Climate Change Archives - Inergency https://inergency.com/amp/media/news/climate-change/ An online hub for emergency and natural disaster solutions Fri, 29 Mar 2024 11:23:21 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.4.3 https://i0.wp.com/inergency.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/cropped-Copia-de-inergency-logo-1.jpeg?fit=32%2C32&ssl=1 Climate Change Archives - Inergency https://inergency.com/amp/media/news/climate-change/ 32 32 227046876 Interrelation between Sustainable Dynamic Capabilities, Corporate Sustainability, and Sustained Competitive Advantage https://inergency.com/interrelation-between-sustainable-dynamic-capabilities-corporate-sustainability-and-sustained-competitive-advantage/ Fri, 29 Mar 2024 11:23:21 +0000 https://inergency.com/interrelation-between-sustainable-dynamic-capabilities-corporate-sustainability-and-sustained-competitive-advantage/ Interrelation between Sustainable Dynamic Capabilities, Corporate Sustainability, and Sustained Competitive Advantage1 Green product innovation in manufacturing firms: A sustainability-oriented dynamic capability perspective Business Strategy and the Environment Dangelico, Pujari and Pontrandolfo (2017) [19] Italy Out of external resource integration, internal resource integration, and resource building and configuration capabilities, the resource building and reconfiguration was found to be the only Sustainability-Oriented Dynamic Capability (SODC) with a […]]]> Interrelation between Sustainable Dynamic Capabilities, Corporate Sustainability, and Sustained Competitive Advantage


1 Green product innovation in manufacturing firms: A sustainability-oriented dynamic capability perspective Business Strategy and the Environment Dangelico, Pujari and Pontrandolfo (2017) [19] Italy Out of external resource integration, internal resource integration, and resource building and configuration capabilities, the resource building and reconfiguration was found to be the only Sustainability-Oriented Dynamic Capability (SODC) with a direct link to the better performance of market products. (1) Cross-sectional data were used; casual interference cannot be achieved. (2) No clarity on why some firms are better at deploying SODCs than others. (3) SODCs for the service sector were not explored. (4) No comparison was conducted between developing and developed countries. 2 Barriers and drivers to sustainable business model innovation: Organization design and dynamic capabilities Long Range Planning Bocken and Geradts (2020) [10] Sweden Excessive focus on shareholder value, uncertainty avoidance, short-termism, functional strategy; dominant focus on exploitation, prioritising short-term growth, functional excellence, standard innovation process, fixed resource planning and allocation, short-term incentive system, and financial performance metrics, which are the barriers to dynamic capabilities. Balancing shareholder and stakeholder value, embracing ambiguity, valuing business sustainability, collaborative innovation, strategic focus on SBMI, patient investments, people capability development, enabling innovation structure, ring-fenced resources for SBMI, incentive scheme for sustainability, and performance metrics for sustainability are the drivers of dynamic capabilities. (1) The findings did not account for the actual outcomes of the SBMIs. (2) How organisational design conducive for DCs can improve the financial, social, and environmental (sustainability) parameters was not studied. (3) To what extent barriers and drivers were impacting the development of DCs was not studied. (4) The study did not differentiate between different drivers and their impact on sustainability. (5) Lack of understanding of how corporations embedded sustainability for the successful implementation of SBMIs. (6) No comparison made between the service and manufacturing industries. 3 Dynamic sustainability capabilities and corporate sustainability performance: The mediating effect of resource management capabilities Sustainable Development Shang, Chen and Li (2018) [49] China Monitoring, seizing, and reconfiguration capabilities are the foundation of dynamic sustainability capabilities. Dynamic capabilities with respect to sustainability had a direct impact on each dimension of Corporate Sustainability Performance (CSP). Hence, dynamic sustainability leads to better sustainable performance. (1) Dynamic sustainability capabilities were vaguely discussed. (2) The mediation effect of resource management capabilities on balancing dynamic sustainability capabilities and CSP was studied, although other capabilities can also have a mediating effect. (3) A thorough study is indeed to understand the relationship between dynamic sustainability capabilities and CSP. 4 Toward a comprehensive model of organizational evolution: Dynamic capabilities for innovation and adaptation of the enterprise model Global Strategy Journal Zollo et al. (2016) [59] France Expectations of wider set of stakeholders demand managers of MNCs to adopt “multi-stakeholder enterprise model”. To do this, the current ad hoc capabilities are not enough, and dynamic capabilities need to be developed and honed. By using this multi-stakeholder enterprise model, MNCs can achieve corporate sustainability. (1) Purely theoretical study. (2) Field experiments can be conducted in the future. (3) Lack of understanding of when MNCs commit to the multi-stakeholder enterprise model and how the strategic and operating decisions, internal governance, and firm stakeholder engagement are formed and evolve. 5 Dynamic capabilities for sustainability: Revealing the systemic key factors Systemic Practice and Action Research Cezarino (2019) [13] Brazil Companies have integrated sustainability into 3 factors: (1) develop an integrative strategy, (2) introduce a sustainable culture, and (3) develop organisational routines for innovation. (1) Limited to only one case study and one sector. (2) Proposed model was not empirically tested. (3) Other variables like budgeting and comparison between different functional areas and engagement levels were not integrated into the proposed model. 6 Explicating dynamic capabilities for corporate sustainability EuroMed Journal of Business Wu, He and Duan (2013) [56] UK A framework is proposed to utilise dynamic capabilities as a vehicle for corporate sustainable development. The findings confirm that dynamic capabilities enable firms to monitor emerging sustainability needs and challenges, seize relevant sustainability opportunities, and reconfigure functional capabilities to achieve corporate sustainability. (1) No empirical study was conducted to validate the findings extracted from the ‘content analysis’ of the CSR report of seven UK firms. (2) SMEs were not studied. (3) The research was narrowly focused in the context of a developed country, i.e., UK. 7 Drivers and barriers of eco-innovation types for sustainable transition: A quantitative perspective Business Strategy and the Environment Kiefer, Gonzalez and Hermosilla (2018) [33] Spain Dynamic capabilities are the determinants of eco-innovation (EI) types. Eco-innovation types contribute towards the sustainable transition of the economy and society. Friendly corporate culture, technological push, market pull, and internal financing are the drivers for EI. Cooperation, standardisation (ISO), organisational learning, ecological certification, and technological path dependencies are barriers. (1) Survey data were not hard data, and there were no clear alternatives for these data. (2) The framework might not be applicable to developing countries. (3) The study only focused on the industrial sector. 8 Dynamic eco innovation practices: A systematic review of state of the art and future direction for eco innovation study Asian Social Science Rashid, Yahya and Shami (2015) [45] Malaysia The key drivers for eco-innovation are regulatory push, technological push, market pull, firm strategies, green HR, eco-innovation culture, and environment management systems strategy. There are five main types of eco-innovation that contribute to sustainable development: (1) process-targeted, (2) product-targeted, (3) institutional-targeted, (4) marketing-targeted, and (5) organisational-targeted. Dynamic capabilities can be developed through activities such as (1) integrating, (2) reconfiguring, (3) gaining and releasing resources, (4) leveraging, (5) learning, and (6) creative integration. (1) This was purely a conceptual study without any empirical data. (2) Selected papers were used in Google Scholar, not a comprehensive literature review. 9 An empirical study on the manufacturing firm’s strategic choice for sustainability in SMEs Sustainability Suh and Lee (2018) [50] South Korea There is a relationship between supply chain visibilities, a modular design for supply chain flexibility, and the agility needed to achieve sustainability. Supply chain visibility leads to supply chain flexibility and agility, which are both considered dynamic capabilities. Flexibility reduces risk and uncertainty and brings sustainability. Agility equips the organisation to face unexpected changes, survive threats, and obtain advantages. Flexibility and agility have the prerequisite dimensions of sensing, seizing, and redeploying resources in the supply chain context; hence, they are considered dynamic capabilities. Supply chain integration can also be viewed as a dynamic capability. (1) The data were received from the respondent based on their experience; this can lead to bias. (2) Study only focused on one aspect of modularity, when there can be several dimensions of modularity and flexibility. (3) Degree of modularity was not studied to understand its impact on flexibility and agility. 10 Identifying firm capabilities as drivers of environmental management and sustainability practices—Evidence from small and medium-sized manufacturers Business Strategy and the Environment Hofmann, Theyel and Wood (2012) [27] Gerseveral Adoption of advanced technology, inter-firm relationship experiences, and production innovation capacity are recognised as three dynamic capabilities to become greener (sustainability). The result showed that only 15 to 25 percent of firms adopt advanced technologies like CAD and CAE. Companies that used less technology showed low collaboration as well. The concept of green dynamic capabilities was touched upon through this research, albeit at a very high level. (1) As the SMEs were only selected from the East Coast of the US, a very limited set of data can be accessed. (2) A comparison with SMEs in Asia and Europe was not conducted; hence, this is recommended. (3) Due to the limited scope of the study, only three dynamic capabilities can be captured, when in reality, there can be more than that. (4) The cross-sectional study design is not the most suitable strategy to obtain answers to the question of causality, as all of these routines and capabilities can exist concurrently and might not have a straightforward relationship. 11 Micro foundations of dynamic capabilities: Insights from circular economy business cases Business Strategy and the Environment Khan, Daddi and Iraldo (2019) [32] Italy A circular economy is a key strategy to achieving corporate sustainability, and to integrate a circular economy into a business model, the micro foundations of dynamic capabilities (DCs) are sensing, seizing, and reconfiguration practices. It was found that four micro foundations (market monitoring and technology scanning, idea generation, knowledge creation, and experiential learning) of sensing were critical to identifying opportunities, and three micro foundations (strategic planning, business model and governance, and collaboration) of seizing and four micro foundations (organisational restructuring, technological upgradation, knowledge integration, and best practice adoption) of reconfiguration were vital to capture the identified opportunities. The structure, strategies, and operations of companies are attached to the linear economy; hence, DCs were required to integrate a circular economy. (1) Data obtained for case studies were from only four firms. (2) Interviews with only top management were conducted, yet interviews with other employees from R&D, HR, production, etc., can provide broader insights. (3) Limited geographical diversity in data and comparison. (4) The commonalties among the micro foundations of DCs were not studied. (5) The impact of a circular economy on company performance was not studied. 12 Global connectedness and dynamic green capabilities in MNEs Journal of International Business Studies Maksimov, Wang and Yan (2019) [37] USA Global connectedness in MNEs can “replace” sensing DC and act as a driver for seizure and reconfiguration to integrate green competences (green dynamic capabilities). Green dynamic capabilities require investment in various competences and are embedded in the organisation; hence, they coevolve with the resources, required competences, and tacit knowledge. By setting up subsidiaries in other countries, market insights and stakeholder knowledge can be gathered. By implementing ISOs, global connectedness can also be achieved indirectly. It was found that reconfiguration in one period can impact the sensing in the following period; this demands an investigation of the sequence of sensing, seizing, and reconfiguration not studied by Teece. (1) The sample data were only taken from large publicly listed MNEs. (2) The period of data used omits important global changes, which can have had an impact on the study. (3) How MNEs can develop green DCs in the ‘deglobalisation’ scenario was not studied. (4) Organisational infrastructure was not studied. (5) The sequence of sensing, seizing, and reconfiguration was also not focused upon. 13 How an international ambidexterity strategy can address the paradox perspective on corporate sustainability: Evidence from Chinese emerging market multinationals Business Strategy and the Environment Ciasullo et al. (2020) [15] Italy It is suggested that corporate sustainability (CS) can lead to competitive advantage if used strategically. The structural ambidexterity strategy for internationalisation leads to sustainability. Companies can achieve better firm performance if CS is integrated with the business strategy, and CS is critical for competitive advantage. Hence, sustainability is a dynamic and innovative choice for integration into business strategy. Since ambidexterity employs both exploitation (building on the existing capabilities) and exploration (finding and developing new capabilities), it is a dynamic capability. Emerging MNEs consider CS as a strategic lever to achieve competitive advantage in developed countries. (1) The study did not focus on any specific industry; therefore, the actual results may vary from industry to industry. (2) Only China was focused upon, while other developing countries may have different results. (3) Sustainability objectives were used as a scale of measure. In future, sustainable development goals can also be integrated. (4) In regression analysis, the role of a moderating variable can be studied, e.g., for the entry mode for a firm in a developed country or the competitive pressure faced whilst entering the developed country market. 14 On the conceptualization and measurement of dynamic capabilities for sustainability: Building theory through a systematic literature review Business Strategy and the Environment Buzzao and Rizzi (2021) [12] Italy A systematic literature review captured 225 constructs or subdimensions of DCs, 15 of which had attributes to all three of Teece’s capabilities (sensing, seizing, and reconfiguration). Most of the studies were found to be at the institutional level and only one study was carried out at the individual level. The majority of the studies on SLR used primary data (surveys, etc.) to discuss DCs and very few studies used secondary data (market/financial performance). The literature can not clearly confirm whether DCs are unique to firms or can be used as best practices across firms. Only 20 papers studied sustainability with the focus on the triple bottom line approach, and the remaining 51 papers focused on the environmental aspects of sustainability. Most of the studies focused on electronics and chemical industries. China was found to be the most popular country for case studies. Spain had the highest number of research studies. A total of 15 studies were conducted on large companies and 13 studies on SMEs. Sustainability-oriented DCs, green DCs, and green purchasing DCs are attributed to the “transformational” role in companies. Sustainability should be embedded into higher-level capabilities. A long time horizon and external focus are key for sustainability-oriented DCs, otherwise they are just ordinary/generic DCs within or outside the sustainability setting. (1) SLR only focused on English articles published in management journals listed in Scopus and WoS. (2) There was a residual risk that a few studies might have been missed out. 15 Sustainability as a dynamic organizational capability: A systematic review and a future agenda toward a sustainable transition Journal of Cleaner Production Amui et al. (2017) [3] Brazil Sustainability is an important managerial strategy for firms, and there is limited research available on integrating both corporate sustainability and dynamic capabilities. There is also a clear lack of research focusing on how sustainability can be converted into a business asset (a dynamic capability integrated with business strategies). It is recommended to conduct mixed methodologies and comparative studies for different sectors and for different geographical locations. (1) No explanation for the type of DCs needed for sustainability. (2) SLR did not provide any information on the drivers and barriers of DCs and sustainability. 16 Organizational learning and green innovation: Does environmental proactivity matter? Sustainability Zhang et al. (2018) [58] China The role of environmental proactivity was researched in Chinese enterprises. It was found that the environmentally proactive companies manage to develop more balanced dynamic capabilities than companies that are not environmentally proactive. Organisational learning leads to the development of absorptive capabilities and transformative capabilities, which are DCs. These DCs, under the umbrella of environmental proactivity, lead to green innovation, which ultimately leads to corporate sustainability and competitive advantage. (1) Research only focused on China. (2) The findings cannot be generalised for other countries. (3) The study did not capture the relationship between enterprise characteristics (organisational structures, etc.) and green innovation. 17 Sustainability oriented innovation dynamics: Levels of dynamic capabilities and their path-dependent and self-reinforcing logics Technological Forecasting & Social Change Inigo and Albareda (2019) [28] Netherlands Out of three levels of DCs (adapting, expanding, and transforming), transforming follows a path-dependent logic when it is a time-evolving transformation. When these transformation DCs enhance self-reinforcement, they fall among the strategic sustainability dimensions. Sustainability-oriented innovation (SOI) transforms DCs from the lower-level adapting capabilities to the higher-level transforming capabilities. SOI can also deliver competitive advantage. DCs for SOI involve complex innovation management, production and operations management, systems thinking, and cross-stakeholder management. To meet SOI challenges, large companies develop sustainable products and processes, whilst SMEs look for new markets. (1) Due to its inducive and qualitative nature, the research cannot be generalised. (2) The data collected are time-specific, and the data from the case study may differ at different times for other companies. (3) The study was only specific to developed countries. 18 The long-term sustenance of sustainability practices in MNCs: A dynamic capabilities perspective of the role of R&D and internationalization Journal of Business Ethics Chakrabarty and Wang (2012) [14] USA Using longitudinal panel data from 1989 to 2009 for MNCs, this study confirmed that MNCs with higher R&D intensity and internationalisation are more likely to develop and maintain sustainability practices over a period of time. It was also found that the MNCs with lower R&D intensity and less internationalisation are less likely to develop and maintain sustainability practices over a period of time. Essentially, R&D intensity and the level of internationalisation can be considered DCs. (1) Long-term impact of innovation capability and market orientation capability was not considered. (2) Impact of strategic decision making on investing in sustainability practices was not studied. (3) External factors were also not taken into account to study the relationship between high-intensity R&D, high internationalisation, and sustenance of sustainability practices. 19 Collaborative and sustainable supply chain practices: A case study Journal of Enterprising Communities: People and Places in the Global Economy Medina-Serrano (2020) [39] Spain A supply chain design model with sustainable procurement elements in it was validated in this study to offset the effects of allocation issues in the electronics market. The framework is based on sustainable supply chain management designs and collaboration with third parties. Product innovation and organisational structure reconfiguration are the key DCs in inventory management and the supply chain. (1) All conclusions were based on only one case study. (2) The proposed model was not integrated into the decision support methodology. (3) the case study only related to the electronics manufacturing sector. (4) Impact of the framework on financial performance was not studied. 20 Sustainable supply chain management practices and dynamic capabilities in the food industry: A critical analysis of the literature International Journal of Production Economics Beske, Land and Seuring (2014) [8] Gerseveral This research confirmed that knowledge sharing and reconceptualising are the DCs specific to the sustainability-oriented food industry. It is claimed that companies are implementing sustainability practices and DCs to enhance tracking and traceability and to fulfil customer demands. This research emphasises the importance of a commitment to sustainability, and a clear link between DCs and sustainability (SSCM) is found. (1) DCs and their routines related to sustainability (SSCM) were not discussed in detail. (2) Only one sector (food industry) was focused upon. (3) Secondary data were used and no primary data were collected. (4) Social dimension of sustainability was ignored. (5) Geographical and sector context was missing. 21 Technology, sustainable development, and corporate growth—striking a balance World Review of Science, Technology and Sustainable Development Durge and Sangle (2020) [20] India This study established the importance of performance management for sustainability capabilities (DCs) and devised a sustainability balanced score card for operationalising sustainability strategies. Using technology as a source of innovation, companies can achieve competitive advantage by implementing four sustainability strategies, which are also DCs: (1) pollution prevention, (2) product stewardship, (3) clean technology, and (4) the base of the pyramid. Emerging countries are the key area for innovation and co-creation of new products, services, and businesses. Developed countries are not the right market, as developing markets provide opportunities for reverse innovation. (1) Only a conceptual study, with no empirical data. (2) The role of performance management in developing DCs was not studied. (3) No comparison made between developing and developed countries. (4) Sector context was missing. 22 The effects of corporate social responsibility on service innovation performance: The role of dynamic capability for sustainability Sustainability Li et al. (2019) [35] China This study confirmed the positive influence of community CSR on service innovation performance, which is partially mediated by a dynamic capability. Furthermore, environmental CSR also has a positive effect on service innovation performance, which is fully mediated by a dynamic capability. DCs such as internal sensing, service interaction, and service delivery lead to better service innovation performance, which will ultimately deliver sustained competitive advantage. Adaptive, absorptive, and innovative capabilities are the three dimensions of DCs. (1) Research findings are limited to China and SMEs, and no comparison made between SMEs and large corps and those in developed countries. (2) The causal relationship between CSR, dynamic capability, and service innovation needs to be studied more systematically. (3) CSR not researched as a corporate strategy to improve firms’ DCs. 23 Building theory at the intersection of ecological sustainability and strategic management Journal of Business Ethics Borland et al. (2016) [11] United Kingdom (UK) By combining the theories of industrial organisation economics, resource-based theory, and dynamic capability theory, a framework of five strategies called the 5Rs (rethink, reinvent, redesign, redirect, and recover) is proposed. Two further dynamic capabilities of remapping and reaping are suggested to add to the existing dynamic capabilities of sensing, seizing, and maintaining competitiveness. This framework is extended beyond the business ecosystems to global biophysical ecosystems for ecological sustainability and competitive advantage. (1) Proposed framework was not empirically tested. (2) Research did not focus on understanding the challenges between developed and developing countries. (3) Very limited empirical data were used to develop a causal relationship between the profits and ecological sustainability. (4) Transformation cost versus actual benefits not calculated. 24 A capability-based view of sustainability-oriented innovation: An exploratory study Academy of Management Proceedings Inigo and Albareda (2016) [1] Finland A capability-based view is conceptualised with three dynamic capabilities for Sustainability-Oriented Innovation (SOI): (1) incremental capabilities involving environmental scanning, clean technologies, knowledge accumulation, management systems (ISO, etc.), and intellectual capital; (2) renewing capabilities of market sensing, sustainability embeddedness, and networking; and (3) regenerative capabilities including the transformation of business strategic focus and developing new sustainable business models via reconfiguring leadership and social capital. It is concluded that sustainability (especially in B2C retail segments) leads to competitive advantage and creates new capabilities for the business. (1) Due to the inductive nature of the research, the findings cannot be generalised. (2) All eight companies were based in Spain (EU), with no data on developing and emerging countries. (3) No detailed analysis or comparison made between large and SMEs. 25 Dynamic capabilities and organizational routines for managing innovation towards sustainability Journal of Cleaner Production Mousavi, Bossink and Vliet (2018) [40] Netherlands Cross-sectional data obtained from the Community Innovation Survey (CIS) administered to German companies confirmed that the DCs of sensing, seizing, and reconfiguration have a direct impact on the innovation towards sustainability. Reconfiguration capability positively influences sensing and seizing capabilities, and sensing and seizing capabilities partially mediate the relationship between reconfiguration and sustainable innovation. Companies need to change their focus not only to achieve competitive advantage, but also to achieve “sustained” competitive advantage. A diversified set of stakeholders and market innovation help to achieve this. (1) A cross-sectional approach limited the research focus at a given time; a longitudinal approach is preferable. (2) Teece suggested that DCs should be unique for each business, but this research generalised the DCs for a variety of sectors and businesses. (3) Organisational boundaries were ignored, ignoring the fact that different businesses can have different challenges. (4) The research only focused on German companies, the context was very narrow, and no comparison was made with developing or underdeveloped nations. 26 Implementing dynamic capabilities for corporate strategic change toward sustainability Strategic Change Wu et al. (2012) [55] United Kingdom (UK) Through a case study of a large telecom company (Huawei), a conceptual framework was developed to gain competitive advantage by implementing specific DCs (scanning, identification, and reconfiguration) to drive a strategic change towards sustainability. Firms needed to tackle the most relevant sustainability issues as part of their core strategies. (1) The conceptual framework was not validated or empirically tested. (2) Only one case study was conducted. (3) No research on SMEs. (4) No comparison made between different sectors. (5) The source and deployment of DCs were not discussed. 27 How manufacturing companies can utilize innovation test-centers in facilitating environmental sustainability The ISPIM Innovation Conference—Innovation, The Name of the Game Ullern and Ramstad (2018) [53] Norway This study highlights how leveraging innovation infrastructure centres and developing dynamic capabilities can help manufacturing companies to achieve environmental sustainability. In Norway, a government initiative known as the “Norwegian Katapult” has encouraged this approach; hence, it is critical to understand the DCs required to achieve environmental sustainability and how innovation centres (such as Katapult) can contribute to the development of sustainable processes and products. DCs directly lead to sustainability-oriented innovation. (1) Research context was very narrow, only focusing on Norway. (2) The sector was limited to Katapult initiative and SMEs. (3) No comparison made between different sectors. (4) No comparison made between developed and developing countries. (5) Conceptual or proposed framework was missing. 28 Market-oriented sustainability: A conceptual framework and propositions Journal of the Academy of Marketing Science Crittenden et al. (2011) [17] USA Using Resource Advantage Theory, a market-oriented sustainability framework was proposed that enables organisations to align marketing and sustainability strategies to achieve competitive advantage. The main drivers for sustainability were (1) DNA of the organisations, (2) performance management, and (3) stakeholder involvement. (1) Conceptual study, with no empirical data collected or tested. (2) Focused on large companies and no comparison made with SMEs. (3) Focused on the USA and developing countries were not considered. 29 Missing link between sustainability collaborative strategy and supply chain performance: Role of dynamic capability International Journal of Production Economics Kumar, Subramanian and Arputham (2018) [34] India There is a misalignment between collaboration and supply chain performance. Four models were used to demonstrate that both JRS (joint planning and resource sharing) misalignment and CC (collaborative culture) misalignment influence all dimensions of the triple bottom line through DCs, but CC misalignment was found to be more significant for operational and social performance. Hence, appropriate DCs should be developed to address this collaborative misalignment. Resource configuration is the best way to drive competitive advantage. Emerging economies are under pressure to invest in sustainability practices in the short term. Sustainable collaboration between partner firms is a DC that can be used to achieve competitive advantage. DCs improve firm’s environmental performance by identifying the natural environment’s requirements such as reducing pollution, recycling technologies, and eco innovation. (1) Only large companies were used for the survey, while SMEs were not included. (2) Focus was on India, just one emerging country; therefore, the theories and conclusions cannot be generalised, even for the emerging economies like China. (3) The study focused on sustainable supply chain management, so was not comprehensive in terms of corporate sustainability.
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Statement on behalf of Mr. David Cooper, Acting Executive Secretary of the Convention on Biological Diversity, following the conclusion of the negotiations at the Resumed fifth session of the Intergovernmental Conference on an international legally binding instrument under UNCLOS on the conservation and sustainable use of marine biological diversity of areas beyond national jurisdiction, 4 March 2023, New York, USA https://inergency.com/statement-on-behalf-of-mr-david-cooper-acting-executive-secretary-of-the-convention-on-biological-diversity-following-the-conclusion-of-the-negotiations-at-the-resumed-fifth-session-of-the-intergov/ Fri, 29 Mar 2024 11:16:39 +0000 https://inergency.com/statement-on-behalf-of-mr-david-cooper-acting-executive-secretary-of-the-convention-on-biological-diversity-following-the-conclusion-of-the-negotiations-at-the-resumed-fifth-session-of-the-intergov/ Statement on behalf of Mr. David Cooper, Acting Executive Secretary of the Convention on Biological Diversity, following the conclusion of the negotiations at the Resumed fifth session of the Intergovernmental Conference on an international legally binding instrument under UNCLOS on the conservation and sustainable use of marine biological diversity of areas beyond national jurisdiction, 4 March 2023, New York, USAStatement on behalf of Mr. David Cooper, Acting Executive Secretary of the Convention on Biological Diversity, following the conclusion of the negotiations at the Resumed fifth session of the Intergovernmental Conference on an international legally binding instrument under UNCLOS on the conservation and sustainable use of marine biological diversity of areas beyond national jurisdiction, 4 […]]]> Statement on behalf of Mr. David Cooper, Acting Executive Secretary of the Convention on Biological Diversity, following the conclusion of the negotiations at the Resumed fifth session of the Intergovernmental Conference on an international legally binding instrument under UNCLOS on the conservation and sustainable use of marine biological diversity of areas beyond national jurisdiction, 4 March 2023, New York, USA



Statement on behalf of Mr. David Cooper, Acting Executive Secretary of the Convention on Biological Diversity, following the conclusion of the negotiations at the Resumed fifth session of the Intergovernmental Conference on an international legally binding instrument under UNCLOS on the conservation and sustainable use of marine biological diversity of areas beyond national jurisdiction, 4 March 2023, New York, USA

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Albany Democrats must pass Good Cause Eviction https://inergency.com/albany-democrats-must-pass-good-cause-eviction/ Fri, 29 Mar 2024 11:12:29 +0000 https://inergency.com/albany-democrats-must-pass-good-cause-eviction/ Albany Democrats must pass Good Cause EvictionIn the 2022 midterm elections, New York Democrats suffered what can generously be described as a disappointing night, as the Empire State delivered four seats in the House of Representatives to Republicans. In 2024, the control of the House is on the line with the Republican Party holding a thread bare majority. With the stakes […]]]> Albany Democrats must pass Good Cause Eviction



In the 2022 midterm elections, New York Democrats suffered what can generously be described as a disappointing night, as the Empire State delivered four seats in the House of Representatives to Republicans. In 2024, the control of the House is on the line with the Republican Party holding a thread bare majority.

With the stakes so high, we absolutely cannot afford a repeat of 2022 in New York. However, if Democrats fail to take meaningful action to address the housing affordability crisis and protect tenants, we will be doing ourselves absolutely no favors.

A recent poll from Marist found that the vast majority of New Yorkers are concerned about housing affordability. Across the state and across the country, housing costs and rents are higher than ever. Americans are expressing their legitimate concerns about the housing crisis to elected officials from city council members up to the president.

President Biden recently told his aides that “the challenge of affording a home is the main complaint he hears” out on the campaign trail. The president has expressed concern that the high cost of housing can be a top issue on the campaign trail this November.

Biden is correct, and policymakers in New York should heed his message. As rents continue to climb, we risk appearing out of touch with the daily experiences of New Yorkers if we fail to embrace tenant protections and other measures that actually address affordability.

The housing affordability crisis has reached epic proportions in every part of New York State. From Buffalo to Long Island to Ithaca, the rent has simply gotten too high and too several New Yorkers have already lost or are at risk of losing their homes.

Some tend to think of this crisis as a problem that only impacts New York City and the major urban centers of our state, but unaffordable housing costs are sadly hitting suburban and rural areas in New York just as hard. New Yorkers are rightfully demanding that the people they voted into office address the skyrocketing cost of living and help working people stay in their homes.

One key solution to this crisis already exists: Good Cause Eviction, which protects tenants from unreasonable rent hikes and retaliatory or discriminatory evictions. Good Cause Eviction already has the backing of several senators and Assembly members in Albany.

Senate Democrats have made clear they will not make a deal on the budget without “protections similar to those in the Good Cause Eviction legislation,” and the Assembly majority has committed to “enacting statewide policies that protect tenants from arbitrary and capricious rent increases and unreasonable evictions of paying tenants.” This is welcome news for all New Yorkers to hear as budget negotiations get underway.

As with all things, the devil will be in the details. There are some calling for a “swiss cheese” version of a Good Cause Eviction bill that might require localities outside of the five boroughs to opt-in as well as provisions that might deny tenants’ protections based on the size of their buildings or the size of their landlords’ real estate portfolios.

This watered-down Good Cause might devastate thousands of tenants across the Empire State and severely weaken the impact of any bill in the housing package. These carve-outs can leave at least 67% of non-New York City renters (872,000 households) vulnerable to predatory rent hikes and retaliatory evictions. This is unacceptable and fails to truly address the crisis we face.

By protecting only some but not all tenants, a patchwork network of protections might be impossible to enforce, weakening even municipalities who have chosen to opt-in ability to hold bad landlords accountable.

If Good Cause Eviction fails to move forward this legislative cycle, it will represent a major win for the real estate lobby. Over the past five years, top real estate organizations have spent nearly $14 million lobbying against Good Cause Eviction. We absolutely cannot let special interests get in the way of enacting policies that can offer crucial protections to New Yorkers who are fighting to keep their homes.

We have just a few days until the state budget is due, and all eyes are on Albany. Legislative leaders have made their commitment to tenant protections clear, and now it is time to deliver a budget that reflects these promises.

All politics are local, and passing Good Cause legislation allows us to address one of New Yorkers’ most pressing concerns. We cannot miss this opportunity. If we do, it will be catastrophic for renters and possibly for Democratic chances in New York come November.

Velázquez represents parts of Brooklyn and Queens in the Congress.

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New PSAs Inspired by Real Adoption Stories Motivate Parents to Consider Adopting Teens From Foster Care https://inergency.com/new-psas-inspired-by-real-adoption-stories-motivate-parents-to-consider-adopting-teens-from-foster-care/ Fri, 29 Mar 2024 11:10:43 +0000 https://inergency.com/new-psas-inspired-by-real-adoption-stories-motivate-parents-to-consider-adopting-teens-from-foster-care/ New PSAs Inspired by Real Adoption Stories Motivate Parents to Consider Adopting Teens From Foster CareWashington, DC – (September 20, 2022) – The United States. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), Administration for Children and Families (ACF), AdoptUSKids, and the Ad Council today launched new emotional public service advertisements (PSAs) that encourage prospective parents to adopt teens from foster care. Created by Durable Goods, the PSAs are inspired by the […]]]> New PSAs Inspired by Real Adoption Stories Motivate Parents to Consider Adopting Teens From Foster Care


Washington, DC – (September 20, 2022) – The United States. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), Administration for Children and Families (ACF), AdoptUSKids, and the Ad Council today launched new emotional public service advertisements (PSAs) that encourage prospective parents to adopt teens from foster care. Created by Durable Goods, the PSAs are inspired by the stories of real adoptive families that highlight how rewarding adoption is for both parents and teens.

“Our goal for these new PSAs is to continue to share poignant and emotional stories as genuine as the teens and parents who inspired them. Through these films, we can help prospective parents see the rewards that come with adopting teens from foster care: a lifetime of memories and experiences that both parents and children benefit from,” said Michelle Hillman, Chief Campaign Development Officer of the Ad Council.

According to the most recent Adoption and Foster Care Analysis and Reporting System (AFCARS) data, teens (13–17 years of age) constituted 22% of the children/youth waiting to be adopted in the foster care system, but account for only 11% of those adopted. Teenagers in foster care can face a particularly challenging time getting adopted and may wait up to twice as long to achieve permanency than younger children.

“These exciting new PSAs demonstrate to prospective parents that adopting a teenager means experiencing all of the love, joys, challenges, and rewards of parenting. Teens never outgrow the need for a healthy family, and several teens who are in foster care especially benefit from the love, support, and stability that adoption can provide. Parents, teenagers, siblings, extended family, and communities all benefit when parents adopt a teenager and begin a new chapter of their family’s story together,” said Aysha E. Schomburg, Associate Commissioner, Children’s Bureau.

Many prospective parents look forward to big life moments, such as seeing a child take their first steps or celebrating their first day of school, but oftentimes don’t think of the rewards that can come with raising a teen. Developed by Durable Goods, the new PSAs are an extension of the campaign’s “You Can’t Imagine the Reward” platform and showcase the positive impact teens and their adoptive parents have on one another. One PSA, “Portrait,” highlights some of the small moments that can build up to a lifetime of rewards, such as exploring new interests and creating memories together as a family. A second PSA, “Lucky Ones,” emphasizes the rewards of family bonding and showcases how families can celebrate new milestones such as high school graduations. The work directs audiences to visit AdoptUSKids.org to learn more about adopting a teen from foster care. Parents can also call 1-888-200-4005 to receive information about the foster care system and the adoption process. Potential foster and adoptive families can also call 1-877-236-7831 for information in Spanish.

“This was such a special project,” said Meghan Frederico, Durable Goods Director. “I spent six months working closely with the team to research, concept, and script these films, and it all began by speaking with families who had adopted teens from foster care. These conversations ran the gamut from tear-jerking to hilarious, and it was important to me that our work captured that full spectrum of emotion. Not just the emotional resonance of their stories, but also the vitality, joy, and spirit of these families.”

Per the Ad Council’s model, the PSAs will run in time and space donated by the media. The campaign is supported by longtime agency of record MMI Agency, who is extending the reach of the latest creative by securing donated media placements. Since the initial launch of the campaign in 2004, the campaign has received more than $735 million in donated media support across television, radio, print, out-of-home and digital media.

For more information about adoption, or about becoming an adoptive parent to a child or teen from foster care, please visit AdoptUSKids.org or visit the AdoptUSKids social communities on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram.

United States. Department of Health and Human Services’ Administration for Children and Families
Within the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), the Administration for Children and Families (ACF) is responsible for federal programs that promote the economic and social well-being of families, children, individuals, and communities. The Administration on Children, Youth and Families (ACYF) administers national programs for children and youth; works with states, tribes, and local communities to develop services that support and strengthen family life; seeks joint ventures with the private sector to enhance the lives of children and their families; and provides information and other assistance to parents. Many of the programs administered by ACYF focus on children from low-income families; abused and neglected children; children and youth in need of foster care, independent living, adoption or other child welfare services; preschool children; children with disabilities; runaway and homeless youth; and children from Native American and migrant families. For more information on ACYF’s adoption programs, please visit http://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/cb/focus-areas/adoption.

AdoptUSKids
AdoptUSKids is a multi-faceted, federally funded project whose mission is to raise public awareness about the need for families for children in foster care, and assist states, territories, and tribes to recruit and retain foster and adoptive families and connect them with children. The project is managed through a cooperative agreement with the Children’s Bureau at ACF. To learn more visit AdoptUSKids.org, or find us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and view our inspiring videos on YouTube.

The Ad Council
The Ad Council is where creativity and causes converge. The non-profit organization brings together the most creative minds in advertising, media, technology and marketing to address several of the nation’s most important causes. The Ad Council has created several of the most iconic campaigns in advertising history. Friends Don’t Let Friends Drive Drunk. Smokey Bear. Love Has No Labels. Its innovative social good campaigns raise awareness, inspire action and save lives. To learn more, visit AdCouncil.org, follow the Ad Council’s communities on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter, and view the creative on YouTube.

Durable Goods
Teaming talent with ideas, Durable Goods produces broadcast, digital, and branded content for some of the world’s biggest brands. Its roster of forward-thinking and innovative creators has partnered with the likes of PepsiCo, Toyota, Snapchat, Vans, Levi’s, and American Airlines, among several others, to develop and elevate great content. Durable means enduring, long-lasting, and resilient, a spirit the team brings to every story they tell and the relationships they build. Because how they get there matters just as much as the idea itself. www.durablegoods.tv



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359521
New PSAs Inspired by Real Adoption Stories Motivate Parents to Consider Adopting Teens From Foster Care https://inergency.com/new-psas-inspired-by-real-adoption-stories-motivate-parents-to-consider-adopting-teens-from-foster-care-2/ Fri, 29 Mar 2024 11:10:43 +0000 https://inergency.com/new-psas-inspired-by-real-adoption-stories-motivate-parents-to-consider-adopting-teens-from-foster-care-2/ New PSAs Inspired by Real Adoption Stories Motivate Parents to Consider Adopting Teens From Foster CareWashington, DC – (September 20, 2022) – The United States. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), Administration for Children and Families (ACF), AdoptUSKids, and the Ad Council today launched new emotional public service advertisements (PSAs) that encourage prospective parents to adopt teens from foster care. Created by Durable Goods, the PSAs are inspired by the […]]]> New PSAs Inspired by Real Adoption Stories Motivate Parents to Consider Adopting Teens From Foster Care


Washington, DC – (September 20, 2022) – The United States. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), Administration for Children and Families (ACF), AdoptUSKids, and the Ad Council today launched new emotional public service advertisements (PSAs) that encourage prospective parents to adopt teens from foster care. Created by Durable Goods, the PSAs are inspired by the stories of real adoptive families that highlight how rewarding adoption is for both parents and teens.

“Our goal for these new PSAs is to continue to share poignant and emotional stories as genuine as the teens and parents who inspired them. Through these films, we can help prospective parents see the rewards that come with adopting teens from foster care: a lifetime of memories and experiences that both parents and children benefit from,” said Michelle Hillman, Chief Campaign Development Officer of the Ad Council.

According to the most recent Adoption and Foster Care Analysis and Reporting System (AFCARS) data, teens (13–17 years of age) constituted 22% of the children/youth waiting to be adopted in the foster care system, but account for only 11% of those adopted. Teenagers in foster care can face a particularly challenging time getting adopted and may wait up to twice as long to achieve permanency than younger children.

“These exciting new PSAs demonstrate to prospective parents that adopting a teenager means experiencing all of the love, joys, challenges, and rewards of parenting. Teens never outgrow the need for a healthy family, and several teens who are in foster care especially benefit from the love, support, and stability that adoption can provide. Parents, teenagers, siblings, extended family, and communities all benefit when parents adopt a teenager and begin a new chapter of their family’s story together,” said Aysha E. Schomburg, Associate Commissioner, Children’s Bureau.

Many prospective parents look forward to big life moments, such as seeing a child take their first steps or celebrating their first day of school, but oftentimes don’t think of the rewards that can come with raising a teen. Developed by Durable Goods, the new PSAs are an extension of the campaign’s “You Can’t Imagine the Reward” platform and showcase the positive impact teens and their adoptive parents have on one another. One PSA, “Portrait,” highlights some of the small moments that can build up to a lifetime of rewards, such as exploring new interests and creating memories together as a family. A second PSA, “Lucky Ones,” emphasizes the rewards of family bonding and showcases how families can celebrate new milestones such as high school graduations. The work directs audiences to visit AdoptUSKids.org to learn more about adopting a teen from foster care. Parents can also call 1-888-200-4005 to receive information about the foster care system and the adoption process. Potential foster and adoptive families can also call 1-877-236-7831 for information in Spanish.

“This was such a special project,” said Meghan Frederico, Durable Goods Director. “I spent six months working closely with the team to research, concept, and script these films, and it all began by speaking with families who had adopted teens from foster care. These conversations ran the gamut from tear-jerking to hilarious, and it was important to me that our work captured that full spectrum of emotion. Not just the emotional resonance of their stories, but also the vitality, joy, and spirit of these families.”

Per the Ad Council’s model, the PSAs will run in time and space donated by the media. The campaign is supported by longtime agency of record MMI Agency, who is extending the reach of the latest creative by securing donated media placements. Since the initial launch of the campaign in 2004, the campaign has received more than $735 million in donated media support across television, radio, print, out-of-home and digital media.

For more information about adoption, or about becoming an adoptive parent to a child or teen from foster care, please visit AdoptUSKids.org or visit the AdoptUSKids social communities on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram.

United States. Department of Health and Human Services’ Administration for Children and Families
Within the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), the Administration for Children and Families (ACF) is responsible for federal programs that promote the economic and social well-being of families, children, individuals, and communities. The Administration on Children, Youth and Families (ACYF) administers national programs for children and youth; works with states, tribes, and local communities to develop services that support and strengthen family life; seeks joint ventures with the private sector to enhance the lives of children and their families; and provides information and other assistance to parents. Many of the programs administered by ACYF focus on children from low-income families; abused and neglected children; children and youth in need of foster care, independent living, adoption or other child welfare services; preschool children; children with disabilities; runaway and homeless youth; and children from Native American and migrant families. For more information on ACYF’s adoption programs, please visit http://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/cb/focus-areas/adoption.

AdoptUSKids
AdoptUSKids is a multi-faceted, federally funded project whose mission is to raise public awareness about the need for families for children in foster care, and assist states, territories, and tribes to recruit and retain foster and adoptive families and connect them with children. The project is managed through a cooperative agreement with the Children’s Bureau at ACF. To learn more visit AdoptUSKids.org, or find us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and view our inspiring videos on YouTube.

The Ad Council
The Ad Council is where creativity and causes converge. The non-profit organization brings together the most creative minds in advertising, media, technology and marketing to address several of the nation’s most important causes. The Ad Council has created several of the most iconic campaigns in advertising history. Friends Don’t Let Friends Drive Drunk. Smokey Bear. Love Has No Labels. Its innovative social good campaigns raise awareness, inspire action and save lives. To learn more, visit AdCouncil.org, follow the Ad Council’s communities on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter, and view the creative on YouTube.

Durable Goods
Teaming talent with ideas, Durable Goods produces broadcast, digital, and branded content for some of the world’s biggest brands. Its roster of forward-thinking and innovative creators has partnered with the likes of PepsiCo, Toyota, Snapchat, Vans, Levi’s, and American Airlines, among several others, to develop and elevate great content. Durable means enduring, long-lasting, and resilient, a spirit the team brings to every story they tell and the relationships they build. Because how they get there matters just as much as the idea itself. www.durablegoods.tv



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How the biggest chocolate makers and sellers in the UK fare on sustainability https://inergency.com/how-the-biggest-chocolate-makers-and-sellers-in-the-uk-fare-on-sustainability/ Fri, 29 Mar 2024 11:00:51 +0000 https://inergency.com/how-the-biggest-chocolate-makers-and-sellers-in-the-uk-fare-on-sustainability/ How the biggest chocolate makers and sellers in the UK fare on sustainabilityEstimates indicate that the UK ranks seventh worldwide and fourth in Europe for chocolate consumption. Each person in the UK consumes on average about 8.1kg of chocolate annually, with around 56% of adults enjoying chocolate at least weekly. It’s expected that the UK will sell between 80 and 90 million Easter eggs this year. This […]]]> How the biggest chocolate makers and sellers in the UK fare on sustainability


Estimates indicate that the UK ranks seventh worldwide and fourth in Europe for chocolate consumption. Each person in the UK consumes on average about 8.1kg of chocolate annually, with around 56% of adults enjoying chocolate at least weekly.

It’s expected that the UK will sell between 80 and 90 million Easter eggs this year. This is even though Easter chocolate prices in the UK have risen by 12.6%.

The surge to record prices is being blamed on a decline in worldwide supply, a consequence of climate change impacts, alongside heightened production and living costs for farmers driven by inflation.

But that is not the whole story. Retailers make more value (41.6%) and profit (9.5%) from a block of chocolate, than the poor farmer who gets little value (8.8%) and almost zero profit.

British consumers are increasingly demanding assurance that their products are ethically produced by businesses that source ingredients from suppliers committed to fair labour practices and the prevention of deforestation and harmful environmental processes.

The fifth edition of the Chocolate Scorecard, created by Be Slavery Free, the Open University, two Australian universities and various sustainability groups, indicates that certain retailers are falling behind in offering sustainable products on their shelves.

The scorecard evaluates the policies and practices of chocolate traders, manufacturers, brands and retailers, analysing 63 companies across six criteria. These criteria include traceability and transparency, living income, child and forced labour, climate change and deforestation, agroforestry, and the use of agrochemicals. The report card for next year will introduce a rating for gender equality, expanding the evaluation to include this as a seventh criterion.

This evaluation assigns a green rating (or “egg”) to companies recognised as leaders in sustainable policies and practices. Companies categorised as “progressing” or “needing improvement” receive yellow and orange ratings, respectively. A red rating is awarded to those seen as “trailing in policy and practice”, while a grey rating points to an absence of transparency.

This year, the German brand Ritter Sport received a Good Egg Award in the Medium and Large Company category for its progress, highlighting that larger companies have the capacity to improve significantly. The Dutch brand Tony’s Chocolonely received a special achievement award in the same category for consistently receiving a green rating.

Mars Wrigley (known for Mars bars, Snickers, Milky Way, and Twix), Nestlé (producer of Kit Kat and Smarties), Hershey’s and Ferrero (maker of Nutella, Kinder and Ferrero Rocher) all received yellow accolades. Lindt and Mondelēz, the latter known for Cadbury, Toblerone and Green & Black’s, were given an orange rating, signalling a need for enhancements.

The chocolate industry is expanding rapidly

It is projected that global chocolate confectionery revenue will hit US$254 billion (£202 billion) this year. In the UK, around US$18.28 billion (£14.5 billion) is generated, with an anticipated volume growth of almost 0.9% in 2025.

According to the guiding principles on business and human rights established by the United Nations, businesses bear responsibility for adverse human rights impacts linked to their operations or those of their supply chains. The responsibility cannot be transferred to another entity within the supply chain.

Research on retail outlets show that confectionery is frequently an impulse buy. Retailers strategically place sweet treats near checkouts, capitalising on high profit margins. The success or failure of a retailer can hinge on the sales of these products. Hence, when a retailer offers chocolate for sale, they have a duty to consider and tackle human rights and environmental concerns.

Certain retailers are lagging behind in sustainable sourcing practices

None of the retailers received a green rating worldwide. Also, not every UK retailer participated in this year’s chocolate scorecard. Among stores operating in the UK, Lidl and Co-op achieved a yellow rating. Marks & Spencer declined to take part in our survey, raising doubts about their transparency and accountability.

Interestingly, several retailers lack comprehensive data on their supply chains. While they establish guidelines for their manufacturers and suppliers to achieve chocolate certification, verification is often lacking. Where suppliers fail to comply, the burden is often placed on the farmers

The largest retailers in the world are based in the US and have the capacity to lead the industry. Despite this, all US retailers received “grey” ratings in the latest scorecard for non-participation. This includes key revenue giants like Walmart, Costco and Kroger.

A probable factor contributing to the US chocolate industry’s lag is the absence of regulations to halt deforestation. The European Union has enforced deforestation regulation to ensure that commodities like cocoa imported to the EU are not linked to deforested areas. Similarly, the UK Environment Act 2021 mandates due diligence for critical forest-risk commodities. While the US has introduced the Forest Act, it is yet to be passed into law.




Read more:
Buying affordable ethical chocolate is almost impossible – but some firms are offering the next best thing


Engaging in conscientious decision-making

Retailers must recognise the growing consumer demand for ethically produced and
sustainable products, chocolate included.

They will have to integrate ethically produced cocoa as a fundamental aspect of their corporate responsibility and business approach. By collaborating with their suppliers and manufacturers to monitor their cocoa supply chains meticulously, retailers can enhance their practices to guarantee they are free from human rights violations and environmental harm.

Consumers can leverage the fifth edition of the Chocolate Scorecard to guide their sustainable buying choices regarding the brands they support and the retailers they choose.

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Exploring GIS Techniques in Sea Level Change Studies: A Comprehensive Review https://inergency.com/exploring-gis-techniques-in-sea-level-change-studies-a-comprehensive-review/ Fri, 29 Mar 2024 10:45:30 +0000 https://inergency.com/exploring-gis-techniques-in-sea-level-change-studies-a-comprehensive-review/ Exploring GIS Techniques in Sea Level Change Studies: A Comprehensive Review8.1. Global Overview On a global scale, surface air temperatures are rising (Figure 3). As the United Nations (UN) Secretary General said in July 2023, “the era of global warming has ended” and “the era of global boiling has arrived” [43] (p. 1), which highlights and stresses the impacts of it. Since the 1970s, after […]]]> Exploring GIS Techniques in Sea Level Change Studies: A Comprehensive Review


8.1. Global Overview

On a global scale, surface air temperatures are rising (Figure 3). As the United Nations (UN) Secretary General said in July 2023, “the era of global warming has ended” and “the era of global boiling has arrived” [43] (p. 1), which highlights and stresses the impacts of it. Since the 1970s, after the ECMWF (European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts), there has been a continuous increase in the evolution of these temperatures. From that moment onwards, there has been a gain of more than 1 °C. The last few years, especially 2023, highlight particularly warmer years than average. A correlation can be observed between the variation of surface air temperature and sea surface temperature between 60° S and 60° N (Figure 4). In effect, sea surface temperature shows the same evolution, with an increase of 1 °C from 1970–1980 until 2023, with an exceptionally high value for 2023. The same conclusion is highlighted by the evolution of surface air temperature. Focusing on the ongoing year 2023, there appears to be a tendency that suddenly breaks from previous variations, as seen in 2016.
The role of anthropogenic processes is often mentioned to explain these variations. However, Dangendorf et al. [12] in 2019 also mentioned the role of steric changes leading to thermal expansion, notably related to changes in westerlies, to explain the acceleration of global mean sea level. Steric changes, which involve changes in temperature, are depicted in Figure 4, showing an evolution towards even more significant thermal expansion and consequent rise in global sea level. This is also explained by Frederikse et al. [8], who mentioned that this is linked to a combination of thermal expansion of the ocean and increased ice-mass loss from Greenland [8] (p. 1). Such changes are observed at a time when catastrophic events like tsunamis or storm surges happen and are becoming even more violent and dangerous. Hence, studying these parameters is closely related to studying the evolution of sea level.

8.1.1. Asia and America

As mentioned earlier, Asia and America are the two leading continents, with China and the United States, countries near the ocean, publishing the most articles related to sea level rise. Several articles have been published in the United States regarding surface air temperature [44,45,46,47], mainly studied on a local scale. In China, there is a very high number of publications [48,49,50,51,52,53,54], appearing to surpass those of the United States. This shows the specific concern of this country with the question of surface air temperature. In effect, China conducts several studies related to climate change as it has consequences for this country, as evidenced by the number of publications concerning sea level rise. Asia also includes India, Indonesia, and the United Arab Emirates, three countries that have published 13, nine, and seven articles, respectively. For instance, Chowdary et al. [55] showed that surface air temperature is locally influenced by sea surface temperature and El Niño in India. This highlights a link at a local scale that can also be applied at a global level, aligning with results obtained by the Copernicus Climate Change Service [56].
Figure 3.
Globally averaged surface air temperature for all months of July from 1940 to 2023. Shades of blue indicate cooler-than-average years, while shades of red show years that were warmer than average. Data: ERA5. Credit: ECMWF, Copernicus Climate Change Service (C3S) [56].

Figure 3.
Globally averaged surface air temperature for all months of July from 1940 to 2023. Shades of blue indicate cooler-than-average years, while shades of red show years that were warmer than average. Data: ERA5. Credit: ECMWF, Copernicus Climate Change Service (C3S) [56].
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Figure 4.
Daily global sea surface temperature (°C) averaged over the 60° S–60° N domain, plotted as a time series for each year from 1 January 1979 to 31 July 2023. The years 2023 and 2016 are shown with thick lines shaded in bright red and dark red, respectively. Data: ERA5. Credit: ECMWF, Copernicus Climate Change Service (C3S) [56].

Figure 4.
Daily global sea surface temperature (°C) averaged over the 60° S–60° N domain, plotted as a time series for each year from 1 January 1979 to 31 July 2023. The years 2023 and 2016 are shown with thick lines shaded in bright red and dark red, respectively. Data: ERA5. Credit: ECMWF, Copernicus Climate Change Service (C3S) [56].
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Only two studies have been performed in Indonesia mentioning surface air temperatures. As this type of study is rare in Indonesia after Rohman et al. [57], the decision to work on it was made because Indonesia is vulnerable to climate change due to its important agricultural sector. Rohman showed an increase in air temperatures at different sites in Indonesia. In the United Arab Emirates, this question has also been assessed, with global trends showing a global increase in surface air temperatures from a local point of view [58,59,60] and a regional one at the scale of the Arabian Peninsula [61].

8.1.2. Europe and Africa

The two other continents that have a smaller number of articles published, are Europe and Africa. These continents include, notably, Egypt and Spain. In Egypt, Hasanean and Basset [62] studied surface air temperatures and linked them to climate variations, including El Niño too. This shows that it is possible to understand variations in sea level rise by studying surface air temperatures. In effect, El Kenawy [63] explained that atmospheric patterns can explain temperature variations in a study area in Spain. Italy, the Netherlands, Sweden, and the United Kingdom are also coastal countries that are impacted by these fluctuations. Despite their underrepresentation in the literature on sea level rise, the Netherlands is a great example of vulnerability due to the presence of polders, as a part of the country is located at sea level. Coastal parts of Italy are also endangered, like Venice. A potential acceleration of sea level rise can have important consequences for this city.

8.1.3. Oceania and Antarctica

The two last continents with the least number of publications are Oceania and Antarctica. Oceania has a lot of islands that are vulnerable to sea level rise, like Fiji [64]. For instance, in line with previous papers, Xue et al. [65] showed that surface air temperature is locally influenced by sea surface temperature in Australia and El Niño, when studying during the austral summer. However, there are no papers on Antarctica, as research in this region mainly focuses on glacier melting.
All these areas mostly highlight the same outcome: sea surface temperatures influence surface air temperatures. Overall, no matter what area is selected, surface air temperatures appear to increase over time with a speed related to the location studied. The more arid the climate of the area, the quicker the temperature rises. These temperature changes impact sea surface temperatures over time through winds on a global scale, which is significantly responsible for sea level rise [12].

8.2. Case of GCC (Gulf Cooperation Council)

After a general overview, the decision was made to focus on GCC countries. The United Arab Emirates is one of them, and previous sections have demonstrated that it is one of the countries that has published several papers about sea level rise. Moreover, there is a link between the intensity of climate events and temperatures. In regions like the GCC, because of its overall arid climate, temperatures are usually high, especially in the summer. The more desertic the area, the more pronounced the climate events are. Also, recent extreme weather conditions in the Middle East, like snowfall in the desert in Saudi Arabia and significant episodes of rain and hail in the UAE, have highlighted the importance of focusing on this region.

Several catastrophic events happened regularly in the GCC, such as cyclones. Sandstorms and dust storms are also frequent. Francis et al. [66] showed that there is a correlation between temperature rise and the recurrence of cyclones in the Arabian Peninsula. Because of the growing importance of these events in this area, it is important to focus on them, as the literature on this subject is limited. The cities in the GCC are vulnerable, and stakes are high with important business and touristic hubs. Environmental awareness and recent sport events, like COP28 in Dubai or the Qatar World Cup Final, raise questions about the vulnerability of such events in the future in this region, considering the risks of sea level change or natural hazards they face, using network analysis, for instance [67]. The preservation of the environment, including mangroves, is also an important challenge, as already addressed by several studies [7,68], mostly using models.

It has been decided to focus on average summer temperatures as it is the warmest season of the year. This way, it will be possible to see how this season, which is the most extreme, evolves.

To explore the spatial distribution pattern of summer temperatures in the GCC and neighboring countries, average temperature data spanning 60 years were used, from June and July 1963 to 2023. These data come from the ECMWF ERA5 open-source dataset produced by the Copernicus Climate Change Service (C3S) and are analyzed using the GrADS application on a Linux-based system.

Figure 5 presents the average summer season temperature in °C for the months of June and July, from 1963 to 2023, across the GCC region. Over this 60-year timeframe, it is apparent that the maximum temperature values remained stable, while their geographical coverage expanded significantly.

Between June and July 1963 and 1983, the region experienced maximum temperatures averaging between 39 and 43 °C, confined to a relatively small part of Saudi Arabia and the northern part of Yemen. Temperature levels gradually decreased as one moved away from this central area.

In contrast, during June and July 1983–2003, the area characterized by maximum temperatures within the same range (39–43 °C) expanded significantly, covering nearly all of Saudi Arabia, parts of Yemen, and a small portion of Oman. The rate of temperature decreases in surrounding regions exhibited a gentler gradient.

Moving into the period of June and July between 2003 and 2023, distinctive temperature changes come into focus. In June, an increase in maximum temperatures is observed, with values ranging from 41 to 43 °C, primarily in the central region of Saudi Arabia. However, in July, the temperature range remains consistent at 41 to 43 °C. What is noteworthy is that this temperature range expands its coverage, extending beyond the borders of Saudi Arabia and encompassing a broader geographical area that includes neighboring countries like Kuwait, the UAE, Iraq, and Iran. These temperature dynamics in the 2003–2023 period highlight the intriguing variations in thermal conditions experienced during these two summer months across the Gulf Region.

The observed increase in temperature patterns, especially during the summer months of June and July in the GCC region, can have significant implications for long-term for sea level rise in the area. In effect, steric changes can happen due to increasing temperatures, leading to expanding sea volume locally and causing sea level rise [69]. Higher temperatures can also lead to more frequent and severe weather events, as highlighted by the IPCC [70] and mentioned by Ebi et al. [71]. For example, a cyclone or hurricane in the Arabian Sea can bring intense rainfall and storm surges, leading to temporary but significant increases in sea levels. An example is Cyclone Gonu in 2007, which caused coastal flooding in Oman and the UAE [72]. Moreover, rising sea levels intensify coastal erosion, particularly in Qatar, posing a significant threat to coastal infrastructure and property [72]. These instances demonstrate the various ways in which rising temperatures and their consequences, including sea level rise, affect the GCC region, highlighting the need for ongoing monitoring, adaptation, and mitigation measures.
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Statement by Elizabeth Maruma Mrema, Executive Secretary of the Convention on Biological Diversity, on the occasion of the International Day of Women and Girls in Science, 11 February 2023 https://inergency.com/statement-by-elizabeth-maruma-mrema-executive-secretary-of-the-convention-on-biological-diversity-on-the-occasion-of-the-international-day-of-women-and-girls-in-science-11-february-2023/ Fri, 29 Mar 2024 10:37:16 +0000 https://inergency.com/statement-by-elizabeth-maruma-mrema-executive-secretary-of-the-convention-on-biological-diversity-on-the-occasion-of-the-international-day-of-women-and-girls-in-science-11-february-2023/ Statement on behalf of Mr. David Cooper, Acting Executive Secretary of the Convention on Biological Diversity, following the conclusion of the negotiations at the Resumed fifth session of the Intergovernmental Conference on an international legally binding instrument under UNCLOS on the conservation and sustainable use of marine biological diversity of areas beyond national jurisdiction, 4 March 2023, New York, USAStatement by Elizabeth Maruma Mrema, Executive Secretary of the Convention on Biological Diversity, on the occasion of the International Day of Women and Girls in Science, 11 February 2023]]> Statement on behalf of Mr. David Cooper, Acting Executive Secretary of the Convention on Biological Diversity, following the conclusion of the negotiations at the Resumed fifth session of the Intergovernmental Conference on an international legally binding instrument under UNCLOS on the conservation and sustainable use of marine biological diversity of areas beyond national jurisdiction, 4 March 2023, New York, USA



Statement by Elizabeth Maruma Mrema, Executive Secretary of the Convention on Biological Diversity, on the occasion of the International Day of Women and Girls in Science, 11 February 2023

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Ask Amy: Sharing in-law unit causes problems https://inergency.com/ask-amy-sharing-in-law-unit-causes-problems/ Fri, 29 Mar 2024 10:36:51 +0000 https://inergency.com/ask-amy-sharing-in-law-unit-causes-problems/ Ask Amy: Sharing in-law unit causes problemsDear Amy: We are having an issue with our daughter and son-in-law regarding the use of a guesthouse. They live a day’s drive from us, so when we visit we like to stay for several days. We try to visit at least monthly. We decided to find a home that had a mother-in-law unit separate […]]]> Ask Amy: Sharing in-law unit causes problems



Dear Amy: We are having an issue with our daughter and son-in-law regarding the use of a guesthouse. They live a day’s drive from us, so when we visit we like to stay for several days. We try to visit at least monthly.

We decided to find a home that had a mother-in-law unit separate from the main house.

We helped (substantially) in the purchase of their home in order to have this unit be our separate space.

We felt this was a better option than buying a small studio or condo (about the same amount regarding the investment) to be close to them and the grandchildren.

They were excited to do this with us.

Now they are using it as a guesthouse for friends when we are not there.

Often it isn’t as clean as we leave it, and there has been conflict at times with friends visiting when we planned to be there.

We don’t feel comfortable sharing our private space. We have talked with them several times about our feelings, but the issue keeps recurring.

Are we wrong to ask them not to have guests stay in our place?

— Disappointed

Dear Disappointed: You helped substantially with the purchase of this home, but you don’t seem to actually own this separate unit, and so this whole arrangement is riding on an understanding.

Your daughter is not respecting the original intent or the impact on you, but if she doesn’t respect your wishes and sensitivities after discussing this several times, the issue reveals how she and her husband regard you.

You are not “wrong” to expect exclusive use of this guesthouse, but you should realize that going to the mat over this can affect your relationship in the longer term.

If both parties agree that this is “your” unit, you can install a lock with a changeable code; if they might like to borrow the unit for guests, they might have to contact you for the code. This might at least put you in charge of access to the unit.

Dear Amy: I am 20 and my girlfriend of six months is 19.

Ever since we started dating, she seems to go out of her way to tell me whenever a guy hits on her, compliments her, or flirts with her.

She’s gorgeous and so I totally understand that this is going to happen.

I completely trust her, but when we started going out I told her that I don’t really need to hear about every time a guy compliments her. I told her that I know these things happen, but that I don’t need to hear about it.

Finally, I flat-out asked her to stop reporting these things to me.

Yesterday she was headed to her friend’s house and told me that her friend’s brother has a crush on her.

Why does she do this? I feel like breaking up with her, not because I’m jealous of other guys, but because she seems to enjoy rubbing my face in the attention she receives from other guys.

— Stymied Student

Dear Student: I think your girlfriend does this in part because she is insecure, and this is her way of testing your relationship.

You’ve asked her to stop doing this, but you don’t seem to have asked her to tell you why she does it.

I suspect that your girlfriend is immature and that this gamesmanship is how she has gained social currency in the past.

Additionally, it’s possible that she believes that jealousy and drama are a necessary component to relationships.

You should ask her how she might feel if you behaved this way.

She might admit that having a partner who is desired by others is how she gauges her own awesomeness.

If you believe that this behavior reveals an essential difference between the two of you, then it might be best to break up and find someone whose maturity and values align more closely with your own.

Dear Amy: Regarding “Curious Granny,” the grandmother that didn’t want to give a gift to her grandchildren’s baby half-sibling, I have grandchildren who also have a half-sibling.

Like Curious, I also do not like this child’s mother. But in the past seven years I never treated him differently, and he has become as precious to me as the other three.

If I had acted like that grandma, I might’ve missed out on so much.

— Bonus Nana

Dear Bonus: You’ve set a great example for these kids — and the adults in their lives.

(You can email Amy Dickinson at askamy@amydickinson.com or send a letter to Ask Amy, P.O. Box 194, Freeville, NY 13068. You can also follow her on Twitter @askingamy or Facebook.)

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Long-Term Successional Subculture Dynamics and Their Effects on the Proliferation Efficiency, Embryogenic Potential, and Genetic Stability of Embryogenic Tissues in Larix principis-rupprechtii Mayr https://inergency.com/long-term-successional-subculture-dynamics-and-their-effects-on-the-proliferation-efficiency-embryogenic-potential-and-genetic-stability-of-embryogenic-tissues-in-larix-principis-rupprechtii-mayr/ Fri, 29 Mar 2024 10:36:14 +0000 https://inergency.com/long-term-successional-subculture-dynamics-and-their-effects-on-the-proliferation-efficiency-embryogenic-potential-and-genetic-stability-of-embryogenic-tissues-in-larix-principis-rupprechtii-mayr/ Long-Term Successional Subculture Dynamics and Their Effects on the Proliferation Efficiency, Embryogenic Potential, and Genetic Stability of Embryogenic Tissues in Larix principis-rupprechtii Mayr1. Introduction Prince Rupprecht’s larch (Larix principis-rupprechtii Mayr) is a Pinaceae species native to northern China. Because of its durable qualities, robust resistance to harsh weather conditions, soil retention capability, and wind-resistant traits, this species is valuable for reforestation and afforestation in barren mountains, demonstrating high ecological and economic significance [1]. However, the traditional sexual […]]]> Long-Term Successional Subculture Dynamics and Their Effects on the Proliferation Efficiency, Embryogenic Potential, and Genetic Stability of Embryogenic Tissues in Larix principis-rupprechtii Mayr


1. Introduction

Prince Rupprecht’s larch (Larix principis-rupprechtii Mayr) is a Pinaceae species native to northern China. Because of its durable qualities, robust resistance to harsh weather conditions, soil retention capability, and wind-resistant traits, this species is valuable for reforestation and afforestation in barren mountains, demonstrating high ecological and economic significance [1]. However, the traditional sexual reproduction methods used for breeding and propagation present several disadvantages. These include a long cycle, low germination rate, and challenges such as the age effect, location effect, and difficulty in obtaining materials [2,3,4,5,6]. Consequently, these factors contribute to the inefficiency of Prince Rupprecht’s larch breeding. The rapid progress in plant somatic embryogenesis has surmounted numerous challenges encountered in conventional sexual reproduction breeding methods, paving the path for the advancement of effective gene transfer technology and widespread propagation of new, high-performing clonal populations [7,8,9,10]. Research on somatic embryogenesis techniques in Pinus species commenced with the initial observation of embryo-like structures in Banks pine (Pinus banksiana) documented in 1976 [11]. Factors impacting diverse stages of somatic embryogenesis (embryogenic tissue induction, proliferation culture, pre-treatment, maturation treatment, etc.) and techniques to enhance culture efficiency across various Pine species have been explored [10,12,13,14,15,16,17,18,19,20]. Furthermore, with the advancement of bioinformatics, researchers are increasingly focusing on the role of genes involved in the various stages of somatic embryogenesis [8,21,22,23]. However, studies have shown that some conifer somatic cells exhibit reduced proliferation efficiency and even loss of maturation capability after long-term ex vivo culture [24,25]. The occurrence of this phenomenon introduces uncertainty regarding the extensive application of somatic embryogenesis in Prince Rupprecht’s larch.
During plant tissue culture, cultivated tissues frequently experience mutations [26]. Some studies have found that the rate of variation in regenerated plants produced through callus tissues is higher than those produced through axillary buds [27]. After callus tissues undergo dedifferentiation and redifferentiation processes, changes in DNA methylation levels occur. By studying the effect of tissue culture on methylation using a series of non-transgenic rice lines regenerated plants and wild-type plants, it was found that all regenerated plants exhibited significantly reduced levels of methylation compared to non-regenerated plants [28]. Physiological changes typically result in non-heritable mutations, while genetic material alterations lead to heritable mutations [29,30]. Variation in somatic embryogenic lines generally originates from two sources: inherent genetic variation in the plant tissue culture material, and variation induced during the tissue culture process, which accumulates with long-term culture cycles. Conventionally, five primary factors are considered to influence somatic cell embryogenic line in plants: (1) Plant genotype directly impacts the quantity and quality of embryogenic line variation. Additionally, substantial variations exist in somatic cell embryogenic line among different plant varieties [31,32]. (2) Regarding explant material, utilizing meristematic tissues like stem tips and axillary buds generally results in a lower likelihood of mutations compared to using highly differentiated plant tissues such as roots and leaves [33,34]. (3) Culture conditions, specifically the composition of the culture medium, influence the cell division mechanism, potentially inducing mutation phenomena [35]. (4) The duration of in vitro culture significantly influences mutation rates [27,36,37]; however, some studies suggest that even short-term plant cultures exhibit genetic variations, implying that culture duration is not the sole determinant of mutation occurrence in plant somatic cell lines [38]. It has been reported that the quality and quantity of maturation of somatic embryos have been observed to decrease with increasing number (and duration) of successions in species of the genus Pinus [39,40,41]. Furthermore, degeneration of embryogenic tissues hindered early embryo formation, potentially exacerbated by manipulations during successive cultures [24]. These findings demonstrate the biochemical impacts of in vitro culture and the adverse effects of aging on these processes.

The objective of this study was to explore the impact of extended culture cycles on the proliferation efficiency, maturation capacity of Prince Rupprecht’s larch embryogenic tissues, and to evaluate genetic variations in the long-term successions using SSR molecular marker technology. This study will lay the foundation for large-scale asexual reproduction and further genetic improvement of Prince Rupprecht’s larch, providing important theoretical guidance for the better application of somatic embryogenesis technology in forestry production.

2. Materials and Methods

2.1. Plant Materials

The open-pollinated cones were collected from the seed orchard of L. principis-rupprechtii Mayr., the location of which, along with the initiation of embryogenic tissues, refers to our previous research results [15]. Based on previous research and observations, the embryogenic tissues of the stable Prince Rupprecht’s larch embryogenic cell lines BFU1, BFU3, and BFU8 established in our laboratory were selected as experimental materials for the study. Each cell line exhibited distinct characteristics in terms of morphology and growth behavior.

2.2. Embryogenic Tissue Proliferation

The embryogenic tissue weighing 1 g was weighed and dispersed in the proliferation medium on day 0, with each series number repeated four times. On the 14th day, the embryogenic tissues in the proliferation medium were weighed, and 4 g of embryogenic tissues was extracted and stored in frozen tubes. After freezing with liquid nitrogen, the tissues were transferred to an ultra-low temperature refrigerator set at −80 °C for DNA extraction. This process was repeated every 14 days to complete a culture cycle. The proliferation in semi-solid medium was 1/2 mLV medium supplemented with 10 g L−1 sucrose, 3 g L−1 phytagel (Sigma, Shanghai, China), 0.4 g L−1 hydrolyzed casein (Sigma, Shanghai, China), 0.5 g L−1 glutamine (Sigma, Shanghai, China), 0.2 mg L−1 2,4-D (Sigma, Shanghai, China), and 0.1 mg L−1 6-BA (Sigma, Shanghai, China).

2.3. Pre-Treatment and Maturation

On the 10th day of the proliferation culture, 0.5 g of embryogenic tissue was weighed and cultured on pre-treatment medium, with each line replicated four times. Subsequently, on the 10th day of pre-treatment, the embryogenic tissues were transferred to the maturation medium, and the count of somatic embryos was conducted after a two-month maturation period. The pre-treatment in semi-solid medium was 1/2 mLV medium supplemented with 10 g L−1 sucrose, 20 g L−1 maltose, 50 g L−1 PEG4000 (Sigma, Shanghai, China), 2 g L−1 activated charcoal (Sigma, Shanghai, China), 0.2 g L−1 hydrolyzed casein (Sigma, Shanghai, China), 0.4 g L−1 glutamine (Sigma, Shanghai, China), and 3 g L−1 phytogel (Sigma, Shanghai, China). The maturation medium was 1/2 mLV medium supplemented with 10 g L−1 sucrose, 30 g L−1 maltose, 50 g L−1 PEG4000 (Sigma, Shanghai, China), 16 mg L−1 ABA (Sigma, Shanghai, China), 0.2 g L−1 hydrolyzed casein (Sigma, Shanghai, China), 0.4 g L−1 glutamine (Sigma, Shanghai, China), and 6 g L−1 phytogel (Sigma, Shanghai, China).

2.4. Staining and Examination of Embryogenic Tissue

Small (~2 mm) diameter clumps of embryogenic tissue were placed on a glass slide, to which a few drops of 2% acetocarmine were added until the callus was completely covered. The callus was dispersed into small pieces using forceps. After 30 s, the slide was washed with deionized water, which was then removed. Slides were examined and photographed using Universal compound microscope fitted with OLYMPUS DP21 (Olympus Corporation, Tokyo, Japan) digital color camera.

2.5. Genomic DNA Extraction

Tissue samples from the BFU1, BFU3, and BFU8 lines at the 1st, 7th, 17th, 25th, and 32nd proliferation cycles, along with fresh embryogenic tissues from the same lines after two years of continuous culture, underwent DNA extraction using the Plant Genomic DNA Extraction Kit (Tiangen, DP360, Beijing, China).

2.6. SSR Identification

Ten pairs of polymorphic primers for Prince Rupprecht’s larch were screened according to previous studies, two pairs were screened from SSR sequences derived from sequencing the transcriptome of Prince Rupprecht’s larch healing tissues by Dong Mingliang et al. [42], three pairs were derived from EST-SSR markers for Pinus species developed by Fan Y. et al. [43], and five pairs were derived from EST-SSR markers for Prince Rupprecht’s larch developed by Dong Mingliang et al. [44]. Information of primers were listed in Table 1.

The electrophoretic profiles were manually interpreted, and the electrophoretic bands produced by each pair of primers were counted for each line number at different periods of time to compare whether polymorphic variation was produced or not.

2.7. Data Analysis

The weight and rate of embryogenic tissue proliferated during proliferation culture, the weight and rate of embryogenic tissue proliferated during pre-treatment, and the capacity of somatic embryogenesis in mature culture were calculated, respectively. The analysis software was Microsoft Excel 2019 and SPSS 27. Pearson correlation coefficient (r) was employed to analyze the correlation between culture period and proliferation efficiency and maturation capacity, and the correlation between proliferation rate of proliferation culture, proliferation rate of pre-treatment, and maturation capacity.

In this study, we introduced three key parameters to evaluate the proliferation and differentiation capabilities of the tissue cultures: Proliferation Weight (PA), Proliferation Rate (PR), and Average Tissue Weight (ATW).

ATW (g) = Weight of tissue and culture medium − Weight of culture medium
Proliferation culture PA (g) = 14 d ATW − 0 d ATW
Proliferation culture PR = (Proliferation culture PA/0 d ATW) × 100%
Pre-treatment culture PA (g) = 10 d ATW − 0 d ATW
Pre-treatment culture PR = (Pre-treatment culture PA/0 d ATW) × 100%

Tissue differentiation capacity is represented by the ratio of the number of somatic embryos differentiated after mature culture to the weight of the cultured tissue after mature culture.

4. Discussion

Embryogenic tissue subculture and proliferation are essential for somatic embryogenesis and scalable propagation of forest trees, especially when combined with bioreactor technologies. This study found significant variations in the proliferation rates of three embryogenic cell lines during the semi-solid cycle, with proliferation coefficients ranging from 2.5 to 7.5. Uniform subculture and proliferation methods showed varying efficiencies across coniferous embryogenic tissue genotypes, including Picea abies [45], Araucaria Angustifolia [46], Pinus taeda L. [47], Pinus pinaster [48], and Pinus pinea L. Most embryogenic tissues exhibited genotype-dependent dynamic stability in proliferation efficiency during long-term culture. The BFU1 and BFU3 cell lines maintained stable proliferative capabilities throughout the 15-month subculture period examined in this study. Conversely, BFU8 showed a marked decline in proliferation efficiency and severe tissue browning by the 12th month, indicating significant physiological changes like rapid aging due to peroxidation. Browning, a common phenomenon in long-term tissue culture [12], particularly affects conifers by gradually reducing embryogenic structures and somatic embryogenesis capacity [49,50]. To address this issue, Breton et al. found that a maltose-based, PGR-free medium can mitigate the loss of early embryogenic potential in maritime pine [51]. Adding glucose, sucrose (5 g/L), and fructose (10 g/L) to the growth medium controlled browning in Taxus brevifolia callus tissues [52]. Therefore, when selecting cell lines for scalable production, it is essential to consider both proliferation efficiency and long-term stability, employing anti-browning measures and other necessary interventions to delay tissue senescence and maintain proliferation stability.
Long-term subculturing leading to the decline or loss of embryogenic tissue’s embryogenesis capacity significantly challenges the somatic embryogenesis of coniferous trees, posing a major barrier to commercial application. In coniferous trees, embryogenic tissue can maintain its potential for embryo development stably over a certain period, which is closely related to the species. In species like Pinus koraiensis [39], Larix kaempferi [53], Pinus pinaster [25], and Pinus massoniana [54], embryogenic tissues start to lose somatic embryogenesis capacity, and mature embryo yield decreases after 5–6 months of proliferation culture, with increased subculture frequency. Conversely, embryogenic tissues in hybrid larch [55], Pinus nigra Arn [56], and Abies hybrids [20] can produce somatic embryos even after 2–3 years of proliferation; Norway spruce can maintain them even longer [57]. This study found Prince Rupprecht’s larch’s embryogenic tissues maintained dynamic stability in embryogenesis capacity for 12 months of subculture. After 12 months, embryogenesis capacity declined, a process dependent on genotype, with the BFU8 cell line losing its ability entirely after this period. Studies indicate somatic embryos are observable in early stages of culture, yet maturation across all genotypes is not guaranteed [58,59]. The PEM to somatic embryo transition is critical, determining mature embryo yield and quality, and thus affecting plant production [60]. Embryogenesis capacity loss may arise from increased embryogenic tissue heterogeneity during subculturing [24]. Excessive culture duration often leads to embryogenesis capacity loss and abnormal embryo production, as aging embryogenic tissues during proliferation diminish somatic embryo yield and quality, reducing germination rates [61]. Currently, a more effective solution involves selecting superior cell lines for cryopreservation at peak embryogenic potential, thus minimizing variations and preserving the developmental potential of embryogenic materials [62,63].
Plant tissue culture, especially somatic embryogenesis, is vital for preserving the stability and uniformity of regenerative plant traits. However, long-term tissue culture can cause genetic, epigenetic, and physiological changes, reducing regenerative capacity and impacting developmental integrity [64]. A study on embryogenic cell lines (ECLs) of Pinus pinaster revealed genetic variations via SSR loci during subculture, with abnormal phenotypes observed in some plants regenerated from somatic embryos [65]. Similarly, high SSR sequence mutation rates were found in Pinus sylvestris embryogenic cell lines and cotyledonary embryos [66]. In contrast, no mutations at SSR loci occurred from PEM to cotyledonary embryos in Picea abies [67,68], mirroring our findings where Prince Rupprecht’s larch’s embryogenic tissues showed no genetic variations at detected loci over extended subculturing, indicating stable genetic characteristics. This genetic stability supports the asexual reproduction of superior Prince Rupprecht’s larch germplasm. Despite the absence of significant genetic variations in long-term cultured embryogenic tissues, the decline in embryogenic capacity might result from multiple factors, with phenotypic variations potentially closely linked to changes in epigenetic modifications. Increasing subculture frequency and duration can augment variations in somatic clonal lines, with DNA methylation variations possibly being a key reason for the loss of differentiation capacity in long-term cultures [69]. In Elaeis guineensis [37] and Quercus alba [70], increased DNA methylation with subculturing leads to embryogenic tissue differentiation loss. Additionally, the reduction and/or loss of somatic embryo production capacity may relate to cell sensitivity to exogenous growth substances or endogenous hormone levels [71]. In Larix sibirica, long-term proliferation culture led to increased IAA and decreased ABA levels, both trends unfavorable for somatic embryo maturation [72]. Long-term proliferation in maritime pine led to lower IAA levels and higher zeatin riboside levels than in newly induced embryogenic tissues [25]. Similarly, long-term proliferation in Picea balfouriana increased endogenous zeatin riboside levels, significantly changing antioxidant enzyme activities and polyamine levels [73]. Future research should delve into these factors’ interrelations and ways to boost embryogenic capacity through culture environment and genetic engineering, aiming to reduce adverse variations and ensure plant germplasm stability. This approach will offer more reliable support for scalable breeding of superior plant germplasm.
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Protective eyewear is key to safe solar eclipse viewing. Here’s how to avoid counterfeits https://inergency.com/protective-eyewear-is-key-to-safe-solar-eclipse-viewing-heres-how-to-avoid-counterfeits/ Fri, 29 Mar 2024 10:29:41 +0000 https://inergency.com/protective-eyewear-is-key-to-safe-solar-eclipse-viewing-heres-how-to-avoid-counterfeits/ Protective eyewear is key to safe solar eclipse viewing. Here’s how to avoid counterfeitsAmericans from Maine to Texas are set for a rare treat on April 8, 2024, when a total solar eclipse will be visible across much of the United States. In ancient times, eclipse-viewers thought they were watching the Sun be eaten by wolves, a dragon or a demon. Of course, we now know that the Sun […]]]> Protective eyewear is key to safe solar eclipse viewing. Here’s how to avoid counterfeits


Americans from Maine to Texas are set for a rare treat on April 8, 2024, when a total solar eclipse will be visible across much of the United States.

In ancient times, eclipse-viewers thought they were watching the Sun be eaten by wolves, a dragon or a demon.

Of course, we now know that the Sun isn’t really eaten during an eclipse. Instead, it does what it always does: rain ultraviolet rays on everything in its path. That’s why you should never look at a solar eclipse without protective eyewear.

READ MORE: Planning to watch April’s total solar eclipse? Here’s how to protect your eyes

But not just any eyewear will do. To make sure that you enjoy the total solar eclipse safely, the American Astronomical Society has specifically warned against buying eclipse glasses at the lowest price from online marketplaces like Amazon or eBay.

What gives? Why not save a buck on something you’ll use possibly just once for a few minutes?

It turns out there’s a very good reason: Deceptive counterfeit products have infiltrated retail supply chains. And some of them can pose a threat to your health.

Invasion of the bogus products

As experts in supply-chain management, we know that counterfeit products have become a growing problem in recent years.

While counterfeit products can be found at brick-and-mortar shops, they’re an especially big problem at online marketplaces. Amazon removed more than 6 million counterfeit items from its supply chain in 2022 alone.

There are several reasons for this. First, our recent research shows that consumers often consider the reputation of an online retailer while judging a product’s quality. Unscrupulous third-party sellers can take advantage of this fact by selling their wares through a reputable online marketplace.

Another complication arises from the fulfillment services offered by some marketplaces, such as Amazon, where third-party sellers directly send their merchandise to the online retailer’s warehouse for shipping and handling. These sorts of fulfillment services offer a little-known benefit to retailers: If a product is running out of stock, they can “borrow” from a third-party seller’s inventory.

READ MORE: Tips for navigating big crowds, traffic and other potential mishaps during April’s total solar eclipse

Unfortunately, this also means that a consumer who agrees to buy from one retailer may actually receive merchandise – perhaps counterfeit – from a third-party seller. While there aren’t statistics showing how frequently this happens, there’s evidence it’s a significant problem.

Thankfully, customers are becoming more aware of counterfeit products and have increasingly pushed online retailers to separate inventories of authorized sellers of merchandise from those that aren’t. For instance, Amazon maintains a list of “gated” brands, such as Asics and Under Armour, that require authorization before they can be sold.

But these protections don’t apply across the board. In fact, some counterfeit-prone brands, such as Birkenstock, refuse to sell their products through some online retailers entirely. That leaves an opening for counterfeiters, who tend to offer the lowest prices.

That’s why the American Astronomical Society recommends eclipse-watchers avoid buying protective glasses from the lowest-price sellers on online marketplaces. And we completely agree. After all, counterfeit sunglasses can be returned, but damage to your eyes is permanent. In 2017, one California man wearing counterfeit eclipse glasses was left with retina damage.

How to find safe solar eclipse glasses

If you’re in the market for eclipse glasses, it’s not hard to get a safe pair. First, buying directly from one of the American Astronomical Society’s approved list of brands and manufacturers is the most reliable way. Unfortunately, several of them only sell cheaper, disposable solar eclipse viewers in bulk.

If you need a single pair, your next best option is to purchase one from a major brick-and-mortar chain retailer in person. Many organizations are also handing out free viewers. If you take one, you should make sure it was made by a manufacturer on the American Astronomical Society’s list.

WATCH: NASA, The National Aeronautics and Space Administration explains what you need to know about the April 8 total solar eclipse

If you must buy from an online marketplace, look for evidence of manufacturer authorization. For instance, American Paper Optics – an American Astronomical Society-approved brand – maintains a list of Amazon sellers approved for reselling their viewers.

What if you’ve already bought something from a no-name seller on Amazon? Let’s say you bought a pair of sunglasses, or eclipse glasses, with UV protection. It’s hard to verify UV protection properties. Sure, there are standards and certifications such as UV400 and ISO 12312-2, but as you have probably guessed, even those can be faked. For instance, you can easily buy entire rolls of UV400 stickers online.

Thankfully, most local opticians can test your sunglasses’ UV protection properties in seconds. In other words, when in doubt, verify.

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.

The Conversation

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How to make sure your leftovers are safe to eat https://inergency.com/how-to-make-sure-your-leftovers-are-safe-to-eat/ Fri, 29 Mar 2024 10:19:23 +0000 https://inergency.com/how-to-make-sure-your-leftovers-are-safe-to-eat/ How to make sure your leftovers are safe to eatEating leftovers can be a great way to save money, diversify your cooking repertoire and reduce food waste. But eating leftover food can also be risky as these foods have already been exposed to bacteria in the environment. If you haven’t stored and re-heated leftovers correctly, you can be putting yourself at risk of potentially […]]]> How to make sure your leftovers are safe to eat


Eating leftovers can be a great way to save money, diversify your cooking repertoire and reduce food waste.

But eating leftover food can also be risky as these foods have already been exposed to bacteria in the environment. If you haven’t stored and re-heated leftovers correctly, you can be putting yourself at risk of potentially life-threatening food poisoning.

That doesn’t mean you should start avoiding leftovers, however. By following the the correct food safety practices, you can ensure you avoid harm when eating leftovers.

How quickly should leftovers be refrigerated or frozen?

Bacteria exist everywhere in our world, including in kitchens – and the foods within them. The bacteria that cause food to spoil can grow rapidly with the right nutrients, moisture and temperatures. Some double in numbers in as little as 20 minutes.

It’s important that any leftovers are put into the fridge or freezer as quickly as possible and within two hours maximum. This time advice is based on how quickly bacteria can grow in food at non-refrigerated temperatures, and means leftover food become less safe to eat the longer it is left at more than 5°C. You should also make sure that leftovers are covered. Clingfilm and airtight lids help prevent air from getting at the food. This is important, as most pathogens need oxygen to grow.

How long are refrigerated leftovers safe to eat?

Your fridge should be kept at a temperature of between 0 and 5°C, as this inhibits the growth of food poisoning bacteria on leftovers.

Leftovers must be eaten within two days, as any longer gives harmful bacteria more time to grow. Indeed, pathogens such as Listeria, which can cause flu-like symptoms, can even grow in refrigerated temperatures and are more likely to grow beyond two days – which is why this is the recommended time limit for storing your leftovers.

If you don’t think you’ll eat your leftovers within that timeframe, consider freezing them. Leftovers can be kept for up to three months if frozen at -18°C.

What is the safest way to re-heat your leftovers?

When you reheat leftovers, you must ensure the food is piping hot all the way through. If not, don’t eat it.

Leftover foods should be reheated to an internal temperature of at least 165°F (74°C). For sauces, stews, soups and gravy, it’s best to bring them to a full boil, stirring for at least three minutes. These practices will kill most bacteria and inactivate any heat-sensitive bacterial toxins that are present.

If reheating leftovers in the oven, set the oven temperature to at least 325°F (163°C or gas mark 3) and bake long enough to completely heat the food through to at least 74°C. If reheating leftovers in the microwave, you should also make sure they reach an internal temperature of 74°C before eating.

Make sure leftover foods are piping hot when you reheat them.
TommyStockProject/ Shutterstock

Reheating food using a slow cooker is not a good idea because if foods stay at a temperature less than 165°F for several hours, this can permit bacterial growth – increasing your risk of food poisoning.

Can you reheat leftovers more than once?

You really should not reheat leftovers more than once. Each time a food warms and cools, it provides the right temperature and amount of time needed for any harmful bacteria to start to re-grow.

This then makes it harder for heat kill all the pathogens present the next time you warm up the leftovers. If you don’t think you’ll eat all your leftovers within two days, consider freezing them.

Can you reheat a takeaway?

Whether you can safely re-heat takeaway foods depends on how you stored it.

If it was stored warm in the back of your car or left at room temperature in your home for more than two hours, then the meal may be a food poisoning risk – especially if you’ve already touched or partially eaten it (which introduces bacteria to the food).

But if you didn’t handle the food much and refrigerated it within two hours of purchase, then the takeaway is safe to re-heat – provided the next time it’s eaten it’s first heated to a piping hot temperature of at least 74°C. It also shouldn’t be stored in the fridge for more than two days.

There are some takeaway foods that you should be careful about saving as leftovers. Cooked rice dishes are possibly the most risky to save. Uncooked rice may contain spores of Bacillus cereus, a bacterium that causes food poisoning.

While the parent bacterium is killed when rice is cooked, its spores can survive the temperature of boiling water. If rice is not refrigerated within two to three hours of cooking, the spores can grow into bacteria which in turn release the rice toxins which give rise to food poisoning symptoms such as diarrhoea, abdominal pain and vomiting. The longer contaminated cooked rice is left to stand at a non-refrigerated temperature, the more Bacillus cereus will be present and the more unsafe the dish becomes.

If cooked rice needs to be saved, it should be covered once cooked and cooled quickly (ideally within 2 hours), then stored and refrigerated for no more than 24 hours. Cooked rice leftovers should be piping hot when reheated, and should never be reheated more than once.

Leftovers can be safe to eat so long as you take the right precautions. But if you’re ever in doubt, or don’t think you’ll eat them within two days, storing them in the freezer will give you more flexibility than storing them in the fridge.

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Correction: Meh et al. Reliability and Validity of Slovenian Versions of IPAQ-SF, GPAQ, and EHIS-PAQ for Assessing Physical Activity and Sedentarism of Adults. Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2021, 19, 430 https://inergency.com/correction-meh-et-al-reliability-and-validity-of-slovenian-versions-of-ipaq-sf-gpaq-and-ehis-paq-for-assessing-physical-activity-and-sedentarism-of-adults-int-j-environ-res-public-health-2021/ Fri, 29 Mar 2024 10:04:38 +0000 https://inergency.com/correction-meh-et-al-reliability-and-validity-of-slovenian-versions-of-ipaq-sf-gpaq-and-ehis-paq-for-assessing-physical-activity-and-sedentarism-of-adults-int-j-environ-res-public-health-2021/ Correction: Meh et al. Reliability and Validity of Slovenian Versions of IPAQ-SF, GPAQ, and EHIS-PAQ for Assessing Physical Activity and Sedentarism of Adults. Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2021, 19, 430Error in Figure/Table In the original publication [1], there was a mistake in Table 1. Descriptive statistics of the sample; Table 2. Test-retest reliability of IPAQ-SF, GPAQ, and EHIS-PAQ; Table 3. Concurrent validity of IPAQ-SF, GPAQ, and EHIS-PAQ; Table 4. Criterion validity of IPAQ-SF, GPAQ, and EHIS-PAQ against accelerometer UKK RM42; and Figure 1. Bland-Altman […]]]> Correction: Meh et al. Reliability and Validity of Slovenian Versions of IPAQ-SF, GPAQ, and EHIS-PAQ for Assessing Physical Activity and Sedentarism of Adults. Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2021, 19, 430


Error in Figure/Table

In the original publication [1], there was a mistake in Table 1. Descriptive statistics of the sample; Table 2. Test-retest reliability of IPAQ-SF, GPAQ, and EHIS-PAQ; Table 3. Concurrent validity of IPAQ-SF, GPAQ, and EHIS-PAQ; Table 4. Criterion validity of IPAQ-SF, GPAQ, and EHIS-PAQ against accelerometer UKK RM42; and Figure 1. Bland-Altman plots for the PAQs and UKK RM42 accelerometer according to sedentary behavior and MVPA (min/day) with 95% limit of agreement as published. Due to an error in data coding, the calculation of the time spent in moderate-to-vigorous aerobic recreational activity from EHIS-PAQ was too high. This led to enormous differences in the self-reported PA between physical activity questionnaires. The change in self-reported physical activity also changed the reliability and validity factors for EHIS-PAQ. The corrected Table 1. Descriptive statistics of the sample; Table 2. Test-retest reliability of IPAQ-SF, GPAQ, and EHIS-PAQ; Table 3. Concurrent validity of IPAQ-SF, GPAQ, and EHIS-PAQ; Table 4. Criterion validity of IPAQ-SF, GPAQ, and EHIS-PAQ against accelerometer UKK RM42; and Figure 1. Bland-Altman plots for the PAQs and UKK RM42 accelerometer according to sedentary behavior and MVPA (min/day) with 95% limit of agreement appear below. The authors state that the scientific conclusions are unaffected. This correction was approved by the Academic Editor. The original publication has also been updated.

Text Correction

There was an error in the original publication. The time spent in moderate-to-vigorous aerobic recreational activity from EHIS-PAQ was too high due to an error in data coding. Our data were incorrectly coded as minutes per day, even though participants self-reported their activity in minutes per week when using EHIS-PAQ. This led to enormous differences in the self-reported PA between physical activity questionnaires and to the erroneous conclusion that most over-reporting of physical activity occurred when using EHIS-PAQ. Therefore, we mostly corrected the data in the text.

Several corrections have been made to 3. Results. First correction in paragraph number 3.

Reliability was tested using the test-retest method (Table 2). All results were statistically significant (p ≤ 0.001) and showed “low to high” correlations between measurements. With the exception of IPAQ-SF MPA, GPAQ work VPA, and leisure MPA, all correlations were higher than 0.5 and were therefore considered “moderate” [37]. IPAQ-SF and GPAQ had the highest correlations for sedentary behavior (Spearman’s ρ = 0.808 and 0.814, respectively). For EHIS-PAQ, we found the highest test-retest correlations for cycling (Spearman’s ρ = 0.809). For each PAQ, we assessed internal consistency with the Cronbach’s alpha coefficient twice, with and without the sedentary behavior question. The IPAQ showed a “rather reliable” correlation with the sedentary behavior question (Cronbach’s α = 0.297) and a “reliable” without it (Cronbach’s α = 0.685). Similar results were found for the GPAQ: “rather reliable” with the sedentary behavior question (Cronbach’s α = 0.235) and “reliable” without it (Cronbach’s α = 0.669). We found no large differences in EHIS-PAQ, when we excluded the sedentary behavior question. Internal consistency was “rather reliable” with the sedentary behavior question (Cronbach’s α = 0.304) and stayed “rather reliable” without it (Cronbach’s α = 0.310).

Second corrections in paragraph number 4.

The results of the concurrent validity are presented in Table 3. Most of the correlations between the PAQs were very low to low, with some exceptions. For example, sedentary behavior was highly and statistically significantly correlated (Spearman’s ρ = 0.777, 0.772, and 0.857). VPA was moderately correlated (Spearman’s ρ = 0.634), as was MVPA (Spearman’s ρ = 0.597) between IPAQ-SF and GPAQ. There were more relevant and “low to moderate” correlations between GPAQ and IPAQ-SF (e.g., MPA, VPA). In contrast, EHIS-PAQ had no “moderate” correlations with either of the other two PAQs for physical activity, except for the walking item, which correlated with IPAQ-SF walk. “Close to moderate” correlations were found for transport related physical activity (GPAQ transport/EHIS-PAQ walk Spearman’s ρ = 0.497, IPAQ-SF walk/EHIS-PAQ walk = 0.558).

Third corrections in paragraph number 5.

The criterion validity correlations between the PAQs and the UKK RM42 accelerometer are presented in Table 4. We found “low to moderate” and significant correlations for VPA and sedentary behavior. For GPAQ, leisure-time VPA correlated Spearman’s ρ = 0.534 with UKK RM42 while VPA = 0.415. IPAQ-SF VPA had Spearman’s ρ = 0.342 with VPA measured by UKK RM42, while EHIS-PAQ showed no statistically significant correlations for moderato to vigorous recreational activity. For sedentary behavior, IPAQ-SF Spearman’s ρ was 0.454 while for GPAQ was 0.4 and EHIS-PAQ was 0.376.

Fourth corrections in paragraph number 6.

With Bland-Altman plot (Figure 1), we present the differences between data on MVPA and sedentary behavior collected with the UKK RM42 accelerometer and PAQs. One-sample T-tests revealed significant differences between the accelerometers and all three questionnaires for sedentary behavior and MVPA for IPAQ-SF and GPAQ (GPAQ: p p

Fifth corrections in paragraph number 7.

According to the WHO guidelines on physical activity and sedentary behavior, 92.5% of participants achieved the recommended amount of MVPA. The figures were lower for the PAQs; 89.5% of participants were considered sufficiently active for IPAQ-SF, 87.3% for GPAQ and 48% for EHIS-PAQ.

Several corrections have been made to 4. Discussion. First correction in paragraph number 1.

This study examined the reliability and validity of the Slovenian versions of EHIS-PAQ, IPAQ-SF, and GPAQ. The main finding of the study is that the most valid and reliable constructs in all tested PAQs were sedentary behavior and VPA, but the criterion validity of these constructs was low (Spearman’s ρ = 0.38–0.45 for sedentary behavior and 0.34–0.42 for VPA). The second important finding is that participants over-reported MVPA for 17 to 64 min and underreported the sedentary behavior for more than two hours with selected PAQs. Third, the GPAQ generally showed the highest criterion validity among observed PAQs, especially for VPA (Spearman’s ρ = 0.415).

Second corrections in paragraph number 5.

Despite slightly higher correlations compared to previous studies using the same instruments, our results showed that participants overestimated their MVPA with IPAQ-SF and GPAQ, but not with EHIS-PAQ (moderate to vigorous recreational activity reported). It has been previously proven that participants tend to over-report physical activity when using PAQs [45]. The systematic review of this problem found an average MVPA overestimation of 106%, when using IPAQ-SF [45], while our result found an overestimation of 29% when using IPAQ-SF, with GPAQ overestimation was higher, but on the other hand participants underestimated their PA when using EHIS-PAQ. WHO recommends 150 min of MVPA per week for adults to achieve significant health benefits [46]. According to our study, 92.5% of participants achieved this amount of MVPA based on the UKK RM42, while 89.5% of participants were sufficiently active according to the IPAQ-SF self-assessment, 87.3% according to the GPAQ, and 48% according to EHIS-PAQ. These overall low discrepancies indicate that PAQs are an appropriate tool for national physical activity surveillance systems to determine the level of physical activity in the population. However, problems with validity and over=reporting should be considered when examining individual physical activity behavior. Several previous studies have already pointed out the problem of over-reporting [47,48] and validity [14,30]; therefore, the results of PAQs should not be used as a measure of individuals’ health-related physical activity without additional information from objective measures.

And a final correction in paragraph number 6.

Our results show greater similarity between IPAQ-SF and the GPAQ, as the concurrent validity between the two is the highest and both have similar criterion validity. Although EHIS-PAQ was developed specifically for the EU and its member states to outdo the disadvantages of PAQs [49], its results in our study on the Slovenian population were not better (MVPA/sport participation = 0.063) and lower compared to the results of the criterion validity study results from Gerseveral, which used ActiGraph GT3X (MVPA = 0.32). Nevertheless, we believe that the question about “moderate to vigorous aerobic recreational activity” and the specific question about muscle-strengthening activities are important for physical activity surveillance. Muscle-strengthening activities are included in the WHO physical activity recommendations [46] and are not included in the most popular and widely used PAQs. The “moderate to vigorous aerobic recreational activity” item highly correlated with leisure physical activity from the GPAQ, once again demonstrating the need for domain-specific questions in PAQs.

The authors state that the scientific conclusions are unaffected. This correction was approved by the Academic Editor. The original publication has also been updated.

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Statement by the Acting Executive Secretary of the Convention on Biological Diversity at the twenty-second session of the Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues during the discussion of item 3, on the discussion of the theme "Indigenous Peoples, human health, planetary and territorial health and climate change: a rights-based approach", New York, 18 April 2023 https://inergency.com/statement-by-the-acting-executive-secretary-of-the-convention-on-biological-diversity-at-the-twenty-second-session-of-the-permanent-forum-on-indigenous-issues-during-the-discussion-of-item-3-on-the-d/ Fri, 29 Mar 2024 09:54:17 +0000 https://inergency.com/statement-by-the-acting-executive-secretary-of-the-convention-on-biological-diversity-at-the-twenty-second-session-of-the-permanent-forum-on-indigenous-issues-during-the-discussion-of-item-3-on-the-d/ Statement on behalf of Mr. David Cooper, Acting Executive Secretary of the Convention on Biological Diversity, following the conclusion of the negotiations at the Resumed fifth session of the Intergovernmental Conference on an international legally binding instrument under UNCLOS on the conservation and sustainable use of marine biological diversity of areas beyond national jurisdiction, 4 March 2023, New York, USAStatement by the Acting Executive Secretary of the Convention on Biological Diversity at the twenty-second session of the Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues during the discussion of item 3, on the discussion of the theme "Indigenous Peoples, human health, planetary and territorial health and climate change: a rights-based approach", New York, 18 April 2023]]> Statement on behalf of Mr. David Cooper, Acting Executive Secretary of the Convention on Biological Diversity, following the conclusion of the negotiations at the Resumed fifth session of the Intergovernmental Conference on an international legally binding instrument under UNCLOS on the conservation and sustainable use of marine biological diversity of areas beyond national jurisdiction, 4 March 2023, New York, USA



Statement by the Acting Executive Secretary of the Convention on Biological Diversity at the twenty-second session of the Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues during the discussion of item 3, on the discussion of the theme "Indigenous Peoples, human health, planetary and territorial health and climate change: a rights-based approach", New York, 18 April 2023

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MaineHealth wants to convert a historic railroad building into housing https://inergency.com/mainehealth-wants-to-convert-a-historic-railroad-building-into-housing/ Fri, 29 Mar 2024 09:49:13 +0000 https://inergency.com/mainehealth-wants-to-convert-a-historic-railroad-building-into-housing/ MaineHealth wants to convert a historic railroad building into housingPORTLAND, Maine — MaineHealth, the state’s largest medical system, is interested in developing workforce housing units in a historic, 106,000-square-foot building it leases at 222 St. John St., according to meeting minutes posted on the organization’s website this month. A MaineHealth spokesperson confirmed the interest this week but said discussions with an unnamed developer were still […]]]> MaineHealth wants to convert a historic railroad building into housing


PORTLAND, Maine — MaineHealth, the state’s largest medical system, is interested in developing workforce housing units in a historic, 106,000-square-foot building it leases at 222 St. John St., according to meeting minutes posted on the organization’s website this month.

A MaineHealth spokesperson confirmed the interest this week but said discussions with an unnamed developer were still in preliminary stages.

If the plans go through, it might be MaineHealth’s largest foray into residential housing development. Some of the units might be set aside for workers at its nearby Maine Medical Center hospital campus, the minutes state. 

MaineHealth already owns and rents 44 units inside a 19,000-square-foot building at 25 Crescent St. Those apartments are mostly temporary housing for medical students, new Maine Medical Center employees and short-term contract employees.

Additionally, MaineHealth is the landlord to dozens of neighborhood businesses and restaurants at Union Station Plaza, also on St. John Street, which it bought in 2022 for $16.8 million. The sprawling organization also owns nearby buildings housing Pizza Villa and D’Angelo restaurants.

MaineHealth, the state’s largest healthcare system, wants to turn Portland’s Maine Central Railroad Building on St. John Street into workforce housing. Some of the units might be reserved for Maine medical Center employees. Credit: Troy R. Bennett / BDN

The posted minutes come from the Feb. 14 monthly neighborhood advisory committee meeting, which MaineHealth holds with representatives from nearby neighborhood associations. One of them, the St. John Valley Association, includes the neighborhood around 222 St. John Street.

The meetings are not open to the public.

Known as the Maine Central Railroad Building, the massive brick and granite building in question sits next to the former Union Station, which was torn down in 1963 to make way for a strip mall. The Maine Central building housed the company’s main office and is shaped like a giant letter “E.” It was constructed in stages between 1888 and 1916 and is on the National Register of Historic Landmarks.

The building is now owned by a subsidiary of Maine real estate development firm East Brown Cow Limited Liability Corporation MaineHealth holds a multi-decade lease on the structure.

Though the Railroad Building retains several of its original period details, including dark woodwork, built-in safes and skylights, it’s currently in poor condition.

“The building needs significant investment,” said MaineHealth spokesperson Matt Wickenheiser. “We believe its layout lends itself to potential residential development.”

Wickenheiser said the building is less than 50 percent occupied at this time, as MaineHealth has not been renewing tenant leases when they expire. Among the businesses that remain are a therapist office, a hair salon and Margarita’s Mexican restaurant.

Gary Bowcott, a member of the St. John Valley Association, welcomes the housing news.

“We’ve always supported more housing for the neighborhood. It’s a good thing,” said Bowcott, who is part owner of three downtown restaurants. “The city is in a crisis. Most of my employees have to live in Westbrook, Biddeford or Saco.”

He just wishes it wasn’t MaineHealth doing the developing.

The St. John Valley Association has a long and contentious relationship with the enormous health care organization. Maine Medical Center dominates the local skyline, and MaineHealth has recently bought large swaths of real estate in the neighborhood and also built an eight-story employee parking garage on St. John Street, with 24/7 shuttle bus service to Maine Medical Center.

The advisory committee meeting minutes also reflect some of the general neighborhood apprehension about the hospital.

“Several community members commented that it might be beneficial if Maine Medical Center/MaineHealth were more transparent with the neighborhood advisory committee,” the minutes state.

But this week, Wickenheiser said it’s too early to get into development specifics.

“All I can say is, discussions are very preliminary, and there’s really no details to share at this point,” he said.

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Coalition of Nearly 50 Organizations Launches ‘Tear the Paper Ceiling’ Campaign to Raise Awareness Around the 70+ Million Workers in the United States. Skilled Through Alternative Routes (STARs) https://inergency.com/coalition-of-nearly-50-organizations-launches-tear-the-paper-ceiling-campaign-to-raise-awareness-around-the-70-million-workers-in-the-u-s-skilled-through-alternative-routes-stars/ Fri, 29 Mar 2024 09:46:49 +0000 https://inergency.com/coalition-of-nearly-50-organizations-launches-tear-the-paper-ceiling-campaign-to-raise-awareness-around-the-70-million-workers-in-the-u-s-skilled-through-alternative-routes-stars/ Coalition of Nearly 50 Organizations Launches ‘Tear the Paper Ceiling’ Campaign to Raise Awareness Around the 70+ Million Workers in the U.S. Skilled Through Alternative Routes (STARs)NEW YORK, October 3, 2022 – Recently, nonprofit organizations the Ad Council and Opportunity@Work, alongside nearly 50 national organizations and companies, launched Tear the Paper Ceiling. Announced at an event co-hosted with LinkedIn, the national public service advertising (PSA) campaign calls on businesses and decision makers to remove the barriers blocking 50% of workers in […]]]> Coalition of Nearly 50 Organizations Launches ‘Tear the Paper Ceiling’ Campaign to Raise Awareness Around the 70+ Million Workers in the U.S. Skilled Through Alternative Routes (STARs)


NEW YORK, October 3, 2022 – Recently, nonprofit organizations the Ad Council and Opportunity@Work, alongside nearly 50 national organizations and companies, launched Tear the Paper Ceiling. Announced at an event co-hosted with LinkedIn, the national public service advertising (PSA) campaign calls on businesses and decision makers to remove the barriers blocking 50% of workers in the United States. from accessing upward mobility. The PSAs encourage employers and workers alike to join the movement to tear the “paper ceiling” – the invisible barrier that comes at every turn for workers without a bachelor’s degree.

The multiyear campaign aims to change the narrative around the value and potential of workers who are Skilled Through Alternative Routes (STARs), rather than through a bachelor’s degree. There are more than 70 million STARs in the United States. who have developed valuable skills through community college, workforce training, bootcamps, certificate programs, military service or on-the-job learning. Currently, the lack of alumni networks, biased algorithms, degree screens, false stereotypes and misperceptions contribute to the paper ceiling, which creates barriers to upward economic mobility for STARs.

The Tear the Paper Ceiling PSAs – developed by world-renowned creative agency Ogilvy – feature the voices and stories of real STARs in various industries and career stages to raise awareness of the skills and capabilities of workers without bachelor’s degrees. One featured STAR is Justin Hutchinson, who planned to enroll in college but went straight to work when his father became ill. He developed his people skills working at a smoothie shop, which he ultimately leveraged to secure a role leading business development for a marketing firm. Another STAR is LaShana Lewis, who had an aptitude for computers but no college degree. She forged her own career path — from driving buses, to becoming a systems engineer, to founding her own consulting business, where she now serves as CEO.

According to insights from Opportunity@Work, Justin and LaShana are among the 4 million STARs already in high-wage roles, while 32 million more STARs have the skills for significantly higher-wage work (72% higher wages on average) based on their current roles. Since the turn of the century, STARs have lost access to 7.4 million higher-wage jobs. Despite that loss of access, research has found that there are still STARs still performing in those upwardly mobile roles, which makes it clear that loss isn’t due to STARs’ capabilities – it’s changes in hiring practices that are now screening them out. The paper ceiling has also suppressed STARs’ earnings for decades: over the last 40 years, the wage gap between STARs and workers with bachelor’s degrees has doubled. Adjusted for inflation, STARs now actually earn less on average than they did in 1976.

“College is a wonderful bridge to opportunity for millions, but it should never be a drawbridge excluding anyone who doesn’t cross it from thriving careers. Millions of STARs have demonstrated the skills to succeed in millions of today’s in-demand jobs and the adaptability to fill the jobs of tomorrow. Our partners in launching this campaign recognize the essential contributions STARs already make to our economy and believe tapping into STARs’ talent will be vital for our companies and communities to prosper in the years ahead,” said Opportunity@Work CEO Byron Auguste. “Tearing the paper ceiling is about bringing in talent based on skills, not degrees; performance, not pedigree; and inclusion, not exclusion. This collaborative campaign is a critical next step in our mission to create a United States. labor market where if you can do the job, you can get the job.”

The integrated campaign will appear nationwide across all advertising formats: TV, radio, digital, social media, out-of-home and print. Per the Ad Council’s model, the PSAs will run in placements donated by the media – including Comcast NBCUniversal, Google/YouTube, LinkedIn, Meta, Reddit, and TikTok, among others. Volunteer media agency dentsu will also secure additional donated media support to extend the reach of the campaign.

At TearThePaperCeiling.org, the campaign provides resources for employers to expand their own STARs hiring, and invites STARs to share their own stories. Visitors to the site can also access a suite of tools that includes the “Tear the Paper Ceiling Hiring Playbook for Employers” to help businesses get started with skills-based hiring practices in their organization.

Tear the Paper Ceiling is supported by nearly 50 national organizations ranging from employers to philanthropies and workforce development organizations. Together, this coalition will broaden the impact and reach of the multiyear campaign, and includes:

  • Accenture
  • Byte Back
  • Cara Plus
  • Chevron
  • Cognizant Foundation
  • College Board
  • Climb Hire
  • Comcast NBCUniversal
  • Education Design Lab
  • Gap Foundation
  • Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation
  • General Assembly
  • Generation USA
  • Goodwill
  • Google
  • Grads of Life
  • Guild
  • Hire Heroes USA
  • IBM
  • IDEO
  • James Irvine Foundation
  • JFF
  • Jobcase
  • Lightcast
  • LinkedIn
  • McKinsey & Company
  • Merit America
  • Multiverse
  • National Fund for Workforce Solutions
  • National Skills Coalition
  • New Profit
  • Northern Virginia Community College
  • NPower
  • Per Scholas
  • SkillUp Coalition
  • Social Finance
  • SHRM (Society for Human Resource Management)
  • SkyHive
  • Strada Education Network
  • STRIVE
  • Tech Impact
  • Walmart
  • Western Governors University
  • Workday
  • WorkingNation
  • Year Up

“Across America today, millions of workers are unfairly shut out from job opportunities because of misperceptions about their skills and preparedness,” said Ad Council President and CEO Lisa Sherman. “Through the Tear the Paper Ceiling campaign, we will change the narrative to celebrate and affirm the skills that STARs can bring to the workforce. Together with our powerful coalition of partners, our efforts will help more STARs access equitable job opportunities and inspire employers to discover untapped talent.”

Tearing the paper ceiling and developing new strategies to recruit, hire, and support STARs will also play a crucial role in supporting employers’ Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging (DEIB) efforts. Biases against STARs – which include erroneously identifying them as low-skill – have for years had a negative impact on diversity in the workforce, as 61% of Black workers, 55% of Hispanic workers and 66% of rural workers of all races are STARs. By removing degree screens and intentionally including STARs during the hiring process, employers can take steps toward building a more inclusive workforce while also addressing talent gaps.

”The fact that 70 million workers in the country are not valued adequately by employers today is a massive challenge, but also one that creates profound opportunity to build a better system,” said Devika Bulchandani, Global CEO of Ogilvy. “Ogilvy is thrilled to play a role in helping STARs rip through the paper ceiling, so they can reach their full potential and have a fair chance at economic mobility. This campaign is an example of creativity at its best — helping impact peoples’ lives for the better and strengthen the fabric of our society.”

“I am proud to have my story told in Tear the Paper Ceiling. I’ve always prided myself on being a lifelong learner and early in my career had hoped that my performance might speak for itself. But unfortunately, without a college degree, I was overlooked too several times to count,” said STARs Advisory Council Chair LaShana Lewis. “Since becoming successful in tech and as a CEO, I’ve been told I’m one-in-a-million – but I’m actually one of millions. By identifying people like me as STARs, and recognizing the skills we have as opposed to the degrees we don’t, we’re changing the way we view talent in this country. I truly hope that with this campaign, millions more STARs will feel seen like I have and join the movement.”

Recently’s news follows June’s announcement from Opportunity@Work and the Ad Council about the campaign and initial coalition partners. Since June, the Tear the Paper Ceiling coalition has grown significantly – with plans for further expansion during the next few years. Organizations, employers, STARs and other individuals can join the movement by visiting TearThePaperCeiling.org to share their stories, sign a pledge to support STARs and learn more about skills-based hiring practices.

Additional Quotes from Tear the Paper Ceiling Members:

Accenture: “At Accenture, our skill-based approach to hiring helps us reach previously untapped talent pools that reflect the rich diversity of our clients and communities. Through the Apprenticeship Program, our learn-and-earn model connects people without four-year degrees to new career pathways in tech, and we share our success with other companies in the Apprenticeship Network. We’re excited to further our impact on creating a more inclusive workforce and fuel our national competitiveness with the Tear the Paper Ceiling campaign.”
Kate Clifford, Chief Human Resources Officer of North America, Accenture

Chevron: “Our partnerships and investments in workforce development and career training will advance and strengthen communities. Chevron is committed to ‘tearing the paper ceiling’ through multiple diversity initiatives, including a commitment to inclusive hiring. Chevron brings industry-wide focus to D&I by leveraging scale and strategic partnerships to drive greater impact. Through our collaboration with Opportunity@Work, we seek to inspire companies to embrace alternative hiring routes for workers who are Skilled Through Alternative Routes (*STARs*). The Paper Ceiling Campaign seeks to eliminate hiring barriers by shifting the focus to on-the-job learning, or work experience, as an alternative route to build valuable skills. A workforce armed with the skills necessary to succeed in the jobs of tomorrow is important not only to the success of our business, but also to America’s ability to compete in the global marketplace.”
Rhonda Morris, Vice President, and Chief Human Resource Officer, Chevron

College Board: “There is so much untapped talent in this country – including several remarkable young people who don’t have four-year degrees. Through BigFuture, we are privileged to dialogue with millions of high school students every year about pathways to success in the workforce. We are proud to collaborate with Opportunity@Work and others so that all students can build a big future, even if they don’t earn a four-year degree.”
David Coleman, CEO, College Board

Comcast NBCUniversal: “All Americans should have the opportunity to fully participate and excel in our dynamic economy. We’re proud to partner with Opportunity@Work so that more skilled workers can access competitive wage-earning jobs through alternative pathways.”
Dalila Wilson-Scott, EVP and Chief Diversity Officer, Comcast Corporation

Google: “Google believes everyone deserves the opportunity to reach their full economic potential, without limitation based on education level. Through our Google Career Certificates program, we’re providing accessible workforce training for well-paying jobs. And we’ve created an Employer Consortium of over 150 companies—including Google—that helps program graduates connect with these jobs. We’re proud to support Opportunity@Work and to further our shared goal of creating a more inclusive economy.”
Lisa Gevelber, Founder, Grow with Google

Guild: “Workers today are seeking greater opportunity and career mobility from their employers. Right now, far too several are held back from reaching their full potential because of systems and barriers that prevent them from advancing. At Guild, we are focused on meeting workers where they are in their educational and career journeys, and helping talent rise wherever it’s found. The Paper Ceiling campaign is critical in doing just that for STARs, and we are proud to be a part of this movement.”
Rachel Romer, CEO & Co-Founder, Guild

IBM: “Outdated and narrow views of credentials are causing otherwise innovative companies to miss out on hiring top talent like STARs. In partnership with Opportunity@Work and the Ad Council, there is an opportunity to create an inclusive future of work. At IBM, we have adopted a skills-first approach through free education programs like IBM SkillsBuild and by removing the four-year degree requirement for 50% of our United States. job listings. We’re excited to build on this success through our partnership, and we encourage other companies to join us.”
Jonathan Adashek, Chief Communications Officer and Senior Vice President, Marketing and Communications, IBM

Jobcase: We built Jobcase to empower workers. We won’t truly achieve this mission, unless the Paper Ceiling that our friends at Opportunity@Work have spotlighted is ripped open. Supporting STARs success isn’t just aligned with Jobcase’s philosophy, it is literally a definition of our business, services, and mission. We are proud to join forces to accelerate change because when STAR workers are truly empowered, everyone benefits. This is not just the right thing to do, it is an imperatively critical thing to do if our country is to remain the economic leader and the beacon for economic opportunity that we all aspire to be.
Fred Goff, CEO and Founder, Jobcase

LinkedIn: “For far too long, the way people got hired was based solely on the job they had, the degree they earned, or the people they knew. That’s starting to change – and we see it happening on LinkedIn. Employers are realizing that by shifting focus to the actual skills a worker brings to the table, they can solve some of their biggest business challenges and unlock opportunities for millions of overlooked, qualified candidates. In today’s turbulent economic times, the need for new ways of thinking has never been more urgent. LinkedIn is proud to stand with Opportunity @ Work to play a role in tearing down the ‘paper ceiling,’ so that we can create a more equitable and inclusive workforce for all.”
Aneesh Raman, Vice President, Head of Opportunity Project, LinkedIn

McKinsey & Company: “Filling most in-demand jobs today – and tomorrow – will require a fundamentally different approach to finding the potential in talent, rather than screening resumes for a particular pedigree. What employers really need is knowledge, skills, and capacity to learn. We are making significant investments at McKinsey to ensure that our own talent culture is both distinctive and inclusive. To create opportunities for a broader range of talent, we are reaching out to new sources, like coding bootcamps and apprenticeship programs, and adapting our process to include game-based assessments and interview guides that rely less on business jargon and case prep. We are also proud to help tear the ‘Paper Ceiling’ by building data-driven tools that will help employers of all kinds make potential the priority and rethink what it means to be a skilled worker.”
Katy George, Senior Partner Chief People Officer, McKinsey & Company

Strada Education Network: “Even at this moment in which there is an extraordinary gap in the labor market between demand and supply, employers too often miss out on talented job candidates due to rigid degree requirements, while also unwittingly constraining opportunity for millions of individuals. Education after high school represents a vital pathway to a prosperous future. Yet we also believe that employers should value the skills people bring to the table regardless of where they acquired them. We’re proud to support the Opportunity@Work STAR campaign, which has the potential to create opportunities for millions of talented STARs across America.”
Stephen Moret, President and CEO, Strada Education Network

Walmart: “Creating paths of opportunity for everyone depends on a skills-based approach to hiring and advancing workers. Opportunity@ Work and the Ad Council’s Tear the Paper Ceiling campaign highlights the enormous unrealized potential for workers, employers and our economy that will come from reorienting our workforce systems toward skills rather than the way skills have been acquired. We are excited to build on our work with Opportunity@Work and others since we began our Retail Opportunity initiative in 2015 to drive change in the workforce system through our business and philanthropy.”
Kathleen McLaughlin, Executive Vice President and Chief Sustainability Officer, Walmart, and President of the Walmart Foundation

Workday: “At Workday, we believe that skills are a central currency in the changing world of work and a pathway to a more equitable economic future for all. Be it through the way we think about talent, the way we innovate, or via our policy advocacy efforts, we are committed to creating opportunities for all and helping workers get skilled through alternative routes. We are honored to support Opportunity @ Work and their Tear the Paper Ceiling campaign.”
Carrie Varoquiers, Chief Philanthropy Officer, Workday

Additional Quotes from Campaign Supporters

About Opportunity@Work
Opportunity@Work is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization whose mission is to enable at least 1 million working adults in America to translate their learning into earning – generating a $20 billion boost in annual earnings. Opportunity@Work engages with corporate, philanthropic, and workforce partners to directly address the barriers that STARs face, recognize STARs talent and remove bachelor’s degree screens. Learn more at www.opportunity@work.org.

About the Ad Council
The Ad Council is where creativity and causes converge. The nonprofit organization brings together the most creative minds in advertising, media, technology and marketing to address several of the nation’s most important causes. The Ad Council has created several of the most iconic campaigns in advertising history. Friends Don’t Let Friends Drive Drunk. Smokey Bear. Love Has No Labels. The Ad Council’s innovative social good campaigns raise awareness, inspire action and save lives. To learn more, visit AdCouncil.org, follow the Ad Council’s communities on Facebook and Twitter, and view the creative on YouTube.

About Ogilvy
Ogilvy inspires brands and people to impact the world. We have been creating iconic, culture-changing, value-driving ideas for clients since David Ogilvy founded the company in 1948. We continue building on that rich legacy through our borderless creativity—operating, innovating, and creating at the intersection of talent and capabilities. Our experts in Public Relations, Consulting, Advertising, Health, and Experience work fluidly across 131 offices in 93 countries to bring forth world-class creative solutions for our clients. Ogilvy is a WPP company (NASDAQ: WPPGY). For more information, visit Ogilvy.com, and follow us on LinkedIn, Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook.

Media Contact:
Cheston McGuire
Director of Media & Public Affairs
cheston@opportunityatwork.org
703-618-3112



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National Weather Service Advanced Hydrologic Prediction Service https://inergency.com/national-weather-service-advanced-hydrologic-prediction-service-8/ Fri, 29 Mar 2024 09:38:56 +0000 https://inergency.com/national-weather-service-advanced-hydrologic-prediction-service-8/ National Weather Service Advanced Hydrologic Prediction ServiceSearch by city or zip code. Press enter or select the go button to submit request   Web Portal Changes: Please visit https://www.weather.gov/owp/operations for more information. NOTE: Gauge reading affected by tides. NOTE: Forecasts are not available for the Anacostia River at Washington Aquatic Gardens. Only observed stages are available for this point. […]]]> National Weather Service Advanced Hydrologic Prediction Service


Search by city or zip code. Press enter or select the go button to submit request

 

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Stage (ft) Observed: -2.36 ft at 5:12AM Mar 24, 2024 Observed: -2.32 ft at 5:18AM Mar 24, 2024 Observed: -2.28 ft at 5:24AM Mar 24, 2024 Observed: -2.24 ft at 5:30AM Mar 24, 2024 Observed: -2.19 ft at 5:36AM Mar 24, 2024 Observed: -2.14 ft at 5:42AM Mar 24, 2024 Observed: -2.08 ft at 5:48AM Mar 24, 2024 Observed: -2.01 ft at 5:54AM Mar 24, 2024 Observed: -1.93 ft at 6:00AM Mar 24, 2024 Observed: -1.85 ft at 6:06AM Mar 24, 2024 Observed: -1.78 ft at 6:12AM Mar 24, 2024 Observed: -1.72 ft at 6:18AM Mar 24, 2024 Observed: -1.65 ft at 6:24AM Mar 24, 2024 Observed: -1.57 ft at 6:30AM Mar 24, 2024 Observed: -1.47 ft at 6:36AM Mar 24, 2024 Observed: -1.36 ft at 6:42AM Mar 24, 2024 Observed: -1.24 ft at 6:48AM Mar 24, 2024 Observed: -1.15 ft at 6:54AM Mar 24, 2024 Observed: -1.07 ft at 7:00AM Mar 24, 2024 Observed: -0.97 ft at 7:06AM Mar 24, 2024 Observed: -0.89 ft at 7:12AM Mar 24, 2024 Observed: -0.81 ft at 7:18AM Mar 24, 2024 Observed: -0.73 ft at 7:24AM Mar 24, 2024 Observed: -0.67 ft at 7:30AM Mar 24, 2024 Observed: -0.61 ft at 7:36AM Mar 24, 2024 Observed: -0.54 ft at 7:42AM Mar 24, 2024 Observed: -0.47 ft at 7:48AM Mar 24, 2024 Observed: -0.39 ft at 7:54AM Mar 24, 2024 Observed: -0.33 ft at 8:00AM Mar 24, 2024 Observed: -0.28 ft at 8:06AM Mar 24, 2024 Observed: -0.25 ft at 8:12AM Mar 24, 2024 Observed: -0.21 ft at 8:18AM Mar 24, 2024 Observed: -0.16 ft at 8:24AM Mar 24, 2024 Observed: -0.13 ft at 8:30AM Mar 24, 2024 Observed: -0.08 ft at 8:36AM Mar 24, 2024 Observed: -0.06 ft at 8:42AM Mar 24, 2024 Observed: -0.04 ft at 8:48AM Mar 24, 2024 Observed: -0.01 ft at 8:54AM Mar 24, 2024 Observed: 0.02 ft at 9:00AM Mar 24, 2024 Observed: 0.03 ft at 9:06AM Mar 24, 2024 Observed: 0.03 ft at 9:12AM Mar 24, 2024 Observed: 0.03 ft at 9:18AM Mar 24, 2024 Observed: 0.03 ft at 9:24AM Mar 24, 2024 Observed: 0.03 ft at 9:30AM Mar 24, 2024 Observed: 0.03 ft at 9:36AM Mar 24, 2024 Observed: 0.03 ft at 9:42AM Mar 24, 2024 Observed: 0.01 ft at 9:48AM Mar 24, 2024 Observed: -0.02 ft at 9:54AM Mar 24, 2024 Observed: -0.03 ft at 10:00AM Mar 24, 2024 Observed: -0.07 ft at 10:06AM Mar 24, 2024 Observed: -0.11 ft at 10:12AM Mar 24, 2024 Observed: -0.14 ft at 10:18AM Mar 24, 2024 Observed: -0.14 ft at 10:24AM Mar 24, 2024 Observed: -0.17 ft at 10:30AM Mar 24, 2024 Observed: -0.22 ft at 10:36AM Mar 24, 2024 Observed: -0.27 ft at 10:42AM Mar 24, 2024 Observed: -0.34 ft at 10:48AM Mar 24, 2024 Observed: -0.38 ft at 10:54AM Mar 24, 2024 Observed: -0.4 ft at 11:00AM Mar 24, 2024 Observed: -0.45 ft at 11:06AM Mar 24, 2024 Observed: -0.49 ft at 11:12AM Mar 24, 2024 Observed: -0.56 ft at 11:18AM Mar 24, 2024 Observed: -0.6 ft at 11:24AM Mar 24, 2024 Observed: -0.65 ft at 11:30AM Mar 24, 2024 Observed: -0.71 ft at 11:36AM Mar 24, 2024 Observed: -0.74 ft at 11:42AM Mar 24, 2024 Observed: -0.78 ft at 11:48AM Mar 24, 2024 Observed: -0.83 ft at 11:54AM Mar 24, 2024 Observed: -0.92 ft at 12:00PM Mar 24, 2024 Observed: -0.99 ft at 12:06PM Mar 24, 2024 Observed: -1.01 ft at 12:12PM Mar 24, 2024 Observed: -1.03 ft at 12:18PM Mar 24, 2024 Observed: -1.07 ft at 12:24PM Mar 24, 2024 Observed: -1.12 ft at 12:30PM Mar 24, 2024 Observed: -1.21 ft at 12:36PM Mar 24, 2024 Observed: -1.25 ft at 12:42PM Mar 24, 2024 Observed: -1.26 ft at 12:48PM Mar 24, 2024 Observed: -1.29 ft at 12:54PM Mar 24, 2024 Observed: -1.35 ft at 1:00PM Mar 24, 2024 Observed: -1.4 ft at 1:06PM Mar 24, 2024 Observed: -1.43 ft at 1:12PM Mar 24, 2024 Observed: -1.45 ft at 1:18PM Mar 24, 2024 Observed: -1.5 ft at 1:24PM Mar 24, 2024 Observed: -1.54 ft at 1:30PM Mar 24, 2024 Observed: -1.58 ft at 1:36PM Mar 24, 2024 Observed: -1.61 ft at 1:42PM Mar 24, 2024 Observed: -1.65 ft at 1:48PM Mar 24, 2024 Observed: -1.67 ft at 1:54PM Mar 24, 2024 Observed: -1.71 ft at 2:00PM Mar 24, 2024 Observed: -1.76 ft at 2:06PM Mar 24, 2024 Observed: -1.78 ft at 2:12PM Mar 24, 2024 Observed: -1.78 ft at 2:18PM Mar 24, 2024 Observed: -1.81 ft at 2:24PM Mar 24, 2024 Observed: -1.84 ft at 2:30PM Mar 24, 2024 Observed: -1.87 ft at 2:36PM Mar 24, 2024 Observed: -1.88 ft at 2:42PM Mar 24, 2024 Observed: -1.9 ft at 2:48PM Mar 24, 2024 Observed: -1.94 ft at 2:54PM Mar 24, 2024 Observed: -1.96 ft at 3:00PM Mar 24, 2024 Observed: -1.97 ft at 3:06PM Mar 24, 2024 Observed: -1.97 ft at 3:12PM Mar 24, 2024 Observed: -1.98 ft at 3:18PM Mar 24, 2024 Observed: -1.99 ft at 3:24PM Mar 24, 2024 Observed: -2 ft at 3:30PM Mar 24, 2024 Observed: -2.01 ft at 3:36PM Mar 24, 2024 Observed: -2.01 ft at 3:42PM Mar 24, 2024 Observed: -2.02 ft at 3:48PM Mar 24, 2024 Observed: -2.03 ft at 3:54PM Mar 24, 2024 Observed: -2.01 ft at 4:00PM Mar 24, 2024 Observed: -2 ft at 4:06PM Mar 24, 2024 Observed: -1.97 ft at 4:12PM Mar 24, 2024 Observed: -1.93 ft at 4:18PM Mar 24, 2024 Observed: -1.91 ft at 4:24PM Mar 24, 2024 Observed: -1.88 ft at 4:30PM Mar 24, 2024 Observed: -1.84 ft at 4:36PM Mar 24, 2024 Observed: -1.78 ft at 4:42PM Mar 24, 2024 Observed: -1.71 ft at 4:48PM Mar 24, 2024 Observed: -1.65 ft at 4:54PM Mar 24, 2024 Observed: -1.58 ft at 5:00PM Mar 24, 2024 Observed: -1.51 ft at 5:06PM Mar 24, 2024 Observed: -1.44 ft at 5:12PM Mar 24, 2024 Observed: -1.36 ft at 5:18PM Mar 24, 2024 Observed: -1.28 ft at 5:24PM Mar 24, 2024 Observed: -1.18 ft at 5:30PM Mar 24, 2024 Observed: -1.11 ft at 5:36PM Mar 24, 2024 Observed: -1.02 ft at 5:42PM Mar 24, 2024 Observed: -0.91 ft at 5:48PM Mar 24, 2024 Observed: -0.81 ft at 5:54PM Mar 24, 2024 Observed: -0.73 ft at 6:00PM Mar 24, 2024 Observed: -0.63 ft at 6:06PM Mar 24, 2024 Observed: -0.55 ft at 6:12PM Mar 24, 2024 Observed: -0.45 ft at 6:18PM Mar 24, 2024 Observed: -0.36 ft at 6:24PM Mar 24, 2024 Observed: -0.27 ft at 6:30PM Mar 24, 2024 Observed: -0.2 ft at 6:36PM Mar 24, 2024 Observed: -0.11 ft at 6:42PM Mar 24, 2024 Observed: -0.06 ft at 6:48PM Mar 24, 2024 Observed: 0.02 ft at 6:54PM Mar 24, 2024 Observed: 0.11 ft at 7:00PM Mar 24, 2024 Observed: 0.18 ft at 7:06PM Mar 24, 2024 Observed: 0.25 ft at 7:12PM Mar 24, 2024 Observed: 0.31 ft at 7:18PM Mar 24, 2024 Observed: 0.38 ft at 7:24PM Mar 24, 2024 Observed: 0.42 ft at 7:30PM Mar 24, 2024 Observed: 0.48 ft at 7:36PM Mar 24, 2024 Observed: 0.54 ft at 7:42PM Mar 24, 2024 Observed: 0.57 ft at 7:48PM Mar 24, 2024 Observed: 0.63 ft at 7:54PM Mar 24, 2024 Observed: 0.67 ft at 8:00PM Mar 24, 2024 Observed: 0.7 ft at 8:06PM Mar 24, 2024 Observed: 0.74 ft at 8:12PM Mar 24, 2024 Observed: 0.78 ft at 8:18PM Mar 24, 2024 Observed: 0.81 ft at 8:24PM Mar 24, 2024 Observed: 0.85 ft at 8:30PM Mar 24, 2024 Observed: 0.89 ft at 8:36PM Mar 24, 2024 Observed: 0.91 ft at 8:42PM Mar 24, 2024 Observed: 0.92 ft at 8:48PM Mar 24, 2024 Observed: 0.94 ft at 8:54PM Mar 24, 2024 Observed: 0.96 ft at 9:00PM Mar 24, 2024 Observed: 0.99 ft at 9:06PM Mar 24, 2024 Observed: 1.02 ft at 9:12PM Mar 24, 2024 Observed: 1.02 ft at 9:18PM Mar 24, 2024 Observed: 1.03 ft at 9:24PM Mar 24, 2024 Observed: 1.03 ft at 9:30PM Mar 24, 2024 Observed: 1.03 ft at 9:36PM Mar 24, 2024 Observed: 1.04 ft at 9:42PM Mar 24, 2024 Observed: 1.03 ft at 9:48PM Mar 24, 2024 Observed: 1.03 ft at 9:54PM Mar 24, 2024 Observed: 1.02 ft at 10:00PM Mar 24, 2024 Observed: 1.01 ft at 10:06PM Mar 24, 2024 Observed: 0.99 ft at 10:12PM Mar 24, 2024 Observed: 0.97 ft at 10:18PM Mar 24, 2024 Observed: 0.96 ft at 10:24PM Mar 24, 2024 Observed: 0.94 ft at 10:30PM Mar 24, 2024 Observed: 0.92 ft at 10:36PM Mar 24, 2024 Observed: 0.9 ft at 10:42PM Mar 24, 2024 Observed: 0.86 ft at 10:48PM Mar 24, 2024 Observed: 0.84 ft at 10:54PM Mar 24, 2024 Observed: 0.8 ft at 11:00PM Mar 24, 2024 Observed: 0.77 ft at 11:06PM Mar 24, 2024 Observed: 0.74 ft at 11:12PM Mar 24, 2024 Observed: 0.7 ft at 11:18PM Mar 24, 2024 Observed: 0.66 ft at 11:24PM Mar 24, 2024 Observed: 0.62 ft at 11:30PM Mar 24, 2024 Observed: 0.58 ft at 11:36PM Mar 24, 2024 Observed: 0.54 ft at 11:42PM Mar 24, 2024 Observed: 0.49 ft at 11:48PM Mar 24, 2024 Observed: 0.45 ft at 11:54PM Mar 24, 2024 Observed: 0.41 ft at 12:00AM Mar 25, 2024 Observed: 0.36 ft at 12:06AM Mar 25, 2024 Observed: 0.31 ft at 12:12AM Mar 25, 2024 Observed: 0.26 ft at 12:18AM Mar 25, 2024 Observed: 0.21 ft at 12:24AM Mar 25, 2024 Observed: 0.16 ft at 12:30AM Mar 25, 2024 Observed: 0.12 ft at 12:36AM Mar 25, 2024 Observed: 0.07 ft at 12:42AM Mar 25, 2024 Observed: 0.02 ft at 12:48AM Mar 25, 2024 Observed: -0.02 ft at 12:54AM Mar 25, 2024 Observed: -0.07 ft at 1:00AM Mar 25, 2024 Observed: -0.12 ft at 1:06AM Mar 25, 2024 Observed: -0.16 ft at 1:12AM Mar 25, 2024 Observed: -0.2 ft at 1:18AM Mar 25, 2024 Observed: -0.24 ft at 1:24AM Mar 25, 2024 Observed: -0.28 ft at 1:30AM Mar 25, 2024 Observed: -0.33 ft at 1:36AM Mar 25, 2024 Observed: -0.37 ft at 1:42AM Mar 25, 2024 Observed: -0.41 ft at 1:48AM Mar 25, 2024 Observed: -0.45 ft at 1:54AM Mar 25, 2024 Observed: -0.48 ft at 2:00AM Mar 25, 2024 Observed: -0.51 ft at 2:06AM Mar 25, 2024 Observed: -0.54 ft at 2:12AM Mar 25, 2024 Observed: -0.57 ft at 2:18AM Mar 25, 2024 Observed: -0.6 ft at 2:24AM Mar 25, 2024 Observed: -0.62 ft at 2:30AM Mar 25, 2024 Observed: -0.63 ft at 2:36AM Mar 25, 2024 Observed: -0.65 ft at 2:42AM Mar 25, 2024 Observed: -0.67 ft at 2:48AM Mar 25, 2024 Observed: -0.68 ft at 2:54AM Mar 25, 2024 Observed: -0.69 ft at 3:00AM Mar 25, 2024 Observed: -0.68 ft at 3:06AM Mar 25, 2024 Observed: -0.68 ft at 3:12AM Mar 25, 2024 Observed: -0.67 ft at 3:18AM Mar 25, 2024 Observed: -0.65 ft at 3:24AM Mar 25, 2024 Observed: -0.64 ft at 3:30AM Mar 25, 2024 Observed: -0.61 ft at 3:36AM Mar 25, 2024 Observed: -0.57 ft at 3:42AM Mar 25, 2024 Observed: -0.54 ft at 3:48AM Mar 25, 2024 Observed: -0.51 ft at 3:54AM Mar 25, 2024 Observed: -0.46 ft at 4:00AM Mar 25, 2024 Observed: -0.4 ft at 4:06AM Mar 25, 2024 Observed: -0.33 ft at 4:12AM Mar 25, 2024 Observed: -0.26 ft at 4:18AM Mar 25, 2024 Observed: -0.19 ft at 4:24AM Mar 25, 2024 Observed: -0.12 ft at 4:30AM Mar 25, 2024 Observed: -0.04 ft at 4:36AM Mar 25, 2024 Observed: 0.04 ft at 4:42AM Mar 25, 2024 Observed: 0.13 ft at 4:48AM Mar 25, 2024 Observed: 0.22 ft at 4:54AM Mar 25, 2024 Observed: 0.31 ft at 5:00AM Mar 25, 2024 Observed: 0.41 ft at 5:06AM Mar 25, 2024 Observed: 0.5 ft at 5:12AM Mar 25, 2024 Observed: 0.59 ft at 5:18AM Mar 25, 2024 Observed: 0.68 ft at 5:24AM Mar 25, 2024 Observed: 0.77 ft at 5:30AM Mar 25, 2024 Observed: 0.87 ft at 5:36AM Mar 25, 2024 Observed: 0.96 ft at 5:42AM Mar 25, 2024 Observed: 1.05 ft at 5:48AM Mar 25, 2024 Observed: 1.15 ft at 5:54AM Mar 25, 2024 Observed: 1.21 ft at 6:00AM Mar 25, 2024 Observed: 1.3 ft at 6:06AM Mar 25, 2024 Observed: 1.38 ft at 6:12AM Mar 25, 2024 Observed: 1.45 ft at 6:18AM Mar 25, 2024 Observed: 1.52 ft at 6:24AM Mar 25, 2024 Observed: 1.59 ft at 6:30AM Mar 25, 2024 Observed: 1.65 ft at 6:36AM Mar 25, 2024 Observed: 1.72 ft at 6:42AM Mar 25, 2024 Observed: 1.77 ft at 6:48AM Mar 25, 2024 Observed: 1.84 ft at 6:54AM Mar 25, 2024 Observed: 1.89 ft at 7:00AM Mar 25, 2024 Observed: 1.93 ft at 7:06AM Mar 25, 2024 Observed: 1.98 ft at 7:12AM Mar 25, 2024 Observed: 2.02 ft at 7:18AM Mar 25, 2024 Observed: 2.06 ft at 7:24AM Mar 25, 2024 Observed: 2.11 ft at 7:30AM Mar 25, 2024 Observed: 2.14 ft at 7:36AM Mar 25, 2024 Observed: 2.17 ft at 7:42AM Mar 25, 2024 Observed: 2.2 ft at 7:48AM Mar 25, 2024 Observed: 2.22 ft at 7:54AM Mar 25, 2024 Observed: 2.23 ft at 8:00AM Mar 25, 2024 Observed: 2.25 ft at 8:06AM Mar 25, 2024 Observed: 2.27 ft at 8:12AM Mar 25, 2024 Observed: 2.27 ft at 8:18AM Mar 25, 2024 Observed: 2.29 ft at 8:24AM Mar 25, 2024 Observed: 2.29 ft at 8:30AM Mar 25, 2024 Observed: 2.28 ft at 8:36AM Mar 25, 2024 Observed: 2.28 ft at 8:42AM Mar 25, 2024 Observed: 2.27 ft at 8:48AM Mar 25, 2024 Observed: 2.26 ft at 8:54AM Mar 25, 2024 Observed: 2.25 ft at 9:00AM Mar 25, 2024 Observed: 2.23 ft at 9:06AM Mar 25, 2024 Observed: 2.21 ft at 9:12AM Mar 25, 2024 Observed: 2.2 ft at 9:18AM Mar 25, 2024 Observed: 2.16 ft at 9:24AM Mar 25, 2024 Observed: 2.14 ft at 9:30AM Mar 25, 2024 Observed: 2.09 ft at 9:36AM Mar 25, 2024 Observed: 2.07 ft at 9:42AM Mar 25, 2024 Observed: 2.05 ft at 9:48AM Mar 25, 2024 Observed: 2.01 ft at 9:54AM Mar 25, 2024 Observed: 1.98 ft at 10:00AM Mar 25, 2024 Observed: 1.94 ft at 10:06AM Mar 25, 2024 Observed: 1.88 ft at 10:12AM Mar 25, 2024 Observed: 1.84 ft at 10:18AM Mar 25, 2024 Observed: 1.79 ft at 10:24AM Mar 25, 2024 Observed: 1.75 ft at 10:30AM Mar 25, 2024 Observed: 1.71 ft at 10:36AM Mar 25, 2024 Observed: 1.66 ft at 10:42AM Mar 25, 2024 Observed: 1.61 ft at 10:48AM Mar 25, 2024 Observed: 1.57 ft at 10:54AM Mar 25, 2024 Observed: 1.51 ft at 11:00AM Mar 25, 2024 Observed: 1.47 ft at 11:06AM Mar 25, 2024 Observed: 1.42 ft at 11:12AM Mar 25, 2024 Observed: 1.37 ft at 11:18AM Mar 25, 2024 Observed: 1.33 ft at 11:24AM Mar 25, 2024 Observed: 1.28 ft at 11:30AM Mar 25, 2024 Observed: 1.24 ft at 11:36AM Mar 25, 2024 Observed: 1.19 ft at 11:42AM Mar 25, 2024 Observed: 1.13 ft at 11:48AM Mar 25, 2024 Observed: 1.08 ft at 11:54AM Mar 25, 2024 Observed: 1.03 ft at 12:00PM Mar 25, 2024 Observed: 0.99 ft at 12:06PM Mar 25, 2024 Observed: 0.94 ft at 12:12PM Mar 25, 2024 Observed: 0.9 ft at 12:18PM Mar 25, 2024 Observed: 0.85 ft at 12:24PM Mar 25, 2024 Observed: 0.81 ft at 12:30PM Mar 25, 2024 Observed: 0.77 ft at 12:36PM Mar 25, 2024 Observed: 0.73 ft at 12:42PM Mar 25, 2024 Observed: 0.69 ft at 12:48PM Mar 25, 2024 Observed: 0.64 ft at 12:54PM Mar 25, 2024 Observed: 0.6 ft at 1:00PM Mar 25, 2024 Observed: 0.56 ft at 1:06PM Mar 25, 2024 Observed: 0.53 ft at 1:12PM Mar 25, 2024 Observed: 0.49 ft at 1:18PM Mar 25, 2024 Observed: 0.45 ft at 1:24PM Mar 25, 2024 Observed: 0.42 ft at 1:30PM Mar 25, 2024 Observed: 0.38 ft at 1:36PM Mar 25, 2024 Observed: 0.35 ft at 1:42PM Mar 25, 2024 Observed: 0.32 ft at 1:48PM Mar 25, 2024 Observed: 0.27 ft at 1:54PM Mar 25, 2024 Observed: 0.25 ft at 2:00PM Mar 25, 2024 Observed: 0.23 ft at 2:06PM Mar 25, 2024 Observed: 0.2 ft at 2:12PM Mar 25, 2024 Observed: 0.17 ft at 2:18PM Mar 25, 2024 Observed: 0.17 ft at 2:24PM Mar 25, 2024 Observed: 0.14 ft at 2:30PM Mar 25, 2024 Observed: 0.11 ft at 2:36PM Mar 25, 2024 Observed: 0.11 ft at 2:42PM Mar 25, 2024 Observed: 0.08 ft at 2:48PM Mar 25, 2024 Observed: 0.06 ft at 2:54PM Mar 25, 2024 Observed: 0.07 ft at 3:00PM Mar 25, 2024 Observed: 0.06 ft at 3:06PM Mar 25, 2024 Observed: 0.03 ft at 3:12PM Mar 25, 2024 Observed: 0.02 ft at 3:18PM Mar 25, 2024 Observed: 0.03 ft at 3:24PM Mar 25, 2024 Observed: 0.02 ft at 3:30PM Mar 25, 2024 Observed: 0.01 ft at 3:36PM Mar 25, 2024 Observed: 0.01 ft at 3:42PM Mar 25, 2024 Observed: 0.03 ft at 3:48PM Mar 25, 2024 Observed: 0.04 ft at 3:54PM Mar 25, 2024 Observed: 0.05 ft at 4:00PM Mar 25, 2024 Observed: 0.07 ft at 4:06PM Mar 25, 2024 Observed: 0.1 ft at 4:12PM Mar 25, 2024 Observed: 0.1 ft at 4:18PM Mar 25, 2024 Observed: 0.12 ft at 4:24PM Mar 25, 2024 Observed: 0.15 ft at 4:30PM Mar 25, 2024 Observed: 0.19 ft at 4:36PM Mar 25, 2024 Observed: 0.23 ft at 4:42PM Mar 25, 2024 Observed: 0.28 ft at 4:48PM Mar 25, 2024 Observed: 0.33 ft at 4:54PM Mar 25, 2024 Observed: 0.39 ft at 5:00PM Mar 25, 2024 Observed: 0.44 ft at 5:06PM Mar 25, 2024 Observed: 0.49 ft at 5:12PM Mar 25, 2024 Observed: 0.57 ft at 5:18PM Mar 25, 2024 Observed: 0.63 ft at 5:24PM Mar 25, 2024 Observed: 0.71 ft at 5:30PM Mar 25, 2024 Observed: 0.78 ft at 5:36PM Mar 25, 2024 Observed: 0.86 ft at 5:42PM Mar 25, 2024 Observed: 0.92 ft at 5:48PM Mar 25, 2024 Observed: 0.99 ft at 5:54PM Mar 25, 2024 Observed: 1.07 ft at 6:00PM Mar 25, 2024 Observed: 1.15 ft at 6:06PM Mar 25, 2024 Observed: 1.24 ft at 6:12PM Mar 25, 2024 Observed: 1.31 ft at 6:18PM Mar 25, 2024 Observed: 1.39 ft at 6:24PM Mar 25, 2024 Observed: 1.46 ft at 6:30PM Mar 25, 2024 Observed: 1.54 ft at 6:36PM Mar 25, 2024 Observed: 1.62 ft at 6:42PM Mar 25, 2024 Observed: 1.68 ft at 6:48PM Mar 25, 2024 Observed: 1.77 ft at 6:54PM Mar 25, 2024 Observed: 1.83 ft at 7:00PM Mar 25, 2024 Observed: 1.89 ft at 7:06PM Mar 25, 2024 Observed: 1.97 ft at 7:12PM Mar 25, 2024 Observed: 2.02 ft at 7:18PM Mar 25, 2024 Observed: 2.08 ft at 7:24PM Mar 25, 2024 Observed: 2.15 ft at 7:30PM Mar 25, 2024 Observed: 2.19 ft at 7:36PM Mar 25, 2024 Observed: 2.25 ft at 7:42PM Mar 25, 2024 Observed: 2.29 ft at 7:48PM Mar 25, 2024 Observed: 2.34 ft at 7:54PM Mar 25, 2024 Observed: 2.38 ft at 8:00PM Mar 25, 2024 Observed: 2.41 ft at 8:06PM Mar 25, 2024 Observed: 2.44 ft at 8:12PM Mar 25, 2024 Observed: 2.48 ft at 8:18PM Mar 25, 2024 Observed: 2.5 ft at 8:24PM Mar 25, 2024 Observed: 2.54 ft at 8:30PM Mar 25, 2024 Observed: 2.54 ft at 8:36PM Mar 25, 2024 Observed: 2.56 ft at 8:42PM Mar 25, 2024 Observed: 2.57 ft at 8:48PM Mar 25, 2024 Observed: 2.58 ft at 8:54PM Mar 25, 2024 Observed: 2.59 ft at 9:00PM Mar 25, 2024 Observed: 2.59 ft at 9:06PM Mar 25, 2024 Observed: 2.6 ft at 9:12PM Mar 25, 2024 Observed: 2.58 ft at 9:18PM Mar 25, 2024 Observed: 2.58 ft at 9:24PM Mar 25, 2024 Observed: 2.58 ft at 9:30PM Mar 25, 2024 Observed: 2.56 ft at 9:36PM Mar 25, 2024 Observed: 2.55 ft at 9:42PM Mar 25, 2024 Observed: 2.53 ft at 9:48PM Mar 25, 2024 Observed: 2.51 ft at 9:54PM Mar 25, 2024 Observed: 2.5 ft at 10:00PM Mar 25, 2024 Observed: 2.47 ft at 10:06PM Mar 25, 2024 Observed: 2.46 ft at 10:12PM Mar 25, 2024 Observed: 2.42 ft at 10:18PM Mar 25, 2024 Observed: 2.38 ft at 10:24PM Mar 25, 2024 Observed: 2.35 ft at 10:30PM Mar 25, 2024 Observed: 2.31 ft at 10:36PM Mar 25, 2024 Observed: 2.28 ft at 10:42PM Mar 25, 2024 Observed: 2.23 ft at 10:48PM Mar 25, 2024 Observed: 2.19 ft at 10:54PM Mar 25, 2024 Observed: 2.14 ft at 11:00PM Mar 25, 2024 Observed: 2.1 ft at 11:06PM Mar 25, 2024 Observed: 2.04 ft at 11:12PM Mar 25, 2024 Observed: 2 ft at 11:18PM Mar 25, 2024 Observed: 1.94 ft at 11:24PM Mar 25, 2024 Observed: 1.89 ft at 11:30PM Mar 25, 2024 Observed: 1.84 ft at 11:36PM Mar 25, 2024 Observed: 1.78 ft at 11:42PM Mar 25, 2024 Observed: 1.73 ft at 11:48PM Mar 25, 2024 Observed: 1.68 ft at 11:54PM Mar 25, 2024 Observed: 1.62 ft at 12:00AM Mar 26, 2024 Observed: 1.56 ft at 12:06AM Mar 26, 2024 Observed: 1.5 ft at 12:12AM Mar 26, 2024 Observed: 1.45 ft at 12:18AM Mar 26, 2024 Observed: 1.39 ft at 12:24AM Mar 26, 2024 Observed: 1.34 ft at 12:30AM Mar 26, 2024 Observed: 1.29 ft at 12:36AM Mar 26, 2024 Observed: 1.23 ft at 12:42AM Mar 26, 2024 Observed: 1.18 ft at 12:48AM Mar 26, 2024 Observed: 1.12 ft at 12:54AM Mar 26, 2024 Observed: 1.08 ft at 1:00AM Mar 26, 2024 Observed: 1.03 ft at 1:06AM Mar 26, 2024 Observed: 0.97 ft at 1:12AM Mar 26, 2024 Observed: 0.92 ft at 1:18AM Mar 26, 2024 Observed: 0.86 ft at 1:24AM Mar 26, 2024 Observed: 0.81 ft at 1:30AM Mar 26, 2024 Observed: 0.76 ft at 1:36AM Mar 26, 2024 Observed: 0.72 ft at 1:42AM Mar 26, 2024 Observed: 0.68 ft at 1:48AM Mar 26, 2024 Observed: 0.64 ft at 1:54AM Mar 26, 2024 Observed: 0.59 ft at 2:00AM Mar 26, 2024 Observed: 0.55 ft at 2:06AM Mar 26, 2024 Observed: 0.5 ft at 2:12AM Mar 26, 2024 Observed: 0.45 ft at 2:18AM Mar 26, 2024 Observed: 0.41 ft at 2:24AM Mar 26, 2024 Observed: 0.38 ft at 2:30AM Mar 26, 2024 Observed: 0.35 ft at 2:36AM Mar 26, 2024 Observed: 0.32 ft at 2:42AM Mar 26, 2024 Observed: 0.29 ft at 2:48AM Mar 26, 2024 Observed: 0.25 ft at 2:54AM Mar 26, 2024 Observed: 0.23 ft at 3:00AM Mar 26, 2024 Observed: 0.2 ft at 3:06AM Mar 26, 2024 Observed: 0.18 ft at 3:12AM Mar 26, 2024 Observed: 0.16 ft at 3:18AM Mar 26, 2024 Observed: 0.13 ft at 3:24AM Mar 26, 2024 Observed: 0.11 ft at 3:30AM Mar 26, 2024 Observed: 0.1 ft at 3:36AM Mar 26, 2024 Observed: 0.09 ft at 3:42AM Mar 26, 2024 Observed: 0.08 ft at 3:48AM Mar 26, 2024 Observed: 0.08 ft at 3:54AM Mar 26, 2024 Observed: 0.08 ft at 4:00AM Mar 26, 2024 Observed: 0.08 ft at 4:06AM Mar 26, 2024 Observed: 0.08 ft at 4:12AM Mar 26, 2024 Observed: 0.09 ft at 4:18AM Mar 26, 2024 Observed: 0.09 ft at 4:24AM Mar 26, 2024 Observed: 0.11 ft at 4:30AM Mar 26, 2024 Observed: 0.13 ft at 4:36AM Mar 26, 2024 Observed: 0.16 ft at 4:42AM Mar 26, 2024 Observed: 0.19 ft at 4:48AM Mar 26, 2024 Observed: 0.23 ft at 4:54AM Mar 26, 2024 Observed: 0.26 ft at 5:00AM Mar 26, 2024 Observed: 0.3 ft at 5:06AM Mar 26, 2024 Observed: 0.34 ft at 5:12AM Mar 26, 2024 Observed: 0.39 ft at 5:18AM Mar 26, 2024 Observed: 0.45 ft at 5:24AM Mar 26, 2024 Observed: 0.51 ft at 5:30AM Mar 26, 2024 Observed: 0.57 ft at 5:36AM Mar 26, 2024 Observed: 0.65 ft at 5:42AM Mar 26, 2024 Observed: 0.72 ft at 5:48AM Mar 26, 2024 Observed: 0.8 ft at 5:54AM Mar 26, 2024 Observed: 0.87 ft at 6:00AM Mar 26, 2024 Observed: 0.94 ft at 6:06AM Mar 26, 2024 Observed: 1.02 ft at 6:12AM Mar 26, 2024 Observed: 1.1 ft at 6:18AM Mar 26, 2024 Observed: 1.18 ft at 6:24AM Mar 26, 2024 Observed: 1.27 ft at 6:30AM Mar 26, 2024 Observed: 1.35 ft at 6:36AM Mar 26, 2024 Observed: 1.43 ft at 6:42AM Mar 26, 2024 Observed: 1.51 ft at 6:48AM Mar 26, 2024 Observed: 1.59 ft at 6:54AM Mar 26, 2024 Observed: 1.67 ft at 7:00AM Mar 26, 2024 Observed: 1.74 ft at 7:06AM Mar 26, 2024 Observed: 1.83 ft at 7:12AM Mar 26, 2024 Observed: 1.9 ft at 7:18AM Mar 26, 2024 Observed: 1.97 ft at 7:24AM Mar 26, 2024 Observed: 2.04 ft at 7:30AM Mar 26, 2024 Observed: 2.11 ft at 7:36AM Mar 26, 2024 Observed: 2.17 ft at 7:42AM Mar 26, 2024 Observed: 2.22 ft at 7:48AM Mar 26, 2024 Observed: 2.28 ft at 7:54AM Mar 26, 2024 Observed: 2.35 ft at 8:00AM Mar 26, 2024 Observed: 2.4 ft at 8:06AM Mar 26, 2024 Observed: 2.46 ft at 8:12AM Mar 26, 2024 Observed: 2.51 ft at 8:18AM Mar 26, 2024 Observed: 2.55 ft at 8:24AM Mar 26, 2024 Observed: 2.6 ft at 8:30AM Mar 26, 2024 Observed: 2.63 ft at 8:36AM Mar 26, 2024 Observed: 2.67 ft at 8:42AM Mar 26, 2024 Observed: 2.71 ft at 8:48AM Mar 26, 2024 Observed: 2.74 ft at 8:54AM Mar 26, 2024 Observed: 2.77 ft at 9:00AM Mar 26, 2024 Observed: 2.8 ft at 9:06AM Mar 26, 2024 Observed: 2.81 ft at 9:12AM Mar 26, 2024 Observed: 2.83 ft at 9:18AM Mar 26, 2024 Observed: 2.84 ft at 9:24AM Mar 26, 2024 Observed: 2.86 ft at 9:30AM Mar 26, 2024 Observed: 2.86 ft at 9:36AM Mar 26, 2024 Observed: 2.87 ft at 9:42AM Mar 26, 2024 Observed: 2.86 ft at 9:48AM Mar 26, 2024 Observed: 2.85 ft at 9:54AM Mar 26, 2024 Observed: 2.84 ft at 10:00AM Mar 26, 2024 Observed: 2.83 ft at 10:06AM Mar 26, 2024 Observed: 2.81 ft at 10:12AM Mar 26, 2024 Observed: 2.8 ft at 10:18AM Mar 26, 2024 Observed: 2.77 ft at 10:24AM Mar 26, 2024 Observed: 2.75 ft at 10:30AM Mar 26, 2024 Observed: 2.72 ft at 10:36AM Mar 26, 2024 Observed: 2.69 ft at 10:42AM Mar 26, 2024 Observed: 2.65 ft at 10:48AM Mar 26, 2024 Observed: 2.61 ft at 10:54AM Mar 26, 2024 Observed: 2.57 ft at 11:00AM Mar 26, 2024 Observed: 2.54 ft at 11:06AM Mar 26, 2024 Observed: 2.5 ft at 11:12AM Mar 26, 2024 Observed: 2.45 ft at 11:18AM Mar 26, 2024 Observed: 2.4 ft at 11:24AM Mar 26, 2024 Observed: 2.35 ft at 11:30AM Mar 26, 2024 Observed: 2.29 ft at 11:36AM Mar 26, 2024 Observed: 2.24 ft at 11:42AM Mar 26, 2024 Observed: 2.19 ft at 11:48AM Mar 26, 2024 Observed: 2.14 ft at 11:54AM Mar 26, 2024 Observed: 2.08 ft at 12:00PM Mar 26, 2024 Observed: 2.02 ft at 12:06PM Mar 26, 2024 Observed: 1.96 ft at 12:12PM Mar 26, 2024 Observed: 1.9 ft at 12:18PM Mar 26, 2024 Observed: 1.85 ft at 12:24PM Mar 26, 2024 Observed: 1.79 ft at 12:30PM Mar 26, 2024 Observed: 1.73 ft at 12:36PM Mar 26, 2024 Observed: 1.68 ft at 12:42PM Mar 26, 2024 Observed: 1.62 ft at 12:48PM Mar 26, 2024 Observed: 1.57 ft at 12:54PM Mar 26, 2024 Observed: 1.5 ft at 1:00PM Mar 26, 2024 Observed: 1.45 ft at 1:06PM Mar 26, 2024 Observed: 1.4 ft at 1:12PM Mar 26, 2024 Observed: 1.34 ft at 1:18PM Mar 26, 2024 Observed: 1.3 ft at 1:24PM Mar 26, 2024 Observed: 1.24 ft at 1:30PM Mar 26, 2024 Observed: 1.18 ft at 1:36PM Mar 26, 2024 Observed: 1.13 ft at 1:42PM Mar 26, 2024 Observed: 1.08 ft at 1:48PM Mar 26, 2024 Observed: 1.02 ft at 1:54PM Mar 26, 2024 Observed: 0.98 ft at 2:00PM Mar 26, 2024 Observed: 0.93 ft at 2:06PM Mar 26, 2024 Observed: 0.89 ft at 2:12PM Mar 26, 2024 Observed: 0.84 ft at 2:18PM Mar 26, 2024 Observed: 0.81 ft at 2:24PM Mar 26, 2024 Observed: 0.76 ft at 2:30PM Mar 26, 2024 Observed: 0.72 ft at 2:36PM Mar 26, 2024 Observed: 0.68 ft at 2:42PM Mar 26, 2024 Observed: 0.65 ft at 2:48PM Mar 26, 2024 Observed: 0.62 ft at 2:54PM Mar 26, 2024 Observed: 0.58 ft at 3:00PM Mar 26, 2024 Observed: 0.55 ft at 3:06PM Mar 26, 2024 Observed: 0.51 ft at 3:12PM Mar 26, 2024 Observed: 0.48 ft at 3:18PM Mar 26, 2024 Observed: 0.45 ft at 3:24PM Mar 26, 2024 Observed: 0.42 ft at 3:30PM Mar 26, 2024 Observed: 0.41 ft at 3:36PM Mar 26, 2024 Observed: 0.38 ft at 3:42PM Mar 26, 2024 Observed: 0.36 ft at 3:48PM Mar 26, 2024 Observed: 0.33 ft at 3:54PM Mar 26, 2024 Observed: 0.32 ft at 4:00PM Mar 26, 2024 Observed: 0.3 ft at 4:06PM Mar 26, 2024 Observed: 0.3 ft at 4:12PM Mar 26, 2024 Observed: 0.29 ft at 4:18PM Mar 26, 2024 Observed: 0.26 ft at 4:24PM Mar 26, 2024 Observed: 0.26 ft at 4:30PM Mar 26, 2024 Observed: 0.28 ft at 4:36PM Mar 26, 2024 Observed: 0.28 ft at 4:42PM Mar 26, 2024 Observed: 0.31 ft at 4:48PM Mar 26, 2024 Observed: 0.33 ft at 4:54PM Mar 26, 2024 Observed: 0.34 ft at 5:00PM Mar 26, 2024 Observed: 0.35 ft at 5:06PM Mar 26, 2024 Observed: 0.37 ft at 5:12PM Mar 26, 2024 Observed: 0.4 ft at 5:18PM Mar 26, 2024 Observed: 0.44 ft at 5:24PM Mar 26, 2024 Observed: 0.5 ft at 5:30PM Mar 26, 2024 Observed: 0.57 ft at 5:36PM Mar 26, 2024 Observed: 0.62 ft at 5:42PM Mar 26, 2024 Observed: 0.67 ft at 5:48PM Mar 26, 2024 Observed: 0.73 ft at 5:54PM Mar 26, 2024 Observed: 0.81 ft at 6:00PM Mar 26, 2024 Observed: 0.91 ft at 6:06PM Mar 26, 2024 Observed: 1 ft at 6:12PM Mar 26, 2024 Observed: 1.08 ft at 6:18PM Mar 26, 2024 Observed: 1.17 ft at 6:24PM Mar 26, 2024 Observed: 1.26 ft at 6:30PM Mar 26, 2024 Observed: 1.35 ft at 6:36PM Mar 26, 2024 Observed: 1.48 ft at 6:42PM Mar 26, 2024 Observed: 1.55 ft at 6:48PM Mar 26, 2024 Observed: 1.65 ft at 6:54PM Mar 26, 2024 Observed: 1.76 ft at 7:00PM Mar 26, 2024 Observed: 1.86 ft at 7:06PM Mar 26, 2024 Observed: 1.96 ft at 7:12PM Mar 26, 2024 Observed: 2.06 ft at 7:18PM Mar 26, 2024 Observed: 2.16 ft at 7:24PM Mar 26, 2024 Observed: 2.25 ft at 7:30PM Mar 26, 2024 Observed: 2.33 ft at 7:36PM Mar 26, 2024 Observed: 2.42 ft at 7:42PM Mar 26, 2024 Observed: 2.49 ft at 7:48PM Mar 26, 2024 Observed: 2.57 ft at 7:54PM Mar 26, 2024 Observed: 2.66 ft at 8:00PM Mar 26, 2024 Observed: 2.73 ft at 8:06PM Mar 26, 2024 Observed: 2.82 ft at 8:12PM Mar 26, 2024 Observed: 2.89 ft at 8:18PM Mar 26, 2024 Observed: 2.95 ft at 8:24PM Mar 26, 2024 Observed: 3.01 ft at 8:30PM Mar 26, 2024 Observed: 3.06 ft at 8:36PM Mar 26, 2024 Observed: 3.11 ft at 8:42PM Mar 26, 2024 Observed: 3.16 ft at 8:48PM Mar 26, 2024 Observed: 3.19 ft at 8:54PM Mar 26, 2024 Observed: 3.23 ft at 9:00PM Mar 26, 2024 Observed: 3.25 ft at 9:06PM Mar 26, 2024 Observed: 3.29 ft at 9:12PM Mar 26, 2024 Observed: 3.31 ft at 9:18PM Mar 26, 2024 Observed: 3.33 ft at 9:24PM Mar 26, 2024 Observed: 3.34 ft at 9:30PM Mar 26, 2024 Observed: 3.33 ft at 9:36PM Mar 26, 2024 Observed: 3.35 ft at 9:42PM Mar 26, 2024 Observed: 3.37 ft at 9:48PM Mar 26, 2024 Observed: 3.39 ft at 9:54PM Mar 26, 2024 Observed: 3.38 ft at 10:00PM Mar 26, 2024 Observed: 3.37 ft at 10:06PM Mar 26, 2024 Observed: 3.36 ft at 10:12PM Mar 26, 2024 Observed: 3.35 ft at 10:18PM Mar 26, 2024 Observed: 3.35 ft at 10:24PM Mar 26, 2024 Observed: 3.35 ft at 10:30PM Mar 26, 2024 Observed: 3.32 ft at 10:36PM Mar 26, 2024 Observed: 3.3 ft at 10:42PM Mar 26, 2024 Observed: 3.27 ft at 10:48PM Mar 26, 2024 Observed: 3.22 ft at 10:54PM Mar 26, 2024 Observed: 3.2 ft at 11:00PM Mar 26, 2024 Observed: 3.17 ft at 11:06PM Mar 26, 2024 Observed: 3.11 ft at 11:12PM Mar 26, 2024 Observed: 3.08 ft at 11:18PM Mar 26, 2024 Observed: 3.03 ft at 11:24PM Mar 26, 2024 Observed: 2.98 ft at 11:30PM Mar 26, 2024 Observed: 2.93 ft at 11:36PM Mar 26, 2024 Observed: 2.87 ft at 11:42PM Mar 26, 2024 Observed: 2.81 ft at 11:48PM Mar 26, 2024 Observed: 2.74 ft at 11:54PM Mar 26, 2024 Observed: 2.68 ft at 12:00AM Mar 27, 2024 Observed: 2.63 ft at 12:06AM Mar 27, 2024 Observed: 2.58 ft at 12:12AM Mar 27, 2024 Observed: 2.51 ft at 12:18AM Mar 27, 2024 Observed: 2.45 ft at 12:24AM Mar 27, 2024 Observed: 2.39 ft at 12:30AM Mar 27, 2024 Observed: 2.32 ft at 12:36AM Mar 27, 2024 Observed: 2.25 ft at 12:42AM Mar 27, 2024 Observed: 2.19 ft at 12:48AM Mar 27, 2024 Observed: 2.13 ft at 12:54AM Mar 27, 2024 Observed: 2.07 ft at 1:00AM Mar 27, 2024 Observed: 2.02 ft at 1:06AM Mar 27, 2024 Observed: 1.96 ft at 1:12AM Mar 27, 2024 Observed: 1.91 ft at 1:18AM Mar 27, 2024 Observed: 1.85 ft at 1:24AM Mar 27, 2024 Observed: 1.8 ft at 1:30AM Mar 27, 2024 Observed: 1.74 ft at 1:36AM Mar 27, 2024 Observed: 1.68 ft at 1:42AM Mar 27, 2024 Observed: 1.63 ft at 1:48AM Mar 27, 2024 Observed: 1.58 ft at 1:54AM Mar 27, 2024 Observed: 1.53 ft at 2:00AM Mar 27, 2024 Observed: 1.49 ft at 2:06AM Mar 27, 2024 Observed: 1.43 ft at 2:12AM Mar 27, 2024 Observed: 1.39 ft at 2:18AM Mar 27, 2024 Observed: 1.35 ft at 2:24AM Mar 27, 2024 Observed: 1.3 ft at 2:30AM Mar 27, 2024 Observed: 1.26 ft at 2:36AM Mar 27, 2024 Observed: 1.21 ft at 2:42AM Mar 27, 2024 Observed: 1.16 ft at 2:48AM Mar 27, 2024 Observed: 1.12 ft at 2:54AM Mar 27, 2024 Observed: 1.1 ft at 3:00AM Mar 27, 2024 Observed: 1.06 ft at 3:06AM Mar 27, 2024 Observed: 1.03 ft at 3:12AM Mar 27, 2024 Observed: 0.99 ft at 3:18AM Mar 27, 2024 Observed: 0.96 ft at 3:24AM Mar 27, 2024 Observed: 0.92 ft at 3:30AM Mar 27, 2024 Observed: 0.89 ft at 3:36AM Mar 27, 2024 Observed: 0.86 ft at 3:42AM Mar 27, 2024 Observed: 0.83 ft at 3:48AM Mar 27, 2024 Observed: 0.81 ft at 3:54AM Mar 27, 2024 Observed: 0.79 ft at 4:00AM Mar 27, 2024 Observed: 0.78 ft at 4:06AM Mar 27, 2024 Observed: 0.77 ft at 4:12AM Mar 27, 2024 Observed: 0.75 ft at 4:18AM Mar 27, 2024 Observed: 0.73 ft at 4:24AM Mar 27, 2024 Observed: 0.73 ft at 4:30AM Mar 27, 2024 Observed: 0.73 ft at 4:36AM Mar 27, 2024 Observed: 0.73 ft at 4:42AM Mar 27, 2024 Observed: 0.76 ft at 4:48AM Mar 27, 2024 Observed: 0.77 ft at 4:54AM Mar 27, 2024 Observed: 0.79 ft at 5:00AM Mar 27, 2024 Observed: 0.81 ft at 5:06AM Mar 27, 2024 Observed: 0.84 ft at 5:12AM Mar 27, 2024 Observed: 0.87 ft at 5:18AM Mar 27, 2024 Observed: 0.92 ft at 5:24AM Mar 27, 2024 Observed: 0.97 ft at 5:30AM Mar 27, 2024 Observed: 1.03 ft at 5:36AM Mar 27, 2024 Observed: 1.1 ft at 5:42AM Mar 27, 2024 Observed: 1.17 ft at 5:48AM Mar 27, 2024 Observed: 1.23 ft at 5:54AM Mar 27, 2024 Observed: 1.31 ft at 6:00AM Mar 27, 2024 Observed: 1.39 ft at 6:06AM Mar 27, 2024 Observed: 1.46 ft at 6:12AM Mar 27, 2024 Observed: 1.55 ft at 6:18AM Mar 27, 2024 Observed: 1.63 ft at 6:24AM Mar 27, 2024 Observed: 1.72 ft at 6:30AM Mar 27, 2024 Observed: 1.82 ft at 6:36AM Mar 27, 2024 Observed: 1.92 ft at 6:42AM Mar 27, 2024 Observed: 2 ft at 6:48AM Mar 27, 2024 Observed: 2.09 ft at 6:54AM Mar 27, 2024 Observed: 2.17 ft at 7:00AM Mar 27, 2024 Observed: 2.26 ft at 7:06AM Mar 27, 2024 Observed: 2.35 ft at 7:12AM Mar 27, 2024 Observed: 2.42 ft at 7:18AM Mar 27, 2024 Observed: 2.5 ft at 7:24AM Mar 27, 2024 Observed: 2.58 ft at 7:30AM Mar 27, 2024 Observed: 2.65 ft at 7:36AM Mar 27, 2024 Observed: 2.73 ft at 7:42AM Mar 27, 2024 Observed: 2.79 ft at 7:48AM Mar 27, 2024 Observed: 2.86 ft at 7:54AM Mar 27, 2024 Observed: 2.91 ft at 8:00AM Mar 27, 2024 Observed: 2.96 ft at 8:06AM Mar 27, 2024 Observed: 3.02 ft at 8:12AM Mar 27, 2024 Observed: 3.07 ft at 8:18AM Mar 27, 2024 Observed: 3.11 ft at 8:24AM Mar 27, 2024 Observed: 3.16 ft at 8:30AM Mar 27, 2024 Observed: 3.2 ft at 8:36AM Mar 27, 2024 Observed: 3.24 ft at 8:42AM Mar 27, 2024 Observed: 3.27 ft at 8:48AM Mar 27, 2024 Observed: 3.3 ft at 8:54AM Mar 27, 2024 Observed: 3.32 ft at 9:00AM Mar 27, 2024 Observed: 3.35 ft at 9:06AM Mar 27, 2024 Observed: 3.36 ft at 9:12AM Mar 27, 2024 Observed: 3.38 ft at 9:18AM Mar 27, 2024 Observed: 3.38 ft at 9:24AM Mar 27, 2024 Observed: 3.39 ft at 9:30AM Mar 27, 2024 Highest Observation: 3.4 ft at 9:36AM Mar 27, 2024 Highest Observation: 3.4 ft at 9:42AM Mar 27, 2024 Highest Observation: 3.4 ft at 9:48AM Mar 27, 2024 Observed: 3.37 ft at 9:54AM Mar 27, 2024 Observed: 3.38 ft at 10:00AM Mar 27, 2024 Observed: 3.36 ft at 10:06AM Mar 27, 2024 Observed: 3.34 ft at 10:12AM Mar 27, 2024 Observed: 3.33 ft at 10:18AM Mar 27, 2024 Observed: 3.31 ft at 10:24AM Mar 27, 2024 Observed: 3.28 ft at 10:30AM Mar 27, 2024 Observed: 3.24 ft at 10:36AM Mar 27, 2024 Observed: 3.2 ft at 10:42AM Mar 27, 2024 Observed: 3.16 ft at 10:48AM Mar 27, 2024 Observed: 3.11 ft at 10:54AM Mar 27, 2024 Observed: 3.08 ft at 11:00AM Mar 27, 2024 Observed: 3.07 ft at 11:06AM Mar 27, 2024 Observed: 3.03 ft at 11:12AM Mar 27, 2024 Observed: 2.99 ft at 11:18AM Mar 27, 2024 Observed: 2.92 ft at 11:24AM Mar 27, 2024 Observed: 2.87 ft at 11:30AM Mar 27, 2024 Observed: 2.82 ft at 11:36AM Mar 27, 2024 Observed: 2.76 ft at 11:42AM Mar 27, 2024 Observed: 2.7 ft at 11:48AM Mar 27, 2024 Observed: 2.65 ft at 11:54AM Mar 27, 2024 Observed: 2.6 ft at 12:00PM Mar 27, 2024 Observed: 2.53 ft at 12:06PM Mar 27, 2024 Observed: 2.48 ft at 12:12PM Mar 27, 2024 Observed: 2.43 ft at 12:18PM Mar 27, 2024 Observed: 2.36 ft at 12:24PM Mar 27, 2024 Observed: 2.28 ft at 12:30PM Mar 27, 2024 Observed: 2.22 ft at 12:36PM Mar 27, 2024 Observed: 2.16 ft at 12:42PM Mar 27, 2024 Observed: 2.11 ft at 12:48PM Mar 27, 2024 Observed: 2.06 ft at 12:54PM Mar 27, 2024 Observed: 2.03 ft at 1:00PM Mar 27, 2024 Observed: 1.99 ft at 1:06PM Mar 27, 2024 Observed: 1.94 ft at 1:12PM Mar 27, 2024 Observed: 1.88 ft at 1:18PM Mar 27, 2024 Observed: 1.81 ft at 1:24PM Mar 27, 2024 Observed: 1.75 ft at 1:30PM Mar 27, 2024 Observed: 1.71 ft at 1:36PM Mar 27, 2024 Observed: 1.67 ft at 1:42PM Mar 27, 2024 Observed: 1.64 ft at 1:48PM Mar 27, 2024 Observed: 1.6 ft at 1:54PM Mar 27, 2024 Observed: 1.57 ft at 2:00PM Mar 27, 2024 Observed: 1.53 ft at 2:06PM Mar 27, 2024 Observed: 1.48 ft at 2:12PM Mar 27, 2024 Observed: 1.45 ft at 2:18PM Mar 27, 2024 Observed: 1.41 ft at 2:24PM Mar 27, 2024 Observed: 1.36 ft at 2:30PM Mar 27, 2024 Observed: 1.32 ft at 2:36PM Mar 27, 2024 Observed: 1.3 ft at 2:42PM Mar 27, 2024 Observed: 1.28 ft at 2:48PM Mar 27, 2024 Observed: 1.26 ft at 2:54PM Mar 27, 2024 Observed: 1.19 ft at 3:00PM Mar 27, 2024 Observed: 1.14 ft at 3:06PM Mar 27, 2024 Observed: 1.11 ft at 3:12PM Mar 27, 2024 Observed: 1.08 ft at 3:18PM Mar 27, 2024 Observed: 1.07 ft at 3:24PM Mar 27, 2024 Observed: 1.02 ft at 3:30PM Mar 27, 2024 Observed: 0.96 ft at 3:36PM Mar 27, 2024 Observed: 0.91 ft at 3:42PM Mar 27, 2024 Observed: 0.88 ft at 3:48PM Mar 27, 2024 Observed: 0.86 ft at 3:54PM Mar 27, 2024 Observed: 0.83 ft at 4:00PM Mar 27, 2024 Observed: 0.81 ft at 4:06PM Mar 27, 2024 Observed: 0.77 ft at 4:12PM Mar 27, 2024 Observed: 0.74 ft at 4:18PM Mar 27, 2024 Observed: 0.72 ft at 4:24PM Mar 27, 2024 Observed: 0.7 ft at 4:30PM Mar 27, 2024 Observed: 0.69 ft at 4:36PM Mar 27, 2024 Observed: 0.66 ft at 4:42PM Mar 27, 2024 Observed: 0.64 ft at 4:48PM Mar 27, 2024 Observed: 0.63 ft at 4:54PM Mar 27, 2024 Observed: 0.61 ft at 5:00PM Mar 27, 2024 Observed: 0.61 ft at 5:06PM Mar 27, 2024 Observed: 0.6 ft at 5:12PM Mar 27, 2024 Observed: 0.58 ft at 5:18PM Mar 27, 2024 Observed: 0.58 ft at 5:24PM Mar 27, 2024 Observed: 0.59 ft at 5:30PM Mar 27, 2024 Observed: 0.6 ft at 5:36PM Mar 27, 2024 Observed: 0.62 ft at 5:42PM Mar 27, 2024 Observed: 0.62 ft at 5:48PM Mar 27, 2024 Observed: 0.63 ft at 5:54PM Mar 27, 2024 Observed: 0.66 ft at 6:00PM Mar 27, 2024 Observed: 0.68 ft at 6:06PM Mar 27, 2024 Observed: 0.7 ft at 6:12PM Mar 27, 2024 Observed: 0.74 ft at 6:18PM Mar 27, 2024 Observed: 0.78 ft at 6:24PM Mar 27, 2024 Observed: 0.83 ft at 6:30PM Mar 27, 2024 Observed: 0.89 ft at 6:36PM Mar 27, 2024 Observed: 0.93 ft at 6:42PM Mar 27, 2024 Observed: 0.97 ft at 6:48PM Mar 27, 2024 Observed: 1.04 ft at 6:54PM Mar 27, 2024 Observed: 1.11 ft at 7:00PM Mar 27, 2024 Observed: 1.18 ft at 7:06PM Mar 27, 2024 Observed: 1.27 ft at 7:12PM Mar 27, 2024 Observed: 1.33 ft at 7:18PM Mar 27, 2024 Observed: 1.38 ft at 7:24PM Mar 27, 2024 Observed: 1.46 ft at 7:30PM Mar 27, 2024 Observed: 1.53 ft at 7:36PM Mar 27, 2024 Observed: 1.61 ft at 7:42PM Mar 27, 2024 Observed: 1.7 ft at 7:48PM Mar 27, 2024 Observed: 1.79 ft at 7:54PM Mar 27, 2024 Observed: 1.85 ft at 8:00PM Mar 27, 2024 Observed: 1.93 ft at 8:06PM Mar 27, 2024 Observed: 1.99 ft at 8:12PM Mar 27, 2024 Observed: 2.06 ft at 8:18PM Mar 27, 2024 Observed: 2.15 ft at 8:24PM Mar 27, 2024 Observed: 2.19 ft at 8:30PM Mar 27, 2024 Observed: 2.27 ft at 8:36PM Mar 27, 2024 Observed: 2.32 ft at 8:42PM Mar 27, 2024 Observed: 2.37 ft at 8:48PM Mar 27, 2024 Observed: 2.43 ft at 8:54PM Mar 27, 2024 Observed: 2.48 ft at 9:00PM Mar 27, 2024 Observed: 2.54 ft at 9:06PM Mar 27, 2024 Observed: 2.59 ft at 9:12PM Mar 27, 2024 Observed: 2.61 ft at 9:18PM Mar 27, 2024 Observed: 2.65 ft at 9:24PM Mar 27, 2024 Observed: 2.68 ft at 9:30PM Mar 27, 2024 Observed: 2.71 ft at 9:36PM Mar 27, 2024 Observed: 2.75 ft at 9:42PM Mar 27, 2024 Observed: 2.78 ft at 9:48PM Mar 27, 2024 Observed: 2.8 ft at 9:54PM Mar 27, 2024 Observed: 2.81 ft at 10:00PM Mar 27, 2024 Observed: 2.82 ft at 10:06PM Mar 27, 2024 Observed: 2.82 ft at 10:12PM Mar 27, 2024 Observed: 2.84 ft at 10:18PM Mar 27, 2024 Observed: 2.83 ft at 10:24PM Mar 27, 2024 Observed: 2.84 ft at 10:30PM Mar 27, 2024 Observed: 2.84 ft at 10:36PM Mar 27, 2024 Observed: 2.81 ft at 10:42PM Mar 27, 2024 Observed: 2.79 ft at 10:48PM Mar 27, 2024 Observed: 2.76 ft at 10:54PM Mar 27, 2024 Observed: 2.73 ft at 11:00PM Mar 27, 2024 Observed: 2.71 ft at 11:06PM Mar 27, 2024 Observed: 2.68 ft at 11:12PM Mar 27, 2024 Observed: 2.64 ft at 11:18PM Mar 27, 2024 Observed: 2.61 ft at 11:24PM Mar 27, 2024 Observed: 2.55 ft at 11:30PM Mar 27, 2024 Observed: 2.51 ft at 11:36PM Mar 27, 2024 Observed: 2.45 ft at 11:42PM Mar 27, 2024 Observed: 2.36 ft at 11:48PM Mar 27, 2024 Observed: 2.31 ft at 11:54PM Mar 27, 2024 Observed: 2.26 ft at 12:00AM Mar 28, 2024 Observed: 2.2 ft at 12:06AM Mar 28, 2024 Observed: 2.17 ft at 12:12AM Mar 28, 2024 Observed: 2.1 ft at 12:18AM Mar 28, 2024 Observed: 2.03 ft at 12:24AM Mar 28, 2024 Observed: 1.95 ft at 12:30AM Mar 28, 2024 Observed: 1.88 ft at 12:36AM Mar 28, 2024 Observed: 1.82 ft at 12:42AM Mar 28, 2024 Observed: 1.76 ft at 12:48AM Mar 28, 2024 Observed: 1.69 ft at 12:54AM Mar 28, 2024 Observed: 1.61 ft at 1:00AM Mar 28, 2024 Observed: 1.54 ft at 1:06AM Mar 28, 2024 Observed: 1.48 ft at 1:12AM Mar 28, 2024 Observed: 1.44 ft at 1:18AM Mar 28, 2024 Observed: 1.39 ft at 1:24AM Mar 28, 2024 Observed: 1.34 ft at 1:30AM Mar 28, 2024 Observed: 1.28 ft at 1:36AM Mar 28, 2024 Observed: 1.19 ft at 1:42AM Mar 28, 2024 Observed: 1.13 ft at 1:48AM Mar 28, 2024 Observed: 1.08 ft at 1:54AM Mar 28, 2024 Observed: 1 ft at 2:00AM Mar 28, 2024 Observed: 0.96 ft at 2:06AM Mar 28, 2024 Observed: 0.92 ft at 2:12AM Mar 28, 2024 Observed: 0.88 ft at 2:18AM Mar 28, 2024 Observed: 0.83 ft at 2:24AM Mar 28, 2024 Observed: 0.79 ft at 2:30AM Mar 28, 2024 Observed: 0.71 ft at 2:36AM Mar 28, 2024 Observed: 0.65 ft at 2:42AM Mar 28, 2024 Observed: 0.62 ft at 2:48AM Mar 28, 2024 Observed: 0.56 ft at 2:54AM Mar 28, 2024 Observed: 0.53 ft at 3:00AM Mar 28, 2024 Observed: 0.52 ft at 3:06AM Mar 28, 2024 Observed: 0.46 ft at 3:12AM Mar 28, 2024 Observed: 0.38 ft at 3:18AM Mar 28, 2024 Observed: 0.35 ft at 3:24AM Mar 28, 2024 Observed: 0.33 ft at 3:30AM Mar 28, 2024 Observed: 0.3 ft at 3:36AM Mar 28, 2024 Observed: 0.26 ft at 3:42AM Mar 28, 2024 Observed: 0.21 ft at 3:48AM Mar 28, 2024 Observed: 0.16 ft at 3:54AM Mar 28, 2024 Observed: 0.12 ft at 4:00AM Mar 28, 2024 Observed: 0.09 ft at 4:06AM Mar 28, 2024 Observed: 0.1 ft at 4:12AM Mar 28, 2024 Observed: 0.09 ft at 4:18AM Mar 28, 2024 Observed: 0.05 ft at 4:24AM Mar 28, 2024 Observed: 0.01 ft at 4:30AM Mar 28, 2024 Observed: -0.02 ft at 4:36AM Mar 28, 2024 Observed: -0.03 ft at 4:42AM Mar 28, 2024 Observed: -0.02 ft at 4:48AM Mar 28, 2024 Observed: -0.03 ft at 4:54AM Mar 28, 2024 Observed: -0.05 ft at 5:00AM Mar 28, 2024 Observed: -0.09 ft at 5:06AM Mar 28, 2024 Observed: -0.08 ft at 5:12AM Mar 28, 2024 Observed: -0.05 ft at 5:18AM Mar 28, 2024 Observed: -0.02 ft at 5:24AM Mar 28, 2024 Observed: -0.03 ft at 5:30AM Mar 28, 2024 Observed: -0.03 ft at 5:36AM Mar 28, 2024 Observed: 0 ft at 5:42AM Mar 28, 2024 Observed: 0.03 ft at 5:48AM Mar 28, 2024 Observed: 0.06 ft at 5:54AM Mar 28, 2024 Observed: 0.12 ft at 6:00AM Mar 28, 2024 Observed: 0.17 ft at 6:06AM Mar 28, 2024 Observed: 0.21 ft at 6:12AM Mar 28, 2024 Observed: 0.28 ft at 6:18AM Mar 28, 2024 Observed: 0.34 ft at 6:24AM Mar 28, 2024 Observed: 0.39 ft at 6:30AM Mar 28, 2024 Observed: 0.47 ft at 6:36AM Mar 28, 2024 Observed: 0.55 ft at 6:42AM Mar 28, 2024 Observed: 0.61 ft at 6:48AM Mar 28, 2024 Observed: 0.7 ft at 6:54AM Mar 28, 2024 Observed: 0.79 ft at 7:00AM Mar 28, 2024 Observed: 0.88 ft at 7:06AM Mar 28, 2024 Observed: 0.98 ft at 7:12AM Mar 28, 2024 Observed: 1.07 ft at 7:18AM Mar 28, 2024 Observed: 1.14 ft at 7:24AM Mar 28, 2024 Observed: 1.22 ft at 7:30AM Mar 28, 2024 Observed: 1.31 ft at 7:36AM Mar 28, 2024 Observed: 1.38 ft at 7:42AM Mar 28, 2024 Observed: 1.47 ft at 7:48AM Mar 28, 2024 Observed: 1.56 ft at 7:54AM Mar 28, 2024 Observed: 1.64 ft at 8:00AM Mar 28, 2024 Observed: 1.72 ft at 8:06AM Mar 28, 2024 Observed: 1.79 ft at 8:12AM Mar 28, 2024 Observed: 1.84 ft at 8:18AM Mar 28, 2024 Observed: 1.91 ft at 8:24AM Mar 28, 2024 Observed: 1.97 ft at 8:30AM Mar 28, 2024 Observed: 2.04 ft at 8:36AM Mar 28, 2024 Observed: 2.09 ft at 8:42AM Mar 28, 2024 Observed: 2.14 ft at 8:48AM Mar 28, 2024 Observed: 2.21 ft at 8:54AM Mar 28, 2024 Observed: 2.24 ft at 9:00AM Mar 28, 2024 Observed: 2.29 ft at 9:06AM Mar 28, 2024 Observed: 2.33 ft at 9:12AM Mar 28, 2024 Observed: 2.36 ft at 9:18AM Mar 28, 2024 Observed: 2.39 ft at 9:24AM Mar 28, 2024 Observed: 2.42 ft at 9:30AM Mar 28, 2024 Observed: 2.45 ft at 9:36AM Mar 28, 2024 Observed: 2.47 ft at 9:42AM Mar 28, 2024 Observed: 2.48 ft at 9:48AM Mar 28, 2024 Observed: 2.49 ft at 9:54AM Mar 28, 2024 Observed: 2.48 ft at 10:00AM Mar 28, 2024 Observed: 2.5 ft at 10:06AM Mar 28, 2024 Observed: 2.52 ft at 10:12AM Mar 28, 2024 Observed: 2.5 ft at 10:18AM Mar 28, 2024 Observed: 2.51 ft at 10:24AM Mar 28, 2024 Observed: 2.5 ft at 10:30AM Mar 28, 2024 Observed: 2.48 ft at 10:36AM Mar 28, 2024 Observed: 2.47 ft at 10:42AM Mar 28, 2024 Observed: 2.44 ft at 10:48AM Mar 28, 2024 Observed: 2.41 ft at 10:54AM Mar 28, 2024 Observed: 2.38 ft at 11:00AM Mar 28, 2024 Observed: 2.35 ft at 11:06AM Mar 28, 2024 Observed: 2.32 ft at 11:12AM Mar 28, 2024 Observed: 2.28 ft at 11:18AM Mar 28, 2024 Observed: 2.23 ft at 11:24AM Mar 28, 2024 Observed: 2.19 ft at 11:30AM Mar 28, 2024 Observed: 2.13 ft at 11:36AM Mar 28, 2024 Observed: 2.07 ft at 11:42AM Mar 28, 2024 Observed: 2.01 ft at 11:48AM Mar 28, 2024 Observed: 1.96 ft at 11:54AM Mar 28, 2024 Observed: 1.9 ft at 12:00PM Mar 28, 2024 Observed: 1.84 ft at 12:06PM Mar 28, 2024 Observed: 1.78 ft at 12:12PM Mar 28, 2024 Observed: 1.71 ft at 12:18PM Mar 28, 2024 Observed: 1.64 ft at 12:24PM Mar 28, 2024 Observed: 1.56 ft at 12:30PM Mar 28, 2024 Observed: 1.5 ft at 12:36PM Mar 28, 2024 Observed: 1.41 ft at 12:42PM Mar 28, 2024 Observed: 1.36 ft at 12:48PM Mar 28, 2024 Observed: 1.29 ft at 12:54PM Mar 28, 2024 Observed: 1.23 ft at 1:00PM Mar 28, 2024 Observed: 1.16 ft at 1:06PM Mar 28, 2024 Observed: 1.1 ft at 1:12PM Mar 28, 2024 Observed: 1.04 ft at 1:18PM Mar 28, 2024 Observed: 0.96 ft at 1:24PM Mar 28, 2024 Observed: 0.91 ft at 1:30PM Mar 28, 2024 Observed: 0.87 ft at 1:36PM Mar 28, 2024 Observed: 0.79 ft at 1:42PM Mar 28, 2024 Observed: 0.75 ft at 1:48PM Mar 28, 2024 Observed: 0.69 ft at 1:54PM Mar 28, 2024 Observed: 0.64 ft at 2:00PM Mar 28, 2024 Observed: 0.59 ft at 2:06PM Mar 28, 2024 Observed: 0.53 ft at 2:12PM Mar 28, 2024 Observed: 0.48 ft at 2:18PM Mar 28, 2024 Observed: 0.42 ft at 2:24PM Mar 28, 2024 Observed: 0.35 ft at 2:30PM Mar 28, 2024 Observed: 0.31 ft at 2:36PM Mar 28, 2024 Observed: 0.24 ft at 2:42PM Mar 28, 2024 Observed: 0.19 ft at 2:48PM Mar 28, 2024 Observed: 0.15 ft at 2:54PM Mar 28, 2024 Observed: 0.1 ft at 3:00PM Mar 28, 2024 Observed: 0.05 ft at 3:06PM Mar 28, 2024 Observed: 0.01 ft at 3:12PM Mar 28, 2024 Observed: -0.04 ft at 3:18PM Mar 28, 2024 Observed: -0.08 ft at 3:24PM Mar 28, 2024 Observed: -0.16 ft at 3:30PM Mar 28, 2024 Observed: -0.2 ft at 3:36PM Mar 28, 2024 Observed: -0.23 ft at 3:42PM Mar 28, 2024 Observed: -0.26 ft at 3:48PM Mar 28, 2024 Observed: -0.3 ft at 3:54PM Mar 28, 2024 Observed: -0.34 ft at 4:00PM Mar 28, 2024 Observed: -0.38 ft at 4:06PM Mar 28, 2024 Observed: -0.4 ft at 4:12PM Mar 28, 2024 Observed: -0.44 ft at 4:18PM Mar 28, 2024 Observed: -0.48 ft at 4:24PM Mar 28, 2024 Observed: -0.5 ft at 4:30PM Mar 28, 2024 Observed: -0.52 ft at 4:36PM Mar 28, 2024 Observed: -0.57 ft at 4:42PM Mar 28, 2024 Observed: -0.6 ft at 4:48PM Mar 28, 2024 Observed: -0.62 ft at 4:54PM Mar 28, 2024 Observed: -0.65 ft at 5:00PM Mar 28, 2024 Observed: -0.69 ft at 5:06PM Mar 28, 2024 Observed: -0.72 ft at 5:12PM Mar 28, 2024 Observed: -0.75 ft at 5:18PM Mar 28, 2024 Observed: -0.74 ft at 5:24PM Mar 28, 2024 Observed: -0.77 ft at 5:30PM Mar 28, 2024 Observed: -0.8 ft at 5:36PM Mar 28, 2024 Observed: -0.83 ft at 5:42PM Mar 28, 2024 Observed: -0.82 ft at 5:48PM Mar 28, 2024 Observed: -0.84 ft at 5:54PM Mar 28, 2024 Observed: -0.86 ft at 6:00PM Mar 28, 2024 Observed: -0.9 ft at 6:06PM Mar 28, 2024 Observed: -0.91 ft at 6:12PM Mar 28, 2024 Observed: -0.92 ft at 6:18PM Mar 28, 2024 Observed: -0.9 ft at 6:24PM Mar 28, 2024 Observed: -0.89 ft at 6:30PM Mar 28, 2024 Observed: -0.88 ft at 6:36PM Mar 28, 2024 Observed: -0.87 ft at 6:42PM Mar 28, 2024 Observed: -0.85 ft at 6:48PM Mar 28, 2024 Observed: -0.82 ft at 6:54PM Mar 28, 2024 Observed: -0.79 ft at 7:00PM Mar 28, 2024 Observed: -0.77 ft at 7:06PM Mar 28, 2024 Observed: -0.71 ft at 7:12PM Mar 28, 2024 Observed: -0.64 ft at 7:18PM Mar 28, 2024 Observed: -0.59 ft at 7:24PM Mar 28, 2024 Observed: -0.54 ft at 7:30PM Mar 28, 2024 Observed: -0.5 ft at 7:36PM Mar 28, 2024 Observed: -0.44 ft at 7:42PM Mar 28, 2024 Observed: -0.36 ft at 7:48PM Mar 28, 2024 Observed: -0.29 ft at 7:54PM Mar 28, 2024 Observed: -0.21 ft at 8:00PM Mar 28, 2024 Observed: -0.13 ft at 8:06PM Mar 28, 2024 Observed: -0.06 ft at 8:12PM Mar 28, 2024 Observed: 0.02 ft at 8:18PM Mar 28, 2024 Observed: 0.09 ft at 8:24PM Mar 28, 2024 Observed: 0.17 ft at 8:30PM Mar 28, 2024 Observed: 0.25 ft at 8:36PM Mar 28, 2024 Observed: 0.33 ft at 8:42PM Mar 28, 2024 Observed: 0.41 ft at 8:48PM Mar 28, 2024 Observed: 0.49 ft at 8:54PM Mar 28, 2024 Observed: 0.55 ft at 9:00PM Mar 28, 2024 Observed: 0.61 ft at 9:06PM Mar 28, 2024 Observed: 0.68 ft at 9:12PM Mar 28, 2024 Observed: 0.74 ft at 9:18PM Mar 28, 2024 Observed: 0.8 ft at 9:24PM Mar 28, 2024 Observed: 0.86 ft at 9:30PM Mar 28, 2024 Observed: 0.9 ft at 9:36PM Mar 28, 2024 Observed: 0.95 ft at 9:42PM Mar 28, 2024 Observed: 1 ft at 9:48PM Mar 28, 2024 Observed: 1.04 ft at 9:54PM Mar 28, 2024 Observed: 1.07 ft at 10:00PM Mar 28, 2024 Observed: 1.11 ft at 10:06PM Mar 28, 2024 Observed: 1.16 ft at 10:12PM Mar 28, 2024 Observed: 1.17 ft at 10:18PM Mar 28, 2024 Observed: 1.2 ft at 10:24PM Mar 28, 2024 Observed: 1.23 ft at 10:30PM Mar 28, 2024 Observed: 1.23 ft at 10:36PM Mar 28, 2024 Observed: 1.24 ft at 10:42PM Mar 28, 2024 Observed: 1.25 ft at 10:48PM Mar 28, 2024 Observed: 1.26 ft at 10:54PM Mar 28, 2024 Observed: 1.25 ft at 11:00PM Mar 28, 2024 Observed: 1.26 ft at 11:06PM Mar 28, 2024 Observed: 1.25 ft at 11:12PM Mar 28, 2024 Observed: 1.15 ft at 11:42PM Mar 28, 2024 Observed: 1.12 ft at 11:48PM Mar 28, 2024 Observed: 1.08 ft at 11:54PM Mar 28, 2024 Observed: 1.05 ft at 12:00AM Mar 29, 2024 Observed: 1.01 ft at 12:06AM Mar 29, 2024 Observed: 0.97 ft at 12:12AM Mar 29, 2024 Observed: 0.92 ft at 12:18AM Mar 29, 2024 Observed: 0.88 ft at 12:24AM Mar 29, 2024 Observed: 0.83 ft at 12:30AM Mar 29, 2024 Observed: 0.78 ft at 12:36AM Mar 29, 2024 Observed: 0.73 ft at 12:42AM Mar 29, 2024 Observed: 0.66 ft at 12:48AM Mar 29, 2024 Observed: 0.61 ft at 12:54AM Mar 29, 2024 Observed: 0.55 ft at 1:00AM Mar 29, 2024 Observed: 0.49 ft at 1:06AM Mar 29, 2024 Observed: 0.44 ft at 1:12AM Mar 29, 2024 Observed: 0.38 ft at 1:18AM Mar 29, 2024 Observed: 0.31 ft at 1:24AM Mar 29, 2024 Observed: 0.26 ft at 1:30AM Mar 29, 2024 Observed: 0.2 ft at 1:36AM Mar 29, 2024 Observed: 0.14 ft at 1:42AM Mar 29, 2024 Observed: 0.08 ft at 1:48AM Mar 29, 2024 Observed: 0.03 ft at 1:54AM Mar 29, 2024 Observed: -0.03 ft at 2:00AM Mar 29, 2024 Observed: -0.09 ft at 2:06AM Mar 29, 2024 Observed: -0.14 ft at 2:12AM Mar 29, 2024 Observed: -0.2 ft at 2:18AM Mar 29, 2024 Observed: -0.25 ft at 2:24AM Mar 29, 2024 Observed: -0.3 ft at 2:30AM Mar 29, 2024 Observed: -0.35 ft at 2:36AM Mar 29, 2024 Observed: -0.39 ft at 2:42AM Mar 29, 2024 Observed: -0.44 ft at 2:48AM Mar 29, 2024 Observed: -0.49 ft at 2:54AM Mar 29, 2024 Observed: -0.54 ft at 3:00AM Mar 29, 2024 Observed: -0.59 ft at 3:06AM Mar 29, 2024 Observed: -0.63 ft at 3:12AM Mar 29, 2024 Observed: -0.67 ft at 3:18AM Mar 29, 2024 Observed: -0.72 ft at 3:24AM Mar 29, 2024 Observed: -0.76 ft at 3:30AM Mar 29, 2024 Observed: -0.8 ft at 3:36AM Mar 29, 2024 Observed: -0.83 ft at 3:42AM Mar 29, 2024 Observed: -0.87 ft at 3:48AM Mar 29, 2024 Observed: -0.9 ft at 3:54AM Mar 29, 2024 Observed: -0.93 ft at 4:00AM Mar 29, 2024 Observed: -0.97 ft at 4:06AM Mar 29, 2024 Observed: -1.01 ft at 4:12AM Mar 29, 2024 USGS--Water Resources of the United States ALEV2(plotting HGIRZ) Graph Created (5:11AM Mar 29, 2024) Observed Latest observed value: -1.01 ft at 4:12 AM EDT 29-Mar-2024. Flood Stage is 7 ft



NOTE: Gauge reading affected by tides.

NOTE: Forecasts are not available for the Anacostia River at Washington Aquatic Gardens. Only observed stages are available for this point.


Flood Categories (in feet)

Major Flood Stage: 0
Moderate Flood Stage: 0
Flood Stage: 0
Action Stage: 3.5
Low Stage (in feet): -9999

Historic Crests
Currently none available.

Recent Crests
Currently none available.

Low Water Records
Currently none available.

KML Image
Gauge LocationGauge Map Marker
Disclaimer
Latitude/Longitude Disclaimer: The gauge location shown in the above map
is the approximate location based on the latitude/longitude coordinates
provided to the NWS by the gauge owner.
If you notice any errors in the below information, please contact our Webmaster
4.5 An access road connecting Lot 7 and Lot 8 in the RFK Stadium parking area floods. Water also approaches Anacostia Drive near I-695.
4 Water begins to cover portions of the 11th hole at Langston Colf Course on Kingman Island. Minor overbank flooding is occurring elsewhere along the river, including near Boathouse Row.


Latitude: 38.914444° N,
Longitude: 76.950278° W,
Horizontal Datum:
NAD83/WGS84

River Stage
Reference Frame
Gauge Height Flood Stage Uses
NWS stage 0 ft Not Available Interpreting hydrographs and NWS watch, warnings, and forecasts, and inundation maps
Vertical Datum Elevation
(gauge height = 0)
Elevation
(gauge height = flood stage)
Elevation information source
NAVD88 Not Available Not Available Survey grade GPS equipment, The Federal Emergency Management Agency flood plain maps, newer USGS topographic maps
NGVD 29 Not Available Not Available Older USGS topographic maps, NGVD29 benchmarks
MSL Not Available Not Available Older USGS topographic maps, MSL benchmarks
Other Not Available Not Available  

Current/Historical Observations:


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Ukraine recap: Russia won’t attack Nato countries says Putin, believe it or not https://inergency.com/ukraine-recap-russia-wont-attack-nato-countries-says-putin-believe-it-or-not/ Fri, 29 Mar 2024 09:33:31 +0000 https://inergency.com/ukraine-recap-russia-wont-attack-nato-countries-says-putin-believe-it-or-not/ Ukraine recap: Russia won’t attack Nato countries says Putin, believe it or notVladimir Putin says has no intention of attacking any Nato members. Visiting an airbase in Torzhok, on the road between Moscow and St Petersburg, the Russian president told a group of pilots he didn’t plan to spark a war with any members of the western alliance which might bring in the US, with its massively […]]]> Ukraine recap: Russia won’t attack Nato countries says Putin, believe it or not


Vladimir Putin says has no intention of attacking any Nato members. Visiting an airbase in Torzhok, on the road between Moscow and St Petersburg, the Russian president told a group of pilots he didn’t plan to spark a war with any members of the western alliance which might bring in the US, with its massively greater defence budget.

“The idea that we will attack some other country – Poland, the Baltic States, and the Czechs are also being scared – is complete nonsense. It’s just drivel,” he said.

But he did leave himself a little wriggle room. Declaring that if Ukraine used F-16 fighter aircraft supplied by its western allies, “We will shoot them down,” – adding: “Of course, if they are used from airfields in third countries, they become legitimate targets for us, wherever they are.”

And, let’s not forget, he was rubbishing the idea that he intended to invade Ukraine until days before he dispatched Russia’s war machine across the border for its “special military exercise”.

In any case, they aren’t taking much notice of Putin’s reassurance in the Baltic states, where they have long and bitter memories of being occupied by the Soviet Union in 1940 followed by more than five decades of enforced membership of the Soviet bloc. Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia agreed in January to set up a common Baltic defence zone on their borders with Russia and Belarus and the three countries have each embarked on massive defence programmes, including expansion of their militaries and huge defence construction projects.

Natasha Lindstaedt, a specialist on authoritarianism at the University of Essex, believes the possibility that Donald Trump might return to the White House in 2025 has focused minds in the Baltics. Trump has signalled he intends to end the war in Ukraine “within 24 hours”, probably by cutting off US support to Ukraine (a job his proxies in the US congress are doing pretty effectively already as they drag their feet over passing Joe Biden’s aid bill).

Dangerous neighbourhood: the Baltic states of Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia are beefing up their defences in case of conflict with Russia.
Peter Hermes Furian/Shutterstock

He has also been outspoken in his criticism of Nato, although he recently said he mightn’t take the US out of the alliance, as long as its European member states pay their way. But his qualification of this support: “We have an ocean in between some problems … we have a nice big, beautiful ocean,” might have set nerves jangling. So the Baltics, which might be the Nato members most exposed to a possible Russian escalation, are making their own preparations.




Read more:
Ukraine war: Russia’s Baltic neighbours to create massive border defences as Trump continues undermining Nato


Speaking of elections, perhaps the least surprising news of the year was that Vladimir Putin won another six year term of office (which we were able to confidently predict in the last Ukraine recap two weeks ago even as polling stations opened). Someone else with equal foresight (and a similar sense of humour) was the president of the European Council, Charles Michel, who tweeted his congratulations on the morning of the first day of voting.

Putin’s victory got a mixed reaction from world leaders. China and North Korea were quick to congratulate Putin, followed by Belarus, Venezuela and Cuba. Others to hail his “victory” included India, the Houthi rebels in Yemen and Hamas in Gaza. Meanwhile a roll-call of western leaders and senior diplomats declared their disgust at what Gerseveral’s foreign minister, Annalena Baerbock, said “was not a real election”.

Stephen Hall, who researches authoritarian regimes at the University of Bath, says the west should take the advice of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, whose leader Theodoros Rousopoulos said Putin “clearly lacks any vestige of democratic legitimacy” and urged the international community to “no longer recognise Putin’s legitimacy as president”, adding: “We call on them to cease all contact with Putin, except in the pursuit of peace and for humanitarian purposes.”

Hall believes that declaring Putin’s presidency as illegitimate might send a message to Russian elites “that Putin has taken Russia down a dark and dangerous path” and reassure his opponents in exile that they have friends in high places. It might also make it easier to extend western sanctions against members of Putin’s regime.




Read more:
Vladimir Putin: why it’s time for democracies to denounce Russia’s leader as illegitimate



Ukraine Recap weekly email newsletter

Since Vladimir Putin sent his war machine into Ukraine on February 24 2022, The Conversation has called upon some of the leading experts in international security, geopolitics and military tactics to help our readers understand the big issues. You can also subscribe to our fortnightly recap of expert analysis of the conflict in Ukraine.


On the subject of sanctions, Robert Huish – an expert in international development studies at Dalhousie University in Canada – has been puzzling out how Russia managed economic growth of 3.6% in 2023 and is forecast to grow by 2.4% this year, despite being subject to more than 16,000 sanctions. The answer? Gold.

Russia is the world’s second largest producer of gold and a lot of countries are buying gold at the moment to hedge against uncertain economic times. Huish says it is trading billions and billions of dollars worth of gold, much of it via the United Arab Emirates, which Russia is using as a cut-out to sell gold to countries such as Switzerland, which imported US$8.2 billion (£6.5 billion) in gold from the UEA, most of it Russian.

One solution is for other gold-producing countries to up their output to bring prices down. And a targeted sanction on UAE gold exports can also help.




Read more:
Vladimir Putin’s gold strategy explains why sanctions against Russia have failed


Moscow massacre

It should go without saying that it’s possible to decry the war in Ukraine while not wishing ill to befall individual Russians. And it’s in that spirit that we extend our sympathies to the families of the victims of the terrible massacre at Moscow’s Crocus City concert hall last week. And it was no doubt in the same spirit that the CIA sent information to Russian intelligence that an attack was imminent and might likely target a concert hall or other public performance space.

In the event, the warning was not heeded and more than 130 people lost their life in the attack. Robert Dover, an intelligence expert at the University of Hull, says there are a number of reasons why intelligence agencies – even those belonging to powers hostile to each other such as the US and Russia – might pool their knowledge: one of those over a number of years has been Islamic terrorism. Dover says cooperation on intelligence matters can also provide a back-channel through which other matters can be discussed without the usual performative diplomacy, which is very difficult given the war in Ukraine.




Read more:
Moscow attacks: why the Kremlin may have ignored any terrorist warnings from the CIA


Putin, meanwhile and somewhat predictably, has still found a way of blaming Ukraine and the west, who – say he and his senior colleagues – were behind the attack despite it being claimed by Isis-K. As you’d expect, Russian social media has been running hot as people took to sites such as Telegram to share videos and speculate as to the identity of the culprits.

Olga Logunova, a researcher at King’s College London’s Russia Institute, has made an in-depth study of social media use in Russia. She says that Putin absolutely dominates discussion on social media sites, his mentions far outpacing any other personalities, whether they are politicians or pop stars. Only Alexey Navalny got anywhere close to matching Putin’s mentions – and only then at the time of his arrest in 2021 and his subsequent death last month.




Read more:
What do Russians talk about on social media? Vladimir Putin dominates, while political friends and foes trail in the far distance


Crimea ten years on

Last week Putin celebrated ten years since Russia annexed Crimea by force. As for the people of Crimea, Shane O’Rourke, an expert in Russian history at the University of York, says their joy was far more muted. Ten years of occupation, the last two spent at war with their former compatriots, have given them little cause for celebration.

A crowd watches Vladimir Putin on video screens at a celebration of 10 years since Crimea was annexed to Russia
Happy anniversary? Vladimir Putin celebrates ten years since Russia annexed Crimea.
EPA-EFE/Sergei Ilnitsky

The peninsula’s economic mainstay, tourism, is in the doldrums, while a Russification campaign is destroying Crimea’s cultural identity and the Ukrainian and Tatar languages are being suppressed. Meanwhile residents are being forced to become Russian citizens whether they like it or not. Many do not: 50,000 people have left in the past decade.




Read more:
Ten years since its annexation, Crimea serves as a grim warning to any Ukrainian lands that fall under Russian occupation


Further, as Stefan Wolff – an expert in international relations at the University of Birmingham – notes here, Russia’s grip on Crimea looks shakier now than at any time since 2014. There have been repeated attacks on the Kerch Bridge which connects Crimea to the mainland, while the peninsula is subject to regular drone attacks and the security situation has deteriorated to the extent that Russia’s Black Sea fleet has been forced to seek safer harbour on the Russian mainland.

Meanwhile Ukrainian intelligence chief Kyrylo Budanov signalled that a major operation aimed at further loosening Russia’s grip on Crimea was imminent. Things have now reached the stage where members of the Russian parliament recently introduced a draft bill on March 11 to annul the transfer of Crimea from Russia to Ukraine by former Soviet leader Nikita Krushchev in 1954. It’s an old Soviet trick, if you don’t like history, change it.




Read more:
Ukraine war: ten years after Putin annexed Crimea, Russia’s grip on the peninsula looks shaky


Ukraine Recap is available as a fortnightly email newsletter. Click here to get our recaps directly in your inbox.

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ASEAN Summit: Difference between revisions https://inergency.com/asean-summit-difference-between-revisions/ Fri, 29 Mar 2024 09:31:37 +0000 https://inergency.com/asean-summit-difference-between-revisions/ ASEAN Summit: Difference between revisionsMeeting of ASEAN member states ASEAN Summit ASEAN member states shown in green Status Active Genre Diplomatic conference Frequency Biannual Years active 57 Inaugurated 24 February 1967 (1967-02-24) Most recent 2024 The ASEAN Summit is a biannual meeting held by the members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) in relation to economic, political, security, and socio-cultural […]]]> ASEAN Summit: Difference between revisions


Meeting of ASEAN member states

ASEAN Summit

ASEAN member states shown in green
Status Active
Genre Diplomatic conference
Frequency Biannual
Years active 57
Inaugurated 24 February 1967 (1967-02-24)
Most recent 2024

The ASEAN Summit is a biannual meeting held by the members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) in relation to economic, political, security, and socio-cultural development of Southeast Asian countries. In addition, it serves as a prominent regional (Asia) and international (worldwide) conference, with world leaders attending its related summits and meetings to discuss various problems and global issues, strengthening co-operation, and making decisions.[1][2] The summit has been praised by world leaders for its success and ability to produce results on a global level.[3]

The league of ASEAN is currently connected with other countries who aim to participate on the missions and visions of the league. The league conducts annual meetings with other countries in an organisation collectively known as the ASEAN dialogue partners. ASEAN +3 adds China, Japan, and South Korea.

The formal summits are held in three days. The usual itinerary are as follows:

  • ASEAN leaders hold an internal organisation meeting.
  • ASEAN leaders hold a conference together with foreign ministers of the ASEAN Regional Forum.
  • Leaders of three ASEAN Dialogue Partners (also known as ASEAN +3), namely China, Japan, and South Korea, hold a meeting with the ASEAN leaders.
  • And a separate meeting is set for leaders of two ASEAN Dialogue Partners (also known as ASEAN +CER), namely Australia and New Zealand.

History[edit]

Worldpose for family portrait during ASEAN conference with European Union in Jakarta, Indonesia in July 2023.

The 1st ASEAN Summit was held in February 1976 in Bali, Indonesia.[4] At this summit, ASEAN expressed its readiness to “develop fruitful relations” and mutually beneficial co-operation with other countries of the region.[5] The ASEAN leaders signed the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia.
The 2nd ASEAN summit held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia in August 1977 was the occasion for the first summit meeting between Japan and ASEAN. Japan expressed its intention to promote co-operation with ASEAN.[6]

At the 9th ASEAN Summit, a meeting in October 2003 in Bali, Indonesia, the leaders of the member states signed a declaration known as the Bali Concord II in which they agreed to pursue closer economic integration by 2020.

According to the declaration, “an ASEAN Community” might be set upon three pillars, “namely political and security cooperation, economic cooperation, and socio-cultural cooperation; For the purpose of ensuring durable peace, stability and shared prosperity in the region.” The plan envisaged a region with a population of 500 million and annual trade of US$720 billion. Also, a free trade area might be established in the region by 2020. ASEAN’s leaders also discussed setting up a security community alongside the economic one, though without any formal military alliance.

During the same meeting, China and ASEAN also agreed to work faster toward a mutual trade agreement which might create the world’s most populous market, with 1.7 billion consumers. Japan also signed an agreement pledging to reduce tariff and non-tariff barriers with ASEAN members.

At the 11th ASEAN summit in December 2005 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, several main issues were discussed:

Immediately after the summit ended, the inaugural East Asia Summit was held.

The 12th ASEAN Summit was originally set to be hosted in Cebu in the Philippines in December 2006. However, on 8 December, organizers decided to move the summit schedule to January 2007 due to Typhoon Seniang hitting the area. Metro Cebu jointly hosted various events of the summit. The actual conference was held at the Cebu International Convention Centre in Mandaue, while the Shangri-La Mactan Island Resort & Spa in Lapu-Lapu City provided accommodations for delegates and venues for smaller meetings. At the summit, the member countries of ASEAN signed five agreements pertaining to continuing integration of ASEAN and enhancing political, economic, and social co-operation in the region:[7]

  • Cebu Declaration Towards a Caring and Sharing Community
  • Cebu Declaration on the Blueprint for the ASEAN Charter
  • Cebu Declaration on the Acceleration of the Establishment of an ASEAN Community by 2015
  • ASEAN Declaration on the Protection and Promotion of the Rights of Migrant Workers
  • ASEAN Convention on Counter Terrorism

The 13th ASEAN Summit was held in November 2007 in Singapore. The key theme of the discussions was set to be on “Energy, Environment, Climate Change and Sustainable Development”. In line with the theme, the ASEAN Leaders’ Declaration on Environmental Sustainability was signed at the summit and a proposal to work on a Singapore Declaration on the Environment was issued at the Third East Asia Summit. The leaders endorsed the ASEAN Economic Community Blueprint, which might help chart concrete targets for establishing a single market and production base in the ASEAN region by 2015. Other documents that were negotiated and signed include:

  • ASEAN Mutual Recognition Agreement on Architectural Services
  • ASEAN Framework Arrangement for the Mutual Recognition of Surveying Qualifications
  • Protocol to Implement the Sixth Package of Commitments under the ASEAN Framework Agreement on Services
  • Agreements on trade and areas of co-operation with ASEAN Dialogue Partners

The 15th ASEAN Summit was held in October 2009 in Hua Hin and Cha-am, Thailand.[8] It involved the leaders of ASEAN member states together with their dialogue partners from China, Japan, South Korea, India, Australia, and New Zealand. A flurry of meetings among Asian leaders on the last day raised the possibility of forging a regional free trade pact, which is likely to be raised at the 2009 Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation summit.

The 28th and 29th ASEAN Summits were held in September 2016 in Vientiane, Laos. The year 2016 also marked the start off of the implementation of the ASEAN Community Vision 2025. Apart from the two main summits, other sideline summits under the umbrella of ASEAN were also held. There were nine Summits with ASEAN’s Dialogue Partners under the ASEAN Plus One, ASEAN Plus Three, and East Asia Summit co-operation frameworks. Also, under the sub-regional co-operation framework, the Mekong-Japan Summit was held. This occasion also provided a platform for ASEAN Leaders to meet with Representatives of ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Assembly (AIPA), Representatives of ASEAN Youth, and ASEAN Business Advisory Council. The main theme discussed at the summits was regarding the further commitment for the implementation of the ASEAN Community Vision 2025 and the three community Blueprints. ASEAN Leaders also signed the ASEAN Declaration on One ASEAN, One Response: ASEAN Responding to Disasters as One in the Region and Outside the Region.

South China Sea issues also came atop among important agenda at the summit. At the summit, the Philippines and Japan expressed serious concerns over China’s maritime territorial claims and building of artificial islands in the South China Sea. Japan’s Prime Minister, Shinzo Abe, called for peaceful settlement of dispute between China and the Philippines. The Philippines’ President, Rodrigo Duterte, reaffirmed at the meeting that the dispute should be solved “within the boundaries of the law, referring to the arbitral ruling under the Philippines v. China case by the Permanent Court of Arbitration in July 2016. The draft statement of meetings included lukewarm criticism over China’s actions in the South China Sea. However, there were no statements about ASEAN’s position on the arbitral ruling.[9] No multilateral statement has been clearly made to reflect the voice of the ASEAN community as a whole on the South China Sea issues. China reiterated that there should be no interference and the issues should be dealt in a bilateral manner.

ASEAN Summit[edit]

Under the ASEAN Charter, the ASEAN Summit is the supreme policy-making body of ASEAN. It comprises the heads of state or government of each member state. Accordingly, the Chairmanship of ASEAN rotates annually, based on the alphabetical order of the English names of ASEAN member states. The member state assuming the Chairmanship holds it for one calendar year, and chairs the ASEAN Summit and related summits, the ASEAN Coordinating Council, the three ASEAN Community Councils, relevant ASEAN Sectoral Ministerial Bodies and senior officials, and the Committee of Permanent Representatives. In addition, the Secretary General of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations is appointed by the ASEAN Summit, selected from among nationals of ASEAN member states based on alphabetical rotation.[10] The Chairmanship of ASEAN for 2024 is held by Laos.[11]

  Chairmanship of ASEAN

ASEAN Summit Meetings[edit]

The ASEAN Summit Meetings are held by its ten member states annually. Under the ASEAN Charter, ASEAN Summit Meetings are held twice annually, to be hosted by the member state holding the ASEAN Chairmanship. Further special or ad hoc meetings may be convened whenever necessary, to be chaired by the member state holding the ASEAN Chairmanship at venues to be agreed upon by the ASEAN member states.[10]

During the fifth summit in Bangkok, the leaders decided to meet “informally” between each formal summit.

After earthquake and tsunami in December 2004, ASEAN members held special summit in ASEAN Secreatriat, Jakarta, led by Prime Minister of Malaysia as ASEAN Charmain that year.[17] In 2020, during its year of chairmanship, Vietnam hosted a Special ASEAN summit and Special ASEAN+3 summit on COVID-19.[18]

14th ASEAN Summit and Protest[edit]

The 14th ASEAN summit was held from February to March 2009 in Hua Hin, Thailand. It was originally scheduled for December 2008, but was postponed due to the 2008 Thai political crisis. At the summit, ASEAN leaders signed the Cha-am Hua Hin Declaration on the Roadmap for an ASEAN Community and adopted various other documents, including the ASEAN Political-Security Community Blueprint and the ASEAN Socio-Cultural Community Blueprint.[19]
The summit was reconvened in Pattaya, Thailand in April 2009. This second part of the summit was to consist of various meetings between the ASEAN members and one or more non-ASEAN countries from 10 to 12 April. However, it was aborted on 11 April when hundreds of protesters forced their way past security forces into the venue.[20] Many of the visiting leaders had to be evacuated from the venue by helicopter to a nearby military airbase, although none were injured. The protests were part of the 2008 Thai political crisis and were not believed to be directed at ASEAN leaders, but rather at Thailand’s government.[21]

East Timor[edit]

The new nation of East Timor, previously ruled by Indonesia, has had a long struggle with ASEAN. East Timor, during its long process towards independence, has sought to have observer status in ASEAN, much like Papua New Guinea, and eventually official member status. Historically, ASEAN countries supported Indonesia over East Timor, with the Philippines and Malaysia barring overseas NGOs from participating in East Timor conferences in the late 1990s. More recently, Myanmar opposed granting observer status to East Timor because of the latter’s support for opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi.

In 2002, East Timor was recognised as an observer of ASEAN and joined the ASEAN Regional Forum in 2005.[22][23] In December 2005, the government of East Timor stated that the nation might be a member of ASEAN by 2011.[24]

The nation’s then-President, Xanana Gusmão, had already applied for membership at the 39th Annual Ministerial Meeting of ASEAN Foreign Ministers held in Kuala Lumpur in 2006.[25] However, the request is still pending as of July 2019.[26] The reason for the delay in membership is the protest on (increase in percent tax per import or export of online retail products) but taxes are divided half to two country doing exchange and by a ruling currency percentage ASEAN tax.

Myanmar (Burma)[edit]

Also prior to the 10th ASEAN Summit, Myanmar had taken steps to rehabilitate itself by releasing up to 9,000 prisoners who were imprisoned under the old junta. Myanmar’s new leader General Soe Win attended the conference and foreign minister Nyan Win had already made pre-summit press releases on Myanmar’s continuing commitment for the roadmap to democracy.

Myanmar was due to hold the chair of ASEAN in 2006. This however had attracted criticism from various factions. The United States and the European Union publicly announced that they might boycott any ASEAN-related event if Myanmar was the chair. In July 2005, during an ASEAN foreign minister meeting in Vientiane, Myanmar decided to postpone its turn. The Philippines, the country next in line, instead held the ASEAN chairmanship in 2006.

Apart from the United States, various ASEAN lawmakers have called Myanmar’s membership to be stripped due to its poor human rights record.[27]

Following the 2021 Myanmar coup d’état in which the Tatmadaw—Myanmar’s military—ousted the country’s democratically elected leaders, widespread protests broke out in response to the coup and the military’s subsequent use of force on civilians.[28] ASEAN called for a special ASEAN Leaders Meeting in Jakarta on April 24, 2021, with the military junta’s leader Min Aung Hlaing in attendance along with other member states’ heads of government and foreign ministers. Members of the National Unity Government formed in response to the coup and consisting of ousted lawmakers were reported to have been in contact with ASEAN leaders, but were not formally invited to the meeting.[29][30] ASEAN released a statement that it had agreed to a “five-point consensus” with Min Aung Hlaing on the cessation of violence in Myanmar, constructive dialogue among all parties concerned, and the appointment of a special envoy by ASEAN to facilitate the dialogue process.[31] However, after continued violence in the country and non-committal by Myanmar’s military government to the “five-point consensus”, its military leaders were barred from attending the 40th to 43rd ASEAN Summits from 2022 to 2023.[15][16]

Thailand[edit]

Prior to the 10th ASEAN summit, Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra publicly threatened to walk out of the meeting if any member states raised the issue of the Thai government’s handling of the insurgency in south Thailand. He stated “If the topic is raised, I will fly back home”.[32] This is notable since leaders have often shown solidarity with each other over high-profile issues such as East Timor and the handling by Myanmar of Aung San Suu Kyi. Furthermore, one of the principles on which ASEAN was founded is a stated principle of non-interference in the internal affairs of other member states, as enshrined in the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia. Any tension has been kept from the public view and leaders have avoided confrontational statements in public.

Indonesia (the world’s most populous Muslim country) and Malaysia, however, were particularly vehement in their condemnation over the Thai government’s handling of the events in south Thailand, with a former Malaysian Prime minister going to the extent of suggesting that the Southern Thai states should be given autonomy power. The Malaysian foreign minister further was quoted as saying that there is no such thing as absolute non-interference. It is thought that Thaksin’s statement was made following the Malaysian government’s passing of an opposition resolution condemning the Thai government for the death of at least 85 Muslim protestors in southern Thailand.

Laotian spokesman Yong Chanthalangsy stated “I think we have a golden rule, that is non-interference in the internal affairs of each other.” He added “It is a courtesy among the leaders, among the ministers, that if one of the leaders does not wish to discuss a question, all the leaders will respect it.”

Free Trade Area[edit]

In 2004, Australia and New Zealand started the negotiation for a free trade deal with ASEAN. The ASEAN-Australia-New Zealand Free Trade Area was established at the 14th ASEAN Summit in 2009.[33] It is one of Asia’s largest trade arrangements and covers trade in goods, investment and services, financial services, telecommunications, electronic commerce, and intellectual property.[34] The aim of the negotiation is to significantly reduce trade barriers by 2016.[35][36]

Treaty of Amity and Cooperation[edit]

ASEAN’s Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia is open for non-ASEAN states to accede. It requires the contracting parties to forgo any threat or use of force against each other.

The foreign ministers of ASEAN member states determined that invitation to the inaugural East Asia Summit, the first of which was held in late 2005 and hosted by Malaysia, was to be restricted to parties to the treaty. The Howard Government in Australia, although seeking invitation, was reluctant to accede to the treaty, claiming that it was out of date and might conflict with obligations and rights it had under other treaties. However, with entry to the summit confined to parties to the treaty, and with domestic pressure to sign, Australia decided in early 2005 to sign the treaty on the condition that its rights under the Charter of the United Nations are recognised as inalienable. Upon the announcement of accession, Australian Foreign Minister Alexander Downer was asked whether or not he considered himself an east Asian, he replied: “Do I consider myself an East Asian? … I consider myself an Australian.”

References[edit]

  1. ^ Denis Hew (2005). Roadmap to an Asean Economic Community. Institute of Southeast Asian Studies. ISBN 981-230-347-2.
  2. ^ “World leaders in Manila: Key events at ASEAN”. Archived from the original on 1 December 2017. Retrieved 25 November 2017.
  3. ^ “World leaders praised the Philippines on how it hosted the ASEAN Summit | UNTV News”. www.untvweb.com.
  4. ^ “Economic Achievement”. ASEAN. Archived from the original on 8 May 2009. Retrieved 12 April 2009.
  5. ^ “External Relations”. ASEAN. Archived from the original on 11 December 2008. Retrieved 12 April 2009.
  6. ^ “Relation between Japan and ASEAN”. Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Japan. December 1998. Retrieved 12 April 2009.
  7. ^ “ASEAN Leaders Sign Five Agreements at the 12th ASEAN Summit, Cebu, the Philippines, 13 January 2007” (Press release). ASEAN Secretariat. 13 January 2007. Archived from the original on 28 January 2007. Retrieved 28 January 2007. 12th ASEAN Summit, five.
  8. ^ Hội nghị thượng đỉnh ASEAN: Thái Lan huy động lực lượng an ninh lớn[dead link] (in Vietnamese)
  9. ^ “Beijing’s South China Sea claims scrutinised at summit”. Al Jazeera. 8 September 2016.
  10. ^ a b “The ASEAN Charter” (PDF). Association of Southeast Asian Nations. Archived (PDF) from the original on 21 December 2018. Retrieved 20 December 2018.
  11. ^ “ASEAN Chairmanship”. Association of Southeast Asian Nations. Retrieved 4 January 2022.
  12. ^ “Chairman’s Statement of the 25th ASEAN Summit”. Asean.org. 17 November 2014. Retrieved 21 June 2023.
  13. ^ Aguilar, Krissy (25 June 2020). “Duterte, Asean leaders to tackle COVID-19 recovery in first online summit”. Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved 25 June 2020.
  14. ^ “ASEAN summit begins without Myanmar after top general barred”. Al Jazeera. 26 October 2021. Retrieved 3 November 2021.
  15. ^ a b “Southeast Asia leaders struggle with Myanmar crisis at summit”. Al Jazeera. 11 November 2022. Retrieved 18 January 2023.
  16. ^ a b Widakuswara, Patsy (6 September 2023). “Myanmar’s Seat Empty as VP Harris Speaks to ASEAN Leaders”. Voice of America. Retrieved 4 January 2024.
  17. ^ “Special ASEAN Leaders’ Meeting on Aftermath of Earthquake and Tsunami Jakarta 6 January 2005”. ASEAN.
  18. ^ “Asean to hold virtual summits to discuss response to Covid-19”. The Straits Times. 14 April 2020. Retrieved 30 June 2020.
  19. ^ “Outcome Documents”. Archived from the original on 3 March 2009. Retrieved 9 March 2009.
  20. ^ Fuller, Thomas (12 April 2009). “Thailand Cancels Summit After Protests”. The New York Times. Archived from the original on 14 October 2010. Retrieved 12 April 2009.
  21. ^ Thai protesters force Asia summit cancellation Archived 16 April 2009 at the Wayback Machine by Bill Tarrant, Reuters (printed in the Ottawa Citizen), 11 April 2009.
  22. ^ East Timor Needs Five Years to Join ASEAN: PM Archived 9 June 2007 at the Wayback Machine, AFP, 27 July 2006, accessed on 22 December 2008
  23. ^ Excerpts from the Joint Communique of the 35th ASEAN Ministerial Meeting, Bandar Seri Begawan, 29-30 July 2002
  24. ^ Xinhua – English
  25. ^ “East Timor ASEAN bid”. The Sydney Morning Herald. 23 July 2006.
  26. ^ “Official Visit of Minister for Foreign Affairs and Cooperation of the Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste, Dr. Dionísio Da Costa Babo Soares to Malaysia 1 – 2 July 2019” (Press release). Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Malaysia. 1 July 2019. Retrieved 26 August 2019.
  27. ^ “ASEAN lawmakers want Myanmar membership stripped”. Kuala Lumpur: Reuters. 28 November 2004. Archived from the original on 28 November 2004. Retrieved 22 April 2009.
  28. ^ “ASSISTANCE ASSOCIATION FOR POLITICAL PRISONERS (BURMA)”. Assistance Association for Political Prisoners. 8 April 2021. Retrieved 8 April 2021.
  29. ^ “Myanmar’s National Unity Government must be invited to this week’s ASEAN Special Summit, MPs say”. ASEAN Parliamentarians for Human Rights. 20 April 2021. Retrieved 22 April 2021.
  30. ^ Allard, Tom (24 April 2021). “Southeast Asian leaders to press Myanmar junta to end violence, allow aid – sources”. Reuters. Retrieved 24 April 2021.
  31. ^ “Chairman’s Statement on the ASEAN Leaders’ Meeting”. ASEAN Summit 2021. 24 April 2021. Archived from the original on 24 April 2021. Retrieved 24 April 2021.
  32. ^ “Thai PM warns of Asean walkout”. Dawn. 26 November 2004. Retrieved 20 December 2018.
  33. ^ “Agreement Establishing the ASEAN-Australia-New Zealand Free Trade Area” (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on 20 March 2009. Retrieved 9 March 2009.
  34. ^ “Trade deal signed at Asean summit”. Al Jazeera. Archived from the original on 4 March 2009. Retrieved 9 March 2009.
  35. ^ “Aust wins invite to next year’s ASEAN summit. 1 December 2004. ABC News Online”. Archived from the original on 8 April 2005. Retrieved 7 December 2005.
  36. ^ Southeast Asia Leaders Advance Free Trade with Six Major Countries Archived 16 April 2005 at the Wayback Machine

External links[edit]

Official and special interest



Source link

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Accurate Recognition of Jujube Tree Trunks Based on Contrast Limited Adaptive Histogram Equalization Image Enhancement and Improved YOLOv8 https://inergency.com/accurate-recognition-of-jujube-tree-trunks-based-on-contrast-limited-adaptive-histogram-equalization-image-enhancement-and-improved-yolov8/ Fri, 29 Mar 2024 09:30:42 +0000 https://inergency.com/accurate-recognition-of-jujube-tree-trunks-based-on-contrast-limited-adaptive-histogram-equalization-image-enhancement-and-improved-yolov8/ Accurate Recognition of Jujube Tree Trunks Based on Contrast Limited Adaptive Histogram Equalization Image Enhancement and Improved YOLOv83.2. YOLOv8 Improvement of Backbone Network GhostNetv2 The traditional convolutional neural network has the problems of redundancy of feature information, large model parameters, and expensive training computation cost, etc. The backbone network of YOLOv8 is based on the CSPDarknet53 network structure, which employs a large number of convolutional layers for extracting features from the input […]]]> Accurate Recognition of Jujube Tree Trunks Based on Contrast Limited Adaptive Histogram Equalization Image Enhancement and Improved YOLOv8


3.2. YOLOv8 Improvement of Backbone Network GhostNetv2

The traditional convolutional neural network has the problems of redundancy of feature information, large model parameters, and expensive training computation cost, etc. The backbone network of YOLOv8 is based on the CSPDarknet53 network structure, which employs a large number of convolutional layers for extracting features from the input image. Although this structure has a strong ability to extract features, the image size, resolution, and frame rate are high in the practical application of the jujube garden, and, at the same time, because of the limitation of the equipment, the traditional network structure often can only run at a very low batch size in the practical application and the speed cannot meet the requirements.

The feature maps in traditional deep neural networks usually contain rich or even redundant information, while they reduce the computational complexity of deep neural networks by introducing the Ghost module to generate more features using fewer parameters [34]. The ordinary convolution and Ghost module convolution process are shown in Figure 7, and the specific operation of the Ghost module is to divide the original convolution layer into two parts: the first part consists of ordinary convolution, the second part generates more feature maps from the first part by cheap linear transformation represented as “ φ ” in the figure, and, when finally spliced, the parameters and computational complexity are thus reduced without changing the size of the output feature maps.
There are problems in the lightweight network structure of GhostNet, for example, although the Ghost module achieves a reduction in computational cost, the representation capability is also necessarily reduced. GhostNetv2 overall uses the Ghost module and the DFC attention module and extracts the information from different viewpoints in parallel. The Ghost module reduces the computation by decreasing the size of the features [35], while the DFC attention module reduces the computation by decreasing the size of the features, as shown in Figure 8.
The GhostNetv2 bottleneck structure is shown in Figure 9, which is composed of a Ghost module and a DFC attention module. The DFC attention module is used to augment the output features of the Ghost module to capture the long-range dependencies between pixels in different spaces. Compared with the Self-Attention model [36], the computation process of the DFC attention module is more intuitive and simpler, in which the FC layer directly generates the attention graph and is computed as follows:

a h w = h , w F h w , h w Z h w

,

where F is the learnable weights in the FC layer and is the elemental multiplication. Given the feature Z R H × W × C , it can be seen as HW tokens Z i R C . a 11 , a 12 , , a h w as in the generated attention map.

The DFC attention module significantly improves the expressive power of GhostNet by decomposing the fully connected layer into horizontal and vertical fully connected layers, i.e., the input features are aggregated along the horizontal and vertical directions, respectively, in order to capture the long-range dependencies along these two directions. The characteristic expressions for the horizontal direction F H and vertical direction F W in the calculation process of DFC attention are as follows:

a h w = h = 1 H F h , h w H

z h w ,   h = 1 , 2 , , H ,   w = 1 , 2 , , W ,

a h w = w = 1 W F w , h w W

a h w ,   h = 1 , 2 , , H ,   w = 1 , 2 , , W ,

In this paper, the network structure of YOLOv8 is improved through replacement. In the fully connected layer, each pixel has a direct connection to all other pixels, resulting in a computational complexity of O(H2W2), which is very high on high-resolution images. In contrast, DFC attention decomposes the fully connected layer into horizontal and vertical fully connected layers, which reduces the computational complexity to O(H2W + HW2) and greatly reduces the computational effort, and, finally, the features are up-sampled by average pooling and bilinear interpolation to recover the original size of the features. This design allows GhostNetv2 to have a larger sensory field, which better captures the long-distance dependencies between different locations in the image and improves the expressive power of the model.

Part of the Conv module is replaced with GhostConv; Conv and Bottleneck in C2f are replaced with GhostConv and GhostBottleneck, and the improved C2fGhost structure is shown in Figure 10. Not changing the size of the output feature map reduces the parameters and computational complexity improves the detection speed.

3.3. YOLOv8 Improvement of the CA_H Attention Mechanism

In this paper, the object detection area of interest is the trunk area of jujube trees, and we tried to keep the height and speed of the UAV as stable as possible during the process of the image acquisition of the trunks, so in the acquired images, the object area is characterized by the following: the position of the object area in the image is the lower area and more fixed at the same time, and, secondly, the object keeps the uniform speed movement in the image. From the above considerations, it is necessary to increase the attention mechanism in conjunction with the characteristics and to suppress the accuracy degradation caused by lightweighting.

The base attention mechanism chosen in this paper is coordinate attention (CA), and the most significant feature is that it embeds the position information in the design of the mobile network. The core algorithm of the CA attention mechanism is divided into two steps: coordinate information embedding and coordinate information embedding. The core algorithm of the CA attention mechanism is divided into two steps: coordinate information embedding and coordinate attention generation.

Coordinate information embedding comprises the X Avg Pool and Y Avg Pool operations. The specific operation is as follows: first of all, the input feature maps are subjected to two one-dimensional global pooling operations, which require the use of pooling kernels with dimensions of (h,1) and (1,w) to aggregate the features along the vertical and horizontal directions to obtain the two directionally aware feature maps, and the computational formulae are as follows, respectively:

z c h h = 1 W 0 i < W x c h , i

,

z c w w = 1 H 0 i < H x c j , w

,

where given the input x, c denotes the channel, z c h denotes the output of the cth channel at height h, and z c w denotes the output of the cth channel at width w.

Coordinate attention generation is the remaining process in the structure picture, and the specific operation is as follows: firstly, the two feature maps inputted from the Concat segment are transformed using a shared 1 × 1 convolution to reduce the dimensions to the original C/r and to generate the feature maps Fh and Fw, where r denotes the under-sampling ratio [37]; secondly, the intermediate feature maps generated after convolution are sliced, normalized with other operations, and the feature maps F are passed through the nonlinear activation function δ to obtain the intermediate feature maps f with spatial information in the horizontal and vertical directions, which are calculated as follows:

f = δ F 1 z h , z w ,

Then, the intermediate feature map f is convolved to generate a feature map with the same channel as the input F. The CA module finally uses the Sigmoid activation function, which is improved in this paper by adopting the H-Sigmoid activation function to replace and form a new attention mechanism CA_H, and the structure is shown in Figure 10; the computation using the new improved method is performed to obtain the attentional weight gh in the height direction and the attentional weight gw in the width direction of the feature map as follows:
Finally, the output yc with the weights of the attention mechanism in the height and width directions is obtained by multiplicative weighting with the following equation:

y c i , j = x c i , j × g c h i × g c w j

This attention mechanism decomposes the channel attention into two one-dimensional features encoding processes that aggregate features along the horizontal and vertical directions as shown in Figure 11. This captures long-range dependencies and simultaneously preserves precise positional information. This helps the model to more accurately localize and identify object detection regions that require more attention.
The position information is embedded into the channel attention, taking both spatial and channel attention into account, and the improved CA_H attention mechanism is added to the end of the Neck part of the YOLOv8 network architecture, i.e., the intermediate position after the Concat segment of each up-sampling and before the Head detection layer after the multi-scale feature fusion of the three effective feature layers of the FPN and the PAN, and so the overall network structure of the trunk detection model based on improved yolov8 is shown in Figure 12. This attentional embedding design can filter and analyze a large amount of input feature information in both channel and spatial dimensions to enhance the impact of important features and obtain performance gains [38].
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Humans or Algorithms: Navigating the Future of Governance in the Age of Artificial Intelligence – The Cornell Policy Review https://inergency.com/humans-or-algorithms-navigating-the-future-of-governance-in-the-age-of-artificial-intelligence-the-cornell-policy-review/ Fri, 29 Mar 2024 09:25:12 +0000 https://inergency.com/humans-or-algorithms-navigating-the-future-of-governance-in-the-age-of-artificial-intelligence-the-cornell-policy-review/ Humans or Algorithms: Navigating the Future of Governance in the Age of Artificial Intelligence – The Cornell Policy Review Post Views: 99 By Basim Ali Edited by Muhammad Hani Ahsan Graphic by: Norie Wright and Arsh Naseer According to Greek mythology Prometheus gave humankind the gift of fire by stealing it from Zeus.1 This gift of fire resulted in the advancement of society and the transformation of all aspects of human life. The […]]]> Humans or Algorithms: Navigating the Future of Governance in the Age of Artificial Intelligence – The Cornell Policy Review



Post Views: 99

By Basim Ali

Edited by Muhammad Hani Ahsan

Graphic by: Norie Wright and Arsh Naseer

According to Greek mythology Prometheus gave humankind the gift of fire by stealing it from Zeus.1 This gift of fire resulted in the advancement of society and the transformation of all aspects of human life. The mastery over fire contributed to human progress but also destruction and annihilation of societies evident from the various wars waged since the dawn of civilization. Thus, fire is one of the examples of a discovery that was first accepted, became essential, and finally volitional. 

Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning (AI/ML) are akin to modern-day revelations that are ushering in an era of unprecedented transformation. However, AI is being widely adopted and becoming an essential part of our lives.  AI can be defined as the ability of computers to replicate human cognition2, while ML refers to the technologies and algorithms that enable the computers to accomplish this3. The ubiquitous and all-encompassing nature of AI significantly augments human research and has the potential to disrupt and transform the existing norms. Even in the ‘natural intelligence’ systems like bureaucracies, AI has started to be assimilated into the working process.

Bureaucracy and AI

As defined by Max Weber, bureaucracy is a form of organization that is distinguished by the prevalence of protocols and rules that are applied impersonally by specially trained officials.4 Bureaucracy replaced the traditional and personal forms of rule like that by divine sanction (Dei Gratia), by diktat, or even by whims and fancies, to that of a system that was characterized by separation of powers, adherence to hierarchy, and rule-following. The bureaucratic system de-personalized governance by strict adherence to the ‘legally established impersonal order’.5 The English philosopher Thomas Hobbes in his book Leviathan, elucidates that the state is an ‘artificial man’,6 which is a metaphorical representation of the state or the ‘Commonwealth’. This artificial man is responsible for establishing a governing structure and administering a ‘social contract’7 in which the individuals give up some of their freedoms in exchange for protection and security provided by the Commonwealth. Interestingly, this Leviathan is represented by the office of the government, which itself is a legal entity that needs to be represented by a natural person.8 It is puzzling that the rationale for the Commonwealth, which is the seat of sovereignty, is the ‘law of the land’, which represents the will of the state and establishes and upholds directives, but the state itself amounts to nothing more than artifice.9 The bureaucracy is supposed to implement this enigmatic nature of the state; therefore, it is rendered ‘dehumanized’, and this nature of bureaucracy is pragmatically accepted in the contemporary era.10

This Kafkaesque nature of bureaucracy advocates for the use of human discretion, to avert the descent of a state into a dystopia. However, the crucial question is that when the genie of AI is assimilated with a byzantine entity like bureaucracy, then how might the interactions unfold? When bureaucracy was adopted as a system of governance, it too was deemed to be ‘artificial’, however, over time bureaucracy became an essential part of our lives. The acceptance of any new phenomenon, especially technology is governed by the rules that the English author Douglas Adams highlighted in his book ‘A Salmon of Doubt11, they are as follows:

  1. “Anything that is in the world when you’re born is normal and ordinary and is just a natural part of the way the world works.
  2. Anything that’s invented between when you’re fifteen and thirty-five is new and exciting and revolutionary and you can probably get a career in it.
  3. Anything invented after you’re thirty-five is against the natural order of things.”

Models For AI – Bureaucracy Interactions

The issue with AI is not limited to its newness, but its omnipresent nature and generative capabilities.12 For individual-level bureaucrats or ‘street-level’ bureaucrats as per Michael Lipsky, discretion was instrumental in their decision-making process while implementing government policies. The Information Communication Technology (ICT) tools enhanced these decision-making abilities thus, transitioning the ‘street-level’ bureaucracy into ‘screen-level’ bureaucracy.13 Decision-making, which is the central animating force of a bureaucracy was enhanced by the ICT tools. With AI adopting the mantle of decision-making, there is a significant concern regarding the interaction which might be between traditional bureaucrats and AI. As per Richard Danzing, there can be four kinds of interactions between humans and AI, namely, those of ‘subjects’, ‘users’, ‘partners’, and ‘overseers. In the case of ‘subjects’, the engagement between humans and AI is reactive and not chosen.14 This interaction is analogous to the interaction between humans and bureaucracy. Humans accept the opacity of the bureaucratic system as a given and do not question the inherent reductionism of the system. Under the ‘user’ model, humans seek to leverage AI as a source of empowerment. They may not understand the underlying processes which enable these interactions, nonetheless, they use AI to increase efficiency and make life simple. The ‘partner’ model involves not only using the machine to perform complex tasks but also using independent decision-making capabilities outside the purview of AI. Thus, the user model integrates the outputs with due considerations given to factors beyond the capacity of the machine. In this model, the objective is to foster a symbiotic relationship between AI and humans enabling decisions based on the effective assessment of multiple variables whose computation may be a challenge for human beings. The ‘subject’, ‘users’, and ‘partnerships’ interaction models are tactical, whereas the ‘overseers’ interaction model is strategic. In the strategic model, humans are entrusted with regulating AI by assessing and mitigating systemic risk. 

Even though these interaction models have a degree of discretion, they too are vulnerable as humans are not rational automatons.15 People have cognitive biases and may succumb to planning fallacies.16 These biases can be reflected in the codes and algorithms that constitute the ML models. Thus, the AI might have an undercurrent of systemic bias as it was designed using a flawed code. In such cases, another interaction model can result which can be termed the ‘subjugated’ model. In this model, the apocalyptic imagination of an all-controlling AI might be realized where human discretion might be ineffectual. A version of this was shown in the film Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One17, where an all-controlling AI is posed to decide the fate of the world. In the movie, we see a representation of a scenario where AI exercises almost complete discretion while humans do the bidding for the AI.

It cannot be denied that AI/ML is going to be an intrinsic part of governance in the forthcoming future. For bureaucrats and AI to complement each other, new procedures need to be deliberated upon drawing from the ideas of ‘New Public Administration’ as highlighted by Dwight Waldo.18 This is a digression from the model of bureaucracy advocated by Max Weber, as in a digitally administered state human ethos like empathy and compassion need to be institutionalized in the bureaucratic frameworks. This will ensure that the society and the government are ‘re-humanized’ and the Pavlovian persuasions of AI are addressed.19 A classic example can be a system that encompasses elements from John Rawls’ ‘Veil of Ignorance20, Amartya Sen’s ‘Idea of Justice21, and Dwight Waldo’s ‘Map of Ethical Obligations.22 Rawls’ theory is centered around political justice. For Rawls, liberty and equality were the central animating forces behind the basic structure of an orderly society. In his ‘Veil of Ignorance’, he states that everyone in society might be ignorant about their position in society, and this might minimize the confirmation bias in any system. Amartya Sen focuses on society’s fundamental institutions rather than “the actual societies that might ultimately emerge” from those institutions as opposed to what Rawls proposed. For him, the traditional strain of political philosophy which seeks to identify ‘the just’ or a single set of just principles that can be used to design perfectly just institutions for governing society, reveals little about how we can identify and reduce injustices. He elucidates that democracy is a ‘government by discussion’ rather than a ‘government by elections’, focusing on institutions and the capability of people. Waldo elucidates the various obligations of public service, adhering to a vision that extends beyond self-interest.23 Waldo elucidates different types of public service obligations that extend beyond the self. It includes the constitution, the law, nation/country, democracy, organizational/bureaucratic norms, professionalism, friends and framework, self, public interest, middle-range collectives, humanity, and religion/god. These imperatives should be enshrined in bureaucratic functioning and reflected in the integration of artificial intelligence in administrative decision-making. 

The Ethical Advisory Model

Borrowing from Rawls, Sen, and Waldo, this paper proposes the Ethical Advisory Model to guide the adoption of emerging technologies. This model highlights the need for ethics, transparency, and accountability in the context of an AI-enabled bureaucracy or technocracy. The goal is to leverage technology to advance social progress and make the bureaucracy more efficient without diluting ethics and morality. Using the ‘Veil of Ignorance’ the model might view society objectively and from a just perspective. Any inclusion of AI must ensure that it is not only accessible to people, but it is also neutral from any discrimination and biases. AI models that are in commercial use have shown systemic biases across racial and gender lines.24 Therefore, any model must be designed to approach decision-making from behind the veil of ignorance. The ‘Idea of Justice’ articulated by Sen is also instructive, ensuring that the institution’s integrity and independence are paramount. The bureaucracy must remain the ultimate decision-maker in the context of public administration. AI models should be used to inform decision-making, but policymakers must not be subordinate. Additionally, constituents must not only be informed but must also have a say in how AI is being used by governments and the impact that it has on people to ensure a government by discussion. Finally, integrating the obligations of civil service can ensure that the engagement of the AI-enabled bureaucracy with the populace is politically neutral, moral, and professional, and upholds the rule of law. The AI models and their use in public service must be in line with ideals including democracy, organizational norms, professionalism, public interest, middle-range collectives, and humanity. 

Conclusion

On 26th September 1983, at the height of the Cold War, the world almost witnessed a nuclear war between the United States and the Soviet Union.25 The Soviet early-warning system codenamed Oko, or Eye26 detected the launch of an American pre-emptive nuclear strike. The operating protocol for the Soviets was to retaliate with a nuclear strike. The duty officer Stanislav Petrov, whose job it was to register apparent enemy missile launches, decided not to report them to his superiors and instead dismissed them as a false alarm.27 Despite having the data from the computer systems to support the notion of an American attack, the officer chose to commit what was treason and a dereliction of duty.  He reported a system malfunction, which was indeed true and was later confirmed during an inquiry. This incident demonstrates that despite having all the extrinsic analyses of data, an intrinsic ‘human judgment’ is vital. The fact that AI and bureaucracy might be compelled to collaborate is obvious. However, effective procedures and protocols might be needed to ensure that the association between the two is productive and humane. In a manifesto issued on July 9, 1955, to warn the world about the dire consequences of a nuclear war Bertrand Russell and Albert Einstein stated, “We have to learn to think in a new way”.28 Similarly, artificial intelligence can transform humanity for the better and the worse. In the context of a complete bureaucracy-AI integration, the Ethics Advisory Model ensures that the human considerations of justice, ethics, and obligations are accounted for in decision-making. 

Bibliography

[1] Britannica. 2024. “Prometheus | God, Description, Meaning, & Myth.” Britannica. https://www.britannica.com/topic/Prometheus-Greek-god.

[2] Columbia Engineering. 2024. “Artificial Intelligence (AI) vs. Machine Learning | Columbia AI.” Columbia Engineering Artificial Intelligence certificate program. https://ai.engineering.columbia.edu/ai-vs-machine-learning/.

[3] Brown, Sara. 2021. “Machine learning, explained.” MIT Sloan. https://mitsloan.mit.edu/ideas-made-to-matter/machine-learning-explained.

[4] Legal Information Institute, Cornell Law School. 2022. “Bureaucracy.” Law.Cornell.Edu. https://www.law.cornell.edu/wex/bureaucracy.

[5] Kettl, Donald F. 2023. Politics of the Administrative Process. N.p.: SAGE Publications.

[6] Copp, David. 1980. “Hobbes on Artificial Persons and Collective Actions.” The Philosophical Review 89 (4): 575-606. https://doi.org/10.2307/2184737.

[7] Britannica. 2024. “Social contract | Definition, Examples, Hobbes, Locke, & Rousseau.” Britannica. https://www.britannica.com/topic/social-contract.

[8] Chwaszcza, Christine. 2012. “The Seat of Sovereignty: Hobbes on the Artificial Person of the Commonwealth or State.” BRILL. https://brill.com/view/journals/hobs/25/2/article-p123_1.xml?language=en.

[9] Skinner, Quentin. 2002. “Hobbes and the Purely Artificial Person of the State.” Journal of Political Philosophy 7 (1): 1-29. 10.1111/1467-9760.00063.

[10] Danzig, Richard. 2022. “Machines, Bureaucracies, and Markets as Artificial Intelligences.” Center for Security and Emerging Technology.” Center for Security and Emerging Technology. https://cset.georgetown.edu/publication/machines-bureaucracies-and-markets-as-artificial-intelligences/.

[11] Adams, Douglas. 2024. Wikipedia. https://www.goodreads.com/work/quotes/809325-the-salmon-of-doubt-hitchhiking-the-galaxy-one-last-time.

[12] Lipsky, Michael. n.d. “Street-Level Bureaucracy, 30th Ann. Ed.: Dilemmas of the Individual in Public Service.” Russel Sage Foundation. https://www.jstor.org/stable/10.7758/9781610446631.

[13] Bovens, Mark, and Stavros Zouridis. 2002. “From Street-Level to System-Level Bureaucracies: How Information and Communication Technology Is Transforming Administrative Discretion and Constitutional Control.” Public Administration Review 62 (2): 174-184. https://doi.org/10.1111/0033-3352.00168.

[14] Danzig, Richard. 2022. “Machines, Bureaucracies, and Markets as Artificial Intelligences.” Center for Security and Emerging Technology.” Center for Security and Emerging Technology. 

[15] Bullock, Justin B. 2019. “Artificial Intelligence, Discretion, and Bureaucracy.” The American Review of Public Administration 49 (7): 751-761. https://doi.org/10.1177/0275074019856123.

[16] Kahneman, Daniel, and Amos Tversky. 1982. “Intuitive Prediction: Biases and Corrective Procedures.” Semantic Scholar. https://www.semanticscholar.org/paper/Intuitive-Prediction%3A-Biases-and-Corrective-Kahneman-Tversky/67ed8b4dea889ff81e897f89cc89653450f98dde.

[17] McQuarrie, Christopher, dir. 2023. Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One.

[18] Lowery, George, and Dana Cooke. 2024. “Dwight Waldo Started It All.” Maxwell School. https://www.maxwell.syr.edu/news/article/dwight-waldo-started-it-all.

[19] Ploog, B.O. 2012. “Classical Conditioning.” Encyclopedia of Human Behavior 2:484–91. https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-12-375000-6.00090-2.

[20] Davies, Ben. n.d. “John Rawls and the “Veil of Ignorance” – Philosophical Thought.” OPEN OKSTATE. Accessed March 25, 2024. https://open.library.okstate.edu/introphilosophy/chapter/john-rawls-and-the-veil-of-ignorance/.

[21] Sen, Amartya. 2011. The Idea of Justice. N.p.: Harvard University Press.

[22] O’Leary, Rosemary. 2017. “The 2016 John Gaus Lecture: The New Guerrilla Government: Are Big Data, Hyper Social Media and Contracting Out Changing the Ethics of Dissent?” PS: Political Science & Politics 50 (1): 12 – 22. https://doi.org/10.1017/S1049096516002018.

[23] Getha-Taylor, Heather. 2009. “Where’s (Dwight) Waldo?” Public Performance & Management Review 32 (4): 574-578. https://www.jstor.org/stable/40586775.

[24] Pequeño IV, Antonio. 2026. “Google’s Gemini Controversy Explained: AI Model Criticized By Musk And Others Over Alleged Bias.” Forbes. https://www.forbes.com/sites/antoniopequenoiv/2024/02/26/googles-gemini-controversy-explained-ai-model-criticized-by-musk-and-others-over-alleged-bias/?sh=543743fd4b99.

[25] Aksenov, Pavel. 2013. “Stanislav Petrov: The man who may have saved the world.” BBC. https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-24280831.

[26] Shuster, Simon. 2017. “Stanislav Petrov, the Russian Officer Who Averted a Nuclear War, Feared History Repeating Itself.” Time. https://time.com/4947879/stanislav-petrov-russia-nuclear-war-obituary/.

[27] ibid

[28] Born, Max, Percy W. Bridgman, Albert Einstein, Leopold Infeld, Frederic Joliot-Curie, Herman J. Muller, Linus Pauling, et al. 1955. “Russell-Einstein Manifesto – Nuclear Museum.” Atomic Heritage Foundation. https://ahf.nuclearmuseum.org/ahf/key-documents/russell-einstein-manifesto/.







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Influence of the Long-Term Application of Management Practices (Tillage, Cover Crop and Glyphosate) on Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Soil Physical Properties https://inergency.com/influence-of-the-long-term-application-of-management-practices-tillage-cover-crop-and-glyphosate-on-greenhouse-gas-emissions-and-soil-physical-properties/ Fri, 29 Mar 2024 09:09:48 +0000 https://inergency.com/influence-of-the-long-term-application-of-management-practices-tillage-cover-crop-and-glyphosate-on-greenhouse-gas-emissions-and-soil-physical-properties/ Influence of the Long-Term Application of Management Practices (Tillage, Cover Crop and Glyphosate) on Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Soil Physical PropertiesAuthor Contributions Conceptualization, G.K.; methodology, M.O.D., G.K., A.V. and S.S.; software, M.O.D. and G.K.; validation, M.O.D., G.K. and S.S.; formal analysis, M.O.D., G.K., A.V., L.M. and S.S.; investigation, M.O.D., G.K., A.V., L.M. and S.S.; data curation, M.O.D.; writing—original draft preparation, M.O.D.; writing—review and editing, S.S. and G.K.; visualization, M.O.D. and G.K.; supervision, S.S. and G.K.; […]]]> Influence of the Long-Term Application of Management Practices (Tillage, Cover Crop and Glyphosate) on Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Soil Physical Properties


Author Contributions

Conceptualization, G.K.; methodology, M.O.D., G.K., A.V. and S.S.; software, M.O.D. and G.K.; validation, M.O.D., G.K. and S.S.; formal analysis, M.O.D., G.K., A.V., L.M. and S.S.; investigation, M.O.D., G.K., A.V., L.M. and S.S.; data curation, M.O.D.; writing—original draft preparation, M.O.D.; writing—review and editing, S.S. and G.K.; visualization, M.O.D. and G.K.; supervision, S.S. and G.K.; project administration, S.S. and G.K.; funding acquisition, S.S., L.M. and G.K. All authors have read and agreed to the published version of the manuscript.

Figure 1.
The static chamber boxes at the 2nd and the 5th GHG samplings.

Figure 1.
The static chamber boxes at the 2nd and the 5th GHG samplings.

Sustainability 16 02859 g001

Figure 2.
CO2 fluxes under different management practices during the crop growing season. 1—(ploughing, −CC, −G), 1G—(ploughing, −CC, +G), 1T—(ploughing, +CC, −G), 1TG—(ploughing, +CC, +G), 3—(harrowing, −CC, −G), 3G—(harrowing, −CC, +G), 3T—(harrowing, +CC, −G), 3TG—(harrowing, +CC, +G), 5—(no till, −CC, −G), 5G—(no till, −CC, +G), 5T—(no till, +CC, −G), and 5TG—(no till, +CC, +G). Note: CC—cover crops, G—glyphosate, − negative, + positive. ** indicates significant differences at p < 0.01; * indicates significant differences at p < 0.05; WS indicates the data obtained from the closest weather station (distance < 0.5 km).

Figure 2.
CO2 fluxes under different management practices during the crop growing season. 1—(ploughing, −CC, −G), 1G—(ploughing, −CC, +G), 1T—(ploughing, +CC, −G), 1TG—(ploughing, +CC, +G), 3—(harrowing, −CC, −G), 3G—(harrowing, −CC, +G), 3T—(harrowing, +CC, −G), 3TG—(harrowing, +CC, +G), 5—(no till, −CC, −G), 5G—(no till, −CC, +G), 5T—(no till, +CC, −G), and 5TG—(no till, +CC, +G). Note: CC—cover crops, G—glyphosate, − negative, + positive. ** indicates significant differences at p < 0.01; * indicates significant differences at p < 0.05; WS indicates the data obtained from the closest weather station (distance < 0.5 km).

Sustainability 16 02859 g002

Figure 3.
N2O fluxes under different management practices during the crop growing season. 1—(ploughing, −CC, −G), 1G—(ploughing, −CC, +G), 1T—(ploughing, +CC, −G), 1TG—(ploughing, +CC, +G), 3—(harrowing, −CC, −G), 3G—(harrowing, −CC, +G), 3T—(harrowing, +CC, −G), 3TG—(harrowing, +CC, +G), 5—(no till, −CC, −G), 5G—(no till,−CC, +G), 5T—(no till, +CC, −G), 5TG—(no till, +CC, +G). Note: CC—cover crops, G—glyphosate, − negative, + positive. * indicates significant differences at p < 0.05; WS indicates the data obtained from the closest weather station (distance < 0.5 km).

Figure 3.
N2O fluxes under different management practices during the crop growing season. 1—(ploughing, −CC, −G), 1G—(ploughing, −CC, +G), 1T—(ploughing, +CC, −G), 1TG—(ploughing, +CC, +G), 3—(harrowing, −CC, −G), 3G—(harrowing, −CC, +G), 3T—(harrowing, +CC, −G), 3TG—(harrowing, +CC, +G), 5—(no till, −CC, −G), 5G—(no till,−CC, +G), 5T—(no till, +CC, −G), 5TG—(no till, +CC, +G). Note: CC—cover crops, G—glyphosate, − negative, + positive. * indicates significant differences at p < 0.05; WS indicates the data obtained from the closest weather station (distance < 0.5 km).

Sustainability 16 02859 g003

Figure 4.
CH4 fluxes under different management practices during the crop growing season. 1—(ploughing, −CC, −G), 1G—(ploughing, −CC, +G), 1T—(ploughing, +CC, −G); 1TG—(ploughing, +CC, +G), 3—(harrowing, −CC, −G), 3G—(harrowing, −CC, +G), 3T—(harrowing, +CC, −G), 3TG—(harrowing, +CC, +G), 5—(no till, −CC, −G), 5G—(no till, −CC, +G), 5T—(no till, +CC, −G), 5TG—(no till, +CC, +G). Note: CC—cover crops, G—glyphosate, − negative, + positive. * indicates significant differences at p < 0.05; WS indicates the data obtained from the closest weather station (distance < 0.5 km).

Figure 4.
CH4 fluxes under different management practices during the crop growing season. 1—(ploughing, −CC, −G), 1G—(ploughing, −CC, +G), 1T—(ploughing, +CC, −G); 1TG—(ploughing, +CC, +G), 3—(harrowing, −CC, −G), 3G—(harrowing, −CC, +G), 3T—(harrowing, +CC, −G), 3TG—(harrowing, +CC, +G), 5—(no till, −CC, −G), 5G—(no till, −CC, +G), 5T—(no till, +CC, −G), 5TG—(no till, +CC, +G). Note: CC—cover crops, G—glyphosate, − negative, + positive. * indicates significant differences at p < 0.05; WS indicates the data obtained from the closest weather station (distance < 0.5 km).

Sustainability 16 02859 g004

Table 1.
Effects of different management systems (tillage, cover crops, and glyphosate) on soil physical properties.

Table 1.
Effects of different management systems (tillage, cover crops, and glyphosate) on soil physical properties.

Treatments VWC % Vol EC mS m−1 WFPS % Temp °C BD g cm−3 WSA% TP m3 m−3
1 18.68 ± 1.36 ab 11.13 ± 0.90 ab 43.87 ± 3.19 ab 20.87 ± 0.59 ab 1.49 ± 0.03 b 69.63 ± 1.63 b 0.44 ± 0.011 a
3 18.08 ± 0.47 ab 10.62 ± 1.19 ab 42.46 ± 1.09 ab 20.20 ± 0.32 ab 1.53 ± 0.01 ab 79.17 ± 4.09 ab 0.42 ± 0.004 ab
5 19.58 ± 1.16 ab 11.69 ± 1.60 ab 45.98 ± 2.73 ab 20.01 ± 0.23 b 1.54 ± 0.01 ab 81.4 ± 2.92 a 0.42 ± 0.004 ab
1T 23.57 ± 1.43 a 16.16 ± 0.68 a 55.35 ± 3.37 a 20.17 ± 0.10 ab 1.48 ± 0.02 b 68.36 ± 0.94 b 0.44 ± 0.007 a
3T 20.92 ± 2.09 ab 12.16 ± 2.11 ab 49.14 ± 4.91 ab 19.34 ± 0.14 b 1.52 ± 0.01 ab 73.86 ± 0.68 ab 0.43 ± 0.003 ab
5T 21.86 ± 0.50 ab 14.76 ± 1.24 ab 51.33 ± 1.17 ab 20.01 ± 0.29 b 1.59 ± 0.01 a 78.21 ± 0.81 ab 0.40 ± 0.005 b
1G 19.14 ± 0.41 ab 11.68 ± 0.96 ab 44.96 ± 0.97 ab 22.57 ± 1.42 a 1.49 ± 0.03 b 69.63 ± 1.63 b 0.44 ± 0.011 a
3G 17.48 ± 1.00 b 9.43 ± 0.77 b 41.05 ± 2.34 b 20.19 ± 0.32 ab 1.53 ± 0.01 ab 79.17 ± 4.09 ab 0.42 ± 0.004 ab
5G 20.23 ± 0.47 ab 13.01 ± 0.60 ab 47.52 ± 1.10 ab 20.43 ± 0.14 ab 1.54 ± 0.01 ab 81.40 ± 2.92 a 0.42 ± 0.004 ab
1TG 20.71 ± 1.69 ab 12.89 ± 1.51 ab 48.64 ± 3.96 ab 20.05 ± 0.27 b 1.48 ± 0.02 b 68.36 ± 0.94 b 0.44 ± 0.007 a
3TG 20.41 ± 0.94 ab 11.39 ± 0.57 ab 47.93 ± 2.22 ab 19.61 ± 0.05 b 1.52 ± 0.01 ab 73.86 ± 0.68 ab 0.43 ± 0.003 ab
5TG 20.53 ± 0.99 ab 12.70 ± 0.78 ab 48.22 ± 2.31 ab 19.67 ± 0.19 b 1.59 ± 0.01 a 78.2 ± 0.81 ab 0.40 ± 0.005 b

Table 2.
Correlation matrix for soil physical parameters and greenhouse gas emissions in different management practices.

Table 2.
Correlation matrix for soil physical parameters and greenhouse gas emissions in different management practices.

VWC Temp EC WFPS BD TP WSA CO2 N2O CH4
VWC –0.22 0.9 ** 0.94 ** –0.03 –0.01 –0.19 –0.26 0.18 0.14
Temp –0.06 –0.31 –0.35 * 0.39 * –0.28 0.3 –0.08 0.25
EC 0.87 ** 0.03 –0.06 –0.18 –0.16 0.15 0.05
WFPS 0.3 –0.34 –0.02 –0.31 0.18 0.01
BD –0.99 ** 0.51 ** –0.18 0.04 –0.39 *
TP –0.54 ** 0.18 –0.12 0.37 *
WSA –0.12 0.11 –0.07
CO2 0.14 0.28
N2O 0.06
CH4
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Statement by the Acting Executive Secretary of the Convention on Biological Diversity at the twenty-second session of the Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues during the discussion of agenda item 5 (f), on dialogue on Indigenous platforms established within United Nations entities, New York, 17 April 2023 https://inergency.com/statement-by-the-acting-executive-secretary-of-the-convention-on-biological-diversity-at-the-twenty-second-session-of-the-permanent-forum-on-indigenous-issues-during-the-discussion-of-agenda-item-5-f/ Fri, 29 Mar 2024 09:00:26 +0000 https://inergency.com/statement-by-the-acting-executive-secretary-of-the-convention-on-biological-diversity-at-the-twenty-second-session-of-the-permanent-forum-on-indigenous-issues-during-the-discussion-of-agenda-item-5-f/ Statement on behalf of Mr. David Cooper, Acting Executive Secretary of the Convention on Biological Diversity, following the conclusion of the negotiations at the Resumed fifth session of the Intergovernmental Conference on an international legally binding instrument under UNCLOS on the conservation and sustainable use of marine biological diversity of areas beyond national jurisdiction, 4 March 2023, New York, USAStatement by the Acting Executive Secretary of the Convention on Biological Diversity at the twenty-second session of the Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues during the discussion of agenda item 5 (f), on dialogue on Indigenous platforms established within United Nations entities, New York, 17 April 2023]]> Statement on behalf of Mr. David Cooper, Acting Executive Secretary of the Convention on Biological Diversity, following the conclusion of the negotiations at the Resumed fifth session of the Intergovernmental Conference on an international legally binding instrument under UNCLOS on the conservation and sustainable use of marine biological diversity of areas beyond national jurisdiction, 4 March 2023, New York, USA



Statement by the Acting Executive Secretary of the Convention on Biological Diversity at the twenty-second session of the Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues during the discussion of agenda item 5 (f), on dialogue on Indigenous platforms established within United Nations entities, New York, 17 April 2023

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PPT PKBAM.pptx INDAH INDRIA SARI, S.Pd.i https://inergency.com/ppt-pkbam-pptx-indah-indria-sari-s-pd-i/ Fri, 29 Mar 2024 08:54:18 +0000 https://inergency.com/ppt-pkbam-pptx-indah-indria-sari-s-pd-i/ PPT PKBAM.pptx INDAH INDRIA SARI, S.Pd.iPPT PKBAM.pptx INDAH INDRIA SARI, S.Pd.i | PPT PPT PKBAM.pptx INDAH INDRIA SARI, S.Pd.i 2. 02 Adab mancaliak adalah istilah yang berasal dari budaya Minangkabau di Indonesia, khususnya dari daerah Sumatera Barat. “Adab” dalam bahasa Indonesia berarti “etika” atau “tata krama,” sedangkan “mancaliak” adalah kata dalam bahasa Minangkabau yang merujuk kepada aktivitas berkumpul, bercengkrama, dan […]]]> PPT PKBAM.pptx INDAH INDRIA SARI, S.Pd.i


PPT PKBAM.pptx INDAH INDRIA SARI, S.Pd.i | PPT

PPT PKBAM.pptx INDAH INDRIA SARI, S.Pd.i

  • 2. 02
    Adab mancaliak adalah
    istilah yang berasal dari budaya Minangkabau di
    Indonesia, khususnya dari daerah Sumatera Barat. “Adab” dalam bahasa
    Indonesia berarti “etika” atau “tata krama,” sedangkan “mancaliak” adalah
    kata dalam bahasa Minangkabau yang merujuk kepada aktivitas berkumpul,
    bercengkrama, dan bertukar informasi secara santai di suatu tempat
    tertentu, seperti di bawah rimbunnya pohon atau di halaman rumah.
    adab mancaliak yang bagus yaitu :
    • Melihat orang lain haruslah dengan sopan
    • Tidak boleh melihat dengan tajam
    • Tidak boleh melihat lama-lama kepada orang lain
    • Perempuan dalam adat minangkabau sebaiknya menundukkan
    pandangan kepada laki-laki yang lebih tua daripadanya.
    MATERI | KELAS I
  • 3. Adab Kurenah adalah konsep yang berasal dari budaya Minangkabau di Indonesia.
    “Adab” memiliki arti etika atau tata krama, sedangkan “Kurenah” adalah sebuah
    istilah dalam bahasa Minangkabau yang merujuk kepada rumah atau tempat
    tinggal keluarga.
    Adat minangkabau mengajarkan kita untuk selalu mengikuti adab dalam kehidupan
    sehari-hari. Adap juga merupakan kesopanan atau kehalusan budi pekerti.
    Adapun contoh Adab Kurenah yang baik, adalah :
    • Sebelum berangkat ke sekolah kita harus berpamitan kepada ornag tua.
    • Memberi sedekah kepada yang membutuhkan
    • Jika melakukan kesalahan, segeralah minta maaf
    Adapun juga contoh Adab Kurenah yang tidak, baik, adalah :
    • Mencontek saat ujian
    • Mengganggu adik yang sedang bermain
    • Saling mengejek
    03
    MATERI | KELAS II
  • 4. 04
    Permainan taraompak sayak
    berasal dari kata tarompa atau terompah yang
    artinya alas kaki, dan syak artinya tempurung kelapa. Permainan ini
    menggunakan sepasang tempurung kelapa yang dihubungkan dengan tali
    sebagai alas kaki yang digunakan untuk berjalan.
    Manfaat permainan Tarompa Sayak sebagai berikut :
    • Permainan yang melatih kekuatan tangan dan kaki
    • Melatih ketangkasan dan keseimbangan tubuh
    Pada permainan ini juga mendukung perkembangan otak kiri dan kanan secara
    seimbang karena dimainkan dengan rasa senang.
    Adapun cara membuat Tarompa Sayak
    • Menyiapkan sepasang tempurung yang cuukup datar potongannya dan
    bersihkan sabutnya.
    • Amplas bagian tempurung luar dan dalam hingga permukaannya halus dan
    licin
    MATERI | KELAS III
  • 5. 05
    3. Lubangi masing-masing
    tempurung pada bagian tengahnya.
    4. Masukkan tali pada lubang tersebut, lalu ikatkan ujung tali pada sebuah
    pasak/paku. Lakukan pada kedua tempurung.
    5. Lalu beri cat/pernis kedua tempurung tersebut dan keringkan.Tarompa sayak
    siap untuk dimainkan.
    Pada Permainan Tarompa Sayak mengandung beberapa makna dan nilai yang
    berguna bagi kehidupan, yaitu sebagai keseimbangan dan keselarasan gerak
    tangan dan kaki bermakna bahwa hidup hendaklah selaras untuk mencapai tujuan
    dunia dan akhirat, kecakapan mata dalam menentukan pijakan bermakna, dan
    berjalan dengan berjinjit bermakna kehati-hatian untuk mengambil tindakan dalam
    meghadapi berbagai persoalan kehidupan.
    MATERI | KELAS III
  • 6. 06
    Adab berbicara dengan
    kato nan ampek seseorang yang berbicara tidak sesuai dengan
    kato nan ampek dikenal dengan istilah indak tau di nan ampek. Kato nan ampek terdiri dari
    4 jenis yaitu :
    • Kato Mandaki
    Kato mandaki bahasa yang digunakan untuk berbicara dengan orang yang lebih tua.
    Misalnya, anak kepada orang tua, murid kepada guru, adik kepada kakak, kemanakan
    kepada mamak, dan lain-lain.
    • Kato Manurun
    Kato manurun adalah bahasa yang digunakan berbicara dengan orang yang lebih muda.
    Misalnya, orang tua kepada anak, guru kepada murid, mamak kepada kemanakan, kakak
    kepada adik dan sebagainya.
    • Kato Mandata
    Kato mandata yaitu bahasa yang digunakan dalam berbicara dengan temab sebayanya.
    Intinya kato mandata digunakan kepada orang yang sederajat atau seusia dengan
    pembicara.
    • Kato Malereng
    Kato malereng adalah bahasa kiasan yang penuh makna untuk mengungkapkan
    perasaan kepada orang yang kita segani. Kato malereng digunakan jika berbicara
    dengan mamak, minantu, mintuo, sumando, dan orang yang disegani lainnya.
    MATERI | KELAS IV
  • 7. 07
    Kato malereng adalah
    bahasa kiasan yang penuh makna untuk mengungkapkan
    perasaan kepada orang yang kita segani. Kato malereng digunakan jika berbicara
    dengan mamak, minantu, mintuo, sumando dan orang yang disegani lainnya.
    Orang yang tidak memahami kato malereng disebut orang yang tidak tahu
    dengan ereng jo gendeng atau indak tau jo nan ampek. Artinya, jika kita tidak
    memahami kato melereng, maka kita termasuk orang yang tidak punya raso jo
    pareso, dan tidak berbudi pekerti yang baik.
    MATERI | KELAS IV
  • 8. 08
    Makan Bajamba adalah
    sebuah tradisi atau acara dalam budaya Minangkabau di
    Indonesia yang dilakukan untuk merayakan atau memperingati suatu acara
    penting atau momen spesial, seperti pernikahan, kelahiran, atau peristiwa penting
    lainnya dalam kehidupan masyarakat Minangkabau.
    Makan Bajamba juga menjadi ajang untuk mempererat hubungan antaranggota
    masyarakat, serta untuk memperkenalkan tradisi dan budaya Minangkabau
    kepada generasi muda. Selain itu, acara ini juga dianggap sebagai wujud
    kegembiraan dan kebersamaan dalam merayakan momen-momen spesial dalam
    kehidupan masyarakat Minangkabau.
    Adapun komponen-komponen dalam Makanan Bajamba sebagai berikut :
    • Samba Nan Anam : randang, anyang dagiang, ikan pangek kuniang, gulai ayam
    naneh, taruang bulek bakuah, karupuak tunjuak, serta ditambah dengan sayua
    lobak putiah, gulai paruik, dan paragede
    • Piriang Jamba : Wadah yang digunakan n saat makan bajamba disebut piriang
    jamba. Jumlah anggota dalam makan bajamba adalah 6 0rang (5 orang si alek
    dan 1 orang si pangka). Si pangka bertugas untuk meletakkan samba
    MATERI | KELAS V
  • 9. 09
    Adapun Adab-adab dalam
    Makan Bajamba sebagai berikut :
    • Mengambil makanan yang ada dihadapan kita saja
    • Nasi dimasukkan ke dalam mulut dengan cara sedikit dilempar dari jarak dekat
    • Cara duduk ketika makan bajamba bagi laki-laki adalah bersila (berselo)
    • Cara duduk ketika makan bajamba bagi perempuan adalah bersimpuh
    (Besimpuh)
    Adapun Adab – adab dalam Makan Bajamba, yaitu :
    • Meningkatkan silaturrahmi
    • Menghormati yang lebih tua
    • Memelihara nilai sopan santun
    • Melatih diri untuk bersyukur
    • Bagus untuk kesehatan
    • Sesuai sunnah Nabi
    • Melestarikan budaya
    MATERI | KELAS V
  • 10. 10
    Raso jo Pareso
    adalah suatu prinsip hidup yang sangat kental dalam masyarakat
    Minangkabau dalam berinteraksi dengan orang lain.
    Adapun contoh dalam penerapan Nilai-nilai Raso Jo Pareso dalam kehidupan sehari-
    hari sebagai berikut :
    • Baso Basi dalam Pergaulan
    Bertemu dengan Bapak/Ibu guru, teman sekolah, tamu dan lainnya. Baso Jo
    Basi dalam bergaul berguna untuk menciptakan suatu hubungan yang
    harmonis, aman, dan tentram antar sesama.
    • Jujur dalam Kehidupan Sehari-hari
    Jujur dalam pelaksanaan jajan di kantin sekolah, dan Ujian di sekolah.
    • Bersifat Adil
    Setiap manusia harus berlaku adilsehingga tidak merenggut hak-hak yang tidak
    dimiliki oleh orang lain.
    • Bertanggung Jawab
    Penerapan bertanggung jawab adalah orang yang berani menanggung resiko
    atas perbuatan yang dilakukan dengan penuh tanggung jawab.
    MATERI | KELAS VI
  • 11. 11
    • Malu
    Penerapan malu
    biasanya timbul bila berbuat salah. Orang dikatakan tidak bermalu
    bila tidak dapat membedakan antara budi yang baik dengan budi yang buruk.
    • Belajar Antri
    . Dalam antri kita dituntut untuk sabar dan disiplin. Hindari untuk tidak menyerobot
    duluan, dilarang mengganggu atau mengolokan teman pada saat antri karena itu
    sikap yang tidak terpuji.
    • Tenggang Rasa
    Contoh penerapan tenggang rasa yaitu ketika teman kita berduka cita, diwaktu
    menjenguk kita tidak boleh tertawa, tunjukkan sikap sedih jika tidak menangis,
    berusahalah menyabarkan keluarga yang tinggal. Hiburlah orang yang kena
    musibah dengan bantuan yang dapat kita bantu.
    MATERI | KELAS VI
  • 12. 12
    SD NEGERI 03
    PULAI ANAK AIR KOTA BUKITTINGGI
    Sungguh indah burung cenderawasih
    Banyak ditemui di Pulau Papua
    Cukup sekian dan terima kasih
    Silahkan jika ada yang mau bertanya

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Palestinian Authority announces a new Cabinet amid calls for reform https://inergency.com/palestinian-authority-announces-a-new-cabinet-amid-calls-for-reform/ Fri, 29 Mar 2024 08:54:12 +0000 https://inergency.com/palestinian-authority-announces-a-new-cabinet-amid-calls-for-reform/ Palestinian Authority announces a new Cabinet amid calls for reformRAMALLAH, West Bank (AP) — The Palestinian Authority has announced the formation of a new Cabinet as it faces international pressure to reform. President Mahmoud Abbas, who has led the PA for nearly two decades and remains in overall control, announced the new government in a presidential decree on Thursday. None of the incoming ministers […]]]> Palestinian Authority announces a new Cabinet amid calls for reform


RAMALLAH, West Bank (AP) — The Palestinian Authority has announced the formation of a new Cabinet as it faces international pressure to reform.

President Mahmoud Abbas, who has led the PA for nearly two decades and remains in overall control, announced the new government in a presidential decree on Thursday. None of the incoming ministers is a well-known figure.

Abbas tapped Mohammad Mustafa, a longtime adviser, to be prime minister earlier this month. Mustafa, a politically independent United States.-educated economist, had vowed to form a technocratic government and create an independent trust fund to help rebuild Gaza. Mustafa will also serve as foreign minister.

Interior Minister Ziad Hab al-Rih is a member of Abbas’ secular Fatah movement and held the same portfolio in the previous government. The Interior Ministry oversees the security forces. The incoming minister for Jerusalem affairs, Ashraf al-Awar, registered to run as a Fatah candidate in elections in 2021 that were indefinitely delayed.

At least five of the incoming 23 ministers are from Gaza, but it was not immediately clear if they are still in the territory.

READ MORE: Israeli settlements in Palestinian areas amount to a ‘war crime’ says UN rights office

The PA administers parts of the Israeli-occupied West Bank. Its forces were driven from Gaza when Hamas seized power in 2007, and it has no power there.

It has little popular support or legitimacy among Palestinians, in part because it has not held elections in 18 years. Its policy of cooperating with Israel on security matters is extremely unpopular and has led several Palestinians to view it as a subcontractor of the occupation.

Opinion polls in recent years have consistently found that a vast majority of Palestinians want the 88-year-old Abbas to resign.

The United States has called for a revitalized PA to administer postwar Gaza ahead of eventual statehood.

Israel has rejected that idea, saying it will maintain open-ended security control over Gaza and partner with Palestinians who are not affiliated with the PA or Hamas. It’s unclear who in Gaza might be willing to take on such a role.

White House national security spokesman John Kirby said it was too early to make any broad assessments of the new Cabinet and whether it might deliver on the “credible and far-reaching reforms” that the Biden administration has called for.

Hamas has rejected the formation of the new government as illegitimate, calling instead for all Palestinian factions, including Fatah, to form a power-sharing government ahead of national elections.

It has warned Palestinians in Gaza against cooperating with Israel to administer the territory, saying anyone who does will be treated as a collaborator, which is understood as a death threat.

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