Category: Fisheries

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Text of Vice-President’s address at the first convocation ceremony of Raja Mahendra Pratap Singh State University, Aligarh, Uttar Pradesh (Excerpts)

    Source: Government of India (2)

    Posted On: 21 OCT 2024 2:21PM by PIB Delhi

    Smt. Anandiben Patel, Hon’ble Governor of Uttar Pradesh, and chancellor of this university, Raja Mahendra Pratap Singh State University. The Governor exemplifies passionate commitment to education. She has brought about big change and I have seen one here, names and certificates and mark sheets all electronically uploaded.

    She is very forward looking and handheld me when I was governor of West Bengal, when it came to the role of Chancellor. The Hon’ble Governor defines the role of chancellor with exemplification of highest virtuosity and commitment. She has been here twice and the state of Uttar Pradesh is lucky to have such an educationist, such a motivational, inspirational governor, particularly for the field of education.

    When I stepped into the premises हमने सबसे पहले एक काम किया महामहिम राज्यपाल ने और मैने ‘मां के नाम एक पेड़’ और जब यहां आकर देखा how thoughtful it was, Vedic chanting related to environment.

    हमें याद रखना पड़ेगा हमारे पास रहने के लिए पृथ्वी के अलावा कोई दूसरी जगह नहीं है इसी का सृजन करना पड़ेगा

    I therefore appeal to every student, every member of the staff, member of the faculty, everyone present here इस premises के अंदर इस प्रांगण में मां के नाम पेड जरूर लगाए यहां देखा है मैंने सब ठीक उन्नति के ऊपर है पर यह पक्ष कमजोर है यह अति शीघ्र होना चाहिए climate change time bomb is ticking we have to act while there is a time.

    Friends, it is an honour to be present at this convocation and for a very special reason. It is named after Raja Mahendra Pratap Singh, a patriot, national hero and freedom fighter. Another very fascinating aspect is being in Brijbhoomi is always spiritually rewarding. My congratulations to all the graduating students, medalists their proud parents also and more importantly, my greetings and congratulations to the members of the faculty.

    My young friends, your high academic qualifications are an asset to the country. In whatever field you work, and the number of fields is now increasing day by day, you will be part of India’s developing growth story. This story of Bharat is full of promises. The next 25 years are with immense potential which you all are required to exploit.

    Friends, the most important component of our youth with high qualifications like you are our spinal strength.

    Our national ambitions are well defined. Our national ambition is well set out and that is to be a developed nation, develop Bharat by 2047.

    Young minds are the most vital stakeholders in this journey. You will define this journey, you will fuel this journey and you will make everyone proud. You are the future leaders, you are the creators of positive change, driving economic, technological and social progress.

    Our national ambitions are well defined, our national ambition is well set out, and that is to be a developed nation, developed part at 2047. Young minds are the most vital stakeholders in this journey, you will define this journey, you will fuel this journey and we will make everyone proud. You are the future leaders, you are the creators of positive change, driving economic, technological, and social progress. You have to be the change you believe in. Don’t be swept by the change. Bring about the change you want as per your aptitude and attitude.

    Friends it is a testament present governance that this university has emerged so well in a such short time with the foundation stone being led by our visionary Prime Minister just 3 years ago.

    This achievement alongside exemplary law and order, highways, infrastructure august well for its northward progress and rise.

    it is a historical fact – Civilizations survive by institutions and ordering their heroes. Imagine in the field of education, Nalanda, Takshashila and many more global beacon of knowledge and education. This university establishment is a step in the right direction to befittingly immortalise Raja Mahendra Pratap Singh, a hero like others who ought to have been given space in our independence movement history, he should have occupied huge space. In 1915, he established first provisional Government of India in Kabul that was two decades before the Britishers could even imagine of the 1935 Government of India Act. It was a very great attempt. It was a thought to proclaim freedom, which we got later on and he had the good occasion to be a Member of Parliament. We thrive in an independent environment today because of sacrifices made by heroes like him.

    These inspiring stories of such great heroes unfortunately have had so far brief or no mention in our textbooks. A painful aberration is the history of independence was manipulated with credit being denied to those undeterred.

    It is our bounden ordainment to make aware our youth of our real heroes of freedom struggle. The next generation of historians should ensure that the sacrifice of multitude freedom fighters inspired this generation. It is soothing in recent times, vigorously we are celebrating all over the country our unsung heroes or well sung heroes.

    Belated conferment of the highest civilian award to Bharat Ratan to Dr. B.R. Ambedkar in 1990, to Chaudhary Charan Singh and Karpoori Thakur in 2023 are steps in the right direction. I was privileged on both the occasions to be in the theatre of parliament. In 1990 I was a union minister and now Vice-President, Chairman Rajya Sabha.

    I feel blessed but a cause of concern. Why it took us so long to recognise our heroes?

    Similarly, very good developments have taken place recently. We celebrate 15th November Janjatiya Gaurav Divas to pay tributes to Bhagwan Birsa Munda on his birth anniversary. A great tribal freedom fighter, know about him. You will be enthused, motivated, inspired. In the prime of youth he went away but left indelible mark on our freedom movement struggle. The day is dedicated to the memory of brave tribal freedom fighters so that our coming generations and this generation know about their sacrifices, about this country.

    Similarly, another great hero who was denied rightful space. Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose, gifted with indomitable spirit and selfless service to the nation. The government has decided to celebrate his birthday 23rd January every year as Prakram Diwas and rightly so. I was again privileged and honoured when the main function was held.

    In Kolkata, I happened to be governor of the state of West Bengal. The honourable Prime Minister inaugurated this great day remembering one of the finest human beings, finest souls, visionary who laid down everything, all comforts to serve the nation.

    Friends, our youth must always remember The fortitude these people exhibited in the face of grave adversity, this will infuse in all of you a fervour for nationalism.

    “शहीदों की चिताओं पर जुड़ेंगे हर बरस मेले।

    वतन पर मरनेवालों का यही बाक़ी निशाँ होगा॥

    कभी वह दिन भी आएगा जब अपना राज देखेंगे।

    जब अपनी ही ज़मीं होगी और अपना आसमाँ होगा॥“

    यह आज चरितार्थ हो रहा है आजादी के लंबे समय बाद इसको हर पल महसूस किया जा रहा है हर दृष्टि से किया जा रहा है।

    My young friends, I have adverted to some of such recent steps to remind you all that our commitment to nationalism should ever be unflinching and uppermost. राष्ट्र से ऊपर कुछ नहीं है। राष्ट्रवाद हमारा धर्म है, निजी हित या कोई भी हित हो राष्ट्रहित से ऊपर नहीं रख सकते यही हमारा संकल्प होना चाहिए, यही हमारी संस्कृति का निचोड़ है।

    Raja Mahendra Pratap Singh was also a visionary educationist who foresaw the need for technical education establishing the Prem Mahavidyalaya.

    Friends, history is proof of it. No country has excelled without being at the forefront of technological revolution. If we want to see Pax Indica becoming a reality, we must lead in technology.

    We are living virtually in the fourth industrial revolution where information is key to all our activities, from agriculture to education to communication. Everything is around communication these days. Technology is a game-changer.

    In our country, it has affected very fortunately, much-needed, transparent, accountable governance, ease of service delivery, and accomplishment of the last in the row, getting benefits.

    As we march towards Viksit Bharat@2047, driven by a knowledge economy, our goal should be to create institutions of excellence, rivalling the best in the world. Because this country had institutions of global excellence and eminence, people from all over the planet swarmed to get enlightenment.

    I appeal to industries and corporates to invest in India’s educational ecosystem. Investment in education is investment in your present, investment in your future, investment for economic growth, investment for peace, investment for harmony.

    This endeavour should be driven, now here is a word of caution by me. I can call it a caveat. We should never make education a commodity, we should never make education commerce. This endeavour, this enterprise, this spirit should not be driven by commodification and commercialisation of education but it should align with our traditional Gurukul system. गुरुकुल में क्या होता था कोई फीस नहीं होती थी, कोई रोक-टोक नहीं होती थी और यही कारण है कि भारत के संविधान निर्माता ने बहुत सोच समझकर जो 22 चित्र संविधान में रखे हैं आपसे अपील करूंगा उन चित्रों का आप अध्ययन कीजिए। आजकल सोशल मीडिया गूगल सब आपकी मदद करेगा उसमें जहां सिटीजनशिप है वहां गुरुकुल का चित्र है, शिक्षा को क्या इंपोर्टेंस दी गई है। They have to be crucibles of character formation, they have to inflame us with the spirit of commitment to our Bharat.

    To those shaping curricula, those who are devising curricula, the members of the faculty, I urge you to make the National Education Policy a success. The honourable Governor and myself have been associated at various stages in the evolution of National Education Policy. Thousands of stakeholders’ inputs have been considered. We have it after more than three decades, it presents a visionary roadmap for transforming our education system. It promotes multidisciplinary learning, skill development, innovation. It does not need a great emphasis on degrees. I want every teacher, every professor, every person associated with education to please go through National Education Policy. You can’t implement it unless you understand it, you have to understand it with a mindset to implement it.

    Our Bharat today, fortunately, and a great development for the world, is emerging as an intellectual powerhouse in terms of technology. My young friends, boys and girls, will know about it.  We rank fifth in terms of patents filed. You know the importance of patents, you know its economic results.  You can realise how it’s a soft diplomatic weapon also and with a significant increase of 25% year-on-year growth, our annual growth in terms of filing patents is 25%.

    In artificial intelligence, India with its dense human interaction and deep technological penetration is poised to lead data set creation. As a matter of fact, our digitisation, our technological penetration, utilisation for service delivery has been accoladed by global institutions, the World Bank, that India is a role model when it comes to service delivery by digitisation but India’s accomplishments in six years are normally not attainable even in more than four decades.

    Friends, we are entering the Amrit Kaal of technological revolution. That has to be driven by young minds, ignited minds like yours. Be the change makers, lead innovation, and find Indian solutions to Indian problems and make available also to the global fraternity.

    To the graduating class of 2024, congratulations on your success. Be inspired by heroes like Radha Mahendra Pratap Singh, who placed national interest above everything else. Exploit the opportunities that new Bharat presents, use your education wisely and for greater good.

    Friends, as you enter and step into the world, you will have challenges, you will have serious challenges, you might get some setbacks also all these are natural.

    It will not be a dream entry for you, it will be fiercely competitive and it should be. Never fear failure. Any failure is a stepping stone to success, if you get a good idea in your mind, don’t harbour it, act on it.

    To the affiliated colleges and academics, my appeal is ensure your activities, prepare graduates for this emerging technological world. Imbibe in them a spirit of nationalism.

    It is no good, you may be brilliant, you may be technologically genius, you may be admired but if your attachment to the nationalism is fragile,

    ‘काट्यो काट्यो कपास हो जाए’ कपास को जब काटते हैं तो धागा बनता है, तो थोड़ा भी मिस डायरेक्शन हो तो वापस कपास बन जाता है। Your efforts go in vain.

    Friends, India, home to one-sixth of humanity, the oldest civilisation on the planet, with exponential economic surge. दुनिया का कोई भी देश 7.5% से 8%, GDP ग्रोथ के साथ आगे नहीं बढ़ रहा है।

    आंखों से देख रहे हैं जिसका सपना लेते हुए भी डर लगता था मेरी उम्र के लोगों को। World class infrastructure of rail, road, connectivity, waterways, digitisation all over the country is happening in this nation.

    It is time for our youth, now my special appeal to you, you are in silos. लगता है नौकरी सरकार की ही है लगता है नौकरियां कहां है थोड़ा सा देखोगे तो पता लगेगा की जो Basket of Opportunities है is enlarging.

    एक जानकारी के अनुसार सिर्फ 10% छात्रों को ही पता है कि कहां संभावनाएं हैं, 90% को नहीं पता है। Please come out of the silos.

    भारत को यदि अगर आज के दिन International Monetary Fund कह रहा है कि it’s a land of opportunity, destination and investment, क्यों? नौकरी के लिए तो नहीं कह रहा। Make most of it, look around you will find your talent can be used in blue economy in the sea, in a space economy.

    चाणक्य के शब्द बताता हूं आपको और चाणक्य का नाम आते ही चाणक्य का नाम लेते ही एक नई ऊर्जा अपने में आ जाती है जो चाणक्य का रोल करते हो वह कैसे बोलते हैं, लगता है चाणक्य कितना महान था। चाणक्य ने कहा था “Education is the best friend, an educated person is respected everywhere.”

    और स्वामी विवेकानंद जी ने कहा था “Arise, awake, and stop not until the goal is reached.” that you should never forget

    To those who are outgoing, stepping out, the cohort and the current students, my very best wishes. You couldn’t be more lucky with an ecosystem and the ecosystem is that you can fully exploit your talent and potential to realise your dreams and aspirations.

    To those who have got degrees today, my one appeal, you are in a very distinguished category, you are the first alumni of this institution. You should take a place to be ever attached to this institution, be in connect with this institution, make annual contributions. Amount does not matter, financial contribution, quantum is immaterial, making financial contribution is all important. Do it. You will find over the years, this will grow like a balloon and help students in need. This will be a great service to the field of education and your institution.

    अंत में एक बात कहूंगा आपको सदैव सचेत रहने के लिए एक सिख दे रहा हूं उसी को सदा याद रखना ‘नायमात्मा बलहीनेन लभ्यः’

    इसका अर्थ है अंग्रेजी में self realisation cannot be achieved by weak willed. हम रिलाइज करना चाहते हैं पर अगर weak willed हैं तो हम नहीं कर पाएंगे। so be strong willed, never be in fear of failure, never suffer from stress and tension because of the fear of failure. It is the earnestness and commitment in efforts that is all important and that was the lesson imparted by Lord Krishna to Arjun at Kurukshetra that should be guiding star for your future working.

    I am honoured to deliver the first lecture, the first convocation address. It will ever be etched in my memory. It is an occasion for me to pay tribute to one of the greatest sons of this soil.

    ****

    JK/RC/SM

    (Release ID: 2066642) Visitor Counter : 25

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: English rendering of PM’s address at the inauguration of RJ Sankara Eye Hospital in Varanasi

    Source: Government of India

    Posted On: 20 OCT 2024 6:13PM by PIB Delhi

    Har Har Mahadev!

    Shankaracharya of the Sri Kanchi Kamakoti Peetham, venerable Jagatguru Sri Shankar Vijayendra Saraswati; Governor of Uttar Pradesh, Anandiben Patel; Chief Minister, Shri Yogi Adityanath; Deputy Chief Minister, Brajesh Pathak ji; RV Ramani of the Sankara Eye Foundation; Dr. SV Balasubramaniam; Shri Murali Krishnamurthy; Rekha Jhunjhunwala; and all other distinguished members of the organization, ladies and gentlemen!

    Visiting Kashi during this sacred month is, in itself, a profound spiritual experience. Present here are not only the residents of Kashi but also saints and philanthropists, making this occasion a truly blessed convergence! I am fortunate to meet and receive the prasad and blessings of the revered Shankaracharya ji. It is through his blessings that Kashi and the Purvanchal region have been bestowed with another modern hospital today. In this divine city of Lord Shankar, the RJ Sankara Eye Hospital is dedicated to the people from today. I extend my heartfelt congratulations to all the families of Kashi and Purvanchal.

    Friends,
    Our scriptures proclaim: “तमसो मा ज्योतिर्गमय:” – meaning, lead us from darkness to light. This RJ Sankara Eye Hospital will remove the darkness from the lives of countless people in Varanasi and this region, guiding them towards the light. I have just returned from visiting this eye hospital, and in every sense, it represents a fusion of spirituality and modernity. This hospital will serve the elderly and give new sight to children. A significant number of poor people will receive free treatment here. Moreover, this eye hospital has created new employment opportunities for the youth. Medical students will be able to do internships and practise here, and numerous individuals will find work as support staff.

    Friends,

    I have had the privilege of being associated with the noble endeavours of the Sankara Eye Foundation in the past as well. During my tenure as Chief Minister of Gujarat, I was involved in the inauguration of the Sankara Eye Hospital there. I had the honour of undertaking that work under the guidance of your revered Guruji. Today, I once again have the opportunity to contribute under your guidance, and this fills me with immense satisfaction. In fact, Pujya Swami Ji reminded me that I have been blessed in another way. I was fortunate to have received the blessings of Shri Kanchi Kamakoti Peethadheepati Jagatguru Shankaracharya Chandrashekharendra Saraswati Mahaswamigal. I had the privilege of sitting at the feet of Param Acharya Ji on numerous occasions and received immense affection from Param Pujya Jagatguru Shankaracharya Shri Jayendra Saraswati Swamigal Ji. I have completed several important projects under his guidance, and now I am blessed with the company of Jagatguru Shankaracharya Shri Shankar Vijayendra Saraswati Ji. In a way, being connected with three Guru traditions is one of life’s greatest blessings. This is something that gives me deep personal satisfaction. Today, Jagatguru has kindly taken time out to come to my parliamentary constituency for this programme. As the representative of the people here, I extend my heartfelt welcome to you and express my profound gratitude.

    Friends,

    On this occasion, it is only natural to remember my dear friend, Rakesh Jhunjhunwala Ji. The world is well aware of his stature in the business community, and much has been said about him in that regard. However, his dedication to social causes is evident here today. His family is now continuing his legacy, and Rekha Ji is devoting considerable time to this noble work. I am pleased to have had the opportunity to meet Rakesh Ji’s entire family today. I recall requesting both the Sankara Eye Hospital and the Chitrakoot Eye Hospital to establish themselves in Varanasi, and I am deeply grateful to both institutions for honouring the wishes of the people of Kashi. In the past, thousands of individuals from my parliamentary constituency have received treatment at Chitrakoot Eye Hospital. Now, the people of this region will benefit from two new modern institutions right here in Varanasi.

    Friends,

    Kashi has long been recognized as a centre of religion and culture. Now, it is also gaining recognition as a major healthcare hub for Uttar Pradesh and the Purvanchal region. Whether it is the trauma centre at BHU, the super-specialty hospital, the enhanced facilities at Deendayal Upadhyay Hospital and Kabirchaura Hospital, specialised hospitals for the elderly and government employees, or the medical college – many healthcare advancements have been made in Kashi over the past decade. Today, Banaras also boasts a modern cancer treatment facility, enabling patients who once had to travel to Delhi or Mumbai to receive quality care locally. Thousands of people from Bihar, Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, and other parts of the country now come here for treatment. Our Mokshadayini Kashi is evolving into a centre of new vitality, offering fresh energy and enhanced healthcare resources.

    Friends,

    During the tenure of previous governments, the healthcare infrastructure in Purvanchal, including Varanasi, was grossly neglected. The situation was so dire that, just 10 years ago, there were no block-level treatment centres for brain fever in Purvanchal. Children would tragically lose their lives, and the media would be filled with reports of this distress. Yet, the former governments did nothing to address the issue. I am gratified that over the past decade, we have seen an unprecedented expansion of healthcare facilities, not only in Kashi but across the entire Purvanchal region. Today, more than 100 centres are operational, providing treatment for brain fever throughout Purvanchal. Over the last 10 years, more than 10,000 new hospital beds have been added to primary and community health centres across the region. In the same period, over 5,500 Ayushman Arogya Mandirs have been established in the villages of Purvanchal. A decade ago, there were no dialysis facilities in the district hospitals of Purvanchal. Today, more than 20 dialysis units are functioning, offering patients these services free of charge.

    Friends,

    The new Bharat of the 21st century has transformed the outdated thinking and approach to healthcare. Today, Bharat’s healthcare strategy is built on five key pillars. The first is preventive healthcare – taking steps to prevent illness before it occurs. The second is timely diagnosis of diseases. The third is providing free and affordable treatment, including access to inexpensive medicines. The fourth is ensuring quality medical care in smaller towns, addressing the shortage of doctors. And the fifth pillar is the expansion of technology in healthcare.

    Friends,

    Protecting individuals from disease is a top priority of Bharat’s health policy and forms the first pillar of the health sector. Illness only deepens the poverty of the disadvantaged. As you know, over the past 10 years, 250 million people have been lifted out of poverty. However, a serious illness could easily push them back into the depths of poverty. This is why the government is placing significant emphasis on disease prevention. Our government is focusing particularly on cleanliness, yoga and Ayurveda, nutritious food, and related areas. We have also extended the vaccination campaign to as many households as possible. Just 10 years ago, the country’s vaccination coverage stood at only around 60 percent, leaving crores of children unvaccinated. Furthermore, the rate of increase in vaccination coverage was a mere 1 to 1.5 percent annually. At that pace, it would have taken another 40 to 50 years to achieve universal vaccination coverage for every child and every region. You can imagine the great injustice this was doing to the younger generation of the nation. Therefore, upon forming the government, we prioritised child vaccination and expanding its coverage. We launched Mission Indradhanush, involving multiple ministries in this effort simultaneously. As a result, not only did the vaccination rate rise significantly, but crores of pregnant women and children who were previously excluded from it were vaccinated. The strong emphasis Bharat placed on vaccination proved highly beneficial during the COVID-19 pandemic. Today, the vaccination campaign continues to progress rapidly across the country.

    Friends,

    In addition to disease prevention, timely detection of illnesses is equally important. For this reason, lakhs of Ayushman Arogya Mandirs have been established nationwide, enabling early detection of diseases such as cancer and diabetes. Today, we are also building a network of critical care units and modern laboratories across the country. This second pillar of the health sector is saving the lives of lakhs of people.

    Friends,

    The third pillar of healthcare is affordable treatment and inexpensive medicines. Today, the average medical expenditure for every citizen in the country has reduced by 25 percent. People are now able to purchase medicines at an 80 percent discount through PM Jan Aushadhi Kendras. Whether it be heart stents, knee implants, or cancer medicines, the prices of these essential treatments have been significantly reduced. The Ayushman Yojana, which offers free treatment up to Rs 5 lakh for the poor, has become a lifesaver for many. So far, more than 7.5 crore patients across the country have benefited from free treatment under this scheme. Moreover, this service is now being extended to the elderly in every family throughout the nation.

    Friends,

    The fourth pillar of healthcare aims to reduce the dependency on major cities like Delhi and Mumbai for treatment. Over the past decade, we have established AIIMS, medical colleges, and super-specialty hospitals in smaller cities. To address the shortage of doctors in the country, thousands of new medical seats have been added in the last decade. Looking ahead, we have decided to add 75,000 more seats in the next five years.

    Friends,

    The fifth pillar of healthcare is increasing access to health services through technology. Today, digital health IDs are being created, and patients can receive consultations from the comfort of their homes through platforms like the e-Sanjeevani app. I am pleased to share that over 30 crore people have already taken advantage of consultations via the e-Sanjeevani app. We are also advancing towards integrating drone technology with healthcare services.

    Friends, 

    A healthy and capable young generation is essential for achieving the vision of a developed Bharat. I am immensely pleased that in this mission, we are blessed with the support of the revered Pujya Shankaracharya Ji. I pray to Baba Vishwanath that this mission for a healthy and capable Bharat continues to grow stronger. Today, as I sit at the feet of Pujya Shankaracharya Ji, I am reminded of memories from my childhood. When I was young, a doctor from my village would travel to Bihar for a month each year with a group of volunteers. There, he would conduct a large-scale cataract surgery campaign, which he referred to as “Netra Yagna.” He dedicated one month every year to this cause, and many people from my village would accompany him as volunteers. Even as a child, I was aware of the immense need for such services in Bihar. Therefore, today, I make a heartfelt request to Pujya Shankaracharya Ji to consider opening a similar Sankara Eye Hospital in Bihar. Those memories from my childhood remind me of how impactful such a service would be for the people of Bihar. Maharaj Ji has a vision of reaching every corner of the country, and I am confident that Bihar will be given priority and receive your blessings. It would be a tremendous honour to serve the diligent and hardworking people of Bihar, and contributing to their well-being would bring us great fulfilment in life. Once again, I extend my best wishes to all of you, especially our dedicated doctors, paramedical staff, and all the brothers and sisters working in this noble mission. With deep reverence, I bow before Pujya Jagatguru Ji, offering my heartfelt prayers for his continued blessings and guidance. With gratitude in my heart, I conclude my speech.

    Har-Har Mahadev!

     

    ***

    MJPS/ST/IG

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    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Shri Sarbananda Sonowal Dedicates Key Maritime Projects at 2nd Indian Lighthouse Festival

    Source: Government of India

    Shri Sarbananda Sonowal Dedicates Key Maritime Projects at 2nd Indian Lighthouse Festival

    Steps to Enable Coastal Communities around Lighthouses to Preserve, Protect & Promote as Tourist Hubs: Shri Sonowal

    The Union Minister announced Two New Lighthouses at Chaumuck and Dhamra on Odisha’s Coastline

    Shri Sarbananda Sonowal dedicates ‘New Kalwan Lighthouse’ in Jamnagar, Gujarat along with Stacker-cum-Reclaimant & a Flyover at the Paradip Port Authority, Odisha, to the nation

    Under the Visionary leadership of PM Shri Narendra Modi ji, Lighthouse Tourism soared by more than 400% since 2014: Shri Sonowal

    Shri Sonowal inaugurates multifaceted celebration with beach activities like Sand Art, Boat Art competition, Yoga session

    Shri Sarbananda Sonowal leads Swachhata Abhiyan at Niladri Beach, lauds efforts of people’s Participation

    2nd edition of Indian Lighthouse Festival witnessed electrifying performances by noted singers like Papon, Sona Mohapatra among others

    The Chief Minister of Odisha, Mohan Charan Majhi joined Union Minister Shri Sarbananda Sonowal at the Valedictory Session of the Festival

    Assam & Odisha share a close spiritual, historical, cultural, commercial ties as Srimanta Sankardeva, Lakshminath Bezbarua & Bholanath Barooah strengthened it over the years: Shri Sonowal

    Posted On: 20 OCT 2024 7:21PM by PIB Delhi

    The Union Minister of Ports, Shipping & Waterways, Sarbananda Sonowal dedicated key maritime projects to the nation during the 2nd Indian Lighthouse Festival here today. At the valedictory session here, the Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal also announced that the Ministry of Ports, Shipping & Waterways (MoPSW), Govt of India, would take necessary steps to enable coastal communities around the Lighthouses in order to empower them to preserve & promote the lighthouses – the rich heritage of India’s marine sector. The Union Minister also announced two new lighthouses on Odisha’s coastline – one at Chaumuck at Narayanpur in Balasore district and another at Dhamra in Bhadrak district of the state. The Chief Minister of Odisha, Mohan Charan Majhi joined Sonowal as the second edition of Indian Lighthouse Festival draws a closure here today.

    The Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal announced that the coastal communities of the country would be developed as societies in order to enable and empower the communities within the vicinity of lighthouses. The effort is aimed at community engagement to take pride in the lighthouses for their preservation, protection, and promotion. A central association of all these societies would be created to give a national momentum to celebrate the lighthouse as national icons as cultural heritage & legacy of India’s rich maritime sector.

    The new Kalwan reef Lighthouse at Jamnagar in Gujarat as well as two projects in Padadip Port, Odisha; i.e., Stacker-cum-Reclaimant & a Flyover bridge, were inaugurated. The Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal also inaugurated Sand Art Competition, Boat Art Competition, Beach run, Beach Yoga and many other activities at the second day of the 2nd edition of multifaceted Indian Lighthouse Festival. Sonowal also led a Swachata Abhiyan at the Niladri beach where the collective effort led to removal of garbage.

    Speaking on the occasion, the Union Minister, Sarbananda Sonowal, said, “The Indian Lighthouse Festival or Bharatiya Prakash Sthamb Utsav has been receiving laurels from all quarters of the country as we continue our effort to further bolster facilities for the tourists – both domestic and foreign – for a memorable experience at these wonderful monuments. Under the visionary leadership of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi ji, the government is taking all steps to realise the full potential of India’s rich cultural heritage as well as its historical legacy in propelling the economic growth of the country. Modiji’s call for an Atmanirbhar Bharat has resonated well with people and we, the Ministry, remain committed to usher in a new chapter of growth in India’s blue economy. Lighthouse Tourism is part of this vision of Modi ji. It gives me immense pleasure to inform you that a rise of more than 400% footfall of tourists in the lighthouses since 2014. From 4 lakhs in 2014, it reached 16 lakhs tourists in the last fiscal. We have already crossed 9 lakhs in the first half of the current fiscal, and it is evident, that the growing trend of lighthouses as tourists hotspots to continue. For years, the guardians of our shores have remained unnoticed, even while they guided vessels and seafarers through the most challenging nights. The ‘Lighthouse Festival’ is our effort to shift this perception. Our goal is to raise awareness, foster involvement, and enlighten people about the significant contribution these iconic structures have made to our country’s maritime legacy.”

    Highlighting the importance of coastal communities in preservation of the Lighthouses, the Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal announced, “In order to rope in the coastal community, the government is keen to enable and empower them to preserve, conserve, and promote these iconic structures. A national framework is being mooted to ensure that a well thought out system is in place for the coastal communities to preserve, protect & promote the lighthouses as the torchbearers of India’s rich maritime history and legacy.”

    During the festival, the Chief Minister of Odisha, Mohan Charan Majhi and the Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal felicitated eminent personalities from the fields of education, sports and culture. Among them, Odishi dancer, Mamta Ojha; artist Dr Ramesh Prasad Panigrahi; sand sculptor, Om Prakash Sahu; Mariner Nividita Acharya; Oriya Literary figure & poet, Dr Haldar Nath; footballer Sasmita Malik and social worker Sujit Mahapatra, were felicitated. Eight employees of the Directorate General of Lighthouse & Lightships (DGLL) were also felicitated for their good performance.

    Earlier, the 2nd edition of Indian Lighthouse Festival was inaugurated by the Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal. The festival, in its second avatar here, aimed at rejuvenating the rich maritime history of India iconic lighthouses in a culturally vibrant atmosphere. The festival showcased rich flavours of coastal cuisine, amusement park, folk dance & music, coastal hut among many other interesting performances.

    On the historic relationship between Assam and Odisha, Sarbananda Sonowal added, “Assam & Odisha have always shared a close spiritual, historical, cultural, commercial ties through the lives of great saint Srimanta Sankardeva, literary genius Lakshminath Bezbarua & visionary trader Bholanath Barooah which has only strengthened over the years. It is heartening to witness cultural show by the artists of both Assam and Odisha here today celebrating the vibrancy of this festival.”

    The Chief Minister of Odisha, Mohan Charan Majhi joined the Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal at the valedictory session of the festival. The event was also attended by Shantanu Thakur, Union Minister of State, MoPSW; Pravati Parida, the Deputy Chief Minister, Odisha; Suresh Gopi, the Union Minister of State of Tourism & Petroleum and Natural Gas; Sambit Patra, MP as well as TK Ramachandran, IAS, Secretary, MoPSW among others.

    During the first day, the festival witnessed sessions on ‘Lighthouse Tourism & Heritage,’ ‘Preservation and conservation of Lighthouse.’

    The festivities began with the invocation dance, Ganesh Vandana, followed by a captivating medley of traditional Assamese performances, showcasing the rich cultural heritage of Assam. The concluding performance began with the invocation dance, Shiva Stuti, followed folk dance. The festival was enthralled by some electrifying performances by noted singer Papon on the first night of the festival while Sona Mahapatra was slated to perform on the concluding night.

    With an investment of ₹60 crore, 75 iconic lighthouses across 9 coastal states and 1 union territory have been developed under the visionary leadership of the Hon’ble Prime Minister. Each lighthouse has become a beacon of both heritage and recreation, with modern amenities such as museums, amphitheaters, children’s parks, and more. In Odisha, five lighthouses—Gopalpur, Puri, Chandrabhaga, Paradip, and False Point—have been developed as part of this initiative to promote lighthouse tourism.

     

    In the fiscal year 2023-24 alone, the 75 dedicated lighthouses attracted an impressive 16 lakh visitors. As of September 2024, the current fiscal year 2024-25 has already welcomed more than 10 lakh visitors. These developments have also resulted in job creation, with 150 direct and 500 indirect employment opportunities emerging in nearby hotels, restaurants, tour operators, transportation services, and local shops and artisans.

    In 2023, the maiden edition of Indian Lighthouse Festival took place in Goa with a spotlight on 75 historical sites to be developed into tourists destinations. The ‘Bharatiya Prakash Sthamb Utsav’ was conceived with an intent to transform these historical sites into tourist destinations with the help of Public Private Partnerships. The key highlights of India’s First Lighthouse Festival were cultural exhibitions, session highlighting maritime history and culture, classical performances, light and sound shows, melodious evenings with celebrity singers, flavours of the coast and community engagements.

    In Odisha, the Sagarmala Programme encompasses 36 projects with a total value of ₹20,200 Cr. Among these, 15 projects, valued at approximately ₹4,330 Cr., have been successfully completed, while 21 projects, totalling around ₹15,850 Cr., are currently in various stages of implementation. One standout achievement of the Sagarmala Programme is the living example of Paradip Port’s growth Story. This Port today is the number one major port in cargo handling. Paradip Port will transform into a mega port with a formidable cargo handling capacity of over 300 MTPA very soon and will exceed 500 MTPA capacity by Amrit Kaal 2047. The mammoth traffic volume growth at the port in the recent years has been due to the successful implementation of Capacity augmentation projects under the Sagarmala projects. The Sagarmala program also envisions uplifting the fishermen community with the Modernization of Paradip Fishing Harbour project, with a project cost of  ₹108 Crores. The modern fishing harbour will be a strong step towards the coastal community development initiative in Odisha. For upliftment of fishermen community, a fishing harbour at Chandipur in Odisha has also been sanctioned under Sagarmala at a cost of ₹50 Cr. Paradip port is also being developed as a green hydrogen hub in the country.

    Odisha, a principal maritime state situated on the eastern coast of India, has a coastline of about 480 km. Paradip Port (290 MTPA Capacity, Cargo handled in 2023-24 – 145.38 MTPA) is the only Major Port in the State under the control of the Government of India. The Government of Odisha has already identified 14 potential sites for the development of Non – Major Ports, out of which, Dhamra (Adani – 100 MTPA Capacity) and Gopalpur (Shapoorji Pallonji & Odisha Stevedore Ltd. – 25 MTPA capacity) are already functioning.

    *****

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    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News

  • MIL-OSI Submissions: Health – WHO welcomes health ministers to Manila to consider a new vision and actions to improve health in the Region

    Source: World Health Organization (WHO)

    The World Health Organization (WHO) Regional Office for the Western Pacific today welcomed ministers, other senior health officials and key partners from across the Western Pacific to the seventy-fifth session of its Regional Committee. WHO’s governing body for the Region convenes every year to formulate policies, adopt resolutions and make decisions to improve the health of more than 1.9 billion people living in the Western Pacific.

    WHO’s Regional Director for the Western Pacific, Dr Saia Ma’u Piukala – the first Pacific islander to be elected to the position – welcomed health leaders to the first Regional Committee under his tenure.

    “As the first Regional Director from the Pacific, the challenges we’re discussing – such as rising sea levels and increasingly frequent disasters – are realities that my loved ones and fellow Pacific islanders live with every day,” said Dr Piukala. “I’m keenly aware of the enormity of the work ahead of us, but with mutual trust and support we can meet these challenges.”

    Dr Piukala’s address covered key updates on WHO’s work with countries and partners across the Region from July 2023 to June 2024. He also introduced a draft vision for improving health in the Region, to guide WHO’s work with Member States over the coming five-year period.

    “This vision, jointly developed by WHO and Member States, is a testament to the beauty, strength and diversity of this Region,” said Dr Piukala. “Guided by this vision, we will work together and with our partners to build a sustainable, resilient and healthy future for all people in the Western Pacific.”

    Cook Islands Minister of Health, the Honourable Vainetutai Rose Toki Brown, was elected Chairperson of this year’s session of the Regional Committee. Viet Nam Vice Minister of Health, Associate Professor Nguyen Thi Lien Huong, was elected Vice-Chairperson.

    Hon. Toki Brown thanked the delegates for their trust and confidence in electing her as Chairperson, and she added: “This is a special year. It is the first Regional Committee meeting with the new Regional Director, Dr Saia Ma’u Piukala, at the helm, and we have a lot of important ground to cover.”

    She went on to say, “I know that you are all committed to the health of this Region, and I know you agree on the value of us convening here as members of the World Health Organization. The success of our new regional vision relies upon the mutual accountability of Member States and WHO. Thank you again for your confidence in electing me as Chair of this important meeting. I am very much looking forward to our discussions.”

    A new vision for health in the Region

    The new vision, Weaving Health for Families, Communities and Societies in the Western Pacific Region (2025−2029): Working together to improve health, well-being and save lives, is being presented to Member States for their endorsement. The vision centres on the analogy of the weaving of a mat − a traditional activity across Asia and the Pacific – symbolizing the collaborative efforts required by WHO, governments and partners to improve the health and well-being of the people of the Region. The vision comprises five vertical strands of action led by governments, interwoven with three horizontal strands of action by WHO over the coming five years.

    The five vertical strands of action led by governments, working with WHO and other stakeholders, include:

    1. Transformative primary health care for universal health coverage

    2. Climate-resilient health systems

    3. Resilient communities, societies and systems for health security

    4. Healthier people throughout the life course

    5. Technology and innovation for future health equity.

    The three horizontal strands of action by WHO are:

    1. Country offices equipped with skills for scaling up and innovation

    2. Nimble support teams in the Regional Office

    3. Effective communication for public health.

    Action frameworks and panel discussions on priority issues

    The Regional Committee will also consider new regional action frameworks on digital health and on health financing to achieve universal health coverage and sustainable development. There will be panel discussions on climate resilient health-care facilities, transformative primary health care and oral health. In addition, there will be side events on topics including One Health, tobacco control and the Investment Round to resource WHO’s work over the next four years.

    Building climate-resilient health-care facilities

    Countries in the WHO Western Pacific Region are at risk from climate change and climate-related disasters. The health impacts of these vary depending on the resilience of communities and the health facilities that serve them.

    During a panel discussion at the Regional Committee today, delegates from Fiji, the Lao People’s Democratic Republic, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands and Viet Nam emphasized the need to protect health by ensuring hospitals and clinics are climate resilient. The benefits of joining the Alliance for Transformative Action on Climate and Health (ATACH) were highlighted as it provides a platform for countries to accelerate transformative action in building climate-resilient and low-carbon health systems by leveraging the collective expertise and resources of WHO Member States and other stakeholders.

    WHO is working with countries and areas across the Western Pacific to track progress in protecting health from climate change, helping with vulnerability assessments, developing and updating adaptation plans, and implementing climate-resilient and environmentally sustainable health facility initiatives.

    Exhibitions to highlight health issues and WHO’s work

    Outside of the main agenda, a series of seven exhibitions was unveiled today on themes relevant to health and WHO’s work in the Region.

    An exhibit on health equity profiles allows delegates to view information on a particular country’s health indicators and explore their intricate association with social and geospatial factors. This should give users a better understanding of how to prioritize and implement strategies to achieve health for all.

    A special exhibit features collaborative art pieces made by staff at the WHO Western Pacific Regional Office to mark World Sight Day 2024 and World Mental Health Day 2024. The paintings, representing an eye and a heart, symbolize what people most love to see in their lives and the importance of promoting mental health at work. WHO’s ongoing efforts to improve both eye health and mental health for all rely on an integrated approach, a theme central to the draft regional vision.

    The future of health museum exhibit showcases 15 “future artefacts” such as the “morning mat”, where communities would be encouraged to gather each morning to talk about their health and well-being, and the climate-controlled tuk-tuk, a futuristic three-seater electric vehicle that emits clean air rather than toxic exhaust. These were co-created through foresight activities involving WHO staff and partners. There are also 15 historical artefacts that celebrate public health milestones from the past 75 years.

    A series of models of climate-resilient and environmentally sustainable health-care facilities will inform a panel discussion enabling delegates to explore innovative solutions to make health facilities more climate resilient and environmentally sustainable.

    An exhibit about strengthening health emergency response capacities shows WHO’s support for health emergency responses in the Region. It depicts operations support and logistics, emergency medical teams that can be deployed with field hospitals, the Global Outbreak Alert and Response Network of experts, and public health emergency operations centres.

    The reaching the unreached map explorer in the Western Pacific Region features an interactive web-based map app that helps users find geographically underserved populations across the Region, shedding light on the health inequities they face. This exhibit emphasizes the critical role of data-driven health interventions to reach unreached populations.

    Finally, an exhibit about the dangers of new and emerging tobacco and nicotine products showcases examples of these products, describing the tactics used by the tobacco and related industries to entice children and young people to take up smoking and undermine tobacco control efforts. The exhibition also offers information on how countries and partners can prevent uptake of these products.

    Notes:

    The seventy-fifth session of the Western Pacific Regional Committee will run from Monday, 21 October, through Friday, 25 October, at the WHO Regional Office for the Western Pacific in Manila, Philippines. The agenda and timetable are available online. A livestream of proceedings and all other official documents, as well as fact sheets and videos on the issues to be addressed, can be accessed here. For real-time updates, follow @WHOWPRO on Facebook, X, Instagram and YouTube and the hashtag #RCM75.

    Working with 194 Member States across six regions, WHO is the United Nations specialized agency responsible for public health. Each WHO region has a regional committee – a governing body composed of ministers of health and senior officials from Member States. Each regional committee meets annually to agree on health actions and to chart priorities for WHO’s work.

    The WHO Western Pacific Region is home to more than 1.9 billion people across 37 countries and areas: American Samoa (United States of America), Australia, Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, China, Cook Islands, Fiji, French Polynesia (France), Guam (United States of America), Hong Kong SAR (China), Japan, Kiribati, the Lao People’s Democratic Republic, Macao SAR (China), Malaysia, the Marshall Islands, the Federated States of Micronesia, Mongolia, Nauru, New Caledonia (France), New Zealand, Niue, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (United States of America), Palau, Papua New Guinea, the Philippines, Pitcairn Island (United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland), the Republic of Korea, Samoa, Singapore, Solomon Islands, Tokelau, Tonga, Tuvalu, Vanuatu and Viet Nam, Wallis and Futuna (France).

    Related links:

    Report of the Regional Director The work of WHO in the Western Pacific Region, 1 July 2023 – 30 June 2024
    Draft vision Weaving health for families, communities and societies in the Western Pacific Region (2025−2029): Working together to improve health and well-being and save lives
    Building climate resilience in health-care facilities (fact sheet, video)
    https://www.who.int/westernpacific/publications/m/item/building-climate-resilience-in-health-care-facilities

    MIL OSI – Submitted News

  • MIL-OSI Submissions: Health – Viet Nam eliminates trachoma as a public health problem – WHO

    Source: World Health Organization

    In a significant health milestone, Viet Nam has successfully eliminated trachoma. This remarkable achievement was validated by the World Health Organization (WHO) and a plaque was presented to the Vice Minister of Health of Viet Nam, Associate Professor Nguyen Thi Lien Huong, during the seventy-fifth session of the WHO Regional Committee for the Western Pacific, which opened today in Manila.

    Trachoma is the leading infectious cause of blindness globally. It is a preventable disease of the eye caused by Chlamydia trachomatis bacteria. Trachoma is spread by flies and people can also become infected through direct contact with discharge from the eyes or nose of an infected person. With repeated infections, the eyelashes may be drawn in so that they rub on the surface of the eye, causing pain and damaging the cornea. Some affected individuals must undergo surgery to prevent blindness from the disease.

    Decades of concerted efforts

    Over the past 70 years, Viet Nam has worked tirelessly to combat trachoma, treating hundreds of thousands of people and implementing rigorous control measures. These efforts were significantly strengthened with the implementation of WHO’s SAFE strategy, which stands for surgery, antibiotics, facial cleanliness and environmental improvement.

    Past surveys indicated that trachoma was a public health problem in four provinces in Viet Nam. Thirty years ago, 1.7% of people living in these high-risk provinces required surgery to prevent blindness from trachoma. However, by 2023 the proportion of adults with the blinding form of the disease had fallen below 0.2%, which is the threshold required for WHO validation of elimination of trachoma as a public health problem. Continuous monitoring and the focused implementation of the SAFE strategy in the country, starting in 1999, have been instrumental in this decline.

    Trachoma elimination in Viet Nam was made possible through collaboration among several government agencies including the Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Education and Training and the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, with the support of WHO and international health partners including the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT),   the Fred Hollows Foundation, the International Trachoma Initiative (ITI), RTI International, UNICEF and the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). Viet Nam was one of the first group of countries to receive Pfizer-donated azithromycin   for trachoma elimination purposes through ITI, a donation that has been critical to global progress against trachoma.

    “Elimination of trachoma as a public health problem in Viet Nam is a monumental achievement for the country and for the global fight against the disease,” said Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General. “This milestone is a testament to the unwavering dedication of Viet Nam’s health workers, including many working at community level. It underscores the power of collective action, innovative thinking and a shared commitment to a healthier future for all. I commend Viet Nam for its dedication and success in safeguarding the vision of millions.”

    “The elimination of trachoma in Viet Nam demonstrates the commitment of the Government, health workers and communities across the country,” said Dr Saia Ma’u Piukala, WHO Regional Director for the Western Pacific, praising the achievement. “It is a shining example of how targeted interventions, strong partnerships and sustained effort can bring about real change in the health of populations.”

    A trachoma-free future

    WHO Representative to Viet Nam, Dr Angela Pratt, described trachoma as a disease of poverty. “Communities in remote areas without good access to safe water and sanitation were the worst affected. But Viet Nam has demonstrated that it is possible to reach the hardest-to-reach populations, make the right investments to protect people’s health and ensure a trachoma-free future.”

    Reflecting on this historic achievement, Associate Professor Nguyen Thi Lien Huong said that the elimination of trachoma was a proud moment for Viet Nam. “The combined efforts of many agencies and communities, with the support of WHO and partner organizations, have saved thousands of people from lifelong blindness and economic disadvantage. Our children can now grow up safe from this painful and potentially blinding disease. This is a wonderful achievement for our people, which will pay dividends for decades to come. In this happy moment, on behalf of the Vietnamese people, I want to express our sincere thanks to all international partners who contributed great support to trachoma elimination in Viet Nam.”

    In 2018, Viet Nam eliminated lymphatic filariasis. The country has also made tremendous progress on combating malaria, which is now only found in pockets of areas and is close to being eliminated.

    Viet Nam’s success is part of broader progress in disease prevention in the WHO Western Pacific Region. Since the launch of WHO’s first road map for the prevention and control of neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) in 2012, the Region has made significant strides in eliminating trachoma. Between 2016 and 2022, four out of the Region’s 11 trachoma-endemic countries were validated for trachoma elimination. Viet Nam becomes the fifth, joining Cambodia, China, the Lao People’s Democratic Republic and Vanuatu in recording this achievement, highlighting the importance of sustained efforts in tackling NTDs.

    WHO continues to support countries in the Region to eliminate trachoma and other NTDs as part of the global effort to improve health and well-being for all.

    Notes

    A certificate and plaque were presented to Viet Nam in recognition of this achievement during the seventy-fifth session of the Western Pacific Regional Committee taking place from Monday, 21 October, through Friday, 25 October, at the WHO Regional Office for the Western Pacific in Manila, Philippines. The agenda and timetable of the Regional Committee meeting are available online. A livestream of proceedings, all other official documents, as well as fact sheets and videos on the issues to be addressed can be accessed here. For real-time updates, follow @WHOWPRO on Facebook, X, Instagram and YouTube and the hashtag #RCM75.

    Working with 194 Member States across six regions, WHO is the United Nations specialized agency responsible for public health. Each WHO region has its regional committee – a governing body composed of ministers of health and senior officials from Member States. Each regional committee meets annually to agree on health actions and to chart priorities for WHO’s work.

    The WHO Western Pacific Region is home to more than 1.9 billion people across 37 countries and areas: American Samoa (United States of America), Australia, Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, China, Cook Islands, Fiji, French Polynesia (France), Guam (United States of America), Hong Kong SAR (China), Japan, Kiribati, the Lao People’s Democratic Republic, Macao SAR (China), Malaysia, the Marshall Islands, the Federated States of Micronesia, Mongolia, Nauru, New Caledonia (France), New Zealand, Niue, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (United States of America), Palau, Papua New Guinea, the Philippines, Pitcairn Island (United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland), the Republic of Korea, Samoa, Singapore, Solomon Islands, Tokelau, Tonga, Tuvalu, Vanuatu and Viet Nam, Wallis and Futuna (France).

    Related links:

    Fact sheet on trachoma: https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/trachoma
    Global road map for neglected tropical diseases 2021–2030: https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/9789240010352

    MIL OSI – Submitted News

  • MIL-OSI Translation: 20/10/2024 Announcement regarding Military Preparation Units

    MIL ASI Translation. Region: Polish/Europe –

    Fuente: Gobierno de Polonia en poleco.

    Announcement regarding Military Preparation Units20.10.2024The number of applications for the creation of new classes under the Military Preparation Units (OPW) program specified for 2025 results from the number of applications from schools themselves. In other words, our predecessors prepared the program in such a way that schools are not eager to continue it.

    This year alone, out of over half a thousand OPW schools operating, almost half have not had their first classes created. As for the 300,000-strong army, only about 5% of all people recruited for military service this year are students of military classes. And let’s not forget that some schools that have received permission to create OPW have never created a first class! We are making the units more realistic in line with needs and, unfortunately, the demographic decline. What’s more, out of the 200 limit places specified by the previous MON management, only 75 applications have been submitted. That is not even half.

    MILES AXIS

    EDITOR’S NOTE: This article is a translation. Apologies should the grammar and/or sentence structure not be perfect.

    MIL Translation OSI

  • MIL-OSI: FishWar Officially Powered by Sei: Elevating the GameFi Experience

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    NEW YORK, NY, Oct. 21, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — FishWar, an innovative Web3 gaming platform that has captivated over a million players worldwide, is proud to announce its official integration with Sei the first parallelized EVM blockchain. This marks a significant milestone in FishWar’s journey to revolutionize the GameFi space by enhancing gameplay, scalability, and overall user experience.

    Sei, renowned for its lightning-fast execution and scalability, brings the combined advantages of Ethereum and Solana to FishWar. As the fastest parallel blockchain, Sei enhances FishWar’s infrastructure, delivering faster transactions, lower fees, and a seamless gaming experience for its ever-growing community.

    Key Benefits of the Integration:

    • Enhanced Performance: With Sei’s parallelized EVM, FishWar players will experience faster, more efficient transactions, ensuring smooth gameplay during PVP tournaments, PVE battles, and in-game purchases.
    • Scalable Infrastructure: Sei’s ability to process up to 12,500 transactions per second means FishWar is well-equipped to handle its growing user base, which now exceeds 1 million players.
    • Lower Fees: Sei keeps transaction costs minimal, allowing players to fully immerse in FishWar without the concern of high fees, making the game accessible to all.

    This integration bolsters FishWar’s commitment to providing an immersive Web3 gaming experience where players build armies, compete in strategic battles, and earn valuable $FISHW tokens. With Sei’s robust blockchain technology, FishWar is poised to deliver an even faster, smoother, and more thrilling adventure in its post-apocalyptic ocean world.

    “We are thrilled to officially power FishWar with Sei. This integration allows us to offer faster, more reliable gameplay to our users while leveraging Sei’s advanced blockchain technology. With this, FishWar is well-positioned to lead the next generation of Web3 gaming,” said Alan Wang, CEO of FishWar.

    About Sei

    Sei is a Layer 1 that combines the advantages of Ethereum and Solana: the dominant development standard of Ethereum with the performance of Solana. The V2 update for Sei makes it the first parallelized EVM. Serving as a new scaling approach for the Ethereum ecosystem while achieving even faster speeds than Solana. Sei launched its mainnet in 2022 and has a growing ecosystem with key teams from Ethereum, Solana, Polygon, Arbitrum, and others deploying. The team is backed by Multicoin, Jump, Coinbase Ventures, and many more.

    Website | X (Former Twitter) | Discord | Telegram

    About FishWar

    FishWar is an innovative Web3 game set in a post-apocalyptic ocean, where players dive into intense battles, strategic gameplay, and real-time PVP tournaments. FishWar merges the thrilling world of GameFi with the evolving realms of Web3, offering an immersive gaming experience for players to earn rewards while building their armies.

    Website | X (Former Twitter) | Discord | Telegram

    Media contact

    Brand: FishWar

    Contact: Media team

    Email: support@fishwar.io

    Website: https://fishwar.io

    The MIL Network

  • MIL-OSI USA: Agriculture Contributes $4 Billion to CT Economy, Report Shows

    Source: US State of Connecticut

    A new report highlights the economic contributions of Connecticut’s agricultural sector, including $4 billion to the state economy and providing 31,000 jobs.

    “The numbers are significant and it’s important to recognize [agriculture’s] proper placement in the state economy,” says Rigoberto Lopez, professor of agricultural and resource economics.

    The report was a collaborative effort between the College of Agriculture, Health and Natural Resources (CAHNR), the Connecticut Department of Agriculture, Farm Credit East, and the Connecticut Center for Economic Analysis (CCEA). Authors include Lopez; Tessa Getchis, aquaculture extension specialist for Connecticut Sea Grant and UConn Extension; Danielle Duquette ‘24 (CAHNR); Christopher Laughton, director of knowledge exchange at Farm Credit East; Peter Gunter, senior research fellow at CCEA; and Fred Carstensen, director of CCEA and UConn professor of finance.

    “Even in a relatively small, fairly urban state, agriculture contributes approximately $4 billion to the economy, and supports 31,000 jobs, on and off the farm,” Laughton says. “In addition, agriculture provides significant ecosystem services and preserves the state’s working landscape – contributions that can’t be readily quantified. No matter how you measure it – agriculture matters to Connecticut.”

    The report demonstrates that, despite challenges posed by climate change and the COVID-19 pandemic, the agriculture sector continues to grow.

    “This economic impact report serves as a vital benchmark, revealing the profound significance of agriculture – not just as a source of sustenance, but as a cornerstone of economic vitality, community resilience, and sustainable growth,” says Agriculture Commissioner Bryan P. Hurlburt. “Building upon strong partnerships and collaboration, this data serve as a compass, guiding our programs and services at the agency to create a runway for future success through innovative solutions and the diversification of agriculture.”

    The fastest-growing industries in Connecticut are its greenhouse operations and value-added products, like dairy and meat processing.

    Connecticut does not compete with large agricultural states, like those in the Midwest, in terms of big crops like wheat or corn. Instead, most of the state’s agriculture focuses on what are considered “specialty crops” by the FDA like vegetables, fruit, and melons, as well as ornamental crops.

    The state also has a robust aquatic farming industry which contributed $33.5 million and 500 jobs in 2022 according to the report.

    “The industry produces a wide spectrum of products including oysters, clams, fish, kelp, aquatic plants, and corals, among others,” Getchis says. “Connecticut has a long history of shellfish production dating back centuries and is in fact today one of the leading producers on the U.S. East Coast.”

    While the report highlights the economic benefits of the agricultural sector for the state, Lopez emphasizes it does not capture all the benefits the industry provides to the state including social factors. For example, farms in the state provide residents with access to local foods and events like farmer’s markets provide spaces for communities to gather.

    “Residents can play an important role in preserving and supporting agriculture in Connecticut,” Lopez says.

    At a recent press event to unveil the report, UConn officials underscored the value of the impact report and UConn’s role in helping Connecticut’s agricultural sectors to grow.

    “Agriculture is part of the past, present, and future of Connecticut and its flagship university, UConn,” says CAHNR Dean Indrajeet Chaubey. “We’re committed to fueling the state’s economic engine, supporting agricultural industries, and preparing future leaders through specialized academic programs.”

    This work relates to CAHNR’s Strategic Vision area focused on Ensuring a Vibrant and Sustainable Agricultural Industry and Food Supply.

    Follow UConn CAHNR on social media

    MIL OSI USA News

  • MIL-OSI Security: Defense News: USS Washington (SSN 787) Awarded Presidential Unit Citation

    Source: United States Navy

    Capt. Timothy Poe presented the award to Washington’s crew on behalf of the President during the submarine’s change of command ceremony July 19 at Naval Station Norfolk.

    “The award of the Presidential Unit Citation to the USS Washington is a profound honor, signifying the crew’s exceptional dedication and strategic impact,” said Vice Adm. Rob Gaucher, commander, Submarine Forces. “Their work in challenging, high risk environments completing vital national level missions demonstrates the key role our submarines play in ensuring maritime security and global stability.”

    The PUC is awarded to any U.S. military unit that has distinguished itself by outstanding performance and heroism in action against enemy forces and is the highest unit award in the Department of the Defense.

    During Washington’s deployment, the submarine, also known as the Blackfish, completed three demanding missions vital to national security that resulted in obtaining sensitive and unique intelligence information, where it executed the Chief of Naval Operations’ maritime strategy by supporting national security interests and maritime security operations.

    “The men and women onboard BLACKFISH are justifiably proud of this award and of joining the distinguished list of previous recipients,” said Cmdr. Keith Turnbull, Washington’s commanding officer. “It goes without saying that the crew could not have accomplished what they did without the immense efforts of our support staffs ashore, including the training staff in Norfolk and several other organizations.”

    The crew’s superb planning, discipline, and material management ensured the submarine remained on task through long periods without readily accessible support.

    “The crew spent countless hours on training, maintenance, and certification to ensure BLACKFISH was ready to execute all tasking,” said Senior Chief Machinist’s Mate (Auxiliary) Austin Gilbert, Washington’s chief of the boat. “While deployed, their resiliency was crucial to their success and the shipmates fully embody the meaning of true undersea warriors. Fear the BLACKFISH!”

    Additionally, Washington garnered more days on station than any east coast deployment on record, had the first chief Intelligence Specialist to earn the submarine warfare qualification, known as ‘dolphins’, and had the most women ever deployed on a fast-attack submarine, including one chief petty officer.

    Washington steamed more than 37,000 nautical miles with the crew supporting diplomatic relationships by conducting port visits in Faslane, Scotland, and Grotsund, Norway. In recognition of the Blackfish’s exceptional service and dedication during operations in the strategic Arctic region, the Washington was awarded the newly announced Arctic Service Medal.

    Forty-four enlisted Sailors and five officers earned their submarine warfare qualification, and 10 officers promoted to their next rank.

    Fast-attack submarines are multi-mission platforms enabling five of the six Navy maritime strategy core capabilities – sea control, power projection, forward presence, maritime security, and deterrence. They are designed to excel in anti-submarine warfare, anti-ship warfare, strike warfare, special operations, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance, irregular warfare and mine warfare. Fast-attack submarines project power ashore with special operations forces and Tomahawk cruise missiles in the prevention or preparation of regional crises.

    The Virginia-class submarine is 377 feet long and 34 feet wide, and weighs about 7,900 tons when submerged. Underwater, it can reach speeds in excess of 25 knots.

    For more information about USS Washington (SSN 787), visit http://www.navy.mil or http://www.facebook.com/SUBLANT

    MIL Security OSI

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Precautionary Measures Taken by Government Agencies

    Source: Asia Pacific Region 2 – Singapore

    JOINT MEDIA STATEMENT

    Shell reported that an estimated 30 to 40 metric tonnes of slop, a mixture of oil and water, was leaked from its land-based pipeline into the water yesterday. 

    2. Agencies are working closely with Shell to clean up the leaked oil in the channel between Pulau Bukom and Bukom Kecil. As 21 October at 3 pm (Singapore Time), there are no other oil sightings.

    3. As a precautionary measure, the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore has deployed a current buster system off Changi at the entrance to the East Johor Strait to collect oil slick, if sighted, and prevent potential spread beyond our port waters. Another current buster system has also been deployed to the west of Singapore, as a precautionary measure. 

    4. While no oil has been observed at Sentosa, Sisters’ Islands Marine Park, Labrador Nature Reserve, East Coast Park and West Coast Park so far, agencies have preemptively deployed oil absorbent booms to protect the three beaches and the biodiversity-sensitive coastlines on Sentosa, the lagoons at Sisters’ Islands Marine Park, Berlayer Creek and the Rocky Shore at Labrador Nature Reserve, as well as the mangroves and other key areas at the Marsh Garden at West Coast Park, as well as key areas at East Coast Park. The lock gates of Sentosa Cove have been closed, with oil absorbent booms deployed. Additionally, deflective booms will be progressively deployed across the key areas of Sentosa, including the three beaches which currently remain open for land-based and waters activities. 

    5. To date there has been no oil sightings at Kusu, Seringat, St John’s, Lazarus island, and Pulau Hantu. Singapore Land Authority will continue to assess if oil-absorbent booms will be required at the lagoons of these islands.

    6. As a precautionary measure, the National Environment Agency has advised the public against swimming and conducting other primary contact water activities at the beaches at East Coast Park, Kusu, St John’s, and Lazarus island. Information on water quality at these beaches is available at https://go.gov.sg/beach-water-info. 

    7. PUB, Singapore’s National Water Agency, is closely monitoring the seawater intake at its desalination plants. No oil has been detected near the Jurong Island Desalination Plant and Marina East Desalination Plant, which are located nearest to the oil leak location. Seawater quality readings remain normal, and the plants’ operations are not affected. As a precautionary measure, PUB has also deployed oil containment booms across Marina Barrage. 

    8. JTC has advised companies on Jurong Island and waterfront-facing companies in the western region to be on alert and to take precautionary measures as necessary.

    9. To date, there has been no reports of fish farms being affected by the leak. Nonetheless, Singapore Food Agency is in contact with our farmers and has advised them to continue to be vigilant and to take precautionary measures as necessary.  

    10. Businesses which have claims-related queries arising from this oil leakage can contact Shell appointed administrator at +65 6632 8689 (during office hours: 9:00am – 5:30pm) or email shell_claims@crawford.asia.

    11. We have informed the Indonesian and Malaysian authorities of the incident and advised them to look out for any oil sightings along their respective coastlines.  

    12. Investigations into the incident are currently ongoing. 

    Annex: Photos of Agencies’ precautionary measures 

    For photos, please refer to the following https://go.gov.sg/shell-oil-leak-media

    The link will expire on 24 October 2024.

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Vicky Eatrides to the Canadian Chapter of the International Institute of Communications

    Source: Government of Canada News

    There are specific mentions of initiatives that fall squarely within the CRTC’s mandate, like helping ensure access and affordability of telecommunications services, implementing the Online News Act, and supporting Canadian and Indigenous content.

    “Regulating for today, preparing for tomorrow”

    Ottawa, Ontario
    October 21, 2024

    Vicky Eatrides, Chairperson and Chief Executive Officer
    Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC)

    Check against delivery

    Good morning, and thank you, Grant, for your warm welcome.

    Before I begin my remarks, I would like to acknowledge that we are gathered on the traditional unceded territory of the Algonquin Anishnaabeg people. Let’s take a moment to thank the Anishnaabeg people and to pay respect to their Elders.

    Thank you for inviting me to speak with you today. I am pleased to be joined by some of my fellow Commissioners, including the Vice-Chair of Telecommunications, Adam Scott, the Vice-Chair of Broadcasting, Nathalie Théberge, and our regional Commissioners, Bram Abramson, Ellen Desmond and Nirmala Naidoo. It is also great to see so many other familiar faces.

    When I first looked at the agenda for the conference, what stood out to me was how broad the topics of discussion were. And I quote, “major current issues in Canadian and international communications law and policy.” There’s a lot packed in there.

    Fortunately for me, there are specific mentions of initiatives that fall squarely within the CRTC’s mandate, like helping ensure access and affordability of telecommunications services, implementing the Online News Act, and supporting Canadian and Indigenous content. And these are some of the topics that I would like to touch on this morning.

    So let me start by taking us back to last year’s conference. In my remarks, I said that “the best way to predict the future is to create it.” So the question is, what kind of future do we want to create?

    I think the short answer is “the kind of future that meets the needs of Canadians.”

    But here’s the longer answer.

    If we look ahead five, ten, or even twenty years, we can make a few educated guesses about what Canadians will need. Some of this we already know.

    We know that we will need continued access to reliable, affordable, and high-quality communications services. We know that we will need a broadcasting system that continues to tell Canadian stories and provide access to news and information. And we know that we will need confidence in our online world. 

    But there are also things that Canadians will need that we can’t predict right now. Because technology — and how we use that technology –continues to change.

    To make this more tangible, let me share with you something I heard while I was in Montreal last month. I was at a broadcasting meeting and there was a panel on the future of radio. Three panelists were asked for their views on the impact of AI.

    Not surprisingly, and consistent with the public discourse on AI, we heard completely divergent views.

    The first panelist said that it was too early to tell what the impact of AI would be on radio — that we need to wait and see how things unfold. The second was enthusiastic about the potential of using AI, including to better connect with audiences. And the third expressed great concern about AI replacing workers.

    What I took away from this, as a regulator, is that while we need to keep a sharp focus on delivering on our mandate today, we also need to be thinking about what tomorrow could look like.

    To quote the Canadian musician Robbie Robertson, “You never know what could be interesting tomorrow.”

    But maybe before we get to how we are preparing for the future, let me spend some time talking about the CRTC’s role and priorities, and what we are doing to deliver on those priorities.

    Role and priorities

    As you know, the CRTC is an independent quasi-judicial tribunal that regulates the Canadian communications sector in the public interest. We hold public consultations on telecommunications and broadcasting matters and make decisions based on the public record.

    Like every other organization, the CRTC has limited resources. So we have focused our resources to deliver on priority areas.

    This morning, we published our strategic plan, which sets out those priorities. Spoiler alert for those who have not had a chance to read it yet, at a high level, we are staying the course on our three overall areas of focus that we identified last year.

    The overall goals remain the same, but how we are achieving them is shifting.

    In telecommunications, we are focused on promoting competition and investment to deliver reliable, affordable, and high-quality Internet and cellphone services.  

    In broadcasting, we are focused on modernizing Canada’s regulatory framework. We are also creating the bargaining framework for the Online News Act

    And to do all of this efficiently and effectively, we are continuing to invest in our organization to better serve Canadians. 

    Progress on priorities

    So let’s talk about some of the progress we have made in these areas over the past year, and let me give a preview of what’s to come.

    Let’s start with telecommunications and our work to improve connectivity and affordability.

    We know that Canadians depend on Internet and cellphone services for every aspect of our daily lives. We use these services constantly throughout the day – to find information, to access news, to watch programming, to work, to study, and to connect with others. I think that many of us take for granted that we have service. But the reality is that there are communities in Canada that do not. 

    Through our Broadband Fund, we are part of a broader effort by provincial, territorial and federal governments working to help connect underserved rural, remote and Indigenous communities.

    Since the fund was created, the CRTC has committed over $700 million in funding to projects that will bring high-speed Internet to 270 communities.

    This includes projects that will bring high-speed Internet to all communities in Nunavut for the first time.

    Let’s pause here for a moment. Because the significance of these projects and their impact on communities cannot be overstated.

    Nunavut is only accessible by air or sea. There are no roads connecting its 25 remote communities. It is Canada’s largest, northernmost territory, and one of the most challenging areas of Canada to build networks. The projects that we approved will connect essential public institutions, including schools, healthcare centres, and community learning centres. And the fibre connections in particular will support future projects to connect homes and businesses across Nunavut.

    We are also supporting projects to improve cellphone service along more than 630 kilometers of major roads across Canada. This will make it safer for Canadians to travel along these roads, and will benefit nearby communities.

    So we are working to improve connectivity. But being able to connect to a service is not the same as being able to afford a service.

    We know that affordability is an issue for many Canadians. During our consultations and hearings, we have heard about tough financial choices that people are being forced to make between telecommunications services, groceries and other expenses. 

    As the telecommunications regulator, we want Canadians to have access to affordable telecommunications services. And we know that the best way to achieve that is through competition.

    So that is why, in the cellphone services market, we established new rules last year that allow regional providers to compete across Canada using the networks of large companies. Regional providers have used this access to expand their reach and compete in new areas of the country. And we are seeing results for Canadians, who can go online today and find deals that were not there a year ago.

    We are hoping to see similar results in the Internet services market, with the release of a major decision just two months ago that gives competitors a workable way to sell Internet services using the fibre-to-the-home networks of large providers nationwide.

    Our frameworks for both cellphone and Internet services include important measures to balance competition with continued incentives to invest in high-quality networks. We know that it is expensive to maintain and expand networks, and we know that Canadians need high-quality services.

    For instance, regional providers that are using the networks of large cellphone companies must build their own cellphone networks within seven years. And large Internet service providers will not have to share their new fibre networks for five years, so that they can continue connecting more Canadians to fibre sooner.

    So that is what we are doing on connectivity and affordability.

    We are also advancing other work on the telecommunications front to help provide consumers with more options and clearer information.

    For example, you may have seen a CRTC announcement a couple of weeks ago on international roaming fees.

    The CRTC conducted a review to examine these fees. We analyzed confidential information from Canadian cellphone companies and considered a number of studies and public information on roaming.

    So what did we find? We found that roaming fees for Canadian travelers are often inflexible, causing consumers to pay a flat fee of $10 to $16 per day regardless of how much they use their cellphone.

    And we know that these flat fees can add up quickly. Just last week, we read about a retired Canadian who came home from a trip abroad to a $287 roaming charge.

    The CRTC wants to ensure that when Canadians are booking their travel and packing their bags, they have the flexibility to choose an affordable plan that best meets their needs.

    So we have called on large cellphone companies to take immediate action to provide affordable roaming options. Companies have until two weeks from today to inform the CRTC of the concrete steps they are taking to respond to these concerns. If the CRTC finds that sufficient progress is not made, we will launch a formal public proceeding.

    In the weeks ahead, we will also be launching public consultations to ensure that Canadians have the information and flexibility they need when choosing or switching cellphone and Internet plans.

    We will be seeking views on requiring service providers to give Canadians the option of cancelling a contract or modifying a plan without having to speak to a customer service representative.

    We will also be consulting on labels for Internet services. And what do I mean by “labels”? I mean the types of nutrition labels that we see on food products — we would like to see something similar for Internet service. But instead of information on serving size and calories, these labels would show information like price and download speeds, to help consumers easily compare plans.

    So that’s an overview of some of our work in telecommunications.

    Moving on to broadcasting, as many of you know, Parliament gave us new responsibilities when it adopted the Online Streaming Act last year.

    The Online Streaming Act requires the CRTC to modernize the Canadian broadcasting framework and ensure that online streaming services make meaningful contributions to Canadian and Indigenous content.

    We have said this previously, but it bears repeating: the changes that are needed to implement the Online Streaming Act are substantial and complex. There are many interconnected issues to be addressed.

    This means that we cannot change these frameworks overnight. But what we can do and what we are doing is consulting widely and moving quickly.

    An example of our broad consultation and quick action is our proceeding on base contributions, which included over 360 submissions and a three-week public hearing. We heard from a wide range of interveners with diverse views.

    I could not possibly cover even a fraction of what we heard during that proceeding, but what I can say is that we heard from many Canadians that online streaming services should start making meaningful contributions to Canadian and Indigenous content as soon as possible. We also heard that the new funding should be directed to areas of immediate need, such as local news on radio and television, French-language content, Indigenous content, and content from diversity groups.

    As you know, we moved quickly to get an estimated $200 million flowing into the Canadian broadcasting system, and we directed it to these areas of immediate need. 

    That base contributions proceeding is one of nine that we have launched over the past year. We have also issued four decisions and hosted 27 engagement sessions across the country. And we are not letting up.

    In the coming weeks, we will be launching four more public consultations to advance the modernization of the regulatory framework.

    The first will look at providing more flexibility to traditional radio broadcasters by updating regulatory requirements. Our intention is to help level the playing field so that all players remain competitive in a changing environment.

    The second will update the definition of Canadian content for the audiovisual sector, so that Canadian stories continue to be told by Canadians, and can find audiences at home and abroad.

    The third will consider the relationships between small, medium and large players in the traditional broadcasting system and online streaming.

    And the fourth consultation will look at radio and audio streaming in Canada, including how to define audio content and how to support Canadian music.

    We know that these proceedings are of great interest to Canadians, which is why we will be holding public hearings in the spring as part of the Canadian content, relationship, and radio and audio streaming consultations.

    More details will be provided in our updated regulatory plan, which we plan to release in the coming weeks. So stay tuned.

    Now, as you know, this is not the only new piece of legislation that we are busy implementing. We are also working quickly to implement the Online News Act, which is intended to help Canadian news organizations reach fair commercial agreements with the largest online platforms.

    The CRTC has a more administrative role to play here, including setting up the framework for mandatory bargaining between Canadian news organizations and online platforms.

    As many of you know, online platforms that reach agreements with news organizations may request an exemption from the requirement to bargain with individual news businesses. This is the case for Google, who filed an application in June after agreeing to contribute $100 million per year through a news collective.

    We are moving quickly on this front as well. We held a public consultation over the summer and will be issuing our decision on Google’s application in the coming weeks.

    This brings us to the third area that we are focusing on – investing in our organization to better serve Canadians.

    This may seem like more behind the scenes work, but it is fundamental.

    The CRTC is a public institution that works in the public interest. Canadians need to have trust in their public institutions. So how do we build that trust? We deliver. 

    At this conference last year, I told you about our commitment to moving more quickly and transparently. And that is what we are doing across all areas of our work.

    In telecommunications, for example, we are making Broadband Fund decisions — like the one I spoke about earlier that brought high-speed Internet to Nunavut for the first time — 30% faster than we did in the two previous rounds of applications. We are also now being more transparent and are informing applicants of the status of their application after a decision has been made.

    Another example on the telecommunications side is the speed with which we are making decisions on final offer arbitrations, or “FOAs.” We use FOAs to set the rates regional cellphone providers pay large companies when they use their networks. As I mentioned earlier, this has been a driver of competition and affordability for cellphone services. Without our FOA process, these benefits could be delayed for years. We recognize the urgency in bringing them to Canadians, and that is why we have acted quickly to work through these important decisions.

    We are also moving faster and being more transparent in broadcasting. When I spoke at this conference last year, we had just published our regulatory plan to implement the Online Streaming Act. As I mentioned earlier this morning, we have since launched nine consultations and issued four decisions, including the decision on base contributions that will ensure that new funding flows into the system this broadcast year.

    And more generally, we have continued to deal with “Part 1” applications quickly and transparently. As many of you know, these are applications filed by parties that are not the subject of notices of consultation. 

    We are now publishing applications as they come in, and are dealing with them more expeditiously while continuing to clear out a significant backlog from previous years. 

    So those are some of the ways that we are moving quickly and being more transparent.

    We are also continuing to engage broadly with Canadians from across the country and with specific communities.

    Last month, we met with members of official language minority communities (or OLMCs). As part of our ongoing dialogue, we discussed the unique needs and views of OLMCs. These discussions help us better understand what is important to OLMCs and how our work impacts these communities.

    And earlier this year, we established an Indigenous Relations Team to better support Indigenous participation in our proceedings.

    That gives an overview of some of the actions we are taking to be a quick and transparent organization.

    Preparing for the future

    Before I wrap up, let me share some insight into how, while delivering on our mandate today, we are preparing for the future.

    We are keeping our finger on the pulse of our changing environment.

    Earlier, I talked about the diverging views on the impact of AI on the broadcasting sector.

    Well, let me share a tangible example of what we are seeing.

    Some of you may have heard of AI Ashley, an AI radio host based on a human. The AI version of Ashley was created using human Ashley’s voice and by having the AI prompt her with questions to analyze her natural way of speaking.

    For the CRTC, the AI Ashley example highlights how emerging technologies are impacting the broadcasting industry.

    On one hand, we have heard about the benefits of using this type of technology. With AI Ashley, it is being used to complement human Ashley by co-hosting and interacting with listeners. We have also heard about AI supporting accessibility through advancements in closed captioning and dubbing.

    At the same time, we have heard concerns about radio hosts and writers being replaced by AI.

    This is just one example of an emerging technology that is affecting the broadcasting industry. We need to make sure that we understand how these technologies are changing the industry so that we can ask the right questions during our public consultations.

    For example, in the upcoming consultation on the definition of Canadian content, we will need to review a definition that has not been reviewed in decades while making sure that we are thinking about evolving technologies such as AI. So we need to ask: “what does AI mean for Canadian content? If AI is used in the creation of content, do we consider it to be merely a tool that was used to create that content or is AI the creator of the content?” We look forward to hearing views on all of these issues.

    Because we need to understand the trends that will influence the future of Canadian communications in five, ten, twenty – or more – years. I am sure that the policy makers and business leaders of twenty years ago could not have anticipated AI Ashley or online streaming as we know them today.

    Conclusion

    So with that, let me leave you with one final thought: Time has proven Robbie Robertson right. The future always surprises.

    Preparing for those surprises is what we are discussing together at this conference. As we listen to the speakers and panels over the next two days, let’s keep in mind how we are adapting for the future.

    How will our existing frameworks be challenged? What can we start doing today to prepare for that change? What tools and frameworks can we build to ensure that Canadians have access to reliable, affordable, and high-quality communications services, and that the broadcasting system tells Canadian stories and provides access to news and information for generations to come?

    I hope that these discussions continue long after we leave. Because the success of all of the work I have spoken about today hinges on your insights and those of our fellow Canadians. I look forward to seeing where the conversation takes us.

    Thank you.

    General Inquiries
    Telephone: 819-997-0313
    Toll free: 1-877-249-CRTC (2782)
    TTY: 819-994-0423

    MIL OSI Canada News

  • MIL-OSI USA: Major construction completed on SR 109 in Grays Harbor County

    Source: Washington State News 2

    HOQUIAM – State Route 109 travelers saw a lot of construction over summer. After five total closures over four months between Seabrook and Hoquiam, major work to remove several fish barriers is now done. 

    “We worked very hard to complete the work as quickly and safely as possible,” said Project Engineer Ben Ford. “We’re extremely thankful for everyone’s patience and understanding during this work.”

    Removing barriers to fish under state highways is far from easy. During this important work, crews dug up the entire highway. Temporary detour routes were set up to guide travelers around each closure. 

    Workers installed large concrete structures that allow fish to swim under the highway. Once crews installed the structures, workers repaved and reopened the highway. 

    Construction crews still have some work to complete. That includes landscaping and other final details. This work will require occasional one-way alternating traffic. 

    The fish barrier removal project is a big part of the Washington State Department of Transportation’s efforts to comply with a 2013 federal court order. The order directs WSDOT to correct hundreds of outdated culverts and open hundreds of miles of habitat for salmon and steelhead.

    Real-time information on highway projects is available on the WSDOT Travel Center Map and WSDOT app. 

    MIL OSI USA News

  • MIL-OSI USA: Ernst Demands Answers from SBA Over Handling of Disaster Resources

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator Joni Ernst (R-IA)
    WASHINGTON – After the Small Business Administration (SBA) claimed it has run out of funds for disaster relief, U.S. Senator Joni Ernst (R-Iowa), the top Republican on the Senate Small Business and Entrepreneurship Committee, alongside her fellow committee members Senators Tim Scott (R-S.C.), Todd Young (R-Ind.), and James Risch (R-Idaho), demanded answers over the agency’s mismanagement of disaster resources.
    In the letter, the senators highlighted that the SBA failed to notify Congress of the need for supplemental funding ahead of time, as required by law. They also stressed how bureaucratic inefficiency was to blame for the SBA coming up short for Americans in need.
    “Under existing law, the SBA already has several reporting requirements to provide Congress with sufficient notification and information before any shortfall occurs in its disaster account. Unfortunately, the SBA failed to comply, or only partially complied, with several of these provisions and is now, at the eleventh-hour, sounding alarm bells. We must consider whether SBA’s internal decisions were the catalyst for this unfortunate situation. For example, SBA currently has more than $550 million in its disaster administrative expenses account to pay for salaries, but did not request any reprogramming to their disaster loan fund,” wrote the senators.
    “Further, during a disaster, on-the-ground staff and training is essential. Congress has long recognized the need for agencies to scale up and down during times of disaster. In light of this, the SBA has a statutorily authorized disaster cadre, which is not meant to fall below 1,000 employees,” the senators continued.
    “Based on information recently provided by the SBA in response to questions as it sought supplemental funds, it appears that this cadre may have vanished, but no one was notified. This raises stark concerns about the SBA’s ability to provide for disaster victims during the immediate aftermath of these storms and its ability to inform Congress in accordance with the law,” the senators concluded.
    Click here to view the full letter.

    MIL OSI USA News

  • MIL-OSI Global: New report reveals that targets to save 30% of the ocean by 2030 aren’t being met

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Callum Roberts, Professor of Marine Conservation, University of Exeter

    Qasimphotographer/Shutterstock

    The world is gathering in Colombia for the UN biodiversity conference known as Cop16, a biannual pulse-taking of the living planet where actions to protect the natural world are agreed. At its last meeting in 2022, an ambitious roadmap for nature protection was put in place. As part of that Kunming-Montreal global biodiversity framework, the UN set a bold goal to protect 30% of the world’s land and ocean by 2030 – known as “30×30” – which was agreed by 196 countries and bodies such as the European Commission.

    A key task in Colombia will be to measure progress, and the ocean is in the spotlight. A new report reveals that growth in marine protected areas – designated nature conservation zones that are protected from one or more harmful or damaging human activities – is far too slow to achieve this target. Analysis by conservation experts shows that protected areas are too scattered and unrepresentative.

    Efforts to protect marine life lag far behind conservation on land. When 30×30 was agreed, the world had protected roughly 17% of land and 7.8% of the sea. The sea element was already behind previous targets, set in 2010 by the UN’s Convention on Biological Diversity to reach 17% and 10% protection of land and sea by 2020.

    The 30×30 target is based on what scientists say is required to protect marine diversity, unlike the arbitrary 10% target it replaces. This would give a decent chance of meeting basic conservation goals like representing the full spectrum of habitats and species, or sustaining ecosystem services, such as the provision of seafood to eat and clean water for people. The 30×30 target was designed to turbo-charge conservation, end biodiversity loss and begin nature’s recovery. It hasn’t quite worked out that way, at least not yet.

    The new report, commissioned by philanthropic initiative the Bloomberg Ocean Fund and developed in partnership with environmental organisations Campaign for Nature, the Marine Conservation Institute and SkyTruth, is sobering. Since 2022, the global ocean protected area network has grown by only 0.5 percentage points to 8.3%, still nearly 2% short of the 10% target that 30×30 replaced. On this trajectory, the world is set to crawl towards just 9.7% by 2030. The world is failing badly and there seems little urgency in the pace of progress.

    Some marine protected area designations set fishing restrictions.
    Tamil Selvam/Shutterstock

    Most marine protected areas (MPA) fail the quality test too. Assessed against a global framework of effectiveness, called the MPA guide, most marine protected areas are insufficiently protected or managed to deliver positive benefits to nature. The report calculates that only 2.8% of the world’s ocean is protected “effectively” according to MPA guide criteria. They include tiny protected areas like the South Arran MPA in Scotland, which was set up in 2014 and monitored by the local community, and the vast and still wild Ascension Island protected area that encloses 172,000 square miles (445,000km²) of the tropical Atlantic.

    Even this low figure could overestimate current effectiveness. Reporting against MPA guide criteria is not yet mandatory for countries, so inconsistent definitions of protected areas complicate measurement of progress. And while some countries have declared MPAs as either “highly” or “fully” protected, the report suggests some of these areas aren’t sufficiently funded by governmental or other means to deliver effective management.

    Country protected-area networks – that’s the the total composition of all protected areas – are badly imbalanced. In the global north, countries like the US, UK and France have declared large highly and fully protected areas in their overseas territories to boost the coverage of effective MPAs. Meanwhile, in home waters, most MPAs remain subject to destructive and extractive industrial activities such as bottom-trawl fishing or offshore energy. Their headline percentage protection numbers therefore “blue-wash” the reality of ongoing damage and biodiversity loss.

    This October, Australia expanded the sub-Antarctic Heard and MacDonald Islands MPA, leading its environment minister to declare that with 52% of Australia’s waters protected, it had far exceeded 30×30. This and other huge offshore protected areas hide the fact that only 15% of coastal seas around the main Australian landmass are protected. Much of it is still open to industrial fishing and oil and gas production.

    The 30×30 goal will also be an impossible dream until the world ratifies the UN’s high seas treaty. This was agreed in 2022 to manage and protect the colossal 61% of the ocean (43% of the Earth’s surface) that lies beyond the sovereign waters of any nation. Until that treaty comes into force, there is no agreed legal mechanism to create MPAs there. At present, just 1.4% of international waters are protected, much of them in Antarctica.

    The Bloomberg report recommends governments speed up the creation of more marine protected areas. Another new study suggests a further 190,000 MPAs will be needed to reach 30×30, equivalent to 85 new protected areas daily for the rest of this decade.

    While numbers and size matter, the world must also stop paying lip service to conservation and deliver real protection for nature, matched with sufficient and durable finance to ensure they work. And the high seas treaty needs urgently ratified, since there otherwise remains a near half-planet sized hole in ambitions for 30×30.



    Don’t have time to read about climate change as much as you’d like?

    Get our award-winning weekly roundup in your inbox instead. Every Wednesday, The Conversation’s environment editor writes Imagine, a short email that goes a little deeper into just one climate issue. Join the 40,000+ readers who’ve subscribed so far.


    Callum Roberts receives funding from Convex Insurance, EU H2020, and EU Synergy. He is a board member of Nekton and Maldives Coral Institute, and advisor to Minderoo Foundation, Pew Bertarelli Ocean Legacy and CORDAP, and is a Pew Marine Fellow and WWF Fellow.

    ref. New report reveals that targets to save 30% of the ocean by 2030 aren’t being met – https://theconversation.com/new-report-reveals-that-targets-to-save-30-of-the-ocean-by-2030-arent-being-met-241584

    MIL OSI – Global Reports

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Arctic Circle Assembly: Minister Doughty Plenary Speech

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments 3

    UK Minister of State for Europe, North America and Overseas Territories outlines the UK’s commitment to the Arctic in the face of rising global challenges.

    Thank you very much. It is a genuine pleasure to be here, President Grímsson and all of you at the Arctic Circle, distinguished guests and friends across the room.

    It’s a pleasure to be here representing the new government in the United Kingdom, and it has been fantastic to be part of some fascinating discussions – yesterday following my visit with my ministerial colleague in Tromsø, at the Framsenteret in Norway, and in Oslo, and then here in Reykjavik, and meeting with many colleagues from across the Arctic region.

    I am glad of the opportunity to be able to say a few words to you about the UK’s valuable work with all of you as fellow friends of the Arctic.

    I reflect on many of my own personal relationships with people and communities across this incredible region. I have friends from Iqaluit to Nuuk, from Tromsø to Tórshavn, and here in Reykjavik too.

    I reflect back on a moment I spent as a 19-year-old in Finnish Lapland, in the Millenium New Year’s Eve, in a little cabin in the snow, in minus 25, enjoying the sauna and some skiing. 

    But like many that night, I thought a lot about the world, the future of the world in this century, my place in it and what the future might hold.

    And as I sat there amid the incredible beauty and peace, little could I have imagined how the world would look nearly a quarter of a century on.

    With Putin’s war raging on the European continent, and all of the implications that brings for regional and global security.

    And with climate change and biodiversity loss advancing at such a frightening pace, wrecking precious ecosystems and destroying livelihoods.

    And with me as the British minister responsible for Europe, North America and indeed our relations in the Polar regions, I am very conscious that I have to work with all of you to address those challenges.

    And of course that is a daunting responsibility.

    But it is also an immense privilege to hold this role and to be here with you all, united in concern and care for the Arctic, and indeed both polar regions, and determined to navigate the challenges ahead in a spirit of co-operation and respect.

    So there are three areas I wanted to focus on briefly with you today – firstly, our relationships, secondly, our shared security, and thirdly, our efforts to tackle the climate and nature crises.

    Firstly, let me confirm to you that the new UK government is putting internationalism and multilateralism at the heart of all that we do. 

    We are resetting and deepening relationships with friends in Europe and beyond – many here in this room – to better face global challenges. 

    The UK’s Arctic Policy Framework continues to guide our approach, and we continue to update and develop that, guided by science and indeed the strategic challenges that we face.

    And, as it makes clear, we are committed to the Arctic Council in our role as a State Observer, recognising that it has been at the heart of a stable and peaceful region for much of the past three decades. 

    And indeed, the Council has an important role to play in articulating a strong voice and delivering effective governance.

    It has potential to act as a multilateral ‘glue’, with the strength to bind together a fragmented world.

    So, our objectives for the Council are characterised by strong co-operation and constructive dialogue – objectives I think we all share in this room.

    And I commend Norway’s work as Chair of the Council to re-start the technical engagement in the face of the very significant geopolitical challenges.

    We will do what we can to further those efforts, as part of our commitments to the multilateral system.

    But we are of course not naïve. The security of the Arctic is clearly at risk – the impacts of Putin’s illegal war in Ukraine cannot be underestimated, let alone the wider geopolitical cooperation and competition landscape, and that will impact on all of us in this important region.

    So alongside our resolute support for Ukraine, we are working tirelessly with partners for peace, security and stability, particularly for all of those areas of Europe on what I call the flanks – including the Western Balkans, the Nordic states and beyond.

    We recognise Russia’s rights and role as an Arctic state.

    But we will not tolerate attempts to wreck regional stability, disrupt critical infrastructure or restrict freedom of navigation. 

    There is no global security without Arctic security. So, we are ready to protect and – if necessary – assert our rights.

    And on Wednesday, I was privileged to take a tour with the Norwegian Coastguard in Tromsø, to see how security threats and environmental changes are monitored in the High North.

    They have a tough job in tough conditions – and all credit to them.

    And as someone who’s participated alongside our training with Royal Marines in Northern Norway, I have huge respect for all of those who regularly brave the Arctic wilderness to ensure we are ready to protect it.

    And let me be clear that the UK’s commitment to NATO, to the Joint Expeditionary Force, the Northern Group, and the Arctic Security Forces Roundtable is ironclad, including of course our close partnership with our hosts, Iceland.

    And the NATO alliance is of particular significance to me personally. Many members of my family have served in NATO operations over many years, standing shoulder-to-shoulder with allies.

    Of course, beyond Putin’s menace, climate change and the global marine biodiversity loss that we are tragically seeing is the other immense threat that we are all discussing here looming over the Arctic.

    We are witnessing devastating impacts – on glaciers, fish stocks and weather patterns – with implications for us all.

    And we are painfully aware that global warming is driving geopolitical competition over resources beneath the ice too.

    And so that’s why my colleague, the Foreign Secretary David Lammy, made clear in his first major policy speech last month that efforts to address the climate and nature crisis are central to our new government’s work. 

    So at COP29 we will press the global community to accelerate ambition to reduce our emissions and push for an agreement on an ambitious new climate finance goal.

    And we have also seen how research to understand and assess climate change – including through the Arctic Council – has been an important basis to build collaboration. We will continue to back this.

    But we have already invested over one hundred and thirty-five million pounds in Arctic research over the last decade, including through UK centres of expertise.

    Our Royal Research Ship, Sir David Attenborough, paid its first visit to Greenland over the summer, and I was delighted to hear about their work here last night.

    That data gathered will help us understand crucial changes and their impacts on the Arctic Ocean and beyond.

    Now, our Advanced Research and Invention Agency has launched an eighty-one-million-pound call for proposals for further research around Greenland. 

    This new programme will develop an early warning system for ‘tipping points’, providing climate data of local and global importance.

    And we are committing further funds to collaborations with Arctic Council Working Groups, helping to enhance understanding of climate impacts on the livelihoods of Arctic indigenous people, including many other things.

    And I think it’s important to say here that, while we tend to focus on modern science for solutions, indigenous knowledge often holds the key to understanding and responding to the climate and nature crises, on top of the absolute necessity of working in respect and partnership with all of those communities and peoples who live in these wonderful lands, understand these lands, and steward their resources, and indeed their beauty.

    So further research will be key, and will build on our programmes, for example with Canada and the Inuit Nunangat, which is looking into climate-driven changes in that Arctic homeland, as well as impacts on health and wellbeing. I have been delighted to meet representatives of communities from across the Arctic at this fantastic conference.

    So this is just a brief flavour of our work, of our partnerships, of our hope for the future.

    But let me say in conclusion that the future of the Arctic depends on every one of us, working together, in a spirit of strong collaboration and co-operation.

    I hope that when we look back, 25 years from now, it’ll be from the perspective of a more secure, peaceful and indeed sustainable era. Not least here in the Arctic, but also globally.

    Thank you very much.

    Updates to this page

    Published 21 October 2024

    MIL OSI United Kingdom

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Radium Hot Springs Aquacourt: Federal Infrastructure Investment Completion and 75th Anniversary of Kootenay National Park

    Source: Government of Canada News

    Federal Infrastructure Investment Completion and 75th Anniversary Kootenay National Park.

    Renovations and improvements

     

    From 2016 to early 2024, Parks Canada completed $29 million in federally funded infrastructure updates at the Radium Hot Springs Aquacourt to improve safety while modernizing and enhancing the visitor experience. Special attention was taken to hire local contractors wherever possible to ensure that the local community, for whom the hot springs are a primary economic driver, continued to benefit while construction was underway.

    This work was part of a strategic effort to preserve the historical significance of the site while improving its facilities to meet contemporary standards of comfort and to improve accessibility. This included updates to the bathing pools and amenities. Upgrades to technology were also achieved.

    ·  Infrastructure Improvements: The Aquacourt infrastructure was upgraded to ensure safety and efficiency. This included updates to plumbing, electrical systems, mechanical systems and some structural enhancements to prolong the lifespan of the facility. These improvements also support conservation with the incorporation of green technologies.

    ·  Accessibility Enhancements: Efforts were made to improve accessibility for all those who visit. This involved installing and upgrading handrails and lifts and improving entry and exit to the site. The facility can now better accommodate individuals with mobility challenges.

    ·  Aesthetic and Comfort Upgrades: The interior and exterior of the Aquacourt underwent renovations to enhance the aesthetic appeal and comfort of the facility. This included renovating the restaurant, gift shop, and change rooms.

    ·  Environmental Sustainability: Measures were taken to promote environmental sustainability during the renovation process by installing energy-efficient geothermal energy systems to reduce the Aquacourt’s carbon footprint. Structural upgrades to culverts under the building have also safeguarded nearby fish habitats.

                                                                                                                  -30-

    MIL OSI Canada News

  • MIL-OSI USA: Hobbs Administration Issues Cease & Desist to Prevent Illegal Development in Rio Verde Foothills Lacking Assured Water Supply

    Source: US State of Arizona

    Actions Shut Down Developer Exploiting Loopholes to Profit At Expense of Arizonans

    PHOENIX – This week, the Arizona Department of Real Estate (ADRE) took action to prevent illegal subdividing, also known as “wildcat development,” in Rio Verde Foothills east of Scottsdale. Governor Hobbs previously directed the ADRE to prevent illegal developments that evade Arizona’s consumer protection requirements to the fullest extent allowed under current law.  

    This week ADRE sent a Cease & Desist Order against a real estate developer, and today that Order was recorded with the Maricopa County Recorder. In the Order, the Department alleges the developer group failed to obtain a subdivision public report, which among other statutory requirements, in an AMA requires a certificate of assured water supply from the Arizona Department of Water Resources or a written commitment of water service from a designated provider.

    “Today I am glad to report the Arizona Department of Real Estate has taken swift action to prevent what it believes is a blatant evasion of consumer protection and water security laws,” said Governor Katie Hobbs. “Rio Verde Foothills has suffered enough as a result of bad apple developers skirting the law and building without first securing a water supply. While we can take action in this case, our laws still fall short of offering true solutions that protect consumers. We must take legislative action to crack down on the loopholes being exploited by developers to profit at the expense of everyday Arizonans.”

    This investigation and enforcement action from the Hobbs Administration is part of the Governor’s commitment to protect the water supplies of all Arizonans. Governor Hobbs has prioritized preventing development that circumvents Arizona’s real estate and water laws, and puts Arizonans at risk. By recording the Cease & Desist, ADRE will prevent the final sale of homes until a reliable, 100-year water supply has been identified and proven as a part of the project’s public report.

    This investigation was conducted in collaboration with the Attorney General’s Office, and is part of the Executive Branch’s coordination on efforts to protect Arizona consumers.

    “Protecting consumers from unscrupulous developers is a top priority for the Attorney General’s Office,” said Attorney General Kris Mayes. “My office remains firmly committed to holding accountable those who violate state law and put Arizonans at risk, especially in areas like Rio Verde Foothills where water is limited. We will continue to work closely with the Arizona Department of Real Estate and the Governor’s Office to protect Arizona consumers.”

    “ADRE is charged with protecting Arizona’s property owners and the public in real estate transactions. Arizona’s laws require certain disclosures to ensure prospective purchasers understand, among other limitations or available resources, whether there is water available and what water sources the potential buyer may expect.  Education of developers is key but when subdivision Public Report requirements are not followed, buyers are exposed to an unacceptable risk,” stated Commissioner Susan Nicolson.

    In 2023, Governor Hobbs signed Senate Bill 1432, after working across party lines to secure a water solution for the Rio Verde Foothills area, following her veto of an unworkable, partisan bill. Governor Hobbs also charged her Water Policy Council with identifying solutions to the long-standing challenge of wildcat development, which resulted in a slate of consensus recommendations. Unfortunately, real solutions were not introduced by the legislature, and citizens in Rio Verde Foothills and elsewhere remain vulnerable to loopholes that can be exploited to skirt Arizona’s development and water laws. 

    More information regarding the Governor’s Water Policy Council Recommendations can be found here.

     

     

    MIL OSI USA News

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Significant federal infrastructure improvements completed at Radium Hot Springs in Kootenay National Park

    Source: Government of Canada News

    Upgrades and repairs to beloved Aquacourt ensures the future of this heritage building.

    Upgrades and repairs to beloved Aquacourt ensures the future of this heritage building.

    October 21, 2024            Radium Hot Springs, British Columbia             Parks Canada

    The Radium Hot Springs Aquacourt, located in Kootenay National Park, hosts more than 200,000 visitors each year. The hot mineral waters that flow from the ground have drawn people to this place since time immemorial. These hot springs were known and used, both recently and historically, by the Ktunaxa and Secwépemc people for their therapeutic properties. They are sacred places of healing and rejuvenation.

    Today, the Honourable Steven Guilbeault, Minister of Environment and Climate Change and Minister responsible for Parks Canada, announced the completion of a federal infrastructure project to update and renew the Radium Hot Springs Aquacourt building of approximately $29 million. Members of the community marked the completion of the renovations at an event that also recognized the 75th anniversary of the start of construction of the Aquacourt. Building the Aquacourt was the first major construction project undertaken in the western national parks following the Second World War. The upgrades means that the Radium Hot Springs Aquacourt now offers a modern, safe, accessible and inclusive experience for visitors and community members alike.

    Investments in the Radium Hot Springs Aquacourt modernized the mechanical and electrical systems, including the installation of energy-efficient technology to leverage geothermal energy from the hot springs. The building was made more resilient to climate change through upgrades to the cold pool that help protect it from flooding and improve visitor safety. The installation of culverts under the building direct water flow to protect the foundation from erosion while safeguarding nearby fish habitats. The renovated restaurant, gift shop, and change rooms will support improved visitor experiences, along with a new rooftop sundeck and upgraded accessibility features including handrails, lifts, and improvements to the site entry and exit.

    Through infrastructure investments, the Government of Canada protects and conserves national treasures, while supporting local economies and contributing to growth in the tourism sector. By investing in the Radium Hot Springs Aquacourt, a Classified Federal Heritage Building, the Government of Canada is ensuring that future generations can continue to connect with nature in Kootenay National Park for years to come. These repairs and improvements ensure public safety and positive visitor experiences, support Parks Canada conservation efforts by incorporating green technologies and safeguarding natural habitats, strengthen climate resilience and protect built heritage in Canada. 

                                                                                                             -30-

    Hermine Landry
    Press Secretary     
    Office of the Minister of Environment and Climate Change
    873-455-3714
    hermine.landry@ec.gc.ca

    Lindsay McPherson
    External Relations Manager
    Lake Louise, Yoho, Kootenay Field Unit
    Parks Canada
    867-678-5667
    Lindsay.McPherson@pc.gc.ca

    MIL OSI Canada News

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: Secretary-General’s Joint Press Conference with Moussa Faki, Chairperson of the African Union Commission

    Source: United Nations MIL-OSI 2

    erci, Mesdames et Messieurs,

    Vous allez me permettre avant de faire aussi quelques commentaires sur nos travaux aujourd’hui, que je puisse lire un petit texte que j’ai écrit moi-même, avec mon cœur. Je voudrais dire quelques mots à l’encontre de mon cher collègue et ami, Moussa Faki.

    Cher Moussa, depuis le début de nos mandats respectifs en 2017, nous avons parcouru un long chemin ensemble.

    Votre vision d’une Afrique intégrée, prospère et pacifique a toujours été en harmonie avec nos objectifs pour un monde plus juste, durable et digne.

    Votre leadership éclairé, votre capacité à rassembler et votre engagement infatigable pour le multilatéralisme représentent une source d’inspiration pour tous.

    Et votre sens du dialogue et grande expertise des enjeux globaux ont permis de faire entendre la voix de l’Afrique sur la scène internationale avec force et clarté.

    Vous avez toujours été un fervent défenseur de la coopération entre l’Union africaine et les Nations Unies. Grâce à nos efforts conjoints, nous avons renforcé nos liens institutionnels, aligné nos stratégies et multiplié nos actions communes sur le terrain.

    Que ce soit dans la prévention et la résolution des conflits, la lutte contre le changement climatique ou la promotion du développement durable – et dans des contextes toujours difficiles – votre contribution a été inestimable.

    Cher ami, je tiens à vous exprimer ma profonde gratitude pour votre dévouement et votre humanité. Votre héritage perdurera bien au-delà de votre mandat, car vous avez posé les fondations d’un partenariat Union africaine-Nations Unies plus fort et plus efficace.

    Vous incarnez l’esprit même de coopération et de solidarité internationale, et c’est avec une grande amitié que je vous adresse mes remerciements les plus chaleureux.

    I am particularly happy about our session today. We have, as Chairperson Faki expressed, we have looked into our cooperation developed during these years, and how it became more than the signature of common positions, ad hoc common actions. This cooperation became an institutionalized cooperation in which all key areas of our common intervention, peace and security, sustainable development and human rights. We have common programmes, common strategies, and we work together very effectively in the perspective that unites us, and the perspective that unites us is of an African continent that is able to provide with citizens all the rights that they should enjoy.  And in the context of a world able to overcome the terrible divisions that we are facing today.

    And I have to say that I came from the Summit of the Future with the conscience that there are now conditions for the international community to start providing justice to the African people.

    First of all, in relation to the questions of peace and security, there is now a consensus from Member States that the Security Council must be reformed, and there is now a consensus of all Member States that the key aspect of that reform is to have two African members as permanent members of the Security Council.

    On the other hand, many decisions were taken in relation to the capacity to deepen our cooperation with the African Union in areas like prevention, mediation, peace building, and the capacity to act together to address the multiple conflicts that today the African continent, as the whole world, unfortunately, are dealing with.

    Then for the first time, there was the recognition that we live in an economic system and a financial system that is outdated, that is ineffective, and that is unfair.

    And it is especially ineffective and unfair because of the African continent.

    Africa faces enormous obstacles to its development.

    First of all, they are deeply rooted in the past, deeply rooted in the colonial legacy. And I can speak totally at ease, because I come from a colonial structure.

    African countries gained independence with their economies and to a certain extent, their society is distorted by the interests of the colonial powers that organize their economies to the benefits of the colonists.  

    And then the African continent has had to face an enormous number of challenges. Just recently, COVID-19, the dramatic impacts in prices and the interest rates that were enhanced by the war in Ukraine, and the extremely difficult present situation in which many countries are drowning in debt and many countries do not have access to the resources, namely, to concessional finance in order to not only be able to reduce their debts, but to be able to provide to their citizens those essential actions that are necessary for their lives to be engaged.

    And we managed finally to have, in the Summit of the Future, the affirmation that the international financial architecture must be corrected and must be corrected to give more voice and more power to Developing Countries in general, of course, African countries in particular, and to mobilize much more resources for the SDGs, to reduce, adapt and to create conditions for sustainable development and for climate action in mitigation and adaptation to the benefit of developing countries. And I hope that now it will be possible to implement those measures, because they are essential for justice in relation to the African continent.

    And then we just decided to create the common working group with the Economic Commission for Africa and the African Union Commission to do serious research, to allow to contribute to the creation of an African strategy to bridge the digital divide and the Artificial Intelligence divide, and to overcome all the enormous structural difficulties and impediments that exist today, and to be able to claim the resources that will be necessary for it to be possible, and for the digital world and the Artificial Intelligence not to be another factor of inequality, but to be a factor to allow to catch up and for the African continent to move, as it has done in the past, more fast in development, to be able to provide the best conditions for their citizens.

    And we are totally committed to have a strong African presence in the political dialogue that will now meet annually at United Nations on artificial intelligence, and on the international scientific panel that will follow in [developing] the state of the art of artificial intelligence.

    We want the African continent – that is a young continent – and in relation to scientists that are young scientists – to be able to be in the first line and not to be left behind because of the construct of injustices that still today exists. 

    In these circumstances, I’m sure that cooperation between the [African Union] and the United Nations, these cooperations were led by Moussa Faki – that that cooperation will remain in the future, as strong, as dynamic and as committed to our being of those that justify our action, the people of Africa and the people of the world.

    MIL OSI United Nations News

  • MIL-OSI Global: Why Stephen Harper and Justin Trudeau have taken the same tepid approach to global affairs

    Source: The Conversation – Canada – By Adam Chapnick, Professor of Defence Studies, Royal Military College of Canada

    Nine years ago, not long before Stephen Harper’s Conservative government was replaced by Justin Trudeau’s Liberals, retired diplomat Paul Heinbecker penned a brutal takedown of Canadian foreign policy.

    To Heinbecker, Harper’s appointment of five foreign ministers (and two more acting foreign ministers) over nine years indicated his government didn’t take the file seriously. That lack of seriousness helped explain why American presidents only visited three times between 2006 and 2015, leaving Canada “on the margins of global relevance.”

    Heinbecker concluded disparagingly:

    “The Harper government has turned foreign policy outside in. It has treated foreign affairs often as a means to cultivate diaspora communities and constituencies at home…. Foreign posture has replaced foreign policy.”

    Harper, Trudeau similarities

    Nine years later and another former diplomat, David Mulroney, has admonished the Justin Trudeau government’s approach to foreign policy with equal harshness.

    “Canadians show up to lecture, not listen,” he wrote in a National Post op-ed.

    One of Trudeau’s own ministers of global affairs, Marc Garneau, apparently concurs:

    “Unfortunately, Canada’s standing in the world has slipped, in part because our pronouncements are not always matched by a capacity to act or by actions that clearly demonstrate that we mean what we say …. We are losing credibility.”

    Garneau was the fourth of Trudeau’s five foreign ministers. Since 2015, American presidents have visited Canada just twice. And just like the Harper Conservatives failed in their bid to secure a seat for Canada on the United Nations Security Council in 2010, so too did the Trudeau Liberals in 2020.




    Read more:
    UN Security Council: Actually, the world doesn’t need more Canada


    The similarities don’t end there.

    Neither Harper nor Trudeau commissioned a foreign policy review. Neither fully funded the military. Both positioned women and children at the centre of relatively meagre international assistance programs. And, like Harper’s, much of Trudeau’s focus in foreign affairs seems aimed at courting domestic groups.

    ‘Unavoidably reactive’

    Our new history of Canadian foreign policy, Canada First, Not Canada Alone, explains why these similarities are unsurprising.

    Canadian governments have limited flexibility in their conduct of external affairs. As one group of foreign policy experts once said:

    “Especially for the smaller powers, the conduct of foreign policy is to some extent unavoidably reactive. For those that are securely placed and richly endowed, like Canada, the messes they confront are usually not of their own making, and the pressures they face are largely beyond their control.”

    What’s more, the country’s miraculous avoidance of a significant international attack over the last 150 years leaves most Canadians feeling safer than they probably should. In this context, it’s difficult for decision-makers to make foreign policy a strategic priority.

    Laments about the decline of Canada’s contribution to world affairs began in the 1970s, and have continued ever since. These concerns have typically been reasonable, even when Ottawa’s intentions were sincere.




    Read more:
    Canada needs a focused and flexible foreign policy after years of inconsistency


    Harper genuinely wanted to elevate the place of the Armed Forces in Canadian society, only to discover that success in Afghanistan was impossible and supporting our military was incredibly expensive.

    Trudeau’s pledge to restore Canada’s peacekeeping tradition when he became prime minister was real; he only abandoned it upon realizing that peacekeeping in the contemporary operating environment risked a significant loss of Canadian lives.

    To date, such reversals have had limited consequences. Long protected by three oceans and a friendly giant to the south, successive governments in Ottawa have been able to ignore problems that bedevil less geographically fortunate countries.

    Pivoting in a changing world

    But more recent global challenges — brutal wars in Ukraine and the Middle East, climate change, supply chain disruptions, election interference, American political polarization — serve as stark reminders that the world is changing in ways that necessitate a more active Canadian global posture.

    That new approach requires co-operation with allies and international organizations, not to mention a significant economic investment.

    The recipe for Canada First policies — those that keep the state and its people secure within a stable international system, economically prosperous, politically autonomous and united at home — is easier to articulate than it is to implement.

    It requires not just a functioning, productive relationship with our critical ally to the south, but also a commitment to a rules-based international order and multilateral approaches to conflict resolution.




    Read more:
    How minority governments can influence foreign policy


    Engaging in diplomacy

    Foreign policy practitioners negotiate and compromise, doing what is necessary to maintain credibility at home and overseas. They act without the benefit of hindsight, frequently under political pressure and short time frames.

    When they fail, the consequences of their actions are obvious. Their successes can be harder to measure, leading some to view the practice of diplomacy as elitist, exclusive and ineffective.

    At times that may be true, but that doesn’t detract from diplomacy’s key role in Canada’s viability as an independent, prosperous country. A willingness to engage in diplomacy in defence of Canadian interests must also be matched by investments in the capacity to act globally.

    The future of Canada depends on decision-makers with the humility to recognize that standing alone on the world stage is no way to protect and promote the national interest.

    Adam Chapnick and Asa McKercher received funding for this project from the Canadian Defence Academic Research Program.

    .

    ref. Why Stephen Harper and Justin Trudeau have taken the same tepid approach to global affairs – https://theconversation.com/why-stephen-harper-and-justin-trudeau-have-taken-the-same-tepid-approach-to-global-affairs-241339

    MIL OSI – Global Reports

  • MIL-Evening Report: New Prada-designed spacesuit is a small step for astronaut style, but could be a giant leap for sustainable fashion

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Alyssa Choat, Lecturer in Fashion and Textiles Design, University of Technology Sydney

    For its recent Spring/Summer 2025 show, fashion brand Diesel filled a runway with mounds of denim offcuts, making a spectacle of its efforts to reduce waste.

    Haunting yet poetic, the “forgotten” byproducts of fashion production were reclaimed and repurposed into something artful. But the irony isn’t lost, given fashion shows like this one demand significant resources.

    Diesel’s event is an example of a growing trend towards the “spectacle of sustainability”, wherein performative displays are prioritised over the deeper, structural changes needed to address environmental issues.

    Can the fashion industry reconcile its tendency towards spectacle with its environmental responsibilities? The recent spacesuit collaboration between Prada and Axiom Space is one refreshing example of how it can, by leaning into innovation that seeks to advance fashion technology and rewrite fashion norms.

    Performance art instead of substantive change

    The fashion industry has always relied on some form of spectacle to continue the fashion cycle. Fashion shows mix art, performance and design to create powerful experiences that will grab people’s attention and set the tone for what’s “in”. Promotional material from these shows is shared widely, helping cement new trends.

    However, the spectacle of fashion isn’t helpful for communicating the complexity of sustainability. Fashion events tend to focus on surface-level ideas, while ignoring deeper systemic problems such as the popularity of fast fashion, people’s buying habits, and working conditions in garment factories. These problems are connected, so addressing one requires addressing the others.

    It’s much easier to host a flashy event that inevitably feeds the problem it purports to fix. International fashion events have a large carbon footprint. This is partly due to how many people they move around the world, as well as their promotion of consumption (whereas sustainability requires buying less).

    The pandemic helped deliver some solutions to this problem by forcing fashion shows to go digital. Brands such as Balenciaga, the Congolese brand Hanifa and many more took part in virtual fashion shows with animated avatars – and many pointed to this as a possible solution to the industry’s sustainability issue.

    But the industry has now largely returned to live fashion shows. Virtual presentations have been relegated to their own sectors within fashion communication, while live events take centre stage.

    Many brands, including Prada, held fashion shows without guests during lockdowns in 2021.

    Towards a sustainable fashion future

    Technology and innovation clearly have a role to play in helping make fashion more sustainable. The recent Prada-Axiom spacesuit collaboration brings this into focus in a new way.

    The AxEMU (Axiom Extravehicular Mobility Unit) suits will be worn by Artemis III crew members during NASA’s planned 2026 mission to the Moon. The suits have been made using long-lasting and high-performance materials that are designed to withstand the extreme conditions of space.

    By joining this collaboration, Prada, known for its high fashion, is shifting into a highly symbolic arena of technological advancement. This will likely help position it at the forefront of sustainability and technology discussions – at least in the minds of consumers.

    Prada itself has varying levels of compliance when it comes to meeting sustainability goals. The Standard Ethics Ratings has listed it as “sustainable”, while sustainability scoring site Good on You rated it as “not good enough” – citing a need for improved transparency and better hazardous chemical use.

    Recently, the brand has been working on making recycled textiles such as nylon fabrics (nylon is a part of the brand DNA) from fishing nets and plastic bottles. It also launched a high-fashion jewellery line made of recycled gold.

    Innovating for a changing world

    Prada’s partnership with Axiom signifies a milestone in fashion’s ability to impact on high-tech industries. Beyond boosting Prada’s image, such innovations can also lead to more sustainable fashions.

    For instance, advanced materials created for spacesuits could eventually be adapted into everyday heat-resistant clothing. This will become increasingly important in the context of climate change, especially in regions already struggling with drought and heatwaves. The IPCC warns that if global temperatures rise by 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels, twice as many mega-cities are likely to become heat-stressed.

    New innovations are trying to help consumers stay cool despite rising temperatures. Nike’s Aerogami is a performance apparel technology that supposedly increases breathability. Researchers from MIT have also designed garment vents that open and close when they sense sweat to create airflow.

    Similarly, researchers from Zhengzhou University and the University of South Australia have created a fabric that reflects sunlight and releases heat to help reduce body temperatures. These kinds of cooling textiles (which could also be used in architecture) could help reduce the need for air conditioning.

    One future challenge lies in driving demand for these innovations by making them seem fashionable and “cool”. Collaborations like the one between Prada and Axiom are helpful on this front. A space suit – an item typically seen as a functional, long-lasting piece of engineering – becomes something more with Prada’s name on it.

    The collaboration also points to a broader potential for brands to use large attention-grabbing projects to convey their sustainability credentials. In this way they can combine spectacle with sustainability. The key will be in making sure one doesn’t come at the expense of the other.

    Alyssa Choat does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

    ref. New Prada-designed spacesuit is a small step for astronaut style, but could be a giant leap for sustainable fashion – https://theconversation.com/new-prada-designed-spacesuit-is-a-small-step-for-astronaut-style-but-could-be-a-giant-leap-for-sustainable-fashion-240551

    MIL OSI AnalysisEveningReport.nz

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Expanded program to help essential workers move to Northern Rivers

    Source: New South Wales Premiere

    Published: 23 October 2024

    Released by: Minister for Agriculture


    Essential workers will receive significantly more support to move and settle into the Northern Rivers thanks to a successful Minns Labor Government initiative, The Welcome Experience, being extended into the region making it easier for local organisations to attract workers to making the move.

    Originally piloted during 2023 in Broken Hill, Muswellbrook, Bega, Walgett, Coffs Harbour, Corowa, Griffith and Goulburn, The Welcome Experience has been such a success it is now being rolled out to additional locations since September this year and is now operating in 55 Local Government Areas.

    The Welcome Experience will now provide workforce support to the additional town locations of Tweed, Lismore, Ballina, Byron and Richmond Valley thanks to a successful tender application from new host agency, Regional Development Australia (RDA) Northern Rivers.

    As part of The Welcome Experience, host agencies help essential workers make the regions their home, forge social connections, access childcare and schooling options, join sporting clubs and even assist with finding job opportunities for partners.

    Launched in June last year, The Welcome Experience has helped 665 essential workers and their families to move to regional New South Wales, including 346 health workers, 110 educators and 42 police staff. 

    The Northern Rivers can look forward to similar type success stories that have emerged after the program was rolled out to other regions over the last few months.

    Host Agencies in new delivery locations such as Dubbo, Port Macquarie, Kiama and Inverell are now onboarding Local Connectors, plus engaging their local communities and gathering feedback to assist them to tailor the delivery of The Welcome Experience to meet specific needs of communities.

    Among the new host agencies is RDA Murray, which has reported a positive stream of enquiries since September from essential workers considering the move to the Albury area.

    RDA Program Manager for Albury Karin Willcox is already assisting two registered nurses and their children move to the region from New Zealand.

    Karin has organised arrangements for the family ahead of their arrival, including airport pickup, car rental, childcare, schooling options, and even securing furniture for their new home.

    Find out more The Welcome Experience

    Minister for Agriculture and Regional NSW, Tara Moriarty said:

    “Our Government is focusing on ensuring regional NSW receives the services it needs and attracting essential workers is critical to making that happen.

    “If people get to hear first-hand info about schools or childcare, and that there is a good bunch of people in the local netball team, plus insights on cafes and places to fish, you are making them feel welcome.

    “Recognising the area’s needs, the Government is pleased the procurement process has been completed to engage RDA Northern Rivers to set up services in five towns that will boost the attraction of essential workers.

    “The Welcome Experience has a strong track record of warmly welcoming workers to regional NSW and encouraging them to build lasting connections in their new communities, and I look forward to seeing RDA continue this valuable work in the Northern Rivers region.”

    NSW Parliamentary Secretary for Disaster Recovery and State Member for Lismore Janelle Saffin said:

    “I congratulate Regional Development Australia (RDA) Northern Rivers on successfully tendering to be host agency for The Welcome Experience in towns across our region as this organisation has a track record of building capacity through strengthening networks.

    “We need to attract and retain more essential workers as our population grows, and providing workforce support with relocations and settling into a new community for workers and their families is a no-brainer.

    “Some councils provide new residents with a welcome pack to help them navigate their new surroundings, and this Minns Labor Government initiative is that concept writ large, offering a wraparound set of services specific to our region.

    “The Welcome Experience’s pilot sites have been successful in helping hundreds of health workers, educators and police move to the regions, and I look forward to more success in Lismore, Tweed, Byron, Ballina and Richmond Valley.”

    RDA Northern Rivers Director of Regional Development Anthony Schreenan said:

    “The Welcome Experience will support new essential workers through every step of the relocation process, from when they first consider the move, to when they decide to make their home in the Northern Rivers and build connections in the community,” Mr Schreenan said.

    “We are so happy to be able to benefit from The Welcome Experience, the pilot showed that the key to retaining workers is welcoming them into the community, and that’s more than finding a house to live in and school for the kids.

    “It’s becoming part of the local sports club, getting to know fellow parents, connecting with the people at your local and building networks of friendship.

    “Our Local Connector will provide a concierge service, connecting with essential workers who are considering relocating to our region and providing information about the region, finding a place to live, access to schools and amenities, and services available.

    Locations delivering The Welcome Experience:

    Region Location Government Areas Successful Host Agency
    Northern NSW Glen Innes Severn and Inverell Attract Connect Stay Glenn Innes
    North Coast & Rivers Tweed, Lismore, Ballina, Byron and Richmond Valley RDA Northern Rivers
    Mid North Coast Kempsey, Nambucca and Port Macquarie Hastings RDA Mid North Coast
    Mid North Coast Coffs Harbour and Bellingen Boambee East Community Centre
    Hunter Muswellbrook, Singleton and Upper Hunter Muswellbrook Shire Council
    New England Armidale, Tamworth and Uralla RDA Northern Inland
    Moree Plains Moree Plains Moree Plains Shire Council
    Orana region Bourke, Dubbo (incl Wellington) and Walgett RDA Orana
    Central West Bathurst, Cowra, Lachlan, Lithgow, Oberon, Orange, Parkes and Weddin Skillset
    Western NSW Balranald, Broken Hill, Central Darling, Regional Solutions Community Development
    Far West NSW Unincorporated Far West and Wentworth Regional Solutions Community Development
    Murray Albury, Federation and Greater Hume RDA Murray
    Eastern Riverina Temora, Tumut, Wagga Wagga RDA Riverina
    Western Riverina Griffith, Leeton, RDA Riverina
    Southern NSW Goulburn Mulwaree, Hilltops, Queanbeyan-Palerang, Snowy-Monaro, Upper Lachlan, Wingecarribee and Yass Valley RDA Southern NSW
    Bega Valley Bega Valley Bega Chamber of Commerce
    Illawarra Kiama, Shellharbour and Shoalhaven Multicultural Communities Council of Illawarra 
    South Coast Eurobodalla Bega Chamber of Commerce 

    MIL OSI News

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Dressing gown portrait and “Boris Godunov”. We look at the exhibition “Pushkin at Tropinin”

    Translation. Region: Russian Federation –

    Source: Moscow Government – Government of Moscow –

    Exhibition “Pushkin at Tropinin’s”in the V.A. Tropinin Museum and Moscow artists of his time is dedicated to the 225th anniversary of the poet’s birth, which is widely celebrated this year. The exhibition is the result of cooperation between three cultural institutions; the All-Russian A.S. Pushkin Museum in St. Petersburg (its president, Doctor of Cultural Studies Sergei Nekrasov, became one of the curators) and the Moscow Art Theatre Museum also took part in the preparation. Tatyana Prokhorova, curator, PhD in Art History, and head of the exhibition department of the V.A. Tropinin Museum, told mos.ru how to view the exhibition.

    History of the creation of the work

    The exhibition is about the most important event for Russian culture in the second quarter of the 19th century – the creation of one of the two most successful portraits of Alexander Pushkin. This one, known as the negligee one, was painted by the best Moscow portraitist of that time, Vasily Tropinin.

    In the first hall, visitors get acquainted with the history of the work – almost a detective story. Its first owner was Alexander Pushkin’s friend Sergei Sobolevsky. The fact is that Sobolevsky did not like any of the previously painted portraits of the poet, which is not surprising – many of his contemporaries held a similar opinion. Firstly, Pushkin did not like to pose, and secondly, his appearance was very complex and textured: characteristic facial features, a mobile look, incredibly lively facial expressions. In all earlier portraits, the dynamic image of the poet seemed frozen – smoothed out, as Sobolevsky said. Therefore, according to one version, he decided to order a portrait from Tropinin. According to another version, the portrait was ordered by Pushkin himself: he wanted to thank his friend, with whom he stayed during a memorable visit to Moscow in the winter season of 1826-1827, and went to pose in the artist’s studio on Volkhonka.

    Walking tour “Tropinin places”

    “Then Pushkin presented the portrait to Sobolevsky – “with various farces”, as the addressee describes. Pushkin took the empty frame and sat down so that he himself would be in it, and ordered a servant to hold the finished portrait. When Sobolevsky entered, Pushkin began to grimace in his characteristic manner, make pompous grimaces, puff out his lips and roll his eyes. Sobolevsky laughed – he really liked the presentation. He liked the portrait itself: in it, he saw his friend as he was in life. Probably, only the best Moscow portraitist could capture this liveliness,” says Tatyana Prokhorova.

    Then the detective part of the story begins. Leaving for Europe, Sobolevsky ordered a copy of the portrait from the amateur artist Avdotya Elagina, and left the original in her house for safekeeping. When he returned, he found only a poorly made copy in the frame, and the portrait itself was missing, and Sobolevsky was inconsolable.

    About 20 years passed, and the portrait was accidentally discovered in a junk shop by Mikhail Obolensky. He was the grandnephew of Irakli Morkov, a landowner and former owner of Vasily Tropinin: until the age of 40, the artist was a serf, but he painted Pushkin’s portrait after becoming a free man. Upon seeing the portrait, Obolensky immediately recognized it, because he himself had posed for Tropinin since childhood, took it and brought it to the studio. It was an exciting moment for the artist, he almost did not believe that his work would be found after so many years, but he recognized the portrait. Tropinin in no way agreed to renew it, as Obolensky asked, he only cleaned it and varnished it for the new owner.

    The first hall features a childhood portrait of Mikhail Obolensky, as well as a self-portrait of Vasily Tropinin himself: in it, he depicted himself at the age when Pushkin posed for him. This is the author’s repetition of the 1824 painting, made in 1855.

    An exhibition about a portrait… without the portrait itself

    The exhibition, says Tatyana Prokhorova, is conceptual in that it tells about the famous portrait without showing it: the portrait is the core of the permanent exhibition of the All-Russian A.S. Pushkin Museum on the Moika River Embankment (building 12), and it cannot be traveled.

    “But our colleagues kindly provided us with two preparatory works for the portrait – a pencil sketch and a painting study. We can see how Tropinin was looking for the image of Pushkin. In the small study (Tropinin made such before almost every large portrait) he tries to capture the liveliness of the poet’s nature. When the work was finished, the Moscow Telegraph wrote that the resemblance to the hero was striking. And in the pencil drawing, the artist looks for the general image – the pose, works out the details of the robe. Both are reflected in the large portrait,” explains Tatyana Prokhorova.

    In the famous portrait, Pushkin is depicted in a dressing gown, and here it is not just home clothes, but an important symbol of freedom. In the literature of that time, this had already become commonplace: the philosopher Denis Diderot wrote that a dressing gown is the clothing of a free man. Pushkin’s friend Pyotr Vyazemsky dedicated several poems to the dressing gown: he wrote about it as a symbol of free creativity, contrasting it with the official livery and uniform, usually buttoned up to the top.

    As for freedom, Pushkin and Tropinin could easily have found a common language: by that time they both had experienced unfreedom (although, of course, it is difficult to compare). The unfreedom of the aristocrat Pushkin was connected with freethinking and censorship and was limited only to his stay in exile, and his arrival in Moscow and readings of the innovative Boris Godunov here marked its end. If we draw parallels with Tropinin, then three years before meeting Pushkin, he received his freedom – and immediately presented to the public his main programmatic work, The Lacemaker, also innovative in its genre. The audience was struck by the beauty of the serf girl, the liveliness and love with which Tropinin depicts her. The artist received the title of appointed academician, during the three years spent in Moscow, he became the founder of the genre of portrait-type and the best portraitist of the city, receiving many orders.

    Tropinin had done robe portraits before, but, as literary sources say, after he painted Pushkin, they became fashionable, and the artist became a master in this genre. When he was commissioned to paint male portraits, they would always add: “Please, in a robe.” The exhibition features two more robe portraits by Tropinin – the composer Alexander Alyabyev and the Moscow nobleman Vladimir Raevsky.

    Visit to Moscow and circle of friends

    The second hall of the exhibition is dedicated to the poet’s visit to Moscow in the autumn of 1826, when the portrait was painted. After the sudden death of Alexander I, Nicholas I ascended the throne, and Pushkin wrote to the new emperor a petition for clemency. He summoned the poet to an audience at the Chudov Monastery – Nicholas I was in Moscow for the coronation festivities. Pushkin, who was in permanent exile in Mikhailovskoye, prepared very seriously for the meeting and expected a difficult conversation: the Decembrist uprising on Senate Square had already taken place, and it essentially marked the beginning of Nicholas I’s reign.

    The poet and the emperor talked for two hours. The fateful meeting, which changed a lot in Pushkin’s life, ended with Nicholas releasing him from exile and promising to become his personal censor. That same evening, the emperor was at a reception with the French ambassador, where he said that “today I spoke with the smartest man in Russia.” The crowd began to whisper Pushkin’s name, Moscow opened its hospitable arms to the poet. In homes and salons, he read his newly written drama “Boris Godunov”, which was greeted with applause. The euphoria of freedom (its illusion, as it turned out a little later) made the poet’s head spin.

    On one of the walls of the second hall is a map of Moscow of that time, with the key addresses that Pushkin visited during this visit. Next to it is a display case – a unique installation that presents the world of objects from Pushkin’s era: here are inkwells, smoking pipes, candlesticks, champagne glasses and much more, which allows you to better feel the atmosphere and spirit of old Moscow.

    Slept in the theater, lost at cards, argued with his mother-in-law: what else did Pushkin do in Moscow

    On another wall are watercolor and graphic portraits of the poet’s Moscow friends and acquaintances with references to addresses on the map. Of course, this is not everyone with whom Pushkin communicated, but people who were very important to him. For example, in the late 1820s, the magazine Moskovsky Vestnik began to be published, the editor-in-chief of which was Mikhail Pogodin, a historian and archivist. Pushkin’s closest literary circle – Vasily Zhukovsky, Anton Delvig, Pyotr Vyazemsky – did not sympathize with the magazine, but Pushkin was close enough to Pogodin and found his platform in this magazine.

    You can see a portrait of Ekaterina Semenova. The former serf actress was already Princess Gagarina at that time, moved from St. Petersburg to Moscow, led a social life and only occasionally participated in amateur performances. Pushkin was her ardent admirer and claimed that when it comes to Russian tragedy, one can only talk about Semenova. They met in Moscow, and later, when Boris Godunov was first published, at the turn of 1831-1832, Pushkin gave her the book and signed it: “To the actress from the author, to Semenova from Pushkin.” The first edition of the book is presented in a display case – Pushkin signed the same one to Semenova.

    Pushkin also dedicated enthusiastic lines to Zinaida Volkonskaya, calling her the queen of muses and beauty. During his visit to Moscow in 1826, he often visited her salon, where Alexander Sergeyevich was greeted with honor: Volkonskaya, a beautiful singer, came out to the poet, performing a romance based on his verses “The daylight went out.”

    Pushkin’s brother Lev Sergeevich was his literary secretary, had a phenomenal memory and knew literally all of his works by heart. When Lev Pushkin died, they said that part of Alexander Sergeevich’s poetry went with him, because many things were not written down, drafts were not preserved, but his memory kept everything.

    “Boris Godunov”

    Pushkin had to interrupt his 1826 visit to Moscow – at that time he went to Mikhailovskoye on business, and was also forced to explain there to the head of the third section of His Imperial Majesty’s Chancellery, Alexander Benckendorff, about the readings of Boris Godunov. The illusion of freedom and the absence of censorship collapsed. Nicholas I, having received the manuscript of the drama through Benckendorff, wrote a review: he recommended reworking the work in the manner of a historical novel in the spirit of Walter Scott. To this Pushkin replied that he was not in the habit of rewriting what had already been written.

    From Mikhailovskoye Pushkin returned to Moscow, where he was again met in the salon of Zinaida Volkonskaya. A historic event took place there: they were seeing off Maria, the wife of the Decembrist Sergei Volkonsky, to Siberia. Pushkin wrote the famous “In the Depths of Siberian Mines” then, and arrived the next morning with a finished poem, but Volkonskaya had already left. It was sent to Siberia later, with another Decembrist’s wife, Alexandra Muravyova.

    The readings of Boris Godunov continued. The drama was an absolute innovation, in it Pushkin departed from the chanting declamatory versification accepted in the French tradition and wrote very beautifully and poetically, as they say, in simple Russian. It was astonishing. Mikhail Pogodin described what the listeners felt when Pushkin read Boris Godunov to them:

    “We heard a simple, clear, distinct and at the same time poetic, fascinating speech. We listened to the first events quietly and calmly, or, better to say, in some bewilderment. …we all seemed to have lost consciousness. Some were flushed, others shivered. Hair stood on end. There was no longer any strength to restrain ourselves. One would suddenly jump up from his seat, another would scream. Some had tears in their eyes, some had a smile on their lips. The reading ended. We looked at each other for a long time and then rushed to Pushkin. Embraces began, a noise arose, laughter rang out, tears flowed, congratulations. “Here, here, give me the cups!” Champagne appeared, and Pushkin was inspired, seeing such an effect on his chosen youth.”

    The exhibition’s scientific consultant, literary and art historian Elena Arkhipova, is also convinced that Pushkin should not only be read, but also listened to. That’s why the creators made a special installation in the second hall.

    “In it, Boris Godunov can be seen: Pushkin’s manuscripts, his handwriting are in front of the viewer. The drama can be heard: the Moscow Art Theatre Museum provided us with a radio play, and we used directional speakers so that you could immerse yourself in the poetry. We hope that our viewers will feel the same as Pogodin describes. So, after almost 200 years, we can say: Pushkin is back with Tropinin,” says Tatyana Prokhorova.

    The exhibition at the V.A. Tropinin Museum and Moscow artists of his time is open until December 22.

    Please note: This information is raw content directly from the source of the information. It is exactly what the source states and does not reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.

    Please note; This information is raw content directly from the information source. It is accurate to what the source is stating and does not reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.

    http://vvv.mos.ru/nevs/item/145618073/

    MIL OSI Russia News

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Sing like a star, paint like an artist: how to spend a weekend at the Moskino cinema park

    Translation. Region: Russian Federation –

    Source: Moscow Government – Government of Moscow –

    On the weekend of October 26 and 27, visitors cinema park “Moskino”There will be master classes in graffiti, drawing and making pictures from threads, making movie clappers, training in face painting and acting, vocals and breakdancing. There will also be an animated sand show, a creative meeting with production designer Sergei Fevralev and other events.

    Entrance is by tickets, which can be purchased online. The cost of one ticket for an adult is 600 rubles, for a child under 18 years old – 350 rubles. Buying in advance will cost less than on the days of the event. Cash payment is not provided. Those who plan to visit only the cinema do not need to buy an entrance ticket.

    Moscow Holidays Master Classes: String Art, Movie Clappers, and Face Painting

    On Saturday and Sunday, Moscow schoolchildren can have an interesting time at the Moskino cinema park. Especially for children who are currently on vacation, the educational center of the cinema park has prepared exciting master classes in string art, making a movie clapperboard, and face painting.

    String art is a technique for creating bright pictures using threads. At the master class, guests will learn how to properly prepare materials, stretch the threads to create different patterns. A unique picture can be a great decoration for your home.

    During the class on making a movie clapperboard, visitors to the cinema park will learn that this is an important tool in cinematography that synchronizes sound and image. Participants will be told how to choose materials, assemble a movie clapperboard, and use it correctly.

    At a master class on creating bright designs on faces using special paints, guests will be told how to prepare the skin and create various patterns.

    Master classes of “Media Academy”: acting, dancing and vocals

    During the acting class, participants will learn the basics of stage movement and speech, as well as how to work on a character’s image and what acting techniques exist. Experienced teachers will give valuable advice that visitors can use in everyday life.

    At another master class, guests of the cinema park will get acquainted with the basic elements of dance in a special class, learn to feel the rhythm and music, and also show their individuality to create a unique dance style.

    At the vocal lesson “Sing Like a Star!” experienced teachers will help you master the basics of vocals, show you how to breathe and sing correctly, and also work on your voice so that it becomes beautiful and expressive. This master class is not only a chance to learn to sing, but also an opportunity to broaden your horizons, meet new people and enjoy the learning process.

    Gonzaga Theatre venue: light art show, sand animation and a lecture on painting

    On Saturday, October 26, a rich artistic program is planned at the Gonzaga Theater, which will give the cinema park guests the opportunity to admire the work of lighting designers and help develop their imagination to create their own paintings.

    On Saturday and Sunday at 12:00, 14:00 and 16:00 guests will enjoy artistic animation with sand, and at 13:00 and 15:00 – a bright light art show. At 17:00 a creative meeting with the production designer of the Moskino cinema park Sergey Fevralev will begin.

    The light art show will allow visitors to the cinema park to immerse themselves in a world of magic and light. Bright installations and visual effects will create an incredible atmosphere.

    Artistic animation with sand performed by professionals will show how amazing images and plots are born from this material. Artists-animators will turn fantasies into reality, creating real masterpieces.

    Film screenings in Moskino cinemas

    This weekend, movie lovers will see some interesting films. For the first time, the Moskino Kinopark movie theater will host a screening as part of the Theater in Cinema program. Viewers will be presented with Boris Eifman’s ballet The Pygmalion Effect. The author offers an interpretation of the archetypal story about a sculptor who falls in love with the statue of a beautiful girl he created. You can watch the ballet on the big screen on Saturday, October 26, for 500 rubles.

    In addition, cinema-goers will see the long-awaited new release, the adventure blockbuster “Ognivo”, the plot of which combines Russian folklore and the fairy tale of Hans Christian Andersen. The weekend repertoire also includes the film “Ruki Vverkh!” and the winner of the Cannes Film Festival “Anora”. The cost is from 250 rubles. You can find out the schedule of screenings and buy tickets on the website.

    Fairy tale park of the cinema park

    The fairy tale park will once again host the beloved musical animation program “Musical Photo Check”. To different songs, children will show the emotion that is in the music, and at that moment they will be photographed. As a result, there will be many beautiful photos with different emotions. In addition, children will be able to dance and take part in competitions.

    Festival “Art. Photo. Cinema”

    This weekend, the central square of the cinema park will host the festival “Art. Photo. Cinema” – a unique cultural event that unites creativity, craftsmanship and inspiration. You must purchase a ticket – you can visit during one day or two days.

    Guests will be able to take part in a graffiti master class, draw sketches, make a caricature, visit themed photo zones, an exhibition and a market for sculptors, artists and photographers. Everyone will be able to dance to the rhythmic melodies of drummers on barrels, take a quest dedicated to art, attend a class with art school teachers, learn to break dance and watch living statues.

    Graffiti classes will allow guests to immerse themselves in the world of street art, and experienced teachers will tell about the basics of dance and demonstrate their application on the dance floor.

    Sketching is the creation of quick and expressive sketches to convey emotions without long drawings. Caricaturists will create caricature portraits that accurately depict character and mood.

    The exhibition and market for sculptors, artists and photographers will feature unique works by talented authors. Thematic photo zones and living statues will allow you to create bright and stylish photos. Here, drummers will perform musical compositions on barrels.

    At the art school master class, guests will learn the secrets of professional techniques and will be able to improve their skills. The quest dedicated to art will become an exciting adventure with creative tasks and a search for hidden objects. At the break dance class, everyone will learn the basics of this energetic dance under the guidance of instructors.

    Exhibition in front of the Vadim Zadorozhny Museum of Technology

    The parking lot in front of the Vadim Zadorozhny Museum of Technology will feature a large-scale exhibition of military equipment, including airborne and infantry armored vehicles, as well as support vehicles, including the BMD-1, BTR-60, BTR-70, Ural-375, GAZ-66, and BTR-60. The photo exhibition “Behind the Tape” will feature photos from a special military operation, sometimes taken at risk to the lives of reporters.

    “City Yard”, “Pitersky Bar”, “Cowboy Town” and “Moscow in the 1940s”

    At the “City Yard” site, guests of the cinema park will be in a musical mood all day long. Street musicians will delight visitors with immortal hits. An unforgettable adventure awaits guests at the “Pitersky Bar”. Here, on the staged set of an episode based on the film “The Three Musketeers”, guests will immerse themselves in the atmosphere of the legendary novel and film, and take themed photos as a keepsake.

    A real cowboy party awaits guests at the Cowboy Town site. Visitors will be able to transform into a Western hero in a staged scene based on the famous film The Man from Boulevard des Capucines. Everyone will be able to immerse themselves in the atmosphere of the Wild West, take original photos in a cowboy style, and use all the necessary props, including a Wanted frame.

    For a complete transformation, costume complexes are provided, which will travel around the territory. To maintain a good mood, street musicians will perform for the guests of the cinema park.

    The Moscow of the 1940s site recreates the atmosphere of the post-war era, where the music of those years will take the guests of the cinema park into the past. With the help of special filters, visitors will be able to get a Soviet photograph, and a costume van will help everyone to transform into a hero of that time. Street musicians will delight guests with their creativity all day long.

    A weekend at the Moskino cinema park is a unique opportunity to immerse yourself in the world of cinema and try yourself in different creative directions with family or friends.

    The Moskino Cinema Park is part of Sergei Sobyanin’s Moscow — City of Cinema project and a facility of the Moscow Cinema Cluster. At the moment, the first stage of its development has been completed — 18 natural sites, four pavilions and six infrastructure facilities have been built in the cinema park. Among them are the sets of Moscow Center, Moscow of the 1940s, Vitebsk Station, Yurovo Airport, Moscow Cathedral Square, Deaf Village, Partisan Village, County Town, Cowboy Town, St. Petersburg Bar and other sites.

    The capital’s film cluster also includes the Maxim Gorky Film Studio (sites on Ryazansky Prospekt, Sergei Eisenstein Street and Valdaisky Proezd), the Moskino cinema chain, the film commission and the Moskino film platform.

    Please note: This information is raw content directly from the source of the information. It is exactly what the source states and does not reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.

    Please note; This information is raw content directly from the information source. It is accurate to what the source is stating and does not reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.

    https://vvv.mos.ru/nevs/item/145653073/

    MIL OSI Russia News

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Agencies Continue To Monitor For Oil Sightings

    Source: Asia Pacific Region 2 – Singapore

    JOINT NEWS RELEASE BETWEEN NEA, BCA, JTC, MPA, NPARKS, PUB, SDC, SFA AND SLA

    Singapore, 22 October 2024 – The clean-up of oil in the channel between Pulau Bukom and Bukom Kechil is progressing. The clearing of the remaining trapped oil within the containment booms in the channel and the cleaning of the stained rock bunds and infrastructure are targeted to be completed in the coming days.

    2       There are no other oil sightings at sea and ashore as at 3pm (Singapore time).

    3       National water agency PUB continues to monitor the seawater intakes at its desalination plants. Seawater quality readings remain normal.

    4       There are no reports of fish farms being affected by the oil leak.

    5      Agencies will continue to monitor for oil sightings.

    ~~ End ~~

    For more information, please submit your enquiries electronically via the Online Feedback Form or myENV mobile application.

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Design Act reforms expected to deliver greater protections

    Source: Allens Insights

    What to expect from IP Australia’s consultation 2 min read

    IP Australia has published the outcomes of its 2023 consultation, which sought stakeholder feedback on a series of significant proposed changes to the Designs Act 2003 (Cth). These included provisions for virtual, partial and incremental designs, which it plans to pursue. We explain the key feedback and what comes next.

    Overview

    IP Australia intends to proceed with the proposals to:

    • protect virtual designs, including user interfaces and product elements only visible when a product is in use;
    • protect partial designs for parts of whole products made in one piece; and
    • allow post-registration linking, to enable designers to have more certainty when protecting changes in their designs.

    We expect the proposed legislative changes to be before Federal Parliament in late 2025.

    Virtual designs

    For virtual designs, feedback focused on the introduction of a definition of virtual designs and products. As explained in our previous Insight, the initially proposed definition of a ‘virtual product’ required further refinement, and it is a welcome development that IP Australia has highlighted this feedback.   

    It was also suggested that video or animation files be allowed to supplement applications for virtual designs, and that applications could be made for a design applied to both a virtual and physical product at the same time. Consideration will also be given to enforcement against the seller of a virtual product, and not necessarily the customer or end user.

    Partial designs

    For partial designs, feedback focused on the introduction of mechanisms to protect those that would allow separate parts of a product to be registered as a single design, together with the requirement to identify a physical product to which the part relates. Fortunately, the ‘similar products’ test will not be pursued, as its justifications were unpersuasive, and likely to cause unnecessary confusion, uncertainty and expense.

    Post-registration linking (incremental designs)

    While support for incremental designs was varied, post-registration linking received favourable feedback. The primary focus was on introducing the ability to link an initial registered design to related subsequent designs, to ensure publication and use of the initial design does not affect the validity of the subsequent design.

    A proposal for ‘preliminary designs’ will not be pursued at this time.

    What’s next?

    IP Australia has reported the favourable feedback to the Government, which is now considering legislation aimed at including virtual designs, partial designs and post-registration linking. Further updates regarding draft legislation are expected in late 2025.

    These proposals, if accepted, will provide more options for clients seeking to protect their designs in Australia.

    MIL OSI News

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: “!NSPIRE Series 2024: Lingnan Images – A Cinematic Crossover of 4 Cities” to examine cultural landscape of Lingnan (with photos)

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

    “!NSPIRE Series 2024: Lingnan Images – A Cinematic Crossover of 4 Cities” to examine cultural landscape of Lingnan (with photos)
    “!NSPIRE Series 2024: Lingnan Images – A Cinematic Crossover of 4 Cities” to examine cultural landscape of Lingnan (with photos)
    ******************************************************************************************

         The Film Programmes Office (FPO) of the Leisure and Cultural Services Department (LCSD) will present “!NSPIRE Series 2024: Lingnan Images – A Cinematic Crossover of 4 Cities” from November 23 to January 19 next year, screening films that cover the period from the reform and opening-up to date from Hong Kong, Macao, Shenzhen and Guangzhou at Hong Kong City Hall and the Hong Kong Film Archive. Exchange and workshop sessions will also be held to promote the collaboration of filmmakers of the four cities.      The opening film “Ah Ying” (1983) was directed by Hong Kong new wave director Allen Fong. The film was the winner of Hong Kong Film Awards for Best Film, Best Director and Best Film Editing. It delicately depicts the story between Ah Ying, who works at a market fish stall, and her acting mentor, who has also become her friend.      Various selected films illustrate the cultural impact and exchanges in different times. Renowned actor Chow Yun-fat plays a village chief in “Now You See Love… Now You Don’t” (1992). The clash between the lifestyles and ways of thinking of him and his childhood sweetheart returning from abroad, played by Carol “Do Do” Cheng, leads to scene after scene of hilarious comedy. “Little Cheung” (1999) depicts the livelihood of ordinary people from the perspective of children, who are able to find peace and hope in the midst of chaos with their innocence. “Ip Man – The Final Fight” (2013) and “Knitting” (2008) both reflect on how immigrants adapt to their new lives. The former tells the story of Ip Man, who upholds the virtues of Lingnan martial arts while facing the setbacks that come with his relocation to Hong Kong. The latter depicts the evolution of Guangzhou culture amid an influx of workers from outside, resulting in a mixture of northern and southern influences.      There are also films portraying the confusion that urbanites face. Directed by Philip Yung, “Glamorous Youth” (2009) tells the story of a Hong Kong boy moving to Shenzhen to escape from family pressure and love problems, yet still finding himself trapped in the mundane routines of life. “Sun and Rain” (1987), directed by Zhang Zeming, illustrates the alienation and love between people in a city through a love quadrangle. “Damp Season” (2020) depicts the stress lingering in the lives of the working class in Shenzhen, like the dampness and humidity often found in spring. Both set in Guangzhou, “Eight Diagrams” (2009) is a dark comedy about the desire and sadness of urbanites, while “Something in Blue” (2016) is a travelogue of a city that brings together the unremarkable daily lives of four young people.      Some of the selected films bring the cityscapes to the forefront. “Dot 2 Dot” (2014) traces the present and past of Hong Kong as a man and a woman with contrasting backgrounds navigate through the streets of the city. In “San Yuan Li” (2003) and “Cop Shop II” (2011), the Guangzhou cityscape and its changes through time are respectively illustrated with images and sounds.???     Two distinctive works from Macao will also be screened. Both of them are combinations of six stories. “Macau Stories 2: Love in the City” (2011) consists of six stories about love by six directors, while “Passing Rain” (2017), by director and screenwriter Chan Ka-keong, tells the stories of six characters with intertwined plotlines.      Moreover, two collections consisting of seven short films in total on the history, societies and cultures of the Lingnan region will be screened. The films are “Miasma, Plants, Export Paintings” (2017), “Fonting the City” (2015), “Sons of the Land” (2007), “14 Paintings” (2023), “Real Talk” (2024), “An Asian Ghost Story” (2023) and “Fear and Trembling” (2009).     Some of the screenings will be accompanied by post-screening talks, hosted by actor Hui So-ying, screenwriters Sze Yeung-ping and Mabel Cheung, producer Albert Chu, and directors Wong Teng-teng and Chan Ka-keong. To enable audiences to have a better understanding of the creation of films, there will be seminar screening sessions and exchange sessions. Three sessions of seminar screenings, entitled “The Spirit of Films about Intellectuals”, “Lingnan’s Secret Thoughts in Mind” and “The Current Situation of Macao Cinema”, will be held in which directors Gan Xiao’er, Yang Pingdao, and Wong Teng-teng and producer Albert Chu will share on their creative processes with screenings of selected film excerpts. Eight exchange sessions will also be held with filmmakers from the four cities in dialogues with each other or with film critics and audiences. Speakers include directors Yi Lichuan, Fruit Chan, Philip Yung, Herman Yau, Amos Why, and Zhang Zeming, film critic Joyce Yang and co-curators Law Kar and Feng Yu. Ticket holders of screenings with respective talks or exchange sessions will be admitted with priority, while the remaining seats will be available on a first-come, first-served basis with free admission.      All films are with Chinese and English subtitles. “Glamorous Youth” is rated Category III and restricted to viewers aged 18 or above.     Tickets for film screenings and seminar screening sessions priced at $70 are now available at URBTIX (www.urbtix.hk). For telephone bookings, please call 3166 1288. For programme details, please call 2734 2900 or visit http://www.lcsd.gov.hk/fp/en/listing.html?id=65.      To provide an opportunity for new talent of the film industry from the Mainland, Hong Kong and Macao to gain a better understanding about the industry through discussions and exchanges with guidance from professional filmmakers, the FPO will hold the Brainstorming Workshop covering topics of film production, such as screenwriting, directing, cinematography, post-production, fund sourcing, producing and distribution. The workshop will be conducted in Cantonese and is free for admission, with a quota of 30 places. Film students and those who have been involved in film productions can register for selection from November 25 to December 20. Successful registrants will be invited to participate in the two-day workshop to be held on January 9 and 10 at Ko Shan Theatre. For details of the workshop, please visit the above website.      This screening programme is one of the programmes of the 4th Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area Culture and Arts Festival. Hong Kong is the host city of the Festival for the first time, organising and co-ordinating over 260 performances and exchange activities to be held in the “9+2” cities in the Greater Bay Area. The festival aims to showcase the vibrant and diverse cultural richness of the region and foster cultural exchanges and co-operation among the cities. For more information, please visit http://www.gbacxlo.gov.hk./en.      It is also one of the activities in the Chinese Culture Promotion Series. The LCSD has long been promoting Chinese history and culture through organising an array of programmes and activities to enable the public to learn more about the broad and profound Chinese culture. For more information, please visit http://www.lcsd.gov.hk/en/ccpo/index.html.

     
    Ends/Wednesday, October 23, 2024Issued at HKT 15:00

    NNNN

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Universities – The 2024 Māori business leaders shaping Aotearoa’s future – UoA

    Source: University of Auckland (UoA)

    Aotearoa’s best and brightest Māori business leaders were honoured at the 2024 Ngā Tohu Kaiārahi Pakihi Māori o Aotearoa | Aotearoa Māori Business Leaders Awards.

    Whakatō te kākano, marotiritiri ai te māra, ka māea ngā hua | Plant the seed, cultivate the garden, reap the benefits.

    A macadamia pioneer, sustainable fisheries champions and a plastic waste-to-product business, were among those honoured at the 2024 Aotearoa Māori Business Leaders Awards.

    The event, held on 23 October and hosted by the University of Auckland Business School, celebrated the remarkable contributions of the Māori entrepreneurs, leaders and organisations shaping Aotearoa’s business landscape.

    Six awards were presented, acknowledging the unique and powerful contributions of Māori leaders, each with their own inspiring story and unique approach to business.

    Vanessa Hayes, founder of kaupapa Māori business Torere Macadamias, won the Entrepreneurial Māori Business Leader award.

    Vanessa and her team are growing the New Zealand macadamia industry, which has historically relied on imported macadamias.

    Torere Macadamias is working with Plant and Food Research, expanding its nursery and encouraging other growers and grower collectives by providing training, workshops and supplying plants from their nursery.

    The company’s orchard produces around 20 tonnes of macadamias annually. And recently, Vanessa and the Torere team celebrated a milestone, winning a contract to supply Air New Zealand on their long haul and business class flights.

    Moana New Zealand was honoured with the Kaitiaki Business Leader award for their dedication to sustainable fisheries management. The seafood company is a 100 percent iwi-owned organisation with a deep sense of responsibility and respect for New Zealand’s fisheries.

    Māori Women’s Development Inc., a charitable trust formed, managed and operated by Māori women, earned the Mānuka Henare award for its continued support of Māori women in business, offering loans and wrap-around support.

    Traci Houpapa, chair of the Federation of Māori Authorities, won the Māori Governance Leader award for her extensive leadership in business and governance, shaping the Māori business landscape. She holds a number of directorships and Ministerial appointments, including Chiefs Rugby and New Zealand Trade and Enterprise.

    The Outstanding Māori Business Leader award went to Harry Burkhardt, co-founder and managing director of Replas Ltd, an innovative company transforming waste plastic into valuable products.

    Meanwhile, the Dame Mira Szászy Alumni Award went to Karleen Everitt, a University of Auckland Business School graduate who has had a stellar career and is currently leading Te Ao Māori Strategy at ANZ Bank.

    MIL OSI New Zealand News

  • MIL-OSI Submissions: WHO – Ten additional countries in the Western Pacific Regionpledge to invest in WHO

    Source: World Health Organization (WHO)

    MANILA, 23 October 2024 – In a historic show of support, 10 more countries in the Western Pacific Region pledged to provide an additional US$ 12.1 million to the World Health Organization (WHO) through its first-ever Investment Round. This comes in addition to US$ 18 million announced by Singapore in May. The WHO Investment Round aims to secure predictable, flexible, and resilient resources for WHO’s core work over the next four years.

    The seventy-fifth session of the WHO Regional Committee for the Western Pacific began on Monday with Member States formally endorsing the new regional vision Weaving Health for Families, Communities and Societies in the Western Pacific Region (2025-2029): Working together to improve health, well-being and save lives.

    The financial commitments were made during a Special Event on the Investment Round at the Regional Committee today. Governments and partners from across Asia and the Pacific in attendance emphasized the importance of ensuring WHO has robust financing to implement its global strategy for the 2025-2028 period, the 14th General Programme of Work, which was approved by Member States at the World Health Assembly in May 2024.

    The Government of the Philippines co-hosted the Special Event and made a historic pledge of US$ 10 million to the WHO Investment Round. During his remarks, Secretary of Health Dr Teodoro J. Herbosa of the Philippines said “A robust, reliable, and sustainably funded WHO is crucial for the Western Pacific Region and the world to address inequities and inequalities in health which were amplified by the COVID-19 pandemic. Today, we have taken a significant first step towards a future where health and well-being are accessible to everyone.”

    Malaysia also demonstrated its support of WHO’s work through a US$ 2 million pledge towards the Investment Round.

    In a powerful symbol of Pacific leaders’ commitment to health and WHO’s pivotal role in supporting them, eight Pacific Island countries pledged to double their funding contributions to WHO for 2025.  First-ever voluntary contributions to WHO were announced today by Papua New Guinea, and Cook Islands, Palau, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu and Vanuatu.

    Speaking to the Regional Committee through a live video connection on Tuesday morning, WHO Director-General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus noted that to support the implementation of the Organization’s new global strategy, “we have launched the first WHO Investment Round, which aims to mobilize the sustainable and predictable resources we need to do our work. Thank you all for your commitment to promoting, providing and protecting health, for all people of the Western Pacific.”

    During the Investment Round Special Event, WHO Regional Director for the Western Pacific, Dr Saia Ma’u Piukala, thanked Member States and partners for their pledges, which will enable the Organization to support countries more effectively.

    “The commitments made today are truly historic,” Dr Piukala said. “They include a doubling of financial contributions from several of our small island developing states, and significant sums from the Philippines and Malaysia.

    “It’s a sign of governments’ confidence in WHO as their partner in health, and a recognition of the need for sustainable financing in order to deliver on the vision of weaving health for families, communities and societies in the Western Pacific,” he said.

    Prior to the meeting, WHO launched the document All for Health, Health for All: WHO Investment Case 2025-28 Western Pacific to capture the impact of a fully-funded Western Pacific Region over the next four years.

    Partners joined Members States in statements of support for WHO. Organizations including the Asian Development Bank, the Institute of Philanthropy and Temasek Trust committed to working closely with WHO during the next four years. Earlier this month, the Institute of Philanthropy made a US$10 million pledge to the Investment Round during the World Health Summit in Berlin, following a $1.2 million pledge in May at the World Health Assembly. The Temasek Foundation also pledged $10 million on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly in September.

    “We are off to a great start for the Investment Round in the Western Pacific based on today’s event,” said Dr Piukala. “Today we also heard that we should expect to see more countries and partners stepping up to provide additional resources in the coming weeks.”

    With a fully and sustainably funded operating budget for 2025–2028, WHO will be better able to tackle emergencies and outbreaks that jeopardize health security and threaten lives, reduce the burden of both infectious diseases and noncommunicable diseases (NCDs), and continue working to improve the health and well-being of everyone, especially the most vulnerable.

    Launched at the World Health Assembly in May 2024, the Investment Round aims to mobilize contributions that are flexible and thereby aligned with WHO’s strategy as approved by its Member States, predictably provided at the start of the four-year programme cycle to enable strategic decision-making, and resilient in that they will derive from a larger, more diverse set of donors.

    WHO’s Investment Round will culminate at the G20 leaders’ summit chaired by Brazilian President Lula da Silva next month.

    Notes:

    The seventy-fifth session of the Western Pacific Regional Committee began on 21 October and runs through 25 October at WHO’s Regional Office for the Western Pacific in Manila, Philippines. The agenda (https://cdn.who.int/media/docs/default-source/wpro—documents/regional-committee/session-75/wpr-rc75-01-provisional-agenda.pdf ) and timetable (https://cdn.who.int/media/docs/default-source/wpro—documents/regional-committee/session-75/tentative-timetable_rc75.pdf ) are available online. A livestream of proceedings, all other official documents, as well as fact sheets and videos on the issues to be addressed can be accessed here. https://www.who.int/westernpacific/about/governance/regional-committee/session-75

    Working with 194 Member States across six regions, WHO is the United Nations specialized agency responsible for public health. Each WHO region has a regional committee – a governing body composed of ministers of health and senior officials from Member States. Each regional committee meets annually to agree on health actions and to chart priorities for WHO’s work.

    The WHO Western Pacific Region is home to more than 1.9 billion people across 37 countries and areas: American Samoa (United States of America), Australia, Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, China, Cook Islands, Fiji, French Polynesia (France), Guam (United States of America), Hong Kong SAR (China), Japan, Kiribati, the Lao People’s Democratic Republic, Macao SAR (China), Malaysia, the Marshall Islands, the Federated States of Micronesia, Mongolia, Nauru, New Caledonia (France), New Zealand, Niue, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (United States of America), Palau, Papua New Guinea, the Philippines, Pitcairn Islands (United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland), the Republic of Korea, Samoa, Singapore, Solomon Islands, Tokelau, Tonga, Tuvalu, Vanuatu and Viet Nam, Wallis and Futuna (France).

    MIL OSI – Submitted News

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: South China Sea conference 2024: speech by UK Minister for the Indo-Pacific

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    Minister Catherine West gave a keynote speech to the South China Sea conference in Ha Long, Vietnam.

    Good morning everybody, and it’s lovely to be here on such a perfect morning with those beautiful mountains and sea in front of us.

    As we’ve heard from Dr Dung and Vice Minister Viet, thank you to our local government partners who’ve put on such a beautiful event for us. And thank you to our Indonesian collaborator who spoke first, it was so good to hear from him.

    In the UK we have a relatively new government, elected in July this year…

    … and many people have asked me as the new Minister for the Indo-Pacific, “how do we know that the UK is committed to the Indo-Pacific?”.

    After three weeks my boss, David Lammy, who is the Foreign Secretary, visited Vientiane as part of the ASEAN discussions and this is my third country in the region to visit since July.

    So we know that working together with European partners and with others in the region, we can be allies with all of the partners in ASEAN and we can join together to have a very good discussion about peace and security.

    On Monday, I will go to Manila for the Women, Peace and Security conference, which will I think create a really deep understanding for myself as a new Minister as to the challenges in the region. And also the importance of promoting women’s leadership around this area of partnerships, rooted in respect and mutual trust. 

    Positioning the UK as a long-term reliable partner of the Indo-Pacific, underpinned by a shared respect for ASEAN leadership and centrality. And after that conference I will return to the UK, bringing back news of the conference and your thoughts.

    Because we know that after nearly 25 years of the landmark UN Security Council Resolution 1325,… 

    …in which the UK played a leading role,… 

    …I will underline that our commitment to advancing participation in conflict prevention, reduction and resolution is unwavering, both in ASEAN but also globally.  

    And it is in the same spirit that I join you here today, to set out the UK’s support for collective efforts to maintain regional security and uphold international law.

    Global Maritime Security  

    Let me begin by stating unambiguously that the UK wants a free and open Indo-Pacific.  

    Because put simply, our collective global prosperity hinges on keeping the vital sea-lanes in the South China Sea open. Or the East Sea, as I believe in Vietnam you call it.

    Our shared security interests also demand that we stand-up for principles of sovereignty and territorial integrity… 

    …through the international legal framework that protects these principles,… 

    …for example, the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea – or UNCLOS as we call it.    

    But it’s not just the Indo-Pacific.   

    Undermining international law in any situation, in any context… 

    … has the potential to corrode the wider system of global governance that protects security and prosperity. 

    Take for example the sustainable development goals.  

    We can hardly hope to achieve those goals without peace and security spurring on economic growth.  

    And all of that relies heavily on having stable seas where the rule of law is upheld.  

    And this year we’ve seen a serious and sustained series of incidents,… 

    …representing one of the sharpest spikes in tensions over recent years.  

    The use of water cannons, blocking, and ramming manoeuvres have interfered… 

    …with Philippine rights and freedom of navigation.  

    These actions, and the responses they may incite, raise the risk of serious miscalculation… 

    …as well as posing a direct threat to international law. 

    And last month Chinese law enforcement attacked Vietnamese fishermen, leaving them seriously injured.  

    The grave risk of instability and escalation that these incidents pose is a significant concern for the international community. 

    Not just because of the impact it could have on global prosperity and security, but also on livelihoods and local biodiversity.   

    That is why the UK has and will continue to protest any action which threatens peace and stability… 

    …or seeks to undermine the primacy of UNCLOS.  

    Keeping the South China Sea safe is our priority. 

    And the only way we can achieve that is by working together with partners including those represented here today.  

    Climate and nature security 

    Now another crucial element to our security and prosperity is climate and nature.

    After this session I will be going to visit some of the areas affected by Typhoon Yagi, to understand more deeply how the Red Cross is working to mitigate those terrible floods and hear from local people as to how they’re managing about those floods.

    We were among the first countries to sign the Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction Agreement… 

    …and we remain focussed on its ratification.   

    Home to over a third of world’s coral reefs – this region is critical… 

    …to halting and reversing the loss of the natural ecosystem. 

    Rising sea levels risk leading to worsening maritime disputes. 

    And we cannot tackle the various risks unless we understand them well.  

    So the UK is using its expertise to help.  

    For example, the UK Met Office is studying how changes in sea surface temperature affect migratory fish and coastal ecosystems,… 

    …playing a role not just on food security but also on addressing the poor environmental impact of rising temperatures.

    Back home, we have also set a landmark goal – to be the first major economy to deliver clean energy power by 2030.  

    But acting alone is not a solution.  

    That is why we want to work with you and partners across the world to accelerate the clean energy transition. 

    So we are boosting progress by building on existing programmes. 

    Such as the Just Energy Transition Partnerships – JETP – in Indonesia and Vietnam,… 

    …supporting innovative clean energy… 

    …and the expansion of grids and storage. 

    Growth and Technology 

    Technology also plays a key role… 

    …and is something the UK is keen to harness to help solve global challenges.  

    Modern maritime ecosystems is becoming increasingly interconnected and digital in its nature.  

    And more and more sophisticated technology supports improved port operations across the globe,… 

    …the development of Autonomous Surface Ships will reduce the number of seafarers needed to operate a vessel. 

    We know how essential undersea telecoms cables are.  

    And they will only grow in importance with the use of AI becoming more widespread.  

    That is why the UK is working transparently with partners to develop inclusive global norms and standards… 

    …for the responsible and ethical use of technology and AI, including in maritime contexts. 

    Working together 

    Finally, we know that we live in a rapidly changing world where the more closely we work, the stronger we are.   

    Next year, the UK will hold its third Regional Maritime Security Symposium in Southeast Asia to discuss collaboration on a range of maritime issues. 

    It’s so encouraging to be here today and to work with Asia-Pacific partners, and as I speak, HMS Spey and HMS Tamar, our two Offshore Patrol Vessels, continue their operations in the Indo-Pacific,… 

    …exercising with partners,… 

    …responding to humanitarian disasters,… 

    …and tackling maritime challenges.

    Thank you so much for the opportunity to speak today, and I look forward to questions afterwards.

    Thank you.

    Updates to this page

    Published 23 October 2024

    MIL OSI United Kingdom