Waikato Police are disappointed with the drunken behaviour and high levels of disorder, which crossed the line in the central Hamilton CBD overnight on Saturday.
A total of 30 people were arrested with high levels of intoxication, obstruction and general disorder witnessed by our police staff late Saturday night.
This is a significantly higher number of arrests than a standard Saturday night.
Of these arrests – three people were arrested for assault, 11 for disorderly behaviour, five for obstruction and four had warrants to arrest and were actively being sought by police.
It’s disappointing that five people physically obstructed our staff while officers were in the process of arresting others. Those offenders were themselves arrested for obstruction.
This is a timely reminder to people to let police do their job.
Police understand that this type of offending creates a sense of distress among our community, especially those socialising appropriately and legitimately.
It was a particularly busy night in the CBD with several events being held at different premises. Our staff were present in the central city from 8pm and further staff were called in to support them due to the amount of disorder taking place.
Several senior police staff were also on site in the CBD and checked 10 licensed premises to ensure they were complying with the liquor licensing rules.
A total of 10 liquor ban infringements were also issued to members of the public for drinking in a public place.
When individual behaviour affects other’s enjoyment of Hamilton’s hospitality scene, police will take enforcement action.
With daylight savings and warmer weather ahead, the city is only set to get busier.
Be assured police will be present in future and will hold offenders to account to stop the antisocial behaviour when it arises.
Most of the offenders were bailed to appear in court at a later date, however those with warrants to arrest will appear before the courts today.
A man who stole a car then used it to ram his way out of the victim’s garage has been arrested after he returned back to the scene of the crime.
At about 1.20am, a man allegedly entered a property in Grove Road, Papakura.
Counties Manukau South Area Prevention Manager, Inspector Matt Hoyes, says the alleged offender has gone into the garage and hoped inside a Toyota Funcargo which was parked inside, using it to ram his way out of the garage.
“About five minutes later the vehicle returned to the address while the owner was speaking to Police on the phone.
“The driver has quickly fled and the Police Eagle helicopter was able to gain observations, tracking the vehicle around the Papakura area.
“The vehicle then drove around multiple streets in Flat Bush before heading into Manukau.”
Inspector Hoyes says the vehicle was then spiked and came to a stop on Weymouth Road where the driver was taken into custody without incident.
“This was a fantastic response from all Police teams involved to bring a quick resolution.
“As we have said before, vigilant reporting is often be the key to Police being able to respond in a timely manner and hold people to account for their actions.
“This also serves as a reminder to those who choose to engage in this type of offending, know that we will not tolerate it.”
A 32-year-old man will appear in Papakura District Court today charged with unlawfully taking a vehicle and burglary.
The Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) is seeking research proposals to help improve New Zealand’s reporting of greenhouse gas emissions from agriculture, forestry, and other land uses.
The annual funding round for the Greenhouse Gas Inventory Research (GHGIR) fund is now open, with $2.9 million of funding available for new GHGIR projects in the 2024/25 financial year.
“The GHGIR focuses on improving our knowledge of New Zealand’s greenhouse gas emissions, to ensure we have the best possible data to help manage New Zealand’s emissions and inform policy decisions,” says Stephanie Preston, MPI’s director of programmes and planning, policy and trade.
“This year we’re looking for very specific research proposals in 10 priority areas, ranging from improving liveweight estimation of sheep and beef to exploring remote sensing methods of collecting data, such as using satellite data to measure feed type and quality.
“The outcomes will inform MPI’s reporting to the New Zealand Greenhouse Gas Inventory and the United Nations under the Paris Climate Agreement.”
Applications close on 30 October 2024, with successful proposals expected to be announced by the end of February 2025.
Background information
The annual Greenhouse Gas Inventory reports on human-induced emissions and removals of greenhouse gases for energy, industrial processes, agriculture, land use, land-use change and forestry, and waste.
The Inventory is produced by government agencies, with MPI being responsible for producing the chapter on agricultural emissions (the Agriculture Greenhouse Gas Inventory). The report is submitted to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change secretariat each year.
The 10 priorities for this year’s funding round are:
non-forest land-use emissions model
review and improve energy equations and intake
review QA/QC of inventory model code
review liming emissions
measure values relevant to the inventory using remote sensing techniques
improving the modelling of dairy beef cattle
improve liveweight estimation of sheep and beef
seasonal dairy supplementary feed data intake
new afforestation and deforestation intentions survey
improved activity data and parameters for deer.
The priorities paper for 2024 is on MPI’s Applying for Greenhouse Gas Inventory Research funding web page.
Headline: Disaster Recovery Center Opens in St. Mary Parish
Disaster Recovery Center Opens in St. Mary Parish
BATON ROUGE, La. – FEMA and the State of Louisiana will open a Disaster Recovery Center in Morgan City on Monday, Sept. 23 to provide one-on-one help to Louisiana residents affected by Hurricane Francine.
Center location:
St. Mary Parish
Morgan City Municipal Auditorium 728 Myrtle Street Morgan City, LA 70380
The center will operate from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday.
Residents in Ascension, Assumption, Lafourche, St. Charles, St. James, St. John the Baptist, St. Mary and Terrebonne parishescan visit the center to meet with representatives of FEMA, the U.S. Small Business Administration, along with other community partners. No appointment is needed to visit the center.
The center is accessible to people with disabilities or access and functional needs and is equipped with assistive technology. If you need a reasonable accommodation or sign language interpreter, please call 833-285-7448 (press 2 for Spanish).
You do not have to visit the center to apply for FEMA disaster assistance. The quickest way to apply is by going online at disasterassistance.gov/.
Additional options when applying include:
Download the FEMA App for mobile devices.
Call the FEMA helpline at 800-621-3362 between 6 a.m. and 11 p.m. Help is available in most languages. If you use a relay service, such as video relay (VRS), captioned telephone or other service, give FEMA your number for that service.
To view an accessible video about how to apply visit: Three Ways to Register for FEMA Disaster Assistance – YouTube.
For the latest information visit fema.gov/disaster/4817. Follow FEMA Region 6 social media at X.com/FEMARegion6 or on Facebook at facebook.com/FEMARegion6/.
The United States (US) should urgently provide humanitarian aid to at least 8,000 displaced Syrians stranded in the besieged, isolated Rukban camp under US de facto control on Syria’s border with Jordan and Iraq without access to sufficient food, clean water or healthcare, Amnesty International said today.
The already dire humanitarian situation at the camp has deteriorated sharply in recent months after the Syrian government tightened the siege it has imposed on the territory around the camp since 2015, setting up checkpoints that have blocked informal smuggling routes that the camp’s residents relied on for essential supplies. The last UN humanitarian convoy allowed into the camp by the Syrian government was nearly five years ago in September 2019.
The US military operates a base near Rukban camp and has de facto effective control over the 55km territory on which the base and the camp are located. As such and in light of other governments’ human rights failures, the US government has an obligation under international human rights law to ensure that residents of the camp have access to essential supplies.
“It is unfathomable that thousands of people, including children, are stranded in an arid wasteland struggling to survive without access to life-saving necessities. The residents of Rukban are victims of a brutal Syrian government siege, they have been barred from safe refuge or faced unlawful deportations at the hands of the Jordanian authorities and been met with apparent nonchalance by the US,” said Aya Majzoub, Amnesty International’s Deputy Director for the Middle East and North Africa.
An estimated 80,000 people lived in Rukban before Jordan sealed its border to the area in 2016. That number has dwindled to 8,000 today as most left due to the dire conditions. Despite the serious risks facing them in Syrian government controlled areas, including being labelled “terrorists” and being subjected to arbitrary detention, torture, enforced disappearance and other human rights violations for expressing opposition to the Syrian government, tens of thousands have had no option but to take this risk. Today, Jordan continues to unlawfully deport Syrians to Rukban despite the camp’s unliveable conditions, while the US makes little visible effort to improve the desperate conditions despite its ability to do so.
“The Syrian government must immediately lift its siege on the area and allow humanitarian aid deliveries to reach residents of the camp. In addition, given that the US has de facto effective control over the territory on which the camp is located, it should fulfil its human rights obligations and ensure that the camp’s residents have access to food, water and essential healthcare. Meanwhile, the international community must work towards sustainable solutions for the camp’s residents, such as the re-opening of the border with Jordan or safe passage to other areas in Syria where individuals would not face human rights violations,” said Aya Majzoub.
Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments
Partnership unites six organisations including: Action with Communities in Rural England; Association of Drainage Authorities; Country Land and Business Association; Environment Agency; National Farmers Union; and Natural England
With rural communities increasingly on the frontline of extreme weather and the devastating impacts of flooding, a unique partnership has been launched today (23 September 2024) to support rural flood resilience and help farmers and communities adapt to a changing climate.
Climate change means that people, places and nature are facing more frequent and more severe storms and floods. Last winter saw one of England’s wettest periods since records began in 1836.
The Rural Flood Resilience Partnership has been established to improve collaboration, deepen understanding of vulnerabilities, and support rural communities and agricultural businesses in building their resilience to present and future flood risks and coastal erosion.
The Partnership unites organisations representing government agencies, trade associations, rural communities and businesses to tackle a joint challenge with joint solutions.
The six equal founding partners are: Action with Communities in Rural England; the Association of Drainage Authorities; Country Land and Business Association; the Environment Agency; the National Farmers Union; and Natural England.
Today, the Partnership publishes its work plan covering 2024 to 2026. Partners and a wide range of projects will work together to improve their evidence base and will draw on this to co-develop solutions.
The work plan sets out 21 actions supporting seven strategic outcomes focused on: developing the evidence base behind decision-making to increase resilience; ensuring communities, farmers and landowners have access to quality advice and support; and engaging rural communities in flood resilience.
James Blake, Chair of Trustees Action with Communities in Rural England, said:
It’s vital that everyone living and working in rural communities – not just those involved in land management and agriculture – have an opportunity to engage with and influence plans to manage the consequences of climate change.
As one of the founding members of this partnership, we look forward to drawing on the experience and reach of ACRE members to build the capacity of rural communities to come together and consider what can be done based on local circumstances in response to this most pressing global issue.
Robert Caudwell, Chair of the Association of Drainage Authorities, said:
Our climate is changing rapidly, and those living and working in rural parts of England are some of the most aware of, and most vulnerable to, those changes.
Listening to the voice of rural communities is essential if we are to build England’s resilience to flooding and drought in the future.
The best solutions can often be achieved when public authorities work together with local businesses and communities, combining their land and water management expertise with a deeper understanding of our local landscape and those impacted.
ADA is proud to play its part in this new Partnership in support of our members, England’s flood and water management authorities.
Country Land and Business Association (CLA) President Victoria Vyvyan said:
The damage to rural land and businesses from flooding is localised but acute, and the frequency of these events will increase with climate change.
It is crucial to improve the resilience of rural businesses and communities to flooding. The CLA hopes this partnership will provide the evidence, awareness of risks, and access to practical advice that will allow them to improve their resilience.
This partnership will look for short and medium-term solutions whilst raising awareness of the rural-specific costs and challenges from flooding which our members face.
Caroline Douglass, Executive Director for Flood and Coastal Risk Management, Environment Agency, said:
Flooding presents specific challenges to those living and working in rural communities, from ruined crops to having road access cut off by floodwaters.
Since 2015, flooding and coastal change projects have been completed to protect more than 400,000 hectares of agricultural land better. This includes 280,000 hectares between 2015-2021, helping to avoid more than £500 million worth of economic damage to agricultural land production.
While the Environment Agency continues to work to strengthen rural flood resilience, no single organisation can tackle these challenges in isolation. This partnership provides the opportunity to accomplish more than any one organisation can manage alone.
The new Rural Flood Resilience Partnership will help farmers, land managers and rural communities become more resilient to the impacts of climate change while retaining the vital role of managing land and producing sustainable food.
NFU Vice President Rachel Hallos said:
The NFU is pleased to be involved in this new Partnership and hope it will enable farmers and rural communities to strengthen the resilience of their homes and businesses by providing practical solutions based on tangible evidence to some of the challenges they face in the event of flooding.
It will also give rural communities the means to influence decision making, provide access to resources and support action on the ground, strengthening rural resilience to flooding in a changing climate.
Farmers are on the frontline of climate change – our biggest challenge. The extreme weather this brings is one of the main threats to UK food security and more severe storms, devastating floods, and increased periods of little or no rain are all impacting our ability to produce food.
The country has just experienced its wettest 18 months since records began in 1836 which left many thousands of acres of productive farmland under water. There are still many farm businesses in dire need of support, and we are awaiting details of how the Farming Recovery Fund can help those businesses recover from the impacts of the devastating flooding and saturated ground.
Natural England champions the power of nature and nature-based solutions to help tackle the joint climate and biodiversity emergencies.
NE welcomes the opportunity to join this partnership and add our science and evidence expertise and our local farm advice offer into the mix. Together we can support farmers and land managers to farm in more flood resilient ways – supporting communities to become more flood resilient and recovering nature at the same time.
From signing up to the Sustainable Farming Incentive to manage arable land for flood/drought resilience and water quality or by working with others to restore a river and floodplain in Landscape Recovery every farmer and land manager can make a difference.
The Partnership forms part of the wider work that all partners are undertaking on flood and coastal resilience.
All flood and coastal risk management schemes delivered by risk management authorities in England are carefully assessed to make sure they benefit the most people and property. Approximately 40% of all schemes and 45% of investment better protect properties in rural communities.
“The Greens say the Government is making a political choice not to end child poverty, bynot spending an additional $3 billion. If ending child poverty was as simple as government spending a few billion more taxpayer dollars, the Greens would have well and truly ended it while in government,” says ACT Leader David Seymour.
“From 2019 to 2023, non-pension Welfare Benefit Expenses increased from $12 billion to $18 billion while unemployment was fractionally lower in 2023. Even allowing for record inflation of 19 per cent in that period, the real increase was far more than $3 billion. And yet, child poverty was virtually static in that period. (The COVID Wage Subsidy Scheme began in 2020 and ended in 2022, so doesn’t affect these figures).
“Despite the Government making a political choice to pump an extra $3 billion per year into welfare, child poverty barely moved in this period. The Greens don’t need to speculate what would happen if a government spent an extra $3 billion dollars to end child poverty.
“The Greens are right about some things, however. Child poverty is a problem in New Zealand, and it is a political choice. New Zealand’s children need a government that makes choices based on values proven to defeat poverty.
“The only true path out of poverty is building the individual’s capacity to provide for themselves and their family. There are no examples of anyone escaping poverty though dependence on others.
“I’m proud to be part of a government that believes the path out of poverty is paved by better school attendance and achievement, making it easier to develop resources and build homes, getting more investment into New Zealand, and ending open-ended welfare in favour of mutual obligation.”
Police in St Helens continue to target drink driving
Monday, 23 September 2024 – 8:59 am.
Police are continuing to crack down on drink driving in the St Helens area, with one driver caught twice in the same day over the weekend. Inspector Luke Manhood said a 60-year-old woman returned a positive breath test after she was intercepted in Beaumaris on Saturday morning for speeding. “She will appear in court after returning a reading of 0.153 per cent – more than three times the legal limit,” he said. “On Sunday, a 24-year-old man was intercepted in St Helens and returned a reading of 0.102 per cent.” “He was served an immediate disqualification.” “Police will allege the same man was intercepted again that afternoon in Scamander, and was also consuming alcohol while driving disqualified.” “A subsequent breath analysis returned a reading of 0.146 per cent, and he will appear in court at a later date.” “Drink and drug driving are significant contributing factors to serious and fatal crashes, and police will not tolerate this behaviour.” “We are actively targeting drink drivers, and we urge people to remember that drink driving operations can be conducted anywhere, at anytime.”
A 52-year-old man from Turners Marsh will face a 3-month disqualification from driving and has been issued with a $858.50 fine after being caught 43km/h over the limit at Dilston. Acting Inspector Aleena Crack said police reportedly detected the man travelling at 143km/h in the 100km/h zone on the East Tamar Highway on Sunday afternoon. “This the second instance in a few days where police have detected a motorist travelling at such high speeds on the East Tamar Highway,” she said. “On Thursday police charged an 18-year-old George Town man after he was detected travelling at 163km/h in the 100km/h zone on the East Tamar Highway at Dilston.” “Such speeds place other road uses at risk of serious injury or death as a result of a collision.” “Police will continue to target dangerous driving behaviours on our roads, and urge all motorists to take care and drive safely to ensure everyone gets where they are going safely.”
Source: Northern Territory Police and Fire Services
Northern Territory Police are calling for information in relation to an aggravated robbery in Brinkin overnight.
Around 11:55pm, it is alleged an altercation occurred on Trower road, near the intersection with Bradshaw drive, between two dark coloured vehicles.
The offending vehicle is believed to be a sports utility vehicle carrying young adult male passengers.
The incident continued onto an address closer to casuarina beach, where police received reports that a man was threatened with a knife before the offenders stole his phone and fled the scene.
Northern Territory Police are urging anyone with information or who had witnessed the incidents to make contact on 131 444. Police quote reference NTP2400095169.
The 72 hectare ‘Starrs Creek HR – Stage 2’ aims to provide a fuel reduced zone within Coorabakh National Park, aiding in the suppression of bushfire in the area.
The burn will also stimulate reproduction of the critically endangered Banksia conferta within the prescribed burn area.
NPWS crews will be working on roads and trails throughout Coorabakh National Park to implement the burn. The public are advised that smoke may affect roads in the area and motorists are reminded to exercise caution when driving along roads in the area.
Hazard reduction burns are essential to reduce bushfire fuel loads to help protect parks, neighbours and communities from future bushfires. Fires such as this one are also specifically planned to have an ecological outcome.
All burns around the state are coordinated with the NSW Rural Fire Service.
The Albanese Government is committed to supporting a competitive and sustainable food and grocery sector that works for Australian families and farmers.
Today we are releasing an exposure draft of the new mandatory Food and Grocery Code (Code) and an exposure draft of amendments to the Competition and Consumer Act 2010 for consultation.
The new Code will see Aldi, Coles, Woolworths and Metcash subject to multi‑million‑dollar penalties for serious breaches. The Code increases protections for suppliers by introducing strengthened dispute resolution arrangements, and new obligations to protect suppliers from retribution, which will be complemented by the creation of an anonymous supplier and whistle‑blower complaints pathway through the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission.
The new Code implements the recommendations of Dr Craig Emerson’s independent review of the code in full and would commence on 1 April 2025.
The amendments to the Competition and Consumer Act 2010 will introduce higher maximum penalties for breaches of the Code, as well as higher infringement notice penalties for alleged breaches of the Food and Grocery Code and other industry codes. Legislation will be introduced into the Parliament later this year.
The Government’s economic plan is all about easing the cost of living for Australians. The new Code will help to ensure our supermarkets are as competitive as they can be so Australians get the best prices possible.
Strengthening the Food and Grocery Code is only one part of the Government’s broad competition reform agenda, which includes an ACCC supermarket inquiry, progress on the most significant merger reforms in Australia in almost 50 years, consultation on reforming non‑compete clauses, funding for CHOICE to conduct quarterly price monitoring and working with the states and territories to revitalise National Competition Policy.
Met launches London Race Action Plan, committing to the next steps in becoming an anti-racist police service
The plan has been co-created with Black officers, staff and communities – with more than 2,200 Londoners consulted.
Improvements to the service’s culture, training and leadership all form part of the Met’s commitment to strengthening trust among Black Londoners and its own workforce.
A new stop and search charter which has been co-authored with Black communities. This re-sets how stop and search should be carried out in London.
Improvements in how we record and monitor the ethnicity of drivers when making vehicle stops, with external scrutiny for greater transparency.
An overhaul of our policy on intimate searches of children – increasing the threshold and oversight, ensuring they only occur when necessary and proportionate.
To better represent the communities we serve we’re working hard to recruit and retain a more diverse workforce that brings all the talents, experiences and perspectives of London to policing.
We’re also now training all new recruits so they understand the lived experience of Black Londoners and other communities across the capital.
We’ve committed to rooting out disparities in the Met’s misconduct system and have introduced focused workshops to improve promotion rates. As a result, since 2021 promotion pass rates for Black officers has increased from 68% to 75%.
The London Race Action Plan outlines the next steps in the Met’s mission to become an anti-racist organisation and a service that is more inclusive, diverse and representative of London.
It sets out across four pillars how the Met will better represent, respect, involve and protect Black Londoners.
Over many years the Met has let Black communities down and although steps have been taken in the right direction, there remains a long way to go to be an inclusive and anti-racist organisation.
The four pillars of the plan will be delivered through tangible action across London, co-designed by the communities we serve. This will include:
We know there is more to do, but this plan sets the right course to continue building a Met that our officers and public deserve.
Progress will be made publicly available via biannual updates.
Sir Mark Rowley, Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police said: “This plan publicly sets out our next steps towards becoming a truly anti-racist and inclusive organisation.
“Black Londoners have been let down by the Met over many years and while we continue to take steps in the right direction, there remains a long way to go and there is a lot more work to do.
“Action not words will rebuild trust in our service, so we must now remain focused on delivering real change that is seen and felt by our communities and our workforce.
“We are changing our systems, our processes, culture and our leadership. We are better understanding and acting on disproportionality wherever it exists. We are working more closely than ever with communities we’ve let down to build a service that delivers for all of London.
“To achieve this critical change once and for all will take time, but I am determined that we will continue to strengthen our relationship with Black Londoners – whether that be members of the public or our own colleagues – and renew the principle of policing by consent.”
The City of Greater Bendigo is asking residents to complete a survey to help identify the most pressing social needs in our community.
The survey is now available on the City’s Let’s Talk community engagement website for community members to have input into the project until Monday October 21.
City of Greater Bendigo Community Partnerships Manager, Andie West said the City’s Community Partnerships Unit supports liveability by working together with residents and groups to support a community that is inclusive, strong, connected and resilient.
“This means it’s responsible for understanding the needs and priorities of the community to deliver on Council’s commitments to community development, fairness and social equity, accessibility and participation, community safety, respect for others and sense of belonging,” Ms West said.
“The aim of the Community Needs Assessment is to support a more evidence-informed and targeted approach to resource investment.
“It’s important that services, policies, and programs meet the real needs of the community and work well. Without proper planning, services can become fragmented and may only react to problems instead of focusing on preventing them from happening in the first place and basing decisions on evidence.
“The City is now undertaking a systematic approach to understand the community’s social needs as funds and other resources are becoming increasingly constrained to address them.
“Community feedback will help us understand where we could focus our efforts. We can’t increase our services, so doing more in one area, will mean doing less in another – and we want to get it right.
“All community feedback will be analysed along with other information to form a fuller picture of community needs using current best evidence.
“Ultimately this evidence will inform decisions that the City makes about how it delivers to the community in terms of its role, whether that be service provider, advocate or facilitator, and to ensure that future resource allocations are invested for maximum positive social impact.
“The project aligns with our commitment to the City’s Social Justice Framework and will help inform the incoming Councillors in their future decision making. It will also assist with future planning via the City’s Council Plan and Municipal Public Health and Wellbeing Plan renewal.
“I encourage all interested people to visit the City’s Let’s Talk website and provide their feedback by Monday October 21, 2024.”
Source: Australian Competition and Consumer Commission
The ACCC has commenced separate proceedings in the Federal Court against Woolworths Group Limited (Woolworths) (ASX: WOW) and Coles Supermarkets Australia Pty Ltd (Coles) (a subsidiary of Coles Group Limited – ASX: COL) for allegedly breaching the Australian Consumer Law by misleading consumers through discount pricing claims on hundreds of common supermarket products.
The ACCC’s allegations relate to products sold by each of Woolworths and Coles at regular long-term prices which remained the same, excluding short-term specials, for at least six months and in many cases for at least a year.
The products were then subject to price rises of at least 15 per cent for brief periods, before being placed in Woolworths’ ‘Prices Dropped’ promotion and Coles’ ‘Down Down’ promotion, at prices lower than during the price spike but higher than, or the same as, the regular price that applied before the price spike.
“Following many years of marketing campaigns by Woolworths and Coles, Australian consumers have come to understand that the ‘Prices Dropped’ and ‘Down Down’ promotions relate to a sustained reduction in the regular prices of supermarket products. However, in the case of these products, we allege the new ‘Prices Dropped’ and ‘Down Down’ promotional prices were actually higher than, or the same as, the previous regular price,” ACCC Chair Gina Cass-Gottlieb said.
“We allege that each of Woolworths and Coles breached the Australian Consumer Law by making misleading claims about discounts, when the discounts were, in fact, illusory.”
“We also allege that in many cases both Woolworths and Coles had already planned to later place the products on a ‘Prices Dropped’ or ‘Down Down’ promotion before the price spike, and implemented the temporary price spike for the purpose of establishing a higher ‘was’ price,” Ms Cass-Gottlieb said.
The ACCC alleges the conduct involved 266 products for Woolworths at different times across 20 months, and 245 products for Coles at different times across 15 months. The representations were made on pricing tickets displayed to consumers in-store on supermarket shelves and online, usually with a ‘was’ price displayed showing what the price was during the short-term price spike and the date of that price.
The ACCC identified this conduct through consumer contacts to the ACCC and social media monitoring, and then conducted an in-depth investigation using its compulsory powers.
“Many consumers rely on discounts to help their grocery budgets stretch further, particularly during this time of cost of living pressures. It is critical that Australian consumers are able to rely on the accuracy of pricing and discount claims,” Ms Cass-Gottlieb said.
“We allege these misleading claims about illusory discounts diminished the ability of consumers to make informed choices about what products to buy, and where.”
The ACCC estimates that Woolworths and Coles sold tens of millions of the affected products and derived significant revenue from those sales.
The ACCC is seeking declarations, penalties, costs and other orders. The ACCC is also seeking community service orders that Woolworths and Coles must each fund a registered charity to deliver meals to Australians in need, in addition to their pre-existing charitable meal delivery programs.
Alleged conduct
The ACCC alleges that the supermarkets offered certain products at a regular price for at least 180 days. They then increased the price of the product by at least 15 per cent for a relatively short period of time, and subsequently placed it onto their ‘Prices Dropped’ or ‘Down Down’ program.
The ACCC alleges the display of the Prices Dropped and Down Down tickets was misleading, as the price of the products was in fact higher than or the same as the regular price at which the supermarket had previously offered the products for sale.
Alleged conduct by Woolworths
The ACCC alleges that Woolworths made false or misleading representations to consumers about the prices of 266 products during the period between September 2021 and May 2023.
Products affected include Arnott’s Tim Tams biscuits, Dolmio sauces, Doritos salsa, Energizer batteries, Friskies cat food, Kellogg’s cereal, President butter, Listerine mouthwash, Moccona coffee capsules, Mother energy drinks, Mr Chen’s noodles, Nicorette patches, Ocean Blue smoked salmon, Oreo cookies, Palmolive dishwashing liquid, Raid insect spray, Sprite soft drink, Stayfree pads, Twisties, Uncle Tobys muesli bars, and Vicks VapoDrops.
Example – Oreo Family Pack Original 370g
From at least 1 January 2021 until 27 November 2022, Woolworths offered the Oreo Family Pack Original 370g product for sale at a regular price of $3.50 on a pre-existing ‘Prices Dropped’ promotion for at least 696 days.
On 28 November 2022, the price was increased to $5.00 for a period of 22 days. On 20 December 2022, the product was placed on a ‘Prices Dropped’ promotion with the tickets showing a ‘Prices Dropped’ price of $4.50 and a ‘was’ price of $5.00. The ‘Prices Dropped’ price of $4.50 was in fact 29 per cent higher than the product’s previous regular price of $3.50.
In this example, the ACCC alleges Woolworths had planned the temporary price spike to establish a new higher ‘was’ price for the subsequent ‘promotion’. Woolworths had decided (after a request from the supplier for a price increase) on or around 18 November 2022 to take the product off ‘Prices Dropped’, increase the price, and then put the product back on to ‘Prices Dropped’ three weeks later.
Alleged conduct by Coles
The ACCC alleges that Coles made false or misleading representations to consumers about the prices of 245 products during the period between February 2022 and May 2023.
Products include Arnott’s Shapes biscuits, Band-Aids, Bega cheese, Cadbury chocolates, Coca Cola soft drink, Colgate toothpaste, Danone yoghurt, Dettol multi-purpose wipes, Fab laundry liquid, Karicare formula, Kellogg’s snack bars, Kleenex tissues, Libra tampons, Lurpak butter, Maggi two-minute noodles, Nature’s Gift dog food, Nescafe instant coffee, Palmolive shampoo, Rexona deodorant, Sakata rice crackers, Sanitarium Weet-Bix cereal, Strepsils lozenges, Sunrice rice, Tena pads, Viva paper towels, Whiskas cat food, and Zafarelli pasta.
Example Strepsils Throat Lozenges Honey & Lemon 16 pack
From at least 1 January 2021 until 11 October 2022, Coles offered the Strepsils Throat Lozenges Honey & Lemon 16 pack product for sale at a regular price of $5.50 (on a pre-existing ‘Down Down’ promotion) for at least 649 days, including one seven-day short-term special.
On 12 October 2022, the price was then increased to $7.00 for a period of 28 days. On 9 November 2022, the product was placed on a ‘Down Down’ promotion with the tickets showing a ‘Down Down’ price of $6.00 and a ‘was’ price of $7.00. The ‘Down Down’ price of $6.00 was in fact 9 per cent higher than the product’s previous regular price of $5.50.
In this example, the ACCC alleges Coles had planned the temporary price spike to establish a new higher ‘was’ price for the subsequent ‘promotion’. Coles had decided (after a request from the supplier for a price increase) on or around 7 October 2022 to take the product off ‘Down Down’, increase the price, and then put the product back on to ‘Down Down’ four weeks later.
The ACCC’s investigation into the conduct which is the subject of these proceedings pre-dates this inquiry. The inquiry will not consider the issues in dispute in these proceedings.
Note to editors
The ACCC does not regulate supermarket prices.
The ACCC has taken proceedings in respect of alleged breaches of the Australian Consumer Law, which provides that businesses must not make false or misleading statements about prices.
Separate proceedings are brought against Woolworths and Coles, and the ACCC is not making any allegation of any collusion or anti-competitive conduct by Woolworths and Coles as part of these proceedings.
The ACCC is not alleging any contravention of the ACL by any of Woolworths’ and Coles’ suppliers in these proceedings.
The maximum penalty for each breach of the Australian Consumer Law increased on 10 November 2022, part way through the period of the alleged conduct. For contraventions from 10 November 2022, the maximum penalty is the greater of:
$50,000,000
if the Court can determine the value of the ‘reasonably attributable’ benefit obtained, three times that value, or
if the Court cannot determine the value of the ‘reasonably attributable’ benefit, 30 per cent of the corporation’s adjusted turnover during the breach turnover period for the contravention.
Any penalty that might apply to this conduct is a matter for the Court to determine and would depend on the Court’s findings. The ACCC will not comment on what penalties the Court may impose.
Background
Woolworths runs the largest supermarket chain in Australia, with about 1,140 Woolworths supermarket stores across the country.
The ‘Prices Dropped’ Program is promoted by Woolworths as a shelf price reduction program designed to offer Woolworths’ customers consistently low prices over a prolonged period. The objective of the Prices Dropped Program was to lower the standard shelf price of a product from its previous standard (or regular) shelf price.
Example of a Prices Dropped ticket
Coles is the second-largest supermarket chain in Australia, operating more than 840 stores nationally.
Coles introduced the ‘Down Down’ Program in June 2010 and marketed it as a promotional campaign designed to reduce the regular shelf price of commonly purchased products — thereby offering customers predictable and reliable value on the items they purchased the most and reducing the cost of their shopping basket.
Example of a Down Down ticket
Separate to these proceedings, in December 2023, following a complaint by CHOICE and an investigation by the ACCC, Coles announced refunds for thousands of customers after it raised the price on 20 products that it had promised would remain ‘locked’ for a certain period of time as part of Coles’ ‘Dropped and Locked’ promotion.
These documents contain the ACCC’s initiating court documents in relation to these matters. We will not be uploading further documents in the event these initial documents are subsequently amended.
On 29 September each year New Zealand Police commemorates Police Remembrance Day on the feast day of the Archangel Michael, the patron saint of police. This year it will be observed on Friday 27 September.
Police staff and members of the Police family will gather this Friday to mark Police Remembrance Day, a time to honour and remember colleagues now lost to us.
A national service will be held this Friday at the Royal New Zealand Police College (RNZPC) to honour staff who have been slain or died as a result of their duties, as well as serving, retired and former Police staff who have passed away in the preceding 12 months.
We will also remember our police colleagues in Australia and the Pacific who have been killed by criminal acts while performing their official duties or died as a result of their duties.
Commissioner Andrew Coster will attend the service along with the Minister of Police the Hon Mark Mitchell and Associate Minister of Police the Hon Casey Costello.
Wreaths will be laid at the Memorial Wall and recruits will perform a haka to honour those being remembered.
The livestreaming will be recorded and will remain on the Facebook pages and website to watch after the service.
In addition to the national service, local Remembrance Day services will be held across the country.
On Police Remembrance Day and in the week leading up to it, Police staff throughout New Zealand wear the huia pin which was developed by the Police Association and New Zealand Police.
The tail plumage of the huia bird – now lost to us – is something rare and special and to wear it is considered by Māori to be a great honour. By incorporating the Police chevron into the huia tail feather, the design of the pin symbolises the honouring of someone special, now lost to police.
Media are invited to the event, and are asked to be in place by 10.45am for an 11.00am start to the service.
Please come to the reception area of the RNZPC on Friday 27 September 2024 by 10.30am.
Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News
ZHENGZHOU, Sept. 22 — Chinese Vice Premier Liu Guozhong said on Sunday that China is on course for another bumper grain harvest this year after farmers and cadres at all levels across the country worked hard to overcome the adverse impacts of natural disasters and realize increased summer grain output and the steady production of early rice.
Liu, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, made the remarks during a tour to Lankao in central China’s Henan Province, where he attended a national main event celebrating the seventh Chinese farmers’ harvest festival.
Liu called for solid efforts in promoting comprehensive rural revitalization by implementing the policies and arrangements of the CPC Central Committee so as to lay the foundation for the modernization of agriculture and rural areas, as well as for building China into an agricultural powerhouse.
During the event, Liu also went to an exhibition showcasing the achievements through learning from and applying the experience of the Green Rural Revival Program, and saw the display of high-quality agricultural products and rural craftsman skills.
Liu also called for persistent efforts in farm field management, disaster monitoring, early warning, as well as disaster prevention and response during the autumn grain harvest season.
Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News
7th Chinese farmers’ harvest festival celebrated across China
Updated: September 23, 2024 07:33Xinhua
A villager airs crops at Yangchan Village in Huangshan City, east China’s Anhui Province, Sept. 22, 2024. This Sunday marks the seventh Chinese farmers’ harvest festival. [Photo/Xinhua]A farmer loads harvested corns onto a truck at Bianqiao Township of Linyi City, east China’s Shandong Province, Sept. 17, 2024. [Photo/Xinhua]A farmer holds harvested rice at Yuanyang County of Honghe Hani and Yi Autonomous Prefecture, southwest China’s Yunnan Province, Sept. 22, 2024. [Photo/Xinhua]Farmers harvest rice at Zhanglou Village of Xinyang City, central China’s Henan Province, Sept. 22, 2024. [Photo/Xinhua]A farmer harvests grapes at an orchard of Xixiaoyi Village in Tangshan City, north China’s Hebei Province, Sept. 22, 2024. [Photo/Xinhua]Farmers harvest rice at Wanchang Township in Yongji County, northeast China’s Jilin Province, Sept. 20, 2024. [Photo/Xinhua]An aerial drone photo shows harvesters working in a paddy field in Fangzheng County of Harbin, northeast China’s Heilongjiang Province, Sept. 22, 2024. This Sunday marks the seventh Chinese farmers’ harvest festival. In recent years, China’s major grain production province Heilongjiang has enhanced its grain production capacity and advanced the quality of high-standard farmland development. [Photo/Xinhua]Harvesters work in a paddy field in Fangzheng County of Harbin, northeast China’s Heilongjiang Province, Sept. 22, 2024. [Photo/Xinhua]An aerial drone photo shows a paddy field in Fangzheng County of Harbin, northeast China’s Heilongjiang Province, Sept. 22, 2024. [Photo/Xinhua]Folk artists throw molten iron to create fireworks in Haiyang, east China’s Shandong Province, Sept. 21, 2024. The event aims to commemorate the seventh Chinese farmers’ harvest festival which falls on Sept. 22 this year. [Photo/Xinhua]Folk artists throw molten iron to create fireworks in Haiyang, east China’s Shandong Province, Sept. 21, 2024. [Photo/Xinhua]
Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News
This undated file combo photo shows a jade dragon unearthed from a stone tomb site in the city of Chifeng, north China’s Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region. Chinese archaeologists have unearthed the largest jade dragon ever discovered from the Hongshan culture, an important part of the Neolithic Age, at a stone tomb site in the city of Chifeng, north China’s Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, according to the regional institute of cultural relics and archaeology. Measuring 15.8 cm long, 9.5 cm wide, and 3 cm thick, the artifact was found at a site featuring a circular tomb in the north and a square altar in the south, which is the only one of its kind ever found in the region. [Photo/Xinhua]
HOHHOT, Sept. 22 — Chinese archaeologists have unearthed the largest jade dragon ever discovered from the Hongshan culture, an important part of the Neolithic Age, at a stone tomb site in the city of Chifeng, north China’s Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, according to the regional institute of cultural relics and archaeology.
Measuring 15.8 cm long, 9.5 cm wide, and 3 cm thick, the artifact was found at a site featuring a circular tomb in the north and a square altar in the south, which is the only one of its kind ever found in the region.
Apart from the architectural remains, human skeletal remains, burials, fire pits, and cylindrical object pits have also been discovered at the site. The unearthed artifacts include jade and painted pottery basins and tripod pottery cups, among others.
The ongoing research at the site includes studies of the ancient environment, large-scale topographic mapping and carbon-14 dating, among others. The latest dating data indicates that the site belongs to the late Hongshan culture, dating back 5,100 to 5,000 years.
The finds were revealed during a themed seminar held Sunday in Chifeng, which provided updates on the archaeological progress at the stone tomb in Yuanbaoshan of Chifeng’s Aohan Banner.
This undated file photo shows the general view of a stone tomb site in the city of Chifeng, north China’s Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region. [Photo/Xinhua]This undated file photo shows archaeologists working at a stone tomb site in the city of Chifeng, north China’s Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region. [Photo/Xinhua]This undated file photo shows jade wares unearthed at a stone tomb site in the city of Chifeng, north China’s Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region. [Photo/Xinhua]This undated file photo shows a circular tomb at a stone tomb site in the city of Chifeng, north China’s Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region. [Photo/Xinhua]This undated file photo shows a stone tomb site before excavation in the city of Chifeng, north China’s Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region. [Photo/Xinhua]
Today, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau met with the Prime Minister of Japan, Kishida Fumio, on the margins of the 79th Session of the United Nations General Assembly.
Prime Minister Trudeau and Prime Minister Kishida reaffirmed the strong bond between Canada and Japan as G7 partners, as well as their shared commitment to promoting peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific region and to standing with Ukraine for as long as it takes.
Prime Minister Trudeau praised Prime Minister Kishida’s leadership on the G7 Leaders’ Hiroshima Vision on Nuclear Disarmament and his efforts toward an international treaty banning the production of fissile material for use in nuclear weapons or other nuclear explosive devices.
The two leaders discussed ways to expand bilateral trade, investment, and energy co-operation to foster economic security and support a strong middle class on both sides of the Pacific. They also explored opportunities to increase collaboration between the two countries and advance progress on shared global priorities, including in the context of Canada’s G7 Presidency next year.
Prime Minister Trudeau thanked Prime Minister Kishida for his meaningful efforts in strengthening the Canada-Japan relationship during his tenure and his friendship to Canada.
The Albanese Labor Government has today announced the appointment of Mr Will Kostakis to the Public Lending Right Committee as an author representative for a four-year term.
The Committee is responsible for the administration of the Public Lending Right Scheme.
The Scheme ensures Australian book publishers and creators are compensated for the free multiple use of their work in Australian public and educational lending libraries.
Will Kostakis is a bestselling author who, as a high school student, won theSydney Morning Herald Young Writer of the Year for a collection of short stories.
Minister for the Arts, Tony Burke, said Mr Kostakis’s skill and continued advocacy for young readers and writers would be an asset to the committee.
“Will is a dedicated and passionate young author whose work tells the stories of the people that make up modern Australia.
“The Public Lending Rights Committee ensures writers and publishers are properly compensated for their work and so, it’s invaluable to have working writers, such as Will on board.
“The Albanese Labor Government’s changes to includes ebooks and audiobooks have meant even more Australian writers are now benefiting from these schemes.”
Mr Will Kostakis is an award-winning children’s and young adult’s author who has extensive experience working with public and educational libraries. An accomplished public speaker, he has spent more than 16 years travelling around Australia and overseas to speak about his books and writing at schools, festivals and conferences.
His books have been shortlisted for numerous awards, and his latest bookWe Could Be Somethingwon the 2024 Prime Minister’s Literary Awards in the Young Adult Literature category.
Today, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau met with the Prime Minister of Japan, Kishida Fumio, on the margins of the 79th session of the United Nations General Assembly.
Prime Minister Trudeau and Prime Minister Kishida reaffirmed the close ties between Canada and Japan as G7 partners, as well as their shared commitment to promoting peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific region and to standing with Ukraine for as long as necessary.
Prime Minister Trudeau commended Prime Minister Kishida’s leadership in the G7 Leaders’ Hiroshima Vision on nuclear disarmament and his efforts to secure an international treaty banning the production of fissile material for nuclear weapons or other nuclear explosive devices.
The two leaders discussed ways to strengthen bilateral cooperation on trade, investment and energy to promote economic security and support a strong middle class on both sides of the Pacific. They also explored opportunities to enhance collaboration between the two countries and advance shared global priorities, including through Canada’s G7 presidency next year.
Prime Minister Trudeau thanked Prime Minister Kishida for his significant efforts to strengthen Canada-Japan relations during his term and for his friendship for our country.
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EDITOR’S NOTE: This article is a translation. Apologies should the grammar and/or sentence structure not be perfect.
Women charged with stealing in Launceston and Devonport
Monday, 23 September 2024 – 9:46 am.
Two women have been charged after allegedly stealing over $6,000 worth of goods from stores in the Launceston and Devonport areas between May and September 2024. The 26-year-old and 39-year-old, both from Ravenswood, were arrested in the Rooke Street Mall, Devonport on Saturday after they were intercepted by police leaving a store with a significant amount of property. Police obtained a search warrant for their vehicle and recovered further stolen property. Both women appeared in court today and were remanded in custody to appear again at a later date. If you have any information regarding this matter, please contact Tasmania Police on 131 444, or anonymously through Crime Stoppers Tasmania via crimestopperstas.com.au on 1800 333 000.
Woman caught more than four times the legal limit in George Town
Monday, 23 September 2024 – 9:53 am.
A 48-year-old George Town woman was charged with high range drink driving, driving under the influence of intoxicating liquor and a number of traffic offences in George Town yesterday. Police reportedly observed the woman speeding in a silver Ford Ranger on Main Road, George Town about 7.05pm, before performing an illegal u-turn and crashing into a residential fence. The woman returned a breath alcohol reading of 0.225 percent, more than four times the legal limit. She was arrested, disqualified from driving for 24 months and bailed to appear in the Launceston Magistrates Court at a later date.
The Secretary-General met with H.E. Mr. Fumio Kishida, Prime Minister of Japan. The Secretary-General thanked Prime Minister Kishida for Japan’s valuable contributions to the United Nations and its activities, as well as for Japan’s strong commitment to disarmament and non-proliferation. The Secretary-General and Prime Minister Kishida discussed a number of key shared priorities, including Security Council reform.
A member of Guizhou provincial mountain resources institute observes the rock formation inside a branch cave of Shuanghe Cave in Suiyang County, southwest China’s Guizhou Province, Sept. 23, 2023. [Photo/Xinhua] Scientists from China, France, Portugal, Belgium and other countries gathered on Friday at the Shuanghe Cave, Asia’s longest known cave, in southwest China’s Guizhou Province for a launch ceremony of the 23rd joint international scientific expedition into the cave. The expedition is scheduled for Oct. 7 to 24, and the results of their findings will be made available on Oct. 24. Previous scientific expeditions found 44 individual giant panda fossils, with the oldest specimen dating back 100,000 years and the most recent dating back a few hundred years. The fossils prove that Guizhou was once a habitat for giant pandas, which are today known to survive in the provinces of Sichuan, Shaanxi and Gansu. Zhou Wenlong, deputy secretary general of the Guizhou Cave Association, said the upcoming cave expedition will further study the cave’s resources, formation and evolution. According to the results of the 2023 joint expedition, the cave network has 107 connected openings and boasts a length of 409.9 kilometers, making it the longest known cave in Asia and the third-longest in the world. It is also the world’s longest dolomite cave. French caver Jean Bottazzi, who has more than three decades of cave exploration experience in China, is acting as chief of the upcoming cave research. He calls Shuanghe Cave his second home. He said that since the late 1980s, the discoveries of Chinese and foreign experts in the cave have led to repeated updates of the cave’s length, and many cave fossils and living organisms have been unearthed, providing rich, valuable scientific research materials. During this year’s scientific expedition, Suiyang County, which administers the cave area, will hold activities such as a geological science photography contest and a short video contest to promote the cave geopark.
Kinmen on Sunday received its first tour group from the Chinese mainland in more than four years. The group of 20-plus tourists arrived in Kinmen from Xiamen, Fujian Province, on the Chinese mainland, and will go on a two-day sightseeing tour that ends on Monday. On Aug. 30, the Ministry of Culture and Tourism announced the decision to resume allowing residents in Fujian Province to travel to Kinmen. The Kinmen County government organized a lion-dance performance at the wharf, along with a long red banner, to welcome the tour group. Hsu Chi-hsin, chief of Kinmen’s tourism department, welcomed the group at the wharf, expressing hope that the tour would pave the way for smoother and more regular cross-Strait exchanges, local media reported. “We hope that after a long absence, the members of this first group will return to Xiamen with fond memories of Kinmen, sharing its beauty with friends and family, encouraging more mainland tourists to visit, and boosting Kinmen’s tourism and local industries,” the tourism department said in a press release. Chen Yu-jen, a Kinmen legislator, urged the Democratic Progressive Party authorities to lift the current ban on tour groups from Taiwan to the mainland as soon as possible.
Anura Kumara Dissanayake, candidate of National People’s Power, emerged as the winner in the presidential election in Sri Lanka held on Saturday, the Election Commission confirmed Sunday.
Given that no candidate secured more than 50 percent of the votes, the Election Commission counted the second and third preferences of the two leading candidates, the first time in history of Sri Lankan presidential election.
Dissanayake obtained 5,634,915 votes in the first count and 105,264 preferential votes during the second count.
His main opponent, candidate of opposition Samagi Jana Balawegaya, Sajith Premadasa, obtained 4,363,035 votes in the first count and 167,867 preferential votes in the second count.
In a post on social media platform “X” (formerly Twitter) after the release of election results, Dissanayake said, “The millions of eyes filled with hope and expectation push us forward, and together, we stand ready to rewrite Sri Lankan history.”
“This dream can only be realized with a fresh start. The unity of Sinhalese, Tamils, Muslims, and all Sri Lankans is the bedrock of this new beginning. The New Renaissance we seek will rise from this shared strength and vision,” he posted.
Incumbent President Ranil Wickremesinghe failed with a total of 2,299,767 votes.
According to the President’s Media Division, Wickremesinghe delivered a special address after the results came out.
He said that the people of the country have made their decision at this presidential election, and they must respect their decision and act according to that mandate to ensure the functioning of the country.
“I was eventually able to carry the dear child called Sri Lanka along a long distance safely on the dangerous rope bridge. Close to the very end of the rope bridge, people have decided to hand over the dear child called Sri Lanka to President Anura Dissanayake,” he said.
“I wish that you will be able to carry this child away from the bridge to the other bank, even safer than the way I carried the child,” said Wickremesinghe.
New York-based Sea Cadets and Naval Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps cadets attended the event, held at the U.S. Armed Forces Recruiting Station in Times Square.
“Having these young Sea Cadets and NJROTC cadets – the future of our nation – learn about our climate and energy technologies was a fantastic way for the Department of the Navy to kick off its participation in Climate Week NYC,” said Berger. “They understand firsthand how climate change is impacting our world today, and we were able to help make the connection for them of how climate readiness is mission readiness for our Sailors and Marines.”
DON researchers and engineers from various commands showcased technologies, such as hydrogen-powered fuel cells, small unit power systems, water-conserving firefighting nozzles, atmospheric water generation, and green concrete, to educate the students about the DON’s commitment to climate action and inspire them about DON careers in climate- and energy-focused roles.
Madeleine White, resilience innovation research portfolio manager at Naval Facilities Engineering and Expeditionary Warfare Center, explained green concrete, which uses sustainable materials to reduce traditional concrete’s environmental impact, such as lowering the carbon footprint of construction.
“Working on this [technology] as it is as an engineer has been great, but being able to show it to the individuals who are one day going to use it or be involved with it makes my job all worthwhile,” White said. “And doing [the event] out in a space like this and having these engineer technologies out in such a public space for people to see is such a fun environment to be in.”
Jeremiah Rodriguez, a junior and NJROTC cadet at Curtis High School in Staten Island, N.Y., said he would think about global warming and its impact.
“It would be in the back of my mind, such as how it would continuously get hotter,” he said. “One day, it’ll get to the point where you can cook an egg on the sidewalk. With this new technology, I really hope we can figure out a way to significantly reduce the impact of climate change. After this presentation, I really find it hopeful for our generation’s future.”
Climate Week NYC is the largest annual climate event of its kind, bringing together more than 600 events and activities across New York City in person, hybrid and online. Climate Group hosts the official program during the week that brings together the most senior international figures from business, government, civil society and the climate sector.
This year, Climate Week NYC is being held Sept. 22-29, 2024. The event takes place every year in partnership with the United Nations General Assembly and is run in coordination with the United Nations and the City of New York.
In May 2022, the Department of the Navy released Climate Action 2030 in which Secretary of the Navy Carlos Del Toro recognized climate change as one of the most destabilizing forces of our time and charged the Department with building a climate-ready force.
Berger is responsible for providing oversight and policy for Navy and Marine Corps energy and climate resilience; infrastructure sustainment, restoration and modernization; military construction; acquisition, utilization and disposal of real property and facilities; environmental protection, planning, restoration and natural resources conservation; and safety and occupational health.