The Guyana Foundation says it is committed to devising projects and initiatives that are aimed at improving the livelihoods and quality of life of the lesser fortunate and Guyanese who do not necessarily have the means to help themselves on a continuum.As a result, keys members of the Foundation held a press conference on Tuesday in the conference room of New Thriving to discuss the meaningful contribution the Foundation has order towards the rebuilding of Guyana.Executive members of the Canadian and Chinese embassies, and other individuals across the world, as well as locally, have stepped forward to share ideas, develop projects, and fundraising events to assist the people who are notMembers of the Guyana Foundation pose for a photo after the Foundation’s conferenceable to assist themselves.According to founder of the Foundation, Supriya Singh Bodden, the Foundation is a charitable trust that has been created to contribute meaningfully to the rebuilding of Guyana.“Our mission is to release the power of people globally to assist Guyanese to transform their communities, bring fulfilment and well-being to their families, enabling them to build relationships of trust and friendship among themselves irrespective of race and beliefs,” Singh-Bodden explainedDriven by the conviction that great change can be made by people who are encouraged and supported, the Foundation has conducted large and small-scale projects across the country in an effort to restore hope and purpose, rebuild lives, and create a better future for all Guyanese.Three recipients of the programme shared their heart-warming stories of how they were assisted and guided by the Foundation with the gathering.One of the beneficiaries, Natavia John, 18, said before she was introduced to the Foundation, she was so frustrated that she considered suicide at one point in her life.“I was so depressed I would usually keep to myself, nothing was happening for me and the only thing I thought about was death,” the tearful teenage said.To develop the skills set of persons in these villages and enhance their access to economic opportunities, the Foundation offers training courses in a variety of areas, including hairdressing, photography, IT training, floral and craft, wedding planning, music lessons, leather craft, massage techniques, soap-making, catering techniques and practices, makeup artistry and more.These programmes are offered six days a week by paid professionals from Guyana, and volunteers from around the world who wish to visit and dedicate an allotted amount of time to facilitate training workshops.The Foundation noted that there were countries that could and were willing to help, as well as other international NGOs that can bring their resources and experience to Guyana and assist in addressing these societal ills. The religious bodies – Christian, Muslim, Hindu and others – are willing to help if they are given the right signals from these Ministries, the organisation further stated. In the meantime, the Guyana Foundation says it will continue to strengthen and expand its work in communities and is inviting citizens to go out and volunteer with the organisation. read more
Still, financial and public pressures have resulted in many studios expanding their environmental efforts, doing everything from using a biodiesel fuel mixture to run the generators on the set of the Fox show “24” to converting Warner Bros.’ enormous set-building facility to solar energy. “Public consciousness on this issue has changed dramatically,” said Kyle Tanger, a principal at Clear Carbon Consulting. “The talent themselves are requesting it from some of the studios. And a lot of these things make economic sense.” Economic benefit can come to studios directly, by switching to more efficient lighting or cooling systems or driving hybrid cars on location, which can save gas. Other projects, such as installing solar power, can take decades to pay off. But there are other benefits that are harder to quantify. Besides the public relations angle, many performers and other employees want to work with eco-friendly companies, so it also helps in recruiting and retaining employees, Tanger said. Form and function merged at this year’s Primetime Emmy Awards show. To symbolize its commitment to energy conservation, Fox had wanted to replace the traditional red carpet with a green one. The tradition-bound Academy of Television Arts and Sciences, which gives the awards, politely said “no.” But the carpet that ended up cushioning the heels of such stars as Sally Field and America Ferrera was made from recycled plastic bottles and later cut into pieces and donated to several local schools. “No doubt some efforts have been window dressing. But I actually think Hollywood is doing far more than people are giving it credit for,” said Terry Tamminen, who served as an adviser to Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger before starting his own environmental consulting company. One convenient yet controversial method is the purchase of carbon credits by studios and producers to offset the greenhouse gases from their production activity. The credits attempt to counter such pollution by investing in environmentally friendly projects such as planting trees or funding wind power. Studios and a growing number of other industries calculate their emissions, then write a check to one of several brokers who funnel the money to projects around the world. The goal is to become carbon neutral by funding activities that reduce an equal amount of emissions. The 2004 Fox film “The Day After Tomorrow” and last year’s Al Gore documentary “An Inconvenient Truth” offset all or some of their pollution. This year’s “Evan Almighty,” from Universal, donated money to the Conservation Fund to plant 2,000 trees, enough to “zero out” the greenhouse gases produced. But the practice has come under fire by some who say it is an easy way to avoid the hard work of directly reducing pollution. Others question whether carbon credit payments are actually going to projects that make that much of a difference. “If you’re going to drive around in a big ol’ Hummer and then buy carbon offsets to mitigate that, that’s like getting drunk on the weekends and throwing some money through the window of an AA meeting and thinking you’re doing something,” said Ed Begley Jr., who was a poster child for energy conservation long before Gore made it trendy. The Federal Trade Commission, meanwhile, has begun examining claims made by the nascent multimillion-dollar carbon credit industry. Warner Bros., which bought carbon credits for the 2005 film “Syriana,” has also become more aggressive at reducing emissions during all phases of production. In addition to solar-powered set-building, the studio is recycling sets, using recycled plastic lumber in the construction of some buildings, and printing double-sided scripts where feasible. Pieces built for the 2001 film “Ocean’s 11” now sit in the Santa Monica offices of the National Resources Defense Council. Sets from this year’s sequel “Ocean’s 13” were donated to decorate the halls of local community colleges. 160Want local news?Sign up for the Localist and stay informed Something went wrong. Please try again.subscribeCongratulations! You’re all set! But is it all just show? No amount of public service announcements or celebrities driving hybrid cars can mask the fact that movie and TV production is a gritty industrial operation, consuming enormous amounts of energy to power bright lights, run sophisticated cameras, and feed a cast of thousands. Studios’ back lots host cavernous soundstages that must be air-conditioned to counter the heat produced by decades-old lighting technology. Huge manufacturing facilities consume wood, steel, paint and plastic to build sets that are often torn down and tossed out after filming ends. The energy guzzling continues on the exhibition side, too, with multiplexes drawing millions of kilowatts to power old-school popcorn makers and clunky film projectors that cash-strapped theater owners are reluctant to replace. A two-year study released last year by UCLA concluded that special effects explosions, idling vehicles and diesel generators make the entertainment industry a major Southern California polluter, second only to the oil industry. ENVIRONMENT: Some studios cutting emissions, but practice of buying carbon credits questioned. By Gary Gentile THE ASSOCIATED PRESS From “green carpets” at awards shows to organic fruit served to actors on sets, Hollywood is going all out to promote itself as being environmentally hip. read more
1 Chelsea midfielder Oscar has been left out of Brazil’s squad for this summer’s Copa America.The 23-year-old had been a regular in coach Dunga’s side since he took over following last year’s World Cup.However, he will play no part in the upcoming Copa America tournament after picking up an injury.Oscar tweeted: “I am very sad not to defend my country in the Copa America because of an injury. Thank you all for caring.”The Brazilian’s Chelsea team-mates Willian and Filipe Luis have made Dunga’s squad, as have Liverpool’s Philippe Coutinho and Manchester City’s Fernandinho.But Arsenal’s January signing Gabriel Paulista has not made the 23. Oscar
Officials at Niloofar Publications confirmed Saturday they have been forbidden to put out the second edition. “The first edition has sold out, but we were ordered not to publish the second edition,” an employee with Niloofar Publications said Saturday, declining to give his name because of the sensitivity of the issue. Garcia Marquez, who was awarded the Nobel prize for literature in 1982, is popular in Iran, which has translated and published many of his books, including “One Hundred Years of Solitude” and “Love in the Time of Cholera.” Iran has tightened censorship of books, films and music since President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad came to power in 2005.160Want local news?Sign up for the Localist and stay informed Something went wrong. Please try again.subscribeCongratulations! You’re all set! AD Quality Auto 360p 720p 1080p Top articles1/5READ MOREStriving toward a more perfect me: Doug McIntyre “I don’t know what the book is about. But when the government bans a book, there is something interesting in it, so I’m buying the book out of curiosity,” he said while counting his money for a book dealer in central Tehran. The novel, known in the West as “Memories of My Melancholy Whores,” was translated into Persian as “Memories of My Melancholy Sweethearts.” It tells the story of an elderly man who has long used prostitutes and decides to mark his 90th birthday by sleeping with a 14-year-old virgin. He ends up falling in love with the girl. The Culture Ministry, whose censors are responsible to check the contents of books before print, said a “bureaucratic error” led to the government giving permission for the novel to be published, the daily Etemad reported Saturday. Culture Minister Mohammad Hossein Saffar Harandi blamed the “negligence” of his subordinates and said the official who authorized the book’s publication has been dismissed, the semiofficial Fars news agency reported. “Necessary measures have been taken to avoid reoccurrence of such a printing,” Fars quoted Harandi as saying earlier this week. TEHRAN, Iran – An Iranian government decision to forbid the second printing of a Persian translation of Colombian writer Gabriel Garcia Marquez’s latest novel has spurred interest in the book, booksellers said Saturday. The novel by the famed Latin American writer was translated into Persian and had an initial press run of 5,000 copies. It was banned after the Ministry of Culture received complaints from conservatives who believed the novel was promoting prostitution. The ban has only provoked greater interest in the novel, and on Saturday copies of the book were being sold for more than twice their list price. Ahmad Abbasi, 28, had to pay $3.70 to buy the novel on the black market – more than twice the price tag. read more
Truck lights on display at the North West Truck Festival on Saturday evening last. All pictures by Clive Wasson.Kate Mohan and Aileen Navan at the North West Truck Festival on Saturday evening at the Clanree Hotel in Letterkenny. Photo- Clive WassonCustom paint in the night time light display at the North West Truck Festival on Saturday evening last. Photo- Clive WassonAdam Montgomery shinning his truck at the North West Truck Festival on Saturday evening last. Photo- Clive Wasson Truck light up the darkness at the North West Truck Festival on Saturday evening last. Photo- Clive Wasson Aileen Gavin in the driving seat at the North West Truck Festival on Saturday evening last. Photo- Clive Wasson All lit up – trucks at the North West Truck Festival on Saturday evening last. Photo- Clive Wasson DONEGAL’S TRUCKFEST DRAWS HUGE CROWDS – PICTURE SPECIAL was last modified: August 24th, 2014 by StephenShare this:Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window)Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window)Click to share on Pocket (Opens in new window)Click to share on Telegram (Opens in new window)Click to share on WhatsApp (Opens in new window)Click to share on Skype (Opens in new window)Click to print (Opens in new window) Tags:clanree hotelClive WassondonegalNorthwest Truckfest read more
Emergency personnel at the scene of last Wednesday’s crash in Letterkenny.BREAKING NEWS: A suspect in a 60km Garda chase across County Donegal is on the run tonight.Martin Stokes, who is 20 and from Cornshell Fields in Derry City, was arrested by a Garda traffic corps officer in Letterkenny last Wednesday following a day of drama across the county. Gardaí from Glenties had pursued a Nissan Primera car from Ardara along a 60km route – via both main and side roads – before the chase came to an end in Letterkenny when the car crashed into another vehicle just outside the town’s fire station.Stokes was granted bail in Sligo District Court last Thursday, but was sent to prison for a week in relation to a previous case.However he was released on Saturday – and has skipped bail.This evening in Letterkenny Judge Paul Kelly issued a warrant for his immediate arrest after Stokes failed to appear at a sitting of the District Court.Stokes solicitor Patsy Gallagher said he had been told his client had been released from prison on Saturday, two days into a seven day sentence.Last Thursday’s court heard Stokes faced a total of 25 dangerous driving charges.The court heard from Garda Elaine Kavanagh, from Glenties Garda Station, that Stokes was also facing 11 other charges in connection with the alleged incident including failing to stop for members of An Garda Siochana and hit-and-run allegations relating to the De Valera Road crash.Traffic Corps Garda Paul McGee gave evidence of arresting Stokes in Letterkenny not long afterwards. Stokes was wearing just one shoe at the time.Judge Kevin Kilrane had set bail at €1,000 with an independent surety of €1,000 which had been met last Saturday and Stokes was released from prison.ALERT: DONEGAL GARDA CHASE SUSPECT GOES ON THE RUN was last modified: March 11th, 2014 by John2Share this:Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window)Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window)Click to share on Pocket (Opens in new window)Click to share on Telegram (Opens in new window)Click to share on WhatsApp (Opens in new window)Click to share on Skype (Opens in new window)Click to print (Opens in new window) Tags:ArdaraDerryGarda chaseletterkennyMartin Stokeson the run read more
28 January 2014 New regulations aimed at facilitating the implementation of the Municipal Systems Amendment Act will help to fix non-functioning municipalities and rid them of corrupt employees, says Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs Minister Lechesa Tsenoli. “This is one area of the law where we are intervening practically,” Tsenoli told SAnews in an interview on Friday. “It is a crucial way to guide weaker municipalities that are not able to properly guide themselves in human resources, finances and so on.” Gone are the days when an official would “run away” from a corruption case by resigning from a municipality, only to join another one a few months down the line, Tsenoli said. The regulations stipulate that municipalities have to keep records of fired employees or those who resign before their disciplinary hearing is completed. Those found guilty of financial misconduct in municipalities will be prevented from taking up local government jobs for 10 years, while those found guilty of other offences will be banned from working for local government for between two and five years. Gazetted on 17 January, the regulations also set out minimum levels of skills, expertise and qualifications for senior managers, and provide for the setting of salary limits by the minister. “People are going to be properly screened, and we want to make sure that they do not carry any baggage of misconduct from elsewhere [and that] they do not have convictions for fraud and so on. We are going to be tough. We call it the ‘eye of the needle’,” Tsenoli said. “We also want to make sure that the salaries they earn do not outstrip that of the President, because it has been established that some municipal managers are earning way too much. Without entering into the bargaining arena, a cap will be put on the remuneration in line with the economic situation of the country.” Asked how the regulations would affect the authority of municipalities to act independently, Tsenoli said that local authorities would retain their autonomy. “It is a useful guiding template, but still means that they have the authority and will act as a council without regional and provincial government intervention. So it is their responsibility to do that. What we have done is to provide them with help and guide them.” The new law and regulations were not passed without opposition from the South African Municipal Workers’ Union (Samwu) and the South African Local Government Association (Salga). Samwu said it was concerned about the Act prohibiting senior political office bearers from becoming senior managers in local government, while Salga said it was unhappy with a range of issues, including the capping of salaries by national government. Tsenoli defended the regulations, saying they were the “best thing to have happened in municipalities since 1995”. “This is part of the Municipal Management Act. We work with Treasury in all of these things. We have also announced an amnesty of sorts, allowing for people who currently are in (senior) positions in municipalities to ensure they upgrade themselves because if they don’t have specific competencies and qualifications, they will not be allowed to occupy those positions,” he said. he regulations Source: SAnews.gov.za read more
Share Facebook Twitter Google + LinkedIn Pinterest CornFor corn, a significant rally will be difficult with the amount of unpriced old crop and another good growing year. End users tell me any board rallies will continue to shake some bushels loose. Many unpriced farmers continue to wait, because they don’t have an exit strategy.Some farmers (who don’t have marketing plans) asked me recently what I would do if I were them. Most are shocked when I suggest forgetting about their 2014 crop, and instead focus on 2015 and 2016. Farmers can still get premiums in the market if they shift their focus more long-term. The 2014 crop has no real story left, and by continuing to ONLY focus on it they are giving away profits and potential on 2015 and beyond. Too many farmers focus short-term without looking forward. Savvy farmers are planning years in advance. SoybeansInforma reported more bean acres than the USDA. If true, with good growing conditions, the downside to beans could be significant. Similar to corn, a rally is unlikely as weather conditions continue to be favorable. Are you watching the bids around the country?Last week several clients had the opportunity to sell grain PICKED UP on their farm for the same price a local ethanol plant (20 miles away) was bidding for delivered. Basically a facility over 100 miles away was so desperate for corn they were willing to pick up my clients’ corn for a nice premium.Within that 100 miles there are also three ethanol plants, several shuttle loaders, a large commercial feed yard and a couple feed mills. All of these locations were 5 to 20 cents less than the price my clients received. Since my clients were already planning to take advantage of the increased basis levels, the premium was important.As mentioned previously it is important farmers pay attention to the three big facets of grain marketing: futures, basis and market carry. Farmers who carry their own hedge can get so many more opportunities. This week, my clients received a premium by being able to choose the location with the highest bid. My clients hadn’t used this location in the past (and they may not use it again), but by having their bushels hedged in their own accounts, they could take advantage of a five-cent premium. Saving money = making moneyWith grain prices so low, there is so much talk about saving money this year. Farmers are looking for ways to trim the bottom line. While saving money is great, some ideas I’ve heard seem counterproductive. One idea I heard recently was to cut fertilizer overall by 10%. Now, if the farmer has thoroughly analyzed his fields to show where nitrogen levels could be adjusted/reduced, that’s one thing. But, a blanket reduction in fertilizer by 10% to save money (which is what they were suggesting) is reckless.I’m always surprised by the farmers that bristle about working for an extra 5 cents (like the example above). That 5 cents per bushel is $8 per acre in savings (assuming 165 per bushel per acre). Assuming production inputs at $400 per acre, this small tweak in marketing strategy is like a 2% savings.Farmers need to be diligent at ALL times and in ALL aspects to maintain profitability in leaner times. Savvy farmers are evaluating every expense for its return on investment (ROI) and squeezing every penny out of their marketing strategy. The most profitable and successful farmers know that every 5 cents matters in their marketing program.on grew up raising corn and soybeans on a farm near Beatrice, NE. Upon graduation from The University of Nebraska in Lincoln, he became a grain merchandiser and has been trading corn, soybeans and other grains for the last 18 years, building relationships with end-users in the process. After successfully marketing his father’s grain and getting his MBA, 10 years ago he started helping farmer clients market their grain based upon his principals of farmer education, reducing risk, understanding storage potential and using basis strategy to maximize individual farm operation profits. A big believer in farmer education of futures trading, Jon writes a weekly commentary to farmers interested in learning more and growing their farm operations. Trading of futures, options, swaps and other derivatives is risky and is not suitable for all persons. All of these investment products are leveraged, and you can lose more than your initial deposit. Each investment product is offered only to and from jurisdictions where solicitation and sale are lawful, and in accordance with applicable laws and regulations in such jurisdiction. The information provided here should not be relied upon as a substitute for independent research before making your investment decisions. Superior Feed Ingredients, LLC is merely providing this information for your general information and the information does not take into account any particular individual’s investment objectives, financial situation, or needs. All investors should obtain advice based on their unique situation before making any investment decision. The contents of this communication and any attachments are for informational purposes only and under no circumstances should they be construed as an offer to buy or sell, or a solicitation to buy or sell any future, option, swap or other derivative. The sources for the information and any opinions in this communication are believed to be reliable, but Superior Feed Ingredients, LLC does not warrant or guarantee the accuracy of such information or opinions. Superior Feed Ingredients, LLC and its principals and employees may take positions different from any positions described in this communication. Past results are not necessarily indicative of future results. He can be contacted at jon@superiorfeed.com. read more
Share Facebook Twitter Google + LinkedIn Pinterest The Syngenta Grow More Experience Site in Irwin, Ohio, one of 60 such locations across the country, was host last week to retailers from around the state hoping to step up their agronomic knowledge in order to pass it on to Ohio’s farmers.“We have several retailers out and our goal today is for our retailers to actually come out and get an experience of what Syngenta has in our pipeline as well as some future technologies,” said Leon Hunter, agronomy manager for Syngenta East Heartland. “And one of the key objectives of today is to share with them a lot of different things that are happening agronomically. It’s not as much product focus, it’s more around the agronomic things that they can do to provide more education to their growers on how to produce more crop.”Hunter noted some important lessons that have been highlighted from the agronomic side.“One of our key focuses this year is to do some education around the Soybean Cyst Nematode and some of the portfolio products that we have to bring awareness to how devastating this particular disease can be. Several growers unfortunately are aware of the problem but have not taken some of the measures to control the problem because it’s not as visual as you can typically see with some of the other diseases that are actually out in the soybean fields.”The field day excelled in meeting agronomic education needs suitable to the more challenging pieces of this year’s growing season — the environment among them.“We started out in a lot of areas wet, and then we kind of went very dry. So the environment has been extremely challenging this year, but in agriculture every year is a bit challenging,” said Hunter. “The other thing is we’re seeing a lot of different things with our resistant weeds. Resistant weeds are becoming more and more of a problem across the upper Midwest.”Some major weeds that Syngenta has been looking to combat include the pigweed species, specifically palmer amaranth and waterhemp, Hunter said.“And we take a look at resistance, we’re talking about the pigweed species, specifically palmer amaranth and waterhemp. Talking to some of the guys here in Ohio, it’s not quite the problem yet, but some of them are beginning to experience some control challenges. And that’s our goal here today, to educate on how you can use multiple management systems with overlapping residual herbicides to get a good performance on some of those troublesome weeds.”Dale Minyo spoke with Syngenta’s Greg Whitesell about the day and agronomic practices looking ahead. Listen to the full interview below.Greg Whitesell SyngentaOhio Ag Net’s Joel Penhorwood spoke with a number of the presenters at the Grow More Site. Watch as they recap their lessons in this in-depth video. read more
Written by Rebecca Bardenhagen, M.Ed. and Lakshmi Mahadevan, Ph.D.When a child is diagnosed with a disability, it can be a stressful time for the people who love the child. It can be frightening and sometimes overwhelming to face an uncertain future and the prospect of making decisions that will affect a child’s life. Understanding the realities, challenges, and emotions that parents/guardians deal with day to day can be important for service providers to effectively work with these families. For parents/guardians, the reality of living with a child with a disability may include the following (Boston University, n.d.):Stress resulting from daily challenges with the child.Financial worries due to cost of treatments as well as one parent/guardian having to sacrifice their career to attend to the child’s needs.Fear about the child’s future.Questions regarding if the parent is doing the right things to help the child.Guilt over the loss of attention toward other family members.Jealousy of those whose children are without disabilities.Feelings of isolation if activities are missed due to the child’s disability.Encountering criticism from other parents who don’t understand the child’s disability.Grief over the loss of dreams one had for the child.Service providers can offer suggestions and resources to help parents/guardians cope with the realities of living with a family member with a disability in the following ways (Autism Speaks, 2017):Seek out as much information as possible on the diagnosis but always verify the information found, especially as it applies to treatments, education and life skills.Realize that it takes time to adjust to this new situation, and it is natural and understandable to feel upset and frustrated.Encourage parents/guardians to take some time for themselves, individually and as a couple, as the stresses of caring for a child with a disability can strain a marriage or relationship and sap one’s inner resources.Seek out support groups with others who are experiencing similar circumstances. These groups can be helpful from a perspective of support and dissemination of information, and they can function as a social outlet for the child, their siblings, and the parents.Look into local, state and national organizations in which you can become involved to learn more about the disability.Parents/guardians can help to educate others about their child’s condition and actively teach the community how best to accept and interact with their child.Offer assistance to other families who are experiencing the same or similar This can be therapeutic.In addition, we have complied a number of resources that families may find helpful as they cope with and come to an understanding about their child’s disability. Share them with families who may be looking for ways to gather information, advocate for their child, or who are simply looking for support from others in a similar situation.References:Autism Speaks (2017). How Is Autism Diagnosed? Retrieved on May 17, 2017.Boston University (n.d.). Parenting Children with Special Needs. Retrieved on May 7, 2018. read more