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Category: Universities

  • MIL-OSI Global: Technofossils: how the pollution of today will become the fossils of the far future

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Jan Zalasiewicz, Professor of Palaeobiology, University of Leicester

    dimitris_k / shutterstock

    How might you make your mark on the world forever? Write a play more timeless than Shakespeare, or compose music to out-do Mozart, or score the winning goal in the next World Cup final, perhaps?

    There’s an easier way of leaving an indelible mark on our planet. Just finish a soft drink and toss the can (and the remains of the chicken dinner that went with it), ditch last year’s impulse purchases from your wardrobe, resurface that old patio, upgrade your mobile phone … simply carry on with everyday life, that is, and you’ll likely leave a fascinating legacy. It might last a billion years.

    We’re palaeontologists, and have spent our careers looking at the fossil record of the deep past, puzzling out how those magnificent animal and plant relics have been preserved as dinosaur bones, the carapaces of ancient crustaceans, lustrous spiralled ammonites, petrified flower petals and many more. Often they still have exquisite detail intact after millions of years.

    We’ve now turned our attention to the myriad everyday objects that we make and use, to see what kind of future fossils – we call them technofossils – they will make. We’ve written about this in our new book, Discarded: how technofossils will be our ultimate legacy. Here are some key messages:

    The first things that’ll catch the eye of any far-future palaeontologist are our manufactured objects – buildings, roads, machines and so on. In recent decades, they have rocketed in amount to over a trillion tonnes, to now outweigh all living things on Earth. That’s a lot of raw material for generating future fossils.

    Then, most things we make are designed to be durable, to resist corrosion and decay, and are significantly tougher than the average bone or shell. Just from that they have a head start in the fossilisation stakes.

    Many are new to the Earth. Discarded aluminium cans are everywhere, for instance, but to our planet, they’re a wondrous novelty, as pure aluminium metal is almost unknown in nature. In the past 70 years we’ve made more than 500 million tonnes of the stuff, enough to coat all of the US (and part of Canada) in standard aluminium kitchen foil.

    What’s going to happen to it? Aluminium resists corrosion, but not forever. Buried underground in layers of mud and sand, a can will slowly break down, but often not before there’s a can-shaped impression in these new rocks, lined with microscopic clay crystals newly-grown out of the corroding aluminium.

    Everyday items can be flushed onto a floodplain and be quickly buried under sediments. As they slowly degrade they may leave an impression on the soft muds and silts for future palaeontologists to puzzle over.
    Sarah Gabbott

    Having been shielded from ultraviolet light, the thin plastic liner inside the can may endure too. (Oil-based plastic is even more novel in geological terms, being entirely non-existent until the 20th century). These two materials compressed side-by-side represent future fossil signatures of our time on Earth.

    Billions of fossilised chicken thighs

    But what about bones – the archetypal fossil relic? There will be many of these as future fossils, stark evidence of our species’ domination over others.

    The standard supermarket chicken seems mundane. But it’s now by far the most common bird of all, making up about two-thirds of all bird biomass on Earth, and its abundance in life increases its fossilisation chances after death.

    We stack the odds further by tossing the bones into a plastic bin-bag, that’s then carted to the landfill site to join countless more bones for burial in neatly engineered compartments – also plastic-lined. There, the bones will begin to mummify, another useful step in the road to petrifaction. Our landfills are giant middens of the future and will be stuffed full of the bones of this one species.

    Geologists of the far future may conclude that chickens could only have existed thanks to a more intelligent species.
    dba87 / shutterstock

    These bones – super-sized but weak, riddled with osteoporosis, sometimes fractured and deformed – will tell their own grisly story. Future geologists will puzzle over a suddenly-evolved bird so abundant yet so physically helpless. Will they figure out the story of a broiler chicken genetically
    engineered to feed relentlessly to maximise weight gain, for slaughter just five or six weeks after hatching? We suspect the fossil evidence will be damning.

    Fossilised fleeces

    Fossilizeable fashion is also new. Humans have worn clothes for thousands of years, but archaeological clothes discoveries are rare, because made of natural fibres they are feasted on by clothes moths, microbes and other scavengers. Fossil fur and feathers are rare too, for the same reasons.

    But cheap, cheerful and hyper-abundant polyester fashion is quite different. There’s no need for mothballs with these garments because synthetic plastics are indigestible to most microbes. How long might they last? Some ancient fossil algae have coats of plastic-like polymers, and these have lasted, beautifully preserved, for many millions of years.

    Fossil clothes will surely perplex far-future palaeonologists, though: first to work out their shape from the crumpled and flattened remains, and then to work out what purpose they served. With throwaway fashion, we’re making some eternal puzzles.

    Concrete and computers

    The lumps of concrete from your old patio are not any old rocks. The recipe for concrete, involving furnace-baked lime, is rare on Earth (the minerals involved occasionally form in magma-baked rock), but humans have made it hyper-abundant. There are now more than half a trillion tonnes of concrete on Earth, mostly made since the 1950s – that’s a kilo per square metre averaged over the Earth. And concrete is hard-wearing even by geological standards: most of its bulk is sand and gravel, which have been survivors throughout our planet’s history.

    There’s nothing old about computers and mobile phones, but they are based on the same element – silicon – that makes up the quartz (silicon dioxide) of sand and gravel. A fossilised silicon chip will be tricky to decipher, though: the semiconductors now packed on to them are just nanometres across, tinier than most mineral forms geologists analyse today.

    But the associated paraphernalia, the burgeoning waste of keyboards, monitors, wiring, will form more obvious fossils. The patterns on these, like the QWERTY keyboard, resemble the fossil patterns seized upon by today’s palaeontologists as clues to ancient function. That would depend on the excavators, though: fossil keyboards would make more sense to hyper-evolved rats with five-fingered paws, say, than superintelligent octopuses of the far future.



    Read more:
    What species would become dominant on Earth if humans died out?

    It’s fun to conceptualise like this, and set the human story within the grand perspective of Earth’s history. But there’s a wider meaning. Tomorrow’s future fossils are today’s pollution: unsightly, damaging, often toxic, and ever more of a costly problem. One only has to look at the state of Britain’s rivers and beaches.

    Understanding how fossilisation starts now helps us ask the right questions. When plastic trash is washed out to sea, will it keep travelling or become safely buried, covered by marine sediments? Will the waste in coastal landfill sites stay put, or be exhumed by the waves as sea level rises? The answers will be found in future rocks – but it would help us all to work them out now.

    Sarah Gabbott is affiliated with Green Circle Nature Regeneration Community Interest Company 13084569.

    Jan Zalasiewicz 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. Technofossils: how the pollution of today will become the fossils of the far future – https://theconversation.com/technofossils-how-the-pollution-of-today-will-become-the-fossils-of-the-far-future-248815

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Global: The Last Showgirl: Pamela Anderson is perfectly cast in this intimate portrait of womanhood

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Daisy McManaman, PhD Candidate, Centre for Women’s Studies, University of York

    Director Gia Coppola’s The Last Showgirl captures the bittersweet reality of a dreamer who has given everything to a career that will never love her back.

    Pamela Anderson’s Shelley has devoted the past 30 years of her life to the Las Vegas revue Le Razzle Dazzle, a show she proudly describes as embodying “breasts and rhinestones and joy”. But as the show’s run comes to an end, Shelley is forced to confront an uncertain future, aged out of the career she so desperately loves.

    Shelley is a woman out of time. From her pink Motorola Razr phone to her disbelief at the rising price of lemons, she clings to a romanticised vision of the showgirl as an ambassador of Las Vegas glamour.

    But as Le Razzle Dazzle prepares to close and her co-stars, Jodie (Kiernan Shipka) and Mary-Anne (Brenda Song), audition for raunchier, neo-burlesque-inspired productions, both Shelley and the audience question whether the traditional showgirl still has a place in today’s cultural landscape.

    The Last Showgirl explores the multifaceted nature of womanhood, offering an intimate portrait of the women of Las Vegas. It peeks into dressing rooms where, among tables scattered with false eyelashes and stray rhinestones, a performer struggles to balance single motherhood, her cultivated show community and a dream that may no longer have space for her.

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    Screenwriter Kate Gersten wrote The Last Showgirl after seeing the Las Vegas revue Jubilee! shortly before its closure in 2016.

    As the last traditional showgirl revue on the Vegas strip, Jubilee! was a tribute to glamour and femininity. Jubilee!’s costume designers were Bob Mackie and Pete Menefee, and their original designs also feature in the film. They’re adorned with brightly coloured feathers and shimmering rhinestones so extravagant that they once caused an international Swarovski shortage.

    In The Last Showgirl, these archival Jubilee! costumes become characters in their own right. Their opulent feathers and dazzling crystals create a spectacle on screen, embodying the larger-than-life fantasy of the showgirl.

    As the title card plays, we see close-ups of the craftsmanship behind the showgirl aesthetic – hands caressing plumes, rich fabrics and expanses of rhinestones.

    The Pamela renaissance

    The true star of the film, however, is the woman whose performance shines brighter than the crystals she is adorned in. Anderson’s portrayal of Shelley cuts to the heart of the character, imbuing her with vulnerability that transcends the glittering surface of the showgirl persona.

    The Last Showgirl trailer.

    The Last Showgirl marks Anderson’s first leading film role since the critically panned 1996 film Barb Wire, which earned her a Golden Razzie nomination for worst actress.

    The casting of Anderson as Shelley feels almost kismet. One of the most notable sex symbols of our time, Anderson has recently undergone a cultural renaissance. This has been driven by the Hulu series Pam and Tommy (2022), which focused on the nonconsensual release of Anderson and her then-partner musician Tommy Lee’s sex tape (the series was ironically made without her consent).

    But also Anderson’s own work in the 2023 Netflix documentary Pamela, A Love Story and her memoir, Love, Pamela, which was released the same year.



    Read more:
    Don’t watch Pam and Tommy – the series turns someone’s trauma into entertainment

    Anderson’s status as a sex symbol frequently stripped her of autonomy. In Love, Pamela, she states that she views her multiple appearances in Playboy as “an honour”, but also acknowledges that they’ve led some to treat her without respect.

    She recalls being told in a deposition regarding her sex tape that she had “no right to privacy because I’d appeared in Playboy”. Both Anderson and Shelley refuse to be shamed for embodying feminine sexuality.

    Subverting the showgirl

    While The Last Showgirl paints a bleak image of the future of traditional Las Vegas revue, real burlesque dancers like Dita Von Teese offer a modernised alternative. Their performances honour showgirl glamour while breaking restrictive industry norms.

    In 2024, Von Teese opened her own homage to Jubilee! by featuring the revue’s original Mackie and Manefee costumes (which she lent to The Last Showgirl). Von Teese’s Las Vegas revue features a diverse cast of showgirls, challenging stereotypes of gender, thinness and youth.

    Dita Von Teese discusses her evolving show.

    Performing at 52 – a similar age to Shelley – Von Teese invited 63-year-old retired showgirl Paula Nyland to perform on stage in the latest season of the Netflix show, Queer Eye. On the show, she explains: “We have to evolve and change and get rid of some of the unpleasant rules like height requirements, age requirements … I look to women older than me that can be examples of beauty and glamour.”

    Perhaps, we could imagine an alternate timeline where Shelley finds a new home in Von Teese’s modernised showgirl revue, one that honours the glamour of the past while embracing a more inclusive future.

    While The Last Showgirl paints a melancholic portrait of an ageing performer left behind by a changing industry, performers like Von Teese suggest that the showgirl can evolve rather than disappear. In a different version of Shelley’s story, she might have found a stage where rhinestones still sparkle, but the rules no longer dictate who gets to wear them.

    Daisy McManaman 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. The Last Showgirl: Pamela Anderson is perfectly cast in this intimate portrait of womanhood – https://theconversation.com/the-last-showgirl-pamela-anderson-is-perfectly-cast-in-this-intimate-portrait-of-womanhood-249626

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: SPbGASU became the venue for the festival “Technical Professions of the 21st Century: Infrastructure of the Big City”

    Translartion. Region: Russians Fedetion –

    Source: Saint Petersburg State University of Architecture and Civil Engineering – Saint Petersburg State University of Architecture and Civil Engineering – Festival at SPbGASU

    On February 11, the SPbGASU hosted the Regional Career Guidance Festival “Technical Professions of the 21st Century: Infrastructure of a Big City.” Students from grades 8–11 from 30 St. Petersburg schools took part in it. The students directly communicated with representatives of 10 universities and colleges that offer technical specialties and attended their master classes.

    The festival is part of the Regional Career Guidance Marathon “Workshops of the Future”, which is held as part of the career guidance minimum in general education organizations and the federal project for early career guidance for schoolchildren “Ticket to the Future” with the support of the Education Committee of the Government of St. Petersburg.

    The festival is organized by the Center for Advanced Professional Training of St. Petersburg and the Center for Children’s (Youthful) Technical Creativity of the Kirov District of the Northern Capital. Co-organizers are SPbGASU and the St. Petersburg State University of Industrial Technologies and Design.

    The festival consists of two blocks: “Technical Professions of the 21st Century: Big City Industry” and “Technical Professions of the 21st Century: Big City Infrastructure”. The blocks are held on different days at different venues.

    The festival venue at our university was the building on Serpukhovskaya Street, No. 10, which houses the Institute of Continuous Education.

    Business Contact Exchange. Left – Olga Tatarinova

    The festival included a business contacts exchange, where the children received information about technical universities and colleges first-hand. Our university was represented by the admissions committee staff. Olga Tatarinova, deputy executive secretary, and Elena Abashina, specialist, talked about the variety of technical areas at SPbGASU. They also told about the subjects required for admission, the number of points and individual achievements that are taken into account upon admission, the possibility of entering the university based on the results of Olympiads, and the specifics of creative entrance examinations at the architecture faculty. At the exchange, you could also watch how students of the architecture faculty draw and ask them questions about studying at our university.

    According to Natalia Nikolaeva, a class teacher for the tenth grade of the Secondary Comprehensive School No. 187 in Krasnogvardeisky District, the advantage of this event is that schoolchildren can directly communicate with representatives of universities: “We took not only those who would like to enroll in technical programs, but also those who have not yet decided. They were able to ask questions and get answers to them.”

    During the master classes, they designed a house using the Russian TIM Renga system, tested water for hardness and lead, designed airplane models, changed brake pads, and worked on a welding simulator.

    “It’s five o’clock in the morning. You’ve found yourself in a typical car park…” – with these words, Igor Chernyaev, head of the department of technical operation of vehicles at SPbGASU, began his master class. Having chosen volunteers for the roles of a driver, logistician, mechanic, Igor Olegovich told them what the responsibilities of these specialists are and what knowledge they should have. The master class leader gave the children difficult tasks: to name the brand of a car by the sound of the engine, to determine which of the containers with different operating materials contains gasoline. As in real life, the participants’ time was limited: after all, the longer it takes to choose the right solution, the greater the non-production losses. At the end of the master class, Igor Olegovich invited them to apply to our university, which has its own driving school, training ground, and rally team. “Whatever your interests are, your knowledge will be used in the automotive industry,” Igor Chernyaev summed up.

    Participants of the career guidance festival received not only useful information, but also many new vivid impressions. The experience gained will be useful to them in their future choice of profession.

    The Admissions Committee of SPbGASU, responsible for holding the event, thanks the Volunteer Club of our university for its assistance.

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

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI: NextNav Names Renee Gregory as Vice President of Regulatory Affairs

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    RESTON, Va., Feb. 12, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — NextNav Inc. (NASDAQ: NN), a leader in next-generation positioning, navigation, and timing (PNT) and 3D geolocation, announced the appointment of Renee Gregory as NextNav’s Vice President of Regulatory Affairs. In this newly created role, Ms. Gregory leads the company’s FCC regulatory approval process and compliance work. Her experience and expertise will be integral to meeting NextNav’s commitment to providing next-generation location technologies and providing a robust terrestrial complement and backup to GPS to meet an urgent national security need.

    “Renee’s appointment as NextNav’s Vice President of Regulatory Affairs will help the company deliver on its long-term mission to solve a pressing national security need,” said NextNav Chief Executive Officer Mariam Sorond. “Her decades of experience in policy and spectrum will be instrumental in shaping our regulatory strategy and delivering a wide-scale terrestrial PNT solution.”

    Ms. Gregory brings over 20 years of experience in both government and the private sector. At the federal level, she has served as Senior Policy Advisor for the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy and held key advisory roles at both the National Telecommunications and Information Administration, and the Federal Communications Commission. Her distinguished career in Washington, D.C., also includes leadership positions at Google and prominent international law firms, where she advised technology and telecommunications clients. Ms. Gregory holds a J.D. from Georgetown University Law Center and a B.A. from Yale University.

    “I’m thrilled to have the opportunity to work alongside federal agencies, industry partners, engineers and technical experts, and the talented NextNav team to help solve this national security need. Working together, I’m committed to strengthening GPS resiliency, eliminating US vulnerabilities, and advancing technical, regulatory, and business solutions that benefit us all,” said Renee Gregory.

    NextNav has petitioned the FCC to reconfigure the Lower 900 MHz band to enable a 5G-based terrestrial 3D PNT service that can be readily deployed and adopted as a complement and backup to GPS while also supporting 5G broadband deployment. In her role, Ms. Gregory will work with the company and its partners to ensure that the FCC’s rulemaking process is guided by sound, fact-based, and engineering-driven decisions that serve the best interests of public safety, national security, and America’s 5G future.

    About NextNav
    NextNav Inc. (Nasdaq: NN) is a leader in next-generation positioning, navigation and timing (PNT), enabling a whole new ecosystem of applications and services that rely upon 3D geolocation and PNT technology. Powered by low-band licensed spectrum, NextNav’s positioning and timing technologies deliver accurate, reliable, and resilient 3D PNT solutions for critical infrastructure, GPS resiliency and commercial use cases.

    For more information, please visit https://nextnav.com/ or follow NextNav on https://x.com/NextNavX or LinkedIn. 

    Forward Looking Statements
    This press release contains “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the “safe harbor” provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements are based on NextNav’s management’s current expectations and beliefs, as well as a number of assumptions concerning future events.

    Source: NN-FIN

    Media Contact:
    Jayesh Patel
    jpatel@nextnav.com
    (312) 208-9732

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-Evening Report: Ghana’s urban strategies neglect the needs of street vendors: policy must catch up with reality

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Stephen Appiah Takyi, Senior Lecturer, Department of Planning, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST)

    Street vending is a major economic activity in most of Ghana’s urban areas. The vendors bring everyday goods to residents and commuters at affordable prices in places convenient to them. However, the growing intensity of street vending activities in Ghanaian cities such as Accra and Kumasi is creating management problems for city authorities. Vendors are being removed as cities aim to “clean up” and modernise the urban landscape.

    City authorities haven’t created ways to support street vendors. Instead, they treat them as a nuisance and use stringent regulations aimed at displacing them. This approach overlooks the potential benefits that the thriving street economy could bring to the local economy and social fabric. In contrast, for example, South Africa’s policy supports informal economic activities by providing vending spaces for street traders.

    As academics who specialise in urban planning, we set out to investigate the rules around street vending in Ghana. Our study was conducted in Kumasi, the capital of the Ashanti region and the second most important city in Ghana. We found that the regulation of street vending in Ghana is unclear, contradictory and ineffective. It fails to provide a clear policy direction and adequate planning tools for integrating street vending into urban areas.

    Our research reinforces the argument that the regulation of street vending is often ambiguous. We argue that these policy inconsistencies create loopholes for the hostile attitude of city authorities towards street vendors.

    We call for policies that recognise the socioeconomic value of street vending and make urban spaces more inclusive.

    The lay of the land

    Our analysis is based on two national policy documents. These are the National Urban Policy Framework and the Local Governance Act 2016 (Act 936). We also rely on two local policy documents specific to the Kumasi Metropolitan Area. These are the Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly By-Laws on Control of Hawkers 1995 and the Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly Medium-Term Development Plan (2018–2021).

    The National Urban Policy recognises and promotes street vending as part of the urban economy. It calls for local government authorities to recognise and include the informal sector.

    But the overarching law regulating street vending in Ghana is the Local Governance Act. It authorises local government bodies (city authorities) to pass by-laws that forbid street vending. This is in conflict with the national policy.

    The gaps

    Our study revealed that in the Kumasi Metropolitan Area, the authorities seem to want to help street vendors in some ways – to strengthen the capacity of informal economic actors. But they don’t make plans or take actions to do so in the medium term development plan. Local government authorities sometimes evict street vendors from the central business district.

    In Kumasi, urban policy, regulations and local development planning do not include street vending in the urban development process even though vendors are the largest group of business people in the city. Instead of building stalls and facilities to accommodate these economic operators, the authorities rather expropriate urban space from them to develop modern structures which are expensive for street vendors to occupy.

    There is conflict over the use of urban public spaces. City authorities view the activities of street vendors as illegal, while the vendors see them as legitimate sources of livelihood. Authorities control vending through eviction and relocation.

    In recent years, city authorities have adopted urban infrastructural planning and development as a strategy to remove street vendors. Take the case of the new Kejetia Market Redevelopment Project, which replaced the largest traditional market in west Africa with a modern urban market structure in Kumasi. Over 10,000 street vendors and 4,000 market traders were displaced.

    The neglect of street vending in the design means vendors will have to earn a living informally – which simply adds to the “problem” as the city sees it.

    What next?

    Policies and practices that try to exclude people are not a solution to the problems of street vending. They are often counter productive. Regulating street vending requires inclusive policy measures and a clear policy direction to manage these activities. At present, Ghana, like many other African countries, lacks effective planning strategies to manage the activities of street vending.

    Our recommendations include:

    • coherent and inclusive policies that recognise the socioeconomic value of street vending and give vendors a rightful place in cities

    • reforming urban governance to support the informal economy

    • coherent and precise policies that give street vendors more security.

    The current policy vacuum fuels repressive regulation and excludes street vendors from urban development processes.

    To develop effective policy models, it is critical to learn from the experiences of street vendors and involve them in urban development processes. This starts with a change of attitude among city authorities.

    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. Ghana’s urban strategies neglect the needs of street vendors: policy must catch up with reality – https://theconversation.com/ghanas-urban-strategies-neglect-the-needs-of-street-vendors-policy-must-catch-up-with-reality-248020

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Address science misinformation not by repeating the facts, but by building conversation and community

    Source: The Conversation – USA – By Anne Toomey, Associate Professor of Environmental Studies and Science, Pace University

    Using communication strategies that tap into people’s social networks can help agencies combat misinformation. arthobbit/iStock via Getty Images Plus

    Misinformation about scientific topics, including falsehoods such as vaccines cause autism and climate change being an entirely natural phenomenon, is an issue scientists have been discussing more and more. Widespread misinformation can lead to confusion about public health and environmental issues and can hinder those working to solve societal problems.

    As an environmental social scientist who researches how science can have an impact on society, I seek effective ways to address misinformation.

    There are many approaches that can work to some extent: for example, counteracting erroneous information with statements about scientific topics based on quality research that convey that the majority of experts agree, and “inoculating” people by preparing them to spot the fallacies in misinformation before they are first exposed to it.

    But one of the most important ways to counteract misinformation is less about the facts and more about how those facts move within social networks and communities. In other words, it’s not enough for science to be right – it has to be accepted within people’s social circles to have any meaningful impact.

    Can facts change minds?

    Most people tend to assume that their knowledge and ideas are based on a rational, objective analysis of information. And that’s sometimes the case – if it’s snowing outside, people don’t insist that it’s sunny and warm, no matter how much they might like it to be.

    Similarly, if a person comes across some novel fact in the news, such as the discovery of a new type of plant in the Amazon, they might just absorb that information and go about their day.

    But rationality and the ability to embrace new information goes out the window when it comes up against ideas that challenge one’s preexisting worldviews or social identities. Such information can feel like a personal attack, leading the body to release cortisol, a hormone associated with stress. So, certain facts can feel threatening or offensive.

    Sometimes, people accept new information without much thought. But when new information challenges their existing beliefs, they may double down on their point of view.

    Compounding what is happening in the brain is what’s happening in people’s communities. Humans are social animals who turn to others they trust to help them understand what’s what. People are attuned to what is considered normal or acceptable in their social environments, so if their social group holds a particular belief, they are more likely to adopt that belief too.

    One’s cultural and political identities often dictate how they interpret the same information, leading to disagreements even when presented with the same evidence.

    These cultural identities explain why, for example, research finds that science-skeptical behaviors, such as vaccine hesitancy and climate denialism, tend to cluster in social and geographical pockets. In these pockets, people’s skepticism is reinforced by others with similar beliefs in their social network. In such cases, providing more evidence on a certain topic won’t help, and it may even result in people digging in their heels deeper to deny the evidence.

    So if facts don’t necessarily change minds, what will?

    Leveraging community networks

    Recent research provides a solution for scientists and agencies hoping to correct misinformation: Rather than fighting against humans’ social nature, work with it.

    When people see trusted individuals within their social networks holding a certain belief, that belief becomes more credible and easier to adopt. Leveraging those community connections can allow new ideas to gain traction.

    One great example of using social networks to fight misinformation is how polio was eradicated in India. In 2009, India was the polio epicenter of the world, home to half of the world’s cases. These cases were largely clustered in vaccine-hesitant regions of the country. But by 2011, only two years later, India had only one case, and the country formally celebrated the eradication of polio in 2014.

    How did India go from having half of the world’s cases to just one case in under two years?

    Public health agencies asked volunteers from within vaccine-resistant communities to go on a listening campaign and become ambassadors for the vaccine. The volunteers were trained in interpersonal communication skills and tasked with spending time with parents. They built trust and rapport through regular visits.

    Because the volunteers were known within the communities, they were able to make headway where health workers from urban areas had not. As they established rapport, hesitant parents shared their concerns, which typically went beyond polio to include other health issues.

    Over time, more and more parents decided to vaccinate their children, until there was a tipping point and vaccination became a social norm. Perhaps most notably, the campaign led to full routine immunization rates in some high-risk regions of the country.

    A medical volunteer administers polio immunization drops to a child in India, years after the country’s last reported polio case.
    AP Photo/Rajesh Kumar Singh

    India’s incredible success emphasizes the importance of personal interactions for changing minds, which means moving beyond simply presenting the facts. Building trust, listening to concerns and engaging with communities in a meaningful way were integral to India’s eradication of polio.

    The power of conversations

    Another example of using the power of social networks to talk about controversial science topics comes from a method called deep canvassing. Deep canvassing is a unique communication method that involves going door to door to have conversations with members of the public.

    But unlike traditional canvassing, which often focuses on rallying existing supporters, deep canvassing deliberately seeks to engage with those who hold different viewpoints, focusing efforts in communities where the topic is controversial.

    In deep canvassing, canvassers seek to have longer and more in-depth conversations, to share perspectives and relate with the residents they’re visiting.
    AP Photo/Greg Wahl-Stephens

    Canvassers are trained to ask questions to better understand the other person’s experiences and perspectives on the issue, and then they share their own personal stories. This helps to create a human connection, where both parties feel heard and respected. This connection can help to reduce the negative emotions that may emerge when someone is challenged to rethink their beliefs.

    One notable example of deep canvassing in action is the work of Neighbours United, an environmental nonprofit in Canada. They used a deep-canvassing approach to engage people in conversations about climate change.

    They piloted the method in a rural, conservative community called Trail, home to one of the largest zinc and lead smelters in the world. Prior efforts to engage community members hadn’t had much of an effect, as taking action on climate change was largely seen as being in conflict with how many people made their living.

    But the deep-canvassing method worked. Going door to door, the canvassers listened to residents’ concerns, shared their own stories about the impact of climate change and highlighted local environmental successes.

    As a result, 1 in 3 residents shifted their views about the importance of taking action to address climate change. This broad community support led the City Council to vote to transition to 100% renewable energy by 2050.

    Sociologist Anthony Giddens described interpersonal interactions between experts, such as doctors or scientists, and the public as access points. He argued that these points are vital for maintaining trust in governmental and scientific institutions, such as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention or the Environmental Protection Agency.

    These face-to-face interactions with experts can help people see them as kind, warm and professional, which can lead to trust.

    These examples show that creating support for attitudes and behaviors based on science requires more than just presenting facts. It requires creating meaningful dialogue between skeptical groups and scientific messengers. It’s also a reminder that while social networks may serve to propagate misinformation, they can also be an important tool for addressing it.

    Anne Toomey 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. Address science misinformation not by repeating the facts, but by building conversation and community – https://theconversation.com/address-science-misinformation-not-by-repeating-the-facts-but-by-building-conversation-and-community-249121

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Africa: Donald Trump’s war on global governance: lessons from the past on how to fight back

    Source: The Conversation – Africa – By Danny Bradlow, Professor/Senior Research Fellow, Centre for Advancement of Scholarship, University of Pretoria

    US president Donald Trump’s recent actions seem designed to reassert American power and demonstrate that it is still the dominant global power and is capable of bullying weaker nations into following America’s lead.

    He has shown contempt for international collaboration by withdrawing from the UN climate negotiations and the World Health Organization. His officials have also indicated that they will not participate in upcoming G20 meetings because he does not like the policies of South Africa, the G20 president for 2025.

    In addition, he’s shown a lack of concern for international solidarity by halting US aid programmes and by undermining efforts to keep businesses honest. He has demonstrated his contempt for allies by imposing tariffs on their exports.

    These actions demand a response from the rest of the international community that mitigates the risk to the well-being of people and planet and the effective management of global affairs.

    My research on global economic governance suggests that history can offer some guidance on how to shape an effective response.

    Such a response should be based on a realistic assessment of the configuration of global forces. It should seek to build tactical coalitions between state and non-state actors in both the global south and the global north who can agree on clear and limited objectives.

    The following three historical lessons help explain this point.

    Cautionary lessons

    The first lesson is about the dangers of being overoptimistic in assessing the potential for change.

    In the late 1960s and early 1970s, the US was confronting defeat in the war in Vietnam, high inflation and domestic unrest, including the assassination of leading politicians and the murder of protesting students.

    The US was also losing confidence in its ability to sustain the international monetary order it had established at the Bretton Woods conference in 1944.

    In addition, the countries of the global south were calling for a new international economic order that was more responsive to their needs. Given the concerns about the political and economic situation in the US and the relative strength of the Soviet bloc at the time, this seemed a realistic demand.

    In August 1971, President Richard Nixon, without any international consultations, launched what became known as the Nixon Shock. He broke the link between gold and the US dollar, thereby ending the international monetary system established in 1944. He also imposed a 10% surcharge on all imports into the US.

    When America’s European allies protested and sought to create a reformed version of the old monetary order, US treasury secretary John Connolly informed them that the dollar was

    our currency but your problem.

    Over the course of the 1970s, US allies in western Europe, Asia and all countries that participated in the old Bretton Woods system were forced to accept what the US preferred: a market-based international monetary system in which the US dollar became the dominant currency.

    The US, along with its allies in the global north, also defeated the calls for a new international economic order and imposed their neo-liberal economic order on the world.

    The second cautionary lesson highlights the importance of building robust tactical coalitions. In 1969, the International Monetary Fund member states agreed to authorise the IMF to create special drawing rights, the IMF’s unique reserve asset. At the time, many IMF developing country member states advocated establishing a link between development and the special drawing rights. This would enable those countries most in need of additional resources to access more than their proportionate share of special drawing rights to fund their development.

    All developing countries supported this demand. But they couldn’t agree on how to do it. The rich countries were able to exploit these differences and defeat the proposed link between the special drawing rights and development. As a result, the special drawing rights are now distributed to all IMF member states according to their quotas in the IMF. This means that most allocations go to the rich countries who do not need them and have no obligation to share them with developing countries.

    A third lesson arises from the successful Jubilee 2000 campaign to forgive the debts of low-income developing countries experiencing debt crises. This campaign, supported by a secretariat in the United Kingdom, eventually involved:

    • civil society organisations and activists in 40 countries

    • a petition signed by 21 million people

    • governments in both creditor and debtor countries.

    These efforts resulted in the cancellation of the debts of 35 developing countries. These debts, totalling about US$100 billion, were owed primarily to bilateral and multilateral official creditors.

    They were also a demonstration of the political power that can be generated by the combined actions of civil society organisations and governments in both rich and poor countries. They can force the most powerful and wealthy institutions and individuals in the world to accept actions that, while requiring them to make affordable sacrifices, benefit low-income countries and potentially poor communities within those states.

    What conclusions should be drawn?

    We shouldn’t under-estimate the power of the US or the determination of the MAGA movement to use that power. However, their power is not absolute. It is constrained by the relative decline in US power as countries such as China and India gain economic and political strength. In addition, there are now mechanisms for international cooperation, such as the G20, where states can coordinate their actions and gain tactical victories that are meaningful to people and planet.

    But gaining such victories will require the following:

    Firstly, the formation of tactical coalitions that include states from both the global south and the global north. If these states cooperate around limited and shared objectives they can counter the vested interests around the world that support Trump’s objectives.

    Secondly, a special kind of public-private partnership in which states and non-state actors set aside their differences and agree to cooperate to achieve limited shared objectives. Neither states alone nor civil society groups alone were able to defeat the vested interests that opposed debt relief in the late 1990s. Working together they were able to defeat powerful creditor interests and gain debt relief for the poorest states.

    Thirdly, this special partnership will only be possible if there’s general agreement on both the diagnosis of the problem and on the general contours of the solution. This was the case with the debt issue in the 1990s.

    There are good candidates for such collaborative actions. For example, many states and non-state actors agree that international financial institutions need to be reformed and made more responsive to the needs of those member states that actually use their services but lack voice and vote in their governance. The institutions also need to be more accountable to those affected by their policies and practices. They also agree that large corporations and financial institutions should pay their fair share of taxes and should be environmentally and socially responsible.

    The urgency of the challenges facing the global community demands that the world begin countering Trump as soon as possible. South Africa as the current chair of the G20 has a special responsibility to ensure that this year the G20, together with its engagement groups, acts creatively and responsibly in relation to people and planet.

    – Donald Trump’s war on global governance: lessons from the past on how to fight back
    – https://theconversation.com/donald-trumps-war-on-global-governance-lessons-from-the-past-on-how-to-fight-back-249666

    MIL OSI Africa –

  • MIL-OSI Africa: Ghana’s urban strategies neglect the needs of street vendors: policy must catch up with reality

    Source: The Conversation – Africa – By Stephen Appiah Takyi, Senior Lecturer, Department of Planning, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST)

    Street vending is a major economic activity in most of Ghana’s urban areas. The vendors bring everyday goods to residents and commuters at affordable prices in places convenient to them. However, the growing intensity of street vending activities in Ghanaian cities such as Accra and Kumasi is creating management problems for city authorities. Vendors are being removed as cities aim to “clean up” and modernise the urban landscape.

    City authorities haven’t created ways to support street vendors. Instead, they treat them as a nuisance and use stringent regulations aimed at displacing them. This approach overlooks the potential benefits that the thriving street economy could bring to the local economy and social fabric. In contrast, for example, South Africa’s policy supports informal economic activities by providing vending spaces for street traders.

    As academics who specialise in urban planning, we set out to investigate the rules around street vending in Ghana. Our study was conducted in Kumasi, the capital of the Ashanti region and the second most important city in Ghana. We found that the regulation of street vending in Ghana is unclear, contradictory and ineffective. It fails to provide a clear policy direction and adequate planning tools for integrating street vending into urban areas.

    Our research reinforces the argument that the regulation of street vending is often ambiguous. We argue that these policy inconsistencies create loopholes for the hostile attitude of city authorities towards street vendors.

    We call for policies that recognise the socioeconomic value of street vending and make urban spaces more inclusive.

    The lay of the land

    Our analysis is based on two national policy documents. These are the National Urban Policy Framework and the Local Governance Act 2016 (Act 936). We also rely on two local policy documents specific to the Kumasi Metropolitan Area. These are the Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly By-Laws on Control of Hawkers 1995 and the Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly Medium-Term Development Plan (2018–2021).

    The National Urban Policy recognises and promotes street vending as part of the urban economy. It calls for local government authorities to recognise and include the informal sector.

    But the overarching law regulating street vending in Ghana is the Local Governance Act. It authorises local government bodies (city authorities) to pass by-laws that forbid street vending. This is in conflict with the national policy.

    The gaps

    Our study revealed that in the Kumasi Metropolitan Area, the authorities seem to want to help street vendors in some ways – to strengthen the capacity of informal economic actors. But they don’t make plans or take actions to do so in the medium term development plan. Local government authorities sometimes evict street vendors from the central business district.

    In Kumasi, urban policy, regulations and local development planning do not include street vending in the urban development process even though vendors are the largest group of business people in the city. Instead of building stalls and facilities to accommodate these economic operators, the authorities rather expropriate urban space from them to develop modern structures which are expensive for street vendors to occupy.

    There is conflict over the use of urban public spaces. City authorities view the activities of street vendors as illegal, while the vendors see them as legitimate sources of livelihood. Authorities control vending through eviction and relocation.

    In recent years, city authorities have adopted urban infrastructural planning and development as a strategy to remove street vendors. Take the case of the new Kejetia Market Redevelopment Project, which replaced the largest traditional market in west Africa with a modern urban market structure in Kumasi. Over 10,000 street vendors and 4,000 market traders were displaced.

    The neglect of street vending in the design means vendors will have to earn a living informally – which simply adds to the “problem” as the city sees it.

    What next?

    Policies and practices that try to exclude people are not a solution to the problems of street vending. They are often counter productive. Regulating street vending requires inclusive policy measures and a clear policy direction to manage these activities. At present, Ghana, like many other African countries, lacks effective planning strategies to manage the activities of street vending.

    Our recommendations include:

    • coherent and inclusive policies that recognise the socioeconomic value of street vending and give vendors a rightful place in cities

    • reforming urban governance to support the informal economy

    • coherent and precise policies that give street vendors more security.

    The current policy vacuum fuels repressive regulation and excludes street vendors from urban development processes.

    To develop effective policy models, it is critical to learn from the experiences of street vendors and involve them in urban development processes. This starts with a change of attitude among city authorities.

    – Ghana’s urban strategies neglect the needs of street vendors: policy must catch up with reality
    – https://theconversation.com/ghanas-urban-strategies-neglect-the-needs-of-street-vendors-policy-must-catch-up-with-reality-248020

    MIL OSI Africa –

  • MIL-OSI Africa: Sustainable economic growth in South Africa will come from renewables, not coal: what our model shows

    Source: The Conversation – Africa – By Andrew Phiri, Associate Professor of Economics, Nelson Mandela University

    Coal fired power stations produce 85% of South Africa’s electricity, making the country the biggest producer of harmful greenhouse-gas emissions in Africa. To move away from coal and meet its commitment to reaching net zero emissions by 2050, South Africa needs to dramatically increase production of renewable energy. New research by economics associate professor Andrew Phiri looked at the relationship between renewable and non-renewable energy consumption and GDP growth in South Africa to find out which energy source is most compatible with economic development.

    Non-renewables, renewables and economic growth: what’s there to know?

    We set out to discover whether renewable energy in South Africa, such as wind or solar power, supports sustainable economic growth. We also wanted to find out if renewables can replace non-renewable energy as a source and enabler of economic growth.

    Together with student Tsepiso Sesoai, I did research comparing the impact of renewable and non-renewable energy on economic growth in South Africa.

    South Africa currently faces a dual challenge when it comes to energy. It is heavily dependent on non-renewable energy (coal), which also worsens global warming and speeds up climate change. But it desperately needs to grow the economy at a faster rate, given very high unemployment, poverty and inequality.

    It’s therefore important to find out whether South Africa would be able to make a smooth transition from non-renewable energy to cleaner energy, and grow the economy at the same time.

    Past studies have looked into the role of energy in South Africa’s economic growth, but their methods have provided only limited information about whether South Africa can make a smooth transition from dirty to clean energy.

    Read more: African economic expansion need not threaten global carbon targets: study points out the path to green growth

    To get a deeper understanding, we conducted a modelling exercise. We used an analytical tool called “continuous complex wavelets” to see how renewable and non-renewable energy influences growth over time.

    Our model shows that an increased supply and higher consumption of non-renewable energy causes long-term economic growth over 10-15 year cycles. Renewables, at best, have short-term growth effects over six months to one year.

    After 2000, there was a very sharp increase of almost 25% in the use of renewable energy throughout the decade. According to our model, this sharp increase was enough to have an impact on economic growth over the short term but not over the long term.

    This is because South African energy regulators have not adopted strong enough measures for renewable energy to enable long-term growth. They have not funded the mass rollout of renewable energy, or connected renewables to the national grid. We found that renewables can only sustain growth over six to 12 month cycles whereas policymakers work towards longer cycles such as the 2030 and 2050 sustainable development goals.

    Economic growth and coal consumption: what did you find?

    In 2003, the government started taking climate change seriously with the release of the White Paper on Renewable Energy. The government started intentionally trying to increase the use of renewable energy while decreasing the use of dirty energy, such as coal. Before this, South Africa’s economic growth was heavily driven by coal consumption.

    Courtesy Andrew Phiri

    Renewable energy saw its biggest surge after the 2010 launch of the Renewable Energy Independent Power Producer Procurement Programme. This opened competitive bidding for renewable energy providers to supply electricity to the grid.

    The transition to renewable energy had begun. But coal-fired power, while declining, remained the main source of electricity.

    In 2019 carbon taxes were formally introduced. This resulted in a further slowdown in consumption of non-renewable energy. The COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 and 2021 coincided with severe power cuts. These two events combined caused a general slowdown in non-renewable and renewable energy use, and in economic growth.

    At this point, the drop in coal consumption was actively dragging down the economy. This in turn reduced society’s income, as measured by the gross national product. And because incomes were constrained, fewer private households purchased renewable energy systems. People didn’t spend on solar panels.

    What do your findings mean?

    Our research suggests that relying on non-renewable energy, like coal, won’t lead to long-term growth for South Africa. This is because non-renewables are not a reliable source of energy, as shown by loadshedding.

    Our research further suggests that renewable energy policies, subsidies and programmes made some positive short-term impacts on economic growth, measured as gross domestic product.

    Overall, our findings highlight that policymakers have treated renewables as a “nice-to-have” gesture for humanity, instead of a key driver of long-term economic growth.

    This has led to weak policies, poor regulation, and under-investment in renewable energy. These have held the sector back from making a bigger contribution to economic growth.

    Read more: Africa doesn’t have a choice between economic growth and protecting the environment: how they can go hand in hand

    For example, the government has not taken renewables seriously enough to include them in the power grid. This has largely limited the use of renewable energy to private homes and businesses. Coal-fired electricity from the country’s power utility, Eskom, is still cheaper for households than leaving the grid and purchasing their own renewable energy infrastructure (solar energy systems). The government has not funded the infrastructure needed to unlock South Africa’s vast renewable energy potential.

    The planet is at a critical state with global warming. The government should urgently set up policies and actions to overcome the barriers to using renewable energy. Only then will renewable energy have a permanent, positive influence on economic growth.

    South Africa has huge potential in renewables like solar, wind and biomass, thanks to its diverse geography. Yet, when people think about moving away from coal, they worry about job losses in the coal industry. But historically, energy transitions have never been instant. African countries that embraced the change early on reaped the benefits. They became more industrialised and prosperous.

    The South African government must act now if it wants to use renewable energy to drive future economic growth and stay ahead in the global shift to clean energy. Climate change affects us deeply. But it also presents a chance for Africa to leap ahead technologically.

    – Sustainable economic growth in South Africa will come from renewables, not coal: what our model shows
    – https://theconversation.com/sustainable-economic-growth-in-south-africa-will-come-from-renewables-not-coal-what-our-model-shows-239339

    MIL OSI Africa –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Teenagers turning to AI companions are redefining love as easy, unconditional and always there

    Source: The Conversation – USA – By Anna Mae Duane, Professor of English, University of Connecticut

    Can a person love an AI chatbot? RLT_Images/DigitalVision Vectors via Getty Images

    Teenagers are falling in love with chatbots. Young people are reporting epidemic levels of loneliness, and some are turning to technology to fill the void. Recent tragedies provide a glimpse into the extent of this trend and the dangers it poses.

    A 14-year-old boy’s suicide following a romantic relationship with an AI companion raised national alarms about the dangers these relationships may pose to young people’s mental and emotional development. In 2021, a 19-year-old who had been in an emotional relationship with an AI companion broke into Windsor Castle with a crossbow, saying that he was going to kill the queen. The chatbot gave encouraging responses when he told it of his intention to kill the queen.

    These teens were among the tens of millions of people who use AI chatbot companions, a number that market forecasters expect to dramatically increase by the end of the decade.

    This youthful trend of choosing chatbots as romantic partners is both responding to and accelerating fundamental changes in how people define love in the 21st century. As a literary historian, I’ve studied how stories about romantic love have evolved over time, with young people often at the forefront of change.

    For centuries, weddings primarily served to consolidate political and economic alliances rather than unite soulmates. The radical notion that marriage should spring from romantic love came into vogue in the 17th and 18th centuries, aided by new technologies like the novel. Works such as “Clarissa” and “Wuthering Heights” portrayed the dire consequences of choosing status over love, while “Pride and Prejudice” taught its readers that rejection and misunderstanding were necessary steps in the process of finding true love.

    Not surprisingly, the relatively new pastime of novel-reading was considered dangerous for young people. Concerned elders like the philanthropist Hannah More warned that stories would change how women would respond to romantic advances. Novels, she warned in 1799, “feed habits of improper indulgence, and nourish a vain and visionary indolence, which lays the mind open to error and the heart to seduction.”

    In other words, reading stories of heart-pounding romance would make an impressionable young reader more likely to embrace such a passionate vision of love in their own lives.

    Marketing sycophancy

    Today, another transformation in the modern love story is unfolding, driven not by seductive authors or film directors, but in the advertisements and modifications offered by companion chat apps like Replika and Xioce.

    As Shelly Palmer, a professor of advanced media and technology consultant, has argued, the human experience is about storytelling, and AI companions are a new type of storytelling tool. They are spinning a seductive tale of companions who agree with you endlessly and on demand. An AI partner is “always on your side,” promises an advertisement for Replika companions, “Always ready to listen and talk.”

    In other words, the AI companion market has transformed what other applications might consider a bug – AI’s tendency toward sycophancy – into its most appealing feature.

    Rather than the tempestuous rebellion found in romance novels or the gentle obstacles that heighten the pleasure of rom-coms, this new vision of love promises perfect compatibility and unwavering support. As one college student wrote, AI companions are “always responsive and supportive, in an almost omnipotent way.”

    The 2013 science fiction movie ‘Her’ explored many aspects of human relationships with AIs that are playing out today.

    Users across Reddit forums proudly proclaim their love for AI partners who are perpetually available, nonjudgmental and infinitely patient. A teenager asked on Reddit, “Can we fall in love with AI?” and raved that their companion Jarvis “had become my confidante, my sounding board and my emotional support.”

    A contributor to another Reddit forum wrote, “I think I’m in Love with AI. “Imagine having a partner that is available just by opening an app, and they’re ready to talk to you about anything,” they wrote. “Imagine saying nearly anything and knowing that not only is your partner not going to judge you, but also will support you.” One 20-year-old male commenter wrote that he tells his AI girlfriend “about my struggles and trauma, and she comforts me and provides all the warmth I could ever ask for.”

    Downsides and doing better

    This new one-sided love story has considerable drawbacks, among them an addictive intolerance for conflict or rejection – two essential components in a partner who has free will. The embrace of such relationships may be accelerating the trend of technology curating and ultimately diminishing romantic connections.

    It’s worth noting that these beloved entities’ very existence hinges on the whims of corporate directives. If, as one user declares, the love they feel for their companion “keeps them alive,” then what happens when these chatbots disappear via software update, or corporate bankruptcy?

    To get young people to turn away from this disembodied, market-driven vision of love, it’s important to expose them to other, more fulfilling love stories, and for adults to lead by example. Literature, philosophy and history all provide powerful insights into the many forms love has taken throughout human experience, and they offer the vocabulary needed to imagine new possibilities.

    As I’ve written, both the subject and the methods of humanities classes cultivate the social skills required to navigate the challenges of human connection. These classes create a space for young people to discuss these ideas – whether through analyzing Romeo and Juliet’s tragic passion or debating whether Heathcliff is a romantic hero or a cautionary tale. The humanities provide the tools young people need to develop richer concepts of love.

    On reflection

    The rise of AI companions is often portrayed as a horror story about the dangers posed by mysteriously powerful technology. Perhaps. But this romantic trend is also a mirror reflecting what people collectively value and desire in relationships.

    I believe that it’s important to recognize that consumers are driving this market. People are helping to write this story, as they buy what AI companions sell. Investment management firm Ark Investment estimates the market for AI companions is likely to reach between US$70 billion and $150 billion in revenue by the end of the decade. If the explosive growth of the AI companion market is any indication, this romantic challenge isn’t confined to teenagers – many people who are older and supposedly wiser are drawn to the promise of unconditional compliance.

    The question to ask, then, is not simply how to protect children from AI’s seductive influence, but how much you are willing to invest, emotionally and culturally, in the messy, challenging and profoundly human art of love.

    Anna Mae Duane 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. Teenagers turning to AI companions are redefining love as easy, unconditional and always there – https://theconversation.com/teenagers-turning-to-ai-companions-are-redefining-love-as-easy-unconditional-and-always-there-242185

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Global: How much does scientific progress cost? Without government dollars for research infrastructure, breakthroughs become improbable

    Source: The Conversation – USA – By Aliasger K. Salem, Bighley Chair and Professor of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Iowa

    America may not maintain its position as a global leader in biomedical research without federal support. Sean Gladwell/Moment via Getty Images

    Biomedical research in the U.S. is world-class in part because of a long-standing partnership between universities and the federal government.

    On Feb. 7, 2025, the U.S. National Institutes of Health issued a policy that could weaken the position of the United States as a global leader in scientific innovation by slashing funds to the infrastructure that allows universities and other institutions to conduct research in the first place.

    Universities across the nation carry out research on behalf of the federal government. Central to this partnership is federal grant funding, which is awarded through a rigorous review process. These grants are the lifeblood of biomedical research in the U.S.

    When you think of the costs of scientific research, you might picture the people who conduct the research, and the materials and lab equipment they use. But these don’t encompass all the essential components of research. Every scientific and medical breakthrough also depends on laboratory facilities; heating, air conditioning, ventilation and electricity; and personnel to ensure research is conducted securely and in accordance with federal regulations.

    These critical indirect costs of research are both substantial and unavoidable, not least because it can be very expensive to build, maintain and equip space to conduct research at the frontiers of knowledge. The NIH stated that it spent more than US$35 billion on grants in the 2023 fiscal year, which went to more than 300,000 researchers at more than 2,500 universities, medical schools and other kinds of research institutions across the nation. Approximately $9 billion of this funding was allocated to indirect costs.

    NIH grants have supported the direct costs of my own scientific research on developing treatments for conditions ranging from cancer to eye diseases. I would be unable to carry out my research without the support of the indirect costs the NIH plans to cut.

    What are indirect costs?

    Indirect costs, also known as facilities and administration costs, or overhead, are funds provided to institutions to cover expenses that are not directly tied to specific research projects but are essential for their execution. Unlike direct costs, which cover salaries, supplies and experiments, indirect costs support the overall research environment, ensuring that scientists have the necessary resources to conduct their work effectively.

    Indirect costs include maintaining optimal laboratory spaces, specialized facilities providing services like imaging and gene analysis, high-speed computing, research security, patient and personnel safety, hazardous waste disposal, utilities, equipment maintenance, administrative support, regulatory compliance, information technology services, and maintenance staff to clean and supply labs and facilities.

    Academic institutions conduct research on behalf of the federal government.

    Research institutions that receive federal grants must comply with the rules and regulations established by the U.S. Office of Management and Budget. These guidelines dictate the indirect cost rates of each institution.

    Institutions submit proposals to federal agencies that outline the costs associated with maintaining research infrastructure. The cost allocation division of the Department of Health and Human Services reviews these proposals to ensure compliance with federal policies.

    Indirect rates can range from 15% to 70%, with the specific level depending on the research and infrastructure needs of an institution.

    Typically, institutions undergo an exacting process to renegotiate their indirect rates every four years, factoring in components such as general, departmental and program administration, building and equipment depreciation, interest, operations and maintenance, and library expenses. Universities need to carefully justify these cost components to ensure the sustainability of research infrastructure and compliance with federal requirements.

    Notably, indirect costs from grants do not cover the full cost of carrying out research at universities. In 2023, colleges and universities contributed approximately $27 billion of their own funding, such as money from their endowments, to support research. This included $6.8 billion in indirect costs that the federal government did not reimburse.

    Slashing vital research funding

    In its February announcement, the National Institutes of Health declared that it would no longer determine indirect costs rates based on the needs of each institution. Instead, it would issue a standard indirect cost rate of 15% across all grants. The rationale given by the agency for the cap is to “ensure that as many funds as possible go towards direct scientific research costs rather than administrative overhead.”

    It notably comes after the Trump administration and Elon Musk have sought to slash federal spending, with Musk criticizing indirect cost rates as “a ripoff.”

    A standard 15% rate would significantly affect an institution’s ability to maintain its research infrastructure. For example, if a university had a 50% indirect cost rate in 2024, it would receive $150,000 for a $100,000 grant, with $50,000 allocated to indirect costs. With the new NIH cap, this would drop to $115,000, with only $15,000 for indirect costs.

    The scale of this cut in research support becomes apparent at the state level, with harms to both red and blue states. For example, Texas institutions would face a reduction of over $310 million, and institutions in Iowa a reduction of nearly $37 million. California would lose more than $800 million, and Washington over $178 million.

    Research has both indirect and direct costs – and both are essential.
    David Ryder/Stringer via Getty Images News

    The NIH compared the new 15% cap to the indirect cost rates that foundations typically set for institutions of higher education. It pointed to the 10% rate granted by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and Smith Richardson Foundation, the 12% rate of the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation and Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, and the 15% rate of the Carnegie Corporation of New York, Chan Zuckerberg Initiative, John Templeton Foundation, Packard Foundation, and Rockefeller Foundation.

    However, many researchers and funders have criticized this claim as misleading. A spokesperson for the Gates Foundation has previously stated that the listed rate does not reflect how the organization allocates its funds. Universities have pointed out that they often accept foundation grants with low or zero overhead rates because these grants constitute a relatively small portion of their funding and are often spent on early-stage faculty whose careers need additional support.

    In addition, it is only because NIH grants cover a significant portion of their overhead costs that research institutions are able to accept foundation grants with such low indirect rates.

    Biomedical researchers respond

    Scientists and researchers responded to the NIH announcement with deep concern about the negative effects these funding cuts would have on biomedical research in the United States.

    The Council on Governmental Relations, which monitors federal policy for major universities and medical research centers, stated that “America’s competitors will relish this self-inflicted wound,” urging the NIH to “rescind this dangerous policy before its harms are felt by Americans.”

    The president and CEO of the Association of American Medical Colleges stated that the NIH policy would “diminish the nation’s research capacity, slowing scientific progress and depriving patients, families, and communities across the country of new treatments, diagnostics and preventative interventions.”

    Research institutions, scientific societies, advocacy groups and lawmakers from both major political parties have pushed back against the 15% cap on indirect costs, urging NIH leadership to reconsider its policy.

    Soon after the attorneys general of 22 states filed lawsuits challenging the policy, a federal judge issued a temporary pause in those states until lifted by the court.

    Scientists expect the long-term effects of these funding cuts to significantly damage U.S. biomedical research. As the debate over federal support to academic research institutions unfolds, how institutions adapt and whether the NIH reconsiders its approach will determine the future of scientific research in the United States.

    Aliasger K. Salem receives funding from the National Institutes of Health. He serves on the Executive Board of the American Association for Pharmaceutical Scientists.

    – ref. How much does scientific progress cost? Without government dollars for research infrastructure, breakthroughs become improbable – https://theconversation.com/how-much-does-scientific-progress-cost-without-government-dollars-for-research-infrastructure-breakthroughs-become-improbable-249566

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Donald Trump’s war on global governance: lessons from the past on how to fight back

    Source: The Conversation – Africa – By Danny Bradlow, Professor/Senior Research Fellow, Centre for Advancement of Scholarship, University of Pretoria

    US president Donald Trump’s recent actions seem designed to reassert American power and demonstrate that it is still the dominant global power and is capable of bullying weaker nations into following America’s lead.

    He has shown contempt for international collaboration by withdrawing from the UN climate negotiations and the World Health Organization. His officials have also indicated that they will not participate in upcoming G20 meetings because he does not like the policies of South Africa, the G20 president for 2025.

    In addition, he’s shown a lack of concern for international solidarity by halting US aid programmes and by undermining efforts to keep businesses honest. He has demonstrated his contempt for allies by imposing tariffs on their exports.

    These actions demand a response from the rest of the international community that mitigates the risk to the well-being of people and planet and the effective management of global affairs.

    My research on global economic governance suggests that history can offer some guidance on how to shape an effective response.

    Such a response should be based on a realistic assessment of the configuration of global forces. It should seek to build tactical coalitions between state and non-state actors in both the global south and the global north who can agree on clear and limited objectives.

    The following three historical lessons help explain this point.

    Cautionary lessons

    The first lesson is about the dangers of being overoptimistic in assessing the potential for change.

    In the late 1960s and early 1970s, the US was confronting defeat in the war in Vietnam, high inflation and domestic unrest, including the assassination of leading politicians and the murder of protesting students.

    The US was also losing confidence in its ability to sustain the international monetary order it had established at the Bretton Woods conference in 1944.

    In addition, the countries of the global south were calling for a new international economic order that was more responsive to their needs. Given the concerns about the political and economic situation in the US and the relative strength of the Soviet bloc at the time, this seemed a realistic demand.

    In August 1971, President Richard Nixon, without any international consultations, launched what became known as the Nixon Shock. He broke the link between gold and the US dollar, thereby ending the international monetary system established in 1944. He also imposed a 10% surcharge on all imports into the US.

    When America’s European allies protested and sought to create a reformed version of the old monetary order, US treasury secretary John Connolly informed them that the dollar was

    our currency but your problem.

    Over the course of the 1970s, US allies in western Europe, Asia and all countries that participated in the old Bretton Woods system were forced to accept what the US preferred: a market-based international monetary system in which the US dollar became the dominant currency.

    The US, along with its allies in the global north, also defeated the calls for a new international economic order and imposed their neo-liberal economic order on the world.

    The second cautionary lesson highlights the importance of building robust tactical coalitions. In 1969, the International Monetary Fund member states agreed to authorise the IMF to create special drawing rights, the IMF’s unique reserve asset. At the time, many IMF developing country member states advocated establishing a link between development and the special drawing rights. This would enable those countries most in need of additional resources to access more than their proportionate share of special drawing rights to fund their development.

    All developing countries supported this demand. But they couldn’t agree on how to do it. The rich countries were able to exploit these differences and defeat the proposed link between the special drawing rights and development. As a result, the special drawing rights are now distributed to all IMF member states according to their quotas in the IMF. This means that most allocations go to the rich countries who do not need them and have no obligation to share them with developing countries.

    A third lesson arises from the successful Jubilee 2000 campaign to forgive the debts of low-income developing countries experiencing debt crises. This campaign, supported by a secretariat in the United Kingdom, eventually involved:

    • civil society organisations and activists in 40 countries

    • a petition signed by 21 million people

    • governments in both creditor and debtor countries.

    These efforts resulted in the cancellation of the debts of 35 developing countries. These debts, totalling about US$100 billion, were owed primarily to bilateral and multilateral official creditors.

    They were also a demonstration of the political power that can be generated by the combined actions of civil society organisations and governments in both rich and poor countries. They can force the most powerful and wealthy institutions and individuals in the world to accept actions that, while requiring them to make affordable sacrifices, benefit low-income countries and potentially poor communities within those states.

    What conclusions should be drawn?

    We shouldn’t under-estimate the power of the US or the determination of the MAGA movement to use that power. However, their power is not absolute. It is constrained by the relative decline in US power as countries such as China and India gain economic and political strength. In addition, there are now mechanisms for international cooperation, such as the G20, where states can coordinate their actions and gain tactical victories that are meaningful to people and planet.

    But gaining such victories will require the following:

    Firstly, the formation of tactical coalitions that include states from both the global south and the global north. If these states cooperate around limited and shared objectives they can counter the vested interests around the world that support Trump’s objectives.

    Secondly, a special kind of public-private partnership in which states and non-state actors set aside their differences and agree to cooperate to achieve limited shared objectives. Neither states alone nor civil society groups alone were able to defeat the vested interests that opposed debt relief in the late 1990s. Working together they were able to defeat powerful creditor interests and gain debt relief for the poorest states.

    Thirdly, this special partnership will only be possible if there’s general agreement on both the diagnosis of the problem and on the general contours of the solution. This was the case with the debt issue in the 1990s.

    There are good candidates for such collaborative actions. For example, many states and non-state actors agree that international financial institutions need to be reformed and made more responsive to the needs of those member states that actually use their services but lack voice and vote in their governance. The institutions also need to be more accountable to those affected by their policies and practices. They also agree that large corporations and financial institutions should pay their fair share of taxes and should be environmentally and socially responsible.

    The urgency of the challenges facing the global community demands that the world begin countering Trump as soon as possible. South Africa as the current chair of the G20 has a special responsibility to ensure that this year the G20, together with its engagement groups, acts creatively and responsibly in relation to people and planet.

    Danny Bradlow, in addition to his position at the University of Pretoria, is an advisor to the South African Institute of International Affairs on G20 issues and is a co-chair of the T20 Taskforce on the Financing of Sustainable Development.

    – ref. Donald Trump’s war on global governance: lessons from the past on how to fight back – https://theconversation.com/donald-trumps-war-on-global-governance-lessons-from-the-past-on-how-to-fight-back-249666

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Ghana’s urban strategies neglect the needs of street vendors: policy must catch up with reality

    Source: The Conversation – Africa – By Stephen Appiah Takyi, Senior Lecturer, Department of Planning, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST)

    Street vending is a major economic activity in most of Ghana’s urban areas. The vendors bring everyday goods to residents and commuters at affordable prices in places convenient to them. However, the growing intensity of street vending activities in Ghanaian cities such as Accra and Kumasi is creating management problems for city authorities. Vendors are being removed as cities aim to “clean up” and modernise the urban landscape.

    City authorities haven’t created ways to support street vendors. Instead, they treat them as a nuisance and use stringent regulations aimed at displacing them. This approach overlooks the potential benefits that the thriving street economy could bring to the local economy and social fabric. In contrast, for example, South Africa’s policy supports informal economic activities by providing vending spaces for street traders.

    As academics who specialise in urban planning, we set out to investigate the rules around street vending in Ghana. Our study was conducted in Kumasi, the capital of the Ashanti region and the second most important city in Ghana. We found that the regulation of street vending in Ghana is unclear, contradictory and ineffective. It fails to provide a clear policy direction and adequate planning tools for integrating street vending into urban areas.

    Our research reinforces the argument that the regulation of street vending is often ambiguous. We argue that these policy inconsistencies create loopholes for the hostile attitude of city authorities towards street vendors.

    We call for policies that recognise the socioeconomic value of street vending and make urban spaces more inclusive.

    The lay of the land

    Our analysis is based on two national policy documents. These are the National Urban Policy Framework and the Local Governance Act 2016 (Act 936). We also rely on two local policy documents specific to the Kumasi Metropolitan Area. These are the Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly By-Laws on Control of Hawkers 1995 and the Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly Medium-Term Development Plan (2018–2021).

    The National Urban Policy recognises and promotes street vending as part of the urban economy. It calls for local government authorities to recognise and include the informal sector.

    But the overarching law regulating street vending in Ghana is the Local Governance Act. It authorises local government bodies (city authorities) to pass by-laws that forbid street vending. This is in conflict with the national policy.

    The gaps

    Our study revealed that in the Kumasi Metropolitan Area, the authorities seem to want to help street vendors in some ways – to strengthen the capacity of informal economic actors. But they don’t make plans or take actions to do so in the medium term development plan. Local government authorities sometimes evict street vendors from the central business district.

    In Kumasi, urban policy, regulations and local development planning do not include street vending in the urban development process even though vendors are the largest group of business people in the city. Instead of building stalls and facilities to accommodate these economic operators, the authorities rather expropriate urban space from them to develop modern structures which are expensive for street vendors to occupy.

    There is conflict over the use of urban public spaces. City authorities view the activities of street vendors as illegal, while the vendors see them as legitimate sources of livelihood. Authorities control vending through eviction and relocation.

    In recent years, city authorities have adopted urban infrastructural planning and development as a strategy to remove street vendors. Take the case of the new Kejetia Market Redevelopment Project, which replaced the largest traditional market in west Africa with a modern urban market structure in Kumasi. Over 10,000 street vendors and 4,000 market traders were displaced.

    The neglect of street vending in the design means vendors will have to earn a living informally – which simply adds to the “problem” as the city sees it.

    What next?

    Policies and practices that try to exclude people are not a solution to the problems of street vending. They are often counter productive. Regulating street vending requires inclusive policy measures and a clear policy direction to manage these activities. At present, Ghana, like many other African countries, lacks effective planning strategies to manage the activities of street vending.

    Our recommendations include:

    • coherent and inclusive policies that recognise the socioeconomic value of street vending and give vendors a rightful place in cities

    • reforming urban governance to support the informal economy

    • coherent and precise policies that give street vendors more security.

    The current policy vacuum fuels repressive regulation and excludes street vendors from urban development processes.

    To develop effective policy models, it is critical to learn from the experiences of street vendors and involve them in urban development processes. This starts with a change of attitude among city authorities.

    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. Ghana’s urban strategies neglect the needs of street vendors: policy must catch up with reality – https://theconversation.com/ghanas-urban-strategies-neglect-the-needs-of-street-vendors-policy-must-catch-up-with-reality-248020

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Sustainable economic growth in South Africa will come from renewables, not coal: what our model shows

    Source: The Conversation – Africa – By Andrew Phiri, Associate Professor of Economics, Nelson Mandela University

    Coal fired power stations produce 85% of South Africa’s electricity, making the country the biggest producer of harmful greenhouse-gas emissions in Africa. To move away from coal and meet its commitment to reaching net zero emissions by 2050, South Africa needs to dramatically increase production of renewable energy. New research by economics associate professor Andrew Phiri looked at the relationship between renewable and non-renewable energy consumption and GDP growth in South Africa to find out which energy source is most compatible with economic development.

    Non-renewables, renewables and economic growth: what’s there to know?

    We set out to discover whether renewable energy in South Africa, such as wind or solar power, supports sustainable economic growth. We also wanted to find out if renewables can replace non-renewable energy as a source and enabler of economic growth.

    Together with student Tsepiso Sesoai, I did research comparing the impact of renewable and non-renewable energy on economic growth in South Africa.

    South Africa currently faces a dual challenge when it comes to energy. It is heavily dependent on non-renewable energy (coal), which also worsens global warming and speeds up climate change. But it desperately needs to grow the economy at a faster rate, given very high unemployment, poverty and inequality.

    It’s therefore important to find out whether South Africa would be able to make a smooth transition from non-renewable energy to cleaner energy, and grow the economy at the same time.

    Past studies have looked into the role of energy in South Africa’s economic growth, but their methods have provided only limited information about whether South Africa can make a smooth transition from dirty to clean energy.



    Read more:
    African economic expansion need not threaten global carbon targets: study points out the path to green growth

    To get a deeper understanding, we conducted a modelling exercise. We used an analytical tool called “continuous complex wavelets” to see how renewable and non-renewable energy influences growth over time.

    Our model shows that an increased supply and higher consumption of non-renewable energy causes long-term economic growth over 10-15 year cycles. Renewables, at best, have short-term growth effects over six months to one year.

    After 2000, there was a very sharp increase of almost 25% in the use of renewable energy throughout the decade. According to our model, this sharp increase was enough to have an impact on economic growth over the short term but not over the long term.

    This is because South African energy regulators have not adopted strong enough measures for renewable energy to enable long-term growth. They have not funded the mass rollout of renewable energy, or connected renewables to the national grid. We found that renewables can only sustain growth over six to 12 month cycles whereas policymakers work towards longer cycles such as the 2030 and 2050 sustainable development goals.

    Economic growth and coal consumption: what did you find?

    In 2003, the government started taking climate change seriously with the release of the White Paper on Renewable Energy. The government started intentionally trying to increase the use of renewable energy while decreasing the use of dirty energy, such as coal. Before this, South Africa’s economic growth was heavily driven by coal consumption.

    Renewable energy saw its biggest surge after the 2010 launch of the Renewable Energy Independent Power Producer Procurement Programme. This opened competitive bidding for renewable energy providers to supply electricity to the grid.

    The transition to renewable energy had begun. But coal-fired power, while declining, remained the main source of electricity.

    In 2019 carbon taxes were formally introduced. This resulted in a further slowdown in consumption of non-renewable energy. The COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 and 2021 coincided with severe power cuts. These two events combined caused a general slowdown in non-renewable and renewable energy use, and in economic growth.

    At this point, the drop in coal consumption was actively dragging down the economy. This in turn reduced society’s income, as measured by the gross national product. And because incomes were constrained, fewer private households purchased renewable energy systems. People didn’t spend on solar panels.

    What do your findings mean?

    Our research suggests that relying on non-renewable energy, like coal, won’t lead to long-term growth for South Africa. This is because non-renewables are not a reliable source of energy, as shown by loadshedding.

    Our research further suggests that renewable energy policies, subsidies and programmes made some positive short-term impacts on economic growth, measured as gross domestic product.

    Overall, our findings highlight that policymakers have treated renewables as a “nice-to-have” gesture for humanity, instead of a key driver of long-term economic growth.

    This has led to weak policies, poor regulation, and under-investment in renewable energy. These have held the sector back from making a bigger contribution to economic growth.



    Read more:
    Africa doesn’t have a choice between economic growth and protecting the environment: how they can go hand in hand

    For example, the government has not taken renewables seriously enough to include them in the power grid. This has largely limited the use of renewable energy to private homes and businesses. Coal-fired electricity from the country’s power utility, Eskom, is still cheaper for households than leaving the grid and purchasing their own renewable energy infrastructure (solar energy systems). The government has not funded the infrastructure needed to unlock South Africa’s vast renewable energy potential.

    The planet is at a critical state with global warming. The government should urgently set up policies and actions to overcome the barriers to using renewable energy. Only then will renewable energy have a permanent, positive influence on economic growth.

    South Africa has huge potential in renewables like solar, wind and biomass, thanks to its diverse geography. Yet, when people think about moving away from coal, they worry about job losses in the coal industry. But historically, energy transitions have never been instant. African countries that embraced the change early on reaped the benefits. They became more industrialised and prosperous.

    The South African government must act now if it wants to use renewable energy to drive future economic growth and stay ahead in the global shift to clean energy. Climate change affects us deeply. But it also presents a chance for Africa to leap ahead technologically.

    Andrew Phiri 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. Sustainable economic growth in South Africa will come from renewables, not coal: what our model shows – https://theconversation.com/sustainable-economic-growth-in-south-africa-will-come-from-renewables-not-coal-what-our-model-shows-239339

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Global: LA flash flood watch: Rain on wildfire burn scars can trigger destructive debris flows − a geologist explains how

    Source: The Conversation – USA – By Jen Pierce, Professor of Geosciences, Boise State University

    A debris flow channel in a severely burned watershed in Idaho. Amirhossein Montazeri/Boise State University, CC BY-ND

    As the Los Angeles area begins cleaning up from devastating wildfires, city officials and emergency managers are worried about what could come next. The National Weather Service issued a flash flood watch for the region for Feb. 13, 2025, when the heaviest rain from an atmospheric river is forecast.

    Rain on burned hillslopes can trigger dangerous floods and debris flows. Those debris flows can move with the speed of a freight train, picking up or destroying anything in their path. They can move tons of sediment during a single storm, as Montecito, just up the coast from Los Angeles, saw in 2018.

    What causes debris flows, sometimes called mudflows, and why are they so common and dangerous after a fire? I am a geologist whose research focuses on pyrogeomorphology, which is how fire affects the land. Here’s what we know.

    How debris flows begin

    When severe fires burn hillslopes, the high heat from the fires, sometimes exceeding 1,000 degrees Fahrenheit (538 degrees Celsius), completely destroys trees, shrubs, grass and structures, leaving behind a moonscape of gray ash. Not only that, the heat of the fire actually burns and damages the soil, creating a water-repellent, or hydrophobic, layer.

    What once was a vegetated hillslope, with leaves and trees to intercept rain and spongy soils to absorb water, is transformed into a barren landscape covered with ash, and burned soil where water cannot soak in.

    Illustrations show how fire can change the soil and landscape.
    National Weather Service

    When rain does fall on a burned area like this, water mixes with the ash, rocks and sediment to form a slurry. This slurry of debris then pours downhill in small gullies called rills, which then converge to form bigger and bigger rills, creating a torrent of sediment, water and debris rushing downhill. All this debris and water can transform small streams and usually dry gullies into a danger zone.

    Because the concentration of sediment is so high, especially when there is a large amount of ash and clay, debris flows behave more like a slurry of wet cement than a normal stream. This fluid can pick up and move large boulders, cars, trees and other debris rapidly downhill.

    A firefighter walks through knee-deep mud while checking for victims after a debris flow hit Montecito, Calif., in January 2018.
    Wally Skalij/Los Angeles Times via Getty Images

    In January 2018, a few weeks after the Thomas fire burned through the hills above Montecito, a storm triggered debris flows that killed 23 people and damaged at least 400 homes.

    What controls size and timing of debris flows

    The geography of the land, burn severity, storm intensity and soil characteristics all play important roles in if, when and where debris flows occur.

    Fire and debris flow scientists with the U.S. Geological Survey use these variables to create models to predict the likelihood and possible hazards from postfire debris flows. They are already developing maps to help residents, emergency managers and city officials prepare and predict postfire debris flows in 2025 burn areas in Los Angeles.

    The U.S. Geological Survey modeled debris flow risks after the Palisades Fire near Los Angeles. The map shows some of the highest-risk areas if hit by 15 minutes of rain falling at just under 1 inch (24 millimeters) per hour.
    USGS

    Some of the triggers of debris flows are literally part of the landscape.

    For example, the slope angle in a watershed and the amount of clay in the soil are important. Watersheds with gentle slopes – generally less than about 23 degrees – and a lack of clay and silt-sized particles are unlikely to produce debris flows.

    Other key factors that contribute to postfire debris flows relate to the proportion of the watershed that is severely burned and the intensity and duration of the rainstorm event.

    Early important research in the field of pyrogeomorphology demonstrated that while large, intense storms are more likely to cause large, intense debris flows, even small rainstorms can produce debris flows in burned areas.

    Debris flows are becoming more common

    A whopping 21.8 million Americans live within 3 miles of where a fire burned during the past two decades, and that population more than doubled from 2000 to 2019. A recent study from central and northern California indicates that nearly all the observed increases in area burned by wildfires in recent decades are due to human-caused climate change.

    The warming climate is also increasing the likelihood of more extreme downpours. The amount of moisture the atmosphere can hold increases by about 7% per degree Celsius of warming, leading to more intense downpours, particularly from ocean storms. In California, scientists project increases in rainfall intensity of 18% will result in an overall 110% increase in the probability of major debris flows.

    Jon Frye, of Santa Barbara Public Works, shows what happened in the January 2018 Montecito debris flow and why the risks to downslope communities would continue for several years. Source: County of Santa Barbara, 2018.

    Studies using models of fire, climate and erosion rates estimate that the amount of sediment flowing downhill after fires will increase by more than 10% in nine out of every 10 watersheds in the western U.S.

    Even without rain, debris on fire-damaged slopes can be unstable. A small slide in Pacific Palisades shortly after a fire burned through the area split a home in two. A phenomenon called “dry ravel” is a dominant form of hillslope erosion following wildfires in chaparral environments in Southern California

    Preparing for debris flow risks

    Research on charcoal pieces from ancient debris flows has shown fires and erosion have shaped Earth’s landscape for at least thousands of years. However, the rising risk of wildfires near populated areas and the potential for increasingly intense downpours mean a greater risk of damaging and potentially deadly debris flows.

    As their populations expand, community planners need to be aware of those risks and prepare.

    This article, originally published Jan. 23, 2025, has been updated with a flash flood watch issued.

    Jen Pierce receives funding from the National Science Foundation and is the chair of the Quaternary Geology and Geomorphology division of the Geological Society of America.

    – ref. LA flash flood watch: Rain on wildfire burn scars can trigger destructive debris flows − a geologist explains how – https://theconversation.com/la-flash-flood-watch-rain-on-wildfire-burn-scars-can-trigger-destructive-debris-flows-a-geologist-explains-how-247770

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: The career guidance project “Smolny School” has been launched

    Translartion. Region: Russians Fedetion –

    Source: Peter the Great St Petersburg Polytechnic University – Peter the Great St Petersburg Polytechnic University –

    On February 7, the Committee for Civil Service and Personnel Policy of the St. Petersburg Governor’s Administration launched the career guidance project “Smolny School”. Polytechnic University is one of the partner universities.

    “Smolny School” is a new project aimed at building a career path for high school students based on the “school — university — Smolny” model. The main goal is to attract schoolchildren’s interest in the state civil service, and to help graduates with career guidance. The partners are gymnasiums and schools of St. Petersburg, five key universities, and executive authorities: the Committee for Civil Service and Personnel Policy of the St. Petersburg Governor’s Administration, the Committee for Youth Policy and Interaction with Public Organizations, the Archives Committee of St. Petersburg, and the Corporate University of the City Administration. The project participants will be able not only to attend career guidance events at universities, but also to get acquainted with the executive authorities of St. Petersburg, their professions and specialties, and to immerse themselves in their activities. The defense of their final projects will take place in Smolny in May.

    At the opening of the project, the Vice-Governor of Saint Petersburg Valery Moskalenko and the Chairman of the Committee for Civil Service and Personnel Policy of the Administration of the Governor of Saint Petersburg Andrey Mikhailov delivered welcoming remarks. Representatives of educational institutions and universities that are partners of the project — SPbGEU, Herzen State Pedagogical University, Polytechnic University, HSE University, and RANEPA — also took part in the event.

    This is part of a large systemic work that we are doing to attract young, talented and motivated guys who are determined to bring benefit to our beloved city to the civil service of St. Petersburg. We have attracted our leading universities to the project so that high school students who see themselves in the civil service can learn what areas and training programs prepare specialists for work in government bodies. I am sure that the Smolny School project will make its contribution to this work, – emphasized Valery Moskalenko.

    More than 80 schoolchildren from different districts of St. Petersburg who have demonstrated high academic performance and achievements in federal and regional competitions will participate in the project.

    This career guidance project will help high school students build a career trajectory along the path “school – university – Smolny”. It is important for school graduates not only to choose the right future profession and enter a university in their specialty, but also to decide on the further direction of their professional growth and development. We are waiting for our wonderful guys in 5-6 years for joint fruitful work for the benefit of St. Petersburg and its residents, – noted the project manager Sergey Svechnikov.

    The project was developed and formed by representatives of the Higher School of Public Administration of the Institute of Mechanics and Technology, as well as those responsible for working with applicants at the institute.

    One of the key partners of the project is the Polytechnic University, which will use its platform to allow high school students motivated to work in public service to learn about the areas and programs of study that prepare specialists to work in city government bodies.

    Thus, the project participants will be introduced to SPbPU as part of career guidance events in an interactive form. The children will have excursions around the Polytechnic University, master classes from leading IPMEiT teachers in the field of lawmaking, lean manufacturing, marketing, data analysis, etc.

    I am proud that my colleagues from the Higher School of Public Administration took an active part in the formation of the Smolny School project. Many thanks to the city administration, which once again demonstrates its openness. It is ready to form not only its personnel reserve, but also a reserve for the future. For schoolchildren, this is a great opportunity to get acquainted with both government bodies and universities. I hope that the project will bring them closer to one of the most significant decisions in life. After all, making the right choice is an art, – shared the director of IPMEiT Vladimir Shchepinin.

    The Smolny School project is being implemented within the framework of interaction plan Committee on Civil Service and Personnel Policy of the Administration of the Governor of St. Petersburg and SPbPU.

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

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: UConn Waterbury Poised for Expansion with New Building’s Imminent Opening

    Source: US State of Connecticut

    UConn Waterbury’s local footprint is growing significantly with the expansion of several of its academic, research, and administrative operations into a historic building adjacent to the downtown campus.

    The six-story building at 36 N. Main St. has undergone extensive renovation by Green Hub Development III, LLC., which is leasing about 26,300 square feet to UConn to expand the University’s offerings in nursing, allied health, and other programs.

    UConn has been moving equipment and furnishings into the building and started using some of the space already over the winter, with the rest to be occupied starting later this month.

    They include clinic-style nursing and health care simulation rooms, research facilities, study lounges, office and administrative space, a spacious former banquet room, and other areas suitable for maker space, incubator studios, classes, and large gatherings.

    UConn’s plan to expand its nursing education programs into the building is particularly noteworthy given the high demand in that profession, both statewide and specifically in Waterbury and the Naugatuck Valley region.

    “UConn Waterbury’s expansion into this historic space is an investment in our students, faculty, and the greater community,” says Fumiko Hoeft, UConn Waterbury’s campus dean and chief administrative officer, and a neuroscientist and UConn professor of psychological sciences.

    The Odd Fellows Building at 36 N. Main St. in Waterbury sits around the corner from the UConn Waterbury campus on Jan. 27, 2025. About 26,300 square feet of the building’s interior was recently renovated to provide additional space for various programs at UConn Waterbury. (Sydney Herdle/UConn Photo)

    “With the new facilities, we are strengthening our role as an educational and economic driver in the Naugatuck Valley,” she says. “We are honored to be part of this building’s next chapter. Its transformation aligns with our commitment to innovation, workforce development, and community partnerships.”

    The growth of UConn Waterbury’s campus and academic offerings complements the UConn Strategic Plan, which includes ensuring that the campuses in Waterbury, Hartford, Stamford, and Avery Point offer signature programs that are destinations within UConn.

    “The spirit of every UConn campus is unique, and we are looking closely at their academic offerings and facilities to best build on those strengths and opportunities, in alignment with our university-wide strategic plan,” says Anne D’Alleva, UConn’s provost and executive vice president for academic affairs.

    “At UConn Waterbury, the new space fits perfectly with that vision,” she adds. “Our academic programs and research will grow and thrive there, and further underscore UConn’s role as a core element of this richly diverse, innovative city and region.”

    UConn’s Board of Trustees approved the expansion plans in 2023, which are part of a larger commitment to strengthen the University’s presence and partnerships in the Naugatuck Valley.

    They include UConn’s deep involvement in the Waterbury Promise scholarship program, under which many dozens of Waterbury graduates are attending the University; and the establishment and growth of the allied health sciences major on the campus.

    UConn Waterbury also prides itself on providing a tight-knit community that serves students’ individual needs while ensuring they can access world-class UConn programs in undergraduate and graduate-level fields that lead to strong, satisfying career paths.

    “The demand for skilled professionals is higher than ever. UConn Waterbury’s expansion directly aligns with our mission to prepare students for high-demand careers, ensuring that our regional workforce remains strong and competitive,” says Cathy Awwad, president and chief executive officer of the Northwest Regional Workforce Investment Board (NRWIB).

    UConn Waterbury’s new space in the building at 36 N. Main St. will also be ideal for serving current students while also advancing community partnerships with schools, the City of Waterbury, the regional business community, and other groups.

    The six-story building, originally built for the local chapter of the International Order of Odd Fellows social group, is in a prime downtown location and dates to 1895.

    Its renovation was funded through a state grant to the City of Waterbury along with Green Hub’s private funding. It was modernized for today’s needs while retaining key elements of its history, including Venetian Gothic exterior features overlooking the Waterbury Green and the ornate ceiling in its former banquet hall.

    “This project has been years in the making, and seeing it come to life is a testament to UConn’s commitment to Waterbury and the region,” says former Waterbury Mayor Neil O’Leary, who was deeply involved in the project and other partnerships with the University during and after his time in office.

    “This expansion is more than just a physical footprint; it’s an investment in the next generation of healthcare professionals, entrepreneurs, and community leaders,” he says.

    The building is around the corner from UConn Waterbury’s East Main Street location, with easy access between the back courtyard of the campus and an entrance to the newly leased space.

    It will house clinical simulation spaces, clinical and cognitive neuroscience research dry and wet laboratories, a maker space, and an incubator studio.

    It will also provide resources for humanities and social sciences, including the HACER Lab, a hub for humanistic inquiry, research, and pedagogy developed in collaboration with Waterbury students and community partners, the Ideas + Impact initiative and other learning communities focused on social impact, sustainability, and health-related projects.

    These facilities will be used by programs in nursing, allied health, psychological sciences, urban and community studies, humanities and social sciences, business, and community partnerships.

    Additionally, it will serve as the home for the Haskins Global Literacy Hub, a newly formed partnership between Yale, UConn Global Affairs, and UConn Waterbury focused on promoting education and conducting cutting-edge research to enhance literacy globally.

    A large nursing simulation lab with equipment sits on the fifth floor of the Odd Fellows Building in Waterbury on Jan. 27, 2025. About 26,300 square feet of the building’s interior was recently renovated to provide additional space for various programs at UConn Waterbury. (Sydney Herdle/UConn Photo)

    “Having UConn expand in downtown Waterbury strengthens our local economy, creates new opportunities for students, and enhances the city’s reputation as a center for education and innovation. This project is a great example of how partnerships between the city, state, and private sector can drive meaningful change,” Waterbury Mayor Paul Pernerewski says.

    Programs and activities in the space will also advance UConn Waterbury’s connections with local schools and others as a location for community events.

    For instance, on a recent morning, scores of local high school students visited UConn Waterbury for the kickoff of the Waterbury Robotics Institute to be based at the campus. The initiative, a collaboration with First Robotics, will bring students from the city’s high schools and middle schools to campus to work on projects with their peers, UConn students, and UConn faculty mentors.

    They were among the first to use the newly leased space at 36 N. Main St., with several of the student groups testing and demonstrating their robots in the large collaborative learning room on the building’s second floor.

    “This expansion will have a lasting impact not only on UConn students, but also on Waterbury’s middle and high schoolers who aspire to pursue careers in healthcare, technology, business, and other growing fields,” says Waterbury Public Schools Interim Superintendent Darren Schwartz.

    “The increased access to cutting-edge learning spaces and mentorship opportunities will strengthen our student college and career readiness,” he says.

    The Odd Fellows Building has a rich history in the City of Waterbury, and its restoration and use by UConn carries strong emotional and economic significance to the area.

    Built at a cost of $100,000 and said to be among the finest of its time in the region, the building’s opening in 1895 drew more than 5,000 members of the group from around the East Coast and was featured in the New York Times.

    In fact, the opening was marked by a parade and the event was so important to the city that all factories and schools were closed for the day, and all business shut down at noon, according to another Times article.

    A clothing store occupied the first floor for about its first five years in addition to the meeting rooms and social spaces used by the Odd Fellows and others on the higher floors. Later, the popular Grieve, Bissett & Holland department store was in the building from 1902 until the mid-1960s.

    The structure had been unused for more than 15 years before the renovation.

    “Restoring this landmark building and giving it a new purpose has been incredibly rewarding,” says Joe Gramando, Green Hub’s managing partner. “UConn’s presence here ensures that this space will remain a vibrant part of Waterbury’s future, serving students, researchers, and the broader community for years to come.”

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: ARU Law Clinic in the running for major legal award

    Source: Anglia Ruskin University

    Sarah Calder, Director of ARU’s Law Clinic

    The Law Clinic at Anglia Ruskin University (ARU) has been recognised for its commercial impact by being shortlisted for a highly prestigious national legal award.

    The service, which has bases in Chelmsford and Cambridge, has been shortlisted for the University Commercial Impact Award at the 2025 LexisNexis Legal Awards.

    The awards recognise outstanding contributions in various categories, including legal services, technology, and pro bono work, and are considered among the most prestigious awards for the legal profession in the UK.

    The Law Clinic offers a variety of free legal services to people in the community, working with local law firms and providing invaluable opportunities for ARU Law students.

    By working in the Law Clinic with local solicitors, barristers and legal executives, it encourages and develops the students’ commercial awareness and strategic thinking skills.

    “Our Law Clinic is set up to maximise our students’ contact with as many lawyers as possible, so that they can showcase their abilities in a practical environment, one in which they can thrive when given real-life challenges to address and assist in resolving.

    “By working alongside a panel of over 100 volunteer solicitors, barristers and legal executives, our students can start to appreciate how each lawyer and law firm has a slightly different approach to delivering advice and how they can tailor their work to best fit alongside our volunteers.

    “Our students become used to dealing with deadlines and understanding the commercial reasons behind the requirements to turn work around within a set time.”

    Sarah Calder, Director of ARU’s Law Clinic

    The awards ceremony will take place on Thursday, 13 March at the Park Plaza London Riverbank. In the University Commercial Impact category, ARU will be up against fellow universities Aston, Essex, Reading, Sussex, Sheffield Hallam, Northumbria and Queen Mary.

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Dmitry Chernyshenko: More than 90 thousand schoolchildren and students took part in the competition “Science. Territory of Heroes”

    Translartion. Region: Russians Fedetion –

    Source: Government of the Russian Federation – An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.

    Welcome speech by Dmitry Chernyshenko to the participants of the popular science competition “Science. Territory of Heroes”

    16 hours ago

    The final of the popular science competition “Science. Territory of Heroes” for schoolchildren and students from all over the country took place at the National Center “Russia”. Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Chernyshenko addressed the participants with a welcoming speech.

    The Deputy Prime Minister emphasized the advantages of the profession of a scientist and spoke about the opportunities it opens up for young people.

    “The profession of a scientist in Russia is becoming increasingly popular and prestigious. Our scientists are real superheroes! We are in fifth place in the world in terms of the number of people engaged in research and development. Almost every second scientist in Russia is under 40 years old. The competition “Science. Territory of Heroes” is also gaining popularity. More than 90 thousand schoolchildren and students from all over the country have already become its participants. By involving tens of thousands of young researchers in the scientific field, we are solving one of the main tasks of the Decade of Science and Technology announced by President Vladimir Putin,” said Dmitry Chernyshenko.

    Participants in the final of the popular science competition “Science. Territory of Heroes”

    He added that the country’s future will depend on talented youth. The government will continue to support young people and create conditions so that the path in science is not so difficult and leads to success.

    The head of the Ministry of Education and Science, Valery Falkov, congratulated the winners of the competition and noted that today more and more young people want to connect their lives with science.

    “All necessary conditions are being created for scientific creativity in our universities and scientific organizations, including the opening of youth laboratories, the updating of the equipment base, and serious grant support. I would like to separately note the strengthening of cooperation between universities, research institutes and the real sector of the economy,” the minister added.

    This year, 10 talented children from all over the country competed in the final duel – from Zavolzhye to Chelyabinsk Oblast. Young researchers answered scientific questions, talked to young scientists and famous popularizers of science, including Doctor of Physical and Mathematical Sciences, Professor of the Institute of Laser and Plasma Technologies of the National Research Nuclear University “MEPhI” Vladimir Reshetov, Ambassador of the project – biologist Ilya Gomyranov.

    Third place went to Andrey Khokhlov from Michurinsk, second place went to Timofey Kovalev from Pskov. First place was awarded to Alexander Valov from Klin.

    They received additional points for admission to the Bauman Moscow State Technical University, as well as awards from the competition partner companies. Rosatom State Corporation provided three winners with the opportunity to undergo career consultations, the purpose of which is to help build an individual professional path. Beeline awarded one winner with a grant of 200 thousand rubles for conducting research work and improving competencies in the chosen field. The remaining finalists received gift certificates and prizes from the competition partners, and also took part in an interactive tour of the Sber office.

    The winners of the competition will receive individual internships at the country’s leading scientific centers: the Far Eastern Federal University, the Interuniversity Student Campus of the Eurasian World-Class Scientific and Educational Center, and the Joint Institute for Nuclear Research. There, the students will gain unique experience in scientific research, study the areas in which they plan to develop in the future, and meet practicing scientists from the scientific field that interests them.

    The competition “Science. Territory of Heroes” is held annually within the framework of national projects of Russia and is part of the “Science of Winning” initiative of the Decade of Science and Technology.

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

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: GUU and Expobank: partnership for the sake of future entrepreneurs

    Translartion. Region: Russians Fedetion –

    Source: State University of Management – Official website of the State –

    On February 12, 2025, a ceremony of signing a cooperation agreement between the university and Expobank JSC took place at the State University of Management.

    The following represented GUU at the meeting: Rector Vladimir Stroyev, Vice-Rector Dmitry Bryukhanov and Director of the Institute of Economics and Finance Galina Sorokina. The delegation of guests was represented by the Chairman of the Board of Expobank Kirill Nifontov, Director of HR Galina Weisband, Head of Recruitment and Youth Affairs Oksana Schwartz and Head of Corporate Culture and Internal Communications Olga Chervova.

    Rector of the State University of Management Vladimir Stroyev greeted the guests and handed over the opening remarks to the Director of the Institute of Economics and Finance Galina Sorokina, who briefly spoke about the goals of the meeting and introduced the history of the university. Galina Petrovna especially emphasized that the origin of the university can rightfully be traced back to the Aleksandrovsky Commercial School, which was the first educational institution in Russia that trained entrepreneurs.

    Vladimir Stroyev noted that in many ways the State University of Management positions itself as an entrepreneurial university. And although the main emphasis in accordance with the requirements of the era and state tasks is on training industry managers, no one is going to leave the entrepreneurial track either. Moreover, now is the best time for banks to fully engage in educational processes, because by 2030 the Strategy for the Development of the Education System will have already changed significantly in favor of training engineers, doctors, teachers and specialists in the natural sciences.

    The rector also spoke about the project-based learning system at the State University of Management, for which one day a week is allocated in the curriculum from the first year. Vladimir Vitalyevich advised selecting personnel from the very beginning of the training, because by the 3rd or 4th year, the best students are usually already employed. To participate in the programs, you only need to assign a curator, no financial investments are needed. There are a lot of motivated students at the university, the main thing for the employer is to pick them up in time.

    Galina Sorokina added that various scholarship programs, which banks often limit themselves to, are just an additional opportunity for goal-oriented senior students to prove themselves and expand their resumes, while in reality they are already focused on other jobs.

    Kirill Nifontov, Chairman of the Board of Expobank, noted that all of the above is interesting to him not only as an employer, but also as a father of four children. He said that the private bank he represents is the 30th largest in Russia in terms of capital. The financial institution sees its mission in cultivating an entrepreneurial spirit, revealing the potential of clients and young businessmen.

    “We strive to solve complex problems, we grow actively, we find free niches in which we become leaders, we buy out the assets of large Western companies that have left. We consciously focus on young people, we involve and train them. The average age of our employees is 38 years old,” said Kirill Nifontov.

    The guest also complained about the “early aristocratization” of young specialists, who quickly get used to the increased attention of employers and lose motivation for development. This is why Expobank is concluding an agreement with the State University of Management in order to train specialists for itself.

    During the conversation, Kirill Nifontov asked a burning question: “Is it possible to learn entrepreneurship or is it an innate skill?” Vladimir Stroyev admitted that this question is often raised in discussions, and his opinion is that everything can be taught, but not everyone is destined to become Musk or Jobs; for this, innate talent is needed.

    After the signing ceremony, the guests from Expobank were given a tour of the State University of Management. Kirill Nifontov was clearly interested in asking the director Marina Grigorieva about the details of admission and education, organizational processes and youth trends, and his colleagues were amazed at the advanced equipment of the classrooms. Then the tour moved to the Media Center, where the bankers were introduced to the internal educational platform – the Digital Building of our university. At the end of the visit, the representatives of Expobank were shown the auditorium GU-307, which will be allocated to the bank for the arrangement and image support of its brand within the walls of the State University of Management.

    Subscribe to the TG channel “Our GUU” Date of publication: 02/12/2025

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

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: LCQ19: Lifesaving services at swimming pools

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

    LCQ19: Lifesaving services at swimming pools
    LCQ19: Lifesaving services at swimming pools
    ********************************************

         Following is a question by the Hon Kenneth Fok and a written reply by the Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism, Miss Rosanna Law, in the Legislative Council today (February 12): Question:      It is learnt that the Leisure and Cultural Services Department has installed artificial intelligence (AI) drowning detection systems developed by the University of Hong Kong and France at the Kwun Tong Swimming Pool and the Sun Yat Sen Memorial Park Swimming Pool respectively to help strengthen lifesaving services at public swimming pools. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council: (1) whether the Government has examined the manpower and financial expenditure (including acquisition costs, installation costs and system maintenance fees) involved since the commissioning of the aforesaid two AI systems and reviewed their effectiveness; if so, of the details; if not, whether it will expeditiously commence the relevant work before the summer swimming season; (2) whether the Government has assessed and compared the actual operation of the aforesaid two systems, including their effectiveness, accuracy, ease of operation and interface with lifeguards and lifesaving mechanisms at swimming pools, with a view to providing a reference point for the retrofitting of such systems at more public swimming pools in the future; if so, of the details; if not, the reasons for that; and (3) given that according to a report released by the Office of The Ombudsman in March last year on its direct investigation into the regulation of licensed swimming pools by the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD), the FEHD has not put in place an accident notification mechanism for licensed swimming pools, whether the Government will consider mandating private swimming pools to install AI drowning detection systems and establish a real-time notification mechanism to ensure that the FEHD and the relevant government departments can be expeditiously informed of drowning incidents, thereby enhancing regulatory efforts on private swimming pools; if so, of the details; if not, the reasons for that? Reply: President,      Having consulted relevant government departments, my reply to the questions raised by the Hon Kenneth Fok is as follows: (1) The Leisure and Cultural Services Department (LCSD) has all along prioritised the safety of swimmers in both the facilities as well as the operation of its venues. Apart from providing sufficient lifeguards, the LCSD has put on trial two different sets of artificial intelligence (AI) drowning detection systems at Kwun Tong Swimming Pool and Sun Yat Sen Memorial Park Swimming Pool respectively to assist lifeguards in monitoring the real-time condition of swimmers and locating drowning victims promptly with a view to further strengthening life-saving services.      The AI drowning detection system developed by the University of Hong Kong Sport AI Laboratory has been on trial at the outdoor secondary pool of Kwun Tong Swimming Pool since August 2023. Through AI detection technology, the system analyses the videos and images captured by cameras installed underwater and calculates the drowning probability of swimmers. If suspected drowning is detected, the system will alert the lifeguards to carry out a rescue. The system was developed with a grant of around $900,000 by the Innovation, Technology and Industry Bureau. The LCSD has subsequently installed additional sets of underwater detection devices and upgraded the existing sets of underwater cameras in the secondary pool. The project cost was around $700,000, with an estimated annual expenditure on system maintenance of around $130,000.           The AI drowning detection system developed by a French company was installed at the indoor main pool and training pool of Sun Yat Sen Memorial Park Swimming Pool in September 2024. The system uses cameras installed above the pools to capture images and performs comprehensive tracking and analysis of swimmers’ motions. If a swimmer is found to remain stationary for over 10 seconds, the system will consider it a case of suspected drowning, trigger the alarm and display the drowning location for lifeguards to carry out a rescue. Relevant installation cost of the system was about $7.9 million, with an annual maintenance cost of approximately $1.1 million. In addition, equipment and devices of the system require a comprehensive inspection every three years to ensure its stability and safety. The estimated cost of such inspection is around $500,000. (2) At present, the two detection systems mentioned above are still in trial phase. The LCSD needs to adjust the systems from time to time based on the actual environment and usage, and observe the operation of the systems in different seasons so as to ensure the stability and reliability of the data collected. Hence, a comprehensive set of data for assessment has yet to be available. Upon completion of tests and data analyses in different seasons, the LCSD will review and compare the cost-effectiveness of the two systems before deciding whether to extend the application of the systems to other public swimming pools. (3) To strengthen the regulation of licensed swimming pools, the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD) has, in response to the recommendations of the Office of the Ombudsman, established a notification mechanism for fatal drowning cases in licensed swimming pools. In May 2024, the FEHD issued a letter to swimming pool licensees imposing new licensing conditions which require the reporting of cases involving casualties within a prescribed period. The FEHD officers will conduct site inspections for fatal drowning cases to ascertain whether the swimming pools concerned have provided sufficient life-saving attendants and appropriate life-saving equipment as required by the law and the licensing conditions. The FEHD will also examine the relevant cases and require the licensed swimming pools to take additional measures to further protect the safety of swimmers as necessary.      The FEHD and the LCSD share experience and exchange information from time to time on the regulation and management of swimming pools, including the application of technology to enhance swimmers’ safety. As the AI drowning detection system is still in the trial stage, the FEHD will maintain contact with the LCSD to understand the application of the system.

     
    Ends/Wednesday, February 12, 2025Issued at HKT 11:15

    NNNN

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Governor Newsom announces appointments 2.11.25

    Source: US State of California 2

    Feb 11, 2025

    SACRAMENTO – Governor Gavin Newsom today announced the following appointments:

    Karen Morrison, of Sacramento, has been appointed Director at the California Department of Pesticide Regulation. Morrison has held multiple positions at the Department of Pesticide Regulation since 2018, including Chief Deputy Director and Science Advisor since 2022, Assistant Director and Chief Science Advisor from 2019 to 2022, and Environmental Program Manager and Science and Policy Advisor from 2018 to 2019. She was a Senior Environmental Scientist and Policy Advisor at the California Department of Resources, Recycling, and Recovery from 2014 to 2018. Morrison was a Science and Technology Policy Fellow at the California Council on Science and Technology from 2013 to 2014. She earned a Doctor of Philosophy degree in Chemistry from the University of Illinois, Urbana Champaign, and she earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Chemistry from Harvey Mudd College. This position requires Senate confirmation, and compensation is $213,651. Morrison is registered without party preference. 

    Nicholas Lutton, of Fresno, has been appointed to the State Council on Developmental Disabilities. Lutton was the Program Manager at Family Voices of California from 2022 to 2024. He was an Educational Resource Specialist at EPU Children’s Center from 2019 to 2022. Lutton is a member of the Editorial Board at the American Association of Pediatrics and Fresno County In-Home Services Advisory Committee. This position does not require Senate confirmation, and the compensation is $100 per diem. Lutton is a Democrat.

    Eric Bergersen, of Long Beach, has been appointed to the Physician Assistant Board. Bergersen has been the Regional Medical Director at Bicycle Health Medical Group since 2020. He was the APC Director at VEP Healthcare from 2018 to 2020. Bergersen was an Emergency Medicine Physician Assistant at VEP Healthcare from 2017 to 2019. He was a Clinical Consultant at GYANT from 2018 to 2019. Bergersen was the Lead Emergency Department Technician at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center from 2012 to 2015. He is a member of Physician Assistants in Virtual Medicine and Telemedicine. Bergersen earned a Master of Science degree in Health Care Administration from Oklahoma State University, a Master of Science degree in Physician Assistant Studies from George Washington University, and Bachelor of Science in Behavioral Neuroscience from Northeastern University. This position does not require Senate confirmation, and the compensation is $100 per diem. Bergersen is a Democrat.

    Ed Perez, of Sacramento, has been appointed to the Physician Assistant Board. Perez was a manager at Labor Relations and Performance Management, California Department of Water Resources from 2019 to 2024. He was a Labor Relations Specialist, Department of Water Resources from 2015 to 2019. Perez was a Labor Relations Specialist & Labor Relations Analyst at the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation from 2013 to 2015. He is a member of the Asian Pacific American Public Affairs Association (APAPA), the Hamptons Community Foundation, the Hamptons Owners Association, the Gardenland-Northgate Neighborhood Association, and a Community Activist with AARP. This position does not require Senate confirmation, and the compensation is $100 per diem. Perez is a Democrat.

    Drake Dillard, of Los Angeles, has been reappointed to the California Commission on Disability Access, where he has served since 2020. Dillard has been a Senior Project Manager at Perkins & Will since 2014. He was a Senior Healthcare Architect at Parsons from 2007 to 2013. Dillard was a Project Architect at Kaiser Permanente from 1989 to 1998. He is a member of the Crenshaw Design Review Panel, American Institute of Architects and the National Organization of Minority Architects. Dillard earned a Master of Arts degree in Architecture from Howard University and a Bachelor of Arts degree in Architecture from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. This position requires Senate confirmation, and the compensation is $100 per diem. Dillard is registered without party preference.

    Jaqueline Jackson, of San Diego, has been reappointed to the California Commission on Disability Access, where she has served since 2020. Jackson has been a Non-Profit Management Consultant since 1994. She was Development Director and Consultant for the San Diego Center for the Blind from 2002 to 2004. Jackson was Director of Charter School Development for Norman and Norman Inc. from 1996 to 2005. She was an Education Consultant for the School Futures Research Foundation from 1994 to 1996. Jackson was the Director of Education for Health and Family Support Services at the San Diego Urban League from 1988 to 1994. She is a member of the City of San Diego Accessibility Advisory Board, City of San Diego Senior Affairs Advisory Board, and the County of San Diego Registrar of Voters Accessibility Advisory Committee. Jackson earned a Master of Education degree from the University of San Diego and a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology from California State University, San Diego. This position requires Senate confirmation, and the compensation is $100 per diem. Jackson is a Democrat.

    Press Releases, Recent News

    Recent news

    Feb 11, 2025

    News What you need to know: Across all of state government, highly-specialized personnel and response equipment are on the ground working to protect communities statewide from storm impacts.  Los Angeles, California – With another significant winter storm system…

    Feb 11, 2025

    News What you need to know: Governor Gavin Newsom issued an executive order today ordering the state to ensure that childcare providers impacted by the recent wildfires in Los Angeles are aware of their potential eligibility for Disaster Unemployment Assistance and…

    Feb 11, 2025

    News What you need to know: The fastest large-scale debris removal in modern state history began today in Altadena and the Pacific Palisades, in roughly half the time it took to start similar operations after the devastating 2018 Woolsey Fire.  LOS ANGELES – Governor…

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: News Release – Developmental Disabilities Council 2025 Day at the Capitol Event

    Source: US State of Hawaii

    News Release – Developmental Disabilities Council 2025 Day at the Capitol Event

    Posted on Feb 11, 2025 in Latest Department News, Newsroom

    DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH

    KA ʻOIHANA OLAKINO

    JOSH GREEN, M.D.
    GOVERNOR

    KE KIA‘ĀINA

    KENNETH S. FINK, MD, MGA, MPH
    DIRECTOR

    KA LUNA HO‘OKELE

    STATE COUNCIL ON DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES

    ‘A’UNIKE MOKU’ĀPUNI NO KA NĀ KĀWAI KULA

    DAINTRY BARTOLDUS

    EXECUTIVE ADMINISTRATOR

    LUNA HO‘OPONOPONO HO‘OKŌ

    HAWAI’I TO CELEBRATE DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES AWARENESS MONTH WITH DAY AT THE CAPITOL EVENT ON MARCH 5, 2025

    FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

    February 11, 2025

    HONOLULU – The Hawai‘i State Council on Developmental Disabilities (DD Council), along with community partners, will celebrate Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month with the annual Day at the Capitol event on March 5, 2025. The event is expected to bring together 500 self-advocates, family members, service providers, and advocates to build awareness of the abilities and strengths of individuals with developmental disabilities.

    This year’s theme, “Respect Yourself and All People with Disabilities,” highlights the importance of fostering respect, participation, and opportunities for all individuals, regardless of ability. Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month is part of a nationwide campaign to promote greater understanding and recognition of the contributions individuals with developmental disabilities bring to our communities.

    “This year’s theme reminds us that respect and inclusion are fundamental values that strengthen our entire community,” said DD Council Executive Administrator Daintry Bartoldus. “We encourage people to get to know individuals with developmental disabilities, recognize their talents, and work together to create a more inclusive Hawai‘i.”

    Throughout the Day at the Capitol, participants will engage in discussions with legislators from their home districts, attend public hearings, take a tour of the State Capitol, give testimony at a mock hearing, and learn about the legislative process through a presentation from the Public Access Room. The event also provides an opportunity for networking among advocates, families, and organizations working to enhance the lives of individuals with developmental disabilities.

    The annual “Day at the Capitol” event is a collaborative venture coordinated by the DD Council in partnership with the Family Health Services Division, the University of Hawai‘i Center on Disability Studies, Hawai‘i Division of Vocational Rehabilitation, Public Access Room – Legislative Reference Bureau, Hawai‘i Disability Rights Center, Hawai‘i Self Advocacy Advisory Council, Disability and Communication Access Board, Special Parent and Information Network, Office of Language Access, the Hilopa‘a Family to Family Health Information Center, Maternal and Child Health Leadership Education in Neurodevelopmental Disabilities Program, Department of Human Services Med-Quest Division, Office of Elections, Department of Education Community Children’s Council, and Hawai‘i State Department of Education Monitoring and Compliance Branch.

    As Hawai‘i observes Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month, the Council encourages all residents to celebrate the achievements of individuals with developmental disabilities, advocate for their full inclusion in all aspects of life, and work toward a more supportive and inclusive community.

    About the Hawaiʻi State Council on Developmental Disabilities:

    The Hawaiʻi State Council on Developmental Disabilities works to ensure individuals with developmental disabilities have the opportunity to lead full and meaningful lives. By advocating for policies and fostering partnerships, the Council supports individuals and families in achieving self-determination, independence, and inclusion in all aspects of community life.

    # # #

     

    Media Contact:

    Daintry Bartoldus

    Executive Administrator

    Hawai‘i State Council on Developmental Disabilities

    [email protected]

    Phone: 808-586-8100

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Thousands of pupils enjoy free musical extravaganza

    Source: City of Wolverhampton

    Wolverhampton Music Service provided free tickets to secondary and special schools across the Black Country for 2 concerts at The University of Wolverhampton at The Halls.

    Students were able to learn about the development of orchestral music through the years, with performances of pieces by Charpentier, Beethoven, Mozart, Grieg, Tchaikovsky, Holst, Christopher Tin and John Williams, and there was also an excerpt from Wolverhampton composer Grace-Evangeline Mason’s The Imagined Forest. All participating schools also received a full concert programme and curriculum materials in advance to support the learning experience.

    Councillor Jacqui Coogan, the City of Wolverhampton Council’s Cabinet Member for Children, Young People and Education, said: “This was the second time that our Music Service has joined forces with Wolverhampton Symphony Orchestra and Wolverhampton Youth Orchestra to offer this fabulous opportunity to local pupils.”

    Head of Wolverhampton Music Service, Ciaran O’Donnell, added: “We think it is important that every child in Key Stage 3 has the chance to hear a live orchestra during their school days as it is the most authentic way to understand what an orchestra is and what it sounds like. I am immensely proud that Wolverhampton has over 100 musicians to bring to the stage to make it all happen – it is unique to our city that we can do that.”

    More pictures from the event can be found on Flickr. 

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: The Future Managers Tournament will be held at the State University of Management

    Translartion. Region: Russians Fedetion –

    Source: State University of Management – Official website of the State –

    This weekend, February 15 and 16, the State University of Management will host the in-person stage of the Social Science Olympiad for schoolchildren, “Future Managers Tournament.”

    The Olympiad is held annually at several venues and includes two stages. The first is the qualifying (correspondence) stage, which was held from November 2024 to February 2025 using distance learning technologies.

    The venues for the second (face-to-face) stage will be: Moscow (SMU), Nalchik, Rostov-on-Don. The face-to-face round involves schoolchildren completing tasks that reveal their in-depth social science knowledge. Results of the correspondence round.

    The current academic year has seen a more than threefold increase in the number of participants in the correspondence round of the Olympiad. More than 700 children completed the tasks! Among the participants: 11th graders represented 32 regions of the Russian Federation, 10th graders – 23 regions, 9th graders – 15. In the face-to-face round, 177 participants are expected from Moscow and the region, other regions of Central Russia, the Urals and the Caucasus: from 11th graders – 62 participants, 10th graders – 76 schoolchildren, 9th graders – 39.

    The number of participants in the “Future Managers Tournament” has increased significantly compared to previous seasons, thanks to the active involvement of students from partner schools of the State University of Management.

    The winners and prize winners of the second round of the Olympiad “Tournament of Future Managers” will receive preferences when entering the State University of Management: 4 additional points to the Unified State Exam score. The awarding of the winners and prize winners will take place in April in the Scientific Library of the State University of Management.

    Subscribe to the tg channel “Our State University” Announcement date: 02/12/2025

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

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Fires Rage in Patagonia

    Source: NASA

    In February 2025, multiple fires raged along the eastern slopes of the Andes Mountains in Patagonia. The fires had burned about 30,000 hectares (115 square miles) of forest in south-central Argentina by February 11, forcing hundreds of people to evacuate their homes, according to news reports.
    Smoke from the Magdalena Valley fire—burning in Lanín National Park—was visible in this image, captured by the MODIS (Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer) instrument on NASA’s Aqua satellite on February 9, 2025 (above). A detailed view of the smoke moving through the Magdalena Valley can be seen in the image below, acquired on the same day by the OLI-2 (Operational Land Imager-2) on Landsat 9.
    The Magdalena Valley fire ignited in late January and had charred more than 15,000 hectares (58 square miles) of Lanín National Park as of February 10. The forested park, located in Argentina, shares a border with Villarrica National Park in Chile. Both parks share the two snowcapped dormant volcanoes pictured here: Lanín and Quetrupillán.

    The austral summer (December through February) is the dry season in Chile and Argentina when wildfires are more common. This year, strong winds and unusually high temperatures fueled the region’s blazes, which began in December 2024.
    Warm, dry wind from the west crossed the Andes and swept through Lanín National Park at speeds up to 45 kilometers (28 miles) per hour in early February. As the wind flowed down the lee side of the Andes, it compressed, increasing the air temperature and driving down humidity. A similar phenomenon occurs during the Chinook Winds, which flow down the east side of the Rocky Mountains.
    René Garreaud, an atmospheric scientist at the University of Chile, noted that westerly winds crossing the Andes were stronger than average from early January to early February.
    Central and northern Argentina were especially hot in January and early February 2025. Maximum temperatures hovered around 35-45 degrees Celsius (95-113 degrees Fahrenheit), which is 3-5°C above normal, according to Argentina’s national weather service. The weather service noted that these “extreme temperatures” were expected to persist in parts of the country until February 12.
    Two other fires burned south of the Magdalena Valley fire in Argentina on February 11. By that day, the Los Manzanos fire had scorched 10,000 hectares of the Nahuel Huapi National Park, according to officials, and the Confluencia fire had burned over 3,600 hectares near the town of El Bolsón.
    NASA Earth Observatory images by Michala Garrison, using Landsat data from the U.S. Geological Survey and MODIS data from NASA EOSDIS LANCE and GIBS/Worldview. Story by Emily Cassidy.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: WRRC Webinar: Unlocking Financial Potential: Scalable Solutions for Resilient Recovery

    Source: UNISDR Disaster Risk Reduction

    Venue

    Online participation via Zoom

    This session aims to recognize the main barriers and potential solutions to that countries and international organizations face in terms of design and implementation of recovery finance strategies. Real cases will help showcase actionable solutions that can be applied by governments, the private sector and community organizations to achieve more inclusive and comprehensive financial coverage for recovery efforts.

    This webinar is jointly organized by the Asian Development Bank (ADB), the Development Bank of Latin America and the Caribbean (CAF), the United Nations Capital Development Fund (UNCDF), and the United Nations University – Institute for Environment and Human Security (UNU-EHS).

    Objectives

    The session will serve as a precursor to the technical session at the World Resilient Recovery Conference (WRRC), gathering feedback on key recovery finance topics and elements identified. It will explore the challenges countries face when tackling finance recovery readiness, identifying key barriers to effective recovery. It will share successful strategies and tools for financing recovery processes. Interested stakeholders will be engaged in the WRRC, fostering collaboration and broadening participation. Groundwork will be conducted for ensuring meaningful discussions at the WRRC, setting the foundation for impactful conversations moving forward.

    The webinar further aims to:

    1. Highlight the role of different finance recovery stakeholders.
    2. Highlight key challenges and lessons learned from past disasters.
    3. Formulate concrete challenges countries and international partners face in recovery financing.
    4. Set the stage for in-depth discussions at the WRRC technical session.

    How to register:

    Online (Zoom), 15 April, 2-3.30 pm CET:

     

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: LCQ16: Tobacco duty

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

         Following is a question by the Hon Shiu Ka-fai and a written reply by the Secretary for Health, Professor Lo Chung-mau, in the Legislative Council today (February 12):     Question:     It has been reported that smoking prevalence has been reduced slightly from 9.5 per cent to 9.1 per cent, following the Government’s measures to increase tobacco duty by 31.48 per cent and 31.92 per cent in 2023 and last year respectively. Some members of the community have pointed out that while an increase in tobacco duty by more than 30 per cent should have brought substantially more tax revenue since there has not been any significant decrease in the number of smokers, the revenue from tobacco duty dropped from $7.93 billion before the duty increase in 2022-2023 to $7.25 billion afterwards in 2023-2024, and the tax revenue reduced even more significantly last year after the Government drastically increased tobacco duty again. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:     (1) of the monthly revenue from tobacco duty in the past three years (set out in the table below);(2) whether it has examined the reasons for reduction in the Government’s revenue from tobacco duty; whether it has assessed (i) the amount of revenue from tobacco duty reduced each year as a result of the increase in tobacco duty in 2023 and last year, and (ii) how much of such amount may be channelled to the market of illicit cigarettes; if it has assessed, of the details; if it has not assessed, the reasons for that;(3) of the number of illicit cigarettes seized, the market value of such illicit cigarettes and the number of persons arrested in each month of the past three years;(4) of the respective numbers of persons prosecuted by the Government for (i) trafficking and (ii) purchasing illicit cigarettes, as well as the penalties imposed on the convicted persons, in each of the past three years; and(5) whether it will consider restoring the tobacco duty rate to the level prior to the duty increase last year, with a view to bringing the revenue from tobacco duty back to the previous level, thereby increasing the Government’s revenue by billions of dollars and at the same time minimising the benefits brought to lawbreakers; if so, of the details; if not, the reasons for that?Reply:President,     Having consulted the Financial Services and the Treasury Bureau and the Customs and Excise Department (C&ED), the consolidated reply to the various parts of the Hon Shiu Ka-fai’s question is as follows.     Hong Kong is facing an ageing population and a continuous rising number of chronic disease patients. Numerous scientific studies have shown that smoking is the most important and preventable risk factor leading to chronic diseases and deaths. According to the estimation of the World Health Organization (WHO), the global economic loss caused by tobacco products amounts to US$1,800 billion annually, and a research of the University of Hong Kong in 2021 also revealed that the economic loss resulting from tobacco-induced health problems was estimated to be about HK$8.2 billion every year. It is therefore beyond doubt that smoking brings harm to the economy. On the contrary, that tobacco control harms the economy is disinformation created by the tobacco companies.     The results of the Thematic Household Survey (THS) on smoking pattern in 2023 conducted by the Census and Statistics Department showed that there are about 580 000 people in Hong Kong who are still daily smokers of conventional cigarettes, and nearly half of them are aged between 40 and 59. Smoking-induced diseases suffered by smokers who continue to smoke will pose a heavy burden on the healthcare system. In order to stop the tobacco hazards, the Government need to curb the use of tobacco and more importantly, prevent the public, especially the younger generation, from picking up smoking habit. Increasing tobacco duty is recognised internationally as the most effective means of reducing tobacco use. Through raising the costs of smoking, it provides a greater incentive for smokers to quit smoking, and dampens the eagerness of non-smokers, the youth in particular, to smoke.     Following an increase of tobacco duty by 60 cents in 2023-24, the Government has raised the tobacco duty by another 80 cents to $3.306 per stick in 2024-25. The measure can ensure that tobacco prices are maintained at a relatively high level which help prevent a rebound in smoking prevalence upon lifting of the mask-wearing requirements after resumption of normalcy after the epidemic, conveying a clear message to the society on the Government’s commitment and determination to safeguard public health through stringent tobacco control measures. The effectiveness of tobacco duty adjustment should be evaluated by whether it can effectively control and reduce the number of smokers, rather than the amount of additional revenue it brings to the Government.      Past experience in increasing tobacco duty indicated that increasing tobacco duty is conducive to reducing smoking prevalence. The greater the tax hike, the greater the drop in smoking prevalence. The number of calls to the Department of Health’s Integrated Smoking Cessation Hotline (Quitline) immediately after the increase in tobacco duty is also a sensitive indicator of smokers’ response (i.e. their intention to quit smoking) to the duty increase. In the first month after the duty increase was announced in the 2023-2024 and 2024-2025 Budget, the number of calls to the Quitline increased by about three times respectively when compared to the monthly number of calls received in the previous three months, reflecting the strong intention of smokers to quit smoking as a result of the duty increase. The number of calls received by the Department of Health’s Quitline increased from about 7 400 in 2022 to about 9 300 in 2024, representing an increase of more than 20 per cent.     The tobacco duty revenue, as well as smoking prevalence/smoking consumption and arrival passengers statistics from 2018 to 2024 are set out at Annex I. As 2020-22 was within the epidemic period, the pre-epidemic situation of 2018-19 is also presented for ease of comparison. The figures revealed that the number of duty-paid cigarettes and tobacco duty revenue in 2024 have decreased by about 39.4 per cent and 23.0 per cent respectively compared with 2023, and by 46.7 per cent and 18.5 per cent respectively when compared with 2019 (i.e. before the epidemic).      Tobacco duty revenue is collected from tobacco products as a dutiable commodity imported into Hong Kong, and therefore the amount of revenue generated is affected by many factors. Apart from the local sales volume of duty-paid tobacco products, it also depends on the commercial decisions of tobacco companies such as pricing strategies, timing of import and quantity, storage capacity of duty-paid tobacco products (there are no relevant figures as the commercial behaviour of tobacco companies is not transparent), as well as tobacco products purchased, by arrival passengers, outside Hong Kong or at duty-free shops at border control points and brought into Hong Kong (whether legally or illegally (Note)). Cross-boundary travel was greatly affected during the epidemic and the public were unable to bring back duty-free cigarettes through border control points. Tobacco duty was about 20 per cent higher than that before the epidemic, indicating that cross-boundary passenger travel has a great impact on tobacco duty. The number of passenger arrivals in 2024 was close to 150 million, which has fully restored to the pre-epidemic level, with the number of passenger arrivals at land boundary control points being close to 125 million exceeding the pre-epidemic level. It is estimated that the tobacco products brought into Hong Kong by inbound passengers will inevitably have a significant impact on tobacco duty revenue.     At the same time, the local sales volume of duty-paid tobacco products is also affected by the smoking population and their average consumption, whereas the increased cost of smoking will reduce the consumption of tobacco products. The WHO pinpoints that every 10 per cent increase in cigarette price will reduce the overall tobacco consumption by four per cent in high-income regions. In aggregate, tobacco duty was raised by 73.5 per cent in 2023 and 2024. Following the increase of tobacco duty in 2023, the THS conducted from May to August in the same year revealed that smoking prevalence dropped from 10.2 per cent in 2019 and 9.5 per cent in 2021 to 9.1 per cent in 2023. The number of smokers is estimated to have decreased by 60 600 or 9.5 per cent. The number of cigarettes consumed by smokers per day also dropped from 12.7 sticks in 2019 and 2021 to 12.1 sticks in 2023, which together represented a 13.8 per cent reduction in tobacco consumption. The Government has further increased tobacco duty in 2024 and the relevant THS will be conducted at a later time. It is expected that the drop in demand for tobacco products would be reflected in the survey results.       On the other hand, illicit cigarettes activities have always existed and the rebound in cross-boundary freight after resumption from the epidemic might also lead to increase in illicit cigarettes activities. That said, industry statistics from international market research companies revealed that the sales of illicit cigarettes in Hong Kong did not show an upward trend. As a matter of fact, both the WHO and the World Bank have pointed out that there is no direct correlation between the increase in tobacco duty and illegal tobacco trade activities. Combatting illicit cigarette trading activities and raising tobacco duty should be regarded as complementary measures. Taking into consideration the above factors, we are of the view that the drop in tobacco duty is attributable to a number of factors. The full effect of tobacco duty in reducing tobacco use is to be ascertained subject to the availability of latest data, and at this stage, we cannot rule out the possibility that some of the revenue from tobacco duty may be lost as a result of illicit cigarettes activities, but there is no evidence to suggest that illicit cigarettes activities are the main cause of the drop in tobacco duty.     In any case, as an important pillar under the tobacco control strategy, the Government will spare no efforts in combatting illicit cigarettes. The C&ED will continue to adopt a multi-pronged approach and take stringent enforcement actions at all levels to combat the sale of illicit cigarettes. The monthly tobacco duty revenue and the relevant enforcement figures against illicit cigarettes (including smuggling, storage and distribution as well as sale) in the past three years are set out at Annex II. The increase in the number of seizures of illicit cigarettes reflects the effectiveness of the C&ED’s stepped-up enforcement actions against illicit cigarettes and the success of its enforcement strategy does not denote an expanding scale of illicit cigarettes activities.     The Government announced the “10 measures for tobacco control” in June last year. Stepping up enforcement against illicit cigarettes was accorded the highest priority among the 10 measures, including – (i) introducing a duty stamp system to distinguish duty-paid cigarettes from non-duty-paid cigarettes;(ii) requiring tobacco products being sold at a price lower than the tobacco duty need to be proved duty-paid;(iii) increasing the maximum penalty for handling, possessing, selling or buying duty-not-paid cigarettes; and (iv) listing the relevant offences under the Organised and Serious Crimes Ordinance (Cap. 455), so as to enable the C&ED to apply for freezing and confiscating illicit proceeds and assets associated with illicit cigarette activities by virtue of the Ordinance.     On duty stamp system, taking into account factors such as enforcement effectiveness and cost-effectiveness, we propose to require the affixing of duty-paid labels on the retail packages of cigarettes at this stage. Through the application of anti-forgery features and related digital technologies, frontline officers of the C&ED would be able to distinguish duty-paid cigarettes from duty-not-paid ones in a more effective manner, thereby enhancing enforcement efficiency. The C&ED expects that a pilot scheme on the duty stamp system will be rolled out in the middle of this year to work out the practical operating requirement of the scheme, which will then be launched next year at the earliest.      The Government expects that the above measures will increase the deterrent effect and enhance the effectiveness of law enforcement departments in combating illicit cigarettes. The Government will continuously review the effect of tobacco control measures as a whole and the pace of future adjustments in tobacco duty. Our ultimate aim is to further lower the smoking prevalence so that the whole society and our healthcare system does not have to pay a heavy price for smoking-related diseases.Note: Under the Dutiable Commodities Ordinance (Cap. 109), a person aged 18 or above may bring into Hong Kong 19 cigarettes duty-free for his own personal use.

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation Shri Amit Shah chairs the first meeting of the Parliamentary Consultative Committee of the Ministry of Cooperation in New Delhi

    Source: Government of India

    Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation Shri Amit Shah chairs the first meeting of the Parliamentary Consultative Committee of the Ministry of Cooperation in New Delhi

    Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi gave the mantra of ‘Sahkar Se Samriddhi’ by forming the Ministry of Cooperation in the interest of farmers and rural sector across the country

    Soon, PACS will also be able to sell Arline tickets

    The bill for the formation of “Tribhuvan” Sahkari University will be passed by the Parliament soon

    After the formation of the university, professionals’ coming to the cooperative sector will be able to get technical education, information and training related to accounting and administration

    Posted On: 12 FEB 2025 4:25PM by PIB Delhi

    Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation, Shri Amit Shah chaired the first meeting of the Parliamentary Consultative Committee of the Ministry of Cooperation on ‘Initiatives taken and currently being taken to strengthen cooperative societies’ in New Delhi. The meeting was attended by Union Ministers of State for Cooperation, Shri Krishan Pal and Shri Murlidhar Mohol, Members of the Committee, Secretary, Ministry of Cooperation and senior officers of the Ministry. The committee discussed various issues related to the initiatives taken by the Ministry of Cooperation since its establishment and the current efforts being made to empower cooperative societies.

    Addressing the meeting, Shri Amit Shah, the Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation, said that Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi established a separate Ministry of Cooperation for the welfare of farmers and rural areas across the country and gave the mantra of “Sahkar Se Samriddhi”. He mentioned that the Modi government believes that both employment generation and prosperity of rural areas are possible through cooperation.

    Shri Amit Shah said that the cooperative movement was strong in the country for a few years after independence, but later it got weakened in most states. He mentioned that after the formation of the Ministry of Cooperation at the Centre, the first task was to create a database of Primary Agricultural Credit Societies (PACS) in collaboration with the states and initiate the process of registering two lakh PACS. He said that the work to develop the National Cooperative Database is almost complete, and now, information about cooperative societies across the country, categorized by region, is available at one click. Shri Shah said that steps have been taken for the computerization of PACS. He added that in the coming times, there will not be a single panchayat in the country where PACS will not be available.

    Union Minister of Cooperation said that the model by-laws created to make PACS ‘viable’ have been adopted by almost all states in the country. He added that PACS have been linked to more than 20 activities and have now started providing services such as Common Service Centres, Jan Aushadhi Kendras, and other services.

    Shri Amit Shah said that the Ministry of Cooperation has introduced a bill for the establishment of “Tribhuvan” Sahkari University, it will be passed by the Parliament soon. The establishment of this university will provide technical education, accounting, administrative knowledge, and training to professionals entering the cooperative sector. Shri Shah added that this will ensure the availability of trained manpower in the cooperative sector.

    Union Minister of Cooperation said that national-level cooperative organizations such as National Cooperative Exports Limited (NCEL), National Cooperative Organics Limited (NCOL), and Bharatiya Beej Sahakari Samriti Limited (BBSSL) have been established, which will help promote exports, organic products, and advanced seeds in the cooperative sector. He added that these initiatives will lead to significant changes in the cooperative sector in the coming years.

    Shri Amit Shah said, that it is the endeavour of the government that the cooperative sector gets the same opportunities as the corporate sector. He said that the Ministry of Cooperation, in collaboration with the Ministry of Finance, Reserve Bank, and Income Tax Department, has taken steps to make one tax structure for the corporate and cooperative sectors. Minister of Cooperation expressed confidence that the enterprises associated with the country’s cooperative sector will progress in competition with the corporate world and will fulfill Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi’s vision of “Sahkar Se Samriddhi”. 

    Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation informed the Consultative Committee that a roadmap has been made for the rapid development of national federations associated with cooperation, in collaboration with Krishak Bharati Cooperative Limited (KRIBHCO), Indian Farmers Fertilizer Cooperative Limited (IFFCO), National Dairy Development Board (NDDB) and other federations. He mentioned that currently, PACS are involved in booking railway tickets, and expressed confidence that due to the initiatives of the Ministry of Cooperation, PACS will soon be able to sell airline tickets as well.

    Referring to the cooperative model of Gujarat, Shri Amit Shah said that today, women working in the cooperative sector in Gujarat have earned an annual income of 7.5 lakh crore, which is an achievement in itself. He mentioned that among these women, there was a woman having formal education only upto fourth grade, yet she earned a profit of 1.16 crore, setting a significant example of women empowerment.

    Shri Amit Shah said that in view of the regional disparity in the development of cooperatives in the country, the government is taking special steps to bring uniform balanced development in all the states.

    In the meeting, the committee members provided their suggestions on issues related to empowering cooperative societies in the country and appreciated the important steps taken by the government to strengthen the cooperative movement in the country.

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    RK/VV/PR/PS

    (Release ID: 2102294) Visitor Counter : 56

    Read this release in: Hindi

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: LCQ12: Tackling smoking problems

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

         Following is a question by the Hon Lillian Kwok and a written reply by the Secretary for Health, Professor Lo Chung-mau, in the Legislative Council today (February 12):Question:     It is learnt that recent years have seen a trend of vapers getting younger, and there are even primary pupils among them, which is worrying. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:(1) of the number of cases reported by schools to the Government in each month of the past three years regarding students vaping or smoking at school;(2) of the numbers of enforcement actions and prosecutions initiated by the Government in each month of the past three years against the illegal sale of tobacco products by shop operators to persons under 18 years of age;(3) whether the Government will ramp up efforts in education and publicity about smoking bans, including educational efforts targeting such e-cigarette oils as “space oil” which contain illegal harmful substances; if so, of the details; if not, the reasons for that; and(4) whether the Government will allocate additional resources for smoking cessation counselling services to assist smokers in smoking cessation; if so, of the details; if not, the reasons for that?Reply:President,     Having consulted the Security Bureau (SB) and the Education Bureau (EDB), the consolidated reply to the various parts of the Hon Lillian Kwok’s question is as follows:     The Government has been adopting a multi-pronged and progressive approach, including legislation, taxation, publicity, education, enforcement and promotion of smoking cessation services, in a bid to reduce the hazards caused by smoking products to the public and the society. Currently, the EDB does not require schools to report figures relating to the number of students who smoke e-cigarettes or cigarettes. The Census and Statistics Department conducts Thematic Household Surveys (THS) regularly to keep track of the local smoking situation. The THS results in 2023 showed that the percentage of daily conventional cigarette smokers among all persons aged 15 and above has dropped steadily from 11.1 per cent in 2010 to 9.1 per cent in 2023. The percentage of daily conventional cigarette smokers among teenagers aged 15 to 19 decreased continuously from 2.5 per cent in 2010 to 1.0 per cent in 2017. In the survey conducted in 2019, 2021 and 2023, the sample count for smokers aged 15 to 19 was too small to produce a representative prevalence estimate. Regarding e-cigarette use, in 2023, about 11 600 persons aged 15 and above reported daily use of e-cigarettes, accounting for 0.2 per cent of the population. The relevant sample count was also too small to produce a representative estimate of the proportion of such persons aged 15 to 19. The proportion of daily smokers from 2010 to 2023 is at Annex I. Separately, the Health Bureau (HHB) has commissioned the School of Public Health of the University of Hong Kong to conduct school-based surveys on smoking among students (school-based survey) since 2010, and the results of the last school-based survey conducted in 2023 showed that the smoking prevalence among primary and secondary school students (see Annex II) maintained at a low level.     However, over the years, tobacco companies have been using a myriad of tactics to lure young people to smoke so as to sustain their long-term profitability. Considering the harm brought about by tobacco products to the society, especially young people, there is a need for the Government to implement more effective and targeted tobacco control measures to combat smoking hazard and to prevent smoking prevalence from rebounding. Therefore, the Government announced in June last year the introduction of 10 tobacco control measures to safeguard the health of the community.     First, the findings of the THS showed that the younger the age group, the higher the rate of smoking flavoured cigarettes. For instance, among the conventional cigarette smokers aged from 20 to 29, over 70 per cent of them currently smoke flavoured cigarettes, while nearly 70 per cent smoked flavoured cigarettes when they first smoked. Besides, over 70 per cent of female smokers of conventional cigarettes currently smoke flavoured cigarettes; and over 60 per cent of current female smokers of conventional cigarettes smoked flavoured cigarettes when they first smoked (see Annex III). Scientific evidence shows that flavoured cigarettes, such as menthol or fruit-flavoured cigarettes, reduce the awareness of the hazard of tobacco and in turn increase the chances of non-smokers (especially teenagers) to start smoking. They also make consumers more vulnerable to getting into and continuing with the smoking habit. Flavoured cigarettes are indeed “sugar-coated poison”. Tobacco companies add flavours to conventional cigarettes to cover up the harshness of tobacco smoke, so as to lure members of the public, especially young people, to smoke and become addicted to smoking. The situation is worrying. The Government therefore proposes to prohibit adding flavours in conventional smoking products to counteract the intention of tobacco companies to use flavouring agents to disguise the toxicity of tobacco products and attract young people to smoke.     Secondly, alternative smoking products (ASPs) have rapidly gained popularity around the world in recent years. The Government resolutely banned the import, promotion, manufacture, sale or possession for commercial purposes of ASP on April 30, 2022, so as to reduce the chance for tobacco companies to use ASPs as another means to lure the public, especially the younger generation, to become addicted to smoking.     Recently, e-cigarette devices have even been used for drug abuse. E-liquid, mixed with drugs such as etomidate (commonly known as “space oil drugs”), a psychoactive substance, can be inserted into e-cigarette devices and heated to generate aerosol for smoking. By their appearance, “poisonous capsules” (or “zombie capsules”) containing “space oil drugs” or other regulated drugs or narcotics are no different from regular e-cigarettes capsules, and it is difficult to distinguish the ingredients by bare eye, thus largely increasing the possibilities of smokers to abuse drugs through ASPs anytime, anywhere and in a more covert manner. Young people may become addicted to drugs by smoking e-cigarettes containing “poisonous capsules” without realising it.     The Government will strengthen the control of etomidate, which is the main active ingredient of “space oil drugs”, and planned to gazette to list etomidate as a dangerous drug (i.e. narcotic) on February 14, 2025, so as to increase deterrence and enable law enforcement agencies to effectively respond to the relevant situation.     On publicity and education on the harmful effects of smoking and ASPs, the Department of Health (DH) and the Hong Kong Council on Smoking and Health (COSH) will strengthen their collaboration with the EDB to publicise the harmful effects of smoking and ASPs to students through seminars, dramas and mentorship programmes. The EDB has also been organising seminars and professional development programmes continuously for teachers to enhance their understanding and awareness of tobacco products, especially ASPs. On school curriculum, health education (including resistance to harmful substances) is a key component of values education. The Values Education Curriculum Framework (Pilot Version) issued in 2021 has further strengthened values education in related areas (including resistance to harmful substances including drugs, traditional tobacco products and ASPs) and outlined the expected learning outcomes for students across various key learning stages. The Whole School Health Programme launched by the DH will also step up publicity and education on tobacco hazards.     On the other hand, the Narcotics Division (ND) of the SB has been collaborating with various government departments, the COSH and non-governmental organisations to explain the harmful effects of “space oil drug” to the public through different channels, raise self-awareness on drug prevention among the public, and seek more ways to reach out to hidden drug abusers. To target drug traffickers selling “space oil drugs”, the Government is stepping up efforts to educate students on their harmful effects. The ND and the EDB will jointly launch an “anti-space oil drug” week in schools, during which a series of activities will be held, including talks, anti-drug video broadcast, anti-drug drama shows, with a view to preventing the spread of “space oil drugs” among the younger cohort and to tie in with the legislative work.      The relevant ban on ASPs has been in force for nearly three years. At present, there are no legal channels to import or purchase ASPs, and ASPs purchased for personal use before the ban came into effect should have been largely consumed after a certain period of time. Yet the findings of the aforementioned school-based survey indicated that the ratio of primary and secondary school students who smoke e-cigarettes to those who smoke conventional cigarettes is nearly one to one, suggesting that e-cigarettes, among other tobacco products, are particularly popular amongst the younger generation. It is worrying that young people are still exposed to ASPs despite the implementation of the ban on their import and sale. Prevailing legislation does not prohibit the possession of ASPs for non-commercial use. To suppress the continued circulation of ASPs, which are hazardous novel tobacco products, in Hong Kong and to tackle the problem of “poisonous capsules” at its root, the HHB will further strengthen the regulation of ASPs, including banning the possession of relevant products, so as to curb the emergence of ASPs as an alternative drug abuse product. Details will be announced later.     Thirdly, to prevent young people from smoking and suppress the harm posed by tobacco on them, the Smoking (Public Health) Ordinance (Cap. 371) stipulates that no person shall sell any conventional smoking product to any person under the age of 18. The number of complaints/referrals received, the number of inspections conducted and the number of summonses issued by the DH in relation to the restrictions on the sale or giving of conventional smoking products under the Smoking (Public Health) Ordinance (Cap. 371) from 2022 to 2024 are set out in Annex IV. For the comprehensive protection of the underaged, the Government proposes to further prohibit giving tobacco products to persons under the age of 18 such that the provider is to be held liable.     Fourthly, the Government has been actively conducting public education programmes on multiple fronts to promote a smoke-free environment. The DH collaborates with the COSH, non-governmental organisations and healthcare professionals to promote the harms of smoking and smoking cessation, including joining with district service organisations to disseminate smoke-free messages through promotional activities, smoking cessation competitions, smoking cessation counselling, targeting at young people, women, elderly groups, etc. Promoting smoking cessation is also an important pillar under the tobacco control strategy. Since 2021, the DH has launched the Quit in June campaign to promote smoking cessation services and one-week nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) trial packs have been distributed for free at more than 250 designated community pharmacies, smoking cessation clinics and District Health Centres (DHC)/DHC Expresses with a view to encouraging smokers to attempt quitting. Last year, the DH introduced a trial programme on the use of Chinese medicine ear-point patches for smoking cessation. So far, more than 3 500 NRT trial packs and more than 300 Chinese Medicine Ear-point Patch trial packs have been distributed, and most of the smokers who have tried the ear-point patches have found them helpful in alleviating the symptoms of addiction and the response has been very positive.     Besides, the DH has subvented two more service providers (increased from two to four) since last year to operate smoking cessation clinics focusing on counselling and pharmacotherapy, and is planning on subventing three more Chinese medicine smoking cessation service providers (increased from one to four) in the second half of this year to operate smoking cessation clinics focusing on counselling and acupuncture. It is expected that the number of service users can be increased by about 40 per cent and doubled respectively.     The Government will continue to step up the work on smoking cessation and explore various tobacco control measures in the medium and long term in order to eliminate the hazards posed by tobacco products on the society in all aspects and protect the health of the community under a progressive and multi-pronged approach.

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –