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Category: Universities

  • MIL-Evening Report: Most Republican states have made voting harder since 2020. Our research shows how successful they’ve been

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Kathryn Schumaker, Senior Lecturer in American Studies, University of Sydney

    In late September, the governor of the state of Oklahoma, Kevin Stitt, boasted that election officials had removed 453,000 people from the state’s voter rolls since 2021. In a state with only 2.3 million registered voters, it appears that roughly one in six registered voters had been purged.

    While some of these people were dead or disfranchised owing to felony convictions, nearly 200,000 of them were removed for being “inactive voters”. This means they likely failed to respond to a postcard sent to their mailing address.

    Voters can re-register if they were incorrectly removed, but this “voter list maintenance” process still creates a barrier to democratic participation.

    Unsurprisingly, Oklahoma historically has one of the lowest voter turnout rates in the United States.

    This bucks the national trend. Overall, across the United States, electoral turnout has increased in presidential and midterm elections since 2018. Americans feel, now more than ever, that elections have high stakes.

    And some states have made it easier to vote. Minnesota, for example, allows voters to register online or at the polls on Election Day.

    In states like Oklahoma, however, voters are discouraged or demoralised by policies and laws meant to make voting difficult and time consuming. Legislatures in these states have been emboldened over the past decade by a series of Supreme Court rulings voiding key parts of the Voting Rights Act.

    These states are now the new fronts in the unfinished battle to secure one of the fundamental elements of democracy – the right to vote. We’ve analysed data on voter turnout and voting accessibility across the US and found states restricting access the most are overwhelmingly led by Republican legislatures.

    A long history of voter disenfranchisement

    US elections have always been the domain of the states. And state legislatures have long wielded this power to discriminate against marginalised groups.

    Prior to the Civil War, most states restricted the right to vote to white men. Then, in 1870, the 15th Amendment to the Constitution was ratified, which forbade states from restricting the right to vote on the basis of “race, color or previous condition of servitude”

    In practice, however, this didn’t change things in all states. In the South, where Jim Crow laws maintained segregation in many facets of public life, lawmakers found other ways to disenfranchise Black voters.

    These methods included poll taxes, literacy tests, and grandfather clauses. In some Southern states, Democrats also held all-white primaries to prohibit Black voters from participating. They claimed that political parties were private organisations and not subject to the 15th Amendment.

    When other methods failed, white people used violence and intimidation to discourage Black voters from showing up at the polls.

    Women made gains state by state in the decades following the Civil War, though Black women in the South were disenfranchised alongside Black men. This made white women the primary beneficiaries of the 19th Amendment, ratified in 1920. This dictated that states could not withhold voting rights “on account of sex”.

    It was not until the ratification of the 24th Amendment in 1964, which prohibited the use of the poll tax, and the 1965 Voting Rights Act, which outlawed the literacy tests, that American democracy could begin to live up to its name.

    How states are erecting more barriers

    However, even these landmark developments have not ensured that voting is easy or universally accessible to all Americans.

    In fact, many states have accelerated efforts to police voting rolls and enact hurdles to civic engagement in the wake of then-President Donald Trump’s false claims of voter fraud in the 2020 election. Republican-dominated states like Oklahoma have been particularly keen to adopt restrictive policies.

    According to the Center for Public Integrity, 26 states have made voting less accessible since 2020. These barriers include many tactics:

    Partisan redistricting also discourages members of minority parties from turning out on Election Day. By drawing district lines that clearly favour one party over another, such practices can make people feel it is pointless to vote.

    What our research found

    According to our calculations, out of the states that have made voting less accessible since 2020, most are located in the South (43%) or Midwest (31%). The data reveal the most significant losses in voting access have occurred in southern states with large populations of Black voters.

    And the most restrictive lawmaking has been spearheaded by Republican-dominated state legislatures, with 86% of such states passing inequitable voting barriers. In contrast, only 5% of Democratic-led states have made voting harder.

    In addition, according to our research, high barriers to voting are directly related to lower voter turnout rates.

    When all states are analysed, “high barrier” states had an average turnout rate of 45.8% compared to 49% for “low barrier” states in the 2022 election, a statistically significant difference. The average turnout rate across all US states in 2022 was 46.2%.

    In the South, most states (11 of 16) made voting more difficult after the 2020 election – and nearly all had voter turnout rates well below the national average in 2022. (Mississippi was the lowest at 32.5%.)

    High-barrier southern states with Republican-led legislatures had an average turnout rate of 40.6%, compared to 46.2% in high-barrier, Republican-led states in other regions.

    Three states in low-barrier states, meanwhile, had turnout rates above 60% – Oregon, Maine and Minnesota. All had Democratic-majority legislatures, or in the case of Minnesota, a divided legislature and Democratic governor.

    States should motivate voters, not demoralise them

    These policies to restrict voting accessibility, draped in the cloak of “election security”, will no doubt affect turnout in certain states in the upcoming November elections, as well.

    Research shows Americans choose to vote because they think it is their civic duty or they believe the outcome of an election matters for their community, nation or self.

    Yet, staying home on Election Day is also a rational behaviour since the chances of being the pivotal voter that decides an election is estimated at one in one million in a battleground state and much less in a noncompetitive state.

    With national voter turnout already low compared to other democracies, state legislatures should be doing what they can to motivate voters and make it easier for them to cast a ballot – not making it more difficult for them to do so.

    Kathryn Schumaker has received funding from the National Endowment for the Humanities.

    Allyson Shortle is affiliated with the Public Religion Research Institute.

    – ref. Most Republican states have made voting harder since 2020. Our research shows how successful they’ve been – https://theconversation.com/most-republican-states-have-made-voting-harder-since-2020-our-research-shows-how-successful-theyve-been-240667

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Senator Murray Establishes & Funds Scientific Consortium in Washington State, Expanding NASA Footprint in PNW

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Washington State Patty Murray

    Murray wrote and passed the funding bill that provided the resources for this award and directly authored the provision to establish the BioS-ENDURES Consortium

    Seattle, WA – Today, U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, announced a $2.5 million NASA award to establish a scientific consortium based at the University of Washington in partnership with Washington State University and the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory. The award was funded through a provision in the Fiscal Year 2024 government spending bill authored by Senator Murray to establish a consortium within the Biological and Physical Sciences—and resulted in the establishment of the Biology in Space: Establishing Networks for DUrable & REsilient Systems (BioS-ENDURES) Consortium. The BioS-ENDURESConsortium will focus on innovation, acceleration, and implementation of space biology specific knowledge and technology centered on human-plant-microbiome relationships to enable a durable human presence in low Earth orbit and beyond.  

    “As Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, I am writing our funding bills to invest in Washington state’s growing innovation economy,” said Senator Murray. “By establishing this scientific consortium here in Washington state, we are laying the groundwork to bring even more private and federal investment to our state’s growing aerospace industry. If we want to maintain our competitive edge, we have to stay at the forefront of scientific discovery—and this federal research partnership will help us do that. Investing in scientific discovery is an investment that pays off—this is a next chapter in a story of inquiry, invention, innovation, exploration, and discovery of new frontiers.”

    “The University of Washington is excited to have this opportunity to contribute to the development of new capabilities that will enable a sustainable human presence in space,” said Mari Ostendorf, Vice Provost of Research, University of Washington. “This consortium enables new partnerships and brings together investigators who have a long history with NASA and space applications with researchers who have deep expertise in human/animal, plant, and microbial biology. This research will push the boundaries of our scientific understanding to reveal new biological mechanisms that will address both sustainability and risk mitigation needs in space. We look forward working with WSU, PNNL, and NASA, as well as with other industry and science partners to accelerate space technology.”

    “This represents an exciting opportunity for the state of Washington to continue building our capacity for critical research to understand and improve human-plant-microbial systems for space habitation,” said Dr. Michael Wolcott, Interim Vice President of Research at Washington State University. “This work will have a direct contribution to humankind’s ability to travel—and live—in space. WSU is thrilled to be part of this collaborative effort with our colleagues at the University of Washington and the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory and looks forward to continuing this work with NASA.”

    “Pacific Northwest National Laboratory is thrilled to join forces with the University of Washington and Washington State University in the BioS-ENDURES consortium,” said Malin Young, Associate Laboratory Director, Earth and Biological Sciences. “Together, we’re harnessing our cutting-edge life science capabilities to help NASA achieve its mission of establishing a sustainable and lasting human presence in low Earth orbit, on the Moon, on Mars, and beyond.”

    A more thorough understanding is needed of mechanisms underlying responses to space-relevant stressors (ionizing radiation, microgravity, circadian disruption, abiotics, and biotics) to both humans and plant food sources and what role microbiomes may play in shaping those responses.  Human/animal, plant, and microbial biologists will work together to ensure an integrated view of the space flight biosphere by enhancing data acquisition, modeling, and testing.

    Human/animal, plant, and microbial biologists will work together to ensure an integrated view of the space flight biosphere by enhancing data acquisition, modeling, and testing. BioS-ENDURES has three thrust areas focusing on the effects of spaceflight stressors: 

    • Develop monitoring capabilities to measure underlying molecular status (biomarkers) of humans, animal models, plants and their associated microbial communities.
    • Build models to predict human-plant-microbe robustness and interactions among organisms in space.
    • Validate and apply understanding of human and plant health, including promoting beneficial human-plant-microbe interactions, to enhance health in space.

    The BioS-ENDURES Consortium is built upon a collaboration between the University of Washington, Washington State University, the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, and science and industry advisory boards. Consortium members will partner closely with NASA to align work with current and projected needs. Funding from NASA will support proof-of-principle demonstration projects each year to advance the science of the three thrusts, annual symposia tracks (some full consortium, some with tighter focus), and costs of physical testing.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-Evening Report: Stoneflies change colour in response to deforestation, suggesting humans can alter evolution – new research

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Jonathan Waters, Professor of Zoology, University of Otago

    Author provided, CC BY-SA

    As we continue to change the planet, scientists are worried we might also be altering the evolutionary trajectories of the species that live alongside us, perhaps even including some irreversible shifts.

    Certainly, the evidence for change is everywhere. As the planet warms, species’ ranges are shifting and their life cycles are changing. As we harvest the largest fish in the ocean, the species affected are now maturing at smaller sizes.

    But are these shifts we observe in wild populations underpinned by genetic changes (mutations in the DNA) or are they simply flexible responses to environmental change? If the changes are genetic, how are they happening?

    So far, researchers have observed fewer clear-cut examples of human-induced evolution in the wild than one might imagine. But our new study may provide a new “textbook” case of human-driven evolution in wild insects.

    Our findings are centred on an intriguing case of “mimicry” from New Zealand, in which a harmless insect has evolved to mimic the warning colours of a highly toxic species.

    Forest removal drives colour shift

    Convincingly demonstrating “evolution in action” involves finding the agents of natural selection (environmental factors driving the change) and discovering the genetic mechanism.

    Until now, the peppered moth was the “classic” example of human-driven evolution. Dark-coloured specimens of the moth suddenly appeared during the 19th century. It was a likely response to industrial pollution which meant light-coloured individuals were no longer blending in to the increasingly sooty British environment. Despite its broad appeal, some aspects of even this famous case have been criticised as unclear and anecdotal.

    We worked on stoneflies and the impact of deforestation.

    The black stonefly Austroperla lives in forests. It produces cyanide to deter potential predators, and to advertise its toxicity this species has high-contrast black, white and yellow markings, reminiscent of wasp colouration.

    The non-toxic Zelandoperla stonefly has evolved astonishingly similar warning colouration, apparently to trick predators (forest birds) into assuming that it, too, is toxic. The intricate and unique ecological interactions between these insects and their predators have apparently evolved together over millions of years.

    Dark coloured Zelandoperla stoneflies (middle) mimic the poisonous Austroperla (top), which are abundant in forests. Recent forest clearance has eliminated Austroperla from many regions of New Zealand. In response, Zelandoperla populations have quickly evolved lighter colouration (bottom).
    Graham McCulloch, Jon Waters, CC BY-SA

    Where do humans come into this story? Aotearoa New Zealand was the last major landmass to be colonised by people. In many places the human impacts on its ecosystems have been devastating.

    In addition to species extinctions, New Zealand has lost much of its original native forest cover in just a few centuries. This deforestation has wiped out countless populations of forest birds, along with the poisonous, forest-dependent Austroperla.

    Our study reveals this widespread deforestation has also proven a game changer for the stonefly “mimic”. As its predators and the poisonous species it mimics have vanished from many regions, there is no longer much point in displaying warning colouration.

    In an astonishing about-turn, Zelandoperla populations from deforested habitats have quickly lost their spectacular “mimic” colouration. It turns out that the production of this intricate colouration was costly, and when no longer essential, evolution rapidly removed it – in a case of “use it or lose it”.

    Human-driven deforestation in New Zealand has altered species interactions in a mimicry system, leading to rapid evolution of insect colour.
    Graham McCulloch, Jon Waters, CC BY-SA

    Genetic change

    In our study, we compared insect populations across several parts of the South Island. We found a remarkably consistent picture. The removal of forest has driven similar colour shifts across different deforested regions.

    The finding that evolutionary change can be “predictable” offers hope that scientists can use evolutionary theory to predict future biodiversity shifts.

    Stonefly models helped to reveal the role of birds.
    Author provided, CC BY-SA

    How do we know birds have played a key role in this rapid colour change? By placing stonefly models of different colours in a variety of habitats, we were able to demonstrate that birds only avoid attacking stoneflies with the “warning” colouration when they are in forests.

    Another challenge was to show that this colour change represents evolution at the DNA level rather than a flexible response to environmental change. We looked at genetic variation across the Zelandoperla genome and found that just a single gene – ebony – is almost completely responsible for this colour evolution.

    Our study also reveals the pace of evolutionary change. By comparing regions deforested soon after human arrival (for example Central Otago, which was deforested around 600 to 700 years ago) with those cleared much more recently (Otago Peninsula, 150 years ago), we show that evolution has proceeded steadily yet inexorably over this human timeframe.

    On the positive side, the finding that at least some of our native species can adapt in the face of rapid environmental change suggests ongoing resilience of our native biodiversity. However, our results also highlight how quickly the intricate interactions that have evolved among native species over millennia can be lost from disturbed ecosystems.

    These new findings raise tantalising questions about the potential to reverse the negative impacts of deforestation on our native biodiversity. In particular, our increasing focus on reforestation and ecological restoration provides hope for restoring the complex ecosystems we have inherited.

    Jonathan Waters receives funding from the RSNZ Marsden Fund.

    Graham McCulloch receives funding from the RSNZ Marsden Fund

    – ref. Stoneflies change colour in response to deforestation, suggesting humans can alter evolution – new research – https://theconversation.com/stoneflies-change-colour-in-response-to-deforestation-suggesting-humans-can-alter-evolution-new-research-242008

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Robotics revolution: UniSA sparks STEM passion for future teachers

    Source: University of South Australia

    25 October 2024

    Cheers of excitement, high-fives all around, and wide, beaming smiles – they’re all the signs of a team success. But this is not a sporting field – this is the camaraderie found among the next generation of teachers learning the very latest, world-class robotics programs so they can excite and inspire students about STEM.

    And on World Teachers Day today, there’s no better time to highlight passionate, job-ready teachers who have the expertise needed to tackle STEM skills shortages across Australia.

    Robotics and automation are in huge demand across multiple industries. Yet, despite the need, very few education initiatives are preparing students with these future skills.

    As the only university in Australia and Southeast Asia to incorporate VEX Robotics as part of its digital electronics undergraduate course, UniSA’s pre-service teachers are ensuring the future workforce is not only skilled, but passionate about robotics and STEM.

    UniSA Education Futures course developer and robotics expert, Emil Zankov, says it’s vital for universities and schools to embrace robotics as part of their students’ learning experience.

    “Robotics is a fantastic way to introduce and get students excited about STEM and computer science. Yet many teachers struggle to embrace new technologies because they’re not familiar with them and didn’t learn about them at uni,” Zankov says.

    “That’s where UniSA comes in. Through the VEX educational robotics program, our pre-service teachers graduate with the skills to teach robotics confidently and creatively in schools.

    “It’s so important for universities to educate teachers with these sorts of technical skills; not only because we have a responsibility to deliver professional, job-ready graduates, but also because these teachers will be the ones to inspire students to consider STEM pathways as an exciting area to pursue.”

    UniSA’s undergraduate Secondary Education students in their robotics class.

    Globally there is a STEM talent shortage, with nearly half of businesses struggling to recruit people with the STEM skills they need. In Australia, school students’ interest and performance in STEM subjects is stagnating or declining, with the Australian government calling for a collective effort to initiate change.

    Zankov says VEX is the program of choice because it can deliver robotics education across the school continuum, from Reception through to Year 12.

    “This is a platform that we can use all the way from five-year-olds through to our high school and tertiary students. That’s what makes it so exciting – we have this resource rich environment, and very robust program that allows lots of different aspects of robotics any pre-service teacher to engage in,” Zankov says.

    “Through the VEX program teachers support their students to plan, design, code and construct a working robot, with the option of entering it into a competition at the end of the module.

    “But it’s not just about technical or engineering skills; the program also embraces strategy, teamwork, resilience, automation, documentation and report writing, problem solving and more. So, there are a lot of transferable skills that come into play.

    “Ultimately, being involved in this program inspires students to want to go into STEM through an authentic, hands-on approach they’ve had at school.

    “When you hear students audibly excited about what they’re doing in class, there’s no better satisfaction. Seeing students learning because they want to learn; seeing them passionate, high fiving each other, and saying, ‘Yes, it’s working!’ and their robot is doing what they wanted it to do after they’ve programmed it… that’s what really puts such a buzz in a teacher. That’s pure magic.”

    Notes to editors:

    The SA VEX State Championships will be held at UniSA’s Mawson Lakes campus on Monday 28 October. Run by DATTA (Design and Technology Teachers Association of SA) in collaboration with the University of South Australia, this competition will see more than 300 school students showcase and compete their robots in a series of graded competitions. To find out more, visit: https://datta.sa.edu.au/datta-sa-vex-tournament/

    Photos available upon request

    Video available here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DWiPLcJLGp0

    …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

    Contact for interview:  Emil Zankov E: Emil.Zankov@unisa.edu.au
    Media contact: Annabel Mansfield M: +61 479 182 489 E: Annabel.Mansfield@unisa.edu.au

    Other articles you may be interested in

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-Evening Report: Queensland election signals both major parties accept pumped hydro and the renewable energy transition as inevitable

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Jamie Pittock, Professor, Fenner School of Environment & Society, Australian National University

    Sirbatch/Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA

    Solar and wind have won the global energy race. They accounted for 80% of new global power capacity installed in 2023. In Australia, 99% of new capacity is wind or solar.

    The Queensland election campaign suggests both sides of politics have embraced the renewable energy transition. But solar and wind are variable and need energy storage. That is where pumped hydro energy storage and batteries come in.

    Both are off-the-shelf technologies. And both are already being used on a vast scale.

    Having promised 80% renewable energy by 2035, the incumbent Labor government is committed to large pumped hydro systems at Borumba, on the Sunshine Coast, and Pioneer-Burdekin, near Mackay. The A$14.2 billion Borumba project appears to have support from both major parties. However, the Liberal National Party (LNP) says it will scrap the $12 billion Pioneer Burdekin project and the renewables target if elected.

    While Pioneer-Burdekin is a very good site, there are good alternatives. The LNP says it “will investigate opportunities for smaller, more manageable pumped hydro projects”. Regardless, in supporting more pumped hydro storage and rejecting the federal Coalition’s nuclear power plans, the state LNP is accepting the renewable energy transformation as inevitable.

    What is pumped hydro energy storage?

    Pumped hydro systems store surplus electricity from solar and wind on sunny and windy days. The electricity is used to pump water from a lower reservoir to an upper reservoir. This water can later be released downhill though turbines to generate power when it’s needed.


    ARENA, CC BY

    This proven technology has been used for over a century. It accounts for about 90% of global energy storage. Australia has three pumped hydro systems (Tumut 3, Kangaroo Valley, Wivenhoe) and two under construction (Snowy 2.0 and Kidston).

    Snowy 2.0 will last for at least 100 years. Its capacity (350 gigawatt-hours, GWh) is equivalent to 6 million electric vehicle batteries. It’s enough to power 3 million homes for a week.

    Due to start operating in 2028, Snowy 2.0 will cost about $12 billion. That’s roughly equivalent to $2,000 for a 100-year-lifetime EV battery. Pumped hydro energy storage is cheap!

    ANU’s RE100 Group has published global atlases of about 800,000 potential pumped hydro sites. None require new dams on rivers. Some are new sites (greenfield). Others would use existing reservoirs (bluefield) or old mines (brownfield).

    What about batteries?

    Batteries are best for short-term storage (a few hours). Pumped hydro is better for overnight or several days – Snowy 2.0 will provide 150 hours of storage.

    A combination of these storage systems is better than either alone.

    As with any major infrastructure, pumped hydro development has costs and risks. It has high upfront capital costs but very low operating costs.

    What are Queensland’s options?

    In Queensland, solar and wind electricity rose from 2% to 26% of total generation over the past decade. It’s heading for about 75% in 2030 as part of Australia’s 82% renewables target.

    Queensland needs roughly 150 GWh of extra storage for full decarbonisation. After accounting for Borumba (50 GWh), batteries and other storage, Pioneer-Burdekin (120 GWh) would meet that need.

    A similarly sized system or several smaller systems would also suffice. The latter approach has advantages of decentralisation but would cost more and have environmental impacts in more places.

    The state has thousands of potential sites that are “off-river” (do not require new dams on rivers). The table below shows 15 premium sites, most with capacities of 50–150 GWh. Some larger sizes are included for interest – 5,000 GWh would store enough energy for 100 million people.

    The key technical parameters are:

    • head: the altitude difference between the two reservoirs – bigger is better
    • slope: the ratio of the head to the distance between the reservoirs – larger slope means shorter tunnel
    • W/R: the volume of stored water (W) divided by the volume of rock (R) needed for the reservoir walls. Large W/R means low-cost reservoirs.

    Clicking on each name takes you to a view of the site with more details.

    Site Size (GWh) Type Head (m) Slope (%) W/R
    Mackay 50 Green 800 13 8
    Townsville 50 Green 490 8 19
    Pentland 50 Green 340 6 10
    Boyne 50 Green 390 8 14
    Beechmont 50 Blue 427 6 8
    Tully 50 Blue 726 10 9
    Tully 150 Blue 726 11 5
    Townsville 150 Green 440 8 14
    Mackay 150 Green 412 6 17
    Mackay 150 Green 680 9 7
    Yeppoon 150 Green 390 8 17
    Proserpine 500 Green 600 12 7
    Townsville 500 Green 490 18 6
    Ingham 1,500 Green 650 6 8
    Ingham 5,000 Green 650 7 3

    Pumped storage in far north Queensland is valuable because it can absorb solar and wind energy from the Copperstring transmission extension to Mt Isa. It can then send it down the transmission line to Brisbane at off-peak times. This will ensure the line mostly operates close to full capacity.

    Two potential premium 150 GWh bluefield pumped hydro energy storage systems near Tully.
    Author provided/RE100

    What about the rest of Australia?

    Pumped storage and batteries keep the lights on during solar and wind energy droughts that occasionally occur in winter in southern Australia. They also meet evening peak demand.

    The fossil fuel lobby argues gas is needed in the energy transition. But pumped hydro and battery storage eliminate the need for gas generators and their greenhouse gas emissions.

    In the past decade, solar and wind generation in Australia’s National Electricity Market increased from 6% to 35%. Gas fell from 12% to 5%.

    Most pumped hydro projects can be built off rivers. The same water is repeatedly transferred between the reservoirs. This means the system keeps running during droughts and avoids the impacts of new dams blocking rivers and flooding valleys.

    The environmental and social impacts of off-river pumped hydro projects are much lower than for conventional hydropower or fossil fuel projects.

    The system uses very common materials, primarily water, rock, concrete and steel. Very little land is flooded for off-river pumped hydro to support a 100% renewable energy system: about 3 square metres per person. Only about 3 litres of water per person per day is needed for the initial fill and to replace evaporation.

    Sometimes, safely disposing of tunnel spoil is a challenge – as with mining (including for coal and battery metals). Any major new generation facility and its transmission lines may involve clearing and disturbing bushland. Local communities sometimes oppose pumped hydro developments.

    In Australia, ANU identified 5,500 potential sites. Only one to two dozen are needed to enable the nation to be fully powered by renewables.

    About a dozen pumped hydro projects are in detailed planning. Hydro Tasmania’s Battery of the Nation is proposed for Cethana. Other prominent projects include Oven Mountain, Central West, Upper Hunter Hydro and Burragorang in New South Wales.

    You can expect to see more pumped hydro systems in a state near you.

    Jamie Pittock receives funding from the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade to provide technical assistance for the development of pumped storage hydropower to aid the transition to renewable energy for governments and others in Asia. He holds governance and advisory roles with a number of non-government environmental organisations.

    Andrew Blakers receives funding from the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade

    – ref. Queensland election signals both major parties accept pumped hydro and the renewable energy transition as inevitable – https://theconversation.com/queensland-election-signals-both-major-parties-accept-pumped-hydro-and-the-renewable-energy-transition-as-inevitable-229611

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-Evening Report: Why do I get so anxious after drinking? Here’s the science behind ‘hangxiety’

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Blair Aitken, Postdoctoral Research Fellow in Psychopharmacology, Swinburne University of Technology

    You had a great night out, but the next morning, anxiety hits: your heart races, and you replay every conversation from the night before in your head. This feeling, known as hangover anxiety or “hangxiety”, affects around 22% of social drinkers.

    While for some people, it’s mild nerves, for others, it’s a wave of anxiety that feels impossible to ride out. The “Sunday scaries” may make you feel panicked, filled with dread and unable to relax.

    Hangover anxiety can make even simple tasks feel overwhelming. Here’s why it happens, and what you can do about it.

    What does alcohol do to our brains?

    A hangover is the body’s way of recovering after drinking alcohol, bringing with it a range of symptoms.

    Dehydration and disrupted sleep play a large part in the pounding headaches and nausea many of us know too well after a big night out. But hangovers aren’t just physical – there’s a strong mental side too.

    Alcohol is a nervous system depressant, meaning it alters how certain chemical messengers (or neurotransmitters) behave in the brain. Alcohol relaxes you by increasing gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA), the neurotransmitter that makes you feel calm and lowers inhibitions. It decreases glutamate and this also slows down your thoughts and helps ease you into a more relaxed state.

    Together, this interaction affects your mood, emotions and alertness. This is why when we drink, we often feel more sociable, carefree and willing to let our guard down.

    As the effects of the alcohol wear off, your brain works to rebalance these chemicals by reducing GABA and increasing glutamate. This shift has the opposite effect of the night before, causing your brain to become more excitable and overstimulated, which can lead to feelings of anxiety.

    So why do some people get hangxiety, while others don’t? There isn’t one clear answer to this question, as several factors can play a role in whether someone experiences hangover-related anxiety.

    Genes play a role

    For some, a hangover is simply a matter of how much they drank or how hydrated they are. But genetics may also play a significant role. Research shows your genes can explain almost half the reason why you wake up feeling hungover, while your friend might not.

    Because genes influence how your body processes alcohol, some people may experience more intense hangover symptoms, such as headaches or dehydration. These stronger physical effects can, in turn, trigger anxiety during a hangover, making you more susceptible to “hangxiety.”

    Do you remember what you said last night?

    But one of the most common culprits for feeling anxious the next day is often what you do while drinking.

    Let’s say you’ve had a big night out and you can’t quite recall a conversation you had or something you did. Maybe you acted in ways that you now regret or feel embarrassed about. You might fixate on these thoughts and get trapped in a cycle of worrying and rumination. This cycle can be hard to break and can make you feel more anxious.

    Research suggests people who already struggle with feelings of anxiety in their day-to-day lives are especially vulnerable to hangxiety.

    Some people drink alcohol to unwind after a stressful day or to make themselves feel more comfortable at social events. This often leads to heavier consumption, which can make hangover symptoms more severe. It can also begin a cycle of drinking to feel better, making hangxiety even harder to escape.

    Preventing hangover anxiety

    The best way to prevent hangxiety is to limit your alcohol consumption. The Australian guidelines recommend having no more than ten standard drinks per week and no more than four standard drinks on any one day.

    Generally, the more you drink, the more intense your hangover symptoms might be, and the worse you are likely to feel.

    Some people may drink more alcohol to feel more comfortable in social situations.
    LADO/Shutterstock

    Mixing other drugs with alcohol can also increase the risk of hangxiety. This is especially true for party drugs, such as ecstasy or MDMA, that give you a temporary high but can lead to anxiety as they wear off and you are coming down.

    If you do wake up feeling anxious:

    • focus on the physical recovery to help ease the mental strain

    • drink plenty of water, eat a light meal and allow yourself time to rest

    • try mindfulness meditation or deep breathing exercises, especially if anxiety keeps you awake or your mind races

    • consider journalling. This can help re-frame anxious thoughts, put your feelings into perspective and encourage self-compassion

    • talk to a close friend. This can provide a safe space to express concerns and feel less isolated.

    Hangxiety is an unwelcome guest after a night out. Understanding why hangxiety happens – and how you can manage it – can make the morning after a little less daunting, and help keep those anxious thoughts at bay.

    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. Why do I get so anxious after drinking? Here’s the science behind ‘hangxiety’ – https://theconversation.com/why-do-i-get-so-anxious-after-drinking-heres-the-science-behind-hangxiety-240991

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI Global: MAiD and marginalized people: Coroner’s reports shed light on assisted death in Ontario

    Source: The Conversation – Canada – By Karandeep Sonu Gaind, Professor of Psychiatry, University of Toronto

    People who chose medically assisted death when they were not terminally ill were more likely to be marginalized than those who chose MAiD when death was already imminent. (Shutterstock)

    Earlier this month, the Office of the Chief Coroner for Ontario released new reports highlighting some of the reasons some Canadians have chosen medical assistance in dying (MAiD, which in Canada involves euthanasia — meaning medically-administered injection rather than self-administered — over 99.9 per cent of the time).

    The reports have received international attention for what they highlight, including patients being euthanized despite untreated mental illness and addictions, unclear medical diagnoses and suffering fuelled by housing insecurity, poverty and social marginalization.

    Some are shocked by what these reports reveal, but none should be surprised. This is what happens when you let the foxes run the henhouse, as Canada has arguably done by allowing right-to-die advocacy to shape policy and replace evidence.

    Canada’s medical assistance in dying (MAiD) laws, introduced for those in terminal situations, were expanded by the Trudeau government in 2021 to allow death by MAiD via “Track 2” to Canadians struggling with disabilities who were not dying. In 2023, Track 2 represented 2.6 per cent of the 4,644 MAiD deaths in Ontario, or 116 people.

    I am not a conscientious objector. I am a psychiatrist and previously chaired my former hospital’s MAiD team. However, I believe we’ve experienced a bait and switch: laws initially intended to compassionately help Canadians avoid suffering a painful death have metastasized into policies facilitating suicides of other Canadians seeking death to escape a painful life.

    The coroner’s reports show how far over the cliff we’ve fallen with Track 2 MAiD.

    Marginalization and MAiD

    Many have warned for years that when facilitated suicide is expanded to those with disabilities who have decades left to live, it is impossible to filter out suffering due to poverty, loneliness and other marginalization fueling MAiD requests. The medical disability becomes the foot in the door to open eligibility for MAiD, but social suffering pushes the marginalized through that door to seek state-sponsored death for their life struggles.

    The coroner’s report uses a marginalization index based on area of residence (similar to the way impacts on marginalized populations were identified during COVID-19) to divide the population into five levels, each representing 20 per cent of the population. The data shows a much higher proportion of Track 2 MAiD recipients come from highly marginalized categories than Track 1 MAiD recipients, or the general population.

    People in the lowest “material resource” category (i.e. poverty) represent 20 per cent of the general population, but they make up 28.4 per cent of Track 2 MAiD recipients, compared to 21.5 per cent of Track 1 recipients.

    People in the lowest 20 per cent of the population with the worst housing instability made up 48.3 per cent of Track 2 MAiD recipients, compared to 34.3 per cent of Track 1 recipients. Track 2 recipients were also far more likely to come from the most vulnerable 20 per cent of the population in terms of age and labour force participation, with 56.9 per cent of Track 2 MAiD recipients coming from this category compared to 41.8 per cent of Track 1 MAiD recipients.

    Gender gaps of more women than men receiving Track 2 MAiD are also emerging.

    Additionally the report shed light on specific cases of concern, including people receiving Track 2 MAiD for social and housing vulnerability, and for unclear reasons while still suffering from inadequately treated mental illness and addictions.

    This includes a man with a history of suicidal ideation and untreated addictions whose psychiatrist asked during a session whether he was aware of MAiD. After being approved, he was “personally transported (by the MAiD provider) in their vehicle to an external location for the provision of MAiD”.

    Denialism

    Policy mistakes can occur, but these marginalized deaths result from wilful avoidance and denial of evidence-based cautions. I have previously written of the lack of safeguards and absence of evidence informing MAiD expansion.

    Beyond the evidence in the coroner’s report, there are clear signs of this denial:

    “It doesn’t concern me, in the sense that I don’t think anybody knows what it means. We can make all sorts of hypotheses about what it might mean, but nobody really knows. What I would caution you about is drawing inferences, like the one in your question with respect to male-to-female suicide ratios, because we don’t know what it means.” (It should be noted that there is longstanding evidence of a 2:1 gender gap of more women than men attempting suicide when mentally ill, most of whom do not die by suicide and do not try again.)

    These repeated refusals to have our MAiD expansion be informed by evidence have led to a MAiD house of cards wilfully blind to suicide risks.

    Denialism of all sorts is dangerous. Canada’s expanded MAiD policies have fallen prey to a new form of it: suicide denialism. What else can it be called when expansion ideologues repeatedly ignore and deny the fact that some Canadians are getting Track 2 MAiD fuelled not by illness suffering, but by known suicide risk factors of social deprivation?

    ‘Social murder’

    People in the lowest ‘material resource’ category represent 20 per cent of the general population, but they make up 28.4 per cent of Track 2 MAiD recipients, compared to 21.5 per cent of Track 1 recipients.
    (Shutterstock)

    Some expansion advocates have already creatively dismissed concerns about the coroner reports. The head-scratching argument is that since marginalization leads to higher death rates of the marginalized anyway (gently referred to as “decedents”), the fact that Track 2 MAiD is provided to marginalized people at the same or slightly lower rates than their usual high “decedent” rates means MAiD is not a risk to the marginalized. There is even the bold suggestion that “MAiD narrows the gap between privileged and deprived.”

    The remarkable blind spot of this privileged perspective is obvious: none of the marginalized receiving Track 2 MAiD would have died if they had not gotten MAiD; even their own MAiD assessors predicted they would have over another decade of life to live (otherwise they would have been Track 1).

    Arguing that a higher proportion of marginalized people dying from Track 2 MAiD is acceptable because they die at similar rates anyway is disturbing and revealing. Most people in Canada are aware of the issue of Indigenous youth disenfranchisement and suicide. Consider the natural implications of this dangerous argument. Death rates for First Nations youth under 20 are three to five times higher than youth death rates for non-Indigenous populations, driven by suicide and unintentional injuries. Does MAiD expansionist logic suggest that it would be acceptable to provide high levels of Track 2 MAiD to First Nations 19-year-olds since their social disenfranchisement puts them at higher risk of death anyway?

    Claiming that state-facilitated death fuelled by social deprivation is acceptable since more marginalized people die from social deprivation and structural inequities anyway is indistinguishable from eugenics.

    During COVID-19, some suggested our social policies linked to marginalized deaths were enabling “social murder,” a term coined by Friedrich Engels in the 19th century describing working conditions causing premature deaths of English workers. How should we describe Canadian policy providing state facilitated deaths to non-dying marginalized individuals fuelled by social suffering?

    I previously wrote about how our MAiD expansion is setting the stage for a future prime minister issuing a national apology. Beyond apologies, tobacco companies recently were held accountable for a $32.5 billion settlement resulting from claims they “knew their product was causing cancer and failed to warn consumers adequately.”

    No medication comes to market without evidence of safety, yet policymakers have ignored known evidence and have instead expanded MAiD while failing to warn Canadians adequately of the risks of premature death posed by Track 2 MAiD to those suffering from social marginalization.

    Social murder is a jarring term. If we don’t want to be charged with providing it, it’s time policymakers honestly acknowledged the suffering for which some marginalized Canadians are receiving state sponsored MAiD, rather than taking refuge behind “small numbers” justifications and suicide denial.

    Karandeep Sonu Gaind is affiliated with the Ontario District Branch of the American Psychiatric Association (president).

    – ref. MAiD and marginalized people: Coroner’s reports shed light on assisted death in Ontario – https://theconversation.com/maid-and-marginalized-people-coroners-reports-shed-light-on-assisted-death-in-ontario-241661

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-Evening Report: At $300m, Jules Verne-inspired Nautilus is the most expensive Australian-made show. But Disney+ was right to dump it

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Ari Mattes, Lecturer in Communications and Media, University of Notre Dame Australia

    Stan

    Investing in film and TV productions is a risky venture. Even the best directors and producers are just a flop away from ruining their careers.

    So if a company owns the intellectual property to a popular material, or if that material enters the public domain, these companies – risk-averse entities, to be sure – will hastily retread their tyres for another lap of the track. This is partly why you’ll see well-worn stories from your childhood told over and over onscreen, even now.

    But if the new version is too similar to the old, people will cynically roll their eyes. Enter Disney, which has perfected the strategy over the past few decades of retelling the same stories from different characters’ perspectives – a gambit that seems to strike people as inherently interesting.

    Maleficent, for example, is Sleeping Beauty from the perspective of the evil queen. Although this kind of fairytale revisionism goes back to Angela Carter’s best-selling feminist fiction, Disney has, more than any other corporation, become an expert at co-opting social movements in pursuit of profits.

    The latest revisionist work set to be distributed by Disney+ was Nautilus. The series filters the story of Jules Verne’s inimitable maritime adventure novel 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea through the lens of Captain Nemo, framed as a prequel to the original.

    The fact that Disney+ dropped Nautilus before its release (it has been picked up by Prime in the UK and Ireland and Stan in Australia) immediately stoked my interest. This is particularly notable because, with a budget of A$300 million, it’s the most expensive series ever made in Australia (filmed mainly on the Gold Coast).

    Alas, after restlessly sitting through all ten episodes, I understand Disney’s decision.

    Diluting a powerful message

    Where Verne’s novel (and to a lesser extent, the 1954 Disney live action film) effortlessly creates an authentic world, which is absolutely critical to the effectiveness of any fantasy work, Nautilus seems painfully contrived from its opening.

    It’s the kind of show where all the British soldiers and East India Company men speak in toffee accents and spout horrifically ruthless commands between sips of tea.

    The show is a $300 million wreck.
    Stan

    The Nautilus’ crew is made up of a miscellany of virtuous victims of the company (and thus of the British empire): a wealthy British woman being forced into an arranged marriage, an old Chinese worker, a Māori cook, a trader from Zanzibar and ex‑slave Indians.

    The characters frequently pontificate about the value of freedom, the evils of slavery and the glory of the environment. In one particularly ludicrous scene early on, Nemo jumps onto a whale’s back to remove a harpoon.

    In the novel, Nemo’s romantic alienation perfectly complements his maniacal drive, interspersed with Verne’s faux-scientific descriptions of the submarine, giant squid and other objects.

    Similarly, here, Nemo is presented as being far from mercenary; hounded to the north seas by the British, he’s seeking treasure in order to bring the company down. But lead Shazad Latif’s delivery is monotonous and strained, as though even he doesn’t buy it.

    British actor Shazad Latif’s performance as Captain Nemo is far from convincing.
    Stan

    The idea that this is some kind of “fresh” (read “politically correct”) re‑imagining of the world of the novel is strange in the first place, given the original story (although narrated by Professor Aronnax) is already closely anchored to Nemo’s point of view.

    Verne clearly presents Nemo as a kind of eco-warrior responding to the brutalities of colonialism. If anything, the original message is diluted in this adaptation as it implies Nemo’s quest is mainly personal – that he simply wants vengeance for what the company did to his family – rather than political.

    At the same time, I sense the creators are going for some kind of psychological realism by painfully spelling out that Nemo had bad things done to him by the British. But this didacticism causes the spirit of adventure to suffer, so we’re left with something both silly and not particularly exciting.

    The British soldiers and company men speak in ridiculous accents.
    Stan

    A big fish isn’t always a good fish

    The show’s production design and cinematography (some of the most important components in this kind of adventure epic) seem flat, too. The sets, though colourful, look decidedly artificial. The synthesis of CGI elements with filmed footage is far from smooth.

    And the odd colour grade makes the characters’ skin look hyper-artificial. This was surely the intention, but why? It is distracting in every closeup.

    Not to single out any particular department, every aspect of the production seems dialled in, including the score, which sounds like something hastily composed using AI software.

    Of course, one could talk about the production’s benefits to the Australian industry, but this seems like a hapless argument if the work is no good. How many low-budget films could have been made with $300 million? 100? 150? Those would have also invested money in the industry, while developing local talent.

    The impact of a big-budget production on local industries isn’t clear when the production in question isn’t very compelling.
    Stan

    Not camp enough, yet not careful enough

    If it were camper, Nautilus could have acquired the cult value of a great cinematic fiasco such as Renny Harlin’s 1995 film Cutthroat Island. All the actors seem to be trying hard, and the writers clearly laboured away at the story.

    Perhaps this is the problem. Like so many new commercial works, Nautilus tries so hard to please everyone it ends up pleasing no one. The wider the appeal, the greater the risk mitigation, apparently.

    But given it actually tries to embed the story in a sense of history, its sins seem greater than mere televisual boredom for the viewer. The series presents a monolithic and simplistic image of the way colonialism and capitalism are intertwined.

    At best, this is naïve – one could argue, “who cares, it’s just a silly fantasy series”. At worst, however, it is actively destructive of historical consciousness. And that’s not smooth sailing.

    Ari Mattes 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. At $300m, Jules Verne-inspired Nautilus is the most expensive Australian-made show. But Disney+ was right to dump it – https://theconversation.com/at-300m-jules-verne-inspired-nautilus-is-the-most-expensive-australian-made-show-but-disney-was-right-to-dump-it-241583

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI Global: South Africa amended its research guidelines to allow for heritable human genome editing

    Source: The Conversation – Canada – By Françoise Baylis, Distinguished Research Professor, Emerita, Dalhousie University

    New genome editing technologies mean that the genetic modification of embryos is a scientific possibility, and laws governing its practice require extensive public consultation. (Shutterstock)

    A little-noticed change to South Africa’s national health research guidelines, published in May of this year, has put the country on an ethical precipice. The newly added language appears to position the country as the first to explicitly permit the use of genome editing to create genetically modified children.

    Heritable human genome editing has long been hotly contested, in large part because of its societal and eugenic implications. As experts on the global policy landscape who have observed the high stakes and ongoing controversies over this technology — one from an academic standpoint (Françoise Baylis) and one from public interest advocacy (Katie Hasson) — we find it surprising that South Africa plans to facilitate this type of research.

    In November 2018, the media reported on a Chinese scientist who had created the world’s first gene-edited babies using CRISPR technology. He said his goal was to provide children with resistance to HIV, the virus that causes AIDS. When his experiment became public knowledge, twin girls had already been born and a third child was born the following year.

    The fate of these three children, and whether they have experienced any negative long-term consequences from the embryonic genome editing, remains a closely guarded secret.

    Controversial research

    Considerable criticism followed the original birth announcement. Some argued that genetically modifying embryos to alter the traits of future children and generations should never be done.

    Genetically modifying embryos to alter the traits of future children and generations has immense societal impacts.
    (Shutterstock)

    Many pointed out that the rationale in this case was medically unconvincing – and indeed that safe reproductive procedures to avoid transmitting genetic diseases are already in widespread use, belying the justification typically given for heritable human genome editing. Others condemned his secretive approach, as well as the absence of any robust public consultation, considered a prerequisite for embarking on such a socially consequential path.

    In the immediate aftermath of the 2018 revelation, the organizing committee of the Second International Summit on Human Genome Editing joined the global uproar with a statement condemning this research.

    At the same time, however, the committee called for a “responsible translational pathway” toward clinical research. Safety thresholds and “additional criteria” would have to be met, including: “independent oversight, a compelling medical need, an absence of reasonable alternatives, a plan for long-term follow-up, and attention to societal effects.”

    Notably, the additional criteria no longer included the earlier standard of “broad societal consensus.”

    Nobel laureate David Baltimore, chair of the organizing committee for the Second International Summit on Human Genome Editing, talks about the importance of public global dialogue on gene editing.

    New criteria

    Now, it appears that South Africa has amended its Ethics in Health Research Guidelines to explicitly envisage research that would result in the birth of gene-edited babies.

    Section 4.3.2 of the guidelines on “Heritable Human Genome Editing” includes a few brief and rather vague paragraphs enumerating the following criteria: (a) scientific and medical justification; (b) transparency and informed consent; (c) stringent ethical oversight; (d) ongoing ethical evaluation and adaptation; (e) safety and efficacy; (f) long-term monitoring; and (g) legal compliance.

    While these criteria seem to be in line with those laid out in the 2018 summit statement, they are far less stringent than the frameworks put forth in subsequent reports. This includes, for example, the World Health Organization’s report Human Genome Editing: Framework for Governance (co-authored by Françoise Baylis).

    Alignment with the law

    Further, there is a significant problem with the seemingly permissive stance on heritable human genome editing entrenched in these research guidelines. The guidelines clearly require the research to comply with all laws governing heritable human genome research. Yet, the law and the research guidelines in South Africa are not aligned, which entails a significant inhibition on any possible research.

    This is because of a stipulation in section 57(1) of the South African National Health Act 2004 on the “Prohibition of reproductive cloning of human beings.” This stipulates that a “person may not manipulate any genetic material, including genetic material of human gametes, zygotes, or embryos… for the purpose of the reproductive cloning of a human being.”

    When this act came into force in 2004, it was not yet possible to genetically modify human embryos and so it’s not surprising there’s no specific reference to this technology. Yet the statutory language is clearly wide enough to encompass it. The objection to the manipulation of human genetic material is therefore clear, and imports a prohibition on heritable human genome editing.

    Ethical concerns

    The question that concerns us is: why are South Africa’s ethical guidelines on research apparently pushing the envelope with heritable human genome editing?

    In 2020, we published alongside our colleagues a global review of policies on research involving heritable human genome editing. At the time, we identified policy documents — legislation, regulations, guidelines, codes and international treaties — prohibiting heritable genome editing in more than 70 countries. We found no policy documents that explicitly permitted heritable human genome editing.

    It’s easy to understand why some of South Africa’s ethicists might be disposed to clear the way for somatic human genome editing research. Recently, an effective treatment for sickle cell disease has been developed using genome editing technology. Many children die of this disease before the age of five and somatic genome editing — which does not involve the genetic modification of embryos — promises a cure.

    Somatic genome editing may provide a cure for sickle cell disease.
    (Shutterstock)

    Implications on future research

    But that’s not what this is about. So, what is the interest in forging a path for research on heritable human genome editing, which involves the genetic modification of embryos and has implications for subsequent generations? And why the seemingly quiet modification of the guidelines?

    How many people in South Africa are aware that they’ve just become the only country in the world with research guidelines that envisage accommodating a highly contested technology? Has careful attention been given to the myriad potential harms associated with this use of CRISPR technology, including harms to women, prospective parents, children, society and the gene pool?

    Is it plausible that scientists from other countries, who are interested in this area of research, are patiently waiting in the wings to see whether the law in South Africa prohibiting the manipulation of human genetic material will be an insufficient impediment to creating genetically modified children? Should the research guidelines be amended to accord with the 2004 statutory prohibition?

    Or if, instead, the law is brought into line with the guidelines, would the result be a wave of scientific tourism with labs moving to South Africa to take advantage of permissive research guidelines and laws?

    We hope the questions we ask are alarmist, as now is the time to ask and answer these questions.

    Katie Hasson, Associate Director at the Center for Genetics and Society, co-authored this article.

    Françoise Baylis is affiliated with the International Science Council, the UNESCO World Commission on the Ethics of Scientific Knowledge and Technology (COMEST) and the Royal Society of Canada.

    – ref. South Africa amended its research guidelines to allow for heritable human genome editing – https://theconversation.com/south-africa-amended-its-research-guidelines-to-allow-for-heritable-human-genome-editing-241136

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: UK courts ‘getting it wrong’ on eyewitness evidence A ‘pivotal shift’ in how UK Courts view eyewitness evidence is needed according to new research from the University of Aberdeen.

    Source: University of Aberdeen

    A ‘pivotal shift’ in how UK Courts view eyewitness evidence is needed according to new research from the University of Aberdeen.

    A team of researchers led by Dr Travis Seale-Carlisle from the University of Aberdeen collated expert opinion gathered from scientists from all over the world on a variety of eyewitness memory phenomena. They found an almost unanimous shift in beliefs about the relationship between eyewitness confidence and accuracy. 

    The research showed that in 2001, around 90 percent of experts thought that the degree of confidence expressed by the eyewitness had little relationship to how accurate they ultimately were. This opinion has now flipped to around 90 percent of experts agreeing that the higher the confidence of the eyewitness, the more likely they are to be accurate in their identification.  

    This is true if certain conditions are applied when collecting confidence and if the identity parade is administered properly. Another condition that the experts agree is crucial, is the time at which this confidence statement is collected. It is most informative of accuracy at the initial identification attempt – not later at trial, for example, which can occur months or even years after the crime occurred. 

    Psychologists who investigate eyewitness memory have periodically gathered their thoughts on a variety of eyewitness memory phenomena since the 1980’s. However, the most recent survey of expert opinion of eyewitness memory phenomena was conducted more than 20 years ago in 2001. The team in Aberdeen sought to update this. 

    This new understanding of the relationship between confidence and accuracy is crucial for those in the legal system to know and understand according to Dr Seale-Carlisle: 

    “Psychologists who investigate eyewitness memory used to think that how sure a witness was – or their confidence in their eyewitness identification, was very weakly related to how accurate they were. These opinions may have influenced policy surrounding eyewitness identification procedures in the UK.  

    “Guidelines in Scotland, for example, encourage eyewitnesses to justify the reason they identified someone from the identity parade, but say nothing about asking eyewitnesses for their level of confidence in their identification.  

    “In England and Wales, the policies surrounding identity parades also remain silent about eyewitness confidence. 

    “However, we now know from this research that most psychologists in the field believe eyewitness confidence, when collected properly, to be a valuable piece of information.  

    “Most psychologists in the field also agree that it is most valuable when gathered as early as possible rather than further down the line such as in court. This survey shows that most experts have changed their thinking on this issue. These policies in England, Scotland, and Wales therefore need to change.  

    The solution, Dr Seale-Carlisle asserts is simple: 

    “In my opinion this is the most important piece of information the legal system can collect from eyewitnesses aside from who eyewitnesses identify – and the legal system in the UK does not currently collect it.  

    “The policy to refrain from collecting confidence is based on an outdated notion that experts today do not agree with.  

    “All it takes is a simple question: “How confident are you that this is the person who committed the crime?”  

    “The U.S. Department of Justice recently updated their department-wide policy to encourage the collection of initial confidence, and we encourage the UK to do the same.” 

    Eyewitness evidence in the UK is based on an outdated notion that experts today do not agree with.” Dr Travis Seale-Carlisle

    To find out how you can help support research at the University of Aberdeen please contact giving@abdn.ac.uk. If you would prefer to make a gift of your time, please contact alumni@abdn.ac.uk to find out more about our alumni volunteering opportunities.

    Related Content

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-Evening Report: Wrongly convicted of a crime? Your ability to clear your name can come down to your postcode

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Kylie Lingard, Senior lecturer, University of Wollongong

    Shutterstock

    If you’re found guilty of a crime, it’s a basic principle of Australian law that you have a right to appeal.

    But having a right and being able to exercise it are two different things, especially when it comes to fresh evidence casting doubt on your conviction.

    In Australia, your ability to challenge a conviction with fresh evidence depends on where you live, because each state and territory has different rules. Too often, it also depends on the resources someone can access, including money and knowledge of the legal system.

    Everyone should have the same opportunities to clear their name, so how can we make accessing appeals more equitable?

    State by state

    Direct pathways to appeal differ between the states and territories.

    In all postcodes, it’s difficult to get appeal courts to consider fresh evidence in the first instance.

    South Australia, Tasmania, Victoria, Western Australia, Queensland and the ACT allow multiple appeal applications if “fresh and compelling” evidence emerges after your first appeal. Since 2013, six convictions have been quashed this way, including Henry Keogh’s in SA after the state coroner recanted trial evidence.

    Tasmania and WA allow subsequent appeals only for serious offences, while SA has no such restriction.

    New South Wales and the Northern Territory don’t allow subsequent appeals, so people there have less direct access to the courts if wrongly convicted.

    There are, however, indirect ways people can seek an appeal with fresh evidence.

    In all states, you can ask the government to refer your case back to an appeal court. For example, the Victorian Attorney-General referred Faruk Orman’s case after evidence emerged about his lawyer’s misconduct. Referral decisions are made in secret and not reviewable.

    In the ACT, you can ask the Supreme Court for a judicial inquiry into your conviction. If you get an inquiry, the inquiry officer can refer your case back to the appeal court if they find reasonable doubt. This led to David Eastman’s conviction being quashed.

    These inquiries are only available if the issue can’t be properly addressed in an appeal, for example because the time for filing an appeal has lapsed. But, the ACT introduced subsequent appeals in 2024 which have no time limit, so it is unclear whether this pathway is still usable.

    In NSW, you can ask the government for an inquiry, but decisions are made in secret and open to political and media influence. This pathway led to Kathleen Folbigg’s acquittal.

    You can also ask the NSW Supreme Court for an inquiry or direct referral of your case back to the appeal court. This path is available for all offences and sentences and decisions are public. Since 2014, 59 conviction review applications to the NSW Supreme Court have resulted in one inquiry order and six referrals, with three successful appeals.

    The inquiry (currently underway) involves the Croatian Six, convicted in 1981 for conspiracy to bomb sites in Sydney. After many failed attempts, they finally secured an inquiry with fresh evidence casting doubt on police and witnesses’ trial evidence.

    These different pathways across the country create an uneven playing field, where some wrongfully convicted people may have more opportunities to clear their name than others.

    The right resources

    Access to appeals doesn’t just depend on location. It’s also about resources.

    To succeed in getting an appeal via any of the above pathways, you need the power to obtain documents and the resources to gather other evidence. You also need the ability to prepare a strong case. That’s before you even get to court.

    Judicial inquiries have investigatory powers and resources, but are expensive. For example, the Eastman inquiry cost the ACT government $12 million.

    The United Kingdom and New Zealand have independent bodies called Criminal Cases Review Commissions. Scotland has its own version.



    Read more:
    Kathleen Folbigg pardon shows Australia needs a dedicated body to investigate wrongful convictions

    These commissions have the power to compel evidence and resources to investigate claims of wrongful conviction at no cost to applicants. They also have the power to refer cases back to the courts. While these commissions don’t refer many cases overall, about 70% of of cases referred in the UK are successful on appeal.

    But, even for commissions, a strong initial application is important. In the UK, the Cardiff University Innocence Project engages law students to investigate claims of innocence and prepare applications for claims with merit.

    Canada and the United States don’t have criminal case review commissions. Innocence Projects there review claims of innocence and help prepare applications for government or court review.

    This is similar to the work of the few innocence clinics in Australia, such as those at RMIT and Griffith universities.

    Innocence initiatives around the world work with limited investigatory resources and powers compared with those of a review commission. In the absence of a such a commission in Australia, second appeals are useful, but they are expensive to run, hard to access and don’t address the resource issue.

    The free NSW Supreme Court pathway doesn’t address the resource issue either. But it can lead to an inquiry or referral, is open and accountable, and comes with guiding criteria and discretion to make short shrift of baseless applications.

    My research suggests free pathways to appeal are important justice mechanisms for the wrongly convicted, but they work best when applicants have legal help to prepare a clear and concise application. Involving law students to help edit applications could make it easier for decision-makers to review cases and help applicants without lawyers get a fairer chance to be heard.

    Kylie Lingard 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. Wrongly convicted of a crime? Your ability to clear your name can come down to your postcode – https://theconversation.com/wrongly-convicted-of-a-crime-your-ability-to-clear-your-name-can-come-down-to-your-postcode-240310

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI Submissions: Pacific – Hon. Henry Puna, Former Cook Islands PM and Pacific Islands Forum Secretary-General, Joins EWC Board of Governors

    Source: East-West Center
     
    HONOLULU (Oct. 24, 2024) – The East-West Center’s Board of Governors has elected the Hon. Henry Tuakeu Puna, former Cook Islands Prime Minister and recent Secretary-General of the Pacific Islands Forum, as one of the board’s five international members.

    “We are delighted that Prime Minister Puna has agreed to join us on the EWC Board of Governors,” said Board Chairman John Waihe‘e III, former Governor of Hawai‘i. “His deep understanding of the political, economic, and cultural dynamics in the Pacific will be invaluable in helping us fulfill the Center’s mission of enhancing understanding and cooperation among our region’s nations and peoples.”

    “I am no stranger to the East-West Center and am extremely honored and humbled to serve on the board of such an illustrious institution,” Prime Minister Puna said. “Having recently served the Pacific region for a brief term as the Pacific Islands Forum Secretary General, this role will allow me to continue to serve the region in a different capacity and environment.”

    About the EWC Board of Governors:
    The East-West Center Board of Governors consists of 18 members. The Governor of Hawai‘i appoints five members, the US Secretary of State appoints five members, and these ten members in turn elect five members from Asia and the Pacific. There are also three ex-officio members: the Governor of Hawai‘i, the US Assistant Secretary of State for Educational and Cultural Affairs, and the President of the University of Hawai‘i. In addition to the members, the board also welcomes three nonvoting invitees from the EWC Foundation, alumni association, and the Pacific Islands Conference of Leaders.

    About Hon. Henry Puna:
    The Hon. Henry Puna served as Prime Minister of the Cook Islands from 2010 to 2020, focusing on issues such as sustainable development, climate change, and regional cooperation. During his time as Prime Minister, he also held various additional ministerial portfolios, including Foreign Affairs, Marine Resources, and Energy. Among other challenges, his administration led the Cook Islands initial response to the COVID-19 pandemic, including working to allow Cook Islanders stranded overseas to return home.

    As Secretary-General of the Pacific Islands Forum from 2021 until May of this year, he worked to enhance cooperation among Pacific nations on issues such as economic development, environmental sustainability, and regional security. He has advocated for the interests of small island developing states in international forums and promoted climate resiliency and economic sustainability in the Pacific region, including the adoption of the Forum’s 2050 Strategy for the Blue Pacific Continent during his tenure.

    The EAST-WEST CENTER promotes better relations and understanding among the people and nations of the United States, Asia, and the Pacific through cooperative study, research, and dialogue. Established by the US Congress in 1960, the Center serves as a resource for information and analysis on critical issues of common concern, bringing people together to exchange views, build expertise, and develop policy options.

    MIL OSI – Submitted News –

  • MIL-OSI China: Xi voices support for Global South at final day of BRICS Kazan summit

    Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News

    Chinese President Xi Jinping delivers an important speech titled “Combining the Great Strength of the Global South To Build Together a Community with a Shared Future for Mankind” at the “BRICS Plus” leaders’ dialogue in Kazan, Russia, Oct. 24, 2024. [Photo/Xinhua]

    KAZAN, Russia, Oct. 24 — As BRICS leaders gathered with non-member countries seeking closer ties with the group on Thursday, Chinese President Xi Jinping voiced strong support for Global South countries.

    Participating in the “BRICS Plus” leaders’ dialogue during the final day of the Kazan summit, Xi said “the collective rise of the Global South is a distinctive feature of the great transformation across the world.”

    “We support more Global South countries in joining the cause of BRICS as full members, partner countries or in the ‘BRICS Plus’ format so that we can combine the great strength of the Global South to build together a community with a shared future for mankind,” Xi said.

    No matter how the international landscape evolves, said the Chinese president, “we in China will always keep the Global South in our heart, and maintain our roots in the Global South.”

    Leaders from Asia, Africa, the Middle East, and Latin America, as well as representatives of several international organizations, attended the meeting, including UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres.

    The 16th BRICS Summit’s agenda covered a range of pressing issues, including world peace and stability, reform of global governance, sustainable development, poverty eradication, climate change, and the fight against terrorism and transnational crimes.

    Russian President Vladimir Putin, chairing the summit, said it is crucial for BRICS members to discuss all these issues with countries from the Global South.

    “All our countries share similar aspirations, values and a vision of a new democratic world order that reflects cultural and civilizational diversity,” Putin said.

    The Kazan summit marked the first in-person gathering of leaders of BRICS after the group’s membership expansion last year. On Wednesday, the BRICS leaders adopted the Kazan summit declaration, which summarized the summit’s outcome.

    According to the declaration, BRICS countries agreed to jointly build the New Development Bank into a new type of multilateral development bank, support its further expansion of membership, and expedite the review of membership applications from BRICS countries in accordance with its general strategy and related policies.

    The BRICS countries are also encouraged to strengthen financial cooperation and promote local currency settlement, it said.

    Leaders of non-member countries expressed their expectation for BRICS’ future development. The BRICS mechanism has great potential for development, as well as experience in building the future based on respect and partnership, Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev said at Thursday’s meeting.

    Lao President Thongloun Sisoulith also said BRICS currently plays a key role in changing the world order.

    The world economy is set to rely even more heavily on the BRICS group of emerging economies to drive expansion, according to latest forecasts of the International Monetary Fund (IMF). Compared with its last round of predictions six months ago, the IMF now expects a bigger share of growth over the next five years to come from powerhouse BRICS economies.

    “The BRICS has played an extremely important role in advancing multilateralism,” said B.R. DEEPAK, professor of Center for Chinese and South East Asian Studies of Jawaharlal Nehru University in India.

    The inclusion of more countries in BRICS cooperation shows “the kind of appeal it has, especially in the Global South, who wants to make best of what BRICS has created,” he said.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Millions invested to roll out industry-led road safety projects

    Source: Australian Ministers 1

    The Albanese Government and National Heavy Vehicle Regulator (NHVR) are taking further action to reduce road trauma and save lives on Australia’s roads by funding 16 crucial industry-led projects through Round 9 of the Heavy Vehicle Safety Initiative (HVSI).

    The ninth round will see $3.9 million invested into the 16 road safety projects to deliver safety improvements across Australia’s heavy vehicle industry and help protect all road users. Successful applicants include:

    • Deakin University’s Truckwise Roadshow which aims to increase awareness of safety practises when working with heavy vehicles through the use of virtual reality.  
    • St John Ambulance’s Defibs in Trucks Program which will equip 50 heavy vehicles with new, high quality Automated External Defibrillators (AED’s) and provide First Aid training to drivers to reduce deaths in regional, rural, and remote communities.
    • GM Cartage and Contracting’s Accelerating Ambitions Program which aims to increase awareness among young drivers of career opportunities within the trucking industry and provide innovative solutions to increase diversity in the industry.

    The new initiatives are set to provide tangible improvements for the transport and logistics sector, supporting productivity, and making the road network safer by developing much-needed training, educational campaigns and innovative new technologies.

    The Australian Government has invested more than $41 million across 169 HVSI projects since the program commenced in 2016. A list of successful applicants and more information about the HVSI is available here.

    Quotes attributable to Assistant Minister for Regional Development, Anthony Chisholm:

    “The trucking industry is the backbone of our nation’s economy and that’s why our government is continuing to invest in road safety programs that will keep truckies safe and keep Australia’s economy moving.

    “These 16 successful projects provide solutions to challenges that we’re currently seeing throughout the industry, such as removing barriers for young people entering the sector, increasing awareness of how to drive safely around heavy vehicles and boosting safety within the industry itself.

    “This includes the excellent initiative by St John Ambulance to equip 50 trucks with new, high-quality Automated External Defibrillators, and training truck drivers to provide first aid, reducing roadside deaths in regional, rural, and remote communities in the process.”

    Quotes attributable to NHVR CEO, Sal Petroccitto OAM:

    “The NHVR’s HVSI program continues to support safety initiatives that benefit the heavy vehicle industry and the wider community.

    “Through this game-changing program, we have seen projects across the country deliver lasting and transformative results.

    “We look forward to continuing to engage with safety-focused groups towards a shared goal of safer roads for all – and utilise their extensive knowledge and existing work to deliver future improvements to heavy vehicle safety. 

    “There is still plenty of work to do to reduce road trauma in Australia, which is why I am looking forward to seeing these 16 new initiatives get underway, and the positive impact they are sure to have on heavy vehicle safety right across the country.”

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: SCHUMER DELIVERS NEARLY $16 MILLION TO STEUBEN COUNTY, ALSTOM, & BINGHAMTON BATTERY HUB TO DEVELOP CUTTING EDGE BATTERY TECH AT ALSTOM’S HORNELL FACILITY FOR NEXT GEN ENERGY-EFFICIENT TRAINS

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for New York Charles E Schumer

    Funding Will Help Alstom & Partners Produce And Test Hybrid, Battery-Powered Trains At Southern Tier Facility

    Schumer Urged U.S. Transportation Secretary – Which Brings Together Two Emerging Areas Of Manufacturing In The Southern Tier – To Fund Project Boosted By The Bipartisan Infrastructure Investment & Jobs Law

    Schumer: Fed $$ For Battery-Powered Rail Development Puts Southern Tier On Track To Lead In Developing Future Of This Industry!

    U.S. Senate Majority Leader Charles E. Schumer today announced $15,982,500 for Steuben County IDA, in partnership with Norfolk Southern Railway, Binghamton University’s New Energy New York (NENY) consortium, and Alstom to develop new battery technology for more energy-efficient trains.

    “This nearly $16 million in federal funding puts Steuben County IDA and its partners – including Alstom, a national leader in cutting-edge rail development – on track to develop new state-of-the-art hybrid locomotives that will enhance rail safety and improve climate resilience,” said Senator Schumer. “I’ve led the charge to establish the Southern Tier as a hub for battery manufacturing and research & development, and today’s investment will boost efforts to make sure the next generation of rail technology is stamped ‘Made in Upstate NY.’ I also fought to boost funding for the Department of Transportation’s rail infrastructure improvement program in the Bipartisan Infrastructure & Jobs Law and am thrilled that the program is continuing to deliver for NY.”

    This project will help produce and test two hybrid, battery-powered trains at Alstom’s Southern Tier facility and aims to enhance safety and improve climate resilience. The federal funding comes from the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Consolidated Rail Infrastructure and Safety Improvements (CRISI) program, which Schumer fought to increase funding for in his Bipartisan Infrastructure Investment & Jobs Law.

    “Alstom is grateful to Senator Schumer for his support and leadership that has made New York’s Southern Tier the nation’s center of rail manufacturing excellence,” said Michael Keroullé, Alstom Americas President. “Together with our partners, Steuben County Industrial Development Agency, Binghamton University and Norfolk Southern, we will use this project to develop and test new battery and rail technologies to help advance efforts to decarbonize the freight sector.”

    Steuben County Industrial Development Agency’s Federal Railroad Administration’s Hybrid Locomotive Project aims to develop new battery technology to produce and test two hybrid, battery-diesel locomotives at Alstom’s Kanona facility in Bath. The rebuilt locomotives will use batteries as the primary power source, enhancing safety and improving climate resilience.

    “The Steuben County Industrial Development Agency is pleased to be partnering with Alstom and Norfolk Southern Railway on the development of the locomotive of the future at Alstom’s facility in Kanona, New York.  The CRISI award will help advance a new clean diesel battery hybrid technology that builds off the region’s deep history in transportation manufacturing and innovation in battery and clean energy technology.  The project aligns the region’s strengths to establish the County as a leader in clean tech manufacturing. We appreciate the strong support that Senator Schumer has shown towards the Steuben County IDA and his commitment to new battery technology in the Southern Tier, ” said James C. Johnson, Executive Director of Steuben County Industrial Development Agency.

    The Bipartisan Infrastructure & Jobs Law, which Schumer crafted and led to passage in the Senate, included $5 billion over five years for the CRISI program. The program invests in various projects within the United States to improve railroad safety, efficiency, and reliability; mitigate congestion at both intercity passenger and freight rail chokepoints to support more efficient travel and goods movement; enhance multi-modal connections; and lead to new or substantially improved Intercity Passenger Rail Transportation corridors.

    Schumer has long fought to secure federal investment to boost Binghamton and Upstate NY’s battery manufacturing and R&D. Most recently, Schumer announced the Binghamton University-led Upstate New York Energy Storage Engine won the esteemed U.S. National Science Foundation’s Regional “Innovation Engines” Competition (NSF Engines), which was created by his CHIPS & Science Law. Schumer said the Binghamton-led project was one of only ten projects across the country selected for this award which brings $15 million in federal funding, with up to $160 million total over the life of the program from the NSF to supercharge growth and cutting-edge research in battery development and manufacturing in Upstate NY.

    “Our engineers have met with Alstom representatives and discussed future collaborations on this exciting project. Through our Watson College of Engineering and Applied Sciences and through all of our resources available through our New Energy New York and Upstate New York Energy Storage Engine programs, we stand ready to assist Alstom in any way we are able.  Electrification of all forms of transportation– vehicles, planes and trains– is simply what has to happen in the US and we are pleased to play a role in this important transformation,” said Dean Atul Kelkar, Watson College of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Binghamton University.

    Schumer secured the prestigious tech hubs designation for Binghamton University’s New Energy New York (NENY) project, which he also created in the CHIPS & Science Act, accelerating the Southern Tier’s emergence as America’s next battery tech hub. Receiving that designation made $500,000 in funding through the CHIPS & Science Law, along with the potential for philanthropic and private sector investment, possible. Schumer designed the Tech Hubs program to strengthen a region’s capacity to commercialize, manufacture, and grow technology in key focus areas like batteries, and now, thanks to his efforts, Binghamton is spurring innovation and bringing the manufacturing of batteries back to America, all while supporting the economic resurgence of the Southern Tier.

    In addition to the NSF Engine award and national recognition through the Tech Hubs program, Schumer’s American Rescue Plan created programs like the $1 billion Build Back Better Regional Challenge (BBBRC) that also supported Binghamton’s efforts. Schumer personally advocated for the selection of Binghamton University’s battery hub proposal for the BBBRC federal investment and in December 2021, Binghamton’s project was selected as a Phase 1 awardee out of over 500 applications from around the country to compete for a final award. In April 2022, Schumer personally visited the Southern Tier to double down on his advocacy, standing with Dr. Whittingham, to reiterate his support and urge federal leaders to select Binghamton as a final Regional Challenge awardee. 

    Finally, in September 2022, Schumer secured Binghamton’s spot as a final awardee, with a $63.7 million federal investment, one of the largest grants made in the competition, which was matched by $50 million in funding from New York State, to help make the Southern Tier and Finger Lakes a national hub for battery research and manufacturing. Additionally, Schumer brought Dr. Whittingham as his guest to last year’s State of the Union to highlight Binghamton’s national leadership in battery technology.

    A copy of Schumer’s letter to U.S. Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg can be found below:

    Dear Secretary Buttigieg:

    I am pleased to write on behalf of the Steuben County Industrial Development Agency’s application to the Federal Railroad Administration’s Consolidated Rail Infrastructure and Safety Improvement (CRISI) Program. This collaborative effort between the Steuben County IDA, Alstom, Norfolk Southern Railway, and Binghamton University’s New Energy New York (NENY) consortium will result in the production and testing of two hybrid, battery-diesel locomotives. The project will demonstrate the efficiency, reliability, and commercial viability of technology that can be implemented to help accelerate the reduction of carbon emissions in the freight rail industry.

    In particular, the project will convert two GP 38/40 locomotives into a battery-diesel hybrid design. These locomotives will be remanufactured at Alstom’s Kanona facility in Bath, NY, and will reuse existing steel frames to significantly reduce carbon emissions. The rebuilt locomotives will use batteries as the primary power source, increasing pulling capacity by approximately 50% and maximizing engine efficiency. In addition, the locomotive will be designed to allow for the diesel engine to be replaced with zero emission technology as it becomes commercially and technology viable. This is a first step toward developing important prototype technology that has the potential to greatly benefit both industry and the environment.

    The Southern Tier is well positioned to help advance energy storage solutions for the freight rail industry given Binghamton University’s NENY. Following years of personal advocacy, NENY was designated a U.S. Economic Development Administration (U.S. EDA) Regional Technology and Innovation Hub, National Science Foundation (NSF) Regional Innovation Engine, and secured significant investment through the Build Back Better Regional Challenge. These federal awards recognize the region’s ability to lead the nation in battery innovation. Hence, the collaboration with experts at Binghamton University on battery-related subjects such as power density, modeling, and

    optimization underscores the potential of this project.

    I applaud the Steuben County Industrial Development Agency and the other partners for their foresight and sincerely hope the application is met with your approval. If you have questions, please do not hesitate to contact me or my grants coordinator at (202) 224-6542.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-Evening Report: Prabowo takes power as Indonesian military set up new battalions – what now for West Papuans?

    ANALYSIS: By Ali Mirin

    In the lead up to the inauguration of President Prabowo Subianto last Sunday, Indonesia established five “Vulnerable Area Buffer Infantry Battalions” in key regions across West Papua — a move described by Indonesian Army Chief-of-Staff Maruli Simanjuntak as a “strategic initiative” by the new leader.

    The battalions are based in the Keerom, Sarmi, Boven Digoel, Merauke and Sorong regencies, and their aim is to “enhance security” in Papua, and also to strengthen Indonesia’s military presence in response to long-standing unrest and conflict, partly related to independence movements and local resistance.

    According to Armed Forces chief General Agus Subiyanto, “the main goal of the new battalions is to assist the government in accelerating development and improving the prosperity of the Papuan people”.

    However, this raises concerns about further militarisation and repression of a region already plagued by long-running violence and human rights abuses in the context of the movement for a free and independent West Papua.

    Thousands of Indonesian soldiers have been stationed in areas impacted by violence, including Star Mountain, Nduga, Yahukimo, Maybrat, Intan Jaya, Puncak and Puncak Jaya.

    As a result, the situation in West Papua is becoming increasingly difficult for indigenous people.

    Extrajudicial killings in Papua go unreported or are only vaguely known about internationally. Those who are aware of these either disregard them or accept them as an “unavoidable consequence” of civil unrest in what Indonesia refers to as its most eastern provinces — the “troubled regions”.

    Why do the United Nations, Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) and the international community stay silent?

    While the Indonesian government frames this move as a strategy to enhance security and promote development, it risks exacerbating long-standing tensions in a region with deep-seated conflicts over autonomy and independence and the impacts of extractive industries and agribusiness on West Papuan people and their environment.

    Exploitative land theft
    The Centre for Climate Crime and Climate Justice, in collaboration with various international and Indonesian human and environmental rights organisations, presented testimony at the public hearings of the Permanent Peoples’ Tribunal (PPT) at Queen Mary University of London, in June.

    The tribunal heard testimonies relating to a range of violations by Indonesia. A key issue, highlighted was the theft of indigenous Papuan land by the Indonesian government and foreign corporations in connection to extractive industries such as mining, logging and palm oil plantations.

    The appropriation of traditional lands without the consent of the Papuan people violates their right to land and self-determination, leading to environmental degradation, loss of livelihood, and displacement of Indigenous communities.

    The tribunal’s judgment underscores how the influx of non-Papuan settlers and the Indonesian government’s policies have led to the marginalisation of Papuan culture and identity. The demographic shift due to transmigration programmes has significantly reduced the proportion of Indigenous Papuans in their own land.

    Moreover, a rise in militarisation in West Papua has often led to heightened repression, with potential human rights violations, forced displacement and further marginalisation of the indigenous communities.

    The decision to station additional military forces in West Papua, especially in conflict-prone areas like Nduga, Yahukimo and Intan Jaya, reflects a continuation of Indonesia’s militarised approach to governance in the region.

    Indonesian security forces . . . “the main goal of the new battalions is to assist the government in accelerating development and improving the prosperity of the Papuan people,” says Armed Forces chief General Agus Subiyanto. Image: Antara

    Security pact
    The Indonesia-Papua New Guinea Defence Cooperation Agreement (DCA) was signed by the two countries in 2010 but only came into effect this year after the PNG Parliament ratified it in late February.

    Indonesia ratified the pact in 2012.

    As reported by Asia Pacific Report, PNG’s Foreign Minister Justin Tkatchenko and Indonesia’s ambassador to PNG, Andriana Supandy, said the DCA enabled an enhancement of military operations between the two countries, with a specific focus on strengthening patrols along the PNG-West Papua border.

    This will have a significant impact on civilian communities in the areas of conflict and along the border. Indigenous people in particular, are facing the threat of military takeovers of their lands and traditional border lines.

    Under the DCA, the joint militaries plan to employ technology, including military drones, to monitor and manage local residents’ every move along the border.

    Human rights
    Prabowo, Defence Minister prior to being elected President, has a controversial track record on human rights — especially in the 1990s, during Indonesia’s occupation of East Timor.

    His involvement in military operations in West Papua adds to fears that the new battalions may be used for oppressive measures, including crackdowns on dissent and pro-independence movements.

    As indigenous communities continue to be marginalised, their calls for self-determination and independence may grow louder, risking further conflict in the region.

    Without substantial changes in the Indonesian government’s approach to West Papua, including addressing human rights abuses and engaging in meaningful dialogue with indigenous leaders, the future of West Papuans remains uncertain and fraught with challenges.

    With ongoing military operations often accused of targeting indigenous populations, the likelihood of further human rights violations, such as extrajudicial killings, arbitrary detentions, and forced displacement, remains high.

    Displacement
    Military operations in West Papua frequently result in the displacement of indigenous Papuans, as they flee conflict zones.

    The presence of more battalions could drive more communities from their homes, deepening the humanitarian crisis in the region. Indigenous peoples, who rely on their land for survival, face disruption of their traditional livelihoods and rising poverty.

    The Indonesian government launched the Damai Cartenz military operation on April 5, 2018, and it is still in place in the conflict zones of Yahukimo, Pegunungan Bintang, Nduga and Intan Jaya.

    Since then, according to a September 24 Human Rights Monitor update, more than 79,867 West Papuans remain internally displaced.

    The displacement, killings, shootings, abuses, tortures and deaths are merely the tip of the iceberg of what truly occurs within the tightly-controlled military operational zones across West Papua, according to Benny Wenda, a UK-based leader of the United Liberation Movement of West Papua (ULMWP).

    The international community, particularly the United Nations and the Pacific Islands Forum have been criticised for remaining largely silent on the matter. Responding to the August 31 PIF communique reaffirming its 2019 call for the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights visit to West Papua, Wenda said:

    “[N]ow is the time for Indonesia to finally let the world see what is happening in our land. They cannot hide their dirty secret any longer.”

    Increased global attention and intervention is crucial in addressing the humanitarian crisis, preventing further escalations and supporting the rights and well-being of the West Papuans.

    Without meaningful dialogue, the long-term consequences for the indigenous population may be severe, risking further violence and unrest in the region.

    As Prabowo was sworn in, Wenda restated the ULMWP’s demand for an internationally-mediated referendum on independence, saying: “The continued violation of our self-determination is the root cause of the West Papua conflict.”

    Ali Mirin is a West Papuan academic from the Kimyal tribe of the highlands bordering the Star Mountain region of Papua New Guinea. He is a contributor to Asia Pacific Report and Green Left in Australia.

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Sherrill, Scutari, Ruiz, Union County Commissioners, and Kean University Come Together to Highlight the Importance of Quality Tutoring Initiatives

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Mikie Sherrill (NJ-11)

    UNION, NJ – Representative Mikie Sherrill (NJ-11), Senate President Nicholas Scutari (LD-22), Senate Majority Leader Teresa Ruiz (LD-29), and the Union County Board of County Commissioners visited Kean University to underscore the importance of high-impact tutoring programs in combating pandemic-related learning loss, supporting New Jersey students, and expanding the education workforce. 

    Sherrill’s bipartisan  Expanding Access to High-Impact Tutoring Actwould help to complement statewide tutoring initiatives championed by Scutari and Ruiz, like the High Impact Tutoring Grant program and the NJ Tutoring Corps, aimed at providing quality tutoring resources to school districts. Recently, Kean University has implemented an innovative tutoring program to help students stay on track in their studies while training aspiring teachers.

    “New Jersey is home to the best public school system in the nation and, as a mom of four, I’m committed to ensuring that every student, in every school district and zip code, can reap the benefits of their Garden State education. That’s why I am proud to work with leaders like Senate President Scutari, Majority Leader Ruiz, and the incredible educators and student tutors at Kean University to expand access to high-quality tutoring for New Jerseyans of all ages and backgrounds. I will continue to work to get my Expanding Access to High-Impact Tutoring Act across the finish line to bring back additional federal funding to enact tutoring programs that will help our children get ahead,” said Rep. Sherrill.

    “Tutoring is more than an educational resource. It is an investment in our shared future. By helping students recover from pandemic-related learning loss, high-impact tutoring programs are closing achievement gaps and giving our children the tools they need to succeed in life. When our students thrive, our communities thrive,” said Senate President Nicholas Scutari.

    “In New Jersey, over half of third graders are not reading at grade level, and the data is even more troubling for students of color, with 73.6% of Black and 72.5% of Latino third graders falling short. We are at a critical juncture and must have bold, innovative conversations about how we educate our children,” said Senate Majority Leader M. Teresa Ruiz. “Academic success leads to better career outcomes and a higher quality of life. If we provide every child, regardless of ZIP code, with the opportunity to reach their potential, we can secure them a brighter future. We’ve made significant state-level investments, and collaboration with Congress will enhance these efforts. I thank Congresswoman Sherrill for her steadfast partnership as we expand high-impact tutoring, close achievement gaps, and strengthen the foundation for our students’ success.”

    “As we take this significant step forward with the Managed Peer-to-Peer Tutoring initiative, I am proud to see our vision becoming a reality. This program, developed through strong partnerships between our Union County Commissioner Board with Kean University and key leaders like Senate President Nicholas Scutari, Congresswoman Mikie Sherrill and Senator Teresa Ruiz, is designed to address the learning challenges our students faced due to the pandemic,” said Union County Commissioner Sergio Granados. “By connecting students with their peers, we aim to create a supportive and effective learning environment that will not only help them recover but excel. Together, we are building a sustainable model for academic success and community connection in Union County.”

    “As New Jersey’s urban research university, Kean is deeply committed to providing the critical support students need to thrive, from Pre-K through higher education,” said Kean University President Lamont O. Repollet, Ed.D. “We were honored to welcome Congresswoman Sherrill, along with state and county leaders, to our campus to discuss vital tutoring initiatives that will address post-pandemic learning loss. These initiatives are crucial to creating an equitable path to success for students of all backgrounds across New Jersey.”

    Sherrill has long been a leader in supporting New Jersey’s education system and protecting our children and teens. As a former member of the House Education and Labor Committee, she fought hard to support the American Rescue Plan, which helped our students return to the classroom and is continuing to fund tutoring initiatives across New Jersey. Additionally, she is fighting to hold social media companies accountable with the  Kids Online Safety Act and the  Preventing Deepfakes of Intimate Images Act.

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI China: Xi urges more efforts to achieve marine sci-tech breakthroughs

    Source: China State Council Information Office 2

    Chinese President Xi Jinping has urged more efforts to achieve marine sci-tech breakthroughs in a reply letter to faculty and students of the Ocean University of China.
    Xi, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, congratulated the university’s faculty, students and alumni on its centenary.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: Integrating ancient classics studies with the world

    Source: China State Council Information Office 3

    It’s been more than three decades since Sinologist Martin Kern studied at Peking University in the late 1980s under Yuan Xingpei, a well-known expert on classical Chinese literature.

    Kern had been a journalist for four years before he started studying Sinology at the University of Cologne in Germany. He was looking for a field with which he was not familiar, so he took up contemporary Chinese poetry and came to Beijing on a scholarship from the German government in 1987.

    Over the course of the following two years, he became interested in the early works of Chinese literature and “went backward into antiquity”, as he himself has put it. His focus remains the same today.

    As a professor at the Department of East Asian Studies at Princeton University in the United States, and codirector of the International Center for the Study of Ancient Text Cultures at Renmin University of China, his academic interest mainly covers literature from the Western Zhou Dynasty (c. 11th century-771 BC) to the Han Dynasty (206 BC-AD 220).

    For Kern, this is a period when early China’s textual culture — integrating philosophical and literary traditions, as well as historical narratives — was closely related to the social and political development of that time.

    During an academic forum themed “From Practices to Things: First Books in the Ancient World” at RUC’s Suzhou Campus in Jiangsu province in late August, he argued that although writing had appeared much earlier in China, it was not until the 5th century BC that a broader textual culture emerged out of practices such as philosophical debate, poetry performances, historical anecdotes, royal speeches and political observations.

    These shorter texts — poems, speeches, anecdotes or essays — were compiled into larger anthologies of anonymous individual texts, giving rise to an early book culture which prioritized compilation and annotation over authorship, interpretation and commentary over the written text itself.

    At the forum, established Chinese and foreign scholars discussed the formation and development of early textual cultures in major ancient civilizations such as those of Greece, Rome, Egypt, Sumer and China, in terms of the social and cultural atmosphere, knowledge practices, participants, materials and mediums that facilitated their invention.

    “It’s so important to strengthen international collaboration and make connections,” Kern says. “For many years, I have encouraged my friends and colleagues here in China to learn a foreign language, read foreign scholarship on early China, as well as scholarship on other ancient civilizations, so that we can have a real conversation.

    “We need to develop a shared intellectual language where we share ideas, concepts and questions,” he adds.

    Xu Jianwei, professor at the School of Liberal Arts at RUC, says that according to his own observations, many high-level scholars of other major ancient civilizations share common working languages — mostly English, German and French — which means they can easily read each other’s academic findings.

    However, they are seldom exposed to Chinese studies and ancient texts, and few Chinese scholars are able to read and write well in other languages. As a result, the study of early China has been isolated from the global academic community.

    “We need to introduce Chinese classical studies into a broader framework of global civilizations studies and related discourse systems,” Xu says, adding that it’s a pity that the wealth of ancient Chinese texts have yet to provide inspiration and contribute to the development of humanities around the world.

    He calls for a change in the way of storytelling and writing by Chinese scholars, saying that holding events like the forum, and bringing domestic and foreign scholars together, will help them work out how they can make themselves understood to an international audience.

    Kern says that there was a time when discussions of classical studies in the West revolved largely around ancient Greece and Rome, but that studies of the ancient world now increasingly involve dozens of classical traditions, including that of early China.

    Xu says that for a century, Chinese scholars have become used to a classification system that categorizes the study of ancient textual cultures into disciplines such as history, philosophy and Chinese literature, but he adds that it’s time to bring back the field of “Chinese classical studies”, which breaks the current disciplinary boundaries, and is consistent with the academic tradition of ancient China that has proved efficient over the course of history.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Architect Kristina Dmitrova told students how to create a project that will be approved by the client

    Translation. Region: Russian Federation –

    Source: Saint Petersburg State University of Architecture and Civil Engineering – Saint Petersburg State University of Architecture and Civil Engineering – Kristina Dmitrova

    SPbGASU has announced a student competition for the concept of the main building’s vestibule. The best project will be proposed for implementation, and its author will go down in the history of their native university. Graduates of our university who have succeeded in their profession and built a career at the international level have been invited as experts. They not only evaluate the works, but also give lectures where they share their experience. Among them is the famous and successful architect Kristina Dmitrova.

    Kristina Dmitrova graduated from the architecture department of SPbGASU in 2015 with honors. At the age of twenty-one, she won an architectural competition and went to Rome for an internship at the Exclusiva Design studio, which developed premium-class interior projects. At twenty-four, Kristina opened her own business specializing in the design of public interiors and private homes. One of her first commercial projects was the Alpenhaus restaurant on Krestovsky Island in St. Petersburg for 1,200 people. Today, Kristina Dmitrova’s company has accumulated extensive experience in cooperation with various business areas, the public sector, and has designed more than 50 thousand square meters of various objects, including abroad. Based on her own experience, she identified nine golden rules of public interior design and recommended that students carefully study them in order to design a successful project that will be approved by the customer. The lecturer confirmed each rule with real objects.

    So, rule #1 “Clarity, clarity, clarity” requires being specific and consistent, being able to correctly and clearly convey the details of your project to the customer and make decisions promptly. Otherwise, decisions will be made by third-party contractors involved in the project, and the reputation of the architect-designer will suffer. “Your task is to competently implement the project, and not dissolve in creative fantasies,” advised Kristina Dmitrova.

    Rule #2 “5 percent and 95 percent” clearly distinguishes between time and effort for design and project implementation. As practice shows, only 5 percent of time and labor resources should be devoted to design, the rest should be spent on implementation. For example, out of the entire team, only two specialists are engaged in design during the month, and the rest – in implementation for nine months. “Meanwhile, the success of the project implementation largely depends on these 5 percent. Therefore, the concept must be seriously dealt with, but keep in mind that without the competencies of other specialists participating in the implementation of the project, without experienced managers, success cannot be achieved,” the architect emphasized.

    Rule #3 requires the use of wear-resistant materials. Public places usually have a high flow of visitors, so the materials must be durable so that the facility can justify itself functionally. The larger the public project, the greater the flow of people and the more wear-resistant the materials must be. “Otherwise, they will soon become unusable, the establishment will incur repair costs and will be forced to close, which means it will lose profits. Therefore, wear-resistant and easily restored materials are a priority,” the expert advised.

    Rule No. 4 provides principles of interaction with contractors. It is necessary to take into account that, in addition to the architect, other specialists are also involved in the project, for example, engineers, who are obliged to comply with standards and requirements. “And here you need to be a mediator-negotiator. They do according to the requirements, and we need to create a beautiful interior. Therefore, our task is to get permission from them and not spoil the design. To do this, it is necessary to study engineering systems in order to understand the engineer’s train of thought in advance,” Kristina emphasized.

    Rule #5 requires paying attention to vandalism prevention. Don’t have illusions that people will use everything carefully, everything should be securely fastened.

    Rule #6 says: the less maintenance the interior requires, the better. For example, if you want to add greenery, then you should give preference to artificial, because living greenery requires proper care, proper lighting, and hiring additional staff. “Technology in the production of artificial greenery has advanced far, and now it is difficult to distinguish it from living plants. Even in Singapore, where, it would seem, there are all the conditions for growing living plants, this is the rule they adhere to in interior design,” said Christina.

    Rule #7 requires working closely with the fire department. Their requirements do not allow for flexibility, so it is necessary to discuss any restrictions with them in advance.

    Rule #8 is the proper use of the customer company’s branding elements – corporate colors, symbols. For such interior visualization, you need to request their brand book.

    Rule #9 concerns the creation of a unique design. Often, the customer wants not only to receive a unique interior at the time of creation, but also to prevent its further duplication. This is normal practice, and such wishes should be listened to.

    The specialist also advised participating in various competitions to gain experience. The students listened to the practicing architect with interest and actively asked questions.

    “By participating in the competition as an expert, I thank my home university for the time I spent here, the teachers who gave me deep professional knowledge, and I consider it my duty to contribute to its further development. In addition, I want to help students with practical advice that I would be glad to hear from practicing specialists during my years of study. I am sure that my experience will help them in the competition and in their future profession,” noted Kristina.

    The operator of the competition was the Educational Center for Project-Based Learning of SPbGASU. Its director Alexandra Yugay emphasized that the contestants face a difficult task.

    “Based on this, we invited not only heads of departments and teachers as experts, but also graduates of our university who have built a career in interior design bureaus, so that they could give applied lectures on public interior design, talk about approaches to design, based on their own practice. This will allow the competition participants to adjust their projects taking into account advice from professionals, and delve deeper into this topic. The semi-final of the competition will take place on November 8, ten finalists will be announced. Taking into account the opinions of experts, they will finalize their projects to participate in the final, which will take place at the end of November,” said Alexandra Yugai.

    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: Beam Global Announces Appointment of Sales Veteran to Lead and Expand Internal and External Sales Teams

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    SAN DIEGO, Oct. 24, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Beam Global, (Nasdaq: BEEM), a leading provider of innovative and sustainable infrastructure solutions for the electrification of transportation and energy security, is pleased to announce the appointment of Andy Lovsted as Vice President of Sales. In this role Mr. Lovsted will spearhead Beam Global’s sales strategy to expand the company’s footprint in electric vehicle (EV) infrastructure and energy security markets.

    Mr. Lovsted is a proven leader in managing sales for large enterprises and in emerging markets with over 20 years of executive leadership experience in the technology sector. He is recognized for his ability to transform sales organizations and deliver exceptional results, most recently, as Vice President of Sales at Nice North America LLC, previously known as Nortek Security & Control, LLC, one of the largest smart commercial and industrial solutions manufacturing companies in the world. Mr. Lovsted managed a portfolio of products including partnerships with ADT, Brinks Home, Samsung and TELUS, responsible for approximately $500M in annual revenue. His expertise spans various industries including transportation, storage and security technologies where he has been instrumental in launching innovative products and driving significant revenue.

    “We are thrilled to welcome Andy to our team at a pivotal moment for Beam Global, to drive growth in commercial and government sectors through optimizing our internal team’s capabilities and, importantly, through the force multiplication effect of engaging agents, resellers and distributors,” said Desmond Wheatley, CEO of Beam Global. “Andy’s proven track record in driving high-performance teams and his extensive experience in growing distribution networks in the technology and automation sectors make him uniquely qualified to scale our sales programs and capture new opportunities in the rapidly expanding markets we target.”

    “I’m excited to join Beam Global as the company continues its leadership in providing rapidly deployed, scalable and sustainable EV charging, smart city and energy storage solutions,” said Mr. Lovsted. “The rapid adoption of electric vehicles, increased electrical capacity requirements and evermore challenging environmental conditions make me confident that Beam Global’s innovative products are well-positioned to meet the growing demand while creating a fantastic growth engine. Building a sales team that gets to sell industry leading, unique and patented products that are highly relevant, is exciting, fun and rewarding. I look forward to being at the sharp end of the company’s mission of providing sustainable energy solutions.”

    Throughout his career Mr. Lovsted has demonstrated an ability to build and execute effective go-to-market strategies, foster key industry relationships and implement transformative sales initiatives. He focuses on maximizing efficiency, driving accountability and implementing strategic change management to optimize team performance. His background includes driving significant sales and marketing and business development for Hewlett Packard, Seagate, Siemens, Nice and others where he has built and led teams of 100+. Mr. Lovsted holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration and Marketing from San Diego State University.

    About Beam Global

    Beam Global is a clean technology innovator which develops and manufactures sustainable infrastructure products and technologies. We operate at the nexus of clean energy and transportation with a focus on sustainable energy infrastructure, rapidly deployed and scalable EV charging solutions, safe energy storage and vital energy security. With operations in the U.S. and Europe, Beam Global develops, patents, designs, engineers and manufactures unique and advanced clean technology solutions that power transportation, provide secure sources of electricity, save time and money and protect the environment. Headquartered in San Diego with facilities in Chicago, Belgrade and Kraljevo, Beam Global has a deep patent portfolio and is listed on Nasdaq under the symbol BEEM. For more information visit BeamForAll.com, LinkedIn, YouTube and X (formerly Twitter).

    Media Contact:
    Skyya PR
    +1 651-335-0585
    Press@BeamForAll.com

    Investor Relations:
    Core IR
    +1 516-222-2560
    IR@BeamForAll.com

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-Evening Report: Grattan on Friday: a possible Trump victory is making the Albanese government cagey about its 2035 climate target

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra

    If Donald Trump wins the US presidency on November 5, his victory will have profound implications for other countries on many fronts. Not least of them will be climate change policy.

    Perhaps the uncertainty now hanging over US politics was on the mind of Climate Change and Energy Minister Chris Bowen, who shilly-shallied this week over when he’ll announce Australia’s 2035 emissions reduction target under the Paris climate agreement.

    Bowen refused to be pinned down at the Australian Financial Review’s energy and climate summit on whether the target would be public before next year’s election. Neither his office nor that of the prime minister would be more specific later.

    Australia, like other countries, is required under the Paris agreement to put forward its target in February. But, also like other countries, Australia is focused on what’s happening in the US.

    Trump wants to take the US out of the Paris agreement for the second time. The first exit took effect immediately after his 2020 defeat and incoming President Joe Biden was able to reverse it at once. This time, there’d be no such quick turnaround.

    The Biden administration has been strongly committed on climate issues. If the US exited, the Paris agreement would likely be transformed.

    There may be other reasons why Bowen is being cagey about the 2035 target. Climate change and energy will be harder issues for Labor in this election, as it struggles with the realities of the transition, than in the 2022 one.

    In the run-up to that election, a desperate Scott Morrison pulled out all stops to win support within the Coalition to sign up to the 2050 net-zero emissions target.

    Labor was on the front foot, with a policy for a 43% reduction in emissions (on 2005 levels) by 2030, underpinned by a target of 82% renewable electricity by then. The election promise for consumers was a $275 cut in household power bills by 2025.

    Crafting a policy is often easier than implementing it. The journey to a clean energy economy is arduous.

    The $275 promise was quickly seen as unrealisable. The government has had to provide rebates to keep prices in check. The rollout of renewables is complicated by local resistance to some projects, including wind farms and transmission lines. At present, more than 40% of electricity comes from renewables.

    The cost-of-living crisis has increasingly dominated everything. Climate change remains a significant issue with people, but over time it tends to go up and down their scale of concerns, depending on changing circumstances.

    The Ipsos Climate Change Report, done annually, found in 2024 “strong notional support for the energy transition”, but low understanding of what progress had been made.

    Concerns about the negative impacts of the transition on cost of living and energy reliability have increased, particularly in the current high inflation environment. The perceived economic benefits of the transition are less clear, with many unsure about the impact on jobs and the broader economy.

    The emphasis on cost of living is influencing priorities for the energy transition, with Australians wanting to see energy prices and reliability prioritised. There is a growing sentiment that Australia should only take action if other countries are also contributing fairly to climate change efforts.

    Of course a summer of bad bushfires can change people’s priorities suddenly. Barring that, Labor is looking at a 2025 election in which it will be more on the defensive than the offensive on climate and energy issues.

    The opposition has already acted to sharpen the difference with Labor over the medium term targets. Peter Dutton will have no 2035 target before the election, and has questioned the 2030 target to which Australia is signed up, although he says a Coalition government would not leave the Paris agreement. He is also running hard on his controversial policy for nuclear energy.

    While Bowen is not clarifying whether he’ll announce the government’s target ahead of the election, it would be awkward for Australia not to meet the February deadline.

    There would not be a penalty, but it would be a bad look, especially given we are vying with Turkey to host, together with Pacific countries, COP31 in 2026. One unknown, incidentally, is whether a Coalition government would continue this bid, which the opposition has describes as a “vanity project”.

    If the government does announce the 2035 target before the election, the big question is how ambitious it will make it.

    Bowen will receive advice on this from the Climate Change Authority, to which the government has appointed, as head, former New South Wales Liberal Treasurer Matt Kean.

    In an earlier discussion paper, the authority said the evidence suggests

    A 2035 target in the range of 65-75% […] could be achievable and sustainable if additional action is taken by governments, business, investors and households […]. However, attempting to go much faster could risk significant levels of economic and social disruption and put progress at risk.

    A bold target would make the government more vulnerable, just when Labor would want the attention on the Coalition’s problematic nuclear policy. On the other hand, if the target were modest, that would be exploited by the Greens.

    Next month, Bowen will attend COP29 in Azerbaijan, where the central issue will be a financial goal, replacing the 2015 goal, for developed and major economies to help fund developing countries’ emission reduction efforts. Bowen, with Egyptian Environment Minister Yasmine Fouad, is leading the consultations on this, and so has a significant role at the conference.

    At the COP meeting, Bowen will get a better idea of where other countries are on their expected 2035 targets. He indicated this week he has already started taking soundings. “Obviously […] of course you think about international context.”

    By the time of COP, which runs November 11-22, America will have chosen its next president. The COP meeting will either be business-as-usual, looking to an incoming Kamala Harris presidency, or trying to anticipate the implications of a Trump administration that could be a major disruptor of international climate policy.

    Michelle Grattan 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. Grattan on Friday: a possible Trump victory is making the Albanese government cagey about its 2035 climate target – https://theconversation.com/grattan-on-friday-a-possible-trump-victory-is-making-the-albanese-government-cagey-about-its-2035-climate-target-242107

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Ukraine cannot defeat Russia – the best the west can do is help Kyiv plan for a secure post-war future

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Frank Ledwidge, Senior Lecturer in Military Strategy and Law, University of Portsmouth

    A friend of mine, usually an intensely optimistic pro-Ukraine analyst, returned from Ukraine last week and told me: “It’s like the German Army in January 1945.” The Ukrainians are being driven back on all fronts – including in the Kursk province of Russia, which they had opened with much hope and fanfare in August. More importantly, they are running out of soldiers.

    For most of 2024, Ukraine has been losing ground. This week, the town of Selidove in the western Donetsk region is being surrounded and, like Vuhledar earlier this month, is likely to fall in the next week or so – the only variable being how many Ukrainians will be lost in the process. Over the winter, the terrible prospect of a major battle to hold the strategically significant industrial town of Pokrovsk beckons.

    Ukrainian forces are steadily losing ground close to the strategically vital town of Pokrovsk, western Donetsk region.
    Institute for the Study of War

    Ultimately, this is not a war of territory but of attrition. The only resource that counts is soldiers – and here the calculus for Ukraine is not positive.

    Ukraine claims to have “liquidated” nearly 700,000 Russian soldiers – with more than 120,000 killed and upwards of 500,000 injured. Its president, Volodymyr Zelensky, admitted in February this year to 31,000 Ukrainian fatalities, with no figure given for injured.

    The problem is these Ukrainian totals are apparently believed by western officials, when the reality is likely to be very different. US sources say the war has seen 1 million people killed and wounded on both sides. Crucially, this includes a growing number of Ukrainian civilians.

    Low morale and desertion, as well as draft-dodging, are now significant problems for Ukraine. These factors are exacerbating already serious recruitment issues, making it hard to supply the front lines with fresh troops.

    A dreadful debate is taking place in Ukraine. The question revolves around whether to mobilise – and risk serious casualties to – the 18-25 age group. Due to economic pressures in the early 2000s, Ukraine suffered a major drop in its birth rate, leaving relatively few people now aged between 15 and 25. Mobilisation and serious attrition of this group may be something Ukraine simply can’t afford, given the already serious demographic crisis the country faces.

    And even if this mobilisation does go ahead, by the time the necessary politics, legislation, bureaucracy and training have run their course, the war may be over.

    Victory look impossible

    History knows of no example where taking on Russia in an attritional contest has proved successful. Let’s be clear: this means there is a real possibility of defeat – there is no sugar-coating this.

    Zelensky’s maximalist war aims of restoring Ukraine’s pre-2014 borders, along with other unlikely conditions – which were unchallenged and encouraged by a confused but self-aggrandising west – will not be achieved, and the west’s leaders are partly to blame. Ill-advised wars in Afghanistan and the Middle East left western armed forces hollow, poorly armed, and entirely unprepared for a serious and prolonged conflict, with ammunition stocks likely to last weeks at best.

    European promises of millions of artillery rounds have failed to materialise – only 650,000 have been supplied to Kyiv this year, whereas the North Koreans have supplied at least twice that to Russia.

    Only the US has significant stocks of weaponry in the form of thousands of armoured vehicles, tanks and artillery pieces in reserve – and it is unlikely to change its policy of drip-feeding weapons to Ukraine now. Even if such a decision is made, the lead-time for delivery will be years, not months.

    In a confidential briefing I attended recently given by western defence officials, the atmosphere was downbeat. The situation is “perilous” and “as bad as it has ever been” for Ukraine. Western powers cannot afford another strategic disaster like Afghanistan which, in the words of Ernest Hemingway (aptly quoted by the strategist Lawrence Freedman), happened “gradually, then suddenly”.

    There will be no decisive breakthrough by Russia’s army when they take this town or that (say, Pokrovsk). They haven’t the capability to do it. So, there won’t be a collapse – no “Kyiv as Kabul” moment.

    However, there are limits to the losses Ukraine can take. We do not know where that limit lies, but we’ll know when it happens. Crucially, there will be no victory for Ukraine. Unforgivably, there is not, and never has been, a western strategy except to bleed Russia as long as possible.

    More fundamentally, two ancient ethical questions governing whether a war is just must now be asked and answered: whether there is a reasonable prospect of success, and whether the potential gain is proportionate to the cost.

    The problem, as so often before, is that the west has not defined what it considers a success. The cost, meanwhile, is becoming all-too clear.

    To have clearly defined its goals and limits would have constituted the beginnings of a strategy – and the west isn’t good at that. Nato’s leaders now need to move quickly beyond meaningless rhetoric or anything that smacks of “as long as it takes”. We saw where that led in Iraq, Afghanistan and Libya.

    We need a realistic answer to what something like a “win”, or at least an acceptable settlement, now looks like – as well as the extent to which it is achievable, and whether the west is really going to pursue it. And then for western leaders to act accordingly.

    A starting point could be accepting that Crimea, Donetsk and Luhansk are lost – something an increasing number of Ukrainians are beginning to say openly. Then we need to start planning seriously for a post-war Ukraine that will need the west’s suppport more than ever.

    Russia cannot possibly take all, or even the bulk of, Ukraine’s territory. Even if it could, it could not possibly hold it. It is amply clear there will be a compromise settlement.

    So, it is time for Nato – and the US in particular – to articulate a viable end to this nightmarish ordeal, and to develop a pragmatic strategy to deal with Russia in the coming decade. More importantly, the west must plan how to support a heroic, shattered – but still independent – Ukraine.

    Frank Ledwidge 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. Ukraine cannot defeat Russia – the best the west can do is help Kyiv plan for a secure post-war future – https://theconversation.com/ukraine-cannot-defeat-russia-the-best-the-west-can-do-is-help-kyiv-plan-for-a-secure-post-war-future-242010

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Global: ‘Cosmic inflation’: did the early cosmos balloon in size? A mirror universe going backwards in time may be a simpler explanation

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Neil Turok, Higgs Chair of Theoretical Physics, University of Edinburgh

    The mirror universe, with the big bang at the centre. Neil Turok, CC BY-SA

    We live in a golden age for learning about the universe. Our most powerful telescopes have revealed that the cosmos is surprisingly simple on the largest visible scales. Likewise, our most powerful “microscope”, the Large Hadron Collider, has found no deviations from known physics on the tiniest scales.

    These findings were not what most theorists expected. Today, the dominant theoretical approach combines string theory, a powerful mathematical framework with no successful physical predictions as yet, and “cosmic inflation” – the idea that, at a very early stage, the universe ballooned wildly in size. In combination, string theory and inflation predict the cosmos to be incredibly complex on tiny scales and completely chaotic on very large scales.

    The nature of the expected complexity could take a bewildering variety of forms. On this basis, and despite the absence of observational evidence, many theorists promote the idea of a “multiverse”: an uncontrolled and unpredictable cosmos consisting of many universes, each with totally different physical properties and laws.

    This is article is part of our series Cosmology in crisis? which uncovers the greatest problems facing cosmologists today – and discusses the implications of solving them.

    So far, the observations indicate exactly the opposite. What should we make of the discrepancy? One possibility is that the apparent simplicity of the universe is merely an accident of the limited range of scales we can probe today, and that when observations and experiments reach small enough or large enough scales, the asserted complexity will be revealed.

    The other possibility is that the universe really is very simple and predictable on both the largest and smallest scales. I believe this possibility should be taken far more seriously. For, if it is true, we may be closer than we imagined to understanding the universe’s most basic puzzles. And some of the answers may already be staring us in the face.

    The trouble with string theory and inflation

    The current orthodoxy is the culmination of decades of effort by thousands of serious theorists. According to string theory, the basic building blocks of the universe are miniscule, vibrating loops and pieces of sub-atomic string. As currently understood, the theory only works if there are more dimensions of space than the three we experience. So, string theorists assume that the reason we don’t detect them is that they are tiny and curled up.

    Unfortunately, this makes string theory hard to test, since there are an almost unimaginable number of ways in which the small dimensions can be curled up, with each giving a different set of physical laws in the remaining, large dimensions.

    Meanwhile, cosmic inflation is a scenario proposed in the 1980s to explain why the universe is so smooth and flat on the largest scales we can see. The idea is that the infant universe was small and lumpy, but an extreme burst of ultra-rapid expansion blew it up vastly in size, smoothing it out and flattening it to be consistent with what we see today.

    Inflation is also popular because it potentially explains why the energy density in the early universe varied slightly from place to place. This is important because the denser regions would have later collapsed under their own gravity, seeding the formation of galaxies.

    Over the past three decades, the density variations have been measured more and more accurately both by mapping the cosmic microwave background – the radiation from the big bang – and by mapping the three-dimensional distribution of galaxies.

    In most models of inflation, the early extreme burst of expansion which smoothed and flattened the universe also generated long-wavelength gravitational waves –– ripples in the fabric of space-time. Such waves, if observed, would be a “smoking gun” signal confirming that inflation actually took place. However, so far the observations have failed to detect any such signal. Instead, as the experiments have steadily improved, more and more models of inflation have been ruled out.

    Furthermore, during inflation, different regions of space can experience very different amounts of expansion. On very large scales, this produces a multiverse of post-inflationary universes, each with different physical properties.

    The history of the universe according to the model of cosmic inflation.
    wikipedia, CC BY-SA

    The inflation scenario is based on assumptions about the forms of energy present and the initial conditions. While these assumptions solve some puzzles, they create others. String and inflation theorists hope that somewhere in the vast inflationary multiverse, a region of space and time exists with just the right properties to match the universe we see.

    However, even if this is true (and not one such model has yet been found), a fair comparison of theories should include an “Occam factor”, quantifying Occam’s razor, which penalises theories with many parameters and possibilities over simpler and more predictive ones. Ignoring the Occam factor amounts to assuming that there is no alternative to the complex, unpredictive hypothesis – a claim I believe has little foundation.

    Over the past several decades, there have been many opportunities for experiments and observations to reveal specific signals of string theory or inflation. But none have been seen. Again and again, the observations turned out simpler and more minimal than anticipated.

    It is high time, I believe, to acknowledge and learn from these failures, and to start looking seriously for better alternatives.

    A simpler alternative

    Recently, my colleague Latham Boyle and I have tried to build simpler and more testable theories that do away with inflation and string theory. Taking our cue from the observations, we have attempted to tackle some of the most profound cosmic puzzles with a bare minimum of theoretical assumptions.

    Our first attempts succeeded beyond our most optimistic hopes. Time will tell whether they survive further scrutiny. However, the progress we have already made convinces me that, in all likelihood, there are alternatives to the standard orthodoxy – which has become a straitjacket we need to break out of.

    I hope our experience encourages others, especially younger researchers, to explore novel approaches guided strongly by the simplicity of the observations – and to be more sceptical about their elders’ preconceptions. Ultimately, we must learn from the universe and adapt our theories to it rather than vice versa.

    Boyle and I started out by tackling one of cosmology’s greatest paradoxes. If we follow the expanding universe backward in time, using Einstein’s theory of gravity and the known laws of physics, space shrinks away to a single point, the “initial singularity”.

    In trying to make sense of this infinitely dense, hot beginning, theorists including Nobel laureate Roger Penrose pointed to a deep symmetry in the basic laws governing light and massless particles. This symmetry, called “conformal” symmetry, means that neither light nor massless particles actually experience the shrinking away of space at the big bang.

    By exploiting this symmetry, one can follow light and particles all the way back to the beginning. Doing so, Boyle and I found we could describe the initial singularity as a “mirror”: a reflecting boundary in time (with time moving forward on one side, and backward on the other).

    Picturing the big bang as a mirror neatly explains many features of the universe which might otherwise appear to conflict with the most basic laws of physics. For example, for every physical process, quantum theory allows a “mirror” process in which space is inverted, time is reversed and every particle is replaced with its anti-particle (a particle similar to it in almost all respects, but with the opposite electric charge).

    According to this powerful symmetry, called CPT symmetry, the “mirror” process should occur at precisely the same rate as the original one. One of the most basic puzzles about the universe is that it appears to [violate CPT symmetry] because time always runs forward and there are more particles than anti-particles.

    Our mirror hypothesis restores the symmetry of the universe. When you look in a mirror, you see your mirror image behind it: if you are left-handed, the image is right-handed and vice versa. The combination of you and your mirror image are more symmetrical than you are alone.

    Likewise, when Boyle and I extrapolated our universe back through the big bang, we found its mirror image, a pre-bang universe in which (relative to us) time runs backward and antiparticles outnumber particles. For this picture to be true, we don’t need the mirror universe to be real in the classical sense (just as your image in a mirror isn’t real). Quantum theory, which rules the microcosmos of atoms and particles, challenges our intuition so at this point the best we can do is think of the mirror universe as a mathematical device which ensures that the initial condition for the universe does not violate CPT symmetry.

    Surprisingly, this new picture provided an important clue to the nature of the unknown cosmic substance called dark matter. Neutrinos are very light, ghostly particles which, typically, move at close to the speed of light and which spin as they move along, like tiny tops. If you point the thumb of your left hand in the direction the neutrino moves, then your four fingers indicate the direction in which it spins. The observed, light neutrinos are called “left-handed” neutrinos.

    Heavy “right-handed” neutrinos have never been seen directly, but their existence has been inferred from the observed properties of light, left-handed neutrinos. Stable, right-handed neutrinos would be the perfect candidate for dark matter because they don’t couple to any of the known forces except gravity. Before our work, it was unknown how they might have been produced in the hot early universe.

    Our mirror hypothesis allowed us to calculate exactly how many would form, and to show they could explain the cosmic dark matter.

    A testable prediction followed: if the dark matter consists of stable, right-handed neutrinos, then one of three light neutrinos that we know of must be exactly massless. Remarkably, this prediction is now being tested using observations of the gravitational clustering of matter made by large-scale galaxy surveys.

    The entropy of universes

    Encouraged by this result, we set about tackling another big puzzle: why is the universe so uniform and spatially flat, not curved, on the largest visible scales? The cosmic inflation scenario was, after all, invented by theorists to solve this problem.

    Entropy is a concept which quantifies the number of different ways a physical system can be arranged. For example, if we put some air molecules in a box, the most likely configurations are those which maximise the entropy – with the molecules more or less smoothly spread throughout space and sharing the total energy more or less equally. These kinds of arguments are used in statistical physics, the field which underlies our understanding of heat, work and thermodynamics.

    The late physicist Stephen Hawking and collaborators famously generalised statistical physics to include gravity. Using an elegant argument, they calculated the temperature and the entropy of black holes. Using our “mirror” hypothesis, Boyle and I managed to extend their arguments to cosmology and to calculate the entropy of entire universes.

    To our surprise, the universe with the highest entropy (meaning it is the most likely, just like the atoms spread out in the box) is flat and expands at an accelerated rate, just like the real one. So statistical arguments explain why the universe is flat and smooth and has a small positive accelerated expansion, with no need for cosmic inflation.

    How would the primordial density variations, usually attributed to inflation, have been generated in our symmetrical mirror universe? Recently, we showed that a specific type of quantum field (a dimension zero field) generates exactly the type of density variations we observe, without inflation. Importantly, these density variations aren’t accompanied by the long wavelength gravitational waves which inflation predicts – and which haven’t been seen.

    These results are very encouraging. But more work is needed to show that our new theory is both mathematically sound and physically realistic.

    Even if our new theory fails, it has taught us a valuable lesson. There may well be simpler, more powerful and more testable explanations for the basic properties of the universe than those the standard orthodoxy provides.

    By facing up to cosmology’s deep puzzles, guided by the observations and exploring directions as yet unexplored, we may be able to lay more secure foundations for both fundamental physics and our understanding of the universe.

    Neil Turok 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. ‘Cosmic inflation’: did the early cosmos balloon in size? A mirror universe going backwards in time may be a simpler explanation – https://theconversation.com/cosmic-inflation-did-the-early-cosmos-balloon-in-size-a-mirror-universe-going-backwards-in-time-may-be-a-simpler-explanation-238343

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Global: There’s a crisis in special educational needs provision: here’s the situation across the UK and Ireland

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Cathryn Knight, Senior Lecturer in Psychology in Education, University of Bristol

    Ermolaev Alexander/Shutterstock

    In the UK and Ireland, children who have significant special educational needs and disabilities can receive their education outside mainstream school. This often takes place in “special schools” or “special classes”.

    In the UK, as well as the Republic of Ireland, legislation sets out that children have the right to attend mainstream education. This right cannot be refused based on the complexity of the child’s needs. However, many children are educated in specialist schools, and the devolved governments of the UK, and Ireland, have taken differing approaches to this provision.

    But there is a problem. Across the UK and Ireland, there are far fewer places available in specialist schools and classes for the number of children identified with needs significant enough to warrant a place.

    England

    In 2010, then-prime minister David Cameron set out the aim to “end the bias” towards including children with special educational needs and disabilities in mainstream schools.

    His government felt there had been an overemphasis on inclusion in mainstream schools. As a consequence, England has seen an expansion of specialist education provision. From 2015 to 2023, there has been a 47% increase in the number of pupils at special schools in England – from 109,177 to 161,072.
    However, as of May 2024, 4,407 children across England were waiting for school places in specialist provision.

    There has also been a large increase in the number of appeals against councils by parents or carers of children with special educational needs in England, challenging the decision made around a child’s school placement and provision.

    A new report from the National Audit Office on special educational needs suggests that the current system in England is unsustainable, with many councils set to run out of money by early 2026.

    Wales

    Wales has also seen a 25% increase in special school provision from 2017-18 to 2023-4.

    However, there has recently been a large decrease in the number of learners being identified with additional learning needs. This has coincided with the introduction of a new additional learning needs system.

    However, the proportion of all learners in special schools has increased. This means that this reduction in identification does not seem to have changed the number of those who require specialist placements.

    Scotland

    Scotland has taken a different route. Here, the legal right to mainstream schooling has been taken a step further: there is an underlying “presumption of mainstreaming”, in other words, a right to attend a mainstream school, although exceptions in which a specialist provision should be considered are set out.

    This presumption of mainstreaming means that there has been a reduction in the number of special schools. However, alongside this there has been an increase in the proportion of children not spending time in mainstream classes.

    There has been an increase in special needs provision in mainstream classes in Scotland.
    Evgeny Atamanenko/Shutterstock

    This implies that more children are being educated in units attached to mainstream schools, without necessarily participating in mainstream classes. A recent review has raised concerns that the children with additional support needs in mainstream schools are not having their needs met.

    Northern Ireland

    The number of children with a statement of special educational needs in Northern Ireland increased by 24% in the five years from 2017-18 to 2021-22. A Department of Education official recently told the Education Committee of the NI Assembly that there was a need for an additional 1,000 places for children with SEN. This would require 66 new special school classes and 94 new specialist classes in mainstream schools.

    Northern Ireland is addressing the increased demand for special school places by embarking on a programme to develop specialist provision in mainstream schools. It is important to note, however, that although attached to and often under the same roof as mainstream schools, these are separate, specialist classes for children whose needs would ordinarily have been met in special schools, if pupil places had been available.

    Republic of Ireland

    In the Irish republic, there has been a dramatic increase in demand for specialist provision. There has also been an increase in the number of special schools in recent years, from 123 in 2018-19 to 134 in 2024-25, and further schools are planned.

    However, the challenges experienced by children with SEN in accessing school places continues. Some children are receiving home tuition grants because they don’t have a school place, and even more students are waiting to secure a place for the school year 2024-25. To address this, the minister for education in Ireland is now able to compel schools to open special classes under amended legislation.

    The challenge

    The devolved governments of the UK, and the Republic of Ireland, are committed to the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, which upholds the right to inclusive education for all learners. This includes the right to be educated without segregation.

    Scotland have addressed this by reducing specialist provision – although there have been criticisms of how this has been implemented in practice. Elsewhere in the UK, the demand for specialist provision is leading to each government increasing the amount of specialist provision, as opposed to considering how the principles of inclusive education could be embedded in mainstream schools.

    In line with guidance from the UN, it is important to consider how mainstream schools can effectively support and include all learners. If these schools are designed to better accommodate a broader range of learners, the need for specialist placements could well decrease.

    However, criticisms of the Scottish system show that without adequate support, placing children with special educational needs in mainstream schools is not enough for students to feel fully included.

    Cathryn Knight receives funding from the ESRC Impact Acceleration Account.

    Joanne Banks receives funding from The Irish Research Council New Foundations Award.

    Noel Purdy 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. There’s a crisis in special educational needs provision: here’s the situation across the UK and Ireland – https://theconversation.com/theres-a-crisis-in-special-educational-needs-provision-heres-the-situation-across-the-uk-and-ireland-240264

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Many important 20th-century philosophers investigated ghosts – here’s how they explained them

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Matyáš Moravec, Lecturer in Philosophy, Queen’s University Belfast

    Hamlet and the Ghost by Frederick James Shields (1901). Manchester Art Gallery

    Most people imagine philosophers as rational thinkers who spend their time developing abstract logical theories and strongly reject superstitious beliefs. But several 20th-century philosophers actively investigated spooky topics such as clairvoyance, telepathy – even ghosts.

    Many of these philosophers, including Henri Bergson and William James, were interested in what was called “psychical research”. This was the academic study of paranormal phenomena including telepathy, telekinesis and other-worldly spirits.

    These thinkers attended seances and were attempting to develop theories about ghosts, life after death and the powers exhibited by mediums in trances. My recent archival research has been looking at how these topics shaped 20th-century philosophy.

    CD Broad (1887-1971) was a professor of philosophy at the University of Cambridge. He is now recognised as one of the most important writers on the philosophy of time. He also published on ethics, logic and the history of philosophy. What is less known, though, is that he was an active member of the Society for Psychical Research, a learned society dedicated to the study of paranormal phenomena. The society twice elected him as their president, and he published widely on topics including clairvoyance and poltergeists.

    In his 1925 book, The Mind and Its Place in Nature, Broad developed what has come to be known as the “compound theory” of ghosts. Broad argued that the human mind was a compound of two components. One of these was the “physical factor,” roughly corresponding to the body. The other one was the “psychic factor,” which carries our mental content like emotions or thoughts. The two of them conjointly form the human mind – just like salt is composed of sodium and chloride.

    Broad believed that after death, the psychic factor can continue existing for a bit on its own and might enter, like a spirit, a medium during a seance.

    Images in the ether

    Another philosopher interested in ghosts and spirits of the dead was HH Price (1899-1984). He was a professor of logic at the University of Oxford and is mostly known for his publications on the philosophy of perception. However, just like Broad, he was heavily involved in the Society for Psychical Research and attended several international conferences dedicated to life after death and telepathy.

    Price believed ghosts could appear to sensitive people.
    Wellcome Collection, CC BY

    In his presidential address to the society in 1939, Price tried to offer an explanation of ghosts and hauntings.

    At any given moment, he argued, your mind is full of “mental images” – the memory of your last holiday, the things you see outside your window, your hopes and expectations for the future. Price theorised that there is a substance, which he called the “psychic ether” that exists halfway between matter and the human mind. He believed that this ether could carry the images that currently exist in your mind even after you die. A bundle of these images and memories can appear as a ghost to some particularly sensitive people.

    What does ‘ghost’ mean?

    Casimir Lewy (1919-1991) was one of the most influential philosophical logicians of the 20th century. He spent most of his career at the University of Cambridge – in fact, the philosophy faculty library there is named after him.

    Lewy is now mostly known for his work on logic, and few people know that he actually wrote his PhD thesis (which was examined by Broad) on life after death.

    Portrait of Casimir Lewy by Stanisław Ignacy Witkiewicz (1937).
    Trinity College

    He was primarily interested in language and in the meanings of the terms people use when they talk about ghosts and life after death. What does it mean to say that I might survive the death of my body? What sort of experiences would I need to have as a ghost for the statement “I have survived my death” to be true? Would I have to be able to see myself in the mirror, or to speak to people in the seance room?

    Lewy insisted that these questions need answering before looking at the empirical “evidence” for ghosts.

    Following a series of scandalous and widely publicised discoveries of fraudulent mediums faking their supernatural powers and accusations of pseudo-scientific research methods, psychical research eventually moved to the fringes of academia. Lewy, for example, never returned to write on these topics after passing the defence of his PhD in 1943.

    Nevertheless, despite its brief lifespan, academic psychical research had a significant influence on an entire generation of British philosophers. It shaped their views on time, causation and matter, and gave them an opportunity to think one of life’s most pressing questions: what happens after we die?


    Looking for something good? Cut through the noise with a carefully curated selection of the latest releases, live events and exhibitions, straight to your inbox every fortnight, on Fridays. Sign up here.

    Matyáš Moravec 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. Many important 20th-century philosophers investigated ghosts – here’s how they explained them – https://theconversation.com/many-important-20th-century-philosophers-investigated-ghosts-heres-how-they-explained-them-241635

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Students with special educational needs are years behind their peers – they need specialist teachers in mainstream classrooms

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Johny Daniel, Assistant Professor, School of Education, Durham University

    BearFotos/Shutterstock

    A new report from the National Audit Office into special educational needs provision in England has concluded that despite a significant increase investment over the last decade, “the system is still not delivering better outcomes for children and young people”.

    This is borne out by my research. Students with special educational needs in England are significantly behind in reading, writing and maths compared to their classmates.

    Laws like the 2014 Children and Families Act, which aimed to improve support for these students, haven’t closed the gap. My recent research suggests that we need to rethink current educational policies and practices.

    My study looked at data from 2.5 million year 6 students (aged ten and 11) between 2014 and 2019. It shows that students with special educational needs are significantly behind in key academic areas.

    On average, students with special educational needs are two years behind in writing and one and a half years behind in reading and maths. The gap in maths is growing, which is especially worrying. It shows that current educational strategies are failing these students.

    Not all students with special educational needs face the same challenges. Students with intellectual disabilities were, on average, more than two years behind in writing and maths. In contrast, students with autism spectrum disorder and visual impairment do somewhat better, especially in reading, but they are still, on average, about one year behind.

    Rethinking support

    Despite well-intentioned policies, current educational frameworks are falling short. A major issue is the heavy reliance on teaching assistants as the main support for students with special educational needs in mainstream schools.

    Teaching assistants are dedicated and play an important role in classrooms. However, research shows that their involvement can sometimes have negative effects on academic outcomes due to a limited range of teaching methods and lack of professional development. Over-relying on teaching assistants without specialised support might be one reason for the continuing achievement gap.

    This raises important questions. If we would not accept teaching assistants as the main instructors for typical students, it should not be acceptable for students with special educational needs, who have more complex learning needs.

    Support in schools also comes from special educational needs coordinators. They manage the school’s approach to supporting students with special educational needs. They handle administrative tasks, work with parents and outside agencies, and ensure legal compliance. But while their role is important, they usually do not teach students directly.

    One solution is to have specialised special education teachers in mainstream schools. This is not just a suggestion; it’s a critical need.

    Special education teachers are trained educators who work directly with students needing extra support. They teach tailored lessons, adapt teaching materials, and use specialised strategies to meet individual learning needs. Their focus is on providing hands-on educational help within the school.

    Learning from other countries

    Integrating special education teachers into our mainstream classrooms, as seen in countries such as the US and Singapore, could be the key to better supporting our students.

    In these countries, special education teachers are part of the mainstream classrooms. They complete certification programmes, learning advanced skills in assessing students’ needs, developing tailored support and creating individual education plans. They teach alongside general educators, ensuring that students with special educational needs are not left out but receive high-quality support.

    This approach addresses both academic and emotional needs in the classroom, providing an effective support system.

    Similar steps should be taken in England to establish comprehensive special education teacher training programmes. This could include postgraduate certifications in special education or specialised modules in existing teacher education programmes.

    Specialist teachers could help contain the attainment gap.
    PeopleImages.com – Yuri A/Shutterstock

    Inspection frameworks like Ofsted must include specific criteria to evaluate the presence and effectiveness of specialised support in classrooms for students with special educational needs.

    Schools should be encouraged to hire qualified special education teachers, and government funding models must be changed to support these professionals. Also, ongoing professional development should be a priority, ensuring that all educators expand their expertise in proven teaching methods.

    By aligning teacher training, hiring and policies, England can reduce its reliance on teaching assistants as the main support for students with special educational needs. Instead, schools can have strong support systems led by trained special education teachers. These specialists can work with teaching assistants and classroom teachers to provide more effective, targeted support.

    This change would provide students with special educational needs with improved overall quality of teaching and learning. This could lead to mainstream classrooms fostering a truly inclusive educational environment.

    Johny Daniel 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. Students with special educational needs are years behind their peers – they need specialist teachers in mainstream classrooms – https://theconversation.com/students-with-special-educational-needs-are-years-behind-their-peers-they-need-specialist-teachers-in-mainstream-classrooms-240147

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: ASIA/PHILIPPINES – Parishes welcome displaced people, hit by Typhoon Kristine

    Source: Agenzia Fides – MIL OSI

    Caritas Philippines

    Naga (Agenzia Fides) – More than 25 parishes and church facilities, such as the Basilica of Our Lady of Peñafrancia and the Ateneo de Naga University of the Archdiocese of Caceres, managed by the Jesuit Order, have opened their doors and are acting as temporary evacuation centers for displaced persons and families affected by the effects of Typhoon Kristine (international name: Trami), which is devastating the northeastern Philippines. The floods and landslides caused by the tropical storm, which began yesterday, October 23, have claimed at least 24 lives in the Bilcol region, while thousands are trapped in the villages. The government has closed schools and offices throughout the island of Luzon to protect the population. The “National Council for Disaster Risk Reduction and Management” reported that about 78,000 families in 14 provinces were affected by the devastating effects of the typhoon, after which initial relief efforts were immediately activated by institutions, non-governmental organizations and the church. As Caritas Philippines reports, the Catholic dioceses in the affected areas have activated teams of volunteers to assess the extent of the damage and take appropriate measures. “Our priority is to ensure the fastest possible aid for the most needy and weakest,” said Bishop Colin Bagaforo, President of Caritas Philippines. He points out that the structures of the local churches have agreed to welcome the refugees.The Archdiocese of Cáceres, meanwhile, made a public appeal to parishes, schools and institutions that can temporarily provide rooms for the displaced. In the diocese of Legazpi, several parish churches have been flooded but, despite the floods, have opened the doors of their parish centers, which are still accessible: the parish church of Polangui, for example, although affected, is hosting nearly 300 people, the most vulnerable displaced, such as pregnant and breastfeeding women with their children, the sick and the elderly. Some of them are housed in the parish priest’s home.Caritas Philippines has also launched a nationwide appeal for donations to provide essentials and humanitarian aid to the displaced. (PA (Agenzia Fides, 24/10/2024)

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    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Expanding Clean Cooking in East Africa to strengthen communities, cut pollution and save lives: US $15 million financing from European Investment Bank for Kenya-based BURN

    Source: European Investment Bank

    EIB

    • The $15 million financing will enable BURN to produce and distribute its industry-leading ECOA Induction Cooker to over 1 million households across East Africa.
    • The investment will positively impact 6.5 million people, avoiding 12 million tons of carbon emissions over a period of 5 years.

    Today BURN, the world’s leading clean cooking appliance manufacturer, distributor, and carbon project developer, and the European Investment Bank signed an agreement to invest $15 million from the EIB to fund the distribution of BURN’s ECOA Electric Induction cooker to households across the East African region.

    Announced at a signature ceremony on the margins of the World Bank/IMF Annual Meetings in Washington, the US$15 million debt investment from EIB Global will finance a solution that could significantly reduce indoor air pollution in homes across the world – a problem that currently causes 4 million premature deaths a year, and disproportionally affects the health of women living in developing countries.

    Speaking from Washington the EIB Group President, Nadia Calviño said, “The investment that we have agreed today is not just about improving lives, but saving them as well. With relatively simple technology for clean cooking we will strengthen communities, especially by protecting the health of women, and their families.

    This will have a positive impact on the climate as well by lowering carbon emissions. Supporting potentially transformative projects like BURN’s expansion of affordable clean cooking for more than a million households in Africa is the kind of initiative that the European Union aims to support more of under our Global Gateway Initiative.” 

    From Washington, Peter Scott, Founder and CEO of BURN, stated, “BURN has already brought our unique PAYC electric cooking solution to thousands of households in Kenya and Tanzania that were previously relying on traditional charcoal stoves.   This investment by EIB will help us transition over a million low-income households to cooking with electricity, allowing them to cook on grids that are 80-95% powered by renewable energy.”

    The EIB financing announced today in Washington will enable the appliances to be offered via BURN’s innovative, Pay-As-You-Cook payment offering. This tech-enabled payment solution enables affordable financing for low-income households currently using solid biomass as their primary cooking fuel but who are unable to afford full upfront payments typically required for clean electric cooking appliances.

    This project is also actively supporting the empowerment of women – and has been qualified as a gender lens investment by the 2X Challenge, a global initiative launched at the G7 summit in 2018, with the EIB as one of  its members. The 2X Challenge aims to accelerate private sector investments that support women in low- and middle-income countries, using a standardized set of criteria known as the 2X criteria.

    The financing support to BURN is through the Desiree Investment Envelope under the African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) Impact Finance Envelope (“IFE”).

    The financing package from the European Commission aims to support the participation by the EIB in high-risk projects in ACP countries to support greater investments in energy efficiency and electrification ventures. The IFE supports projects that generate superior developmental impact with the overarching objective of poverty reduction through developing the private sector by taking a higher risk of investment for high developmental impact.

    The ECOA Induction cooker is bundled with a high-quality, 3-piece stainless steel induction cookware set, fully manufactured in Kenya. The appliances reduce indoor air pollution by 100%, decrease cooking time by 70%, and save households money on cooking fuels.

    BURN’s electric cooking appliances generate high-integrity carbon credits by using integrated cellular-enabled IoT technology which allows for effective, real-time and end-to-end monitoring of energy usage. These electric appliances reduce ~2.5 tonnes of carbon emissions annually, and contribute to EIB’s climate action, gender equality, and economic development objectives.

    The company, which is also exporting its products to other countries, is also showcasing Africa’s untapped manufacturing opportunities, that create sustainable job opportunities for many young people.

    To date, BURN has distributed over 5 million clean cookstoves across Africa, transforming the lives of 25 million people and preventing 26 million tons of CO2 emissions from entering the atmosphere. 

    ABOUT BURN

     Founded in 2011, BURN is Africa’s leading producer of clean cookstoves, committed to saving lives, protecting forests, and reducing CO2 emissions. Headquartered in Nairobi, Kenya, BURN operates in 9 countries and employs over 3,500 people, with a mission to revolutionize the clean cooking sector and provide sustainable cooking solutions across the continent.

    The efficiency, safety, and benefits of BURN’s clean cooking appliances have been independently verified through peer-reviewed Randomized Control Trial (RCT) by the University of Pennsylvania and the University of Chicago.

    The study found a match to BURN’s usage and consumption measurements, finding a fuel savings of 39% against the baseline, saving families US$119 per year, with each cookstove reducing CO2 emissions by approximately 3.5 tons per year (their recent update to the study found these savings to be robust for 3 years and counting, with 98% of the stoves still in use). This study was peer-reviewed and published in the world’s leading economics journal, The American Economic Review (AER).

    Learn more at burnstoves.com. 

    ABOUT the EIB

     The European Investment Bank (EIB) is the long-term lending institution of the European Union owned by its Member States. It makes long-term finance available for sound investment in order to contribute towards EU policy goals.

    EIB Global is the EIB Group’s specialised arm devoted to increasing the impact of international partnerships and development finance, and a key partner in Global Gateway. We aim to support €100 billion of investment by the end of 2027, around one third of the overall target of this EU initiative. With Team Europe, EIB Global fosters strong, focused partnerships, alongside fellow development finance institutions and civil society. EIB Global brings the Group closer to local people, companies and institutions through our offices around the world.

    The EIB Group aims to embed gender equality and in particular women’s economic empowerment in its business model and is also committed to driving gender equality in its workplace. The EIB financed a total of 63 projects across the globe in 2023 that significantly contributed to gender equality and women’s economic empowerment, providing €5.8 billion of investment, more than half of which also supported climate action.

    Expanding Clean Cooking in East Africa to strengthen communities, cut pollution and save lives: US $15 million financing from European Investment Bank for Kenya-based BURN
    Expanding Clean Cooking in East Africa to strengthen communities, cut pollution and save lives: US $15 million financing from European Investment Bank for Kenya-based BURN
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    Expanding Clean Cooking in East Africa to strengthen communities, cut pollution and save lives: US $15 million financing from European Investment Bank for Kenya-based BURN
    Expanding Clean Cooking in East Africa to strengthen communities, cut pollution and save lives: US $15 million financing from European Investment Bank for Kenya-based BURN
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    Download original
    Expanding Clean Cooking in East Africa to strengthen communities, cut pollution and save lives: US $15 million financing from European Investment Bank for Kenya-based BURN
    Expanding Clean Cooking in East Africa to strengthen communities, cut pollution and save lives: US $15 million financing from European Investment Bank for Kenya-based BURN
    ©EIB
    Download original
    Expanding Clean Cooking in East Africa to strengthen communities, cut pollution and save lives: US $15 million financing from European Investment Bank for Kenya-based BURN
    Expanding Clean Cooking in East Africa to strengthen communities, cut pollution and save lives: US $15 million financing from European Investment Bank for Kenya-based BURN
    ©EIB
    Download original
    Expanding Clean Cooking in East Africa to strengthen communities, cut pollution and save lives: US $15 million financing from European Investment Bank for Kenya-based BURN
    Expanding Clean Cooking in East Africa to strengthen communities, cut pollution and save lives: US $15 million financing from European Investment Bank for Kenya-based BURN
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    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: The Pandemic Institute celebrates three years of work

    Source: City of Liverpool

    The Pandemic Institute, a world leading facility committed to helping the world prevent, prepare, and respond more effectively to pandemics, celebrates three years of vital work to keep the public safe.

    Since opening in autumn 2021, the Institute has advanced research to predict and prepare for the next pandemic. It’s built resilience in society to respond and recover from COVID-19 and future health crises and worked to prevent disease outbreaks and epidemics from developing into pandemics.

    Ove the last three years The Pandemic Institute has:

    • Supported a portfolio of research worth more than £50m led by The Pandemic Institute’s investigators based at the University of Liverpool, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, and Liverpool John Moores University.
    • Established research industry partnerships with a value of more than £5m, strengthening the local economy and employment prospects. One such partnership is with CSL Seqirus, a global leader in influenza prevention. Together they are researching both the threat of seasonal influenza and the development of innovative approaches to pandemic preparedness and response.
    • Awarded £3.6m in critical pandemic research funding, and responded rapidly to emerging infections such as Mpox, which was recently declared a global emergency by the World Health Organisation (WHO).
    • Provided funding towards the development of diagnostics for some of the world’s deadliest viruses including Crimean-Congo Haemorrhagic Fever (CCHF). Transmitted by tick bites, it has a mortality rate of around 30% but there is currently no vaccine. Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine has developed a rapid point-of-care lateral flow test, as well as conducting clinical trials to assess a potential treatment.
    • Supported researchers at Liverpool John Moores University who are looking at health inequalities and resilience in communities during a pandemic, and how future responses can be tailored and improved.
    • Invested in infrastructure including a new pre-clinical trials unit for testing new vaccines and treatments, based at the University of Liverpool.
    • Provided critical advice and support on pandemic prevention and preparedness to the UK Health Security Agency, Department of Health and Social Care, and other government departments.

    Professor Tom Solomon, Director of The Pandemic Institute said: “I’m incredibly proud of the work we’ve done in just three short years, helping to develop new diagnostic tests, treatments and vaccines, for emerging infection threats, and strengthening the research infrastructure.

    “Thanks to our dedicated and ongoing efforts we are in a position to rapidly mobilise funding for essential research and be flexible in times of swiftly changing circumstances.”

    Director of Public Health for Liverpool, Professor Matthew Ashton, said: “Liverpool has a rich history of delivering bold public health interventions, and the launch of The Pandemic Institute continued our long and proud tradition.

    “The funding shows the ongoing commitment to delivering an innovative response to pandemics on an international scale.

    “It is playing a vital role in the global work to tackle the next pandemic, wherever and whenever that will be, and we should be immensely proud of the foresight the city showed in establishing it.”

    What’s next

    The Pandemic Institute will continue to develop new infrastructure in Liverpool to harness the combined expertise of the region.

    In spring, The Pandemic Institute was awarded funding as part of the Liverpool City Region’s Investment Zone plans. Part of the £160m Government pledge will support the Institutes’ ambitions to build a new Pandemic Preparedness and Response Facility in Liverpool containing state-of-the-art research laboratories that will strengthen the UK’s infectious disease research and innovation capabilities.

    For more information about The Pandemic Institute visit www.thepandemicinstitute.org.

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –