleness
And every gain divine!

O beautiful for patriot dream
That sees beyond the years
Thine alabaster cities gleam
Undimmed by human tears!
America! America!
God shed his grace on thee
And crown thy good with brotherhood
From sea to shining sea!

O beautiful for halcyon skies,
For amber waves of grain,
For purple mountain majesties
Above the enameled plain!
America! America!
God shed his grace on thee
Till souls wax fair as earth and air
And music-hearted sea!

O beautiful for pilgrims feet,
Whose stern impassioned stress
A thoroughfare for freedom beat
Across the wilderness!
America ! America !
God shed his grace on thee
Till paths be wrought through
wilds of thought
By pilgrim foot and knee!

O beautiful for glory-tale
Of liberating strife
When once and twice,
for man’s avail
Men lavished precious life !
America! America!
God shed his grace on thee
Till selfish gain no longer stain
The banner of the free!

O beautiful for patriot dream
That sees beyond the years
Thine alabaster cities gleam
Undimmed by human tears!
America! America!
God shed his grace on thee
Till nobler men keep once again
Thy whiter jubilee!

25-29 May 2009
Jeju KAL Hotel,
Jeju City,
Jeju Special Self-Governing Province,
Republic of Korea