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  • MIL-OSI: Gevo Secures Conditional Commitment from U.S. Department of Energy Loan Programs Office for its Net-Zero 1 Sustainable Aviation Fuel Plant in South Dakota

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    ENGLEWOOD, Colo., Oct. 16, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Gevo, Inc. (NASDAQ: GEVO), a leading developer of net-zero hydrocarbon fuels and chemicals, is pleased to announce it received a conditional commitment for a loan guarantee with disbursements totaling $1.46 billion (excluding capitalized interest during construction) from the U.S. Department of Energy (“DOE”) Loan Programs Office (“LPO”) for its Net-Zero 1 project (“NZ1”) in South Dakota. With capitalized interest during construction, the DOE loan facility has a borrowing capacity of $1.63 billion.

    The NZ1 facility is being built in Lake Preston, South Dakota. It will use 100-percent U.S.-sourced feedstocks and is designed to produce approximately 60 million gallons of sustainable aviation fuel (“SAF”), approximately 1.3 billion pounds of protein and animal feed products, and approximately 30 million pounds of corn oil per year. The design capability of the NZ1 facility, when combined with the Gevo business system, is expected to yield SAF with a net-zero carbon footprint on a lifecycle basis, including through the burning of the fuel. Gevo net-zero SAF projects are expected to catalyze the accelerated adoption of climate smart agricultural practices, support rural jobs and economic development, and reinforce domestic energy security.

    NZ1 is the first-ever large-scale alcohol-to-jet (“ATJ”) project to receive a DOE LPO conditional commitment and is expected to provide critical new opportunities for South Dakota workers, farmers, and residents. We believe Gevo’s proprietary ATJ plant design represents the lowest cost-per-ton of carbon abatement among all of the current SAF production technologies.

    “This marks a watershed moment for the Net-Zero 1 project and a critical step forward in Gevo’s mission to transform the aviation industry by providing a scalable, sustainable, and economical renewable-carbon-based jet fuel—SAF,” said Gevo CEO Dr. Patrick Gruber. “This valuable commitment to help finance NZ1, if finalized, should also attract other capital investments to unlock SAF commercialization given the robust due diligence conducted by the agency. The due diligence work by the DOE has been incredibly detailed and thorough, and the benefit is a substantially reduced execution risk profile for the project. We are grateful for the support from the Department of Energy’s Loan Programs Office.”

    “NZ1 is the largest economic development project in South Dakota history,” said Gevo’s Senior Vice President of Public Affairs, Lindsay Fitzgerald. “We expect that NZ1 will kickstart new growth in the economy, create jobs, and present additional opportunities for the agricultural community in the region around Lake Preston, across South Dakota, and even reaching other states.”

    According to a recent report from Charles River Associates (“CRA”), Net-Zero 1 is projected to generate significant economic and climate benefits. Specifically, the plant is expected to create more than 1,300 indirect jobs during its construction phase and 100 permanent jobs at the plant itself. This is in addition to hundreds of local indirect jobs created across the agricultural, manufacturing, and transportation industries, generating an annual economic impact of over $100 million.

    The project design and engineering; and the operating and financing model, should serve as a template for future Gevo net-zero projects—potentially accelerating the timeline of SAF commercialization. Gevo also expects to track and verify the sustainability and carbon intensity of its products through its wholly owned subsidiary, Verity Holdings, LLC.

    We believe this conditional commitment milestone reduces execution risk for securing the remaining large-scale equity investors who would accompany the proposed DOE-guaranteed debt and Gevo equity. Currently, the project is projected to generate high teens returns to equity investors.

    While this conditional commitment indicates DOE’s intent to finance the project, DOE and the company must satisfy certain technical, legal, environmental, commercial, and financial conditions before the Department can enter into definitive financing documents and fund the loan guarantee.

    For more information, review the DOE’s announcement blog LPO Announces Conditional Commitment to Gevo Net-Zero for Corn Starch-to-Sustainable Aviation Fuel Facility in South Dakota | Department of Energy

    ADVISORS 

    Citi is acting as financial advisor to Gevo. Latham & Watkins LLP is acting as legal counsel to Gevo.

    INVESTOR CALL 

    A conference call will be held on Thursday, October 17, 2024 at 9:00am ET to discuss the announcement.

    To participate in the live call, please register through the following event weblink:  https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_nWu63-22QpWuF9SeBcNEfQ

    A webcast replay will be available after the conference call ends on October 17, 2024. The archived webcast and accompanying presentation materials will be available in the Investor Relations section of Gevo’s website at http://www.gevo.com.

    ABOUT GEVO

    Gevo’s mission is to convert renewable energy and biogenic carbon into sustainable fuels and chemicals with a net-zero or better carbon footprint. Gevo’s innovative technology can be used to make a variety of products, including SAF, motor fuels, chemicals, and other materials. Gevo’s business model includes developing, financing, and operating production facilities for these renewable fuels and other products. It currently runs one of the largest dairy-based renewable natural gas (“RNG”) facilities in the United States. It also owns the world’s first production facility for specialty ATJ fuels and chemicals. Gevo emphasizes the importance of sustainability by tracking and verifying the carbon footprint of its business systems through its Verity subsidiary.

    Learn more at Gevo’s website: http://www.gevo.com

    FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

    Certain statements in this press release may constitute “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements relate to a variety of matters, including, without limitation, NZ1’s timing and capabilities, NZ1’s design and the Gevo business system, the ability of NZ1 to produce net-zero fuels, the economic impacts of NZ1, and other statements that are not purely statements of historical fact. These forward-looking statements are made based on the current beliefs, expectations and assumptions of the management of Gevo and are subject to significant risks and uncertainty. Investors are cautioned not to place undue reliance on any such forward-looking statements. All such forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they are made, and Gevo undertakes no obligation to update or revise these statements, whether because of new information, future events or otherwise. Although Gevo believes that the expectations reflected in these forward-looking statements are reasonable, these statements involve many risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results to differ materially from what may be expressed or implied in these forward-looking statements. For a further discussion of risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ from those expressed in these forward-looking statements, as well as risks relating to the business of Gevo in general, see the risk disclosures in the Annual Report on Form 10-K of Gevo for the year ended December 31, 2023, and in subsequent reports on Forms 10-Q and 8-K and other filings made with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission by Gevo.

    PUBLIC AFFAIRS CONTACT

    Heather Manuel 
    VP of Stakeholder Engagement & Partnerships 
    PR@gevo.com

    INVESTOR CONTACT

    Eric Frey, PhD 
    VP of Finance & Strategy  
    IR@gevo.com

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Pest plant species the focus for new phase of Mautohe Cathedral Cove work

    Source: Department of Conservation

    Date:  17 October 2024

     “We want this special place to be in great shape for visitors when it reopens,” says DOC’s Hauraki-Waikato-Taranaki Regional Director Tinaka Mearns.

    “Alongside cyclone damage, the area is also under threat from introduced pest plants That stand to undermine the area’s unique beauty and native biodiversity.”

    Globally recognised for its idyllic small beach and famous rock arch, Mautohe Cathedral Cove has been a marine-only experience since February 2023, when extreme weather events triggered landslides which significantly damaged the track and resulted in its closure.

    The involvement of the Predator Free Hauraki Coromandel Community Trust (PFHCCT) in the Mautohe Cathedral Cove work programme is a great boost for the project, says Ms Mearns.

    “They’ve done some excellent work removing pest plant and tidying up vegetation across the reserve during the last few weeks,” she says. “It’s been hard physical work and we’ve been impressed by the results.

    “Involving an organisation like this trust to contribute to walking access reinstatement supports the local community and helps us build a partnership with a recognised conservation contributor in the area.”

    Jude Hooson, CEO of PFHCCT says the Trust’s members recognise the importance of Mautohe Cathedral Cove – and the significance of opening it up to the public – and are thrilled to be working alongside DOC and Ngāti Hei.

    “We’re really delighted to be part of the collaborative effort. In many ways this is an extension of the recovery support our Field Support Team has already provided to groups across the peninsula,” she says.

    “In addition to helping to open up the main walkway, this is also an opportunity to remove problematic pest plants as a first step towards enhancing the native biodiversity of this very special place.”

    Meanwhile, visitors to the site continue to be an issue for staff and contractors working to reinstate the track.

    Members of the public accessing the track while it is closed are compromising the delivery of the work required to fully reopen it and are entering an active and hazardous worksite.

    DOC staff and contractors turn away dozens of visitors every day.

    Background information

    The walking track to Mautohe Cathedral Cove was closed in February 2023 after it sustained significant damage during Cyclone Gabrielle. In July, funding of a work programme to reinstate walking access to the cove’s famous beach was announced by Conservation Minister Tama Potaka.

    Contact

    For media enquiries contact:

    Email: media@doc.govt.nz

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: ACT urges a response to Tikanga Māori in legal education

    Source: ACT Party

    As the Council of Legal Education seeks to implement compulsory Tikanga Māori courses for all law students, ACT Tertiary Education spokesperson Dr Parmjeet Parmar is calling for a response.

    “This week Gary Judd KC appeared before Parliament’s Regulations Review Committee to share concerns on the planned tikanga courses. He warned MPs that if Parliament does not act against the proposals, we will essentially be giving the green light to political activism from the unelected judiciary.

    “While ACT does not have an MP on the Committee, we agree with the concerns raised by Gary Judd KC and I am writing to the Committee urging that it takes the steps available to it to see that the planned regulation disallowed.

    “Attempts to make tikanga courses compulsory for all law students, along with a wider push to infuse every part of our legal system with tikanga, enables judicial activism. It is not the role of the judiciary to make law. That is the role of Parliament.

    “Lawyers ought to understand the law and its principles. Instead, they are now being asked to understand the principles of a culture, and to incorporate them into law. Such cultural principles are inherently contested and subject to evolution and mixing. We do not ask that law students study the culture held by any other particular ethnic group in New Zealand, and rightly so.

    “ACT is also concerned at these regulations’ implications for the rights and academic freedoms of law students seeking to forge their own understanding of the law and to test ideas at law school, which should be an environment of open debate.

    “Ultimately, elevating the importance of customary beliefs relative to laws passed by our elected Parliament erodes our democracy.”

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Inflation milestone marks the beginning of real hope

    Source: ACT Party

    Responding to today’s confirmation that inflation has reduced to 2.2%, well within the official target range, ACT Leader David Seymour says:

    “Annual inflation at last year’s election was 5.6% – and now it’s cut in half, and then some.

    “This news is the beginning of real hope for Kiwis who’ve persevered through a cost-of-living crisis. We’ve turned the corner on interest rates, and now we’re returning to normalcy on inflation.

    “While today’s inflation milestone is tremendous, price growth is still near the top of the target range and New Zealanders are still holding out for real relief. To turn hope into real prosperity the Government must keep saving, creating room for further interest rate cuts.

    “We need to be ever vigilant of the inflation monster that Labour so recklessly let off the leash, so ACT will continue to push for the cancellation of spending programmes that do not generate real value for New Zealand.

    “Of course, in the long run, reining in wasteful government spending means we do right by the Kiwis who pay the bills, letting them keep more of what they earn while paying down debt for future generations.”

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Public health service’s food truck tantrum is ridiculous

    Source: ACT Party

    The following is a statement from Southland-based MP and ACT Health spokesperson Todd Stephenson:

    I love food trucks. They bring life, commerce, and tasty treats to our towns.

    But in Invercargill, joyless food fascists are trying to crack down.

    The city council asked for feedback from locals on food truck locations. Instead, they got a scolding from the National Public Health Service.

    These taxpayer-funded busybodies complained that Invercargill’s food trucks serve meals that ‘tend to be processed, high in fat, and in some cases sugar’.

    Heaven forbid someone burning calories on a worksite might want to buy a bacon buttie or a donut.

    The bureaucrats told the council it should use licencing fees to push food trucks into offering healthy food options. That’s just ridiculous. The council needs to maintain pipes and roads, not hire compliance officers sticking their beaks into food truck menus.

    The health service goes on to whinge that food trucks ‘operate in locations where there are few or no other food options’.

    In other words, if it weren’t for food trucks, some parts of town would have no food options at all. So why would we impose new rules that make it harder to open a food truck?

    The NPHS needs to butt out. No-one is forced to buy nachos or a curry.

    The good news is Invercargill City Council told the NPHS where to stick it, saying that so long as the food is safe, health concerns won’t be considered.

    Meanwhile, with the Government looking to find savings, a new target may have presented itself.

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Congressman DeSaulnier Announces Walk and Talk Town Hall at EBMUD’s Lafayette Reservoir

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Mark DeSaulnier Representing the 11th District of California

    Walnut Creek, CA – Today, Congressman Mark DeSaulnier (CA-10) announced he will host a Walk and Talk Town Hall at the Lafayette Reservoir on Saturday, October 19th at 10:00 a.m. The Congressman will provide a legislative update and answer questions from constituents. Check-in will begin at 9:30 a.m. and attendees are encouraged to bring their dogs. 

    Walk and Talk Town Hall at the Lafayette Reservoir
    Saturday, October 19th
    10:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m. PT
    Lafayette Reservoir
    3849 Mt. Diablo Blvd., Lafayette, CA

    This event is open to the public and press. To reserve your spot or request special accommodations, visit https://desaulnier.house.gov/town-hall-rsvp or call (925) 933-2660.

    This will be Congressman DeSaulnier’s 217th town hall and mobile district office hour since coming to Congress in January 2015.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Tax Relief for the Heartland: Wagner Joins Ways & Means Tax Team Event in St. Louis

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Ann Wagner (R-MO-02)

    Washington, D.C. – Representative Ann Wagner (R-MO) joined Ways and Means Committee Chairman Jason Smith (MO-08) and Ways and Means Representative Darin LaHood (IL-16) in hosting a roundtable discussion at Centene in St. Louis, Missouri, to hear from local business leaders and workers urging Congress to take action to prevent the looming $7 trillion tax hike proposed by the Biden-Harris Administration.

    “I joined my Missouri colleague Congressman Jason Smith, Chair of the Ways and Means Committee, for a roundtable in St. Louis with local business leaders. We had an extremely productive conversation about the upcoming expiration of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act and how much our local businesses, employees, and economy here in St. Louis will be harmed if taxes are hiked,” said Rep. Wagner. “If the Trump tax cuts expire, the average taxpayer in Missouri’s 2nd District would have their taxes raised by 20%, a nearly unmanageable cost, especially in the wake of Joe Biden and Kamala’s Harris’ rampant inflation.”

    “It is abundantly clear that the tax hikes proposed by the Biden-Harris Administration would be devastating for the workers and job creators of the heartland and communities across this country,” said Chairman Smith. “The Ways and Means Committee has held 120 Tax Team events in 20 states across the country, and the message is clear. Workers’ wages are still lagging behind inflation and small businesses are struggling to grow. If we want to repair the economic damage of the last four years, Congress must build on the success of the Trump Tax Cuts and deliver pro-growth policies that allow families to thrive, businesses to expand, and workers to earn a living.”

    “It was a pleasure to join Ways and Means Chairman Jason Smith in St. Louis to hear from Midwest businesses about the success of the Trump Tax Cuts, bringing business back to United States, incentivizing growth, and strengthening our workforce. The Trump Tax Cuts created the best economy of my lifetime for small businesses and workers of all backgrounds, and we can’t allow that progress to be undone,” said Rep. LaHood. “Under Chairman Smith’s leadership, Ways and Means Republicans have hit the ground running through our Tax Teams to ensure that we strengthen the Trump Tax Cuts, and that House Republicans are prepared for the ‘Super Bowl of Tax’ on day one of 119th Congress. As the Chair of the American Workforce Tax Team, I’ll continue to work with Chairman Smith and our Ways and Means colleagues to advance pro-growth tax policies that allow our communities in Illinois and across the country to thrive.”

    Over the past several months, Ways and Means Committee Republicans have been traveling to communities throughout the country to listen to workers and small business owners on how best to extend key provisions of the 2017 Trump Tax Cuts before their expiration next year. The St. Louis roundtable marks the second tax team event Chairman Smith has personally hosted in Missouri to bring attention to the economic challenges facing the Show Me State.

    During the event, attendees stressed the need for Congress to extend the Section 199A small business deduction, a provision in the 2017 Trump Tax Cuts that allows small businesses to compete fairly with larger corporations and helps them expand, hire new employees, grow wages, and reinvest in their communities. Participants noted that the Biden-Harris plan to see this provision expire would increase the tax rate paid by small businesses to over 43 percent – nearly 20 percentage points higher than what businesses pay in Communist China.

    Roundtable attendees included:

    • Centene
    • Evernorth Health Services
    • Wideman Pools
    • Speed Fabrication LLC
    • Reinsurance Group of America (RGA)
    • Ameren
    • Hunter Engineering
    • Bunge
    • Sitelines
    • Emerson

    To learn more about the work of the Ways and Means Committee Tax Teams, click here.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Governor Katie Hobbs Announces Jerry McPherson as New Executive Director of the Commission of African American Affairs

    Source: US State of Arizona

    Phoenix, AZ – Today, Governor Katie Hobbs announced that Jerry McPherson, longtime Phoenix community leader, will serve as the new Executive Director of the Commission of African American Affairs. The Commission plays an important role in serving the vibrant African American community in Arizona, including supporting economic advancement, promoting equality and justice, and providing educational tools and resources needed to thrive.

    “I am thrilled to have Jerry McPherson as The Commission’s new Executive Director,” said Governor Katie Hobbs. “He has a strong track record of leadership in both the public and private sectors and has spent his career finding new and innovative ways to empower his community. I know Jerry’s breadth of experience and determination will unlock a bright future for The Commission and I look forward to seeing what they will accomplish together.”

    “I am deeply honored and grateful to Governor Hobbs and our Commissioners for entrusting me with this critical responsibility,” said Jerry McPherson. “Our mission—to unite African American leaders and communities in the pursuit of opportunity and equity—has never been more urgent. I look forward to collaborating with our elected and appointed officials to transform our aspirations into lasting change. Through our pillars of Economic Development, Justice, Health, and Education, we can ensure that African-Americans throughout the state can embrace a future filled with promise and opportunity.”

    Jerry McPherson is a U.S. Army Veteran and graduate of the Flinn-Brown Fellowship. He has served in advisory roles for the cities of Phoenix and Tempe, and has experience leading some of Arizona’s most pivotal economic and community organizations including the Greater Phoenix Urban League and Valley of the Sun United Way. Jerry most recently served as a Commissioner on the Commission of African American Affairs and was Managing Director at Per Scholas Phoenix.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Governor’s Office Opens Arizona Game And Fish Commission Application

    Source: US State of Arizona

    Mesa, AZ – The Governor’s Office is now accepting applications to fill an upcoming vacancy on the Arizona Game and Fish Commission. Residents knowledgeable and passionate about Arizona wildlife and conservation in eligible counties are welcome to apply.

    The five-member Game and Fish Commission establishes policy, rules, and regulations for the management, preservation and harvest of wildlife and fishery resources, as well as watercraft and off-highway vehicle operations. The commission also serves in an advisory role to the Arizona Game and Fish Department. For more information about the Arizona Game and Fish Commission and its mission visit the Arizona Game and Fish Commission website.

    The commission is structured to ensure geographical and political representation from across Arizona. The current opening must be filled by a resident of Apache, Cochise, Coconino, Graham, Greenlee, La Paz, Mohave, Navajo, Pinal, Yuma, or Yavapai counties. Applicants must disclose their party affiliation on their application and must not have changed party registration within the past two years in order to be eligible.

    Applicants must be received no later than 11:59 p.m. on Monday, October 7th.

    Individuals interested in applying must do so through the Boards and Commissions website. Applicants are required to include their current residential address, political party, and a resume with their application. Any additional materials or letters of recommendation that applicants wish to be included in their application packet should be emailed to [email protected].

    The Game and Fish Appointment Recommendation Commission will be meeting in October to review applications and conduct interviews in-person. Questions regarding the review process should be directed to Cindy Freehauf ([email protected]) with the Arizona Game and Fish Department.

    Individuals also may contact the Governor’s Office of Boards and Commissions by emailing [email protected].

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Preliminary Injunction Entered in Justice Department Suit to Stop Alabama’s Systematic Removal of Voters from Registration Rolls

    Source: US Justice – Antitrust Division

    Headline: Preliminary Injunction Entered in Justice Department Suit to Stop Alabama’s Systematic Removal of Voters from Registration Rolls

    A federal court in the Northern District of Alabama has entered an order requiring the State of Alabama and the Alabama Secretary of State to cease a recently-implemented program to remove voters from Alabama’s voting rolls between now and the Nov. 5 general election. The court further ordered the State to issue guidance to all counties in Alabama to immediately restore deactivated voters unless those voters requested removal or are subject to removal for other reasons.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Shapiro Administration Awards $3.4 Million for Stream and Watershed Restoration Projects

    Source: US State of Pennsylvania

    October 16, 2024 – Harrisburg, PA

    Shapiro Administration Awards $3.4 Million for Stream and Watershed Restoration Projects

    The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) has awarded more than $3.4 million in grants to projects to improve water quality and fish and wildlife habitat throughout Pennsylvania’s part of the Chesapeake Bay watershed and other watersheds.

    “Ensuring clean water and healthy watersheds is a fundamental right for all Pennsylvanians. With these grant awards we will continue our work to reduce pollution and improve water quality in Pennsylvania,” said DEP Acting Secretary Jessica Shirley. “These projects are creating healthier streams and wetlands across Pennsylvania, reducing flood risk and improving fish and wildlife habitat. We are building on the success we are seeing in the Chesapeake Bay watershed by restoring streambanks, removing legacy sediment, and treating mine water discharge, among other improvements.”

    The 12 awards are funded by the Section 319 Grant program from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and selected by DEP. The purpose of the grants is to support projects that carry out best management practices (BMPs) specified in Watershed Implementation Plans for 43 watersheds around the state. The program also supports development of new Watershed Implementation Plans for impaired watersheds in Environmental Justice (EJ) areas. Ten of the 12 grants are for projects in the Chesapeake Bay watershed.

    List of Speakers:
    Adam Ortiz, EPA Region 3 Regional Administrator
    Jill Whitcomb, Acting Deputy Secretary for Water Programs, DEP
    Chris Thompson, Lancaster County Conservation District Manager
    Amanda Goldsmith, Watershed Specialist with Lancaster County Conservation District
    Matt Kofroth, Asst. District Mgr. with the Lancaster County Conservation District

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Leaders of Dangerous Mexican Drug Cartel Responsible for Extreme Violence Charged with International Drug Trafficking and Firearms Offenses

    Source: US Justice – Antitrust Division

    Headline: Leaders of Dangerous Mexican Drug Cartel Responsible for Extreme Violence Charged with International Drug Trafficking and Firearms Offenses

    An indictment was unsealed in the District of Columbia charging leaders of the violent drug trafficking organization known as Los Zetas, and its successor organization, Cartel del Noreste (CDN), with engaging in a continuing criminal enterprise; drug trafficking conspiracy; firearms offenses; and international money laundering conspiracy.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Ministers LeBlanc and Virani to co-host the FPT Ministers Responsible for Justice and Public Safety Meeting

    Source: Government of Canada News

    Media advisory

    The Honourable Dominic LeBlanc, Minister of Public Safety, Democratic Institutions and Intergovernmental Affairs, and the Honourable Arif Virani, Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada, will co-host the Federal-Provincial-Territorial (FPT) Ministers responsible for Justice and Public Safety meeting, alongside R.J. Simpson, Premier of the Northwest Territories.

    Media will have an opportunity to capture b-roll footage (cameras only, no audio).

    Date:
    Thursday, October 17, 2024

    Time:
    8:45 a.m. (MDT)

    Location:
    Katimavik Meeting Room
    The Explorer Hotel
    4825 49 Avenue
    Yellowknife, Northwest Territories

    Note for media:

    • Media representatives must arrive 30 minutes in advance of the event to sign-in and present photo ID and credentials. Photo ID must be visible at all times.

    Contacts

    Gabriel Brunet
    Press Secretary
    Office of the Honourable Dominic LeBlanc, Minister of Public Safety, Democratic Institutions and Intergovernmental Affairs
    819-665-6527
    gabriel.brunet@iga-aig.gc.ca

    Chantalle Aubertin
    Deputy Director, Communications
    Office of the Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada
    613-992-6568
    Chantalle.Aubertin@justice.gc.ca

    Media Relations
    Public Safety Canada
    613-991-0657
    media@ps-sp.gc.ca

    Media Relations Office
    Department of Justice Canada
    613-957-4207
    media@justice.gc.ca

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Sacrifice and Success: NASA Engineer Honors Family Roots

    Source: NASA

    Lee esta historia en Español aquí.
    Born and raised in Peru, Daniel Velasquez moved to the United States when he was 10 years old. While that decision was a big transition for his family, it also created many opportunities for him. Now Velasquez is an operations engineer for NASA’s Air Mobility Pathfinders project at NASA’s Armstrong Flight Research Center in Edwards, California.
    Velasquez develops flight test plans for electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft, specifically testing how they perform during various phases of flight, such as taxi, takeoff, cruise, approach, and landing. He was drawn to NASA Armstrong because of the legacy in advancing flight research and the connection to the Space Shuttle program.
    “Being part of a center with such a rich history in supporting space missions and cutting-edge aeronautics was a major motivation for me,” Velasquez said. “One of the biggest highlights of my career has been the opportunity to meet (virtually) and collaborate with an astronaut on a possible future NASA project.”

    Velasquez is incredibly proud of his Latino background because of its rich culture, strong sense of community and connection to his parents. “My parents are my biggest inspiration. They sacrificed so much to ensure my siblings and I could succeed, leaving behind the comfort of their home and family in Peru to give us better opportunities,” Velasquez said. “Their hard work and dedication motivate me every day. Everything I do is to honor their sacrifices and show them that their efforts weren’t wasted. I owe all my success to them.”
    Velasquez began his career at NASA in 2021 as an intern through the Pathways Internship Program while he was studying aerospace engineering at Rutgers University in New Brunswick, New Jersey. Through that program, he learned about eVTOL modeling software called NASA Design and Analysis of Rotorcraft to create a help guide for other NASA engineers to reference when they worked with the software.
    At the same time, he is also a staff sergeant in the U.S Army Reserves and responsible for overseeing the training and development of junior soldiers during monthly assemblies. He plans, creates, and presents classes for soldiers to stay up-to-date and refine their skills while supervising practical exercises, after action reviews, and gathering lessons learned during trainings.

    “This job is different than what I do day-to-day at NASA, but it has helped me become a more outspoken individual,” he said. “Being able to converse with a variety of people and be able to do it well is a skill that I acquired and refined while serving my country.”
    Velasquez said he never imagined working for NASA as it was something he had only seen in movies and on television, but he is so proud to be working for the agency after all the hard work and sacrifices he made that lead him to this point. “I am incredibly proud to work every day with some of the most motivated and dedicated individuals in the industry.”

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Casey, Colleagues Call on Biden Administration to Speed Up Enforcement of Iran Sanctions

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Pennsylvania Bob Casey

    In letter, bipartisan group of Senators call out Administration for missing deadlines on Iran sanctions

    The missed deadlines were put in place by Casey’s Stop Harboring Iranian Petroleum Act, which cracks down on Iran’s petroleum trade

    Senators: “Due to the quantity of oil that Iran is able to trade and the subsequent profits, as well as their historical pattern of utilizing these funds to foster violence and chaos, it is vital that the United States take concrete action to disrupt their petroleum trade”

    Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator Bob Casey (D-PA) joined his colleagues Kyrsten Sinema (I-AZ), Jacky Rosen (D-NV), Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Chuck Grassley (R-IA), Eric Schmitt (R-MO), and John Hoeven (R-ND) in a letter urging the Administration to speed up enforcement of sanctions on Iran’s petroleum trade. The letter pointed out that the Administration has missed several deadlines put in place by the Stop Harboring Iranian Petroleum Act, which cracks down on foreign persons who knowingly engage in the petroleum trade with Iran.

    “Due to the quantity of oil that Iran is able to trade and the subsequent profits, as well as their historical pattern of utilizing these funds to foster violence and chaos, it is vital that the United States take concrete action to disrupt their petroleum trade. Therefore, we ask the administration to honor the reporting deadlines and enforcement requirements prescribed within the SHIP and Fight CRIME Acts,” wrote the Senators.

    On April 23, 2024, Senator Casey voted to pass an emergency supplemental spending law with legislative provisions to strengthen U.S. national security, including the Stop Harboring Iranian Petroleum (SHIP) Act and the Fight and Combat Rampant Iranian Missile Exports (Fight CRIME) Act. 

    The SHIP Act includes important provisions to sanction foreign persons that knowingly engage in the petroleum trade with the Islamic Republic of Iran, and the Fight CRIME Act restricts certain missile-related activities and transfers by Iran. The bills include a number of reporting deadlines and enforcement requirements for the Administration so that Congress can track efforts to deny Iran the resources and ability to engage in destabilizing activities, commit human rights violations, support international terrorism, and fund weapons development.

    Senator Casey has long pushed to protect American economic and national security by monitoring Iranian oil activity. Earlier this year, Casey cosponsored the bipartisan Iranian Sanctions Enforcement Act–legislation establishing a fund to cover expenses related to the seizure or forfeiture of property found in violation of sanctions imposed by the United States against Iran or a covered proxy of Iran, including Hamas, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps’ Quds Force, the Palestinian Islamic Jihad, Hezbollah, the Houthis, and Iran-sponsored militias in Iraq and Syria. Additionally, after learning about potential Iranian oil transport on Panamanian vessels in violation of U.S. sanctions, Casey urged the Panamanian Maritime Authority (AMP) to investigate the hundreds of vessels of concern. Thanks to Casey’s advocacy, AMP launched investigations into all Panamanian ships suspected of transporting Iranian oil, de-flagged vessels that had no evidence of oil transport, and removed dozens of ships from its registry.  

    Read the full letter HERE or below:

    Dear Secretary Blinken, Secretary Yellen, Acting Director Palluconi, and Administrator DeCarolis:

    On April 23, 2024, Congress passed H.R. 815, an emergency supplemental appropriation for Fiscal Year (FY) 2024, that was signed into law by President Biden on April 24. The supplemental package included additional funding for Ukraine, Israel, the Indo-Pacific, and humanitarian assistance. The national security package also included legislation to strengthen U.S. national security, including the Stop Harboring Iranian Petroleum (SHIP) Act and the Fight and Combat Rampant Iranian Missile Exports (Fight CRIME) Act. The SHIP Act includes important provisions to sanction foreign persons that knowingly engage in the petroleum trade with the Islamic Republic of Iran, and the Fight CRIME Act restricts certain missile-related activities and transfers by Iran. The legislation includes a number of regulation publishing and reporting requirements from the administration in order for Congress to track efforts to deny Iran the resources and ability to engage in destabilizing activities, commit human rights violations, support international terrorism, and fund weapons development.

    For decades, there has been evidence that Iran has funded direct attacks on America and our allies. Since Hamas’ attack on Israel on October 7, 2023, Iran has only become more emboldened to act against democratic interests across the globe. To cite just two recent events, the International Atomic Energy Agency confirmed in its August 2024 report that Iran continues to increase its stockpile of enriched uranium, and on September 10, 2024, the Pentagon confirmed reports that Iran has transferred shipments of Fath 360 close-range ballistic missiles to Russia to support their continued aggression against Ukraine. Iran is able to further these disrupting activities due to profits from their oil trade.  According to United Against Nuclear Iran, a non-partisan watchdog organization that tracks Iranian oil shipment, Iran exported 1,626,866 barrels per day in August 2024.  Due to the quantity of oil that Iran is able to trade and the subsequent profits, as well as their historical pattern of utilizing these funds to foster violence and chaos, it is vital that the United States take concrete action to disrupt their petroleum trade. Therefore, we ask the administration to honor the reporting deadlines and enforcement requirements prescribed within the SHIP and Fight CRIME Acts that were included in H.R. 815, the emergency supplemental appropriations.

    To date, the administration has not met the following deadlines:

    • By July 23, 2024 (90 after enactment, and every 180 days thereafter), the Secretary of State shall provide a report that identifies Iranian persons utilizing an unmanned combat aerial vehicle against a United States citizen. P.L. 118-50, Div. K Sec.6(a)
    • By August 12, 2024 (10 days before regulation enactment), the President shall notify the appropriate Congressional committees of the proposed regulations to combat proliferation of Iranian missiles. P.L. 118-50, Div. K Sec. 5(f)(2)
    • By August 22, 2024 (120 days after enactment), the President shall promulgate regulations as necessary for the implementation of sanctions to combat proliferation of Iranian missiles. P.L. 118-50, Div. K Sec. 5(f)(1)
    • By August 22, 2024 (120 days after enactment, and annually thereafter), the Administrator of the Energy Information Administration shall submit a report describing Iran’s growing exports of petroleum and petroleum products, including their exports to the People’s Republic of China and the ships and ports involved in the oil sales. P.L. 118-50, Div. J Sec. 4(a)
    • By August 22, 2024 (120 days after enactment), the Secretary of State shall submit written strategy on the role of the People’s Republic of China’s role in evading U.S.-imposed sanctions on Iranian-origin petroleum products. P.L. 118-50, Div. J Sec. 5

    The following deadlines are upcoming within the next 30 days:

    • By October 11, 2024, (10 days before regulation enactment) the President shall notify and brief the appropriate Congressional Committees on the regulations to be established to implement the SHIP Act. P.L. 118-50, Div. J Sec. 3(e)(2)
    • By October 21, 2024 (180 days after enactment), the President shall prescribe necessary regulations to implement sanctions enforcement. P.L. 118-50, Div. J Sec. 3(e)(2)
    • On and after October 21, 2024 (180 days after enactment), the President shall impose sanctions on foreign persons determined to have knowingly engaged in the Iranian petroleum trade. P.L. 118-50, Div. J Sec. 3(a)

    Given the havoc Iran is wreaking in the Middle East and the wider region, this information is both timely and vital for Congress to carry out appropriate sanctions oversight and understand what greater legislative action is required to ensure Iran does not have the resources to harm the United States or our partners and allies. We look forward to these timely reports and enhanced understanding of the administration’s plan to counter Iranian oil trade and accessible revenue for their funding of terrorism. We ask that you honor the October deadlines and work to address the deadlines already missed in order to provide Congress with the relevant reports as quickly as possible.

    We further request that you provide our offices an update on your efforts and when to expect these reports no later than October 29, 2024. Thank you for your continued work and attention to this matter.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Sacrificio y Éxito: Ingeniero de la NASA honra sus orígenes familiares

    Source: NASA

    Read this story in English here.
    Nacido y criado en Perú, Daniel Velásquez se estableció en los Estados Unidos cuando tenía 10 años. Aunque esa decisión fue una gran transición para su familia, también le creó muchas oportunidades. Ahora Velásquez es ingeniero de operaciones del proyecto Pathfinders de Movilidad Aérea de la NASA en el Centro de Investigación de Vuelo Armstrong de la NASA en Edwards, California.
    Velásquez desarrolla ensayos de vuelo para aeronaves eléctricas de despegue y aterrizaje vertical (eVTOL, por sus siglas en inglés), poniendo a prueba específicamente su rendimiento durante varias fases del vuelo, como el rodaje, el despegue, el crucero, la aproximación y el aterrizaje. Se interesó en el centro Armstrong de la NASA debido a su legado en el avance de la investigación de vuelo y a su contribución al programa del Transbordador Espacial.
    “Formar parte de un centro con una historia tan rica en el apoyo a las misiones espaciales y la aeronáutica avanzada fue una motivación importante para mí,” dice Velásquez. “Uno de los mayores hitos de mi carrera ha sido la oportunidad de conocer (virtualmente) y colaborar con un astronauta en un posible proyecto de la NASA.”

    Velásquez está increíblemente orgulloso de su origen latino por su rica cultura, su fuerte sentido de comunidad y la conexión a sus padres. “Mis padres son mi mayor inspiración. Sacrificaron mucho para asegurarse de que mis hermanos y yo pudiéramos tener éxito, dejando atrás la comodidad de su hogar y su familia en Perú para darnos mejores oportunidades,” dice Velásquez. “Su esfuerzo y dedicación me motivan cada día. Todo lo que hago es para honrar sus sacrificios y demostrarles que sus esfuerzos no fueron un vano. Todo mi éxito se lo debo a ellos.”
    Velásquez comenzó su carrera en la NASA en 2021 como un pasante en el Programa de Pasantías Pathways mientras estudiaba ingeniería aeroespacial en la Universidad Rutgers en New Brunswick, New Jersey. A través de ese programa, el aprendió sobre un software de modelado eVTOL que se llama Diseño y Análisis de Aeronaves de Alas Giratorias de la NASA y creó una guía de ayuda que otros ingenieros de la NASA pudieran consultar cuando trabajaban con el software.
    Al mismo tiempo, también es un sargento primero de la Reserva del Ejército de EE. UU. y es responsable de supervisar el entrenamiento y el desarrollo de los soldados subalternos durante las reuniones mensuales. Planifica, crea y presenta clases para que los soldados se mantengan al día y refinen sus habilidades, a la vez que supervisa los ejercicios prácticos, las revisiones posteriores de acción y recopila lecciones aprendidas durante los entrenamientos.

    “Este trabajo es diferente de lo que hago día a día en la NASA, pero me ha ayudado a convertirme en una persona más franca,” dice. “Ser capaz de conversar con una variedad de personas y poder hacerlo bien es una habilidad que adquirí y refiné mientras servía a mi país.”
    Velásquez explica que nunca imaginó trabajar para la NASA, ya que era algo que sólo había visto en las películas y en la televisión, pero está muy orgulloso de trabajar para la agencia después de todo el trabajo duro y los sacrificios que lo llevaron hasta aquí. “Estoy increíblemente orgulloso de trabajar cada día con algunas de las personas más motivadas y dedicadas en la industria.”

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Marine Ecology – Clever sleuthing unmasks mystery ocean creature – NIWA

    Source: NIWA

    A mystery animal has been identified as a species never documented in New Zealand waters.
    Thousands of specimens were collected during NIWA’s three-week Ocean Census voyage to the unexplored Bounty Trough earlier this year, done as part of a 10-year planetary census to discover life in our ocean.
    Amongst the brilliant selection of fish and invertebrates collected from 3,500m deep, an unusual specimen stumped the experts. NIWA marine biologist and voyage leader Sadie Mills says she and her colleagues resulted to calling it ‘The Thing’. 
    “It looked kind of like a sea star, but we thought it could also be a sea anemone or octocoral. We had several world-leading experts onboard and none of us could place it, and initial DNA sequencing resulted in no close relationship with any known organism. So, it became known as ‘The Thing’,” said Sadie.
    However, after further DNA sequencing, Sadie’s team got a positive result – a 98.9% match to Oligotrema lyra – an abyssal ascidian, or sea squirt. Identification was then morphologically confirmed by taxonomic expert, Dr Mike Page. 
    “It’s amazing that genetics could help us solve the mystery. We actually had two specimens, but it turned out they were both only parts of the whole creature, which is what threw us because we weren’t seeing the full picture. Our resident ascidian expert Mike thinks part of the body was buried in the sediment, and what we collected were the siphons that they use to feed and filter water, which protruded above the sand,” said Sadie.
    While this species is already known to science, it is the first time it has been documented in New Zealand waters and expands our knowledge on the huge diversity of species that fall under our protection. 
    Ascidians are common in New Zealand’s coastal waters and in the deeper waters on our continental shelf. They are amongst the more colourful marine invertebrates that inhabit our coasts, harbours, and oceans.
    When disturbed, sea squirts contract their siphons, expelling streams of water-hence their name. 
    The Ocean Census is a global alliance to accelerate the discovery and protection of life in the ocean founded by The Nippon Foundation and UK ocean exploration foundation Nekton, and endorsed as a Programme of the UN Ocean Decade.  

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Universities – New innovation and entrepreneurial co-working hub hosted at Victoria University

    Source: Te Herenga Waka—Victoria University of Wellington
     
    A new co-working space has opened that will see innovative local businesses based at Te Herenga Waka—Victoria University of Wellington.
     
    The shared work space is called Taiawa Wellington Tech Hub and is in Rutherford House on the University’s Pipitea campus. A range of high-growth, innovative companies have moved in to the 51-desk space—tenants include climate tech businesses Cogo and CarbonInvoice, botanical prescription drug developer Evithé Bio, and scientific literature review assistant Litmaps.
     
    Taiawa was launched in early June, with tenant businesses officially welcomed to the new space at an event attended by Wellington mayor Tory Whanau along with leaders from the University and the business and entrepreneurial community.
     
    Professor Stephen Cummings, co-director of the University’s innovation space The Atom—Te Kahu o Te Ao, says Taiawa is an exciting development. “It will allow us to better work with Wellington’s entrepreneurial ecosystem and create opportunities for sharing ideas between innovative businesses and our staff and students,” he explains.  
     
    “It comes from a recognition that Rutherford House is the ideal place in the perfect location to host a co-working space like this. Opening up our buildings to the City in this way can create great synergies and value, not just for our students and researchers, but for Wellington’s business community.”
     
    The initiative is a collaboration with WellingtonNZ, the regional economic development agency. Rebekah Campbell, who leads the Technology Sector Group at WellingtonNZ, says the need for a space for co-working, tech sector education and community events became evident when devising a strategy to grow the region’s economy.
     
    “Wellington has a lot of individually successful tech companies, but even though it’s a compact city, we can do a lot better at promoting collaboration and skill-sharing. Wellington needs its tech sector to thrive, and our mission is to create 30,000 new high-value jobs in the next decade,” she says.
     
    “We looked at other cities that have successfully accelerated the growth of their tech sectors, and a key component of every strategy is the creation of a central place where companies can work together, learn from each other and create a shared culture of ambition and collaboration. The kinds of hubs that were most successful were centred around universities.”
     
    Atom co-director Dr Jesse Pirini says the concept of hosting a co-working space at Te Herenga Waka is “the culmination of years of engagement with the entrepreneurial community through The Atom, and hosting events such as Slush’D and TedX”. “So when the opportunity arose to work with WellingtonNZ, we leapt at it. It’s great to be able to collaborate with them on this unique partnership.”
     
    One of the tenants in Taiawa Wellington Tech Hub is Cogo, which partners with large companies to help businesses and consumers measure and improve their carbon impact. CEO Ben Gleisner, who is a Te Herenga Waka alumnus, describes the new space as a “win-win-win” for all parties.
     
    “It will provide unparalleled opportunities for the companies, the wider tech industry, and for business school students that they can’t get at other institutions in Aotearoa—there is the potential to collaborate on research, internships or dedicated projects. Ultimately, as we are supported to grow, there will hopefully be real jobs for students too.”
     
    University Vice Chancellor Nic Smith says it’s vital that universities are front and centre in supporting the wider science, technology and innovation sector. “The development of this hub is a vote of confidence in Wellington’s business community, especially in the face of bad news stories around public sector lay offs. We believe in the technology and innovation industry, and we’re delighted to have the chance to foster its growth.”
     
    About the name
     
    The name Taiawa is a combination of two words, tai (ocean) and awa (river), which reflects the collaborative elements of entities from different sources combining together to operate a shared space, support innovative ideas and create a safe space for creativity. Taiawa is the name of a type of pipi found at low tide just below the surface of a sandy harbour flat—the act of collecting pipi as a community, intergenerational activity signifies the collaboration that will take place in the tech hub, and the interaction between companies, staff and students. The name was endorsed by Kura Moeahu, Rangatira of Te Āti Awa and Taranaki.

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Business Central – Outstanding contributions to Wellington honoured at the 2024 Wellington Address

    Source: Business Central

    The contributions of some of Wellington’s most prominent businesspeople were celebrated last night at the 2024 Wellington Address, hosted at Pipitea Marae.
    The event recognised the mahi and relentless energy of three individuals and one business who have made outstanding contributions to our city. They are people who inspire others and help Wellington’s business community prosper and thrive.
    The Address was jointly hosted Wellington Chamber of Commerce, Te Awe Māori Business Network and the Wellington Pasifika Business Network, together known as the Power of Three.
    More than 240 people attended last night’s sold-out event, where Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and Deputy Prime Minister Winston Peters addressed honourees and guests.
    The gala dinner was headlined by the Wellington Address, an ode to the city and a vision for its future. This year’s Address was delivered by John-Daniel Trask of tech company Raygun, who highlighted the importance of innovation, contribution and the role of business in the city’s success.
    The event was made possible with the help of our sponsors and partners, including Mercury IT, Pōneke Bakery and principal sponsor 2degrees.
    “These awards are a celebration of the very best of our business community – hard work, dedication, innovation and a commitment to improving our city,” said Wellington Chamber of Commerce CEO Simon Arcus.
    “This year’s honourees all embody that spirit. We all better off for their work, and I extend my thanks to all the honourees. At times like these, it’s a powerful reminder of Wellington’s character and its potential in years to come,” he said.
    The honourees for the 2024 Wellington Address were:
    Nominated by the Wellington Chamber of Commerce, sponsored by Mercury IT
    Brian McGuinness
    Nominated by Te Awe Māori Business Network, sponsored by Pōneke Bakery
    Doug Hauraki
    Nominated by the Wellington Pasifika Business Network
    Adrian Orr
    Company award, sponsored by 2degrees
    The Wellington Company – Erskine Restoration
    “The Wellington Chamber is delighted to recognise Brian McGuinness as an honouree of the 2024 Wellington Address,” said Simon Arcus.
    “With over 50 years of commitment to the family business, LT McGuinness, Brian has shown exceptional leadership and made enduring contributions to the Wellington urban landscape. An award for Brian is, in a very real sense, a recognition of the contribution of the McGuiness family.
    “The Wellington Address serves to recognise those who serve us beyond the call of their professional duty. We are humbled to be recognising such an outstanding contribution from more than 50 years of dedication to the capital; nobody else has literally built a legacy on Wellington’s footprint quite like Brian McGuinness,” Arcus said.
    More information on the outstanding contributions of last night’s honourees is available below.
    Brian McGuinness: With over 50 years of commitment to the family-founded construction company, LT McGuinness, Brian has shown exceptional leadership and made enduring contributions to the Wellington urban landscape.
    Brian’s dedication to building excellence, his ability to develop long-standing local relationships, and his commitment to his word have contributed to the success of many of Wellington’s iconic buildings.
    Doug Hauraki: Generations of Māori students, public servants and business owners will be delighted to know Doug Hauraki is this year’s Te Awe Wellington Māori Business Network honouree.
    In bestowing this honour on Doug, Te Awe acknowledges his more than 55 years of service to Māori in both the private and public sectors and his lifelong devotion to better education and employment opportunities for Māori and Pasifika people.
    Adrian Orr: The Wellington Pasifika Business Network us proud to recognise Adrian Orr as the Pasifika honouree for this year’s Wellington Address. The award celebrates Adrian’s 40 years of outstanding service to the banking and financial services sector, most recently as Governor of the Reserve Bank of New Zealand and its role of ensuring the stability of our financial system.
    Of Cook Island and Irish descent, Adrian has been a trailblazer in his chosen profession, with a strong intergenerational view of economic and social issues and solutions.
    The Wellington Company – Erskine Restoration:
    After undertaking a painstaking 23-year journey to develop a hilly, heritage-listed site in Island Bay, The Wellington Company delivered a premium medium-density housing development which restored and retained a unique part of our architectural history.
    Many others would have shied away from the challenge of restoring the Category-1 listed Erskine Chapel. The 1929 landmark had been neglected, vandalised and red-stickered for many years, as well as being subject to a lengthy legal challenge, despite the desire to protect it. But rather than walking away from the project, The Wellington Company took the step many would not, privately funding the vast bulk of the $7 million restoration and strengthening project to preserve it for generations to come.
    Note:
    The Power of Three is a joint agreement between the Wellington Chamber of Commerce, the Wellington Pasifika Business Network, and Te Awe Māori Business Network. The three business membership organisations share knowledge, services and cultural expertise to help grow businesses in the Wellington region.

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Environment – Public meeting organised to protect Canterbury water from fast-track pollution

    Source: Greenpeace

    Greenpeace Aotearoa is hosting a public meeting in Rangiora this Saturday to mobilise efforts to protect water quality in the region, just two weeks after the Government’s fast-track project list was revealed to include significant irrigation schemes.
    The organisation will also be running two free nitrate contamination drinking water testing events: one in Amberley on October 18th, and one in Oxford on October 20th.
    Greenpeace’s Canterbury-based freshwater campaigner, Will Appelbe, says, “Everyone should be able to take a dip in their local river or drink the water coming out of their tap without getting sick. But for many rural communities, particularly in Canterbury, that’s becoming less and less possible.
    “Now, the Christopher Luxon Government is actively pushing through legislation that will worsen water quality in Canterbury, such as the fast-track bill. The irrigation schemes included in the fast-track schedule would suck the life out of already-fragile rivers and return polluted water back into the environment through further dairy intensification in the region.”
    Greenpeace has been running free drinking water testing events across the country, as well as a free mail-in water testing service, for the last three years, to raise awareness of increasing levels of nitrate in drinking water.
    The organisation says that many rural communities in Canterbury are seeing levels of nitrate in drinking water increasing, while a growing body of science has linked prolonged exposure to elevated levels of nitrate, to increased health risks including risks of bowel cancer and preterm birth.
    “More irrigation means more intensive dairying, which is polluting lakes, rivers, and drinking water with high levels of nitrate,” says Appelbe.
    “We’re hosting this public meeting to discuss the increasing threats to water quality in Canterbury and to provide a way for local communities to engage with efforts to prevent water pollution at the source.
    “Greenpeace will continue to stand with communities and fight to end pollution of lakes, rivers, and drinking water. Ultimately, we need to reduce the dairy herd, end the use of synthetic nitrogen fertiliser, and stop big new irrigation schemes.”
    The Greenpeace public meeting will be held at The Skurr Centre, Rangiora Showgrounds, on Saturday 19th October, from 6:30pm. The organisation is also running free drinking water testing in Amberley on the 18th October from 1-5pm at the Holy Innocents Anglican Church, and in Oxford on the 20th October from 9:30am-3pm in the Oxford Town Hall A&P Room.

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Finance – ASB adjusts mortgage rates

    Source: ASB

    ASB has today announced adjustments to its mortgage rates, following the bank’s reductions across fixed and floating mortgage rates last week. ASB’s latest changes include a 36-basis point reduction to its 6-month term, down to a market-leading rate of 6.39%.  

    ASB’s Executive General Manager Personal Banking Adam Boyd says “We know there’s strong appetite for shorter-term mortgages at the moment. Our drops to 6-month, one year and 18-month terms in response to movement in wholesale rates should appeal to our customers refixing, as well as those looking to buy a property.”

    ASB has also reduced some of its shorter-term term deposit rates by between 10 and 35 basis points, and increased its 4-and-5 year term deposits by 10 basis points each.

    All rate adjustments are effective immediately for new and current customers.

     

    Fixed home lending term

    Previous rate

    New rate

    Rate decrease

    6-month

    6.75%

    6.39%

    -0.36%

    1-year

    6.19%

    5.99%

    -0.20%

    18-month

    5.89%

    5.79%

    -0.10%

    4-year

    5.69%

    5.79%

    +0.10%

    5-year

    5.69%

    5.79%

    +0.10%

     

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Rep. Young Kim Hosts Chairman Westerman for Wildfire Tour, Roundtable Following Airport Fire 

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Young Kim (CA-39)

    Silverado, CA – Yesterday, U.S. Representative Young Kim (CA-40) hosted House Natural Resources Committee Chairman Bruce Westerman (AR-04) in California’s 40th District to hear from local first responders and canyon community leaders and see the burn areas firsthand following the Airport Fire, which started in Trabuco Canyon and burned over 23,000 acres in Orange and Riverside counties.  

    The roundtable included officials from U.S. Forest Service, Orange County Fire Authority, Anaheim Fire and Rescue, Orange Fire Department, and Brea Fire Department, and canyon community leaders.  

    “Our communities across California’s 40th District – especially in the canyons – know firsthand the devastation wildfires can cause. That’s why I brought House Natural Resources Committee Chairman Westerman here to learn from first responders and residents on the ground,” said Rep. Kim. “I appreciate his leadership and am hopeful that our roundtable discussion and tour can help us educate our colleagues and work on commonsense solutions. Fighting for my district is my top priority, always.”  

    “No one knows more about the crisis facing America’s forests than our brave first responders and local residents who live under the constant threat of wildfire. The fact remains that decades of mismanagement have turned far too many of our forests into unhealthy, overgrown tinderboxes.  It is crucial that we pass legislation like the Fix Our Forests Act, which includes key proposals from Rep. Kim like the Wildfire Technology DEMO Act, to help mitigate catastrophic wildfires in the future. She is a true champion of this issue for her constituents, and I’d like to thank her for inviting me to her district to see these issues firsthand,” said Chairman Westerman. 

    Pictures from the visit courtesy of the office of Congresswoman Young Kim are available HERE.  

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Greenpeace comment on the International Energy Agency World Energy Outlook 2024

    Source: Greenpeace

    The International Energy Agency (IEA) has released its latest World Energy Outlook report today, and Greenpeace Aotearoa executive director Russel Norman says it’s damning for Christopher Luxon and his ludicrous plans to restart oil and gas exploration and increase coal mining. (ref. https://www.iea.org/reports/world-energy-outlook-2024 )
    “The IEA report affirms that global demand for oil, gas, and coal is on track to peak by the end of this decade and warns that failure to accelerate the end of fossil fuels now will put the world on course for a catastrophic global average temperature rise of 2.4oC by the end of the century.
    “As floods, fires and storms ravage the world, and climate scientists run out of adjectives to describe how urgent the situation is, we have Christopher Luxon’s Government forging ahead with reckless plans to search for new oil and gas, dig up more coal and shelve every initiative to reduce emissions that they can.
    “We have an incredible opportunity right now in Aotearoa to move away from fossil fuels to a clean energy future powered by wind and solar that would mean more affordable energy and cleaner, safer towns and cities for New Zealanders, but the Luxon Government is threatening to take us back to to the dark ages.”
    The IEA report states that avoiding the worst impacts of the climate crisis will require at least doubling the global rate of energy efficiency improvements to provide larger emissions reductions by 2030, doubling current investment levels in renewable power, grids and battery storage, as well as implementing a fast and fair fossil fuel phaseout.
    Norman says that with some political will, New Zealand could be leading the way with an exciting transformation to a renewable energy future. (ref. https://www.greenpeace.org/aotearoa/story/two-energy-futures/ )
    “A recent report by the Ministry of Business and Innovation confirms that there is no need for new fossil fuels to ‘keep the lights on’ in New Zealand. Wind and solar are the cheapest sources of new electricity generation, and New Zealand has an abundance of both.
    “It’s time for the Government to step up and make the choice to lead Aotearoa into a clean energy future.”

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Release: Lack of funding puts pressure on frontline Police

    Source: New Zealand Labour Party

    News that 173 roles are being cut at Police will only put more pressure on the frontline.

    “I am concerned about the lack of awareness the National Party has about the job police have to do,” Labour police spokesperson Ginny Andersen said.

    “Cutting 173 roles will mean police officers spend more time behind a desk and less time on the beat.

    “There is a lot of work that goes on behind the scenes for a person to be found, charged and punished for a crime. Arresting someone is only one part of the job.

    “Police Minister Mark Mitchell should front up, support the frontline and stop the cuts at Police,” Ginny Andersen said.

    Stay in the loop by signing up to our mailing list and following us on Facebook, Instagram, and X.

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Defense News: Search Continues for VAQ-130 Aviators

    Source: United States Navy

    Aerial operations continued through the night, launching from NAS Whidbey Island and searching in the area 30 miles west of Yakima, Wash. Responders are facing mountainous terrain, cloudy weather, and low visibility as the search is ongoing.

    As of 11 a.m. on Oct. 16, neither the crew nor wreckage has been located.

    Additional units supporting search and rescue include: U.S. Navy Fleet Air Reconnaissance Squadron One (VQ-1), Patrol Squadron (VP-46), NAS Whidbey Island Search and Rescue, and U.S. Army 4-6 Air Cavalry Squadron out of Joint Base Lewis-McChord. 

    The cause of the crash is under investigation.

    More information will be released as it becomes available.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Working in wine industry leads student to pursue mechanical engineering at EIT | EIT Hawke’s Bay and Tairāwhiti

    Source: Eastern Institute of Technology – Tairāwhiti

    1 day ago

    Courtney Roff is currently studying for the NZ Certificate in Mechanical Engineering (Level 3) at EIT.

    After leaving school early, Courtney Roff spent some time working in the wine industry, where she realised that the career for her was mechanical engineering, so she enrolled in EIT.

    Courtney, 21, grew up in Hawke’s Bay and attended Napier Girls’ High, but decided to leave school midway through Year 12.

    Not sure what she wanted to do, she worked for a time in hospitality, but soon found herself drawn to the wine industry.

    She has spent the last three years working at the Hawke’s Bay Wine Company in Pandora and says that she has learnt a lot from the experience.

    “I started not knowing anything and then worked my way up to being second in charge and running a night shift for all my last vintage.”

    She considered studying Wine Science and Viticulture at EIT, but says she did not really want to be a winemaker. However, she received a wonderful opportunity when she was awarded a Woman in Winemaking Mentorship from the New Zealand Wine Association for six months.

    “That paired me up with a lady who works at Wineworks in Hastings and I was catching up with her once a month for six months. I was in there to figure out what I wanted to do, and  Sophie, my mentor, was really awesome.

    “It was there that I decided that I wanted to do engineering, so Sophie got me into Wineworks for eight weeks, to see if I liked it. I did so I signed up for the programme at EIT in July.”

    That programme is the NZ Certificate in Mechanical Engineering (Level 3) and it will set Courtney up to still work in the wine industry, where engineering is required in tank building, presses or working on machines.

    She knows she is now in the right place and is enjoying the mechanical engineering programme.

    She says that while she realises that mechanical engineering is still male-dominated, she is enjoying her classmates and says her tutors are “awesome”.

    “You never will get stuck as there is always someone to help you.”

    Courtney particularly enjoys the fabrication course and says she is looking forward to completing the second year of her apprenticeship next year.

    She is currently working part-time as a petrol attendant in Greenmeadows while she studies, but she is looking forward to beginning her new career.

    EIT Engineering Tutor Patrick Doohan said: “As Courtney’s tutor, I’m proud of her positive start in the mechanical engineering program at EIT.”

    “Her transition from the wine industry to engineering shows her determination. She excels in her courses, especially fabrication, and she always bring a positive attitude to her work. Courtney’s initiative in seeking mentorship and hands-on experience reflects her commitment to her future.”

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Preliminary Injunction Entered in Justice Department Suit to Stop Alabama’s Systematic Removal of Voters from Registration Rolls

    Source: United States Attorneys General

    Alabama is Required to Stop Removals Between Now and Election Day and Must Return Unlawfully Deactivated Voters to Active Voter List

    A federal court in the Northern District of Alabama has entered an order requiring the State of Alabama and the Alabama Secretary of State to cease a recently-implemented program to remove voters from Alabama’s voting rolls between now and the Nov. 5 general election. The court further ordered the State to issue guidance to all counties in Alabama to immediately restore deactivated voters unless those voters requested removal or are subject to removal for other reasons.

    “This action sends a clear message that the Justice Department will work to ensure that the rights of eligible voters are protected,” said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “The National Voter Registration Act’s 90 day Quiet Period Provision is an important safeguard to prevent erroneous eleventh-hour efforts that stand to disenfranchise eligible voters. The Justice Department remains steadfast in our resolve to protect voters from unlawful removal from the registration rolls and to ensure that states comply with the mandate of federal law.”

    The department filed a lawsuit against the State of Alabama and the Alabama Secretary of State on Sept. 27 alleging that the Alabama Secretary of State’s voter list maintenance program announced on Aug. 13 violated Section 8(c)(2) of the National Voter Registration Act of 1993 (NVRA) by conducting a program intending to systematically remove voters within 90 days of a federal election. The court’s order requires the State of Alabama to facilitate a remedial mailing to each registrant inactivated as part of the voter removal process who has not submitted a request to be removed from the voter rolls and alert these voters that their voter status has since been reactivated.

    The injunction also requires the state to work with country registrars to ensure that affected voters are notified that their inclusion in the state’s wayward removal program does not establish their ineligibility to vote or subject them to criminal prosecution for registering to vote or for voting. The injunction further requires the State to facilitate a remedial mailing to each registrant inactivated as part of the voter removal process who did submit a voter removal request advising them that if they are a U.S. citizen and otherwise meet voter qualifications, they have the right to vote. Finally, the court ordered the State to inform the Alabama Attorney General in writing that voters were inaccurately referred to the Attorney General for criminal investigation.

    Individuals who are eligible voters and believe that they may have been wrongly removed from the voter rolls as a result of Alabama’s – or any other state’s – systematic removal process should contact the Civil Rights Division’s Voting Section through the internet reporting portal at http://www.civilrights.justice.gov or by telephone at 1-800-253-3931. More information about voting and elections, including guidance documents on the NVRA and other statutes, is available at http://www.justice.gov/voting. Learn more about the NVRA and other federal voting laws at http://www.justice.gov/crt/voting-section. Complaints about possible violations of federal voting rights laws can be submitted at http://www.civilrights.justice.gov or by telephone at 1-800-253-3931. 

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Canada’s medical cannabis system changed but didn’t disappear after recreational legalization

    Source: The Conversation – Canada – By Michael J. Armstrong, Associate Professor, Operations Research, Brock University

    When Canada legalized recreational cannabis use on Oct. 17, 2018, there were concerns about the potential impacts. Would it trigger greater cannabis use, boost economic growth or otherwise affect the country’s health, safety and finances?

    Patients already using cannabis legally for medical purposes were especially concerned. They worried that recreational legalization might prompt physicians to stop authorizing cannabis treatments. Or that cannabis producers would abandon the small medical market to pursue the larger recreational one.

    After recreational legalization, the medical cannabis system did see declines. Between June 2018 and December 2022, the number of registered patients fell 32 per cent, while product sales fell 29 per cent. Some people thought the medical cannabis system had failed or become obsolete.

    As someone who studies the business aspects of cannabis legalization, I wondered about these issues, too. It wasn’t clear how patients, producers or health-care providers would react to recreational legalization. Legal medical use itself had only become accessible a few years earlier.

    Accessing medical cannabis

    Canada began allowing medical use of cannabis in 1999. But it remained difficult to get until regulations changed during 2014-15.

    The new rules allowed any physician to authorize patients to use cannabis. Those patients could then register to buy products online from licensed cannabis producers. Online orders could not exceed a 30-day supply.

    (Instead of buying cannabis products, some patients grew their own plants instead. My research hasn’t examined that.)

    Under this new procedure, the number of patients registering to buy cannabis soared. They grew from 7,914 in June 2014 to 330,344 in June 2018, nearly one per cent of Canada’s population.

    However, registration levels differed greatly between provinces. In June 2018, registrations represented almost three per cent of Alberta’s population, versus only 0.1 per cent of Québec’s.

    Interestingly, less than half of registrants bought medical cannabis in any given month. Perhaps they simply didn’t need the full dose. Or maybe they found it too expensive, inconvenient or ineffective.

    June 2018 was also when the federal government passed its new cannabis legislation. The law took effect in October 2018, when recreational sales of dried cannabis and cannabis oils began. After initial product shortages were overcome, recreational cannabis sales grew rapidly as more stores opened, even during the COVID-19 pandemic. Consumer choice expanded in December 2019 when edibles and vapes became available.

    This is where my new study came in. I analyzed government data on patients’ use of Canada’s medical cannabis system between 2017 and 2022. This included how many patients registered, how often they placed orders, and how much cannabis they bought.

    Evolving system usage

    I found that as soon as parliament passed the new cannabis law, medical registrations began slowing down, despite recreational legalization still being four months away.

    But the response differed noticeably between provinces. For example, registrations kept growing steadily in Québec but plummeted rapidly in Alberta. Other provinces were in between.

    My data doesn’t say why those changes occurred. Perhaps Alberta, with its copious cannabis clinics, had many patients only mildly interested in using cannabis medically. Conversely, maybe Québec was still catching up with other provinces on medical use.

    When recreational sales started in October 2018, patient registrations seemed unaffected. Their average purchase sizes didn’t change either. But they bought medical cannabis slightly less often.

    This might have been due to retail convenience. At that time, medical producers and recreational stores were selling similar products: dried cannabis and cannabis oils. So, perhaps some patients started topping up their supplies occasionally at recreational stores but saw no reason to leave the online medical system completely.

    When edibles and other processed products began selling in December 2019, registrations dropped further. But the patients who remained bought medical cannabis slightly more often and in increasingly larger quantities.

    Product selections might explain this patient split. Perhaps producers with good edible products retained their customers and received larger orders from them. Conversely, maybe medical producers offering few edibles lost their patients to the recreational shops and their vast product assortments.

    In summary, Canada’s medical cannabis system experienced big changes after recreational legalization. But it didn’t disappear.

    Will other countries see similar outcomes if they allow recreational cannabis?

    A changing world

    In Europe, for example, The Netherlands is experimenting with recreational sales. Meanwhile, Germany has legalized recreational use but not retail sales. Will those countries experience medical cannabis changes like Canada did?

    Conversely, some countries barely tolerate even medical use. It is very difficult to legally obtain medical cannabis in the United Kingdom, for example, much like in Canada 20 years ago. And France has only conducted a few medical cannabis trials.

    Other countries, like Australia and New Zealand, are somewhere in between. They’re seeing rapid growth in legal medical use and illegal recreational use, but haven’t legalized recreationally. That’s roughly where Canada was 10 years ago.

    Will Canada’s medical and recreational cannabis experiences make these other countries more interested in legalization, or less? Either way, I hope they can learn from our experiences as they chart their own cannabis paths.

    Michael J. Armstrong 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. Canada’s medical cannabis system changed but didn’t disappear after recreational legalization – https://theconversation.com/canadas-medical-cannabis-system-changed-but-didnt-disappear-after-recreational-legalization-240796

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Sen. Donzella James Praises Fulton County Superior Court Ruling Halting Election Hand-Count Requirement

    Source: US State of Georgia

    ATLANTA (October 16, 2024) — Today,Sen. Donzella James (D–Atlanta), Chairwoman of the Senate Standing Committee on Urban Affairs, praised Fulton County Superior Court Judge Robert McBurney’s ruling to stop the State Election Board’s hand-count requirement. The ruling declared the Election Board’s Hand Count Rule to be “too much, too late,” while the Court continues to consider the matter.

    On October 1, Sen. James and fellow Democratic colleagues held a Senate Committee on Urban Affairs meeting to discuss election infrastructure. The committee specifically focused on the Election Board’s hand-count requirement and heard concerns from various Georgia voters and subject experts alike.

    “This court ruling is an important first step toward eliminating an unfunded mandate that would gravely inconvenience Georgia voters, overburden our state’s poll workers, and add an unnecessary expense while we continue to prioritize balancing our state’s budget,” said Sen. Donzella James. “Our committee worked hard to highlight the problems with this last-minute requirement, and I am confident our discussion and the public comment that we held earlier this month were instrumental in starting the conversation that ultimately led to the court’s decision to put the hand-count on hold.”

    More information on the full court case is available here.

    # # # #

    Sen. Donzella James serves as the Chair of the Senate Committee on Urban Affairs. She represents the 35th Senate District, which includes portions of Douglas and Fulton counties. She may be reached by phone at 404.463.1379 or by email at donzella.james@senate.ga.gov

    For all media inquiries, please reach out to SenatePressInquiries@senate.ga.gov.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Four National Film Board of Canada documentaries showcased at DOC NYC. Intimate non-fiction storytelling from the NFB, Canada’s Oscar-winning public film producer.

    Source: Government of Canada News (2)

    Four award-winning National Film Board of Canada (NFB) produced and co-produced documentaries will be featured at DOC NYC in New York City, from November 13 to December 1, 2024.

    October 10, 2024 – Toronto – National Film Board of Canada (NFB)

    Four award-winning National Film Board of Canada (NFB) produced and co-produced documentaries will be featured at DOC NYC in New York City, from November 13 to December 1, 2024.

    America’s largest documentary film festival, DOC NYC will host the NYC premieres of two NFB co-produced feature docs:

    • A Mother Apart (Oya Media Group/NFB) by Laurie Townshend accompaniesBrooklyn-based Jamaican-American poet and LGBTQ+ activist Staceyann Chin as she re-imagines the essential art of mothering—having been abandoned by her own mother;
    • 40 years after vanishing from public view, a trailblazing trans soul singer finally gets her second act in Any Other Way: The Jackie Shane Story (Banger Films/NFB) by Michael Mabbott and Lucah Rosenberg-Lee, executive produced by Elliot Page.

    The festival will also present the US premieres of two NFB shorts:

    Directors will be in attendance at the festival. All four films will be streaming at DOC NYC following their in-person premieres, with online screenings geo-restricted to the United States.

    More about the films

    Come As You Are section
    November 18, 2024, 6:00 p.m., Village East by Angelika
    November 19, 2024, 12:30 p.m., Village East by Angelika

    A Mother Apart by Laurie Townshend (89 min)
    Producers: Alison Duke and Ngardy Conteh George (Oya Media Group); Justine Pimlott (NFB)
    Press kit: mediaspace.nfb.ca/epk/a-mother-apart

    • How do you raise a child when your own mother abandoned you? In a remarkable story of healing and forgiveness, Staceyann Chin, renowned for performances in Def Poetry Slam and hit solo shows like MotherStruck!, radically re-imagines the essential art of mothering. In seeking her elusive mother—a trail that leads to Brooklyn, Montreal, Cologne and, finally, Jamaica—Staceyann and her daughter forge a new sense of home.
    • Winner of the Audience Award for Best Documentary, Best First Feature Award and Best Canadian Feature Award at the Inside Out 2SLGBTQ+ Film Festival, Toronto.
    • Laurie Townshend is a Toronto-based filmmaker, writer and educator. Her films centre on the human capacity to transform small acts of courage into quiet revolutions, as seen in the dramatic short The Railpath Hero (2013, TIFF Black Star Series), the unscripted series Human Frequency Streetdocs (2014) and the award-winning short doc Charley (2016).

    Sonic Cinema section
    November 19, 2024, 6:45 p.m., Village East by Angelika
    November 20, 2024, 4:00 p.m., Village East by Angelika

    Any Other Way: The Jackie Shane Story by Michael Mabbott and Lucah Rosenberg-Lee (99 min)
    Produced by Amanda Burt, Sam Dunn and Scot McFadyen (Banger Films); Michael Mabbott; Justine Pimlott (NFB)
    Executive produced by Scot McFadyen, Sam Dunn, Chanda Chevannes (NFB), Anita Lee (NFB), Elliot Page and Matt Jordan Smith (PAGEBOY Productions), Martin Katz, Nia Long and CJ Mac
    Press kit: mediaspace.nfb.ca/epk/any-other-way-jackie-shane

    • A star is reborn. With an outsize stage presence that eclipsed R&B greats like Etta James and Little Richard, soul singer Jackie Shane was the real deal. Jackie boldly carved a new path as one of music’s trailblazing Black trans performers—but on the edge of stardom, why did she suddenly leave the spotlight?
    • Any Other Way won the Out in the Silence Award at the Frameline International LGBTQ+ Film Festival in San Francisco, the Audience Award for Best Music Documentary at the Nashville Film Festival, and the DGC Special Jury Prize – Canadian Feature Documentary at Hot Docs, where it was also a Top 10 Audience Favourite.
    • Toronto filmmaker Michael Mabbott’s features The Life and Hard Times of Guy Terrifico (Best Canadian First Feature Award) and Citizen Duane both premiered at TIFF. His first documentary, Music Lessons, premiered at Hot Docs.
    • Lucah Rosenberg-Lee is a Toronto speaker, entrepreneur and filmmaker specializing in documentary and LGBTQ+ content. He has produced and directed a variety of projects including Passing and For Nonna Anna, which have screened at TIFF, Inside Out and Sundance.

    Shorts: Our Bodies section
    November 16, 2024, 11:15 a.m., Village East by Angelika
    November 17, 2024, 9:30 p.m., Village East by Angelika

    Am I the skinniest person you’ve ever seen? by Eisha Marjara (22 min)
    Press kit: mediaspace.nfb.ca/epk/am-i-the-skinniest-person-youve-ever-seen
    Producers: Joe Balass (Compass Productions); Ariel Nasr (NFB)

    • “Hey, let’s go on a diet together.” As kids in a small Quebec town, Eisha and Seema were more than sisters, they were soul mates, and a joint diet offered a shared sense of purpose. But their carefree project would take a dark turn, pushing Eisha to the very brink of death. Consumed by anorexia, she found herself battling her own fragile body—stranded between childhood and adulthood. Decades later, Eisha revisits her past in an exquisitely crafted work of auto-ethnography, evoking her unusual youth with aching lyricism.
    • The film has garnered the Betty Youson Award for Best Canadian Short Documentary at the Hot Docs Canadian International Documentary Festival, a short-films qualifying festivalfor the 97th Academy Awards. 
    • Montreal filmmaker Eisha Marjara has made several award-winning films, including Locarno’s Prix de la Semaine de Critique winner Desperately Seeking Helen. Venus (2017), a dramatic comedy, won the EDA Award for Best Feature at the Whistler Film Festival and Best Feature Film at Cinequest, among other accolades. Eisha also authored the acclaimed young adult novel Faerie and is in post-production on her next feature, Calorie.

    Hairy Legs by Andrea Dorfman (17 min)
    Producers: Liz Cowie and Rohan Fernando
    Press kit: mediaspace.nfb.ca/epk/hairy-legs

    • At the age of 13, deciding not to shave her legs led Andrea Dorfman to question and ultimately defy society’s expectations. With charm, warmth and humour, Dorfman’s film Hairy Legs captures the universality of girls exploring gender, curiosity and freedom as they evolve from spending exuberant, carefree days on their bicycles to facing and challenging stereotypes.
    • Winner of the Diversity Award (Film) at the Spark Animation Festival in Vancouver and an Honourable Mention – DGC Award for Best Canadian Animation at the Ottawa International Animation Festival.
    • Halifax filmmaker Andrea Dorfman has written and directed many award-winning documentaries, features and animated films, including the NFB-produced Flawed (2010), Big Mouth (2012) and feature doc The Girls of Meru (2018). Dorfman’s video collaborations with poet-musician Tanya Davis, How to Be Alone (2010) and How to Be at Home (2020), became YouTube sensations.

    – 30 –

    Stay Connected

    Online Screening Room: nfb.ca
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    Curator’s perspective | Director’s notes

    About the NFB

    Lily Robert
    Director, Communications and Public Affairs, NFB
    C.: 514-296-8261
    l.robert@nfb.ca

    MIL OSI Canada News –