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Category Archives: Islands

The Government of the Canary Islands Migrates Telecommunications and New Technologies Platform to Red Hat Enterprise …

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RALEIGH, N.C.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--

Red Hat, Inc. (RHT), the worlds leading provider of open source solutions, today announced that the Government of the Canary Islands has migrated its virtualized systems from VMware to Red Hat Enterprise Virtualization to meet the growing demands of its IT department. The new infrastructure, based on Red Hat Enterprise Virtualization, JBoss Enterprise Middleware and Red Hat Enterprise Linux, is designed to provide support for the telecommunications, information technology and computer communications infrastructure of the government. The migration improved the consolidation ratios of virtual machines per host and resulted in budget savings of up to 70 percent compared to the costs associated with the previous VMware virtualization platform.

As the Government of the Canary Islands previous virtualization infrastructure could not keep up with the organizations growing workloads, it set two objectives when it came to upgrading it. The first was to promote convergence between horizontal and vertical growth so the government could take its physical machines up to their maximum capacity and thereby reduce the number of hosts, increasing efficiency. The second was to adopt a virtualization solution that could respond to its requirements, reducing cost of ownership as much as possible and minimizing risks in terms of quality of service and future continuity.

Having evaluated its options, the public body found that Red Hat Enterprise Virtualization was more cost-effective and provided greater capacity and improved service levels and continuity. The proposal put forward by Red Hat provided cost savings of up to 70 percent compared with proprietary solutions, while enabling the IT department to adopt a modernization plan, well-suited to the requirements of the Government of the Canary Islands.

Preparing for the future, the government wanted to avoid being tied to providers with unpredictable costs, or to technologies that might not develop or even disappear over time. In these respects, the technological roadmap provided by Red Hat, the capacity that its clients have for influencing that roadmap in a collaborative fashion, the model of annual subscriptions with predictable costs, the fact that it is based on public, open source technology and the soundness of Red Hat as a company were all decisive factors in the choice made by the Government of the Canary Islands.

Once Red Hat Enterprise Virtualization was installed on its IT systems, the government was able to increase from average consolidation ratios of seven virtual machines per physical server (7:1) to 27 virtual machines per host (27:1), in addition to making a saving of 10 percent in disk space, achieving greater reporting capacity and a general simplification of the architecture.

A key factor in this project was teamwork. Red Hat consultants brought significant expertise to bear on the solution and the automation and optimization of the data centre processes. Red Hat partner Qwerty offered the public body the best services at a local level, providing the greatest speed and efficiency possible. Thanks to this, the Government of the Canary Islands was able to successfully migrate a complex virtual infrastructure made up of almost 100 physical servers and 1,000 virtual machines, both Windows and Red Hat Enterprise Linux, in just four months, reducing costs and succeeding in improving operational efficiency and the service provided for citizens, both now and in the future.

Virtualization with Red Hat offers a solid platform, in addition to a clear vision of its roadmap, said Daro Ivn Ortega Valido, computing, telecommunications and new technologies department for the Government of the Canary Islands. Whats more, the budgetary sustainability provided by the Red Hat solutions and the positive results achieved in tests carried out with Red Hat Enterprise Virtualization were of crucial importance when it came to changing our virtualization platform.

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Much-delayed Channel Islands Boating Center opens in Oxnard

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Photo by Joe Lumaya, Special to the Star

Children from the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Oxnard and Port Hueneme look at one of the new interactive displays at Channel Islands Boating Center in Oxnard. The long-delayed boating center opened its doors to the public Wednesday.

The doors of Channel Islands Boating Center opened to the public for the first time Wednesday about 10 years later than originally planned.

The county of Ventura built the 15,000-square-foot, $7 million center at the county-owned Channel Islands Harbor in Oxnard, using a mix of state, federal, county and private funding. Wednesdays ceremony marked both a public unveiling and the turning over of control from the county to CSU Channel Islands, which will operate the center on a $1-a-year lease from the county.

Though the center is finished, and the doors were open Wednesday, it wont actually be open for business until May. It will be home to the universitys sailing team and will also host marine studies classes for students and the community, activities like kayaking and paddle boarding, and sailing lessons for children from the area.

A group of children from the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Oxnard and Port Hueneme were the first people through the doors. The clubs will work with CSUCI to provide free classes to kids from low-income families.

Photo by Joe Lumaya, Special to the Star

Maribel Tejeda (right) and Nehemiah Chatman (far right) watch Chumash ceremonial elder Mati Waiya bless the new Channel Islands Boating Center in Oxnard on Wednesday.

You are engaging a community of youth with the ocean, not by telling them they need to care about the ocean, but by giving them the experience of going out on the ocean, said Dan Basta, the director of the Office of National Marine Sanctuaries. Thats how I learned about the sea myself: Not from a textbook, but because I wanted to go fishing.

Bastas office is part of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administrations National Ocean Service, which helped pay for the boating center. The state of California picked up a little more than half of the $7 million tab. The county ended up spending about $1 million, Harbor Director Lyn Krieger said, and private donors and the federal government paid the rest.

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Much-delayed Channel Islands Boating Center opens in Oxnard

New Zealand’s Islands May Be Rechristened Under Old Maori Names

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The New Zealand Geographic Board, the countrys statutory naming authority, has submitted for public consultation a proposal to formally endorse use of the alternate Maori names of what are now simply called North Island and South Island -- Te Ika-a-Maui and Te Waipounamu, respectively.

Te Ika-a-Maui means the fish of Maui, while Te Waipounamu translates to the waters of greenstone (a reference to jade found in abundance on the southern island).

TV-NZ reported that once the measure is passed both the English and Maori names would be used together or individually.

Interestingly, the current English names of the two islands have never actually been official despite their long-term common usage, according to NZGBs chairman, Dr. Don Grant.

"This is a matter of great historical and cultural significance for New Zealand, so we want to consult with the wider New Zealand public," Grant told the Daily Telegraph.

"This is part of our country's history of European exploration and the settlement of New Zealand The NZGB agreed in principle ... both islands should also be assigned Maori alternative names, and that all of the names should be formalized at the same time," he said.

NZGB also noted that the Maori names had been in common use on official government maps until the 1950s it is unknown why that practice stopped.

The Telegraph also said Maori groups in the country have welcomed the name additions, but that it may trigger some controversy among the dominant white population.

According to the CIA World Factbook, almost 60 percent of New Zealanders are descended from Europeans, while Maoris account for about 7.4 percent of the population.

However, David Shearer, leader of the opposition Labour Party, supports the naming measures.

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New Zealand’s Islands May Be Rechristened Under Old Maori Names

Alternative Naming For North & South Islands

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Alternative Naming For North & South Islands

The New Zealand Geographic Board (NZGB) Ng Pou Taunaha o Aotearoa last Thursday agreed to proceed to publicly consult on proposals to formally assign official alternative names to New Zealands two main islands meaning that either the English name or the Mori name, or both names together could be used as official.

NZGB Chair Dr Don Grant says the move follows the receipt of a proposal to change the name South Island to its original Mori name Te Waipounamu and to consider the original Mori name of the North Island at the same time.

At that time we noted that the existing English names were recorded names, rather than official names. They appeared on LINZs maps, charts and other official publications but had never been formalised under the NZGB Act.

The NZGB agreed in principle that the English names should be formalised, that as a related pair both islands should also be assigned Mori alternative names, and that all of the names should be formalised at the same time.

Following consultation with iwi, the NZGB determined that the most appropriate Mori names for the islands are Te Ika-a-Mui (for the North Island) and Te Waipounamu (for the South Island).

The NZGB Act was amended in December 2012, and now provides for alternative naming. As such, the NZGB agreed at its latest meeting on 28 March 2013 to begin the process to formalise these names.

This means that the two main islands of New Zealand could soon be referred to officially as the North Island or Te Ika-a-Mui and the South Island or Te Waipounamu.

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Alternative Naming For North & South Islands

Busted ! Proof of HAARP ! Satellite Imaging Shows Coil Wave over Prince Edward Islands ! – Video

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Busted ! Proof of HAARP ! Satellite Imaging Shows Coil Wave over Prince Edward Islands !
Satellite images from march 26th 2013 show a Huge Coil , Spiral Wave like Feature coming from the Prince Edward Islands ! Amazing Proof of Weather Modificati...

By: DAHBOO77

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Busted ! Proof of HAARP ! Satellite Imaging Shows Coil Wave over Prince Edward Islands ! - Video

More Taiwan ships to patrol disputed islands

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TAIPEI - Taiwan's President Ma Ying-jeou on Saturday unveiled two new ships that will join the patrol in waters off disputed islands in the East China Sea at the centre of a regional territorial row.

"We will gradually build up our capabilities in the sea to enforce the law, to conduct rescue missions and protect fishermen," Ma said before boarding a new ship to inspect a drill off the Kaohsiung port in the south.

Taiwan will not "concede one step" in upholding its sovereignty claim over the islands, Ma said, while urging all sides involved to seek a peaceful resolution to the dispute.

The contested islands, in an area where the seabed is believed to harbour valuable mineral reserves, are claimed as the Senkakus by Japan and the Diaoyus by China. The Japanese-controlled islands are also claimed by Taiwan.

In January, coastguard vessels from Taiwan and Japan converged and duelled with water cannons in their latest stand-off as a boat carrying Taiwanese activists was heading to the islands.

The incident came at a time of growing regional concern over the intensified friction over the islands between China and Japan, with both Beijing and Tokyo recently scrambling fighter jets to assert their claims to the area.

Coastguard vessels from Japan and Taiwan also exchanged water cannon barrages in September after dozens of Taiwanese boats were escorted by patrol ships into the islands' waters.

Japan's government nationalised three of them in September by taking them out of private Japanese ownership, triggering strong protests from Taiwan and China.

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More Taiwan ships to patrol disputed islands

Taiwan adds new ships to patrol disputed islands

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In this photo released by Taiwans Central News Agency, a Taiwanese fishing boat comes close to the disputed islands called Senkaku in Japan and Diaoyu in China, in the East China Sea, Tuesday, Sept. 25, 2012. On Tuesday morning, about 50 Taiwanese fishing boats accompanied by 10 Taiwanese surveillance ships came within almost 20 kilometers (about 12 miles) of the disputed islands- within what Japan considers to be its territorial waters. APfile AP FILE PHOTO/Central News Agency/TAIWAN OUT

TAIPEI Taiwans President Ma Ying-jeou on Saturday unveiled two new ships that will join the patrol in waters off disputed islands in the East China Sea at the center of a regional territorial row.

We will gradually build up our capabilities in the sea to enforce the law, to conduct rescue missions and protect fishermen, Ma said before boarding a new ship to inspect a drill off the Kaohsiung port in the south.

Taiwan will not concede one step in upholding its sovereignty claim over the islands, Ma said, while urging all sides involved to seek a peaceful resolution to the dispute.

The contested islands, in an area where the seabed is believed to harbor valuable mineral reserves, are claimed as the Senkakus by Japan and the Diaoyus by China. The Japanese-controlled islands are also claimed by Taiwan.

In January, coastguard vessels from Taiwan and Japan converged and duelled with water cannons in their latest stand-off as a boat carrying Taiwanese activists was heading to the islands.

The incident came at a time of growing regional concern over the intensified friction over the islands between China and Japan, with both Beijing and Tokyo recently scrambling fighter jets to assert their claims to the area.

Coastguard vessels from Japan and Taiwan also exchanged water cannon barrages in September after dozens of Taiwanese boats were escorted by patrol ships into the islands waters.

Japans government nationalised three of them in September by taking them out of private Japanese ownership, triggering strong protests from Taiwan and China.

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Taiwan adds new ships to patrol disputed islands

Editorial: San Juan Islands , a national monument indeed

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Originally published March 29, 2013 at 4:21 PM | Page modified March 29, 2013 at 4:20 PM

PRESIDENT Obamas designation of federal land on the San Juan Islands as a national monument is a point of pride for the entire state.

The recognition and preservation of the natural, cultural and historic treasures on the Puget Sound archipelago is a triumph of community effort.

The San Juans were one of five national monuments designated by Obama, who used a presidential prerogative that dates to 1906. The others are in Delaware, Maryland, New Mexico and Ohio.

Here in Washington the nearly 1,000 acres of land will continue to be managed by the federal Bureau of Land Management. As noted by Margie Van Cleve, chairwoman of the Washington State Sierra Club, This monument is good news for our community and our environment.

The united front to make this happen was impressive indeed. Washington Sens. Maria Cantwell and Patty Murray joined with Reps. Rick Larsen and Suzan DelBene to preserve the land either through legislation or executive action.

Their efforts had the support of Interior Secretary Ken Salazar, who visited the area, Gov. Jay Inslee, former Gov. Chris Gregoire, councils and commissioners from San Juan, Whatcom and Skagit counties, the Samish Indian Nation, and state Sen. Kevin Ranker, D-Orcas Island.

More than a dozen state and county organizations signed on, as did more than 150 local businesses. The list of individual supporters goes on for pages.

These designations not only protect and preserve pieces of American history, and natural beauty.

Theres no doubt that these monuments will serve as economic engines for the local communities through tourism, outdoor recreation supporting economic growth and creating jobs, Salazar said in a statement on Monday.

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Editorial: San Juan Islands , a national monument indeed

Highlands and Islands gets £146m fibre broadband investment

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Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) has signed a landmark deal with BT to bring fibre broadband to remote areas of northern Scotland.

This has been described as the UKs most complex and challenging broadband project ever, due to the geography and disparate population of the Highlands and Islands. Estimates have indicated that, without public sector support, fewer than one in four properties would have fibre broadband via commercial rollout.

However, it is believed that the 146 million investment a combination of public and private sector money will bring fibre broadband to 84 percent of Highlands and Islands homes and businesses by the end of 2016.

Digital connectivity is essential to todays social and business activity. High-speed fibre broadband in the Highlands and Islands will make a real contribution to our communities prosperity, particularly for people in remote and rural areas, said Alex Paterson, Chief Executive of HIE.

It offers opportunities for new ways of working, innovation, enhanced public services, access to international markets and provides the infrastructure needed by business sectors like energy, life sciences, tourism and business services.

As part of the project, BT will build a fibre backbone with more than 800km of new fibre on land and install hundreds more kilometres of fibre access cable to hundreds of new street cabinets. Engineers will also lay around 400km of subsea cables over 19 crossings to remote islands.

The public sector investment towards the contract is 126.4 million, which will be delivered through the Scottish Government broadband fund and incorporate funding from Broadband Delivery UK (BDUK).

A further 12 million come from from HIEs own budget, and BT is investing an additional 19.4 million in the project, taking the total project value to around 146 million.

There are incredible obstacles to overcome, not least building a fibre network across some of the most rugged terrain in the UK. And we have huge distances to cover as we lay our cables over the hills and glens and under the sea, said Bill Murphy, BT Groups Managing Director of Next Generation Broadband.

The unprecedented scale of this project is such that it can only be done in partnership and all of us in BT are looking forward to continuing the great working relationship that weve built up over many years with Highlands and Islands Enterprise.

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Highlands and Islands gets £146m fibre broadband investment

Islands group ventures into hotels

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Islands Group, which pioneered the famous Philippine island T-shirts under the brand "Islands Souvenirs," has expanded its tourism ventures into value hotels called "Islands Stay" with plans to build 100 hotels.

Jay Aldeguer, company chairman and president, told Business Bulletin they intend to build up to 100 "Islands Stay" hotels in the country.

Two "Islands Stay" have already been established in Cebu, one in Ayala Center with 32 rooms and Mactan with 56 rooms with combined investments of P45 million.

Another hotel under a franchise scheme is being put up in Puerto Princesa.

In eight years, Aldeguer expects to have 8 hotels in Cebu alone depending on the availability of location with estimated investments of P80 million.

They have three franchise prospects in Manila to be located in Alabang, Makati and Quezon City. They may go up to 100 hotels overtime to include operations in Bohol and Sabang, Palawan depending on market adaptability.

Aldeguer explained that "Islands Stay" is a value hotel that caters to the needs of tourists for quality amenities and topnotch service, safety and convenience.

"Islands Stay is not a budget or an expensive boutique hotel, but is a value hotel shaped by its brand of service," Aldeguer said.

"When we opened the hotel in Mactan, it was 100 percent occupied with more walk-in clients," said Aldeguer noting their clients are equally split between leisure and business travelers.

Aldeguer has decided to invest in value hotel concept because this is what tourists are looking for. Tourists do not normally stay in their hotel room as they prefer to explore outside, but they still want quality amenities and quality service.

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Islands group ventures into hotels

Government of Canada Names Thousand Islands National Park

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MALLORYTOWN, ONTARIO--(Marketwire - Mar 28, 2013) - Today, on behalf of the Honourable Peter Kent, Canada's Environment Minister and Minister responsible for Parks Canada, Mr. Gord Brown, Member of Parliament for Leeds-Grenville, officially unveiled Thousand Islands National Park of Canada. With Royal Assent of the Private Members Bill-C370 yesterday at 4 p.m., the name of St. Lawrence Islands National Park was officially changed to Thousand Islands National Park of Canada.

"The name Thousand Islands National Park will help this national park renew its place in the consciousness of Canadians and inspire future generations to continue support for this long established protected treasure," said MP Brown. "The Thousand Islands is known throughout the world as a tourism destination, and Parks Canada can now take advantage of this strong brand and align their public offering with those of other regional tourism providers."

The initiative to rename the park was led by MP Gord Brown. After consulting with local municipalities, business organizations and the Park, he introduced the name change as a bill in parliament. The new name better associates the park with its setting and helps promote and support natural and cultural tourism and related businesses within the Thousand Islands region.

"This name change presents an opportunity to renew Canadians' passion and support for our country's treasured natural spaces," said Minister Kent. "Placing Thousand Islands National Park on the map is a small but significant step that will help enhance public awareness of this incredible park."

Thousand Islands is an internationally recognized brand and with this name change, Parks Canada will contribute its known quality of service, and its ability to work with private companies to offer incredible experiences for Canadians and international visitors.

Parks Canada works to ensure Canada's historic and natural heritage is protected and, through a network of 44 national parks, 167 national historic sites, and four national marine conservation areas, invites Canadians and people around the world to engage in personal moments of inspiring discovery at our country's treasured natural and historic places.

For additional information, please see the accompanying backgrounder at http://www.parkscanada.gc.ca under Media Room.

BACKGROUNDER

Thousand Islands National Park

Established in 1904 St. Lawrence Islands National Park was created greatly due to the efforts of community residents to have a national park in the area. It is unclear why the name St. Lawrence Islands National Park was selected as the original park name, although historical records refer to the area as "islands situated in the River St. Lawrence" and "islands in the St. Lawrence which comprise the Thousand Islands Group."

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Government of Canada Names Thousand Islands National Park


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