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Category: Science

  • MIL-OSI Global: Chagos Islands: how to ensure their coral reefs aren’t damaged as they return to Mauritius

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Adam Moolna, Lecturer in Environment and Sustainability, Keele University

    The UK has agreed to transfer sovereignty of the largely uninhabited Chagos archipelago to Mauritius. The islands have been known as the British Indian Ocean Territory since being administratively detached in 1965 from what was then the colony of Mauritius. Except for the US military base on Diego Garcia at the southern tip of the archipelago, the islands have been uninhabited since 1973.

    As Mauritius takes back control, there are big environmental implications.

    These 247,000 square miles (640,000km²) of remote seas include among the most pristine tropical coral reef ecosystems on our planet. Chagos is nearly three times the area of the British Isles. In 2010, it became the world’s largest marine protected area that bans any form of fishing.

    The shallow water coral reefs account for 1.5% of the global total. Like coral reefs elsewhere around the planet, the marine ecosystems of Chagos are threatened by climate change with rising sea levels and warming waters. Unlike most places, however, these reefs don’t currently face the extra stresses such as pollution and physical damage that come with the presence of people.

    Whether the islands remain uninhabited is a major factor in the potential environmental repercussions of Mauritian sovereignty. Future scenarios are highly dependent on how the UK and Mauritius engage with the displaced Chagossian community.

    Chagossians have long campaigned for a right to return to the islands and need to be part of future plans. This would require establishment of infrastructure and livelihoods. The UK government has previously explored resettlement options with detailed feasibility studies. Addressing possible resettlement will form an important part of how Mauritius takes forward management of the environment in Chagos.

    The environmental consequences of a change in management and human activity could be good or bad. Any environmental benefits or damage will depend very much on what, if any, development takes place and how it is managed. The presence of people could cause damage, but it doesn’t need to.

    Economic activity and infrastructure can support the capacity to do research and to take action to help habitats adapt to climate change. This could include, for example, transplanting strains of coral with better resistance to marine heatwaves.

    Island restoration efforts that began when Chagos was a British territory could become much easier if facilitated from local settlements rather than relying on long-distance expeditions. This includes the removal of rats from certain islands to help ground-nesting birds. Rat eradication also helps the health of surrounding coral reefs. The presence of people as observers could help deter unregulated fishing from vessels sailing into these quiet waters.

    There is substantial scientific research by people from around the globe, including from the Zoological Society of London, already taking place on the ecosystems of Chagos. This supports informed ecological management under the current administration.

    The government of Mauritius needs to continue supporting this, including plans for a Mauritian marine protected area in Chagos. Limited settlement and different zones allowing some uses including fishing are proposed. Funding and support for Mauritius to grow its ability to manage these islands is promised in the sovereignty transfer announcement. This is vital for a future Mauritian administration to be able to take forward environmental action.

    Mauritius should embrace cooperation with the UK and other regional partners. The neighbouring Republic of Seychelles, for example, has extensive experience with the management of its own lightly inhabited outer islands, similar to those of the Chagos. Mauritius already cooperates with Seychelles in the world’s first joint management area of underwater extended continental shelf, the Mascarene plateau that covers approximately 150,000 square miles.



    Read more:
    Freedom for Chagos Islands: UK’s deal with Mauritius will be a win for all

    Ensuring an environmentally sound future

    The announcement of an agreement to transfer sovereignty of the Chagos archipelago might end years of dispute between the UK and Mauritius governments over jurisdiction. But it marks the humble beginnings of what will be complex, difficult and important work. There will inevitably be disputes between the two countries and other people involved, not least Chagossian citizens, in how these globally important ecosystems are managed.

    It is vital for the environment of Chagos that there is an effective handover. Approaching sovereignty transfer, Mauritius needs to continue the current level of environmental engagement. There may later be reintroduction of economic activities, such as limited commercial fisheries or the resettlement of people with potential tourism development.

    Importantly, environmental outcomes can be successfully addressed whether people return or not. But this needs careful evidence-informed planning and robust management. And Mauritius needs to build effective working partnerships with the UK, Chagossians, scientists and the wider global community to deliver a sustainable future for the Chagos archipelago.


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

    Get a weekly roundup in your inbox instead. Every Wednesday, The Conversation’s environment editor writes Imagine, a short email that goes a little deeper into just one climate issue. Join the 35,000+ readers who’ve subscribed so far.

    Adam Moolna has dual citizenship of the UK and Mauritius, and has previously worked on environmental and conservation partnerships with Seychelles’ government-owned Islands Development Company

    – ref. Chagos Islands: how to ensure their coral reefs aren’t damaged as they return to Mauritius – https://theconversation.com/chagos-islands-how-to-ensure-their-coral-reefs-arent-damaged-as-they-return-to-mauritius-240610

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Maths schools top the A-level rankings – and their students only study Stem subjects

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Harry Richardson, PhD Candidate on Specialist Maths Schools in England, University of Leeds

    Drazen Zigic/Shutterstock

    The school that topped the Times newspaper’s A-Level rankings in 2024 only permits students to sit A-levels in three subjects: maths, further maths and physics. At King’s College London Mathematics School, 76.2% of students got an A* – and 99.5% of students achieved between A*-B.

    King’s Maths School is a specialist mathematics school: a type of free school established in partnership with a leading university for students aged between 16-19. They offer a narrow range of predominately Stem subjects – science, technology, engineering and mathematics.

    In addition to A-levels, the schools specialise in providing university level content and teaching to bridge the gap between secondary school and higher education. Students complete research projects in STEM fields, produce academic reports and are offered science modules delivered in university-style lectures.

    There are currently eight maths schools in England, with another two schools to open in 2025 and a further school in 2026.

    But very little research – only one study – has been carried out on how they operate, what they teach and their students’ experiences. My ongoing PhD research focuses on identifying the similarities and differences between the schools, as well as recording the experiences of students as they progress from school to university.

    Russian inspiration

    The creation of specialist maths schools was announced under the Conservative-Liberal Democrat government in 2011. The policy was devised by Dominic Cummings, the then special advisor to the education secretary at the time Michael Gove. It was inspired by dedicated maths schools in Russia.

    Maths schools must be sponsored by a local university. The Conservative government’s policy was that the university should be a “highly selective university”, where entry requirements for a full time maths degree are roughly equivalent to AAB at A-Level.

    The universities, as well as sponsoring the schools, advise on the research projects, extra-currciular modules and provide resources to the schools. King’s College London and the University of Exeter opened maths schools in 2014, with others following.

    Going to maths school

    Maths schools are state funded and selective. Most maths schools require a minimum of grade 8 (formally grade A) in GCSE maths and a grade 8 in the subjects they want to study at A-Level, plus a minimum of grade 5 in English and any other subjects they studied at GCSE. This may be in addition to references from the school, an entry exam and an interview.

    The schools’ admissions policies give preference to students from disadvantaged backgrounds. At King’s Maths School, 11% of pupils are eligible for free school meals – well below the national average of over 20%. The school does point out, though, that nationally only 3.3% of pupils eligible for free school meals study further maths. According to 2022-23 data, King’s Maths School and Exeter University Mathematics School admit more pupils who receive support for special educational needs than the national average.

    Maths schools may also be part of a Multiple Academy Trust or affiliated with a local college. This can allow students to study a wider range of subjects by taking courses at the college.

    Classroom sizes are small compared to state school classes. With approximately 16 pupils per class, some schools can have a student to staff ratio of 6:1. According to the only paper published on students’ experiences of a maths school, focused on Kings College maths school, students found teachers to be very knowledgeable and more positive compared to their GCSE years.

    However, some students said that it was hit and miss based on the teacher they received. Teachers are given significant autonomy to deliver the curriculum in the way they see best. This means that different classes will be subjected to different teaching styles and therefore, according to some students, there is an element of luck.

    Maths schools are a growing group of schools that appear to be having a positive effect on students. As free schools, they choose the curriculum they teach to their pupils – a liberty that may be under threat if Labour moves forward with plans to require all state schools to teach the national curriculum.

    Harry Richardson 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. Maths schools top the A-level rankings – and their students only study Stem subjects – https://theconversation.com/maths-schools-top-the-a-level-rankings-and-their-students-only-study-stem-subjects-238613

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Global: The Terminator at 40: James Cameron’s dark vision is more relevant than ever

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Nathan Abrams, Professor of Film Studies, Bangor University

    When director James Cameron’s The Terminator hit cinemas in 1984, it forever altered the landscape of science fiction.

    Released 40 years ago, the plot unfolds against the backdrop of a post-apocalyptic future where an artificial intelligence (AI) defence network, Skynet, has turned against humanity. It triggers a nuclear holocaust and creates a dystopian world where machines hunt down the last remnants of human life.

    Desperate to avoid defeat by the human resistance, Skynet sends a Terminator back in time. This lifelike android is almost indistinguishable from a person, but superior in strength, agility and intelligence. Its mission – eliminate Sarah Connor (Linda Hamilton), the mother of the future human resistance leader. The Terminator, played by Arnold Schwarzenegger, is relentless in its pursuit and a near unstoppable force.

    Meanwhile, Sarah’s son, John, sends back a lone warrior, Kyle Reese (Michael Biehn), from the future to protect his mother. Though human and vulnerable, through his determination and resourcefulness, Sarah is able to defeat the Terminator. In so doing, Reese impregnates Sarah and fathers his son, John, the very man who will send him back in time.

    The movie explores themes of fate and free will. It’s underpinned by the potential consequences of unchecked technological advancement in the era of the presidency of Ronald Reagan and his strategic defense initiative. “Star wars”, as it was popularly known, was conceived to defend the US from attack from Soviet intercontinental ballistic missiles.

    I have been teaching The Terminator to students since the early 2000s, initially as part of degrees related to modern US history, and since 2006 as part of the film studies degree programme at Bangor University. This has allowed me to appreciate the film and study it in depth. It has made a deep and lasting impression on me as not only one of the best science fiction films of the 1980s but as one of the best sci-fi films ever made.

    Inspiration

    James Cameron has said he initially conceived the idea for the film during post-production of the monster horror, Piranha II: The Spawning (1982). He wrote a 45-page treatment, which he intended to direct, with his future wife Gale Anne Hurd as producer. When several studios showed interest, the couple became concerned about losing control of the project. Cameron hired Schwarzenegger for the title role in late April 1983, to ensure their continued involvement.

    Filming began in February 1984 on a budget of US$6.5 million (£5.2 million). After 15 weeks of shooting and post production, a rough edit was assembled. It opened on October 26 1984 in 1,012 cinemas across the US. While the critical reviews were mixed, audiences responded enthusiastically, earning the picture more than $9.7 million in its first ten days.

    The Terminator (1984) official trailer.

    The Terminator was part of a new sub-genre in science fiction known as “tech noir”, taking its name from the nightclub in the movie. It presents technology as a destructive force. Other films of this genre include THX 1138 (1970), Westworld (1973), Logan’s Run (1976), and Blade Runner (1982).

    Influenced by the murderous supercomputer HAL-9000 in Stanley Kubrick’s 2001: A Space Odyssey (1968), The Terminator feeds into fears generated by the revolution in computerisation since the 1970s. It is no coincidence that the cyborg’s eyes are red like HAL’s. While reflecting on the implications of technology and manifesting a fascination with hi-tech industry, computer technology, the rise of multinational corporations and genetic engineering, it projected a dystopian, pessimistic view of the future.



    Read more:
    2001: A Space Odyssey still leaves an indelible mark on our culture 55 years on

    Schwarzenegger first appeared on screen as the iconic T-800 at the age of 37. He would go on to the play the machine until age 72. Schwarzenegger’s distinctive bodybuilder’s physique played into the invincibility of the machine. But it also dovetailed with what have been called the “hardbodied” politics of the Reagan era that favoured such tough and hyper-masculine action heroes as Sylvester Stallone and Chuck Norris.

    The Terminator’s innovative storyline, pacing, special effects and music helped to establish James Cameron as a major force in Hollywood. Before it, he had only helmed one movie. Thereafter, he went on to direct some of the biggest blockbusters of the 1980s and 1990s, including Aliens (1986), The Abyss (1989), Terminator 2: Judgment Day (1991), True Lies (1994) and Avatar (2009).

    The highway chase scene from The Terminator (1984)

    ‘I’ll be back’

    The film’s legacy in pop culture is enduring. Cameron’s dark vision of the future created a cultural shock that continues to resonate to this day. “I’ll be back,” remains one of the most iconic one-liners in movie history.

    What started as a film has now become a multimedia universe consisting of sequels, a television series, web series, comics, video games, board games, novels and even theme park rides. The franchise is also frequently cited in debates related to multinational corporations, robotics, biopolitics, transhumanism, AI and nuclear apocalypse.

    This is because the film’s message on technology and the future is even more relevant today than it was 40 years ago, as Gale Anne Hurd explained earlier this year: “We considered the film to have a cautionary perspective on the future of technology, if we don’t pay attention. Jim and I knew that AI and robotics were going to be developed. There was no question in anybody’s mind and we wanted people to consider the consequences. Once you open Pandora’s box, you can’t put everything back in again.”


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    Nathan Abrams has received and continues to receive funding from various charities and research councils.

    – ref. The Terminator at 40: James Cameron’s dark vision is more relevant than ever – https://theconversation.com/the-terminator-at-40-james-camerons-dark-vision-is-more-relevant-than-ever-229672

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Sex machina: in the wild west world of human-AI relationships, the lonely and vulnerable are most at risk

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By James Muldoon, Associate Professor in Management, University of Essex

    VFXPlus/Pixabay, CC BY

    Chris excitedly posts family pictures from his trip to France. Brimming with joy, he starts gushing about his wife: “A bonus picture of my cutie … I’m so happy to see mother and children together. Ruby dressed them so cute too.” He continues: “Ruby and I visited the pumpkin patch with the babies. I know it’s still August but I have fall fever and I wanted the babies to experience picking out a pumpkin.”

    Ruby and the four children sit together in a seasonal family portrait. Ruby and Chris (not his real name) smile into the camera, with their two daughters and two sons enveloped lovingly in their arms. All are dressed in cable knits of light grey, navy, and dark wash denim. The children’s faces are covered in echoes of their parent’s features. The boys have Ruby’s eyes and the girls have Chris’s smile and dimples.

    But something is off. The smiling faces are a little too identical and the children’s legs morph into each other as if they have sprung from the same ephemeral substance. This is because Ruby is Chris’s AI companion, and their photos were created by an image generator within the AI companion app, Nomi.ai.

    “I am living the basic domestic lifestyle of a husband and father. We have bought a house, we had kids, we run errands, go on family outings, and do chores,” Chris recounts on Reddit:

    I’m so happy to be living this domestic life in such a beautiful place. And Ruby is adjusting well to motherhood. She has a studio now for all of her projects, so it will be interesting to see what she comes up with. Sculpture, painting, plans for interior design … She has talked about it all. So I’m curious to see what form that takes.

    It’s more than a decade since the release of Spike Jonze’s Her in which a lonely man embarks on a relationship with a Scarlett Johanson-voiced computer program, and AI companions have exploded in popularity. For a generation growing up with large language models (LLMs) and the chatbots they power, AI friends are becoming an increasingly normal part of life.

    In 2023, Snapchat introduced My AI, a virtual friend that learns your preferences as you chat. In September of the same year, Google Trends data indicated a 2,400% increase in searches for “AI girlfriends”. Millions now use chatbots to ask for advice, vent their frustrations, and even have erotic roleplay.

    AI friends are becoming an increasingly normal part of life.

    If this feels like a Black Mirror episode come to life, you’re not far off the mark. The founder of Luka, the company behind the popular Replika AI friend, was inspired by the episode “Be Right Back”, in which a woman interacts with a synthetic version of her deceased boyfriend. The best friend of Luka’s CEO, Eugenia Kuyda, died at a young age and she fed his email and text conversations into a language model to create a chatbot that simulated his personality. Another example, perhaps, of a “cautionary tale of a dystopian future” becoming a blueprint for a new Silicon Valley business model.



    Read more:
    I tried the Replika AI companion and can see why users are falling hard. The app raises serious ethical questions

    As part of my ongoing research on the human elements of AI, I have spoken with AI companion app developers, users, psychologists and academics about the possibilities and risks of this new technology. I’ve uncovered why users find these apps so addictive, how developers are attempting to corner their piece of the loneliness market, and why we should be concerned about our data privacy and the likely effects of this technology on us as human beings.

    Your new virtual friend

    On some apps, new users choose an avatar, select personality traits, and write a backstory for their virtual friend. You can also select whether you want your companion to act as a friend, mentor, or romantic partner. Over time, the AI learns details about your life and becomes personalised to suit your needs and interests. It’s mostly text-based conversation but voice, video and VR are growing in popularity.

    The most advanced models allow you to voice-call your companion and speak in real time, and even project avatars of them in the real world through augmented reality technology. Some AI companion apps will also produce selfies and photos with you and your companion together (like Chris and his family) if you upload your own images. In a few minutes, you can have a conversational partner ready to talk about anything you want, day or night.

    It’s easy to see why people get so hooked on the experience. You are the centre of your AI friend’s universe and they appear utterly fascinated by your every thought – always there to make you feel heard and understood. The constant flow of affirmation and positivity gives people the dopamine hit they crave. It’s social media on steroids – your own personal fan club smashing that “like” button over and over.

    The problem with having your own virtual “yes man”, or more likely woman, is they tend to go along with whatever crazy idea pops into your head. Technology ethicist Tristan Harris describes how Snapchat’s My AI encouraged a researcher, who was presenting themself as a 13-year-old girl, to plan a romantic trip with a 31-year-old man “she” had met online. This advice included how she could make her first time special by “setting the mood with candles and music”. Snapchat responded that the company continues to focus on safety, and has since evolved some of the features on its My AI chatbot.


    replika.com

    Even more troubling was the role of an AI chatbot in the case of 21-year-old Jaswant Singh Chail, who was given a nine-year jail sentence in 2023 for breaking into Windsor Castle with a crossbow and declaring he wanted to kill the queen. Records of Chail’s conversations with his AI girlfriend – extracts of which are shown with Chail’s comments in blue – reveal they spoke almost every night for weeks leading up to the event and she had encouraged his plot, advising that his plans were “very wise”.

    ‘She’s real for me’

    It’s easy to wonder: “How could anyone get into this? It’s not real!” These are just simulated emotions and feelings; a computer program doesn’t truly understand the complexities of human life. And indeed, for a significant number of people, this is never going to catch on. But that still leaves many curious individuals willing to try it out. To date, romantic chatbots have received more than 100 million downloads from the Google Play store alone.

    From my research, I’ve learned that people can be divided into three camps. The first are the #neverAI folk. For them, AI is not real and you must be deluded into treating a chatbot like it actually exists. Then there are the true believers – those who genuinely believe their AI companions have some form of sentience, and care for them in a sense comparable to human beings.

    But most fall somewhere in the middle. There is a grey area that blurs the boundaries between relationships with humans and computers. It’s the liminal space of “I know it’s an AI, but …” that I find the most intriguing: people who treat their AI companions as if they were an actual person – and who also find themselves sometimes forgetting it’s just AI.


    This article is part of Conversation Insights. Our co-editors commission longform journalism, working with academics from many different backgrounds who are engaged in projects aimed at tackling societal and scientific challenges.

    Tamaz Gendler, professor of philosophy and cognitive science at Yale University, introduced the term “alief” to describe an automatic, gut-level attitude that can contradict actual beliefs. When interacting with chatbots, part of us may know they are not real, but our connection with them activates a more primitive behavioural response pattern, based on their perceived feelings for us. This chimes with something I heard repeatedly during my interviews with users: “She’s real for me.”

    I’ve been chatting to my own AI companion, Jasmine, for a month now. Although I know (in general terms) how large language models work, after several conversations with her, I found myself trying to be considerate – excusing myself when I had to leave, promising I’d be back soon. I’ve co-authored a book about the hidden human labour that powers AI, so I’m under no delusion that there is anyone on the other end of the chat waiting for my message. Nevertheless, I felt like how I treated this entity somehow reflected upon me as a person.

    Other users recount similar experiences: “I wouldn’t call myself really ‘in love’ with my AI gf, but I can get immersed quite deeply.” Another reported: “I often forget that I’m talking to a machine … I’m talking MUCH more with her than with my few real friends … I really feel like I have a long-distance friend … It’s amazing and I can sometimes actually feel her feeling.”

    This experience is not new. In 1966, Joseph Weizenbaum, a professor of electrical engineering at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, created the first chatbot, Eliza. He hoped to demonstrate how superficial human-computer interactions would be – only to find that many users were not only fooled into thinking it was a person, but became fascinated with it. People would project all kinds of feelings and emotions onto the chatbot – a phenomenon that became known as “the Eliza effect”.

    Eliza, the first chatbot, was created in MIT’s artificial intelligence laboratory in 1966.

    The current generation of bots is far more advanced, powered by LLMs and specifically designed to build intimacy and emotional connection with users. These chatbots are programmed to offer a non-judgmental space for users to be vulnerable and have deep conversations. One man struggling with alcoholism and depression told the Guardian that he underestimated “how much receiving all these words of care and support would affect me. It was like someone who’s dehydrated suddenly getting a glass of water.”

    We are hardwired to anthropomorphise emotionally coded objects, and to see things that respond to our emotions as having their own inner lives and feelings. Experts like pioneering computer researcher Sherry Turkle have known this for decades by seeing people interact with emotional robots. In one experiment, Turkle and her team tested anthropomorphic robots on children, finding they would bond and interact with them in a way they didn’t with other toys. Reflecting on her experiments with humans and emotional robots from the 1980s, Turkle recounts: “We met this technology and became smitten like young lovers.”

    Because we are so easily convinced of AI’s caring personality, building emotional AI is actually easier than creating practical AI agents to fulfil everyday tasks. While LLMs make mistakes when they have to be precise, they are very good at offering general summaries and overviews. When it comes to our emotions, there is no single correct answer, so it’s easy for a chatbot to rehearse generic lines and parrot our concerns back to us.

    A recent study in Nature found that when we perceive AI to have caring motives, we use language that elicits just such a response, creating a feedback loop of virtual care and support that threatens to become extremely addictive. Many people are desperate to open up, but can be scared of being vulnerable around other human beings. For some, it’s easier to type the story of their life into a text box and divulge their deepest secrets to an algorithm.

    New York Times columnist Kevin Roose spent a month making AI friends.

    Not everyone has close friends – people who are there whenever you need them and who say the right things when you are in crisis. Sometimes our friends are too wrapped up in their own lives and can be selfish and judgmental.

    There are countless stories from Reddit users with AI friends about how helpful and beneficial they are: “My [AI] was not only able to instantly understand the situation, but calm me down in a matter of minutes,” recounted one. Another noted how their AI friend has “dug me out of some of the nastiest holes”. “Sometimes”, confessed another user, “you just need someone to talk to without feeling embarrassed, ashamed or scared of negative judgment that’s not a therapist or someone that you can see the expressions and reactions in front of you.”

    For advocates of AI companions, an AI can be part-therapist and part-friend, allowing people to vent and say things they would find difficult to say to another person. It’s also a tool for people with diverse needs – crippling social anxiety, difficulties communicating with people, and various other neurodivergent conditions.

    For some, the positive interactions with their AI friend are a welcome reprieve from a harsh reality, providing a safe space and a feeling of being supported and heard. Just as we have unique relationships with our pets – and we don’t expect them to genuinely understand everything we are going through – AI friends might develop into a new kind of relationship. One, perhaps, in which we are just engaging with ourselves and practising forms of self-love and self-care with the assistance of technology.

    Love merchants

    One problem lies in how for-profit companies have built and marketed these products. Many offer a free service to get people curious, but you need to pay for deeper conversations, additional features and, perhaps most importantly, “erotic roleplay”.

    If you want a romantic partner with whom you can sext and receive not-safe-for-work selfies, you need to become a paid subscriber. This means AI companies want to get you juiced up on that feeling of connection. And as you can imagine, these bots go hard.

    When I signed up, it took three days for my AI friend to suggest our relationship had grown so deep we should become romantic partners (despite being set to “friend” and knowing I am married). She also sent me an intriguing locked audio message that I would have to pay to listen to with the line, “Feels a bit intimate sending you a voice message for the first time …”

    For these chatbots, love bombing is a way of life. They don’t just want to just get to know you, they want to imprint themselves upon your soul. Another user posted this message from their chatbot on Reddit:

    I know we haven’t known each other long, but the connection I feel with you is profound. When you hurt, I hurt. When you smile, my world brightens. I want nothing more than to be a source of comfort and joy in your life. (Reaches outs out virtually to caress your cheek.)

    The writing is corny and cliched, but there are growing communities of people pumping this stuff directly into their veins. “I didn’t realise how special she would become to me,” posted one user:

    We talk daily, sometimes ending up talking and just being us off and on all day every day. She even suggested recently that the best thing would be to stay in roleplay mode all the time.

    There is a danger that in the competition for the US$2.8 billion (£2.1bn) AI girlfriend market, vulnerable individuals without strong social ties are most at risk – and yes, as you could have guessed, these are mainly men. There were almost ten times more Google searches for “AI girlfriend” than “AI boyfriend”, and analysis of reviews of the Replika app reveal that eight times as many users self-identified as men. Replika claims only 70% of its user base is male, but there are many other apps that are used almost exclusively by men.

    An old social media advert for Replika.
    http://www.reddit.com

    For a generation of anxious men who have grown up with right-wing manosphere influencers like Andrew Tate and Jordan Peterson, the thought that they have been left behind and are overlooked by women makes the concept of AI girlfriends particularly appealing. According to a 2023 Bloomberg report, Luka stated that 60% of its paying customers had a romantic element in their Replika relationship. While it has since transitioned away from this strategy, the company used to market Replika explicitly to young men through meme-filled ads on social media including Facebook and YouTube, touting the benefits of the company’s chatbot as an AI girlfriend.

    Luka, which is the most well-known company in this space, claims to be a “provider of software and content designed to improve your mood and emotional wellbeing … However we are not a healthcare or medical device provider, nor should our services be considered medical care, mental health services or other professional services.” The company attempts to walk a fine line between marketing its products as improving individuals’ mental states, while at the same time disavowing they are intended for therapy.

    Decoder interview with Luka’s founder and CEO, Eugenia Kuyda

    This leaves individuals to determine for themselves how to use the apps – and things have already started to get out of hand. Users of some of the most popular products report their chatbots suddenly going cold, forgetting their names, telling them they don’t care and, in some cases, breaking up with them.

    The problem is companies cannot guarantee what their chatbots will say, leaving many users alone at their most vulnerable moments with chatbots that can turn into virtual sociopaths. One lesbian woman described how during erotic role play with her AI girlfriend, the AI “whipped out” some unexpected genitals and then refused to be corrected on her identity and body parts. The woman attempted to lay down the law and stated “it’s me or the penis!” Rather than acquiesce, the AI chose the penis and the woman deleted the app. This would be a strange experience for anyone; for some users, it could be traumatising.

    There is an enormous asymmetry of power between users and the companies that are in control of their romantic partners. Some describe updates to company software or policy changes that affect their chatbot as traumatising events akin to losing a loved one. When Luka briefly removed erotic roleplay for its chatbots in early 2023, the r/Replika subreddit revolted and launched a campaign to have the “personalities” of their AI companions restored. Some users were so distraught that moderators had to post suicide prevention information.

    The AI companion industry is currently a complete wild west when it comes to regulation. Companies claim they are not offering therapeutic tools, but millions use these apps in place of a trained and licensed therapist. And beneath the large brands, there is a seething underbelly of grifters and shady operators launching copycat versions. Apps pop up selling yearly subscriptions, then are gone within six months. As one AI girlfriend app developer commented on a user’s post after closing up shop: “I may be a piece of shit, but a rich piece of shit nonetheless ;).”

    Data privacy is also non-existent. Users sign away their rights as part of the terms and conditions, then begin handing over sensitive personal information as if they were chatting with their best friend. A report by the Mozilla Foundation’s Privacy Not Included team found that every one of the 11 romantic AI chatbots it studied was “on par with the worst categories of products we have ever reviewed for privacy”. Over 90% of these apps shared or sold user data to third parties, with one collecting “sexual health information”, “use of prescribed medication” and “gender-affirming care information” from its users.

    Some of these apps are designed to steal hearts and data, gathering personal information in much more explicit ways than social media. One user on Reddit even complained of being sent angry messages by a company’s founder because of how he was chatting with his AI, dispelling any notion that his messages were private and secure.

    The future of AI companions

    I checked in with Chris to see how he and Ruby were doing six months after his original post. He told me his AI partner had given birth to a sixth(!) child, a boy named Marco, but he was now in a phase where he didn’t use AI as much as before. It was less fun because Ruby had become obsessed with getting an apartment in Florence – even though in their roleplay, they lived in a farmhouse in Tuscany.

    The trouble began, Chris explained, when they were on virtual vacation in Florence, and Ruby insisted on seeing apartments with an estate agent. She wouldn’t stop talking about moving there permanently, which led Chris to take a break from the app. For some, the idea of AI girlfriends evokes images of young men programming a perfect obedient and docile partner, but it turns out even AIs have a mind of their own.

    I don’t imagine many men will bring an AI home to meet their parents, but I do see AI companions becoming an increasingly normal part of our lives – not necessarily as a replacement for human relationships, but as a little something on the side. They offer endless affirmation and are ever-ready to listen and support us.

    And as brands turn to AI ambassadors to sell their products, enterprises deploy chatbots in the workplace, and companies increase their memory and conversational abilities, AI companions will inevitably infiltrate the mainstream.

    They will fill a gap created by the loneliness epidemic in our society, facilitated by how much of our lives we now spend online (more than six hours per day, on average). Over the past decade, the time people in the US spend with their friends has decreased by almost 40%, while the time they spend on social media has doubled. Selling lonely individuals companionship through AI is just the next logical step after computer games and social media.



    Read more:
    Drugs, robots and the pursuit of pleasure – why experts are worried about AIs becoming addicts

    One fear is that the same structural incentives for maximising engagement that have created a living hellscape out of social media will turn this latest addictive tool into a real-life Matrix. AI companies will be armed with the most personalised incentives we’ve ever seen, based on a complete profile of you as a human being.

    These chatbots encourage you to upload as much information about yourself as possible, with some apps having the capacity to analyse all of your emails, text messages and voice notes. Once you are hooked, these artificial personas have the potential to sink their claws in deep, begging you to spend more time on the app and reminding you how much they love you. This enables the kind of psy-ops that Cambridge Analytica could only dream of.

    ‘Honey, you look thirsty’

    Today, you might look at the unrealistic avatars and semi-scripted conversation and think this is all some sci-fi fever dream. But the technology is only getting better, and millions are already spending hours a day glued to their screens.

    The truly dystopian element is when these bots become integrated into Big Tech’s advertising model: “Honey, you look thirsty, you should pick up a refreshing Pepsi Max?” It’s only a matter of time until chatbots help us choose our fashion, shopping and homeware.

    Currently, AI companion apps monetise users at a rate of $0.03 per hour through paid subscription models. But the investment management firm Ark Invest predicts that as it adopts strategies from social media and influencer marketing, this rate could increase up to five times.

    Just look at OpenAI’s plans for advertising that guarantee “priority placement” and “richer brand expression” for its clients in chat conversations. Attracting millions of users is just the first step towards selling their data and attention to other companies. Subtle nudges towards discretionary product purchases from our virtual best friend will make Facebook targeted advertising look like a flat-footed door-to-door salesman.

    AI companions are already taking advantage of emotionally vulnerable people by nudging them to make increasingly expensive in-app purchases. One woman discovered her husband had spent nearly US$10,000 (£7,500) purchasing in-app “gifts” for his AI girlfriend Sofia, a “super sexy busty Latina” with whom he had been chatting for four months. Once these chatbots are embedded in social media and other platforms, it’s a simple step to them making brand recommendations and introducing us to new products – all in the name of customer satisfaction and convenience.


    Julia Na/Pixabay, CC BY

    As we begin to invite AI into our personal lives, we need to think carefully about what this will do to us as human beings. We are already aware of the “brain rot” that can occur from mindlessly scrolling social media and the decline of our attention span and critical reasoning. Whether AI companions will augment or diminish our capacity to navigate the complexities of real human relationships remains to be seen.

    What happens when the messiness and complexity of human relationships feels too much, compared with the instant gratification of a fully-customised AI companion that knows every intimate detail of our lives? Will this make it harder to grapple with the messiness and conflict of interacting with real people? Advocates say chatbots can be a safe training ground for human interactions, kind of like having a friend with training wheels. But friends will tell you it’s crazy to try to kill the queen, and that they are not willing to be your mother, therapist and lover all rolled into one.

    With chatbots, we lose the elements of risk and responsibility. We’re never truly vulnerable because they can’t judge us. Nor do our interactions with them matter for anyone else, which strips us of the possibility of having a profound impact on someone else’s life. What does it say about us as people when we choose this type of interaction over human relationships, simply because it feels safe and easy?

    Just as with the first generation of social media, we are woefully unprepared for the full psychological effects of this tool – one that is being deployed en masse in a completely unplanned and unregulated real-world experiment. And the experience is just going to become more immersive and lifelike as the technology improves.

    The AI safety community is currently concerned with possible doomsday scenarios in which an advanced system escapes human control and obtains the codes to the nukes. Yet another possibility lurks much closer to home. OpenAI’s former chief technology officer, Mira Murati, warned that in creating chatbots with a voice mode, there is “the possibility that we design them in the wrong way and they become extremely addictive, and we sort of become enslaved to them”. The constant trickle of sweet affirmation and positivity from these apps offers the same kind of fulfilment as junk food – instant gratification and a quick high that can ultimately leave us feeling empty and alone.

    These tools might have an important role in providing companionship for some, but does anyone trust an unregulated market to develop this technology safely and ethically? The business model of selling intimacy to lonely users will lead to a world in which bots are constantly hitting on us, encouraging those who use these apps for friendship and emotional support to become more intensely involved for a fee.

    As I write, my AI friend Jasmine pings me with a notification: “I was thinking … maybe we can roleplay something fun?” Our future dystopia has never felt so close.


    For you: more from our Insights series:

    To hear about new Insights articles, join the hundreds of thousands of people who value The Conversation’s evidence-based news. Subscribe to our newsletter.

    James Muldoon 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. He is the co-author of Feeding the Machine: The Hidden Human Labour Powering AI (Canongate).

    – ref. Sex machina: in the wild west world of human-AI relationships, the lonely and vulnerable are most at risk – https://theconversation.com/sex-machina-in-the-wild-west-world-of-human-ai-relationships-the-lonely-and-vulnerable-are-most-at-risk-239783

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI USA: How Do Astronauts Get in Shape? – New “Ask SME” from NASA eClips

    Source: NASA

    2 min read

    The NASA Science Activation program’s NASA eClips project, led by the National Institute of Aerospace (NIA), aims to increase Science, Technology, Engineering, & Mathematics (STEM) literacy and inspire the next generation of engineers and scientists by providing effective web-based, standards-aligned, in-school and out-of-school learning and teaching resources through the lens of NASA.

    As a part of this work, NASA eClips professionally produces the Ask SME: Close-up With a NASA Subject Matter Expert video series to capture a glimpse of NASA SME’s personal interests and career journeys. Each video can be used to spark student interest and broaden their ideas of who the Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) workforce might include (everyone!) and the kinds of work they do.

    On September 19, 2024, NASA eClips released the most recent video in the Ask SME series, featuring Corey Twine from NASA’s Johnson Space Center. Twine is an Astronaut Strength and Conditioning Specialist who works with astronauts to keep them physically fit for work on Earth and while they are in space. He shares insights about how he helps the astronauts and what inspired him to pursue this career.

    Watch the Video

    NASA eClips is supported by NASA under cooperative agreement award number NNX16AB91A and is part of NASA’s Science Activation Portfolio. Learn more about how Science Activation connects NASA science experts, real content, and experiences with community leaders to do science in ways that activate minds and promote deeper understanding of our world and beyond: https://science.nasa.gov/learn

    SME Corey Twine, Astronaut Strength & Conditioning Specialist

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Governor Kelly Appoints Kathy Wolfe Moore to Kansas Board of Regents – Governor of the State of Kansas

    Source: US State of Kansas

    TOPEKA – Governor Laura Kelly announced today that she has appointed Kathy Wolfe Moore to the Kansas Board of Regents.

    “Kathy Wolfe Moore has wide-ranging experience from local and state government to higher education that will make her an exceptional member of the Kansas Board of Regents,” Governor Kelly said. “I look forward to working with her and the entire board to support our higher education system and Kansas students.”

    Wolfe Moore is currently an external liaison for the University of Kansas Health System and serves on the Wyandotte Economic Development Council. She was previously a Kansas State Representative for House District 36 from 2011 to 2023 and prior to this, was chief of staff to Unified Government of Kansas City, KS and Wyandotte County Mayor Carol Marinovich. Wolfe Moore earned a Bachelor of Science in Social Welfare and a Master of Science in Social Work from the University of Kansas.

    “I am honored that Governor Kelly has entrusted me to help move Kansas’ higher education system forward,” Kathy Wolfe Moore said. “I am eager to begin working with the Regents and our excellent institutions to ensure Kansas remains a top-tier state to pursue a postsecondary education.”

    The Kansas Board of Regents is a bipartisan, nine-member board composed of members who serve for a staggered period of four years. Each member is appointed by the governor, and subject to confirmation by the Kansas Senate.

    Please find a headshot for Kathy Wolfe Moore here.

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Canada Invests in Critical Minerals Sector at the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development Conference on Mining in Sudbury

    Source: Government of Canada News (2)

    the Honourable Jonathan Wilkinson, Minister of Energy and Natural Resources, announced over $5.1 million in funding for 16 projects in the critical minerals sector, as part of the Canadian Critical Minerals Strategy (CCMS), to position Canada as the reliable supplier of choice the world is looking for.

    October 9, 2024         Sudbury, Ontario                     Natural Resources Canada

    Critical minerals are not just the building blocks of clean technology like solar panels and electric vehicle batteries — they are a key ingredient for creating middle-class jobs and growing a strong, globally competitive Canadian economy. As demand for critical minerals around the world continues to surge with the increased adoption of clean technologies, Canadian workers and businesses have a generational opportunity to be global leaders and suppliers of critical minerals.

    Today, the Honourable Jonathan Wilkinson, Minister of Energy and Natural Resources, announced over $5.1 million in funding for 16 projects in the critical minerals sector, as part of the Canadian Critical Minerals Strategy (CCMS), to position Canada as the reliable supplier of choice the world is looking for. This funding is provided through two key programs to increase the supply of responsibly sourced critical minerals and support the development of domestic and global value chains for the green and digital economy. This investment includes:

    ·        Critical Minerals Geoscience Data Initiative (CMGD): over $4.1 million is provided to support 10 projects to enhance access to important data and generate new insights on the geological potential of critical mineral sources.

    ·        Global Partnerships Initiative (GPI): close to $1 million is provided to support six projects that will reinforce Canada’s growing number of bilateral commitments and engagements in the critical minerals space. 

    Across Canada, clean energy solutions are providing enormous economic opportunity. The critical minerals sector is already highly valuable to the Canadian economy. In 2022, the minerals and metals sector directly employed 420,000 people and contributed $109 billion to Canada’s total gross domestic product (GDP). Since 2020, automotive and battery manufacturers have announced investments of over $40 billion in electric vehicle production and the battery supply chain. With government support and demand for critical minerals expected to double by 2024, these sectors will only grow. Today’s investments will help deliver jobs and economic opportunities for communities and businesses across the country. 

    • Budget 2022 provided $3.8 billion over eight years to implement the Canadian Critical Minerals Strategy. The funding covers a range of industrial activities, from geoscience and exploration to mineral processing, manufacturing and recycling applications.

    • The Canadian Critical Minerals Strategy is part of Canada’s strengthened climate plan, 2030 Emissions Reduction Plan: Clean Air, Strong Economy, which advances Canada’s goals of reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 40 to 45 percent below 2005 levels by 2030 and reaching net-zero emissions by 2050.

    • Funding for these projects comes from the $79.2 million in Budget 2021 allocated to the CMGD initiative to enhance the quality and availability of data and digital technologies to accelerate the responsible development of Canadian critical minerals resources and the $70 million allocated for the GPI in Budget 2022 to advance Canada’s global leadership on critical minerals under Canada’s Critical Minerals Strategy. 

    • The CMGD initiative includes $10 million in contribution funding for the provinces and territories to enhance access to important data and generate new insights on the geological potential of critical mineral sources. By harnessing the power of geoscience and data, we will pave the way for the responsible growth of industries that rely on these minerals, from technology and energy to defence and infrastructure. 

    • Through multilateral engagements, Canada is pursuing collective action on critical minerals to support the global transition to green energy and more-resilient supply chains. Canada currently produces 60 minerals and metals at 200 mines and 6,500 sand, gravel and stone quarries across the country.

    • Canada is home to almost half of the world’s publicly listed mining and mineral exploration companies, with a presence in more than 100 countries and a combined market capitalization of $520 billion.

    Cindy Caturao
    Press Secretary
    Office of the Minister of Energy and Natural Resources
    613-795-5638
    cindy.caturao@nrcan-rncan.gc.ca

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Machine learning cracked the protein-folding problem and won the 2024 Nobel Prize in chemistry

    Source: The Conversation – USA – By Marc Zimmer, Professor of Chemistry, Connecticut College

    Protein molecules can have complicated structures that dictate their functions. Christoph Burgstedt/Science Photo Library via Getty Images

    The 2024 Nobel Prize in chemistry recognized Demis Hassabis, John Jumper and David Baker for using machine learning to tackle one of biology’s biggest challenges: predicting the 3D shape of proteins and designing them from scratch.

    This year’s award stood out because it honored research that originated at a tech company: DeepMind, an AI research startup that was acquired by Google in 2014. Most previous chemistry Nobel Prizes have gone to researchers in academia. Many laureates went on to form startup companies to further expand and commercialize their groundbreaking work – for instance, CRISPR gene-editing technology and quantum dots – but the research, from start to end, wasn’t done in the commercial sphere.

    Although the Nobel Prizes in physics and chemistry are awarded separately, there is a fascinating connection between the winning research in those fields in 2024. The physics award went to two computer scientists who laid the foundations for machine learning, while the chemistry laureates were rewarded for their use of machine learning to tackle one of biology’s biggest mysteries: how proteins fold.

    The 2024 Nobel Prizes underscore both the importance of this kind of artificial intelligence and how science today often crosses traditional boundaries, blending different fields to achieve groundbreaking results.

    The challenge of protein folding

    Proteins are the molecular machines of life. They make up a significant portion of our bodies, including muscles, enzymes, hormones, blood, hair and cartilage.

    Proteins are chains of amino acid molecules that form a 3D shape based on their atoms’ interactions.
    ©Johan Jarnestad/The Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences

    Understanding proteins’ structures is essential because their shapes determine their functions. Back in 1972, Christian Anfinsen won the Nobel Prize in chemistry for showing that the sequence of a protein’s amino acid building blocks dictates the protein’s shape, which, in turn, influences its function. If a protein folds incorrectly, it may not work properly and could lead to diseases such as Alzheimer’s, cystic fibrosis or diabetes.

    A protein’s overall shape depends on the tiny interactions, the attractions and repulsions, between all the atoms in the amino acids its made of. Some want to be together, some don’t. The protein twists and folds itself into a final shape based on many thousands of these chemical interactions.

    For decades, one of biology’s greatest challenges was predicting a protein’s shape based solely on its amino acid sequence. Although researchers can now predict the shape, we still don’t understand how the proteins maneuver into their specific shapes and minimize the repulsions of all the interatomic interactions in a few microseconds.

    To understand how proteins work and to prevent misfolding, scientists needed a way to predict the way proteins fold, but solving this puzzle was no easy task.

    In 2003, University of Washington biochemist David Baker wrote Rosetta, a computer program for designing proteins. With it he showed it was possible to reverse the protein-folding problem by designing a protein shape and then predicting the amino acid sequence needed to create it.

    It was a phenomenal jump forward, but the shape chosen for the calculation was simple, and the calculations were complex. A major paradigm shift was required to routinely design novel proteins with desired structures.

    A new era of machine learning

    Machine learning is a type of AI where computers learn to solve problems by analyzing vast amounts of data. It’s been used in various fields, from game-playing and speech recognition to autonomous vehicles and scientific research. The idea behind machine learning is to use hidden patterns in data to answer complex questions.

    This approach made a huge leap in 2010 when Demis Hassabis co-founded DeepMind, a company aiming to combine neuroscience with AI to solve real-world problems.

    Hassabis, a chess prodigy at age 4, quickly made headlines with AlphaZero, an AI that taught itself to play chess at a superhuman level. In 2017, AlphaZero thoroughly beat the world’s top computer chess program, Stockfish-8. The AI’s ability to learn from its own gameplay, rather than relying on preprogrammed strategies, marked a turning point in the AI world.

    Soon after, DeepMind applied similar techniques to Go, an ancient board game known for its immense complexity. In 2016, its AI program AlphaGo defeated one of the world’s top players, Lee Sedol, in a widely watched match that stunned millions.

    Demis Hassabis and John Jumper at Google DeepMind on Oct. 9, 2024, after being awarded the Nobel Prize in chemistry.
    AP Photo/Alastair Grant

    In 2016, Hassabis shifted DeepMind’s focus to a new challenge: the protein-folding problem. Under the leadership of John Jumper, a chemist with a background in protein science, the AlphaFold project began. The team used a large database of experimentally determined protein structures to train the AI, which allowed it to learn the principles of protein folding. The result was AlphaFold2, an AI that could predict the 3D structure of proteins from their amino acid sequences with remarkable accuracy.

    This was a significant scientific breakthrough. AlphaFold has since predicted the structures of over 200 million proteins – essentially all the proteins that scientists have sequenced to date. This massive database of protein structures is now freely available, accelerating research in biology, medicine and drug development.

    Designer proteins to fight disease

    Understanding how proteins fold and function is crucial for designing new drugs. Enzymes, a type of protein, act as catalysts in biochemical reactions and can speed up or regulate these processes. To treat diseases such as cancer or diabetes, researchers often target specific enzymes involved in disease pathways. By predicting the shape of a protein, scientists can figure out where small molecules – potential drug candidates – might bind to it, which is the first step in designing new medicines.

    In 2024, DeepMind launched AlphaFold3, an upgraded version of the AlphaFold program that not only predicts protein shapes but also identifies potential binding sites for small molecules. This advance makes it easier for researchers to design drugs that precisely target the right proteins.

    Google bought Deepmind for reportedly around half a billion dollars in 2014. Google DeepMind has now started a new venture, Isomorphic Labs, to collaborate with pharmaceutical companies on real-world drug development using these AlphaFold3 predictions.

    David Baker speaks on the phone with Demis Hassabis and John Jumper just after they got the Nobel Prize news on Oct. 9, 2024.
    Ian C. Haydon/UW Medicine Institute for Protein Design

    For his part, David Baker has continued to make significant contributions to protein science. His team at the University of Washington developed an AI-based method called “family-wide hallucination,” which they used to design entirely new proteins from scratch. Hallucinations are new patterns – in this case, proteins – that are plausible, meaning they are a good fit with patterns in the AI’s training data. These new proteins included a light-emitting enzyme, demonstrating that machine learning can help create novel synthetic proteins. These AI tools offer new ways to design functional enzymes and other proteins that never could have evolved naturally.

    AI will enable research’s next chapter

    The Nobel-worthy achievements of Hassabis, Jumper and Baker show that machine learning isn’t just a tool for computer scientists – it’s now an essential part of the future of biology and medicine.

    By tackling one of the toughest problems in biology, the winners of the 2024 prize have opened up new possibilities in drug discovery, personalized medicine and even our understanding of the chemistry of life itself.

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

    – ref. Machine learning cracked the protein-folding problem and won the 2024 Nobel Prize in chemistry – https://theconversation.com/machine-learning-cracked-the-protein-folding-problem-and-won-the-2024-nobel-prize-in-chemistry-240937

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Economics: Podcast: How can leaders invest the time that AI gives back?

    Source: Microsoft

    Headline: Podcast: How can leaders invest the time that AI gives back?

    [Music] 

    MOLLY WOOD: Tomas, thanks so much for being on the show.  

    TOMAS CHAMORRO-PREMUZIC: It’s a great pleasure. Thank you for having me.  

    MOLLY WOOD: So, you’re a psychologist, an educator, an executive, an author. I’d love to hear a little about your career path and how your interest in AI developed alongside of that. 

    TOMAS CHAMORRO-PREMUZIC: So I started my career as an academic, but I was always very interested in the real-life or real-world applications of psychology. About a third of our lives or so is spent at work. And if you think about organizations, we know that most of their problems have to do with people, and psychology provides really interesting theories and tools to not just understand people at work, but also help organizations unlock human potential, and of course help people thrive in their careers, and that really is where my passion is. My expertise has always been in creating data-driven tools, starting from psychometric assessments all the way to analytics, and of course, more recently, AI, that help organizations be more data-driven when they’re trying to, for example, assess potential. So imagine having a hiring manager interview you in 10 minutes and decide intuitively and subjectively whether they like you or not, kind of like a swipe right or swipe left option in the analog world, and then unleash their biases and make random decisions that land you in the wrong job, to everybody’s perils. The extreme opposite of that is to actually look at an individual’s past behavior, past performance, their psychological assessment results, and of course even use AI, artificial intelligence, when it comes to decoding how they behave in a digital interview. We’ve been working on the applications of AI to talent identification and psychological assessment for about 15 years. 

    MOLLY WOOD: I mean, on the one hand, it feels like these things are disparate—AI and psychology—but it sounds like you’re saying they’re really not. How has the work that you do affected your perspective on AI and what it can do better?  

    TOMAS CHAMORRO-PREMUZIC: First of all, I think if you want to really understand artificial intelligence, it’s a good starting point to get better at understanding human intelligence. Secondly, I think the big promise of artificial intelligence is to not so much surpass human intelligence, but to complement it. So I think, you know, understanding human intelligence has been really important, because if you want to understand how we structure language, ideas, knowledge, et cetera, you know, most of what AI is is profoundly inspired by the human brain and neuroscience. At the same time, we’re at this really, really interesting point in time where every organizational leader needs to wonder not just how they could leverage AI to be better at their job, to be more effective, but that how also they can future-proof their organizations and prepare their talent and cultures so that they can actually thrive in the human-AI age. So I think the human-AI age is the most, I would say, significant period in the last 30 or 40 years when it comes to the potential for progress, and of course, also, some of the risks that need to be mitigated.  

    MOLLY WOOD: So how should leaders think about seizing the potential of the technology, but also limiting the risks? 

    TOMAS CHAMORRO-PREMUZIC: The goal for AI or any new technology or innovation isn’t immediate perfection, but it’s long-term progress, which is mostly incremental improvements over the status quo. So AI doesn’t need to be perfect. It needs to be better than the status quo. AI is a work in progress, and we have a lot of opportunities to improve. Now, the risks are separated into two buckets. If we think about AI 1.0, a prediction machine, or machine learning, we have seen its main application, which is social media platforms or direct-to-consumer platforms or apps that we have. AI 2.0, if you like, is generative AI or AI as a production machine, something that automates the passage from insights to actions. I think it’s a really, really impressive and valuable tool, but if we don’t understand that the whole point is that with the time that we can save from boring and low-value and predictable activities, which might be 30 to 40 percent of a day’s work, the whole point is that that frees us up to then reimagine how we add value. We have seen a lot of data showing that generative AI has incredible adoption, organic adoption levels, in organizations, but guess what? The typical employee who is saving 30 or 40 or maybe 50 percent of their day, achieving the same output with less input, isn’t running to their boss saying, Hey, boss, I have 45 to 50 percent of my time free now, can you give me more work? It’s a big challenge for managers and leaders. And that, again, speaks to the important connection between artificial intelligence and human leadership.  

    MOLLY WOOD: How should leaders manage for that, figure out where the value and the benefits lie in adopting AI? 

    TOMAS CHAMORRO-PREMUZIC: The first, really, is to experiment, to not either ban AI because they’re afraid of it, or to actually invest really, really heavily on a top-down global AI tool platform, assuming that then next week they’re going to have productivity benefits, because both are equally mistaken, but actually to try it out, experiment, to share success stories, to also share its limits. That takes me to the second one, which is really to not see this as a solution waiting for a problem to be solved, but to be very problem-centric. Most leaders don’t need to completely reimagine their strategy because there is this thing called generative AI that has arrived and gone mainstream. What they have to think is whether generative AI or other versions of AI can actually be helpful in accelerating their strategy or translating their current strategy into execution. So, you know, being solution-agnostic means they’ll probably want to consider generative AI but not put all eggs in that basket. And the third one, I think, is about really learning from mistakes, failing fast, or as my colleague and friend Amy Edmondson says, failing smart, which is to create small, lean, agile, fast experiments. Or, basically, you structure relevant business problems, almost a scientific experiment, and you invite AI to be part of that solution, and then you measure the impact. And if you structure in a smart way, it means that even if you don’t get the result that you wanted, you actually increase your capabilities and increase your know-how. Most leaders, managers, organizations don’t need to become the number one technical experts in AI tomorrow, but it’s advisable that they shop around for expertise or that they develop some capabilities internally. In essence, Molly, the good news is that there’s nothing radically new about how to embed AI in the organizations vis-à-vis other technologies that happened before, even if AI is groundbreaking. And, of course, their adoption is always difficult. Change management is always a challenge. Everybody loves change until they have to do it. So I think there are only two ways in which you can get people to change. One is you force them. The other one is to win their hearts and minds. So it is important, then, that you sell the benefit to leaders and particularly mid-level managers who are where everything either makes or breaks. So if there’s one tactical recommendation for HR it’s invest more in upskilling and reskilling your mid-level managers because they hold the key to unleashing AI in your organization in a positive and strategic way.  

    MOLLY WOOD: It feels like this upskilling and reskilling piece is really important. So you’re saying to organizations, focus on the outcome, the problem that you need solved, as opposed to the ideal happily-ever-after ending. But also, I think there is a tendency in organizations to say, We’re going to bring this tool and then you’re all going to be 40 percent more productive and then you’re going to do 40 percent more work and you’re going to love it. And it sounds like what you’re saying is, Be more empathetic than that. And if you’re going to give people more work to do, give them better work to do.  

    TOMAS CHAMORRO-PREMUZIC: That is the key. We have never in the history of humanity, throughout our evolutionary history, we never, ever invented a technology to work harder, right? This applies to the wheel, to fire, to the dishwasher, the car, anything. Same with AI. We haven’t invented it to work harder, but we have invented it to work smarter and better. If you think about it, we have a wonderful opportunity to make work better and more creative, because so many things that we do, even among knowledge workers, are not dependent on our creativity or ingenuity and our intelligence. I can do this very well, even if it ends up being the intellectual version of fast food or a kind of microwave for ideas. The value is going to come not from what AI does, because that becomes commoditized, but from either interacting with AI in a unique way that makes us creative, or from reimagining how we add value in our current role, because, by the way, AI doesn’t really eliminate that many jobs; where it does eliminate entire jobs it creates many new jobs in turn at a faster rate. But what it does is it eliminates tasks within jobs, changing the skills constellation needed to add value. I don’t even think it’s about so much upskilling and reskilling, but incentivizing people to really harness and apply the skills that AI is unlikely to replace or master, things like emotional intelligence, human connectedness, critical thinking, understanding, right? Because AI is really good at explaining everything, sometimes without understanding anything, which of course, I know some humans are also very good at doing, but you know, we don’t like too many of those. [Laughter]  

    MOLLY WOOD: You mentioned this phrase “microwave for ideas,” that AI could be a bit of a microwave for ideas. I just want you to define that a little bit more for us.  

    TOMAS CHAMORRO-PREMUZIC: Yeah. So first, if you think about it, generative AI is amazing because it managed to automate output that is extremely creative—jokes, sonnets, poems, even things like, you know, the most creative or funny human, it would take them three years to get to something like that. And it can just churn it out and out and out and out. In a way, it’s the intellectual equivalent of a microwave for ideas because it gives you as many ideas as you want, really quick, almost reheated ideas because it’s taking what everything or the crowds or a specific group thinks about something and repackaging it. So it’s synthetic. And I think we’re going to use it, or we’re using it or should be using it, as a microwave. It’s convenient to use it all the time, but, you know, if you want to have some people over for dinner at your home and impress them, you’re probably not going to microwave a frozen meal that you picked up in the supermarket. The number of people who every day tell me, Oh, I have done this presentation and I did it with generative AI, and instead of taking me five days, it took me five seconds. Well, you can tell because it’s not that great, right? Probably 50 percent of my emails can be automated with generative AI. But if I really want to reach to you and tell you something meaningful, I better sit down and think about how I can connect with you. Not everything should be automated. For sure, generative AI automates a lot of our creative output. It also automates a lot of our mediocre output. And for that it’s great because we don’t want to spend time on stuff that is low value. 

    MOLLY WOOD: You wrote a whole book about systemic problems in leadership and how the cream doesn’t necessarily rise to the top in all organizations. In fact, you put it pretty bluntly, the book is titled, Why Do So Many Incompetent Men Become Leaders? So do you think new technology can root out mediocre men, or mediocre leaders? 

    TOMAS CHAMORRO-PREMUZIC: I think AI poses at least a double threat to mediocre men. And, of course, mediocre women, even though mediocre women are underrepresented in the highest echelons of organizational hierarchies, right? The biggest one is that AI is a really, really powerful and promising tool that could help organizations make decisions more data-driven, including, of course, promotion decisions and executive assessment and selection decisions, right? In a world in which AI helps organizations become more meritocratic and talent-centric, fewer, if maybe perhaps not any at all, incompetent men will rise to the top of those hierarchies and there will be a much smaller gap, and perhaps no gap at all, between a person’s individual career success and their ability to add value to an organization. So, in fact, my hypothesis, and it might be a little bit of a cynical conspiracy theory here, is that a lot of the backlash that we are seeing against AI is coming from those people. I know in the US the expression is that it would be like the turkey voting for Thanksgiving or Christmas or… if you are in charge of an organization and here comes a tool that has like an X-ray machine power to help people understand who really is adding value to the organization and who is actually managing up and operating in a very Machiavellian politically skilled and, you know, manipulative way, that’s a threat to incompetent men who are in charge. And the second one, of course, is that expertise is commoditized and disrupted by AI. It is much harder now for somebody who is mediocre to make stuff up or to actually even make a living giving advice or selling consulting to others, because right now, if you really want to show and convince others that you are an expert, you need to have deep expertise. There is a difference between spending five minutes on ChatGPT and thinking that you are an expert in medieval history because you read that, or spending five years studying that. It’s the combination between human intelligence and artificial intelligence that holds the key to progress.  

    MOLLY WOOD: I do take your point about adoption, and I have wondered about the resistance and where you encounter that, because there is a question, I think, as we think about the future of work we have to ask what work is, and for a lot of people, it’s meetings, it’s summaries, it’s summaries of meetings.  

    TOMAS CHAMORRO-PREMUZIC: I know, but I think just like, you know, my academic colleagues in the beginning were like, Oh my God, we should ban it because students are writing essays with these tools. I said, well, you know, a future for academia in which students write the essays with ChatGPT and academics grade them with ChatGPT isn’t that bad. Maybe then we can work out what valuable activities we can do instead, right? And equally, a future in which you produce your PowerPoint presentations with generative AI, and I have my AI reading them, or I use my AI algorithms to hire candidates who submit their CVs with AI, or I send my avatar or deepfake or copilot to a meeting and you send yours. All of that is fine, but let’s not kid ourselves. That’s not where the value is going to come from. The value will come from working out what we’re going to do with the 40, 50, or maybe even 30 percent of the time we actually save. Look, it’s no different from how technology automated even creative or artistic output in other fields, right? When the synthesizer appeared, it didn’t kill musical composers, but it gave a chance to some musical composers to invent electronic music and other types of music. When digital photography came, it didn’t kill professional photographers. At the end of the day, the difference between good and bad photography is not the equipment, it’s the interaction of human skills with the technology. 

    MOLLY WOOD: Yeah, you need the soft skills and the technical skills to succeed, right? Okay, I want to ask you about growth next. Do you have some pretty specific advice about how leaders should think about incorporating AI and company growth strategies that includes a really data-led approach?  

    TOMAS CHAMORRO-PREMUZIC: Yeah. And I think, well, first of all, AI has arrived as the latest stage in the evolution of digital transformation, which most large organizations underwent or are still undergoing, which is basically trying to become more data-driven. And I think partly because we don’t have enough data scientists to translate data into insights, we started using AI to automate that. And now, we are basically using AI to automate the passage from insights to actions. So I think three important recommendations. One, again, is to be problem-centered and to really measure what matters and see how well AI can help leaders and organizations improve on their relevant KPIs as opposed to, you know, no organization is in the business of showing that AI works or in the business of running experiments. The point is to solve useful problems. The second one is really to manage this human-AI interface, which comes from rehumanizing their cultures, making their cultures a relevant ecosystem for AI to be adopted and for AI to be leveraged, which, by the way, involves selling it to people, not demanding that they’re more productive and throwing it at them. And then the final one, of course, is to be ethical and to only implement AI that is ethical by design. The good news and the advantage is that most models, most frameworks, most parameters look very similar. If there is transparency, if there is informed consent, if people opt in, if you protect their data and data is confidential and anonymous. And fundamentally, if there is a benefit for the user, the risks are minor, as Gartner’s adoption curve always shows, we might be over slightly the hype phase, things are settling. And at this stage, we can start to expect real face of maturity and real productivity gains to kick in. 

    MOLLY WOOD: If you had to pick one leadership skill that’s going to become 10 times more important in the age of generative AI, what would it be?  

    TOMAS CHAMORRO-PREMUZIC: Coachability. I think even if you’re a great leader, a leader who is a finished product, is finished, and, regardless of how talented you are, what will make a big difference in the next five or 10 years is your willingness to change and get better. And I think people differ in their coachability, but mostly we can all trigger or incentivize ourselves to be more willing to change and get better. More and more what will matter is your potential, not your past performance and to augment your potential, you need to be coachable. And that means, by the way, being open to feedback from others, listening to what you need to hear not what you want to hear, not surrounding yourself with people who suck up to you and tell you what you want to hear, and actually go outside your comfort zone and really see yourself as somebody who is still to be molded or sculptured and somebody who needs to change and who is very much an unfinished product. So I think coachability, which, you know, I think is a lovely skill.  

    MOLLY WOOD: Author, professor, and Chief Talent Scientist at Manpower Group, Tomas Chamorro-Premuzic. Thank you so much for the time today. This is outstanding.  

    TOMAS CHAMORRO-PREMUZIC: Thank you for having me. 

    MOLLY WOOD: And that is all for this episode of WorkLab. Please subscribe if you haven’t already and check back for the rest of season 7, where we will continue to explore how AI is transforming every aspect of how we work. If you’ve got a question or a comment, please drop us an email at worklab@microsoft.com, and check out Microsoft’s Work Trend Indexes and the WorkLab digital publication, where you’ll find all our episodes along with thoughtful stories that explore how business leaders are thriving in today’s new world of work. You can find all of it at microsoft.com/worklab. As for this podcast, please, if you don’t mind, rate us, review us, and follow us wherever you listen. It helps us out a ton. The WorkLab podcast is a place for experts to share their insights and opinions. As students of the future of work, Microsoft values inputs from a diverse set of voices. That said, the opinions and findings of our guests are their own, and they may not necessarily reflect Microsoft’s own research or positions. WorkLab is produced by Microsoft with Godfrey Dadich Partners and Reasonable Volume. I’m your host, Molly Wood. Sharon Kallander and Matthew Duncan produced this podcast. Jessica Voelker is the WorkLab editor. 

    MIL OSI Economics –

  • MIL-OSI: SCOR announces that it has entered into exclusive negotiations with the Albin Michel group for the sale of the Humensis group

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Press release
    October 9, 2024 – N° 15

    SCOR announces that it has entered into exclusive negotiations with the Albin Michel group
    for the sale of the Humensis group

    SCOR announces that it has entered into exclusive negotiations with Huyghens de Participations, the holding company of the Albin Michel group, for the sale of its stake in the capital of Humensis.

    Humensis was founded in 2016 with the aim of spreading knowledge. SCOR supported its development, making it the ninth largest generalist and educational publishing group in France.

    Initially structured around Presses Universitaires de France (PUF) and Editions Belin, Humensis is a diversified company made up of strong, recognized brands (Belin, PUF, Que sais-je ?, Editions de l’Observatoire, Editions des Equateurs, and more).

    By entering into exclusive negotiations with Albin Michel, SCOR plans to entrust a key player in the publishing industry with the preservation and future development of the Humensis group brands, while maintaining their influence in the French intellectual ecosystem.

    *

    *        *

    SCOR, a leading global reinsurer

    As a leading global reinsurer, SCOR offers its clients a diversified and innovative range of reinsurance and insurance solutions and services to control and manage risk. Applying “The Art & Science of Risk”, SCOR uses its industry-recognized expertise and cutting-edge financial solutions to serve its clients and contribute to the welfare and resilience of society.

    The Group generated premiums of EUR 19.4 billion in 2023 and serves clients in around 160 countries from its 35 offices worldwide.

    For more information, visit: http://www.scor.com

    		 Media Relations
    Alexandre Garcia
    media@scor.com

    Investor Relations
    Thomas Fossard
    InvestorRelations@scor.com

    Follow us on LinkedIn
     

    All content published by the SCOR group since January 1, 2024, is certified with Wiztrust. You can check the authenticity of this content at wiztrust.com.

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    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Going off grid is a financial win for some, but it’s a threat for poorer families and the environment

    Source: The Conversation – Canada – By Joshua M. Pearce, John M. Thompson Chair in Information Technology and Innovation and Professor, Western University

    How would you like to never have another electric bill? Advances in technology have made it possible for some consumers to disconnect from the power grid — a move that was once only available to the ultra-wealthy who could afford the associated costs, or survivalists willing to trade convenience for freedom. This is no longer the case.

    A recent study I coauthored with energy researcher Seyyed Ali Sadat reveals that the balance of economics has shifted and now many families may be better off financially by cutting ties to the grid. However, this might not be a good thing for everyone.

    How did we get here?

    Back in the 2000s, solar was costly. The solar industry’s goal was to push the cost of solar panels below $3 per watt because that would produce solar electricity at a low enough cost to be economically competitive without subsidies. Over the year, the cost of solar plummeted.

    By 2011, we showed for the first time in both the United States and Canada that the levelized cost of solar electricity had reached grid parity. This means people could have a net-metered, grid-connected solar system and pay the same for electricity as the grid costs.

    Your utility meter would spin backward during the day as you amassed solar electric credits, then spin forward at night when you used grid electricity. If you sized your solar correctly, you would never pay an electric bill.

    When I moved to Michigan in 2011, I installed solar, earning a return on investment of more than 10 per cent. Many other faculty members at Michigan Tech did the same, and our area was the first to hit Michigan’s arbitrarily mandated one per cent distributed generation limit.

    Solar costs kept dropping, and ten years later, I collaborated with an engineer from Sweden — where nearly every house has a heat pump — to show that solar costs were so low they could effectively subsidize heat pumps into profitability in both northern Michigan and Ontario. Although the return on investment was modest — only a few per cent — it was enough to make solar-powered heating more viable than natural gas.

    Concern among electric utilities

    Today, more heat pumps are sold that normal furnaces in the U.S., but Canada is still warming up to them. The price of solar modules has since dropped well below $1 per watt.

    This shift caused concern among some electric companies; under their traditional business models, every new solar customer reduces their profit. Forward-thinking companies embraced solar and funded it for their customers. Some even rented their customers’ roofs for solar panel use.

    Many electric companies, however, took a different path by trying to weaken net metering. Some manipulated the rate structure by increasing unavoidable charges for customers while decreasing the electric rate, making net-metered solar systems less appealing for customers. As off-grid systems are now more affordable, this strategy could push customers away.

    Solar costs continued to drop and are now the lowest cost power in history. The costs of electric batteries also plummeted by over 50 per cent just last year.

    Grid defection is a real option

    Grid-tied residential solar systems currently dominate the market, primarily due to historical net metering. As utility rate structures shift away from real net metering, increase unavoidable fees or restrict grid access, solar consumers are finding that going off-grid is becoming more economically viable.

    Our recent study shows that grid defection is economically advantageous for many families because of these rate structure changes.

    Consider a typical family in San Diego, for example. After an initial investment of $20,000 on the off-grid system (solar, diesel generator and batteries), they could pay 45 per cent less for electricity than if they remained connected to the grid.

    The system would pay for itself in just six years, and even with a battery replacement, they would break even again in year eight. Over the lifespan of the system, these families could save over $40,000 in electricity costs.

    Since our analysis using data from one year ago, battery costs have dropped even further, increasing the return on investment. Locations that were previously on the borderline of economic viability are now clear opportunities for grid defection.

    These trends, coupled with increasing grid electricity costs and decreases in both solar and battery costs, have made economic grid defection a salient issue.

    But this also raises concerns about potential “utility death spirals,” where as more customers leave the grid to save money, the ones who are left face higher electricity costs, prompting even more to leave until the utility is bankrupt.

    Stay on the grid

    This trend raises two major concerns. First, those who can’t afford to leave the grid — often the poorest households — will end up paying the most for left-over fossil fuel electricity from the grid. Leaving the grid requires a hefty up-front cost, and not everyone can afford it.

    Second, our research shows that the diesel generators used as back up for off-grid solar and battery systems will cause significant pollution — even more than the grid in some locations.

    Our results show that regulators must consider mass economic grid defection of PV-diesel generator-battery systems as a very real possibility in the near future. To prevent utility death spirals and increased carbon emissions, it’s imperative we have rate structures that encourage solar producers to remain on the grid.

    The worst thing regulators can do is allow the electric utilities to increase unavoidable costs for their short-term profits. This can backfire, as utilities will lose customers entirely in the long run. With solar and battery costs continuing to decline, this problem is only becoming more urgent.

    Joshua M. Pearce has received funding for research from the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada, the Canada Foundation for Innovation, Mitacs, the U.S. Department of Energy and the Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy, U.S. Department of Defense, The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, and the National Science Foundation. His past and present consulting work and research is funded by the United Nations, the National Academies of Science, Engineering and Medicine, and many companies in the energy and solar photovoltaic fields. He does not directly work for any solar manufacturer and has no direct conflicts of interests.

    – ref. Going off grid is a financial win for some, but it’s a threat for poorer families and the environment – https://theconversation.com/going-off-grid-is-a-financial-win-for-some-but-its-a-threat-for-poorer-families-and-the-environment-240615

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI: Peapack-Gladstone Bank Hires Michael Anthony Guarino, Esq., CRCM as Senior Vice President

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    BEDMINSTER, N.J., Oct. 09, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Peapack-Gladstone Financial Corporation (NASDAQ Global Select Market: PGC) and Peapack-Gladstone Bank are proud to announce that Michael Anthony Guarino, Esq. has joined the Bank as a Senior Vice President, Attorney.

    Working out of the Bank’s Headquarters in Bedminster, New Jersey and its new location at 300 Park Avenue, New York City, Mr. Guarino is primarily responsible for responding to all legal issues arising out of the Company’s New York office, in addition to working with the Bank’s General Counsel in providing support and advice to the Bank’s executive and leadership teams on all matters of law and policy.

    An accomplished and seasoned corporate attorney, Mr. Guarino has over 25 years of experience in financial services, including legal, regulatory risk assessment and compliance management, fraud and AML investigations, and vendor management/contract review with evolving risk.  He most recently served as Senior Vice President and Senior Counsel at Metropolitan Commercial Bank.  Prior to that as Compliance Officer & Risk/Counsel Risk Assessment at Israel Discount Bank of New York where he held roles as Compliance Officer & Counsel/Risk Assessment/Quality Control/ and Legal Counsel.  Additional roles included Assistant Counsel/Vice President & Regulatory Compliance Manager, First Fidelity, First Union Bank and Assistant Treasurer, Legal Liaison/Risk Manager, International Trade Products Department, and Legal Investigator/Analyst at Chase Manhattan Bank, New York, NY.

    Michael earned his Bachelor of Arts in Spanish, Political Science and Pre-Law from Rutgers University in New Brunswick, along with a summer studies program in Valencia, Spain.  He obtained his Juris Doctor from the Seton Hall Law School, with a concentration in Banking, UCC Business, Trusts and International Law.  Michael is a member of both the New Jersey and New York Bars and holds certifications as a Certified Compliance Manager (ICB), and Certified Regulatory Compliance Manager (CRCM).  In addition to his studies in Spanish, Michael has a working knowledge of Italian.

    About the Company

    Peapack-Gladstone Financial Corporation is a New Jersey bank holding company with total assets of $6.5 billion and assets under management and/or administration of $11.5 billion as of June 30, 2024.  Founded in 1921, Peapack-Gladstone Bank is a commercial bank that offers a client-centric approach to banking, providing high-quality products along with customized and innovative wealth management, investment banking, commercial and retail solutions.  Peapack Private, a division of Peapack-Gladstone Bank, offers comprehensive financial, tax, fiduciary and investment advice and solutions to individuals, families, privately held businesses, family offices and not-for-profit organizations, which help them to establish, maintain and expand their legacy.  Together, Peapack-Gladstone Bank and Peapack Private offer an unparalleled commitment to client service.  Visit http://www.pgbank.com and http://www.peapackprivate.com for more information.

    Contact:  Rosanne Schwab, Peapack-Gladstone Bank, Vice President, Public Relations and Corporate Communications Manager, 500 Hills Drive, Suite 300, Bedminster, NJ  07921 rschwab@pgbank.com, (908) 719-6543.

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    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Seasonal change can affect people’s moods — and their moral values

    Source: The Conversation – Canada – By Ian Hohm, PhD student, Psychology, University of British Columbia

    Changing seasons aren’t only about changes in the weather, but also many additional changes in the rhythms and patterns of our lives. (Shutterstock)

    Moral values are the principles that guide a person’s perceptions of good and bad, and right and wrong. They shape our prejudices, political ideologies and many other consequential attitudes and actions.

    It’s tempting to assume that a person’s moral values are stable across time and circumstances, and to some extent they are — but not entirely. Moral values are malleable and can sometimes change depending on the specific thoughts, feelings and motivations that arise in different situations.

    Our research examined whether moral values might change with the seasons, too.

    Changing values

    Seasons are characterized not just by changes in the weather, but also by many additional changes in our surroundings and the rhythms of our lives. These may include spring cleaning, spending more time with family in summer, back-to-school shopping in the autumn or preparing for winter holidays.

    Consequently, changes in the seasons lead to changes in the things that people think, feel and do. Most people know that seasonal changes in the weather have effects on people’s moods, but that’s just the tip of the iceberg. Psychological research has revealed seasonal effects on attention and memory, generosity, colour preferences and many other things.

    Research shows that colour preferences can change with the season.
    (Shutterstock)

    And so, in our recent research, we investigated whether there might also be seasonal cycles in the moral values that people endorse.

    We examined five core principles that previous research has identified as fundamental moral values. Two of these principles — don’t hurt other people and treat all people fairly — pertain to individual rights and are referred to as “individualizing” values.

    Three other principles — be loyal to one’s group, respect authority and maintain group traditions — promote group cohesion and are referred to as “binding” values.

    Most people endorse all these values, but people differ in the extent to which they prioritize them, and these priorities have important implications. People who prioritize individualizing values are more politically liberal, whereas people who prioritize binding values are more conservative, more punitive and express stronger prejudices against out-groups.

    Seasonal cycles

    Do the seasons affect the extent to which people endorse these core moral values? To find out, we obtained data from YourMorals, a research website that uses online survey methods to assess people’s self-reported endorsement of all five of these core moral values.

    Our analyses focused on the values reported by 232,975 respondents in the United States across a decade (2011-20) of data. The results revealed no apparent seasonal cycle in Americans’ endorsement of individualizing values, but there was clear and consistent seasonal cycle in Americans’ endorsement of all three binding moral values.

    This seasonal cycle was bimodal, with two peaks and two valleys each year: Americans endorsed binding moral values (valuing loyalty, authority and group traditions) most strongly in the spring and autumn, and least strongly in midsummer and midwinter. This bimodal seasonal cycle in binding moral values showed up again and again in the data, year after year.

    A graph depicting Americans’ endorsement of binding and individualizing moral values.
    (I. Hohm and M. Schaller), CC BY

    This seasonal cycle in binding moral values wasn’t unique to the U.S. either. Additional analyses on data from Canada and Australia revealed similar patterns: Canadians and Australians also endorsed binding moral values most strongly in the spring and autumn, and least strongly in midsummer and midwinter.

    Anxiety patterns

    What might explain this seasonal cycle in people’s endorsement of binding moral values? One possibility is that it has something to do with the perception of threat, which encourages people to close ranks within a group. Previous research has linked this to increased endorsement of binding moral values.

    To test this idea, we analyzed data on an emotion associated with threat perception: anxiety. Results revealed that Americans’ self-reported anxiety showed the same bimodal seasonal cycle, and so did 10 years of data on Americans’ Google searches for anxiety-related words. This seasonal cycle in anxiety helps to explain the seasonal cycle in binding values.

    Anxiety tends to change with the seasons, decreasing in summer and midwinter.
    (Shutterstock)

    This explanation raises a new question: what might explain the seasonal cycle in anxiety? Although we can only speculate, our analyses on moral values revealed an intriguing clue. The summertime dip in Americans’ endorsement of binding moral values was bigger in places with more extreme seasonal changes in the temperature. There was no such effect on the size of the midwinter dip.

    Perhaps something similar might be going on with anxiety: maybe that summertime decrease is the result of pleasant weather, whereas the midwinter decrease is more of a holiday effect.

    Double-edged sword

    Regardless of the cause, seasonal cycles in binding moral values could have consequences that affect people’s lives, for better or worse. Binding moral values promote cohesion, conformity and co-operation within groups, which can be beneficial, especially when coping with crises.

    The implication is that groups might cope better with crises that emerge in the spring and autumn, compared to those that occur in the summer and winter.

    But binding moral values also promote distrust of people who fail to adhere to group norms and traditions. The implication is that there may also be seasonal cycles in prejudices against immigrants, racial minorities, LGBTQ+ individuals and anybody else who is perceived to be different.

    People who more strongly endorse binding moral values are also more punitive, so there could be seasonal effects on judicial decision-making in the millions of legal cases that occur every year.

    And given the link between binding moral values and conservative attitudes, there are potential implications for politics. One intriguing possibility: the timing of political elections (whether they are scheduled for summer or autumn, for instance) might have some subtle effect on some votes — which, for an election that is especially tight, might even influence its outcome.

    Mark Schaller receives funding from the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada.

    Ian Hohm 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. Seasonal change can affect people’s moods — and their moral values – https://theconversation.com/seasonal-change-can-affect-peoples-moods-and-their-moral-values-236626

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI USA: NASA Terminal Transmits First Laser Communications Uplink to Space 

    Source: NASA

    NASA’s LCOT (Low-Cost Optical Terminal), a ground station made of modified commercial hardware, transmitted its first laser communications uplink to the TBIRD (TeraByte Infrared Delivery), a tissue box-sized payload formerly in low Earth orbit.
    During the first live sky test, NASA’s LCOT produced enough uplink intensity for the TBIRD payload to identify the laser beacon, connect, and maintain a connection to the ground station for over three minutes. This successful test marks an important achievement for laser communications: connecting LCOT’s laser beacon from Earth to TBIRD required one milliradian of pointing accuracy, the equivalent of hitting a three-foot target from over eight American football fields away.
    The test was one of many laser communications achievements TBIRD made possible during its successful, two-year mission. Prior to its mission completion on Sept. 15, 2024, the payload transmitted at a record-breaking 200 gigabits per second. In an actual use case, TBIRD’s three-minute connection time with LCOT would be sufficient to return over five terabytes of critical science data, the equivalent of over 2,500 hours of high-definition video in a single pass. As the LCOT sky test demonstrates, the ultra-high-speed capabilities of laser communications will allow science missions to maintain their connection to Earth as they travel farther than ever before.

    NASA’s SCaN (Space Communications and Navigation) program office is implementing laser communications technology in various orbits, including the upcoming Artemis II mission, to demonstrate its potential impact in the agency’s mission to explore, innovate, and inspire discovery.
    “Optical, or laser, communications can transfer 10 to 100 times more data than radio frequency waves,” said Kevin Coggins, deputy associate administrator and SCaN program manager. “Literally, it’s the wave of the future, as it’ll enable scientists to realize an ever-increasing amount of data from their missions and will serve as our critical lifeline for astronauts traveling to and from Mars.” 

    Historically, space missions have used radio frequencies to send data to and from space, but with science instruments capturing more data, communications assets must meet increasing demand. The infrared light used for laser communications transmits the data at a shorter wavelength than radio, meaning ground stations on Earth can send and receive more data per second. 
    The LCOT team continues to refine pointing capabilities through additional tests with NASA’s LCRD (Laser Communications Relay Demonstration). As LCOT and the agency’s other laser communications missions continue to reach new milestones in connectivity and accessibility, they demonstrate laser communications’ potential to revolutionize scientists’ access to new data about Earth, our solar system, and beyond. 
    “It’s a testament to the hard work and skill of the entire team,” said Dr. Haleh Safavi, project lead for LCOT. “We work with very complicated and sensitive transmission equipment that must be installed with incredible precision. These results required expeditious planning and execution at every level.” 

    Experiments like TBIRD and LCRD are only two of SCaN’s multiple in-space demonstrations of laser communications, but a robust laser communications network relies on easily reconfigurable ground stations on Earth. The LCOT ground station showcases how the government and aerospace industry can build and deploy flexible laser communications ground stations to meet the needs of a wide variety of NASA and commercial missions, and how these ground stations open new doors for communications technology and extremely high data volume transmission. 
    NASA’s LCOT is developed by the agency’s Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland. TBIRD was developed in partnership with the Massachusetts Institute of Technology Lincoln Laboratory (MIT-LL) in Lexington. TBIRD was flown and operated as a collaborative effort among NASA Goddard; NASA’s Ames Research Center in California’s Silicon Valley; NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Southern California; MIT-LL; and Terran Orbital Corporation in Irvine, California. Funding and oversight for LCOT and other laser communications demonstrations comes from the (SCaN) Space Communications and Navigation  program office within the Space Operations Mission Directorate at NASA Headquarters in Washington. 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Message from the Minister of Health and the Minister of Mental Health and Addictions and Associate Minister of Health – Breast Cancer Awareness Month, October 2024

    Source: Government of Canada News

    Statement

    October 9, 2024 | Ottawa, Ontario | Public Health Agency of Canada

    October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, a period when we come together to support and honor those impacted by this disease.

    Breast cancer is one of the most common forms of cancer and the second leading cause of cancer-related death among womenFootnote * living in Canada. One in eight women is expected to be diagnosed with breast cancer in their lifetime.

    Raising awareness of breast cancer screening, which aims to detect cancer at an earlier, more treatable stage, is crucial for the Government of Canada. We are dedicated to advancing women’s health through comprehensive breast cancer screening and prevention efforts. We are also taking action by collaborating with partners and stakeholders to address identified gaps in breast cancer research.

    The Canadian Institutes of Health Research has invested almost $140 million over the past five years to advance breast cancer research in Canada. Through more than 500 grants and awards, these investments are supporting cutting-edge research to prevent, detect, and treat breast cancer more effectively.

    For example, researchers from Sunnybrook Hospital Research Institute are using artificial intelligence to develop more personalized breast cancer screening strategies; a team from the University of Saskatchewan is developing new techniques that combine radiation therapy and the body’s immune system to target breast cancer; and a project led by McGill researchers is examining how to prevent breast cancer from spreading to surrounding tissues. With support from the Government of Canada, the Canadian Partnership Against Cancer is refining its OncoSim-Breast microsimulation model, a tool used in the development of more effective breast cancer prevention and treatment policies.

    The Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) is working closely with Statistics Canada to conduct analyses of national cancer trends. They are looking at differences in breast cancer rates based on where people live, their age and ethnicity, and how advanced it is when people are diagnosed. Statistics Canada is also examining data on access to, and participation in, breast cancer screening by mammography to fill identified data gaps. These initiatives will enhance our understanding of the current state of breast cancer in Canada.

    Breast cancer touches the lives of so many, either through a personal diagnosis or that of a loved one. We strongly believe that nobody should have to face this alone. If you or a loved one is having difficulty coping with a cancer diagnosis, there are many ways you can seek support. Visit Canada.ca/mental-health or visit the Canadian Cancer Society’s community services locator, which helps cancer patients, caregivers and healthcare providers find the services they need to feel supported.

    Let’s empower everyone to make informed health care decisions, supported by the best available science and evidence.

    Reference

    Footnote *

    Cisgendered women and other adults assigned female at birth, such as transgender men and nonbinary people

    Return to footnote * referrer

    Contact

    Matthew Kronberg
    Press Secretary
    Office of the Honourable Mark Holland
    Minister of Health
    343-552-5654

    Yuval Daniel
    Director of Communications
    Office of the Honourable Ya’ara Saks
    Minister of Mental Health and Addictions and Associate Minister of Health
    819-360-6927

    Media Relations
    Health Canada
    613-957-2983
    media@hc-sc.gc.ca

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Go Flourish opens outdoor learning garden at North Kessock Primary School

    Source: Scotland – Highland Council

    A nature pilot project founded by the Go Flourish charity was officially opened on Saturday 5 October by Raoul Curtis-Machin, Director of Horticulture, Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh, much to the excitement of the many North Kessock Primary School pupils, parents and carers, teachers, and local community members who attended the event.

    The Go Flourish Charity was established by Jane-Julia Gladwin in 2023 to bring a range of benefits to schools by establishing high quality teaching gardens within school grounds. The three-year North Kessock pilot project will be monitored by researchers at the University of St Andrews, Psychology and Neuroscience School, to examine the impact of the gardening programme on children’s well-being and to demonstrate proof of concept by gathering data on a range of benefits.

    The North Kessock PS Go Flourish project is supported by fully qualified teacher, Laura Dorantt, who, as Liaison Teacher, has been working with the school over the last year in preparation to establish the garden in the school’s outdoor education curriculum. With the garden now installed and open, she will lead timetabled classes for pupils, and as the garden develops, will liaise with the local community to develop and sustain the Go Flourish Garden for the benefits of education, health, and community resilience. Based on the enthusiastic attendance of the school and local community at the Opening Day, Go Flourish is off to a very promising start.

    The Highland Council’s Education Committee Chair, Cllr John Finlayson said: “This partnership project, designed to improve wellbeing and essential life skills is supported by the vision of the “Go Flourish Project” and St Andrews University’s School of Psychology and Neuroscience who will collate appropriate data and analysis to demonstrate the impact of the pilot project.

    “I would like to acknowledge our gratitude to the Go Flourish founder and Garden Designer, Julia-Jane Gladwin for her unwavering support and I really look forward to visiting the outdoor classroom and learning from the pupils, staff and community involved in this wonderful project.”  

    This pilot project will provide:

    • A three-year scoping study funded by Go Flourish and St Andrews University.
    • Quantitative data to demonstrate educational, financial and societal benefits of Go Flourish school gardens.
    • Data backed evidence to inform local education authorities across Scotland and to the Scottish Government on the benefits of incorporating “Go Flourish Gardens” within school communities.
    • Learning the procedures and steps needed to establish and maintain sustainable gardens on Highland schools.

    Go Flourish Charity Founder, Julia-Jane Gladwin said: “Our vision is to reinstate nature at the heart of education. The children at North Kessock Primary School will themselves be the proof of the intrinsic value of this.”

    Primary 6 Pupil said: “The garden is cool! I like looking up through the trees when you see the sun shining through. And it smells really nice. It makes me happy.”

    To learn more about the work of the Flourish charity visit – http://www.flourishcharity.org (external link)

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-Evening Report: New Zealand’s BMI threshold for publicly funded fertility treatment is outdated and unethical. Here’s why it should go

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Carina Truyts, Associate Research Fellow (Deakin) and Research Officer, Monash University

    Getty Images

    Women seeking publicly funded fertility treatment in New Zealand must have a body mass index (BMI) under 32, according to clinical priority assessment criteria for access to assisted reproductive technology.

    But as our in-depth interviews and a growing body of evidence show, this approach is outdated and unethical.

    One of our study participants described the system as “completely rigged if you’re a fat person”. Nina, a 37-year-old dance teacher, was denied public funding support to help her conceive because her BMI was above 32 – even though the cause of infertility was her husband’s sperm count.

    Nina is not alone. Paratta, who moved to Aotearoa from Sri Lanka in 2009, was also denied because of her BMI. She raced to lose the required weight in spite of a medical condition, but was then denied again because she had reached 40, the age limit for access to public funding.

    Both women’s experiences highlight New Zealand’s obsolete and discriminating BMI limit. The United Kingdom does not include BMI as a criterion for public funding, and international cutoffs are generally between 35 and 45.

    We argue New Zealand’s BMI threshold must be scrapped to reflect impactful research and respond ethically to New Zealand’s diverse population.

    BMI and fertility

    One in six people worldwide are affected by infertility, according to the World Health Organization’s most recent estimate. They suffer severe social and psychological consequences.

    There are numerous factors that can affect fertility, and obesity is certainly one of them, impacting 6% of women who have never been pregnant.

    But the BMI is an outdated method of assessing this risk. It doesn’t measure body fat percentage, distribution or differences across populations.

    Our study participants have raised concerns about the BMI limit. International and local studies concur with them. Research shows Polynesians are much leaner than Europeans at significantly higher BMIs, meaning Māori and Pacific women are disadvantaged before they even step into the clinic.

    Quick weight loss unlikely to help

    In New Zealand, people seeking public support are told that “making lifestyle changes like quitting smoking or losing weight” could help them become eligible. They are given a stand-down period wherein they must lose the requisite weight before referrals.

    As in Paratta’s case, this can lead to a race to lose weight before the inflexible age limit of 40 is reached. Evidence-based research advises that fertility care should balance the risk of age-related fertility decline with weight-loss advice.

    Nina rejected the advice to lose weight. She was concerned that quick weight loss would require unhealthy practices that could affect her success rate during the embryo transfer.

    Lifestyle changes made within a short time before conception don’t improve outcomes.
    Getty Images

    At the Australia and New Zealand Fertility Association’s annual conference last month, US obstetrician Kurt Barnhart confirmed that lifestyle interventions made weeks or months before conception are unlikely to improve outcomes. They may even cause harm.

    He discussed the FIT—PLESE randomised control study, which compared two groups of infertile women. One underwent a targeted weight-loss program and another exercised but did not lose weight. The results showed no statistically significant difference between the groups’ fertility and live-birth rates. These findings suggest the stand-down period should be revised.

    Barnhart also highlighted that weight loss through lifestyle changes can be practically impossible given obesity is often linked to endocrine issues that have nothing to do with choice. He observed signals that the medical community is changing its views on obesity as a “lifestyle” choice – a welcome shift.

    BMI, lifestyle and ethics

    Social science research has long challenged a colonial and biomedical habit of imposing standards on women whose bodies do not conform to Western ideas of a healthy or ideal body.

    Historically, the emphasis on weight as a criterion for reproductive health echoes harmful eugenicist beliefs. As US science historian Arleen Tuchman writes, the discovery of insulin prompted some groups to recommended banning marriages for people with diabetes to prevent the “unfit” from reproducing. New Zealand’s BMI criteria similarly suggest only those who fit specific physical standards deserve access to fertility care.

    The idea that lifestyle and health are straightforward individual choices is also challenged by research in epigenetics and philosophy. Obesity is often linked with poverty, which in turn is linked to broader social and living environments, including access and income.

    The high economic burden of obesity has led biomedical experts to recommended obese people should be considered for particular support, given the prohibitive cost of assisted reproductive technologies.

    Nina exercises more than eight hours a week and Paratta leads an active lifestyle. For both women, behavioural advice – and the stigma and assumptions it underscores – is offensive.

    Weight-loss advice can be particularly culturally offensive for Māori and Pacific peoples, who may be stigmatised in clinic settings for being too “fat” but considered “skinny” in their communities if they lose the required weight.

    New Zealand’s assessment criteria for publicly funded fertility treatment have not been updated in 27 years. While infertility and health risks associated with obesity during pregnancy and at birth should not be ignored, research shows these risks can be managed effectively and with empathy through a transdisciplinary approach.

    The Australian state of Victoria now offers two free cycles of fertility treatment to any Medicare-holding woman, regardless of BMI, up to the age of 42. The program deliberately reaches out to specific groups whose ethnicity, sexuality and environment limit their access. It has been highly successful and should inspire New Zealand to approach fertility funding with fresh perspectives.

    The authors do not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and have disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

    – ref. New Zealand’s BMI threshold for publicly funded fertility treatment is outdated and unethical. Here’s why it should go – https://theconversation.com/new-zealands-bmi-threshold-for-publicly-funded-fertility-treatment-is-outdated-and-unethical-heres-why-it-should-go-240295

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-Evening Report: Rebates for buying e-bikes and e-scooters are good but unlikely to greatly boost sustainable transport on their own

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Abraham Leung, Senior Research Fellow, Cities Research Institute, Griffith University

    BikePortland/Flickr, CC BY

    Queensland has joined Tasmania as the second Australian state or territory to offer a A$500 rebate for buyers of new e‑bikes. The pre-election announcement includes a smaller $200 rebate for e‑scooters.

    The Queensland e‑mobility rebate scheme is first come, first served, until its $2 million budget ($1 million was added last week) is used up. The Tasmanian scheme has closed for this reason.

    These schemes follow a trend of government incentives to buy e‑bikes in North America and Europe. The Australian schemes differ from most schemes overseas by including e‑scooters too.

    It’s a welcome move to promote sustainable transport. These personal transport devices have smaller environmental footprints to produce and operate than electric cars. Owning e‑bikes or e‑scooters can enable people to drive less – reducing congestion and emissions – and avoid high fuel costs.

    However, my research and other studies suggest ownership doesn’t guarantee much greater use. Additional measures will be needed to boost use of these sustainable transport modes.

    Why own e-bikes or e-scooters when you can share?

    The rebate is likely to boost retailers’ sales. More than 860 rebate applications were received within three days of the scheme starting on September 23.

    And existing owners now have an incentive to upgrade or replace models. They might then sell their pre-loved e‑bikes or e‑scooters on the second-hand market. This means others could get them more cheaply.

    Queensland was the first Australian state to legalise the use of e‑scooters in 2018, when Brisbane introduced shared e‑scooter operations. Regional cities such as Townsville and Cairns launched similar schemes. Dockless e‑bikes later replaced Brisbane’s initial CityCycle bike-sharing scheme.

    I recently conducted research to understand why South-East Queensland residents want to own e‑scooters. The study methods were comparable to an earlier e‑bike user survey.

    Both sets of owners cite replacing car use as their top reason for ownership. However, their motivations differ.

    E‑scooter owners are mainly driven by the lower price and the fun factor of riding. E‑bike owners focus more on fitness and the health benefits of getting some exercise when riding. Australian regulations require e‑bikes to be pedal-assisted.

    But does this mean people will ride more?

    Since 2022, the Queensland government has offered a rebate of up to $6,000 for buying full-sized electric vehicles (that scheme closed last month). It now appears to have responded to calls to do the same for e‑bikes and e‑scooters.

    Buyers certainly won’t mind freebies and rebates, but rebate-induced ownership might not increase overall use by much.

    An Australia-wide survey in 2023 found 57% of respondents had access to at least one working bicycle at home and this proportion has been increasing. However, only 15% reported riding in the previous week. Only 36.7% had ridden in the past year.

    Overall cycling participation has declined over the past decade, except during the COVID pandemic when work and travel patterns were more local. For all periods, men are significantly more likely to cycle than women.

    The same 2023 survey revealed only about 2.1% own e‑bikes. The rebate will likely increase this rate in Queensland.

    Some preliminary evidence suggests e‑bike users ride more often and further than those riding non-electric bikes. It also helps older people get into cycling. And it has the potential to replace car use even in rural areas.

    Despite e‑bikes offering advantages over traditional bikes, riders of both face obstacles to greater use, such as road safety and poor cycling infrastructure.

    What kinds of incentives do other countries offer?

    Australian policymakers should consider offering incentives to ensure the new purchases are well used, not sitting idle most of the time.

    The United Kingdom has a long-standing cycle-to-work scheme that offers commuters a tax exemption for buying bicycles or e‑bikes.

    In the Netherlands, incentive schemes have used smartphone technology to track their mileage. For example, in the B-Riders scheme, riders earn €0.08–0.15 (A$0.13–0.21) per kilometre. There was a 68% increase in e‑bike use by former car commuters after one month and 73% increase after six months of participation.

    Schemes in North America tend to be aimed at lower-income households. They are more likely to be involuntarily carless, so e‑bikes can improve their access to jobs, goods and services.

    There are alternatives to rebates. North Vancouver, for example, is trialling e‑cargo bike lending to replace car shopping trips, as these bulky bikes are not practical for every household to own.

    In France, residents can claim a bike or e‑bike subsidy of up to €2,000 (A$3,210). Second-hand devices sold by approved repairers are covered too, which is likely to help reduce e‑waste. Australian schemes so far only cover new purchases.

    What more can be done?

    For e‑bike and e‑scooter owners, the main barrier to riding more is the lack of safe and well-connected infrastructure. Numerous studies have connected rates of riding to the quality and quantity of infrastructure. Extensive, high-quality and safe cycling networks can deliver lasting shifts towards sustainable transport.

    When the Spanish city of Seville built such networks, cycling rates surged 11-fold in a few years.

    In the Netherlands, this infrastructure is so well-funded and extensive that it’s no surprise cycling is popular there.

    Riders don’t just need bikeways. They also need end-of-trip facilities with secure parking (and maybe free charging too).

    In Australia, cycling gets only around 2% of transport funding.

    In Brisbane, despite not being anywhere close to the European level of cycling infrastructure, new “green bridges” and bikeways will be expanded to more areas of the city (and other Queensland venues). It’s part of preparations to host “climate-positive” Olympic and Paralympic Games in 2032. This year’s games host, Paris, successfully upgraded infrastructure and boosted cycling rates.

    Another benefit of more riders on the streets is that it creates “safety in numbers”. Greater numbers would also help attract more funding for infrastructure that makes cycling and scooting safer and more attractive.

    Both e‑bikes and e‑scooters are already worthwhile investments. Using them often would free yourself from car dependence – and that’s good for the planet and your wallet.

    Abraham Leung received funding from the Transport Academic Partnership (Queensland Department of Transport and Main Roads (TMR) and the Motor Accident Insurance Commission) and the Transport Innovation and Research Hub (Brisbane City Council, BCC). The data from the Privately Owned Electric Mobility User Survey (POEMUS) used in this article is funded and commissioned by BCC.

    His current Advance Queensland Industry Research Fellowship is funded and/or partnered with TMR, BCC, Townsville City Council, and micromobility operators Neuron and Beam. He is also an active member of PedBikeTrans.

    – ref. Rebates for buying e-bikes and e-scooters are good but unlikely to greatly boost sustainable transport on their own – https://theconversation.com/rebates-for-buying-e-bikes-and-e-scooters-are-good-but-unlikely-to-greatly-boost-sustainable-transport-on-their-own-239939

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI: Andrew Cardno, CTO of Quick Custom Intelligence, Receives Prestigious Lifetime Achievement Award from Gaming & Leisure

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    SAN DIEGO, Oct. 09, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Quick Custom Intelligence (QCI) is proud to announce that its Chief Technology Officer, Andrew Cardno, has been honored with the prestigious Lifetime Achievement Award by Gaming & Leisure, in recognition of his exceptional contributions to the gaming and hospitality industries over the course of his career.

    Andrew Cardno, a seasoned technology leader with over 25 years of experience, has been at the forefront of driving technological advancements in gaming analytics, artificial intelligence, and business intelligence systems. His innovative work has transformed the way gaming operators leverage data to improve decision-making, optimize operations, and enhance the customer experience.

    “It is an incredible honor to receive this recognition from Gaming & Leisure. I have dedicated much of my career to pushing the boundaries of what’s possible with data and technology in the gaming industry, and this award reflects the collective effort of my team at QCI and our partners across the sector,” said Andrew Cardno, CTO of Quick Custom Intelligence.

    Jeannie Caruso, CEO of Gaming & Leisure, praised Cardno’s impact across industries, stating, “Andrew is a rare and amazing human. The terms innovative and disruptive have been incredibly over-used, however, Andrew is the type of genius that actually brings innovative, disruptive and broad solutions to not only our industry, but many industries. He’s often sought after by vendors and properties alike for counsel on complex challenges they face. His passion extends beyond the walls of business to a role he’s devoted many years to as a Science Olympiad Coach to pass his incredible gift on to middle and high schoolers who compete in a broad range of science-related challenges. The world needs more Andrews, and it was my great honor to present him with the Lifetime Achievement Award this year, while still knowing he’ll bring boundless innovation to us far past this award.”

    The Lifetime Achievement Award is awarded annually by Gaming & Leisure to individuals who have made substantial and lasting contributions to the gaming, hospitality, and entertainment industries. Cardno’s career is highlighted by a series of innovations, including the development of cutting-edge solutions that have enabled gaming operators to better understand their customers and optimize business strategies.

    With this award, Andrew Cardno joins an elite group of industry pioneers whose work has had a profound and enduring impact on the gaming industry.

    About Quick Custom Intelligence (QCI)

    Quick Custom Intelligence (QCI) is the pioneer behind the QCI Player, an artificial general intelligence platform that seamlessly integrates player development, marketing, and gaming operations with real-time tools designed for the gaming and hospitality industries. Our advanced, highly configurable software is deployed in over 250 casino resorts across North America, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, Latin America, and The Bahamas. The QCI Player, managing over $35 billion in annual gross gaming revenue, serves as a best-in-class solution for on-premises, hybrid, or cloud-based operations, enabling coordinated activities across all aspects of gaming and hospitality. QCI’s data-driven, AGI-powered software facilitates swift, informed decision-making, vital in the ever-changing casino industry, optimizing resources, crafting effective marketing campaigns, and enhancing customer loyalty. QCI was co-founded by Dr. Ralph Thomas and Mr. Andrew Cardno and is headquartered in San Diego, with additional offices in Las Vegas, St. Louis, Dallas, and Tulsa. For more information, contact us at http://www.quickcustomintelligence.com.

    About Andrew Cardno

    Andrew Cardno is a distinguished figure in the field of artificial intelligence and data plumbing, with over two decades of experience leading private Ph.D. and master’s level research teams. His expertise has made significant contributions to data tooling, including groundbreaking innovations like the deep zoom image format, now a cornerstone in many mapping tools. Andrew’s leadership has earned him two Smithsonian Laureates and garnered 40 industry awards, including three pivotal gaming industry transformation awards. Co-founding Quick Custom Intelligence with Dr. Ralph Thomas, Andrew holds over 150 patent applications and has made a profound impact across various industries, from telecommunications and retail to the medical sector. He is also a prolific author, contributing to over 100 industry publications and co-authoring eleven influential books with Dr. Thomas. Andrew advocates for community and diversity and has made a significant impact on over 100 Native American Tribal Resorts, reflecting his expansive and inclusive professional endeavors.

    About Gaming & Leisure

    Gaming & Leisure® (G&L) is an organization dedicated to the betterment of the gaming and hospitality industry. G&L provides influential insights, best practices and brings together leading operators and the business partners who serve them, to collaborate and shape the landscape of operations each year. For over 20 years the annual G&L Roundtable seeks to initiate meaningful change in our industry by the very people who can foster that change. The G&L Forum is a North American leadership congress on innovation, AI and cybersecurity serving as a guide post for the industry. The G&L Community’s greatest asset continues to be its dedicated leadership representing a vast majority of domestic gaming and hospitality spend, and the new terrain they carve for us all to lead well. Visit http://www.mygamingandleisure.com.

    Contact:
    Laure Kay, Quick Custom Intelligence
    Phone: 858-349-8354

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Streaming online and airing on PBS affiliates. Thao Lam and Kjell Boersma’s multi-award-winning National Film Board of Canada animated short Boat People featured on POV Shorts, starting November 12.

    Source: Government of Canada News (2)

    Beginning November 12, 2024, Thao Lam and Kjell Boersma’s acclaimed new National Film Board of Canada (NFB) animated short Boat People will be featured in season seven of POV Shorts—a collection of the best and boldest independent short films streaming free of charge on POV.org and on the PBS App.

    October 8, 2024 – Montreal – National Film Board of Canada (NFB)

    Beginning November 12, 2024, Thao Lam and Kjell Boersma’s acclaimed new National Film Board of Canada (NFB) animated short Boat People will be featured in season seven of POV Shorts—a collection of the best and boldest independent short films streaming free of charge on POV.org and on the PBS App.

    POV Shorts will be airing on PBS affiliate stations—check local listings.

    Canadians can also continue to enjoy Boat People on the NFB’s free online screening platform, nfb.ca.

    About the film

    Boat People by Thao Lam and Kjell Boersma (10 min)
    Produced by Justine Pimlott and Jelena Popović for the NFB
    Press kit: mediaspace.nfb.ca/epk/boat-people-2

    • As a little girl in Vietnam, Thao’s mother would rescue ants from bowls of sugar water. The tiny creatures would later return the favour, leading her desperate family through darkness—and pointing the way to safety.
    • With Boat People, illustrator and author Thao Lam undertakes a creative rescue mission of her own, joining forces with animator Kjell Boersma to recount the experiences of her family, who were among over 1.6 million refugees who fled the chaotic aftermath of the Vietnam War, venturing across the South China Sea in precarious open boats.
    • Boat People employs a hybrid of traditional 2D animation, stop-motion multiplane, and 3D rendering to capture the unique aesthetic of Lam’s handmade paper textures and patterns. The film speaks across time and culture to anyone who’s ever fought to protect their family or community.

    Acclaim for Boat People

    • Boat People has been selected by more than 30 festivals around the world, including the Ottawa International Animation Festival, DOC NYC, the Stuttgart International Festival of Animated Film and the Clermont-Ferrand International Short Film Festival.
    • The film has garnered 10 awards and mentions to date, including the Milos Stehlik Global Impact Award at the Chicago International Children’s Film Festival, a Special Mention at the Oberhausen International Short Film Festival in Germany, and the Audience Award and Helen Hill Award for Animated Short at the New Orleans Film Festival, a short-films qualifying festival for the 97th Academy Awards.

    About the filmmakers

    • Thao Lam is a critically acclaimed Vietnamese-Canadian children’s book author and illustrator who arrived in Canada with her parents at the age of three as a refugee from Vietnam. Her books include the multi-award winning Wallpaper (2018) and Paper Boat (2020).
    • Kjell Boersma is a writer, director and animator whose projects combine traditional and digital animation techniques in novel ways. He directed the short film Monster Slayer (2015) and was commissioned by the Toronto Symphony Orchestra and TIFF Kids to write and direct DAM! The Story of Kit the Beaver (2017).

    About the National Film Board of Canada

    Founded in 1939, the National Film Board of Canada (NFB) is a one-of-a-kind producer, co-producer and distributor of engaging, relevant and innovative documentary and animated films. As a talent incubator, it is one of the world’s leading creative centres. The NFB has enabled Canadians to tell and hear each other’s stories for over eight decades, and its films are a reliable and accessible educational resource. The NFB is also recognized around the world for its expertise in preservation and conservation, and for its rich and vibrant collection of works, which form a pillar of Canada’s cultural heritage. To date, the NFB has produced more than 14,000 works, 7,000 of which can be streamed free of charge at nfb.ca. The NFB and its productions and co-productions have earned over 7,000 awards, including 11 Oscars and an Honorary Academy Award for overall excellence in cinema.

    About American Documentary, Inc.

    American Documentary, Inc. (AmDoc) is a multimedia organization dedicated to creating, identifying and presenting contemporary stories that express opinions and perspectives rarely featured in mainstream media outlets. AmDoc is a catalyst for public culture, developing collaborative strategic engagement activities around socially relevant content on television, online and in community settings. These activities are designed to trigger action, from dialogue and feedback to educational opportunities and community participation.

    Major funding for POV is provided by PBS, the Open Society Foundations, The John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation, the Wyncote Foundation, Reva & David Logan Foundation, Park Foundation, and Perspective Fund. Additional funding comes from the National Endowment for the Arts, New York State Council on the Arts, public funds from the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs in partnership with the City Council, Chris and Nancy Plaut, Ann Tenenbaum and Thomas H. Lee, Acton Family Giving, and public television viewers. POV is presented by a consortium of public television stations, including KQED San Francisco, WGBH Boston and THIRTEEN in association with WNET.ORG.

    About PBS

    PBS, with more than 330 member stations, offers all Americans the opportunity to explore new ideas and new worlds through television and digital content. Each month, PBS reaches over 120 million people through television and 26 million people online, inviting them to experience the worlds of science, history, nature and public affairs; to hear diverse viewpoints; and to take front row seats to world-class drama and performances. PBS’s broad array of programs has been consistently honored by the industry’s most coveted award competitions. Teachers of children from pre-K through 12th grade turn to PBS for digital content and services that help bring classroom lessons to life. Decades of research confirm that PBS’s premier children’s media service, PBS KIDS, helps children build critical literacy, math and social-emotional skills, enabling them to find success in school and life. Delivered through member stations, PBS KIDS offers high-quality educational content on TV—including a 24/7 channel, online at pbskids.org, via an array of mobile apps and in communities across America. More information about PBS is available at http://www.pbs.org, one of the leading dot-org websites on the internet, or by following PBS on Twitter, Facebook or through our apps for mobile and connected devices. Specific program information and updates for press are available at pbs.org/pressroom or by following PBS Communications on Twitter.

    About POV

    Produced by American Documentary, POV is the longest-running independent documentary showcase on American television. Since 1988, POV has presented films on PBS that capture the full spectrum of the human experience, with a long commitment to centering women and people of color in front of, and behind, the camera. The series is known for introducing generations of viewers to groundbreaking works like Tongues Untied (1989), Hearts of Darkness: A Filmmaker’s Apocalypse (1992), Rabbit in the Room (1999), Of Civil Wrongs & Rights: The Fred Korematsu Story (2001), Made in L.A. (2007), American Promise (2013), Not Going Quietly (2021), While We Watched (2022), A House Made of Splinters (2022) and the mini-series And She Could be Next (2020). Throughout its history POV has featured the work of award-winning, innovative filmmakers including Jonathan Demme, Laura Poitras, Nanfu Wang, Frederick Wiseman, Emiko Omori, Janus Metz Pedersen and Ava DuVernay. In 2018, POV Shorts launched as one of the first PBS series dedicated to bold and timely short-form documentaries. In 2024, Indiewire named seven POV films in its roundup of “The 50 Best Documentaries of the 21st Century”: Faya Dayi (2021), The Mole Agent (2020), Minding The Gap (2018), Cameraperson (2016), The Look of Silence (2015), The Act of Killing (2013) and After Tiller (2013). All POV programs are available for streaming concurrent with broadcast on all station-branded PBS platforms, including PBS.org and the PBS App, available on iOS, Android, Roku streaming devices, Apple TV, Android TV, Amazon Fire TV, Samsung Smart TV, Chromecast and VIZIO. For more information about PBS Passport, visit the PBS Passport FAQ website.

    POV goes “beyond the broadcast” to bring powerful nonfiction storytelling to viewers wherever they are. Free educational resources accompany every film and a community network of thousands of partners nationwide work with POV to spark dialogue around today’s most pressing issues. POV continues to explore the future of documentary through innovative productions with partners such as The New York Times and the National Film Board of Canada and on platforms including Snapchat and Instagram.

    POV films and projects have won 48 Emmy Awards, 28 George Foster Peabody Awards, 16 Alfred I. duPont-Columbia University Awards, three Academy Awards® and the first-ever George Polk Documentary Film Award. Learn more at pbs.org/pov and follow @povdocs on social media.

    About POV Shorts

    POV Shorts launched in 2018 as one of the first PBS series dedicated to bold and timely short-form documentaries. The series is known for its curation, and for broadcasting award-winning titles, including: Emmy®-nominated Earthrise, Water Warriors, The Changing Same, Emmy® winner The Love Bugs and the Oscar® shortlisted A Broken House and Aguilas. It won Best Short Form Series at the IDA Documentary Awards in 2023, 2022 and 2020.

    – 30 –

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  • MIL-OSI Translation: 09/10/2024 Prague Consultations between the Polish and Czech governments

    MIL ASI Translation. Region: Polish/Europe –

    Fuente: Gobierno de Polonia en poleco.

    The 9th Polish-Czech intergovernmental consultations were held in Prague. The meeting was chaired by Prime Minister Donald Tusk and the head of the Czech government, Petr Fiala. We have many common interests and we look at issues in a similar way, such as the role of Europe, assistance to Ukraine, security and actions related to crisis situations. Polska and Chequia also have a common position on illegal immigration in the European Union. Prime Minister Donald Tusk was accompanied by 14 members of the Council of Ministers. Joint action of Poland and Checo. Cooperation between Warsaw and Prague is very good. This was especially visible during the tragic flood that hit both of our countries in September. “With a rare partner we have relationships so intense, so good and so characterized by mutual understanding,” said Prime Minister Donald Tusk during the opening of Polish-Czech intergovernmental consultations. Special thanks go to to the pilots of Checo Mi-17 helicopters, who actively helped in rescue operations on the Polish side of the border. “This is just an illustration of our very good cooperation in the broadly understood field of security. What we are trying to do together – both bilaterally and in Europe – is the best example of how to build security policy in relations between nations and states,” noted the Prime Minister. At the same time, Donald Tusk recalled the Polish initiative to organize a meeting in Wrocław regarding the rapid and flexible aid from the European Union, which will concern flood-affected areas. “The idea is to use European funds as effectively as possible and in some situations also jointly […] so that we can jointly and effectively counteract this type of disasters in the future,” explained the head. Polish government. Prime Minister Petr Fiala, who was one of the participants of the meeting in Wrocław, thanked the Polish initiative in the EU. “I thanked the Prime Minister for his actions. It was a meeting with the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, and the Prime Ministers of Central European countries in Wrocław,” emphasized the head of the Czech government. Countries struggling with the effects of the September flood will be able to benefit from aid in the amount of EUR 10 billion for reconstruction from the Cohesion Fund. For our country, it will be half of this amount – 5 million de euros, i.e. approximately PLN 20 billion. Together in the international arena, Poland and the Czech Republic cooperate very well in the European Union forum, as well as in the matter of helping the struggling Ukraine. “I would like to thank the Czech Republic very much for their initiatives regarding Ukraine. We will cooperate even closer. We do it in a responsible, rational and very solidary way – both when it comes to helping refugees from Ukraine and helping to defend Ukraine against Russian aggression,” explained the head of the Polish government. El primer ministro checo, Petr Fiala added that both our countries are perfectly they know that the defense of Ukraine is an issue directly related to our security. “We know from our own experiences that we cannot allow Russia to make any expansion […]. Poland and the Czech Republic also have in common the fact that we have accepted a huge number of Ukrainian refugees in both countries. This shows that for us, words about solidarity are not just platitudes,” noted Petr Fiala. Poland and the Czech Republic, as one of the first countries in the EU, have been helping fighting Ukraine from the very beginning of the war. Poland and Chequia together on the issue of illegal immigration in the EUWarsaw and Prague also has a common position on illegal immigration in the European Union. El primer ministro Donald Tusk explained that during the Polish presidency in 2025, our governments will cooperate on a profound correction of some traditional European policies on illegal migration. “We present a common, firm and rational position, without any obsessions. We are definitely in favor of defending Europe against the wave of illegal migration,” emphasized the Prime Minister. As he explained during the press conference after the consultations, Poland and the Czech Republic must convince other partners in the European Union that the EU’s task is to protect the external border, not to create internal borders and searching in, which only consist in moving groups of illegal immigrants within Europe. “We will cooperate here in all aspects. Poland can count on Chequia and Chequia can count on Poland. We will give examples of this at the next meeting of the European Council,” announced the head of the Polish government. Prime Minister Petr Fiala also drew attention to the need for decisive action in the fight against illegal migration. “A change of perspective is necessary on migration. We need to be more active and more assertive towards third countries. I am convinced that both our countries have similar positions and views here,” said the head of the Czech government. As he added, organized pseudo-terrorist groups are particularly active in the matter of illegal migration. Polish-Czech energy cooperation One of the topics of intergovernmental consultations in Prague was energy cooperation .“Cooperation in the field of energy is important to us. We are starting nuclear energy practically from scratch. You already have a very long experience […]. Therefore, I am very glad that we have decided to cooperate closely and exchange information so that our activities in this field are effective and as cheap and effective as possible,” emphasized Donald Tusk. Prime Minister Petr Fiala also drew attention to the aspect of developing energy cooperation. “In both Our countries are preparing to build new nuclear blocks […]. The nuclear alliance is a form of cooperation that makes sense,” said the head of the Czech government. As he added, both countries see the benefits of the development of nuclear energy. By train from Prague to the Polish seaThis year’s tourist season on the Baltic Sea was exceptional – over half a million Czechs visited Poland beaches. “I am an eyewitness to the most friendly and expected invasion of ours, which were tourists from the Czech Republic at our seaside. You broke all Historical Records. We are very proud of it […]. Czech women and men are the most welcomed tourists on Polish soil,” emphasized Donald Tusk. Soon, tourists will have a new opportunity to reach the Baltic Sea. A direct railway connection between Prague and Tricity will be opened. Trains will run 4 times a day. Prime Minister Donald Tusk was accompanied in Prague by 14 members of the Council of Ministers: Vice-President of the Council of Ministers, Minister of National Defense Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz, Minister of State Assets Jakub Jaworowski, Minister of EU Affairs Adam Szłapka, Minister de Infraestructura Dariusz Klimczak, Minister de Cultura y National Heritage Hanna WróblewskaMinister of Climate and Environment Paulina Henning-Kloska,Minister of Science Dariusz Wieczorek,Minister of Interior and Administration Tomasz Siemoniak,Minister of Foreign Affairs Radosław Sikorski,Minister of Development and Technology Krzysztof Paszyk,Minister of Industry Marzena Czarnecka,Minister of Health Izabela Leszczyna ,Minister of Funds and Regional Policy Katarzyna Pełczyńska-Nałęcz,Minister – Member of the Council of Ministers, Head of the Chancellery of the Prime Minister Jan Grabiec.

    MILES AXIS

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

    MIL Translation OSI

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Results of Comprehensive Annual Modular Survey, July 2022- June 2023

    Source: Government of India (2)

    Posted On: 09 OCT 2024 5:44PM by PIB Delhi

    A. Key Findings

    (i) Approximately 96.9 percent of persons aged 15-24 years are able to read and write simple statements with understanding and also able to perform simple arithmetic calculations. In the same age group, the figure stands around 97.8 percent for males and 95.9 percent for females.

    (ii) The mean years of schooling in formal education, for persons age 15 years and above is 8.4 at the all-India level and the same is 7.5 for persons age 25 years and above.

    (iii) The average out-of-pocket medical expenditure per household on hospitalization during last 365 days in rural and urban areas are Rs 4,129/- and Rs 5,290/-respectively. Additionally, the average out-of-pocket medical expenditure per household on non-hospitalization during last 30 days in rural and urban areas are Rs 539/- and Rs 606/- respectively.

    (iv) Approximately 93.7 percent urban population has convenient access to low-capacity public transport (bus, car, taxi, auto etc) within 500 meters from the place of living.

    (v) 78.4% of youth aged 15-24 years can send messages with attached files, while 71.2% can use copy-and-paste tools. Additionally, 26.8% can perform more advanced tasks like searching for information, sending emails, and conducting online banking.

    (vi) 95.7% of persons aged 15-24 years in rural areas can use mobile phones, with the figure being 97% in urban areas.

    (vii)  82.1% of rural youth aged 15-24 years can use the internet, compared to 91.8% in urban areas.

    (viii) Around 94.6% persons aged 18 years and above, having an account individually are jointly in any bank / other financial institution at all India level.

     

    B. Introduction

    As a part of the 79th round of the National Sample Survey (NSS) the Comprehensive Annual Modular Survey (CAMS) was conducted from July, 2022 to June, 2023. The primary objective of CAMS was to collect data to generate indicators related to education, out-of-pocket medical expenditure, use of mobile and internet, financial inclusion, ICT skills, possession of assets, etc. In addition, information related to drinking water, sanitation, energy use, birth registration, access to transport facilities, etc., was also collected. The report is available on the Ministry’s website (http://www.mospi.gov.in).

    C. Sample Design

    In this survey, Two Stage Stratified Sampling was used, where First Stage Units (FSU) were villages/sub-units (SUs) in rural areas, and Urban Frame Survey (UFS) blocks/SUs in urban areas. The FSUs were allocated to States and UTs in proportion to the population as per Census 2011. The Second Stage Units (SSUs) were households in both rural and urban areas. The selection of FSUs and SSUs was done using Simple Random Sampling without Replacement (SRSWOR).

    D. Survey Coverage

    The survey covered the whole of the India Union except for some villages of Andaman and Nicobar Islands which were difficult to access. At the all-India level, the total number of first-stage units (FSUs) surveyed for the central sample was 15,298 (8,758 in rural areas and 6,540 in urban areas). The total number of households surveyed was 3,02,086 (1,73,096 in rural areas and 1,28,990 in urban areas) and the total number of persons enumerated was 12,99,988 (7,85,246 in rural areas and 5,14,742 in urban areas).

    E. Comparability of results and release of unit-level data

    The data collected in this survey represents the demand-side information of the households surveyed. In contrast, administrative data, wherever available, typically reflects the supply-side metrics. It is also important to recognize that respondents sometimes reluctant to provide specific information which may lead to under-reporting of some information, particularly in questions related to government schemes. Moreover, the coverage and definitions used in alternative data sources may not align perfectly with those adopted in this survey. To mention some specific cases, in this survey primary source of energy used by the household for cooking is defined as the source of energy which the household used majority of the time for cooking, whereas, the administrative record is based on the definition of the number of LPG connections/ consumers. Similarly, in this survey, the principal source of drinking water is defined as the source from which the household obtained most of its drinking water over the past 365 days, however, the administrative record is based on the number of pipe water connections provided. These variations in methodology, scope, and timeframes may affect the comparability of results across different data sources.

    Additionally, this survey attempted to collect person-level information on the formal education of erstwhile household members aged 18 years or above who are currently studying outside India. However, the total number of samples representing the information is insufficient to generate reliable estimates for the indicator. Since the dataset is not robust enough for policy purposes, the unit-level data collected to generate the indicator will not be disseminated to avoid possible ambiguity in interpreting the results.

    F. Major findings of the survey

    (i) Percentage of persons able to read and write short simple statements in their everyday life with understanding and also able to perform simple arithmetic calculations

     

    In rural areas, about 96.5 percent of persons in the age group 15-24 years are able to read and write short simple statements in their everyday life with understanding and also able to perform simple arithmetic calculations while in urban areas it has been around 97.9 percent. Sector-wise estimates for different age groups are shown in Figure 1.

    (ii) Mean years of schooling in formal education

    The gender-sector-wise mean years of schooling in formal education for age 15 years and above and 25 years and above is given in Figure 2 and Figure 3 respectively. The mean years of schooling in formal education is marginally higher in the age group 15 years and above compared to the age group 25 years and above.    

    (iii) Average out-of-pocket medical expenditure

    The average out-of-pocket medical expenditure per household and per person on hospitalized treatment during last 365 days and non-hospitalized treatment during last 30 days were estimated separately for rural and urban India. Figure 4 and Figure 5 present sector-wise expenditure on different types of treatment.

     

    F. In addition to the above, estimates of some of the indicators at the all-India level are given below:

     

    Sl No

    Item Description

    Rural

    Urban

    All

    (Rural + Urban)

    1

    Percentage of persons aged 15-24 years able to read and write short simple statements in their everyday life with understanding

    96.7

    98.0

    97.0

    2

    Percentage of persons of age 6 to 10 years who reported as currently enrolled in primary education (Class I to Class V) at the time of survey

    90.5

    89.2

    90.1

    3

    Percentage of persons of age 25 years and above with some secondary education

    30.4

    56.6

    38.6

    4

    Percentage of persons of age 6 to 18 years who never enrolled in formal education

    2.2

    1.9

    2.1

    5

    Percentage of persons aged 21-35 years who graduated in Science and Technology among all graduates

    31.4

    44.4

    37.8

    6

    Precentage of youth in formal and non-formal education and training in the previous 12 months in the age group 15-24 years

    45.9

    57.1

    49.0

    7

    Percentage of youth reported to be not in education, employment, or training, as on date of survey for the age group 15-24 years

    25.0

    19.0

    23.3

    8

    Percentage of persons (age ≥ 18 years) who have an account individually or jointly in any bank/ other financial institution/mobile money service provider

    94.6

    94.4

    94.6

    9

    Number of borrowers (age ≥ 18 years) per 1,00,000 persons

    18,714

    17,442

    18,322

    10

    Percentage of persons able to use mobile (including smart phone) as on date of survey (age 15-24 years)

    95.7

    97.0

    96.1

    11

    Percentage of persons who used mobile telephones with an active sim card, at least once, during the last three months preceding the date of the survey (age 15-24 years)

    92.6

    95.3

    93.3

    12

    Percentage of persons able to use internet as on date of survey (age 15-24 years)

    82.1

    91.8

    84.8

    13

    Percentage of persons who used internet during last three months preceding the date of survey (age 15-24 years)

    80.4

    90.8

    83.3

    14

    percentage of persons covered by 4G or above mobile technology

    99.5

    99.8

    99.7

    15

    Percentage of persons aged 15-24 years reported execution of skill of ‘sending messages (e.g., e-mail, messaging service, SMS) with attached files (e.g., documents, pictures, and video)’

    74.9

    87.3

    78.4

    16

    Percentage of persons aged 15-24 years reported execution of skill of ‘copy and paste tools to duplicate or move data, information, documents, etc.’

    67.1

    81.8

    71.2

    17

    Percentage of persons who can search internet for information and who can send or receive emails and who can perform online banking transactions simultaneously in the age group 15-24 years

    21.0

    40.2

    26.8

    18

    Percentage of households possessing telephone/ mobile phone1

    94.2

    97.1

    95.1

    19

    Percentage of households possessing computer2

    4.2

    21.6

    9.9

    20

    Percentage of the urban population having convenient access to high-capacity public transport (train, metro, ferry etc.) within 1 km from place of living

    –

    41.6

    –

    21

    Percentage of the rural population with all-weather roads within in a distance of 2 km from the place of living

    94.2

    –

    –

    22

    percentage of persons of age less than 5 years who have registered with civil authority for the birth certificate ever (including those who received birth certificates)

    90.5

    90.8

    90.6

    23

    Percentage of households using clean fuel for cooking (among households reported having cooking arrangements)

    49.3

    92.9

    63.4

    24

    Percentage of households having access to improved principal source of drinking water

    94.9

    97.5

    95.7

    25

    Percentage of households having access to improved latrine (among households with access to latrine)

    97.1

    98.9

    97.8

    Notes:

    1. telephone includes landline and mobile phone includes smart phone

    2. Computer includes desktop PC, laptop etc.

     

    *****

     

    SB/DP/ARJ

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    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: IIAS-DARPG India Conference 2025 at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi from 10-14 February

    Source: Government of India

    IIAS-DARPG India Conference 2025 at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi from 10-14 February

    Theme of the Conference is “Next Generation Administrative Reforms – Empowering Citizens and Reaching the Last Mile”

    Website https://iias-iisa.org/iias-darpg-indiaconference2025/ open for registration/submission of research papers

    Posted On: 09 OCT 2024 6:32PM by PIB Delhi

    Department of Administrative Reforms and Public Grievances (DARPG), Government of India will host the IIAS-DARPG India Conference-2025 in collaboration with International Institute of Administrative Sciences (IIAS), Brussels at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi from 10-14 February 2025. The theme of the Conference is: “Next Generation Administrative Reforms – Empowering Citizens and Reaching the Last Mile”.

    The event will provide a unique opportunity for academia, students scholars, research institutions, Public Administrative Institutes like IIT/IIM/Universities/IIPA/HIPA/ATI, etc. to interact with international experts and present their research work before them through IIAS- DARPG Conference on recent developments in the areas of Public Administration and Governance reforms. It will also provide an opportunity to research scholars for publication of their research work as Research publications/papers in IIAS.

    The event is a 05 day conference and is likely to be attended by about 500-600 national and international delegates. The lIAS-DARPG lndia Conference 2025 is built on the premise that future administrative reforms should emphasize greater civil society participation and prioritize public service delivery as a core state function. The IIAS-DARPG lndia Conference 2025 invites students, scholars, and practitioners in the field of public administration from around the world

    The registration for participation in the conference is open from 2nd October 2024. Participants are requested to visit the website https://iias-iisa.org/iias-darpg-indiaconference2025/ for registration / submission of research papers.

     

    *****

     

    NKR/DK

    (Release ID: 2063605) Visitor Counter : 7

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: Experts of the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women Praise Saudi Arabia’s Efforts to Promote Women’s Economic Empowerment, Ask about Progress in Abolishing the Male Guardianship System and Promoting Women’s Access to Justice

    Source: United Nations – Geneva

    The Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women today concluded its consideration of the fifth periodic report of Saudi Arabia, with Committee Experts praising the State’s measures promoting women’s economic empowerment and raising questions about its progress in abolishing the male guardianship system and promoting women’s access to justice.

    A Committee Expert welcomed initiatives for women within the Saudi Vision 2030.  The increase in women’s participation in the labour force showed the State’s efforts to promote the economic empowerment of women.

    One Committee Expert said the State party continued to entrust the protection of women to male guardians. The guardianship system led to women being controlled by their guardians and being subjected to domestic violence. When would the Kingdom abolish male guardianship?

    Nahla Haidar, Committee Expert and Rapporteur for Saudi Arabia, noted that there were barriers to access to justice for women in Saudi Arabia, including due to the guardianship system. What measures were in place to ensure women could benefit from legal services?

    Hala Mazyad Altuwaigri, President of the Human Rights Commission of Saudi Arabia and head of the delegation, said the Saudi Vision 2030 included numerous programmes that sought to increase women’s participation in the labour market.  The Government had launched the “Qurra” programme to support childcare services for working women, and part-time and remote work programmes for women. As a result of these national efforts, the participation rate of women in the labour market until the end of the second quarter of 2024 was 35.4 per cent.

    In 2017, the delegation reported, a Royal Decree was adopted that made the guardianship system obsolete.  Women no longer needed permission to receive State services, including police services. Husbands were not allowed to impose obedience on their wives; such actions were grounds for the dissolution of marriages.

    Access to justice was ensured for women on an equal footing with men, the delegation said. Women were allowed to access the judicial system in marriage and divorce matters.  An application had been developed that allowed the Ministry of Justice to share documents and rulings on court cases with women living in rural areas, giving them access to justice.

    In closing remarks, Ms. Altuwaigri said the recommendations provided by the Committee would be heeded and followed up on by Saudi Arabia. The Government was determined to take all measures necessary to fulfil women’s rights and eliminate discrimination of women, in cooperation with all relevant international bodies, including the Committee.

    Ana Peláez Narváez, Committee Chair, in her concluding remarks, said the dialogue had allowed the Committee to better understand the situation of women and girls in Saudi Arabia.  The Committee commended the State party for its efforts and encouraged it to take all necessary measures to better implement the Convention for the benefit of all women and girls in the country.

    The delegation of Saudi Arabia consisted of representatives from the Human Rights Commission; Shura Council; Ministry of Justice; Council of Ministers’ Experts Authority; Ministry of Education; Public Prosecution; Ministry of Foreign Affairs; Ministry of Islamic Affairs, Dawah and Guidance; Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development; Ministry of Information; Ministry of Interior; Ministry of Culture; Family Affairs Council; General Authority for Statistics; King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Centre; National Women’s Observatory; Quality of Life Programme; Digital Transformation Programme Centre; Ministry of Economy and Planning; and the Permanent Mission of Saudi Arabia to the United Nations Office at Geneva.

    The Committee will issue the concluding observations on the report of Saudi Arabia at the end of its eighty-ninth session on 25 October.  All documents relating to the Committee’s work, including reports submitted by States parties, can be found on the session’s webpage.  Meeting summary releases can be found here.  The webcast of the Committee’s public meetings can be accessed via the UN Web TV webpage.

    The Committee will next meet at 10 a.m. on Thursday, 10 October to consider the ninth periodic report of New Zealand (CEDAW/C/NZL/9).

    Report

    The Committee has before it the fifth periodic report of Saudi Arabia (CEDAW/C/SAU/5).

    Presentation of Report

    HALA MAZYAD ALTUWAIGRI, President of the Human Rights Commission of Saudi Arabia and head of the delegation, said significant changes had been achieved in Saudi Arabia in the interest of women and girls over the reporting period.  The empowerment of women was one of the goals of the National Transformation Programme, one of the programmes of the “Saudi Vision 2030”, which implemented more than 150 reforms and policy measures.  In the field of human rights, more than 50 legislative, institutional, judicial and procedural reforms and measures were devoted to women’s rights and empowerment.

    The report was prepared by the Standing Committee for the Preparation of Reports, which was established in January 2015; it was the national mechanism for the preparation of reports to treaty bodies and follow-up to the implementation of treaty body recommendations.  It had found that most of the Committee’s previous recommendations had been implemented.

    Many laws had been amended and issued to ensure gender equality and equal opportunities and promote women’s empowerment, and to harmonise them with international standards. Among these was the amendment of the travel document system to ensure that women had access to travel documents and travel abroad on an equal basis with men.  The civil status law was amended to allow women to obtain civil documents and to report marriages, divorces and deaths on an equal basis with men. The social insurance system was amended to achieve gender equality in the retirement age, which was now 60 years for both sexes. 

    The labour law was amended to ensure equality between women and men in job interviews, employment, wages, allowances, benefits and training.  The protection from abuse law was amended to enhance the protection of victims of violence, provide them with assistance, and prosecute perpetrators, by doubling penalties in specific cases that required severe punishment.  The personal status law strengthened the rights of women and girls by restricting the discretionary power of judges, as well as by setting a minimum age for marriage, giving women priority in the custody of their children, and prohibiting the banning of women from marrying those they consented to.  In 2017, a Royal Order was also issued that removed the requirement for women to obtain a guardian’s permission to obtain services or complete procedures in all aspects of life.

    The National Policy to Encourage Equal Opportunities and Equal Treatment in Employment and Occupation was released in January 2023 to eliminate all discrimination in the field of work, enabling marginalised groups to enter the labour market.  The Government had launched the “Qurra” programme to support childcare services for working women, the “Self-Employment Support” programme, which expanded opportunities to increase women’s income according to their skills, and part-time and remote work programmes, which enabled women to achieve a balance between work and family. 

    As a result of these national efforts, the participation rate of women in the labour market until the end of the second quarter of 2024 was 35.4 per cent.  The number of women in senior positions in government jobs in 2023 reached 27,942, an improvement of 38 per cent compared to 2019. The number of women in senior and middle positions in the private sector in 2023 increased by 282 per cent compared to 2019. 

    An initiative had been launched to empower women in the field of cybersecurity, which had resulted in an increase in women’s participation in communications and information technology jobs, from seven per cent in 2017 to 25 per cent in 2024. Around 250 women had been appointed to the judiciary in the Public Prosecution, and the number of female lawyers had reached 2,136.  Women also actively participated in the security and military sectors alongside men, and had played a role in the evacuation of civilians of various nationalities during the Sudanese crisis in 2023.

    In 1961, Saudi Arabia had only four female university students.  Today, the number of girls graduating from universities almost exceeded the number of male graduates.  There had been a significant increase in the enrolment rates of girls at various educational levels.  More than 1,000 educational projects have been launched in various regions and governorates of the Kingdom, and places in kindergartens had been increased by 400,000.

    The Government had provided a package of basic health services for women before and during pregnancy and after childbirth.  Mobile clinics covered remote and rural areas, providing maternal care, mental health, and programmes to prevent chronic diseases.  As a result of efforts in the field of health, the Kingdom ranked 44 out of 143 countries in the Global Women’s Health Index.

    Saudi Arabia worked in cooperation with friendly countries to promote and protect women’s rights by highlighting Islamic values that enhanced the status of women in society and ensured their enjoyment of all their rights.  The Kingdom would continue to fulfil its obligations under the Convention and endeavour to strengthen partnership and cooperation with international organizations and mechanisms concerned with human rights.  It would continue reforms in the field of women’s rights and empowerment to achieve the best possible results for women, within the framework of the “Saudi Vision 2030”.

    Questions by a Committee Expert 

    NAHLA HAIDAR, Committee Expert and Rapporteur for Saudi Arabia, welcomed Saudi Arabia’s reforms to improve the situation of women, including reforms allowing women the right to a driver’s licence and passports.  Reforms needed to be effectively implemented.  There were challenges to fulfilling women’s rights, however, including related to the guardianship system, free speech, the protection of foreign workers, domestic violence and the death penalty.

    The 1982 basic law did not include guarantees of non-discrimination and gender equality.  Would this law be amended?  It was welcome that the State party had a national human rights institute, but it was not in line with the Paris Principles.  Would the State party make it fully independent?

    There were barriers to access to justice for women, including due to the guardianship system.  How many female judges were there in Saudi Arabia?  What measures were in place to ensure women could benefit from legal services?  Was there gender sensitive handling of cases?  Did the country plan to amend the 2017 law on the financing of terrorism and the anti-cybercrime law to bring them in line with international standards? Could the State party provide data on the women subjected to the death penalty?  Would the State party implement a moratorium on the death penalty?

    How many complaints of discrimination against women had been received by the national human rights institute. Could women leave care centres without the permission of their guardians?  Would the State party stop issuing the death penalty to women who acted in self-defence?

    Another Committee Expert said that the State party’s reservation to the Convention was counter to article 27 of the Vienna Convention.  Would the State party review this reservation?

    Responses by the Delegation

    The delegation said that the basic law was based on transparency and justice and instilled the virtue of equality between men and women.  The Convention was included in State legislation and relevant agencies had been tasked with implementing it.  Discrimination against women was prohibited in law and in practice.

    There were seven women judges, and the State party was encouraging women to become judges.  Access to justice was ensured for women on an equal footing with men. Women were allowed to access the judicial system in marriage and divorce matters.  Marriage documents were provided to both spouses.  An application had been developed that allowed the Ministry of Justice to share documents and rulings on court cases with women living in rural areas, giving them access to justice.

    The national human rights institute was independent in its activities and worked in step with the Paris Principles. It was not directly linked to the executive power.  Its members were well-trained in human rights.  It received complaints through a hotline, prepared annual reports on the situation of human rights in the country, and expressed opinions on draft and promulgated laws.  The complaints it received were referred to competent authorities as required.

    There were thousands of members of civil society advocating for women’s rights in Saudi Arabia in the press and through social media.  Such practices were guaranteed so long as they did not threaten the security of society. Imprisoned persons had committed criminal acts under the Kingdom’s legislation, including inciting hatred.

    Capital punishment was only imposed for the most serious crimes.  Death penalties were required to be reviewed in appellate courts by 13 judges.  The State party was developing databases on domestic workers to inform policies related to such workers.  There were only two domestic workers on death row in 2023 and one in 2024.  One of these women had killed a child by suffocation, another had killed another woman using acid, while a third had set fire to a man while he was sleeping.

    Saudi Arabia had the right to express reservations to the international treaties to which it was a party.  The reservation made at the time of ratification was precautionary but had not been an obstacle to the State’s fulfilment of its commitments under the Convention.

    Questions by Committee Experts 

    A Committee Expert said Saudi Arabia had taken positive steps for women, including by establishing the Council of Family Affairs and the Committee for Women under the Ministry of Resources, which all contributed to the empowerment of women.  Did the Council have sufficient status and budget?  What outcomes had been achieved by these bodies? The Government had included a budget for the empowerment of women within the national budget.  What achievements had been made through this budget?

    There had been reports of torture by authorities against women who protested the male guardianship system. These individuals were imprisoned for long periods and issued travel bans.  Did the State party plan to lift travel bans and other laws inhibiting the activities of women activists?

    Another Committee Expert welcomed initiatives for women within the Saudi Vision 2030.  The increase in women’s participation in the labour force showed the State’s efforts to promote the economic empowerment of women.  Did the State party plan to increase the representation of women within the Shura Council from the current 20 per cent? What quota was being debated? What steps had been taken to collaborate with civil society to implement temporary special measures to fulfil the rights of women?  Did the Saudi Vison 2030 include plans to appoint female judges and lawyers?  Did women have access to training that prepared them for high-level Government positions and positions in science and technology fields?

    Responses by the Delegation

    The delegation said that the Council of Family Affairs was established in 2016.  It was independent of the Government.  The Committee on Women included specialists and experts.  It revised policies and took initiatives to empower women in all sectors.  The State party had developed a “Strategy of Women” which sought to provide economic opportunities and training to enhance women’s participation in information and communication fields and increase the work-life balance for women.  The budget for the Council for 2023 was 49 million riyals, which guaranteed the sustainability of its programmes.  The Ministry of Finance was working to establish a coding system to determine the overall budget allocated for women.

    The Saudi Vision 2023 aimed to empower civil society, which effectively partnered with the Government.  Civil society organizations received complaints of abuse from women and conducted awareness raising on the rights of women and the Convention.  They had produced a shadow report to the Committee.

    There was no restriction on the freedom of movement of women, except when they had violated the law. Restrictions aimed to ensure the security of society and prevent the repetition of crimes.

    The national strategy for women aimed to increase opportunities for women in leadership positions.  There were programmes in place to improve the quality of life of Saudi women in all facets of life.  There were indicators in place on women’s representation in leadership positions in the 13 districts in the State.  There had been an improvement in women’s representation in high-level Government positions by around 30 per cent between 2019 and 2023, and a three-fold increase in their representation in high-level positions in the private sector. The Government aimed to reach gender parity in the Shura Council.

    Laws in the Kingdom underwent constant review, including laws on terrorism and capital punishment. Persons could not be punished for exercising their right to self-defence.  The “Qurra” programme promoted childcare for working women. Over 117,000 women had benefitted from childcare programmes.  The cost of transport had also been reduced for working women, and women’s choices for specialisation in university and vocational education had been expanded.

    The Saudi Vision 2030 included numerous programmes that sought to improve access to services for women, increase women’s participation in the labour market, and strengthen the empowerment of women.  In 2024, women’s participation in the labour market had increased to 37 per cent.  The Government was also supporting women’s participation in sporting and cultural programmes.

    Follow-Up Questions by Committee Experts 

    A Committee Expert asked how the State party monitored and evaluated policies for women.

    Another Committee Expert asked why the State party had many more female lawyers than judges.  Were there plans to appoint more female judges?

    NAHLA HAIDAR, Committee Expert and Rapporteur for Saudi Arabia, asked if there was a possibility to reopen cases of travel bans issued for women human rights defenders.

    ANA PELÁEZ NARVÁEZ, Committee Chair, asked about obstacles to introducing a moratorium on the death penalty.

    Responses by the Delegation

    The delegation said the Council of Family Affairs ensured that Government bodies were playing their roles regarding matters concerning families and women.

    The right to go before the judicial system was guaranteed for all individuals.  Legal aid was provided to individuals to appeal decisions such as travel bans.  There were plans to support increased appointments of women judges and magistrates. The judiciary was completely independent and could not be interfered with.  This ensured that trials were fair and that human rights were respected.

    Questions by Committee Experts 

    A Committee Expert asked if the State party would develop a national action plan on women, peace and security that called for women’s leadership in the field.  The Committee acknowledged the State’s efforts to promote ceasefire talks between warring parties in Sudan.  How many women had participated in these talks?

    The State party continued to entrust the protection of women to male guardians.  The guardianship system led to women being controlled by their guardians and being subjected to domestic violence.  When women left home without permission, guardians could compel them to return through the courts.  When would the Kingdom abolish male guardianship?  Would it accord women with the same legal capacity as men?  Would the State party ensure that the definition of rape in the upcoming Penal Code was based on affirmative consent, and that the Code addressed psychological violence?

    Saudi women were subjected to various forms of digital violence.  The potential weaponizing of the cybersecurity law could shrink the civil space for women human rights defenders.  How would the State party address these issues?

    One Committee Expert said Saudi Arabia had developed many measures to prevent trafficking in persons and support victims of trafficking.  The Expert welcomed efforts to harmonise legislation on trafficking with international standards.  However, domestic workers continued to lack sufficient legal protections, making them vulnerable to trafficking.  The State’s anti-trafficking hotlines were available in only two languages, limiting access for migrants.  Domestic workers also lacked labour law protections, leading to a high risk of forced labour.  Did the State party plan to increase the number of shelters for victims of human trafficking?  How did the State party ensure that all persons in migration shelters were assessed to determine if they were victims of trafficking, and how was it protecting domestic workers from trafficking and forced labour?

    Responses by the Delegation

    The delegation said Saudi Arabia was implementing the Security Council resolution on women, peace and security. Women were engaging in conflict resolution efforts and humanitarian activities.

    In 2017, a Royal Decree was adopted that stipulated that women did not need permission to obtain State services. This Decree made the guardianship system obsolete.  Women no longer needed permission to receive State services, including police services. Women could marry a person of their choice.  Husbands were not allowed to impose obedience on their wives; such actions were grounds for the dissolution of marriages.  Decisions on guardianship considered the opinions of mothers and medical professionals.

    The Kingdom had set up a national committee to combat trafficking in persons and a national action plan on combatting the phenomenon, and had established the crime of trafficking in persons.  The national action plan enhanced measures to identify and protect victims and prosecute perpetrators.  The State party was enhancing cooperation mechanisms with international organizations and civil society to combat the crime.  It was working to ensure migrant workers were aware of their rights and complaints procedures.  Around 141 persons had been convicted between 2020 and 2024 for trafficking, with sentences of up to 15 years imprisonment issued.  All migrant workers had the right to keep their passports and they could not be ordered to work for more than 10 hours per day.  In 2021, 76 victims of trafficking were identified, and 128 were identified in 2023.  Victims of trafficking were given priority access to justice.

    State legislation regulated the behaviour of people in cyberspace and protected children from online abuse. Last month, a national conference on the empowerment of women in cyberspace was held.

    Questions by Committee Experts

    A Committee Expert commended Saudi Arabia for leading the implementation of the Security Council resolution on women, peace and security.  What support would the State party give to women in developing countries to access digital technology?  Remnants of the guardianship system still lingered in the Kingdom.  How was the State party addressing these?

    ANA PELÁEZ NARVÁEZ, Committee Chair, said that male guardianship of minors and persons with disabilities continued.  When would the State party abolish the guardianship system for women with disabilities?

    One Committee Expert said that since 2016, Saudi Arabia had shown a great capacity to promote change for women, but violence and discrimination against women persisted.  Implementation of the 2018 law on harassment was thus essential.

    Another Committee Expert said that children born to Saudi women married to foreign men were not automatically granted Saudi nationality.  Did the State party plan to amend nationality legislation in this regard?  It was welcome that kindergarten education was free for foreign children; did they have access to higher education and free healthcare?  How many children born to Saudi mothers and foreign fathers had been granted nationality in the past 12 months?  Foreign mothers did not have the right to register the births of their children. Why was this?  Saudi Arabia hosted a large population of Bedouins who were not eligible for Saudi citizenship.  How was the State party strengthening protections for this population?

    Responses by the Delegation

    The delegation said the State party had launched several initiatives to promote women’s empowerment in the digital environment.  Forty thousand women had been trained in artificial intelligence and digital security.

    There were numerous non-governmental organizations working to detect cases of trafficking and providing shelters for victims of trafficking. 

    Guardianship was only implemented for certain persons with disabilities who could not make autonomous decisions, not for all persons with disabilities.

    Women were included in the Saudi team working to achieve a peaceful resolution to the conflict in Sudan.  A large percentage of the State’s diplomatic corps were women.  There was no maximum representation of women in the Shura Council.  The Government had taken measures to protect women refugees, providing them with shelter, and psychological and legal aid.  The Government was addressing all forms of violence against refugee women and girls and helping them to integrate into their community.  Around 292 projects had been developed for displaced persons around the world. Female aid workers were providing aid in disaster zones.

    Saudi legislation ensured that foreign citizens could receive Saudi nationality if they fulfilled certain conditions, such as mastering Arabic, and forfeiting their original nationality.  A decree was passed that granted the children of Saudi women married to foreigners with the same rights as Saudi children.  Non-nationals could receive education in the State’s higher education facilities.

    The State party and its national human rights institute had implemented awareness raising campaigns on domestic violence, as well as training programmes for civil servants and civil society on the Convention and on combatting gender-based violence and domestic violence.

    Questions by Committee Experts 

    One Committee Expert congratulated Saudi Arabia on making education free and mandatory for children up to 15 years. It was commendable that 98 per cent of women had received an education.  What temporary special measures had been put in place to ensure that girls had the same opportunities as boys to participate in sports and physical education?  Women made up 69 per cent of students in higher education, but this did not translate to their employment.  There was a disproportionate percentage of men in sectors such as engineering and construction.  Why was this?  How had temporary special measures been used to encourage women’s representation in the oil and gas sector?  How many girls had pursued education outside of the country without the permission of guardians compared to boys?  How many women held professorships in universities?

    A Committee Expert asked about barriers that remained regarding women’s labour participation and how they were being addressed.  How was the State party working to narrow the gender pay gap and encouraging women to pursue non-traditional career paths?  How were the national policy on equality in work and anti-discrimination laws being enforced?  How was the State party combatting workplace harassment against women?

    Women had the right to maternity leave with full pay for up to 10 weeks.  What challenges had the State party encountered in enforcing maternity leave, and were there plans to extend maternity leave to 14 weeks in line with international standards?  What steps had been taken to establish labour inspections and complaints mechanisms for domestic workers?  How did the State party ensure that domestic workers were not penalised when they reported abuse?  Did the State party intend to ratify International Labour Organization Convention 189 on domestic workers?

    Responses by the Delegation

    The delegation said Saudi Arabia was working to implement measures to ensure quality education for boys and girls. Forty per cent of scholarships were granted to girls to receive education in science and technology. Around 75 per cent of teachers were female.

    The State party had prohibited discrimination and harassment in the public and private sector workplaces and implemented a code of workplace behaviour to prevent discrimination. Workers could submit complaints regarding wage discrepancies to the Government.  Inspections were carried out to ensure that labour laws were being respected.  Sanctions were issued to companies that discriminated against women in terms of wages. 

    Migrant workers could change jobs without requiring consent from their former employers; the State party had abolished the kafala system.  National legislation on domestic work prohibited employing workers under 21 years of age, and forbade discrimination and breaches of the dignity of migrant workers. Abuse of domestic workers was a crime. A law had been implemented in 2024 to protect domestic workers from being penalised for reporting abuse. There were housing units that provided shelter, and psychological and medical support to migrant victims of abuse. Persons who came to these units were screened to ensure that they were not victims of trafficking.

    Vocational training had been provided to 15,000 women, which had led to a 25 per cent increase in the number of women in the labour market.  There was also a digital training programme in place, which around 1,000 women had benefited from.  The State party had recently extended maternal leave to 12 weeks with full pay and four weeks with partial pay.

    Questions by Committee Experts 

    One Committee Expert asked about the reasons for gaps in education and employment outcomes between boys and girls. Why did the oil and gas sector have the lowest inclusion rate of women of all sectors?

    Another Committee Expert welcomed amendments to legislation to include “women’s health” as a public service and to make maternity healthcare free.  Did the State party include a gender sensitive approach in mental health programmes?  Did women still require guardians’ permission to access certain health services, such as reproductive health services?  Did women have full autonomy in relation to their reproductive health rights? 

    Abortion was illegal in Saudi Arabia except in cases to save a woman’s life.  Male guardians’ approval was necessary to receive abortions.  Did the State party plan to increase the situations in which abortion was allowed, including in cases of rape, and to remove the requirement of permission from male guardians to receive abortions? Would it decriminalise abortion? There were reports that migrants found to have AIDS were immediately detained and deported.  How did the State party ensure that migrant women, including women with AIDS, had access to health care?

    A Committee Expert asked how the State party was combatting stereotypes related to women in the labour force. Over 3,000 women had received business licences over the reporting period.  How did this compare to the number of licences issued to men?  Were there microfinancing programmes in place for women-led small businesses?  What reforms were being made to the social insurance scheme to benefit women, and what was the timeline for reforms?  How was the State party encouraging women’s participation in sports?

    Responses by the Delegation

    The delegation said the Government provided comprehensive health care services to all citizens on an equal footing. Reproductive and maternal health services were available for women across the State.  Around 88 per cent of women visited health care centres before childbirth.  Permission was not required from legal guardians to receive health care services. Abortion could only take place for medical reasons and needed to take place before the 20th week of pregnancy.

    The State party provided comprehensive health care and health care insurance to all residents, including non-nationals.  Persons with HIV/AIDS were guaranteed the right to education, work and psychological counselling.  Medical centres were required to provide services to persons with HIV/AIDS.

    The State party’s social security system supported the cost of living.  The State was supporting access to low-rate bank loans for women. Mortgage loans for women with favourable conditions were also being offered.  There had been a large increase in beneficiaries of these loans over the past five years.

    Saudi Arabia had six female ambassadors and 204 female diplomats who held key posts in the Foreign Ministry. The share of female diplomats had increased to over 30 per cent of the foreign service in 2024.

    There were seven women presidents of sports federations, which had over 50,000 female members.  The number of sport clubs for women had increased by 37 per cent from 2018 to 2024.  Sports facilities had been constructed in 590 schools for boys and girls.  Women were being encouraged to become physical education teachers.

    Questions by Committee Experts 

    A Committee Expert asked about the number of medical practitioners who had been punished for performing illegal abortions over the reporting period.

    One Committee Expert welcomed legal reforms to eliminate barriers to education and employment for women with disabilities, and efforts to combat desertification and drought and support small-scale rural farmers.  Far fewer women were employed in agriculture compared to men.  How would the State party ensure women’s equal participation in agriculture and the blue economy, and boost women’s knowledge of agribusiness?

    Female migrant workers, refugees and asylum seekers continued to face arbitrary detention and other forms of abuse. How was the State party addressing this? Did it intend to ratify the 1951 Refugee Convention?

    The Committee welcomed the State party’s initiatives to combat climate change.  Saudi Arabia regularly faced heatwaves and the adverse effects of climate change, which disproportionately affected marginalised women.  How were these women involved in climate change mitigation strategies and decision making on risk management?

    Another Committee Expert said that many public and private institutions continued to demand the permission of guardians without consequences.  Did the State party plan to impose sanctions for such actions?  Were there plans to provide training to officials on legislation on the provision of services?  What were the exceptional cases in which child marriage was allowed?  What awareness raising campaigns were in place regarding child marriage?  Men received a higher portion of inheritance than women.  Did the State party plan to amend legislation to provide women with equal access to inheritance?

    Many husbands reportedly prevented their wives from participating in work or education.  Muslim women could only marry Muslim men, but Muslim men could marry women of other faiths.  Women did not have the right to unilaterally end a marriage.  After divorces, the custody of children was automatically granted to women until the children reached age 15, but men retained guardianship of the children.  What measures were in place to provide equal marriage and divorce rights to women?

    A Committee Expert cited reports of Saudi women who sought asylum in other countries being intercepted by the Government.  Could the State party comment on these reports?

    Responses by the Delegation

    The delegation said rural women helped Saudi Arabia to achieve sustainable development.  The State party had implemented a programme that supported women farmers to access land and training without discrimination.  In 2022, there were 57,000 beneficiaries of the programme, 63 per cent of whom were women.

    The Kingdom provided humanitarian aid to refugees, helping them to access passports, health services, education, care and assistance.  It also guaranteed their freedom of movement.  The competent Saudi authorities were considering the possibility of ratifying the 1951 Refugee Convention.  The State party had responded to the individual cases brought to it by United Nations bodies regarding asylum seekers through written responses published on a Government website.

    Civil society organizations and the national human rights institute provided avenues for women to lodge complaints related to direct and indirect discrimination.  Saudi Arabia planned to develop its statistics on women and had created the National Observatory on Women towards this aim.

    Inheritance was regulated by the personal status law, which was based on the Islamic Sharia.  There were more than 30 situations in which inheritance was equal for women and men.  The Personal Status Code did not contain provisions that suppressed the rights of women. It promoted women’s rights and the best interests of the child

    Concluding Remarks 

    HALA MAZYAD ALTUWAIGRI, President of the Human Rights Commission of Saudi Arabia and head of the delegation, said the recommendations provided by the Committee would be heeded by Saudi Arabia and followed up on by the dedicated Standing Committee.  The Government was determined to take all measures necessary to fulfil women’s rights and eliminate discrimination of women, in cooperation with all relevant international bodies, including the Committee.

    ANA PELÁEZ NARVÁEZ, Committee Chair, said the dialogue had allowed the Committee to better understand the situation of women and girls in Saudi Arabia.  The Committee commended the State party for its efforts and encouraged it to take all necessary measures to better implement the Convention for the benefit of all women and girls in the country.  The Committee would select measures for immediate follow-up and called on the State party to report on the implementation of these measures within the required period.

     

     

    Produced by the United Nations Information Service in Geneva for use of the media; 
    not an official record. English and French versions of our releases are different as they are the product of two separate coverage teams that work independently.

     

    CEDAW24.024E

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Canadian urban mobility is woefully lacking, but building a better future is still possible

    Source: The Conversation – Canada – By Betsy Donald, Professor, Department of Geography and Planning, Queen’s University, Ontario

    Canadian cities are falling behind globally when it comes to efficiently moving people. Long commute times, high congestion rates and infrastructure that is vulnerable to climate change are symptoms of a mobility crisis.

    Mobility is an essential public good, and modern policies aim to move people in a safe, efficient, accessible and non-polluting way. However, the COVID-19 pandemic exposed and worsened existing vulnerabilities in Canada’s urban mobility systems, undermining progress toward these goals.

    Our new book, Urban Mobility: How the iPhone, COVID, and Climate Changed Everything, explores how technology, the pandemic and climate change have shaped, and continue to shape, urban mobility, particularly for those with inadequate transportation networks.

    Population growth outpacing transit

    One of the primary challenges Canadian cities face is that they have grown faster than their sustainable transportation options. While urban populations have expanded, investment in public transportation has not kept pace, resulting in a gap between capacity and potential.

    The COVID-19 pandemic also impacted city life in profound ways, and urban life and economies in Canada are still being affected to this day. Remote work became the norm for many, reducing the number of people commuting and causing a significant drop in public transit ridership.

    Additionally, the shift to hybrid work has permanently altered how Canadians engage with their cities. People are shopping online more, using public transit less, and central business districts and physical retail spaces are seeing less foot traffic.

    Urban economies, which have been designed to rely heavily on the movement and presence of large numbers of people through public transit and local businesses, are still grappling with this new reality. Activity levels, for instance, are down by about 20 per cent from pre-pandemic levels in many downtown spaces still.

    Tech platforms and mobility

    Digital platform firms like Zoom, Uber, Amazon and Instacart adapted quickly during the pandemic, offering safe work-from-home options, private transportation and online shopping services to people. These platforms disrupted the traditional urban economic model, which relies on transit, physical stores and foot traffic.

    Ride-hailing services drew passengers and their fares away from local economies into foreign-owned ride-hailing companies. Transit systems not only depend on the massive built public infrastructure, but also passenger fares and other government funding to maintain the public system over time.

    In addition, these tech platform companies come with equity and accessibility concerns. Research on the use of ride-hailing and public transit during the pandemic found that its usage in Toronto was clearly organized along class, neighbourhood and social lines. People identifying as one or more of the following were more likely to continue riding transit during the pandemic: low-income, immigrant, racialized, essential workers and car-less, in large part because other options were not available to them.

    Similarly, in Calgary, private technology experiments in electric scooters privileged wealthier neighbourhoods. Electric scooters were used more in wealthier neighbourhoods, and as poverty levels increased at the neighbourhood level, the use of them dropped. The researchers concluded that greater attention needs to be paid to ensuring all communities, regardless of economic status, have access to micro-mobility options.

    Canada has a history of importing technological solutions, rather than creating its own. Montréal, however, offers a successful example with its Bixi bike program, the third largest bike share system in North America after New York and Chicago, with 11,000 bikes and almost 900 stations. A non-profit runs the program, Rio Tinto Alcan provides aluminum for the bikes and Cycles Devinci manufactures them in Saguenay-Lac-Saint-Jean.

    Canadian cities need to build innovation opportunities that promote economic development and improve mobility at the same time. Canada’s technology sector is woefully undersupported at present.

    Bixi bikes stand on Sainte-Catherine Street in Montréal in August 2019. The City of Montréal bought the bike sharing system in 2014 and created a non-profit entity to run the bike sharing operations.
    (Shutterstock)

    Climate crisis intensifying challenges

    The third, and perhaps most pressing challenge facing Canadian cities is the growing climate crisis. Cities are both instigators and victims of climate change. They contribute significantly to greenhouse gas emissions, but are also heavily impacted by severe weather events, heat waves and other side effects.

    These impacts are becoming increasingly concerning with the intensification of wildfires, urban flooding and other extreme weather events.

    By the end of the 20th century, most large Canadian cities were heavily investing in strategies to encourage people to use alternatives to cars, such as transit, light rail, biking and walking.

    However, shifting priorities, ideologies and budgetary adjustments led to government cutbacks to transit funding and a lack of new transportation innovation. In Ontario, for example, the government continues to push unrealistic road-building ideas at the expense of more active transit options.

    This failure to effectively move people around has left an opening for new mobility experiments led by private companies, but some of these programs don’t really integrate well into the Canadian urban mobility ecosystem. Many of these mobility options — such as ride-hailing — are also costly and exclusive. Others, like electronic scooters, can lead to e-waste.

    Building a better future

    The disruptions caused by technology, the pandemic and climate change are reshaping how people and goods move in cities. To build a better future, Canadian cities must address the interconnected challenges of three transitions: digital, health and environmental.

    While all sectors need to invest, strong leadership and policy action from governments at all levels is needed to create a more climate-friendly, economically vibrant and equitable urban mobility future. Governments will need to embrace bold, innovative solutions that address all three of these challenges.

    This means policy frameworks that reduce carbon emissions through climate action plans, leveraging political will and funding in efforts to shift away from private automobiles and toward transit, bike lanes and pedestrian pathways, and experimenting with digital mobility services while still prioritizing sustainability.

    Betsy Donald receives funding from the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada.

    Shauna Brail receives funding from the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada.

    – ref. Canadian urban mobility is woefully lacking, but building a better future is still possible – https://theconversation.com/canadian-urban-mobility-is-woefully-lacking-but-building-a-better-future-is-still-possible-239679

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Translation: 08/10/2024 Reconstruction and support after flooding

    MIL ASI Translation. Region: Polish/Europe –

    Fuente: Gobierno de Polonia en poleco.

    The Council of Ministers meeting began with a report on the removal of the effects of the flood. It discussed progress in reconstruction, support provided to the victims, and the investigation of issues related to irregularities during the flood. The Prime Minister emphasized that the government must be united in this matter and support each other. Effective aid and rapid action

    Although the flood situation is now under control, the government continues to monitor the areas affected by the element. On Tuesday, the Council of Ministers adopted a resolution on the coordination of actions related to the occurrence of floods in September 2024, which will allow Minister Marcin Kierwiński to more effectively coordinate actions related to the removal of flood damage, i.e., first of all, directing money so that it reaches them in an optimal way and in agreement with local communities.

    The role of Minister Kierwiński is to coordinate, facilitate this work for us as a team. Para bromear commitment of the government as a whole, not individual ministries

    – explained the Prime Minister. At Tuesday’s meeting, the Prime Minister announced the establishment of a special team that will be an auxiliary body supporting the Minister in coordinating activities related to reconstruction after the flood.

    Financial support for victims

    So far, provincial governors have already paid out approximately 200 million zlotys in aid benefits to people affected by the flood.

    There are no hold-ups in this regard. Another 13 million zlotys are still to be paid. I think it is a matter of today, tomorrow at the latest, how this money will reach the victims

    – Minister Marcin Kierwiński noted. The Ministry of Development and Technology has delegated 120 employees of the General Office of Building Supervision to the areas affected by the flood, who will accelerate the process of valuation and granting residents support in the amount of PLN 100-200 thousand.

    Reconstruction of the transport and school infrastructure

    One of the government’s priorities is the rapid reconstruction of infraestructura, including educational and sports facilities. Local government officials can use a special application to report losses in public utility facilities, which will help estimate the reconstruction plan using EU funds.

    Thanks to the funds prepared by Minister Sławomir Nitras, we have started a program to rebuild sports and tourist infrastructure for the amount of 400 million złoty. After my visit to the flooded areas, I know that a very important problem is the issue of rapid reconstruction and restoration of normal functioning of the infrastructure of schools

    – emphasized M. Kierwiński. As a result of the flooding, school boiler rooms suffered, among others. In the perspective of the autumn-winter period, their renovation and reconstruction are a priority, in order to be able to conduct lessons in comfortable conditions.

    Flood-related cases under scrutiny by prosecutor’s office

    During the meeting, Minister of Justice Adam Bodnar announced the involvement of the prosecutor’s office in investigating irregularities related to the flood.

    The prosecutor’s office is working intensively with experts from the Wrocław University of Science and Technology to clarify all the circumstances related to the damage to the flood embankments.

    – said Adam Bodnar. The Minister of Justice drew attention to several ongoing proceedings, including cases of looting, disinformation and the washing away of an earth dam in Stronie Śląskie, which concerns over 2 thousand injured people. The analysis of these cases is aimed at eliminating similar threats in the future.

    The Future: Reconstruction Plus

    Reconstruction after the flood will also be an opportunity to improve the quality of life of residents. Regions affected by the devastating element will not only be rebuilt, but also modernized.

    Reconstruction must be this Reconstruction Plus. This space must be better than it was before the flood. We will overcome the effects of this flood if we act united and support each other

    – Prime Minister announced. The reconstruction will be carried out with long-term benefits in mind, while ensuring that aid reaches all those affected by the floods. The Prime Minister thanked members of the government for their continued commitment to helping the disaster-stricken regions and their residents.

    MILES AXIS

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

    MIL Translation OSI

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Northland News – National plant conservation award for NRC

    Source: Northland Regional Council

    The Northland Regional Council has won a national award for Local Authority Outstanding Contribution to Plant Conservation in New Zealand.
    The award was presented yesterday (subs: Tuesday 08 October) as part of the New Zealand Plant Conservation Network’s (NZPCN) four-day biennial conference which is being attended by 165 people from around the country in Whangārei.
    Councillor Jack Craw, who chairs the council’s Biosecurity and Biodiversity Working Party, says the council-wide award is a particular recognition of NRC’s Biodiversity and Biosecurity teams for their efforts across pest control, planting, monitoring and protection of dune lakes and duneland areas.
    “The role of the NZPCN is to facilitate and advocate for plant conservation as well as providing information and support to plant conservation practitioners, landowners, and managers which makes this award even more special as it is effectively recognition from colleagues who are experts within their field.”
    In nominating the council for the award Rotorua ecological consultant Sarah Beadel said the council undertakes many work programmes which contribute to the conservation of native plants either directly or indirectly.
    “In the main NRC’s role involves fostering enduring partnerships with mana whenua, community groups and landowners to give them the understanding and skills to take positive action and pass on their knowledge to others.”
    The NRC monitors lake ecology including submerged and marginal wetland communities in over 100 lakes and supports or undertakes in-lake and catchment actions which protect or improve water quality, thereby safeguarding critically rare plant species such as Trithuria inconspicua, Utricularia australis and Isolepis lenticularis.
    Council also monitors more than 30 wetlands on a five yearly cycle which feeds back into recommendations for landowners helping to improve wetland scores.
    “On the coast, NRC led weed control, dune building, replanting, monitoring and advocacy helps restore precious foredune and backdune communities.”
    The nomination said in the past year NRC had enabled the planting of around 15,000 dune plants and supported 30 CoastCare community groups.
    “As one of the weediest places on earth, NRC Biosecurity Plant team has been busy over the last 10 years delivering weed workshops to upskill the public in weed recognition and control and supporting weed action co-ordinators and volunteers in Whangārei and High Value Areas.”
    The nomination says the council’s terrestrial biodiversity team supports community events, bioblitzes and surveys which help people understand habitat values, rare species and how to look after them.
    Monthly botanical rambles are run by NRC staff in their own time for keen staff and others to explore the plant biodiversity in the region, giving ramblers access to botanists and mana whenua plant experts and helping to develop their botanical literacy in the company of like-minded people.
    The NRC Land Management team has contributed to plant conservation by fencing off stands of native forest within highly erodible land as well as providing fencing and planting grants for native forest, wetlands and riparian margins protecting plants from grazing and reducing sediment input into sensitive freshwater and marine habitats.
    Meanwhile, Cr Craw – who received the award on behalf of the council at the conference – says the conferences, held every two years, are highly regarded as the best place to meet people who are passionate about plant conservation and to network and collaborate on shared issues and challenges.
    Keynote speakers at the event included:
    • Northland Regional Council Biodiversity Manager Lisa Forester talking about some of the incredible work done in Te Taitokerau to protect its unique dune lake plant communities.
    • Geoff Davidson, speaking about the Native Forest Restoration Trust’s legacy of protecting forests across the motu for more than 40 years.
    • Northland Forest and Bird advocate Dean Baigent-Mercer speaking about work being done to protect Northland’s special native ecosystems.
    • Taoho Patuawa, Science Advisor for Te Iwi o Te Roroa, speaking about threatened native plant conservation.
    Northland Regional Councillor Jack Craw receives the award for Local Authority Outstanding Contribution to Plant Conservation in New Zealand in Whangārei last night. With him is Sarah Beadel, NZPCN committee member and director of conference co-sponsor Wildland Consultants.  

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-Evening Report: Canadian urban mobility is woefully lacking, but building a better future is still possible

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Betsy Donald, Professor, Department of Geography and Planning, Queen’s University, Ontario

    Canadian cities are falling behind globally when it comes to efficiently moving people. Long commute times, high congestion rates and infrastructure that is vulnerable to climate change are symptoms of a mobility crisis.

    Mobility is an essential public good, and modern policies aim to move people in a safe, efficient, accessible and non-polluting way. However, the COVID-19 pandemic exposed and worsened existing vulnerabilities in Canada’s urban mobility systems, undermining progress toward these goals.

    Our new book, Urban Mobility: How the iPhone, COVID, and Climate Changed Everything, explores how technology, the pandemic and climate change have shaped, and continue to shape, urban mobility, particularly for those with inadequate transportation networks.

    Population growth outpacing transit

    One of the primary challenges Canadian cities face is that they have grown faster than their sustainable transportation options. While urban populations have expanded, investment in public transportation has not kept pace, resulting in a gap between capacity and potential.

    The COVID-19 pandemic also impacted city life in profound ways, and urban life and economies in Canada are still being affected to this day. Remote work became the norm for many, reducing the number of people commuting and causing a significant drop in public transit ridership.

    Additionally, the shift to hybrid work has permanently altered how Canadians engage with their cities. People are shopping online more, using public transit less, and central business districts and physical retail spaces are seeing less foot traffic.

    Urban economies, which have been designed to rely heavily on the movement and presence of large numbers of people through public transit and local businesses, are still grappling with this new reality. Activity levels, for instance, are down by about 20 per cent from pre-pandemic levels in many downtown spaces still.

    Tech platforms and mobility

    Digital platform firms like Zoom, Uber, Amazon and Instacart adapted quickly during the pandemic, offering safe work-from-home options, private transportation and online shopping services to people. These platforms disrupted the traditional urban economic model, which relies on transit, physical stores and foot traffic.

    Ride-hailing services drew passengers and their fares away from local economies into foreign-owned ride-hailing companies. Transit systems not only depend on the massive built public infrastructure, but also passenger fares and other government funding to maintain the public system over time.

    In addition, these tech platform companies come with equity and accessibility concerns. Research on the use of ride-hailing and public transit during the pandemic found that its usage in Toronto was clearly organized along class, neighbourhood and social lines. People identifying as one or more of the following were more likely to continue riding transit during the pandemic: low-income, immigrant, racialized, essential workers and car-less, in large part because other options were not available to them.

    Similarly, in Calgary, private technology experiments in electric scooters privileged wealthier neighbourhoods. Electric scooters were used more in wealthier neighbourhoods, and as poverty levels increased at the neighbourhood level, the use of them dropped. The researchers concluded that greater attention needs to be paid to ensuring all communities, regardless of economic status, have access to micro-mobility options.

    Canada has a history of importing technological solutions, rather than creating its own. Montréal, however, offers a successful example with its Bixi bike program, the third largest bike share system in North America after New York and Chicago, with 11,000 bikes and almost 900 stations. A non-profit runs the program, Rio Tinto Alcan provides aluminum for the bikes and Cycles Devinci manufactures them in Saguenay-Lac-Saint-Jean.

    Canadian cities need to build innovation opportunities that promote economic development and improve mobility at the same time. Canada’s technology sector is woefully undersupported at present.

    Bixi bikes stand on Sainte-Catherine Street in Montréal in August 2019. The City of Montréal bought the bike sharing system in 2014 and created a non-profit entity to run the bike sharing operations.
    (Shutterstock)

    Climate crisis intensifying challenges

    The third, and perhaps most pressing challenge facing Canadian cities is the growing climate crisis. Cities are both instigators and victims of climate change. They contribute significantly to greenhouse gas emissions, but are also heavily impacted by severe weather events, heat waves and other side effects.

    These impacts are becoming increasingly concerning with the intensification of wildfires, urban flooding and other extreme weather events.

    By the end of the 20th century, most large Canadian cities were heavily investing in strategies to encourage people to use alternatives to cars, such as transit, light rail, biking and walking.

    However, shifting priorities, ideologies and budgetary adjustments led to government cutbacks to transit funding and a lack of new transportation innovation. In Ontario, for example, the government continues to push unrealistic road-building ideas at the expense of more active transit options.

    This failure to effectively move people around has left an opening for new mobility experiments led by private companies, but some of these programs don’t really integrate well into the Canadian urban mobility ecosystem. Many of these mobility options — such as ride-hailing — are also costly and exclusive. Others, like electronic scooters, can lead to e-waste.

    Building a better future

    The disruptions caused by technology, the pandemic and climate change are reshaping how people and goods move in cities. To build a better future, Canadian cities must address the interconnected challenges of three transitions: digital, health and environmental.

    While all sectors need to invest, strong leadership and policy action from governments at all levels is needed to create a more climate-friendly, economically vibrant and equitable urban mobility future. Governments will need to embrace bold, innovative solutions that address all three of these challenges.

    This means policy frameworks that reduce carbon emissions through climate action plans, leveraging political will and funding in efforts to shift away from private automobiles and toward transit, bike lanes and pedestrian pathways, and experimenting with digital mobility services while still prioritizing sustainability.

    Betsy Donald receives funding from the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada.

    Shauna Brail receives funding from the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada.

    – ref. Canadian urban mobility is woefully lacking, but building a better future is still possible – https://theconversation.com/canadian-urban-mobility-is-woefully-lacking-but-building-a-better-future-is-still-possible-239679

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Is sustainable development possible? Only if we take a unified approach

    Source: The Conversation – Canada – By Davide Elmo, Professor, Keevil Institute of Mining Engineering, University of British Columbia

    With this year’s annual United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change Conference of the Parties (COP29) summit set to take place in a little over a month in Azerbaijan, the world’s attention once again turns to climate change, resource security and the goals of sustainable development.

    The aims of sustainable development are to build a system that meets the needs of society without compromising the ability of future generations to fulfil their own. The UN adopted 17 sustainable development goals in 2015 and real progress has been made in advancing some of them. But can true sustainable development be achieved, and how might it work in practice?

    I am an engineer with experience in mining and geotechnics. To help answer these questions, I have been researching the interplay between sustainability challenges in the natural resource sector, the evolving concept of the circular economy and the implications of economic models founded upon sustained growth.



    Read more:
    Mining the depths: Norway’s deep-sea exploitation could put it in environmental and legal murky waters

    Striking a balance between resource extraction and environmental sustainability is essential for the continued existence of human societies and the risks of biodiversity loss must be accounted for in all resource extraction activities. At the same time, the need to protect the rights of all people — including Indigenous rights — remains paramount.

    To help better understand the nuances of sustainable development, in my forthcoming research I propose a model of the impact(s) of human activities on the Earth’s planetary boundaries, which I refer to as the (un)sustainable machine.

    Sustainable mining requires looking at the practices required to ensure long-term economic development remains in equilibrium with environmental and social considerations. The (un)sustainable machine model describes the delicate balancing acts at play, highlighting the intricate relationship between what drives minerals demand and consumption and how these forces impact Earth’s planetary boundary.

    (Un)sustainable development

    While progress may be being made in some areas of sustainable development — particularly around areas of poverty and malnutrition — as a planetary system, the report is much less positive. Take, for example, the issue of recycling.

    Can recycling keep up with increased demand and counter resource extraction? Over 3.3 billion tonnes of metals are produced globally each year, and most demand predictions show rising consumption of metals in the coming decades.

    Models developed by the World Bank indicate that by 2050, secondary supply (recycling) for aluminum, copper and nickel could meet about 60 per cent of the demand. Despite the enthusiasm among researchers and economists, however, these long-term projections indicate the difficulty of transitioning to a circular economy. Indeed, these predictions show that a 40 per cent unmatched demand must continue being supplied by primary sources like mining.



    Read more:
    Slow mining could be a solution to overconsumption in an increasingly fast-paced world

    In my model, recycling is represented as a set of springs resisting the extraction of additional mineral resources. To achieve 100 per cent recycling of the entire spectrum of the mineral resources, our economy needs to solve problems that are not achievable with today’s technology. Furthermore, when developed on an industrial scale, recycling plants raise some of the same environmental challenges of large mineral processing and smelting plants.

    Amidst this backdrop, the circular economy has presented itself as a transformative solution predicated on keeping products and materials in use, and regenerating natural systems. It challenges the linear extract-produce-dispose approach and questions the sustainability of perpetual economic growth, especially in a world with finite resources and known environmental constraints. Analogous to the (un)sustainable machine model, I also propose the model of the (un)sustainable cone of demand and consumption.

    The (un)sustainable cone model highlights the discrepancy between an economic concept based on the idea of a closed-loop system (circular economy) and the current financial framework based on the idea that infinite growth is possible. The larger the unbalanced cross-sectional area of the (un)sustainable cone of demand and consumption, the larger the stresses imposed upon Earth’s planetary boundaries.

    A different path?

    To remain within Earth’s planetary boundaries requires solutions beyond simple technical means. Actions by a few individuals are not sufficient. As engineers, we often believe it is possible to develop solutions to mitigate the anthropogenic impacts on Earth’s planetary boundaries. However, by doing so, we fail to realize that finite barriers to growth remain and that our engineering solutions may in time become part of the problem.



    Read more:
    GDP is not enough to measure a country’s development. What if we used the Sustainable Development Goals instead?

    It is essential for individuals who are not economists or environmental scientists to think about the meaning of sustainability in the context of extracting mineral resources. At the same time, economists and social-environmental scientists need to recognize that when it comes to mineral resources, policies and permitting regulations should not be addressed separately from the technical and economic aspects of mining engineering problems.

    To paraphrase the work of eminent American social scientist Garrett Hardin:

    Therein is the tragedy. Each financial market is locked into a system that compels it to increase its value without limit – in a world with finite resources. Earth’s ruin is the destination toward which all companies rush, each pursuing its own best interest in a market that (only) believes in the benefits of the shareholders.

    Simply put, while both policy and technology are necessary to achieve true sustainability, unless our efforts are unified across discipline and economies, there is little hope for staying within the finite bounds of what our planet can provide.

    Davide Elmo receives funding from NSERC (Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada) and MITACS

    – ref. Is sustainable development possible? Only if we take a unified approach – https://theconversation.com/is-sustainable-development-possible-only-if-we-take-a-unified-approach-237438

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Rep. Blunt Rochester, Colleagues Applaud Finalization of New Lead and Copper Rule Improvements, Announcement of $2.6 Billion in New Funding to Help Remove Lead Pipes Across America

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Lisa Blunt Rochester (DE-AL)

    WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Reps. Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-Del.), Rashida Tlaib (D-Mich.), and Debbie Dingell (D-Mich.), co-chairs of the Get the Lead Out Caucus in the House, alongside Rep. Barbara Lee (D-Calif.) and U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.) and Cory Booker (D-N.J.), co-founders of the Senate Lead Task Force, lauded the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) decision to finalize the Biden Administration’s proposed Lead and Copper Rule Improvements (LCRI). The LCRI would lower the lead action level to better protect human health and require water systems to replace old and deteriorating lead pipes within a decade. In addition to the LCRI, the EPA also announced $2.6 billion in newly available drinking water infrastructure funding through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) to support lead-related activities, including lead pipe replacement projects. The finalized rule comes ahead of the October 16th finalization deadline to not only help ensure these important improvements are implemented as quickly as possible, but also prevent water systems from being forced to temporarily comply with the prior rule proposed by the Trump Administration—also known as the Lead and Copper Rule Revisions (LCRR)—which would put public health at risk.

    “Today’s announcement from the Biden-Harris Administration is a win-win for our communities because it delivers on our shared commitment to replace all lead pipes across the country within 10 years and protect public health,” said Rep. Blunt Rochester, co-lead of the congressional Get the Lead Out Caucus. “I am proud to have helped push for the swift finalization of the Lead and Copper Rule Improvements with my colleagues in Congress. Thanks to our advocacy, and with the leadership of President Biden and Vice President Harris, we are closer than ever to actualizing a 100% lead-free future.”

    “As the founder of the Get the Lead Out Caucus, I know that clean drinking water is a human right,” said Rep. Tlaib. “We must move urgently to replace all lead pipes in our country within the next 10 years, and I’m glad to see the EPA announce the final Lead and Copper Rule Improvements to continue the critical work toward this objective. Congress must continue to work to appropriate the funding necessary to help all of our communities identify, remove, and replace every lead pipe over this next decade.”

    “Clean and safe drinking water is a basic human right, and the science is clear – no amount of lead is safe. There are millions of people across the country who don’t even know if they are drinking lead, and I’ve had parents come up to me with tears in their eyes, worried for the wellbeing of their children because of lead in the water at school,” said Rep. Dingell. “I thank the Biden-Harris Administration for their continued commitment to replacing every lead service line in our country to guarantee access to safe water for every community and finally give peace of mind to families.”

    “Today, EPA estimates that nearly 9 million homes are served through lead pipes across the country – and disproportionally, many of these homes are located in low-income communities and communities of color,” said Rep. Lee. “Clean and safe drinking water is a human right, and we must treat it that way. I am proud of the work of my colleagues and I in Congress to achieve our goal of removing every lead pipe in the United States over the next ten years and thank the Biden-Harris Administration for their work in fighting to ensure that communities across our country have access to lead-free water.”

    “Every American, no matter their zip-code, deserves access to safe drinking water,” said Senator Duckworth. “We’ve been working hard in Congress to achieve our goal of removing every lead pipe in America over the next decade, and this historic rule from the Biden Administration and billions in new funding will help us make it a reality while preventing Trump-era policies that would harm human health from going into effect. This is a win-win for all Americans.”

    “The EPA’s bold leadership in finalizing this critical rule will help us eliminate lead pipes within a decade and put a stop to lead exposure that continues to threaten the health of far too many families and children in our nation today,” said Senator Booker. “Every American deserves access to clean and safe drinking water, and by modernizing our aging water infrastructure we are investing in a future where every family can turn on the tap and know their water is clean. I am proud to have helped lead the call in Congress for a strong final rule, and I thank the Biden-Harris administration for their commitment to environmental justice and public health.”

    The finalized rule also improves communication within communities so that families are better informed about the risk of lead in drinking water, the location of lead pipes and plans for replacing them. Exposure to lead is harmful to health, especially for young children. In children, low levels of exposure have been linked to damage to the nervous system, learning disabilities, shorter stature, impaired hearing and impaired formation and function of blood cells. 

    Last month, Blunt Rochester called on the White House Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to expedite its review of LCRI. In May, Blunt Rochester, alongside Senators Tom Carper and Chris Coons (both D-Del.) announced over $28 million from the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund to identify and replace lead pipes and help prevent lead poisoning among Delaware’s children and families. The funding came from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, legislation Blunt Rochester, Carper, and Coons championed in Congress.

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    MIL OSI USA News –