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This is the water situation in Greater Santo Domingo – Dominican Today

Posted on May 12, 2022 by Danzig

The Minister of Economy, Planning and Development, Miguel Ceara Hatton.

TheMinistry of Economy, Planning, and Development, coordinator of the Water Cabinet, carried out the consultation of the Pact for Water in the province of Santo Domingo to finalize a document through social and public consensus.

The event, headed by the Minister of Economy, Planning, and Development, Miguel Ceara Hatton, together with the members of the Water Sector Cabinet and members of the Greater Santo Domingo Water Thematic Table, aims to present the National Commitment Proposal for a Pact for Water 2021-2036 and the Hydrological Diagnosis of the province, to build a country with water security for all Dominicans.

During the act, Minister Ceara Hatton explained theContextualizations on the water sector in Greater Santo Domingo to improve the quality of life of the people.

The economist stressed that throughconsultations in all the countrys provinces, their needs are determined based on the initial diagnosis, including information, analysis, and deficiencies.

He pointed out that with this meeting, 31 provinces are added to the consultation work with society on the problem of water.

At the end of theElas Pia province, the final results will be sent to the Economic and Social Council to complete a document that genuinely reflects the populations felt needs to turn it into a political consensus and a long-term state policy.

We are looking for a solution to a problem that unfortunately will only have a long-term solution due to its size and complexity, the water problem is very difficult to solve in a short time and requires an investment of more than 8 billion pesos,assured the Minister Ceara Hatton to the local media.

Among the challenges presented by Greater Santo Domingo are the recovery of 64% of the water currently delivered and not used; an increase in the coverage of drinking water in quality, quantity, and opportunity to 95% of the population; an increase in the coverage of sanitary sewerage and treatment plants to 60%; eliminate the causes of the degradation of the quality of the bodies of surface and underground waters and the marine coastline.

Also, increase theappreciationof the water resource by citizens;develop a water culture in the population; achieve governance of water resources to an effective, stable, and legitimate level, and go from 32% regulation to 40%.

According to the diagnosis carried out forGreater Santo Domingo, eight main problems were identified from the variable critical causes, such as insufficient satisfaction of the population regarding the demand for drinking water in quantity, quality, and timeliness; Insufficient infrastructure for wastewater collection and treatment;limited regulation and storage infrastructure (dams);degradation of the quality of bodies of surface, underground and coastal waters.

As well as the generation of diseases of water origin, both due to the consumption of poor quality drinking water and due to contact with contaminated water; Increasing risk for the population associated with climatic events;Absence of governance for the good use of water resources and Scarce valuation of the water resource.

It is recalled that since January 2022, the Cabinet of the Water Sector and the Ministry of Economy, Planning, and Development have carried out the socialization and consultation process of the National Water Pactat the provincial level. To date, the pact has been socialized in 30 of the 32 provinces, with the participation of official institutions, private sector entities, and social organizations linked to the water sector.

The meeting held at the Ministry of Economy facilities was also attended by Eduardo Julia, Deputy Minister of Environment and Natural Resources, and Wascar Martnez, Deputy Director of the National Institute of Hydraulic Resources.

In addition, government representatives, municipalities, universities, the private sector, and civil society.

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This is the water situation in Greater Santo Domingo - Dominican Today

Urban bluegreen space landscape ecological health assessment based on the integration of pattern, process, function and sustainability | Scientific…

Posted on May 12, 2022 by Danzig

Study area

Harbin is located in the centre of Northeast Asia, between 4404'46 40 N and 125 42130 10 E24,26. The site has a mid-temperate continental monsoon climate, with an average annual temperature of 3.6 C and an average annual precipitation is 569.1mm. The main precipitation months being from June to September, accounting for about 60% of the annual precipitation, the main snow months are from November to January24,25. The overall topography is high in the east and low in the west, with mountains and hills predominating in the east and plains predominating in the west27. In this study, we identified the central district of Harbin, where urban construction activities are frequent and the population is dense, as the study area. According to the Harbin City Urban Master Plan (20112020) (revised draft in 2017), the specific scope includes Daoli District, Daowai District, Nangang District, Xiangfang District, Pingfang District, Songbei District's administrative district, Hulan District, and Acheng District part of the area, with a total area of 4187km2 (Fig.2). The bluegreen space in this study included woodland, grassland, cultivated land, wetland and water that permeate inside and outside the construction sites. They all have integrated functions such as ecology, supply, beautification, culture, and disaster prevention and avoidance, and have a decisive influence on the urban ecological environment.

Schematic of study area. The Figure is created using ArcGIS ver.10.2 (https://www.esri.com/).

The data used in this research included the following: land-cover date (30m30m) of two periods (2011, 2020) spported by the China Geographic National Conditions Data Cloud Platform (http://www.dsac.cn/), Meteorological datasets (1 km1 km) were obtained from the Resource and Environmental Science Data Center of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (http:www.resdc.cn/), including air temperature, precipitation, and surface runoff. ASTER GDFM elevation data (30 m30 m) came from the Geospatial Data Cloud (http:www.gscloud.cn), from which the slope was extracted. Soil data (1km1km) were from the World Soil Database (HWSD) China Soil Data Set (v1.1). The normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) and modified normalized difference water index (MNDWI) data (30m30m) came from the National Comprehensive Earth Observation Data Sharing Platform (http://www.chinageoss.org/), ET datasets (30m30m) were drawn from the NASA-USGS (https://lpdaac.usgs.gov/). Social and economic data were mainly obtained through the Harbin statistical yearbook and the Harbin social and economic bulletin.

Urban bluegreen space is a politically defined man-land coupling region composed of ecological, economic, and social systems, which is greatly disturbed by human activities11. The essence of urban bluegreen space LEH is that the landscape ecological function sustainably meets human needs28,29. The landscape ecological function reflects the value orientation of human beings to bluegreen space, and to a large extent affects the bluegreen landscape ecological pattern and process. The interaction between the bluegreen landscape ecological pattern and process drives the overall dynamics of bluegreen space. Meanwhile, presenting certain landscape ecological function characteristics, which provide ecological support for various human activities30,31,32. While the pattern and process of bluegreen space both profoundly influence and are influenced by human activities33,34. This influence is long-term, the standard of LEH should not be fixed in real-time health, but should fully consider the sustainability of the health state.

In summary, the landscape ecological pattern, process, function, and sustainability are not separate, but a complex of mutual integration, and organic unity. In this study, we constructed an integrated assessment framework of bluegreen space LEH that included four units: pattern, process, service, and sustainability (Fig.3). In the assessment framework, the LEH of urban bluegreen space involves two dimensions: the first is the health status of the urban bluegreen space itself, emphasizing the maintenance of the ecological conditions, thereby potentially satisfying a series of diversity goals. The other is that urban bluegreen space, as a part of social and economic development, could sustainably provide the ability to meet (subject) needs and goals.

Key units, interactions of urban bluegreen space LEH.

The landscape ecological pattern of urban bluegreen space is a spatial mosaic combination of landscape elements at different levels or the same level. Affected by human activities interference31, the landscape ecological pattern shows the changing trend of landscape structure complexity, landscape type diversification, and landscape fragmentation. The assessment of urban landscape ecological pattern should be a comprehensive reflection of this changing trend1. Landscape pattern indexes are the most frequently applied which could reflect the structural composition and spatial configuration characteristics of the landscape4,35. This study took landscape ecology as the entry point and selected the landscape pattern indexes that can quantitatively reflect the change characteristics of landscape structural composition and spatial configuration under the disturbance. In this way, the landscape disturbance index (U), landscape connectivity index (CON), and landscape adaptability index (LAI) were used as the indexes for the assessment of landscape ecological pattern health.

Landscape disturbance index (U)

There are two kinds of relationships between the landscape ecological pattern and the external disturbance: compatibility and conflict. As the landscape ecological pattern has accommodating characteristics, the disturbance beyond the accommodating capacity will degrade the landscape ecological pattern36,37. The landscape disturbance index (U) could characterize the degree of fragmentation, dispersion, and morphological changes in landscape pattern38. The index is a comprehensive index that can reflect the health of the landscape pattern by quantifying the ability of ecosystems to accommodate external disturbances. It consists of the landscape fragmentation index, the inverse of the fractional dimension, and the dominance index. They measure the response of the landscape pattern to external disturbance from the perspective of different landscape types, the same landscape type, and landscape diversity, respectively36,38, and their weights were determined by the entropy weight method. The formula is as follows:

$$ U = alpha N_{{{Fi}}} + bD_{{{Fi}}} + cD_{{{Oi}}} $$

(1)

where NFi is the landscape fragmentation index, DFi is the inverse of the fractional dimension, DOi is the dominance index, and a, b, and c are the corresponding weights, which were 0.20, 0.5, and 0.3 in this study, respectively.

Landscape connectivity index (CON)

The most direct result of landscape ecological pattern degradation caused by external disturbance is that the flow of energy, material, and information among ecological patches is reduced or even blocked, ultimately the stability of the landscape pattern is decreased. The connectivity could characterize the ability of landscape ecological pattern to mitigate risk transmission, which is significant for the dynamic stability of landscape ecological pattern39,40. The landscape connectivity index (CON) could measure the connectivity between ecosystem components through the aggregation or dispersion trend of patches41. The better the connectivity, the stronger the stability of landscape ecological pattern. The formula is as follows:

$$ CON = frac{{100sumlimits_{s = 1}^{q} {sumlimits_{h ne l}^{p} {C_{{{shl}}} } } }}{{sumlimits_{s = 1}^{s} {left[ {q_{{s}} (q_{{s}} - 1)/2} right]} }} $$

(2)

where qs is the number of plaques of patch type s, Cshl is the link between patch h and patch l in s within the delimited distance.

Landscape Restorability Index (LRI)

The ability to recover to its original structure when subjected to disturbances is an important criterion for the landscape ecological pattern42. Research confirmed that the restorability of the landscape ecological pattern is closely related to the structure, function, diversity, and uniformity of distribution. The landscape restorability index (LRI) combines the above landscape information and could indicate the restorability of the landscape ecological pattern in response to disturbance43. The index consists of the patch density, Shannon diversity index, and the landscape evenness, the patch density is the number of patches per square kilometer. The Shannon diversity index reflects the change in the proportion of landscape types. The landscape evenness index shows the distribution evenness of patches in terms of area. The larger the LRI index, the more complex and evenly distributed the structure is, and the more recovery ability of the landscape pattern against disturbance is. The formula is as follows:

$$ LRI = PD times SHDI times SHEI $$

(3)

where PD is the patch density, SHDI is the Shannon diversity index, and SHEI is the landscape evenness index.

The landscape ecological process of urban bluegreen space is extremely complex for it involves multiple factors such as natural ecology, economy, and culture. Landscape ecological process assessment is the measure of the self-organized capacity and the efficiency of ecological processes within and among patches44. A bluegreen space with a healthy landscape ecological process should have the ability to adapt to conventional land use under human management and maintain physiological integrity while maintaining the balance of ecological components. Specifically, the landscape ecological process could quickly restore its balance after severe disturbances, with strong organization, suitability, recoverability, and low sensitivity45,46. A single model hardly to gets good research on landscape ecological process under the urban scale. The comprehensive application of multidisciplinary methods is effective means to solve the problem. Regarding this, we selected ecological indexes and models from four aspects: organization, suitability, restoration, and sensitivity to assess the landscape ecological process of urban bluegreen space.

Organization index (O)

The organization of the landscape ecological process is the maintenance ability of stable and orderly material cycling and energy flow within and between landscapes47. The normalized vegetation index (NDVI) and the modified normalized difference water index (MNDWI) could reflect the efficiency and order of ecological processes. Such as accumulation of organic matter, fixation of solar energy, nutrient cycling, regeneration, and metabolism13. The indexes are the external performance of the internal dynamics and organizational capabilities of the ecological process. In recent years, it has been widely used in the assessment of related to landscape ecological process. The formulas are as follows:

$$ NDVI = frac{NIR - R}{{NIR + R}} $$

$$ MNDWI = frac{p(green) - p(MIR)}{{p(green) + p(MIR)}} $$

(4)

where (NDVI) is the normalized vegetation index, (MNDWI) is the modified water body index, (NIR) is the reflectance value in the near-infrared band, (R) is the reflectance value in the visible channel, (p(green)) and (p(MIR)) are the normalized values in the green and mid-infrared bands.

Suitability index (Q)

The suitability of the landscape ecological process is a measurement of the self-regulating ability of the landscape ecosystem. That is, to effectively maintain the ecological process in a state of being protected from disturbance during the occasional changes caused by the external environment2. The water conservation amount index (Q) can measure the operating capacity of ecosystems to maintain ecological balance, water conservation, climate regulation, and other ecological processes by integrating the water balance of rainfall, surface runoff, and evaporation41. It could reflect the suitability of landscape ecological process to regional environment and developmental conditions. The formula is as follows:

where Q is the water conservation amount, R is the annual rainfall, J is the surface runoff, ET is the evapotranspiration.

Recoverability index (ECO)

The recoverability of the landscape ecological process refers to the ability of an ecosystem to return to its original operating state after being subjected to external impacts. Land-use types play an essential role in landscape ecological recoverability48. The ecological recoverability index (ECO) uses the resilience coefficients of land-use types to reflect the level of ecosystem resilience38. Based on previous studies, the resilience coefficient of land-use types was assigned (Table 1).

Sensitivity index(A)

The sensitivity index (A) could be used to indicate landscape ecological process formation, change, and vulnerability to disturbance31. We started from the physical effects of bluegreen space on sand production, water confluence, and sediment transport, introduced the Soil Erosion Modulus to characterize the sensitivity of landscape ecological processes to disturbance. The index effectively combines landscape ecology, erosion mechanics, soil science, and sediment dynamics49. The formula is as follows:

$$ begin{gathered} A = R_{{i}} cdot K cdot LS cdot C cdot P hfill \ L = (l/22.1)^{m} hfill \ S = left{ begin{gathered} 10.8sin theta + 0.03,theta < 5^{ circ } hfill \ 16.8sin theta - 0.50,5^{ circ } le theta < 10^{ circ } hfill \ 21.9sin theta - 0.96,theta ge 10^{ circ } hfill \ end{gathered} right. hfill \ C = left{ begin{gathered} 1,c = 0 hfill \ 0.6508 - 0.3436lg c,0 < c le 78.3% hfill \ 0,c > 78.3% hfill \ end{gathered} right. hfill \ end{gathered} $$

(6)

where A is the soil erosion modulus. Ri is the rainfall erosion factor, K is the soil erosion factor, L and S are slope the length factor and the slope factor respectively, C is the vegetation coverage and management factor, P is the soil and water conservation factor, l is the slope length value, m is the slope length index, and the is slope value.

The landscape ecological function determines the ability of ecological service50,51,52, the ecological service of urban bluegreen space depends on the human value orientation48. It includes four categories: supply, support, regulation, and culture. Based on Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs and Alderfers ERG theory, scholars have summarized the three major needs of human beings for urban bluegreen space. Namely, securing the living environment to meet the survival needs, improving social relationships to meet the interaction needs, and cultivating cultural cultivation to meet the development needs53. Specifically corresponding to the landscape ecological function of urban bluegreen space, supply is not the main function, only plays a subsidiary role, support is the basic guarantee, regulation is the basic need for urban environmental construction, and culture is an important element of high-quality social life. Ecosystem service value (ESV) can realize the measurement of ecological service function by calculating the specific value of life support products and services produced by the ecosystem54,55,56. Considering the human value orientation of the urban bluegreen space landscape ecological function, the weights were given by consulting 16 experts, with supply, regulation, support, and culture weights of 0.2, 0.3, 0.3, 0.2, respectively. The formula is as follows:

$$ ESV = sumlimits_{k = 1}^{n} {S_{k} times V_{k}^{{}} } $$

(7)

where Sk is the area of landscape type k, Vk is the value coefficient of the ecosystem service function of landscape type k .

Wu (2013) proposed a research framework for landscape sustainability based on a summary of related studies, stating that landscape ecological sustainability is the ability to provide ecosystem services in a long-term and stable manner34. The framework emphasized that landscape sustainability should focus on the analysis of ecosystem service trade-offs effect34,57. In the process of dynamic change of urban bluegreen space ecosystem, there are complex trade-offs among various ecosystem services. This is important for promoting the optimal overall benefits of various ecosystem services and achieving sustainable development of urban ecology58. In addition, as a special type of human-centered ecosystem developed by humans based on nature, human well-being is also very important for the landscape ecological sustainability of urban bluegreen space. For this reason, we introduced ecosystem service trade-offs (EST) and ecological construction input (IEC) as assessment indexes of landscape ecological sustainability.

Ecosystem service trade-offs (EST)

This study applied the root mean square deviation of ecological services to quantify ecosystem service trade-offs (EST). The index could effectively measure the average difference in standard deviation between individual ecosystem services and the average ecosystem services. It is a simple and effective way to evaluate the trade-offs among ecosystem services. The formula is as follows:

$$ EST = sqrt {frac{1}{n - 1}sumnolimits_{i = 1}^{n} {(ES_{std} - overline{ES}_{std} } } )^{2} $$

(8)

where ESstd is the normalized ecosystem services, n is the number of ecosystem services , and (overline{ES}_{std}) is the mean value of normalized ecosystem services.

Ecological construction input (ECI)

Human well-being is a premise for the landscape ecological sustainability of urban bluegreen spaces, it is closely related to government investment in ecological construction planning34. From the perspective of economics, this study assessed the human well-being obtained by urban bluegreen space with the ratio of urban ecological construction investment to GDP, that is, the ecological construction input (ECI). The formula is as follows:

where EI is the amount of ecological construction investment, and G is the gross regional product.

The index weight determines its relative importance in the index system, and the selection of the weight calculation method in the decision-making of multi-attribute problems has an important impact on the assessment results21. Traditional weighting methods can be divided into two categories, subjective weighting method and objective weighting method21,38. The subjective weighting method is represented by the analytic hierarchy process (AHP), Delphi method, and so on. It has the advantage of simplicity, but the disadvantage is too subjective and randomness because it was completely dependent on the knowledge and experience of decision makers. The objective weighting method is represented by the entropy weighting method (EWM), principal component analysis, variation coefficient method, and so on. And it has been widely recognized for reflecting the variability of assessment results18, but the values of indexes have significant influence and the calculation results are not stable. Considering the limitations of the single weighting method, the weights of each assessment index in this study were determined by the combination of subjective weight and objective weight. Among them, the subjective weighting selected the AHP, and the objective weighting selected the EWM (Table 2). The formula is as follows:

$$ w_{{j}} = alpha w_{{j}}^{{{AHP}}} + (1 - alpha )w_{{j}}^{{{EWM}}} $$

(10)

$$ w_{{j}}^{{{EWM}}} = d_{{j}} /sumlimits_{i = 1}^{m} {d_{{j}} } $$

(11)

$$ d_{{j}} = 1 - e_{{j}} $$

(12)

$$ e_{{j}} = - ksumlimits_{i = 1}^{n} {f_{{{ij}}} ln (f_{{{ij}}} )} ,;k = 1/ln (n) $$

(13)

$$ f_{{{ij}}} = X^{prime}_{{{ij}}} /sumlimits_{i = 1}^{n} {X^{prime}_{{{ij}}} } $$

(14)

where (W_{{j}}^{{}}) is the combined weight. (W_{{j}}^{{_{AHP} }}) is the weight of the j-th index of the AHP, (W_{{j}}^{{{EWM}}}) is the weight of the j-th index of the EWM, dj is the information entropy of the j-th index, ej is the entropy value of the j-th index, (f_{{{ij}}}) is the proportion of the index value of the j-th sample under the i-th indexm, (X^{prime}_{{{ij}}}) is the standardized value of the i-th sample of the j-th index, m is the number of index, n is the number of samples, and (alpha) was taken as 0.5.

Since the dimensions of indexes are different, it is necessary to unify the dimensions of the index to avoid the errors caused by direct calculation to make the evaluation results inaccurate. The range standardization was used to normalize the index data and bound its value in the interval [0, 1], the range standardization can be expressed as follows15,23:

$$ {text{Positive indicator}}left( + right):A_{{{ij}}} = (X_{{{ij}}} - X_{{{jmin}}} )/(X_{{{jmax}}} - X_{{{jmin}}} ) $$

(15)

$$ {text{Negative indicator}}left( - right):A_{{{ij}}} = (X_{{{jmax}}} - X_{ij} )/(X_{{{jmax}}} - X_{{{jmin}}} ) $$

(16)

Additionally, we divided the LEH index into five levels from high to low using an equal-interval approach as follows40: [10.8) healthy, [0.80.6) sub-healthy, [0.60.4) moderately healthy, [0.40.2) unhealthy, [0.20] pathological, corresponding level IV. And the level transfer of LEH in different periods was divided into three types: improvement type, degradation type, and stabilization type. For example, III-II means that the transfer from level III to level II is the improvement type.

Spatial autocorrelation analysis is one of the basic methods in theoretical geography. It could deeply investigate the spatial correlation characteristics of data, including global spatial autocorrelation and local spatial autocorrelation23. The global spatial autocorrelation uses global Morans I to evaluate the degree of their spatial agglomeration or differentiation of an attribute value in the study area. The local spatial autocorrelation is a decomposed form of the global spatial autocorrelation18,21, including four types: HH(High-High), LL(Low-Low), HL(High-Low), LH(LowHigh). In this study, spatial autocorrelation analysis was applied to study the spatial correlation characteristics of bluegreen space LEH. The calculation formulas are as follows:

$$ I = frac{{Nsumlimits_{i} {sumlimits_{v} {W_{iv} (Y_{i} - overline{Y} )(Y_{v} - overline{Y} )} } }}{{(sumlimits_{i} {sumlimits_{v} {W_{iv} } } )sumlimits_{i} {(Y_{i} - overline{Y} )} }} $$

(17)

$$ I_{i} = frac{{Y_{i} - overline{Y} }}{{S_{x}^{2} }}sumlimits_{v} {left[ {W_{iv} (Y_{i} - overline{Y} )} right]} $$

(18)

where N is the number of space units, (W_{iv}) is the spatial weight, (Y_{i} ,Y_{v}) are the variable attribute values of the area (i,v), (overline{Y}) is the variable mean, (S_{x}^{2}) is the variance, (I) is the global Morans I index, and (I_{i}) is the local Morans I index.

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Urban bluegreen space landscape ecological health assessment based on the integration of pattern, process, function and sustainability | Scientific...

Bill and Joan Alfond Foundation awards funding to Dirigo Labs to support business accelerator, innovation ecosystem – Bangor Daily News

Posted on May 12, 2022 by Danzig

WATERVILLE Bill and Joan Alfond announced a grant from their foundation today to the Central Maine Community Betterment Collaborative for the Dirigo Labs business accelerator program. This grant will bolster Dirigo Labs physical infrastructure and ecosystem building in the greater Waterville area while highlighting the regions technology and innovation sectors.

Joan and I are pleased to support entrepreneurial innovation and the development of quality jobs in the greater Waterville area, said Bill Alfond.

This generous gift will help distinguish Dirigo Labs as a resource for founders from diverse backgrounds and industries looking to scale their businesses in an impactful manner, said Managing Director Susan Ruhlin. This funding will allow us to build upon our existing groundwork as we launch our inaugural cohort and build greater Watervilles entrepreneurial ecosystem.

Housed in Bricks Coworking and Innovation Space, located in the historic Hathaway Creative Center at 10 Water Street in Waterville, Dirigo Labs serves as a conduit for startups seeking access to mentorship, deal flow, venture capital, and strategic partnerships.

Combining the momentum of building-out a greater Waterville area based innovation hub with the continued growth and revitalization of downtown Waterville, this grant will support entrepreneurs and startups that aim to launch and expand their respective businesses through innovative programming, access to diverse sources of capital, mentorship structures, and dedicated workspace in the downtown district, states Central Maine Growth Council Director of Planning, Innovation, and Economic Development Garvan Donegan.

Launched on March 23, Dirigo Labs is currently hosting 12 Maine-based startups from various industries, ranging from the manufacturing of floating picnic tables, the development of food products, and software services. The 12-week program pairs companies with a curated temporary board of advisors. Participants have access to a robust network of local, regional, and national mentors and pro bono services. The program engages startups and founders through workshops covering a range of relevant subject matters, including product development strategies, marketing and branding, revenue modeling, and customer relationship management. After completing the curriculum, companies will participate in a public pitch event.

For startups and potential mentors interested in learning more about Dirigo Labs, please visithttp://www.dirigolabs.org.

Dirigo Labs is a regional startup accelerator based in Waterville, Maine. With a mission to grow the greater Waterville areas digital economy by supporting entrepreneurs building innovation-based companies, the Dirigo Labs ecosystem brings together people, resources, and organizations to ensure the successful launch of new startups. Dirigo Labs operates under Central Maine Growth Council and is supported by several organizations, academic institutions, and investment firms. To learn more about Dirigo Labs, please visithttp://www.dirigolabs.org.

Mining the moon to help save life on Earth (op-ed) – Space.com

Posted on May 12, 2022 by Danzig

Lewis Pinault is a partner at Airbus Ventures, where he invests and serves as board director for space technology related startups across the globe. A NASA-trained meteoriticist, he is also a researcher at University College London/Birkbeck's Centre for Planetary Sciences, presently collaborating with JAXA's Institute of Space and Astronautical Sciences. Pinault contributed this article to Space.com's Expert Voices: Op-Ed & Insights.

Humanity's fossil fuel war a war waged with insane relentlessness on both ourselves and on our planet has never raged more brightly, or with such power of irreversible destruction.

Whatever the purported causes, we are presently witnessing a savagery that seems designed to serve only one dark rationale: incurring such pain that a concession of Ukraine's eastern Dnieper-Donetsk region, holding upwards of 90% of the country's vast oil, gas and coal reserves, becomes as seemingly acceptable as the loss of Crimea and its significant offshore gas reserves five years earlier.

Live updates: Ukraine invasion's impacts on space exploration

This time, the fossil fuel war has rapidly cascading global dimensions. As the flow of hydrocarbons is stymied in some quarters, it is unleashed in unprecedented quantities in others; the price of oil escalates, allowing still-saleable Russian oil to pay and fuel yet more armor and destruction. Presumed allies amongst the fossil fuel kingdoms are revealed for the cynical oil-worshippers they are, and the world's autocrats, who can never rally more than uncomplicated base emotions, are grateful for the cruel simplicities of avoiding complex change and sacrifice at any cost.

Even as the final Working Group of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change concludes that the elimination of fossil fuels is the only practical and timely path to avoiding irreversible climate damage and all its concomitant crises of disease, starvation and forced migration orders of magnitude larger than present-day Ukraine's humanity continues to inject fossil fuels into the system.

In the meantime, unchecked consumerism drives mining more places for more metals for more phones and more cars; large-scale agriculture and forestry operations with little relation to sustainable nutrition or housing needs encroach on wild habitats essential to our biosphere, further driving disease and more deadly mass migrations of thousands of species; fresh water supplies are imperilled, and we are amidst one of the biosphere's greatest extinctions an event that's likely to consume us before we can even fully catalogue it.

Piecing together these shards of a seemingly broken civilization, this generation's complicated investment in the exploration and exploitation of outer space is rightly called into question, especially when our overheating home planet Earth is pleading for corrective behavior and needs our immediate attention most. While the invasion of Ukraine has opened a new front in the fossil fuel war in Earth orbit, and encrypted communications and satellite observation seem to be working in favor of the country's defense, these "Dark Skies" technologies are arguably as dangerous to our planet and civilization as they are to protecting corners of it.

It's likely we've already triggered Earth's irreversible greenhouse effect. And the forces summoning us to the apocalypse now not only include an ever more dangerous nuclear capability with increasingly imaginative rationales for using the arsenal, thanks to the fossil fuel war but also fast multiplying vectors to disease, contamination and starvation, as global heating demonstrates exponential powers to de-ice the planet, raise seas over every coastal habitat and create further spirals of apocalyptic havoc. Ignoring opportunities to mobilize against asteroid strikes, ungoverned artificial intelligence (AI) development, the prospect of nano and genetic technologies run amok and new classes of chemical and biological weapons and our tragically demonstrated willingness to use any and all weapons only adds to our escalating planetary crisis.

This disturbing reality has fuelled the notion of the need for a "Planet B" or the creation of other large-scale human colonies in space, with aims to outdistance humanity from man-made disaster. But these aims are not achievable on time scales that can likely outrun the forces now aligning against the biosphere. And as we're only just learning, this biosphere is also not very readily transported. Without a biome rich in diversity at every scale from the soil's many inhabitants to the germs, molds and bacteria living amongst all our macrofauna most space habitats are likely to suffer crises of infection and disease that threaten to be all-consuming. Investing in space development so that we can escape this planet's dooms is thus more than morally questionable it's simply not likely to work, not in time.

Space tourism as an investment path also seems tragicomic. Taking sizeable fractions of the planet's inequitably distributed resources to sightsee down on the masterpieces of disaster we've created, perhaps on the chance we'll improve someone's perspective or set their minds toward some new course of planetary justice seems hubristic at best, and at worst may already be creating new enemies for any kind of space development, just, I argue, when we need it most.

Ultimately, for Earth's sake, we need to begin untapping the resources of outer space now, with urgency and with a priority focus on the gifts of the moon. This is not with the aim of a "sustainable lunar economy" that makes the moon more habitable for astronauts or space tourists, but with the aim of drawing resources from the moon to make Earth newly habitable.

Photos: The first space tourists

New technologies and approaches, many pioneered by startup companies, now make decades-old speculations feasible not by heaving solar power stations up to Earth orbit, not by mining asteroids, not by stripping the moon to fuel nuclear fusion but by using new robotics, AI, autonomous systems, 3D printing and materials technologies to rapidly create and operate the infrastructure to bring abundant clean energy and mineral resources from the moon to Earth; and with these capabilities we can begin basing biosphere-maiming manufacturing elsewhere in the Earth-moon system.

The moon is a complex rock, but still a rock, rich in silicates. Whether cheaply bringing autonomously constructed solar arrays from the moon's low gravity well to Earth orbit, or by beaming solar energy directly from the lunar nearside toward Earth, we have the means to supply clean energy from the moon, without resorting to complex, large-scale mining of helium isotopes for still-developing fusion technologies.

Importantly, the moon is truly our geological twin. In the earliest ages of the solar system, a sizable planetoid smashed into the still-aborning Earth, forever mixing its materials into Earth's own makeup, gestating the resulting orbiting debris of a similar mix that agglomerated and became our moon. Thus, our moon has abundances similar to Earth's of the metals that can supply catalysts for hydrogen fuel cells, as well as of the metals that are driving critically damaging mining operations on Earth's surface and now even its oceans. If we feel we must have hydrogen fuel cells for vehicles and they are the only clear path to clean transportation on Earth and if we need our rare-metal smart chips to power our cars, phones and navigation systems, then we should be using autonomous systems to mine them from the moon, where their harm to Earth in extraction will be far more negligible.

Given the urgency of Earth's biosystem crises, the moon offers opportunity for deployable infrastructure and extraction long before asteroid harvesting becomes practicable. With largely automated solar panel and mining operations underway, progress toward establishing Earth-toxic manufacturing facilities on the moon and in cislunar space can begin accelerating.

Here there is a risk we must accept, of multiplying the immoralities of what we've done to damage Earth on the moon. Will we damage the moon's own wisp of an atmosphere, firing rocket engines upon it and mining its surface? Almost certainly yes, and that atmosphere contains important traces of the solar system's earliest history and origins. Will we visibly alter the surface of the lunar nearside that has faced humans since time immemorial, even shifting the albedo of the light of the moon, home and totem of gods and rituals since our own very beginnings? Very possibly. Will our lunar operations require communication technologies that disrupt the pristine quiet of the lunar far side, a natural isolated platform for deep radio astronomy probes of the universe? Very likely.

In the course of my own research, I seek out the dust particles that may be traces of long-gone alien civilizations' waste or pre-programmed materials, carried by stellar winds across the eons to finally settle on the moon what a tragedy to lose the opportunity to prioritize their discovery but I am happy to settle for extractions of mining operations, if this is the course to our very planetary survival. For the fact is that the moon is not home to any lifeform we might responsibly recognize in important contradistinction to Mars and our opportunity to multiply the future of life is clearly with the Earth-moon system, and not the moon alone.

The first step toward realizing the moon as a critical energy and resource base for Earth is to survey the surface at high resolution. This is practically achieved by interlinked rovers, robots and orbiting platforms, including with state-of-the-art quantum sensors. It would take thousands of astronauts to complete these tasks, a luxury we cannot afford at this time. Small crews of astronauts working with highly automated systems can get the work done for Earth. This suggests a prioritization away from water, particularly the major space agencies' current hyperfocus on ice trapped at the lunar poles. This ice would be important for astronauts living at the poles and for fuelling future solar system exploration but is not easily extracted and should not be the priority for Earth. Solar-implanted volatiles across the moon's surface are likely to meet the near-term needs for water for lunar energy and resource operations.

Instead, I suggest we must be focused on the elements, which can be shipped from the moon to Earth. Ice water from the moon may fill future trillionaires' whiskey glasses, but what we all need are the abundant solar energies enabled by the moon, the rare Earth elements, platinum group and precious metals that can meet our needs however selfish and short-sighted to spare our planet and ensure our civilization's future, with the opportunity to shift toxic manufacturing off-Earth.

Critically, together with asteroid detection and deflection systems, these planetary system developments are important opportunities for international collaboration it is by working together across national space agencies and through small and large enterprises alike that needed innovations can deliver on time a habitable future for our biosphere and hope for human civilization. Accelerating these endeavors will require hard creative thinking finding equitable means to explore and exploit the resources of the moon might best be facilitated, for example, by an International Space Authority, based on the United Nations' current and quietly successful International Seabed Authority operations. Or, as recently proposed in conjunction with the Democracy Without Borders project, a democratically accountable UN space agency. This may seem a lofty and unreachable ask for a world embroiled in its first open fossil fuel war but the alternative is that this may be our last planetary War, because we'll never again be able to fight another.

Are we alone in the galaxy, even our universe? Not likely, no. I'm happy enough to jump the gun, for all my colleagues' scientific discipline and rigor. With the magnificent James Webb Space Telescope's successful deployment, it is increasingly likely we'll find life around us, and if not, we should rigorously question our existence as likely simulants. Sentience and its pervasiveness are questions I explore through my interstellar dust research. What I hypothesize is that anything like the brilliance of the exploratory instincts we've developed should not be universally uncommon and if unfound in exploratory probes, visitations, and waste elements abandoned in our own neighborhood, should raise the all-important question: What happened? Are we alone, because this is the great filter through which none can pass? Does the aggression inherent in launching rockets to orbit and their implicit power to destroy all that lies beneath doom a civilization to its own non-communicating end?

The evidence can be found within the dust right at our feet. The key challenge is, are we ready to act on it? We do not need outer space to be our final frontier but we do need it to be the final front in the fossil fuel war. We can choose to end the war, by providing abundant resources and clean energy from the moon to Earth, and by moving our toxic industries away from our unique and precious biosphere.

Mining the moon to help save life on Earth (op-ed) - Space.com

We Will Manufacture Semiconductors In India Within 2 Years, Says Anil Agarwal | Mint – Mint

Posted on May 12, 2022 by Danzig

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Agarwal moved to Mumbai from his hometown Patna when he was 19 years old. He started with scrap metal trading business in 1976 and is today leading a $15 billion multinational mining and commodities business, with a diversified portfolio having interests in aluminium, zinc, iron ore, steel, copper, oil and gas and power. He has been a major participant in Indias disinvestment initiatives as well. He is very bullish on India and recently signed an MoU with Taiwans Foxconn to set up a semiconductor manufacturing facility in India. In this podcast, Agarwal speaks about the succession plan at Vedanta, rising importance of minerals in sectors such as semiconductors and electric vehicles and why he watches movies. Edited excerpts

Your announcement about setting up a semiconductor facility in India with Foxconn has generated a lot of curiosity. What can you tell us about it?

India is in a very sweet spot. People are aware that India is emerging, silently. For me, it was very important that we work through technology, and semiconductor is very important, be it for automobiles or electronics. India needs to import $15 bn worth of semiconductors. Its because of the shortage of semiconductor that we havent been able to run our factories at 100%. We are manufacturing glass and optical fibre. So, it was natural for us to move into semiconductors. Foxconn is one of the largest and the best companies in semiconductor manufacturing and will be our full-fledged partner. We are in the process of selecting a site.

Do you have any timeline for the production to start?

In two years, we will start production. In India, when the government is supportive, people are supportive. I am confident that we will meet the target of commencing production in two years and India will change because of this.

Are you a spiritual person? Do you feel like some divine force has played a role in your journey?

I am not religious. But every time I read something spiritual, I find something new in it. It gives me strength to overcome my fears. I have never disclosed this but every single day in the last 22 years, I go to the Krishna temple in the morning. Initially, I used to give 10 cents to the temple and bargain, see, Im giving you something, you have to give me something. Today, I have surrendered to Him. Im like the servant of the universe and I do my duties to the best of my best of ability. Criticism has never shaken me; it has made me a little bit fearless. And I will never do anything intentionally that is not right.

Can you talk a bit about what makes the world of commodities tick?

The world wants India to be an import-based economy and we have been habituated to importing goods and think that there is no other option. We must change this. We have good natural resources but the world doesnt want us to produce, only be a market. And this perception has been created that NGOs can be sent to change our mindset.

We can't live without metal. We can live without oil and gas. Even today if you go for renewable energy, whether you go for EV (electric vehicles), eight times more metal is required. Though we have the natural resources, we are still forced to import it.

So what is holding us back today? Is it government policies?

The government policy is working. They have to start believing that making money is not a sin. Our entrepreneurs should be able to sell their discoveries and make money. It should be like buying shares and selling them at a higher price. There is so much funding available for entrepreneurs to do exploration. Even if they fail, they are fine. But the right to sell their discovery cannot be given back to the government.

Is that practical?

See, we have to move forward. Only then will you be able to solve problems. Failure is the first step of a success. I have failed in my life miserably. Failure after failure, Failure after failure, Failure after failure. I have even gone into depression for couple of years. I didn't know what to do, but you come back, tighten your belt, touch the feet of your parents, go to a temple. It must be 20 years back. Suddenly you find that things are not working for you. I couldn't sleep for a minute the whole month. I lost all my hair, and I didn't want to meet anybody. But you fight, you pray, you make yourself strong, and then when you come back, you never look back. I always had my depression tablet by the side of my bed, but I never took it.

Thank you for being candid about your personal matter. Now, for the big question: Are we in the middle of a commodities supercycle?

We are definitely in the middle of a supercycle. And these prices are going to stay. I pray that it should not go further up, because India will be in trouble. Inflation is high. I read somewhere that the price of oil can go up to $185. Yet, India has the capacity to produce at probably half or quarter of the cost. So, it is a very interesting time. The world wants to invest in India: we have entrepreneurs here, we have one of the best governments today. This is the time you will see India move forward.

Do you feel that your country has not listened to you now that the sensitivity around commodities has really come out?

I think the government has. I am listening to the government all the time. Like Prime Minister Modi says we are not revenue-minded, we are production-minded. He says the government has no business to be in a business. That's supportive. India is a democratic country, but sometimes it will take time. And where we come from, we have been taught to remain patient.

What is up with BPCL? You have expressed an interest, what is the latest development on this front?

It (BPCL) is too much in the news. Government has said they are going to change the terms, they are not going to sell the company as it is. Privatization is going to happen soon. I wish it will happen. As and when it happens, we will see.

You have a knack for picking up companies, be it Balco or Cairn, Now, with commodity prices going up, would such assets be as attractive?

Our company is going to make $30 billion revenue this year and an estimated $10 billion profit. We have 100,000 employees. We are going to invest $20 billion dollars in four years. We are going to make 50% oil production in the country. I want to be the largest zinc and silver producer. I am looking at aluminium also. We have two business. One is old economy, which is about commodities. And we have a new economy where we are into semiconductor, glass optical fibre, system integration. Both are doing extremely well and I am very happy about it.

When you look at Vedanta over the next 20 years, do you see more diversification into the new economy and into newer areas, or will it fundamentally be a mining company?

I don't like diversifying much. But as you move forward, as and when the opportunity comes, we will see. But we like to have a strong capital allocation, and whatever opportunities come, we will see.

You've laid out a debt reduction plan at Vedanta Resources level. How is that panning out?

We are having a profit of $10 billion. We have very good dividend, and with that we are very comfortable about reducing the debt to $4 billion in three years.

You tried to, unsuccessfully as it turned out, to delist Vedanta in India. One, why did you want to do that? And two, will you try again at some point in the future?

Because there was too much noise about the debt, we tried delisting but people love our shares so much that some started crying, saying they had benefited from our dividends which we never stopped paying. I could see that we had given a very, very good offer, and many people tendered their shares. We have almost 71% holding in the company now and we are never going to look at delisting in future, and we are very happy with the holding.

But you are also accused of trying to delist at a decadal low of the share price. How do you respond to that?

Buybacks are a global trend. And people are not forced to sell. Yet, despite our intent, it's very difficult to make 100% people happy. I tell my employees all the time: you know it's impossible to make everybody happy, but our intention is always right.

What about talks of a potential merger between Vedanta and the parent company.

There is no such plan. Vedanta Ltd will be a main company, and Vedanta Resources will remain the parent company. Vedanta Resources will own 71% of this company.

You had troubles at Sterlite Copper, the factory shut down. What is the future for Sterlite Copper in the Thoothukudi plant?

The National Green Tribunal has done its investigation. The matter has been submitted to the Supreme Court, and we are waiting for the date of hearing. I'm looking forward to that because we can't afford to stop production, be it in Goa or elsewhere. I have no doubt once they have all the reports, factory will open.

Is it your argument that there were no environmental violations at the plant?

Not at all. We have the best plant there. We capture 100% sulfur, convert into sulphuric acid... Today, everybody has a source of livelihood there; hundreds of industries operate there and there is no question of doing anything that is not right.

Was Tamil Nadu pollution board, which flagged these violations, wrong?

No, they have never said the wrong thing. They have done what the court directed, and the National tribunal did all the survey.

There were protests and police firing and unfortunate loss of lives. How did you feel about that?

I felt terrible. It happened 10 miles away from our factory. There are vested interests. It is my personal desire to restart operations at the Tuticorin (Thoothukudi in Tamil Nadu) factory.

What is the succession plan at Vedanta?

What is the succession plan of prime minister Modi? It's the same with me. I'm in the chair, I'm in the saddle. I am running the company. I have said that this company is going to be a 500-year-old institution. We are very clear; management and ownership have to be separate. Today I have said 75% of wealth is going back to the society. As for my succession plan: the company will be run by a top professional. It will be run on the Tata Sons model....66% goes for the charity...and 30% with other people. This company is going to grow and will be one of the best companies in the world in natural resource and in technology for sure.

You're 68 now, how long more do you hope to continue marching ahead at the same pace?

As far as the pace is concerned, I will never put my boots up. Whether philanthropy or anything, whatever my passion is, I'll be there.

But you have no desire to relax or you know take it easy or none of that?

But I am more relaxed in my work. I always look at when Monday morning is coming. I still make a few calls and talk to people on Sunday because I enjoy my work.

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We Will Manufacture Semiconductors In India Within 2 Years, Says Anil Agarwal | Mint - Mint

Sharks in the water: The need for improved US geo-diplomacy, trade policy in the Caribbean – The Hill

Posted on May 12, 2022 by Danzig

As the United States prepares to host the Summit of the Americas next month in Los Angeles, the preeminent nation of the hemisphere has an opportunity to demonstrate forward leaning leadership by inaugurating a new relationship with its Caribbean neighbors. With 14 votes in the United Nations and active courtship by China, the Caribbean nations cannot be ignored and a holistic engagement on the part of the U.S. with the region is critical. Presently, the United States piecemeal policy approach to the Caribbean belies the regions importance to U.S. national and economic security. Despite the Caribbeans valuable resources and strategic location, U.S. policymakers have failed to adequately address its economic and political development. This continued marginalization has negatively impacted economic growth and crisis preparedness in theregion, threatening to derail U.S. security and economic interests in theWestern hemisphere.

U.S.and Caribbean Basinsecurity interestshave been linked since theAmerican Revolutionary War. Gunpowderand weaponsprocured fromthe island of St. Eustatiusenabledcolonists to keep fightingduringthe early days of rebellion.During both World Wars and theCold War,U.S. security concernsshifted to assessing threats offoreignsubversionin theCaribbean.Today, the U.S.acknowledges thatinstability,not subversion,isthegreatest threatto the U.S. and the regionemanating from the Basin.

During a recent congressional delegation visit to Barbados, the urgency of the regions economic crisis and its exacerbation of poverty and exclusion was clear. The numerous heads of state of the island nations spoke in specific detail about the Caribbeans economic stagnation and provided compelling datasupporting the need for increased U.S. engagement, particularly in Haiti, where the national state itself continues to deteriorate. While the Haitian Hemispheric Opportunity through Partnership Encouragement Act(HOPE Act)andHaitian Economic Lift Program(HELPAct) have helped create support for the Haitian economy, more comprehensive and diverse trade engagement is necessary to thwart the political and economic instability of the Haitian nation and support economic development of others in the region.

Haiti and its Caribbeanneighborshold great potential for economic growth. Outdated trade agreements like the Caribbean Basin Initiative (CBI), however, leave much of this potential untapped.Indeed, CBIs modest successes havebeen distributed unevenly acrossthe region.Comprehensive trade legislationcan remedythis imbalanceand improvethe economic outlookfor present and future generations.

To this end, I introduced the Caribbean Trade Resolution (H.Res.1047) in the House of Representatives earlier this month.The resolution, if passed, is an important first step toward prioritizing trade and achieving meaningful economic integration with the Caribbean, including Haiti. Separately, the Caribbean Basin Security Initiative Authorization Act introduced by Rep. Adriano Espaillat of New York authorizes new funding for the Caribbean Basin Security Initiative, a regional assistance program that includes support for disaster preparedness and resilience.

Strengthening the economic partnership between the U.S. and the Caribbean will also require us to confront the economic challenges that financial laws, triggered by the harmful trend of de-risking, have placed on small island nations. Nearly two decades from the 2008 financial crisis, de-risking efforts continue to create costly compliance hurdles for Caribbean affiliate banks. The challenges ensuing from financial exclusion have caused significant economic disruption to countries and businesses across the region. The worst effects are more readily felt, perhaps, by low- and middle-income families on the islands who rely on remittances as a lifeline.

Advances in financial technology (fintech) present opportunities for the U.S. to engage more effectively with stakeholders in the region. Given the dearth of correspondent banking relationships, Caribbean leaders are turning to fintech to fill the void left by U.S. banks.Fintechis particularly attractive to poorer and smaller volume Caribbeancountriesdue to the technologys ability toreduce the costs of transactions and services, leading to lower remittance costs.By working closely with stakeholders to facilitate fintechexchange, the U.S. can expand banking access in Caribbean countries with limited financial markets. Increasing fintech transfercan also help bridge thegapin resources, thereby strengthening financial inclusion and supporting economic growth.

As the United States third border, the Caribbeans economic stagnation directly impacts U.S. security and stability. Our fates are inexorably linked. Yet many of the regions problems are rooted in systemic neglect by U.S. policymakers as well as former colonial powers in the region.

As co-chair of the Congressional Caribbean Caucus, I am acutely aware that the economic and political challenges facing our neighbors are complex and, as such, require collaborative and sustained efforts from policymakers, industry experts, financial institutions, and civil society groups, among other stakeholders. As the leading power in the region, the U.S. must lead and tackle, head-on, issues such as financial exclusion, economic growth, andcrisis preparednessin order topromote mutually beneficial economic prosperity. Without that U.S. leadership, the neighboring nations will continue to look elsewhere (China and Venezuela in particular) for support.With growing instability in the region threatening to undo the economic and social gains achieved over the last decade, the consequences of inaction are simply too great to ignore.

Congresswoman Stacey E. Plaskett represents the United States Virgin Islands at-large District in the United States House of Representatives. She is currently serving her fourth term in Congress and is a member of the Ways & Means Committee, the Budget Committee, and the Agriculture Committee.

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Sharks in the water: The need for improved US geo-diplomacy, trade policy in the Caribbean - The Hill

Carnival in the Caribbean Is BackHere’s What Is Happening This Summer – Travel Market Report

Posted on May 12, 2022 by Danzig

After a two-year hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the color and splendor of Carnival in the Caribbean is returning to many destinations this summer.

The legendary pre-lenten festival has been a prime event for visitors from around the world as the festival, which encompasses a kaleidoscope of colors, music, and dancing has enraptured revelers for decades. Though not historically birthed in the Caribbean region, the uniqueness of Carnival in the Caribbean has made it a must-do on many travel bucket lists. Traditionally a pre-lenten festival, the dates for carnival have moved in many islands to a spring/ summer event, with each destination offering a special twist that is distinctive to them.

Carnival, in all its elements, has not been held since the early days of the pandemic but many islands are planning an epic return this Summer and beyond.

Starting off with the mother of all Carnivals, Trinidad and Tobago has begun its road to Carnival, which is slated for February 2023. Trinidad has stuck with their pre-lenten celebration dates for their return but as a special treat to expectant revelers is planning to promote their costume band launch parties, to be held this August, as a chance for revelers to get a taste of things that will come next year. Nonetheless, if Trinidad Carnival is on the must-do list, it would be wise to make accommodation reservations soon as forward bookings for February 2023 have already begun to fill up.

Another favorite for Carnival aficionados is St Lucia Carnival, better known as Lucian Carnival. With events beginning in June 2022, the season of celebration culminates July 12th - 16th with a week-long buzz of parties, competitions, and a two-day street parade. Key events will include a Queen Show (beauty pageant), Calypso and Soca Monarch competitions, and Panorama (steel pan competition).

St Lucias Tourism Minister Ernest Hilaire said that the initial response to the announcement of Carnivals return has been strong. I am excited with how plans are progressing for Lucian Carnival 2022. It is very exciting when we hear that Carnival events are sold out within days after being launched, and some, even four to five months in advance.

Barbados is another destination that is returning with its Carnival celebrations for 2022. Barbados Crop Over will make a splendid return this August. Running from July 27 to August 1, the festival is back with all of its familiar parties and competitions culminating with its Grand Kadooment, a one-day parade through the streets of Bridgetown. The Government of Barbados recently announced that they will be implementing special measures, in light of the ongoing pandemic, to keep revelers safe. Measures include proof of antigen testing or vaccination and decentralizing certain events to keep the number of partiers in one space at a safe level.

Other islands including Antigua and Barbuda, Jamaica, and Grenada have also announced their return to Carnival for this summer. As with Barbados, most island preparations will include public health measures in an effort to provide a pleasurable experience while striving to keep patrons as safe as possible. With so many destinations coming on board to provide what is primed to be the much-anticipated return of this choice Caribbean festival, it is another positive sign that travel and tourism in the region is rebounding and is expected to only grow in the ensuing months.

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Carnival in the Caribbean Is BackHere's What Is Happening This Summer - Travel Market Report

Karine Jean-Pierre, mainstream media, and the continued ignoring of Caribbean immigrant heritage – Amsterdam News

Posted on May 12, 2022 by Danzig

Once news broke that Karine Jean-Pierre would replace Jen Psaki as the next White House press secretary, the mainstream media immediately went to work, describing Jean-Pierre as making history as simply the next Black and openly gay person.

As it was during the nomination and the election of Kamala Harris, Jean-Pierres Caribbean ancestry as well as the fact that she was an immigrant and a Haitian American, was completely ignored. Somehow her sexuality managed to trump that fact.

Im still looking for an article, including in The New York Times, the Guardian, NPR, Reuters, CNBC or anyone outside of News Americas News and The Haitian Times, that reported the facts that Jean-Pierre is not simply Black and gay, but also Caribbean, immigrant and Haitian American.

Unlike Harris, Jean-Pierre was not born to a Caribbean immigrant parent in the U.S. but born in the Caribbean. Specifically, she was born in the French Caribbean territory of Martinique to Haitian immigrant parents.

That makes her an immigrant from the Caribbean as well as a Haitian American, since her parents later chose to leave Martinique and migrate to the U.S. But if you look in any mainstream news report, you will find no such details. Its almost as if they feel it is way too much detail to include or that those details matter not.

In the post-George Floyd era, I find it simultaneously hypocritical and also ironic, that these are the same news media that love to put themselves on a pedestal as the bastion of truth and facts. Yet they feel the need to simply slap on the Black label or gay label and its punto finale.

The reality is that Blacks in America are not monolithic, and Karine Jean-Pierre is the living, breathing embodiment of that fact.

Unlike Harris, Jean-Pierre has made no small bones of her heritage and the immigrant struggles she and her parents endured as newcomers and outsiders in an American society that has consistently exhibited xenophobia and racism to immigrants, especially Black immigrants.

In her book, Moving Forward, Jean-Pierre shares her story of growing up in a Haitian American community in Queens, N.Y. and later exploring her Haitian roots through a documentary.

That immigrant upbringing, growing up in New York, it shaped everything and anything that Im about, right, whothe person that I sit herethat sits before you, my hard work, my perseverance, the way I meet, see people and talk to people, she told PBS Judy Woodroof in November 2019. It has made me who I am, the type of mother that I have become, partner that I have become. My parents, Haitian immigrants, its like the immigrant experience.

She also shared what it meant growing up in an immigrant family: Being the oldest of three siblings, I had to take care of my siblings while my parents were working six, seven days a week. I had to feed them. And Im 8 years older than my sister, 10 years older than my brother, so I was pretty young when they were toddlers, and make sure their food was cooked, make sure diapers were changed, because they had to provide for the family.

Jean-Pierres story is a truly immigrant story. It is a Black, Caribbean immigrant story that many of us can relate to. She has overcome struggle, sacrifice, racism and anxiety to ascend to now being the face of the president of the United States and the White House daily. That is no small feat but the only description she gets is Black and gay.

The mainstream media has missed another major opportunity to truly celebrate this Black, Caribbean immigrant womans story in an era where immigration and immigrants, especially Black immigrants from Haiti, are looked down upon, seen as less than and told go back where you came from.

But in their eyes, I guess being described simply as Black is good enough. Screw the immigrant, Caribbean and Haitian, part. Who cares?

The writer is publisher of NewsAmericasNow.com The Black Immigrant Daily News.

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Karine Jean-Pierre, mainstream media, and the continued ignoring of Caribbean immigrant heritage - Amsterdam News

Royal Caribbean Repositioning Ships in 2023; Voyager to Stay in the Caribbean – Cruise Industry News

Posted on May 12, 2022 by Danzig

According to letters sent to booked guests, Royal Caribbean International is repositioning some of its cruise ships for 2023.

Previously set for a summer season in the Baltic Sea, the Voyager of the Seas is now poised to offer a series of cruises in the Caribbean starting on May 21, 2023.

The new program is already available for booking on the companys website and features an alternating schedule of Eastern and Western Caribbean itineraries.

Departing weekly from Fort Lauderdale, the seven-night cruises also include visits to Perfect Day at CocoCay, Royal Caribbeans private destination in the Bahamas.

Taking the place of the 1999-built ship in Europe, the smaller Serenade of the Seas will offer similar itineraries in Northern Europe.

Sailing from Copenhagen, Denmark and Stockholm, Sweden, the vessel will offer cruises to the Baltic and Scandinavia that depart on the same days as the original Voyager cruises.

Bookings will be moved automatically to the Serenade, Royal Caribbean said in a statement sent to the guests.

The Radiance-Class ship was previously scheduled for a summer season in the Mediterranean.

Now cancelled, the program included eight- to 12-night cruises to Italy, France, Spain, Turkey and Greece departing from Barcelona.

Guests who were booked are being contacted with alternative options.

According to Royal Caribbean, the deployment moves are part of changes in itinerary planning and aim to provide guests with the very best experience.

A total of eight Royal Caribbean ships are now set to offer cruises to Europe in 2023, including the Symphony of the Seas.

As one of the worlds largest cruise ships, the Oasis-Class vessel will offer seven-night itineraries in the Western Mediterranean.

The Rhapsody of the Seas, the Explorer of the Seas, the Brilliance of the Seas, the Jewel of the Seas, the Anthem of the Seas and the Odyssey of the Seas are also part of the companys 2023 European program.

The Caribbean Island of Statia Just Removed All Testing Rules – Caribbean Journal

Posted on May 12, 2022 by Danzig

The Dutch Caribbean island of Statia has officially discontinued its entry travel rules, Caribbean Journal has learned.

That means the island no longer requires pre-testing for travelers, effective May 11.

Statia, which is a short ferry or plane ride from nearby St Maarten, has also removed the requirement for travelers to fill out its EHAS health form prior to arrival.

The island is now open to both vaccinated and unvaccinated travelers, neither of whom need to test to enter Statia.

Statia has also removed local health restrictions on businesses and hospitality enterprises.

Statia is the most recent Dutch Caribbean destination to remove its travel rules, following similar moves by Aruba, Bonaire, Curacao and Saba.

St Maarten still requires testing for unvaccinated travelers.

The burden on the economy and the local health care system is the main reason that the local government drops the COVID-19 measures, combined with a low number of COVID-19 cases , the islands government said in a statement.

The island has been experiencing new energy in recent years, buoyed by the recent launch of its first-ever luxury resort, the Golden Rock.

And St Maarten-based Winair also announced it would be expanding its flight service to the island, with increased demand. s

For more, visit Statia.

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The Caribbean Island of Statia Just Removed All Testing Rules - Caribbean Journal

Royal Caribbean Wonder of the Seas Cruise Ship Review – Porthole Cruise and Travel

Posted on May 12, 2022 by Danzig

The fifth Oasis-class ship in the Royal Caribbean fleet, Wonder of the Seas takes what her sister ships do well and builds upon it. Guests on board need to ask themselves, what speed do I want to vacation at? Because there are countless options to tailor your perfect cruise.

Lets start with the redesigned deck 15 which offers multiple places to catch some rays, cool off, and have a little fun, too! Featuring two main pools, a beach pool, and the childrens play area Splashaway Bay, the pool deck is where cruisers gravitate on sea days to soak up the sunshine, mingle with their fellow cruisers, have a drink at The Lime & Coconut and enjoy their cruise to the fullest. Despite the capacity, ample seating around the pool deck means finding a chair probably wont be difficult for those who like to stake their claim.

At the bow of Deck 15 is the adults-only (16+) two-deck Solarium and its easily our favorite of all the Oasis-class ships. This is the spot to unwind as the quiet atmosphere, tiered whirlpools and countless lounge chairs and daybeds are calling. The views of the surrounding ocean are second to none anywhere on the ship and the evening cocktail hour as the sun sets is simply delightful.

Aft on Deck 16 also home to the Flowrider surfing simulator and the brand new Wonder Playscape, a childrens play area with an under-the-sea theme. On past Oasis-class ships, this area was home to a 2nd Flowrider, but not on Wonder of the Seas. The Playscape features oversized games like tic-tac-toe, kid-sized slides, climbing walls and an interactive mural of sea creatures to explore. Cruisers will also find Wonder Dunes, the nautical-themed mini-golf course, the Sports Court, the zipline, and the top of The Ultimate Abyss Slide which spirals down 10 stories to the Deck 6 boardwalk.

Speaking of the boardwalk, thats where cruisers will find the ever popular Aquatheater where Royal Caribbean entertainers perform stunning 30-foot dives and acrobatics high above the deepest pool at sea. Dont dilly dally when it comes to booking your Aquatheater experience as the shows fill up fast!

The Royal Promenade on Deck 5 is where cruisers enter the ship for the first time and the hustle and bustle of activity sure is fun! Home to popular spots like the Rising Tide Bar, Cafe Promenade, Sorrentos pizza, Boleros, Bionic Bar, Guest Services and more. If youre looking for something to do while on board, starting on the promenade isnt a bad idea!

Central Park, the open-air promenade on Deck 8 was perhaps our favorite spot on the ship for a number of different reasons. First of all, the convenience factor of Deck 8 cant be overstated. Home to a handful of specialty restaurants, the Park Cafe and the top of the Rising Tide bar, Deck 8 is a delight for cruisers who dont want to go far for their morning coffee or evening glass of vino. The real gardens which line the walkways give the space a fresh smell and natural feel, a welcome change of pace from the excitement of the pool deck.

For those looking for an escape from the hustle and bustle of a cruise vacation, the Vitality Spa is your oasis. A full service spa at sea, Vitality offers the same amenities youd find at any high-end spa on land. Guests will enjoy relaxing in the whirlpools, saunas and on the stone lounges before treatments like seaweed wraps, facials, massages and more. The state-of-the-art fitness center has all the equipment you need to truly enjoy that evening slice of cake.

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Royal Caribbean Wonder of the Seas Cruise Ship Review - Porthole Cruise and Travel

Four Seasons invites Caribbean nationals to spend the summer in Nevis | Loop Caribbean News – Loop News Caribbean

Posted on May 12, 2022 by Danzig

With the return of summer celebrations to St. Kitts and Nevis, Four Seasons Resort Nevis is inviting its Caribbean neighbours to come back to Nevis with an exclusive regional residents rate of $325 USD per night. From the St. Kitts Music Festival and Nevis Culturama Festival to the annual Sea Turtle Weekend, Caribbean Premier League Cricket CPL T20 Tournament and more, there are a wide variety of events for travellers of all types to enjoy.2022 summer happenings in St. Kitts and Nevis include:St. Kitts Music Festival:

The 25th St. Kitts Music Festival will take place from June 23-25, 2022, featuring a lineup of internationally acclaimed and regional artists that promise to add diversity and excitement. The three-day event will see the likes of Temperature sensation Sean Paul, American rapper Wale, Keyshia Cole and the iconic Beres Hammond. Throughout the Festival, attendees will be treated to performances across a variety of music genres from reggae and dancehall, to hip hop, soca and jazz.Nevis Mango Festival:

The Nevis Mango and Food Festival is an entire weekend totally dedicated to the mango and the deliciously creative cuisine made with it. From July 1-3, 2022, this celebration of mangos will feed the essence of the festival as participating chefs embrace an epic culinary challenge. Every course of every meal they cook or demonstrate must include Nevis mangos. Attendees are therefore in for a fun and interesting culinary adventure since everything eaten all weekend may likely be a recipe never before tasted. International celebrity chefs and Nevisian chefs participate in and host multiple events over the entire weekend.Nevis Culturama Festival:

The cultural highlight of the Nevis calendar for over four decades, this week-long annual summer festival is a vibrant showcase of traditional folk art in all its forms. From July 21-August 2, 2022, Nevisians will come together in a festive colourful display to celebrate their rich culture and heritage, with highlights including dancing, drama, poetry, folk singing, music, pageants and arts and crafts.Nevis Marathon and Running Festival:

The marathon is the most challenging, not just for the distance, but for the fact that it circumnavigates the entire island of Nevis. However, every so often, there is a soothing sea breeze that reduces the heat, as you contend to get to the finish line. On September 3, 2022, all participants will receive a t-shirt in their race package and a finish medal upon completion. The top three finishers in each category receive unique Nevis-made stone trophies.Caribbean Premier League Cricket CPL T20:

The Hero Caribbean Premier League (CPL) has confirmed that St. Kitts and Nevis will be hosting matches during the 2022 tournament. The Federation will host seven matches between August 30-September 4, 2022 with the home team and current champions, St. Kitts and Nevis Patriots, playing in four of those games. Hero CPL is returning to St. Kitts and Nevis again in 2022 after the Federation successfully hosted the whole tournament in 2021.In addition to the destination events, Caribbean guests can also come and get to know the New Look Nevis.

Due to the pandemic, many regional visitors have not yet had the opportunity to experience the Resorts recent enhancements. A modern embodiment of the spirit and soul of the Caribbean, upgrades include re-envisioned guest rooms and suites and the Great House lobby; the opening of delicious new dining outlets, On the Dune, EsQuilina and crowned monkey RUM BAR; a beautiful new space for the Kids for All Seasons kids club; a stunning new pier to welcome guests upon arrival and the perfect spot to catch a Caribbean sunset; and a new signature infinity-edge pool at the centre of the Resort.As a Caribbean native myself having recently returned to the region, Im very happy to extend this great rate to our extended Caribbean family, said Yvette Thomas-Henry, Regional Vice President and General Manager of Four Seasons Resort Nevis. Combined with our unique Nevisian hospitality, this offer provides great value to experience the infinite perfect places that make Nevis so special; its a great opportunity to experience our one perfect paradise without having to go very far at all.The Caribbean Residents Rate offer is based on deluxe accommodations and is valid for stays through December 16, 2022, based on availability. Proof of Caribbean residence (passport, resident card or drivers license) is required at check-in. The $325 USD guest room rate also includes a 20 per cent discount on golf and is exclusive of service charge, tax and nightly coastal protection levy.Guests can also enjoy a wealth of resort amenities, including three infinity-edge pools, two miles of sugar-soft beaches with select complimentary non-motorized watersports, a 12,000 square-foot Spa, a Robert Trent Jones II championship golf course and a nine court tennis facility. Seven gourmet restaurants and bars offer a wide range of fresh, locally-sourced and delicious dining experiences from daytime limin at the Kastawey Beach Bar to sunset dinners at the idyllic waterfront restaurant, Mango.Caribbean vacationers can take advantage of daily direct air service from across the region into both St. Kitts and Nevis airports.For more information or to inquire about availability, please email reservations.nev@fourseasons.com or call 869-469-6238.

Originally posted here:

Four Seasons invites Caribbean nationals to spend the summer in Nevis | Loop Caribbean News - Loop News Caribbean

Must-eat foods on a cruise to Italy – Royal Caribbean Blog

Posted on May 12, 2022 by Danzig

Going on a Royal Caribbean cruise to the Mediterranean brings historical sites, picturesque streets, and arguably the most important thing: food.

Italy is one of the most popular cruise destinations in Europe, with common ports including Rome, Palermo, Catania, Florence, and Naples. Each region and city in Italy has its own culinary history, traditional dishes, and famous restaurants. Be sure to disembark your cruise ship hungry when you arrive in Italy because there are endless new foods to discover.

The region of Tuscany, where Florence is found, is most well known for its meat. From paninis to steak, you shouldnt miss an opportunity to try meat dishes in Florence. And whether you choose to have a fancier sit-down meal or you end up ordering a sandwich to go, you will not be left disappointed with food options when visiting the city.

One of the most popular meat dishes to try in Florence is bistecca alla Fiorentina, which is a T-bone steak from the Chianina cow, a breed of cow from Tuscany.

Bistecca alla Fiorentina is traditionally only cooked for a few minutes on each side to ensure that the flavor and texture is correct. The steak is commonly served with olive oil and cannellini beans.

You can try this dish throughout the city, but one of the best restaurants to order this bistecca is at Buca Lapi. Founded in 1880, this traditional restaurant was built inside a barrel-vaulted cellar and serves bistecca alla Fiorentina that can be big enough for two to three people.

Youll know youve reached Gusta Pizza when you spot a long line of people waiting outside the small pizzeria. Gusta Pizza is one of the most famous pizzerias in Florence and the pizzas there live up to the hype.

The menu at Gusta Pizza is simple. With only seven pizzas to choose from, each pizza has been crafted for perfection before it makes its way into the wood fired brick oven. Be sure to try the classic Margherita Pizza and the GustaPizza, which is topped with tomato, mozzarella, cherry tomatoes, arugula, and parmesan.

Allantico Vinaio is a famous sandwich shop located in the heart of Florence. Sandwiches at Allantico Vinaio are served on a local bread, schiacciata, and filled with cold cuts, cheeses, vegetables, and homemade creams including artichoke and truffle cream.

Since the shop has limited seating, you can take your sandwich out to the street and enjoy it as you watch the day go by in the historical center of Florence. In fact, Allantico Vinaio is so popular with both Italians and foreigners alike that they recently opened a location in New York City!

Other dishes to try: Gelato, lampredotto (beef tripe)

If your cruise visits the ports of Palermo, Messina, or Catania, consider yourself lucky. Sicily is home to some of Italys most diverse and multicultural cuisine. Due to its strategic location as an island between Europe and northern Africa, Sicilys culture and cuisine have been influenced by its neighboring countries and regions for centuries.

While all Sicilian cuisine is flavorful, there are a few dishes and desserts that stand out from the rest.

One of the most popular desserts in Sicily is granita. Often preferred to gelato by Sicilians, granita is somewhat similar to a creamy Italian ice or sorbet, but with a smoother, more liquidy texture.

Common flavors of granita include mandorla (almond), pistacchio, limone (lemon), frutti di bosco (berry), and fragola (strawberry). I recommend asking for granita con panna for a cup of granita topped with freshly whipped cream.

Not much is more refreshing than any icy cup of granita when walking around a Sicilian cruise port on a hot summer day. This is personally, by far, my favorite Italian dessert of all time.

Eggplant is one of the most utilized ingredients in Sicilian cuisine, and one of the best dishes to try with eggplant in Sicily is Pasta alla Norma. Pasta alla Norma combines fresh pasta with slices of fried eggplant, tomato sauce, grated ricotta salata cheese, and fresh basil.

Named after Vicenzo Bellini, a native Sicilian who composed the opera Norma, the dish was said to have been called a true masterpiece worthy of the same name of the opera. This is a popular Sicilian dish, so you will not have any trouble finding it on a menu when cruising to Sicily.

Not only is arancini a dish you will find at Jamies Italian and Giovannis Italian Kitchen onboard a Royal Caribbean ship, but you can taste authentic arancini on a cruise to Italy. Arancini are stuffed rice balls coated with breadcrumbs and fried. While not a full meal, they are usually quite big and make a filling snack to enjoy as you wander around Sicily.

Arancini are native to Sicily and are most easily found in grab-and-go bars throughout the region. Popular fillings include meat with tomato sauce (rag), mozzarella cheese, and peas.

Other dishes to try: Cannoli, cassata cake, caponata, pasta con le sarde

A few of Italys most popular pasta dishes have origins in Rome. Whether your cruise begins in Rome or you are just stopping in the port of Civitavecchia for the day, be sure to try one of these famous pastas.

Cacio e Pepe is a pasta dish that originated in Rome and has recently spread in popularity. While cacio e pepe can be found in some restaurants in the United States, the best place to taste it is, of course, in Rome.

Cacio e pepe is made by boiling pasta and, after draining the pasta, mixing the leftover starchy water with pecorino cheese and black pepper. This results in a semi-creamy, cheesy pasta with a slight kick of spice. It is most often made from a long pasta such as spaghetti or tonnarelli.

If youre in the mood for a tomato-based sauce, order Amatriciana. Amatriciana is a traditional sauce made from guanciale (pork cheek), pecorino romano, and tomato. A simple, classic tomato sauce enhanced with the hearty flavor of pork, it is likely to be among your favorite dishes on a cruise to Italy.

This sauce is traditionally served with Bucatini pasta, a spaghetti-like pasta that is hollow inside. You may see this dish listed on a menu as Bucatini allamatriciana.

Carbonara may just be the most beloved pasta dish for Italians. Carbonara sauce is made with eggs, pecorino romano or parmigiana, guanciale, and black pepper. It is most commonly served with spaghetti.

This dish may sound a bit odd to foreigners visiting Italy. Pasta with an egg and bacon sauce? Dont knock it until you try it, though, and theres no better place to do so than in Rome.

Other dishes to try: Pizza al taglio, maritozzi, suppl

If your cruise ship docks in Naples, you will have the opportunity to not only explore the city of Napoli, but the entire Amalfi coast region. The Amalfi coast is home to an abundance of fresh flavors. From lemons to seafood and tomatoes, there is no shortage of fresh ingredients to enjoy.

Naples, or Napoli, is most famous for being the birthplace of pizza. Modern pizza is said to have originated in Naples from flatbread dishes in the 18th or early 19th century, although it did not gain widespread popularity until the 1940s.

One of the most famous pizzerias in Naples today is Sorbillo. Located in the historical center of Napoli, Sorbillo makes traditional Neapolitan pizza with a thick outer crust and thin, gooey, saucey, and cheesy middle. The classic pizza flavors to try in Naples are the pizza marinara or pizza margherita.

Many cruise passengers arriving in Naples will choose to skip the city in favor of spending more time on the Amalfi Coast in destinations like Sorrento, Pompeii, and Capri.

A classic dish to try in the south of Italy is a classic pomodoro sauce made from fresh tomatoes and basil.

Those looking for a taste of fresh vegetables may want to order spaghetti alla nerano. Made with fried zucchinis and provolone cheese, this pasta dish is full of light and savory flavors.

Another popular pasta dish from Sorrento is gnocchi alla sorrentina. Prepared with potato gnocchi, tomato sauce, parmigiana, basil, and fresh mozzarella, gnocchi alla sorrentina is a meal that is certain to fill you up on a busy day in port.

If youre hoping to try seafood, order spaghetti alle vongole. Spaghetti alle vongole is a simple pasta dish that is said to have originated in Campania, the Italian region where Naples is located. The pasta combines spaghetti noodles with freshly caught clams, olive oil, garlic, parsley, and white wine, although it may sometimes include tomatoes and fresh basil.

Other dishes to try: Sfogliatelle, limoncello, mozzarella di bufala, pizza fritta

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Must-eat foods on a cruise to Italy - Royal Caribbean Blog

Premier Aircraft Expands into the Caribbean – FLYING

Posted on May 12, 2022 by Danzig

Diamond Aircraft dealer, Premier Aircraft Sales, has added 21 new countries to its territory for single- and multiengine airplanes, expanding its reach from the U.S. to the Caribbean.

Premier Aircrafts territory now stretches across half of the country, with sales and service bases in Fort Lauderdale, Florida (KFXE); Fort Worth, Texas (KFTW); and Norwood, Massachusetts (KOWD). It focuses on Diamonds line of aircraft, including the DA40 NG, DA42, DA50 RG, and DA62, which can use a wide range of diesel fuels, including jet-A.

We are extremely proud and grateful that Diamond Aircraft has selected us as their exclusive sales and service representative in these 21 Caribbean Island countries, said Travis Peffer, CEO for Premier Aircraft Sales.

Our successful history as an authorized Diamond dealer began shortly after Premier opened its doors in 2003. Being awarded the Caribbean Island territory is the next great step in our long and successful relationship. Premier will handle the territory from its location at Fort Lauderdale Executive Airport in Florida.

Premier has sold more than 730 new and used Diamond aircraft over the course of its more than 20-year run, making it one of Diamonds top dealers in volume.

Premier Aircraft Sales has been a long-term successful dealer and service center for Diamond Aircraft, said Annemarie Mercedes Heikenwlder, head of sales and marketing at Diamond Aircraft.

Premier boasts excellent sales in both new and used aircraft, but convenient and reliable service solutions throughout their territory. Headquartered in southern Florida, Premier is the gateway to the Caribbean, and we are confident they will serve this market very well.

With the availability of jet-A throughout the Caribbean often more consistent than that of 100LL, the Diamond line should see good penetration into the regional sales market.

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Premier Aircraft Expands into the Caribbean - FLYING

New Pirates of the Caribbean Attraction Ornament Sails Into Walt Disney World – WDW News Today

Posted on May 12, 2022 by Danzig

A new split-building Sketchbook ornament inspired by Pirates of the Caribbean has sailed into Walt Disney World. These ornaments show an iconic faade from the Disney Parks on the front, and a scene from inside the building on the back. We found this one at Celebrity 5&10 in Disneys Hollywood Studios.

The ornament resembles the Pirates of the Caribbean building at Magic Kingdom, complete with the mast and sail sign.

Columns and archways are along the front, with red shingles on the awning above.

The black sail on the mast has the Pirates of the Caribbean logo in red. The buildings clocktower is behind the mast.

The ornament ribbon is detachable.

On the back, several scenes from the attraction are represented in a mural.

The scenes are in order from a skeleton at a ships wheel to a pirate boarding a rowboat with an armful of treasure.

In the center are a pirate captain on a ship and another pirate sitting on a bridge.

Waves crash between two of the scenes.

The scenes only show classic elements from the Pirates of the Caribbean attraction and no characters from the films.

Check out more Sketchbook ornaments in this style from Walt Disney World.

For the latest Disney Parks news and info, follow WDW News Today onTwitter,Facebook, andInstagram.

Details on the Launch of the First Caribbean Events Website – TravelPulse

Posted on May 12, 2022 by Danzig

Caribbean destinations and tourism stakeholders are joyfully welcoming the return of a multitude of buoyant cultural festivals, each focused on the distinctive music, cuisine, dance and arts attached to the panoply of regional nations.

Largely freed from bans on large outdoor gatherings driven by two years of pandemic-imposed restrictions, several countries are preparing for the resumption of events, from the Anguilla Culinary Experience to Barbados Crop Over, the British Virgin Islands Food Fete, Grenadas Chocolate Festival, Nevis Mango and Food Festival, the Saint Kitts Music Festival, regattas in Carriacou and Saint Barth, Saint Lucias long-running Jazz and Arts Festival, plus New Years and Carnival celebrations in the Bahamas and Saint Lucia.

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Their return follows the launch of the first comprehensive, centralized resource for information on the regions numerous events. Veteran Caribbean tourism and travel marketer Nerdin St. Rose first launched Caribbean Events in 2018 and has fully resumed the site as nations and suppliers resume tourism activity in the outbreaks wake. We spoke recently with Nerdin to learn how she created a timely resource for diverse events across the region.

NS: I'm so passionate about Caribbean events because my background comes from events. I worked with great event productions; I was involved with the Jazz Festival in the 1990s so you know I love events. I've created a platform where people can [access] all of the events taking place in the Caribbean. We sort of want them to stop thinking only about sun sand and sea but also about the other things they can enjoy and experience.

NS: Yes, you know for me like for all of us it was hard to deal with. But it gave me time to reflect as well. I kind of got my life back because when COVID happened I was in hospital undergoing major surgery.

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NS: I used that time to think about it what I wanted to do. Events had shut down, but by August of 2020 I was thinking OK, well maybe we could start planning for events in 2021. It was a lot of let's wait and see.

[The site] features all of the key Caribbean events with information, dates, descriptions and photos. We [publicize] the events through our own social channels as well, promoting the site as a place people can find easily as soon as they do a search for Caribbean events. I've been reaching out to the different destinations to ensure they keep us in the loop when they're getting ready to announce events.

I'm also reaching out to some regional airlines to promote Caribbean Events [including] links on their websites. We're looking at [event] ticketing and adding accommodation options highlighting hotels in and around events. The site is going to get better later in the year as we add more events.

NS: We're adding events now and I'm reaching out to all of the islands as they release the information, which we added to the website. I continue to do work were ramping up through 2022. Suppliers don't have to pay for their events to be listed on our site; were sort of an aggregator. We were picking up just prior to the pandemic and actually started getting a lot more momentum and interest. We were promoting and have over 200 events on the site.

NS: Hey [those things] happened. During the pandemic, events were not happening, but we tried to keep people thinking about events although there wasnt a whole lot of content. Its just so good to see events coming back. It makes you feel even more positive and more encouraged and I'm excited about that.

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Details on the Launch of the First Caribbean Events Website - TravelPulse

What Makes The Caribbean The FIFTH C When It Comes To Diamonds Buying? – South Florida Caribbean News

Posted on May 12, 2022 by Danzig

Diamonds are often given to signify a special occasion. Several are given as engagement rings or wedding bands and some are given as heirlooms. Also, some people buy diamonds because its simply their birthstone.

Diamonds are a timeless commodity. They represented a persons status and class. Diamonds remain well sought after despite the many generations and centuries that have passed.

However, diamonds dont have much of a clean history. Slavery, the black market, and who knows what blood was shed to acquire the gemstone. Its questionable origins became a point of concern over the years. Hence, a diamonds traceability became one feature that consumers sought after.

Aside from traceability, diamonds are also chosen based on the 4Cs. These are cut, clarity, carat, and color. However, there is a 5th C, the Caribbean, that well discuss as well.

A diamonds cut refers to what makes its facets and shape. These are factors that make it sparkle. If the cut has more facets, then it will give off more sparkle.

Diamonds have different kinds of cuts. The most famous one, according to the Cape Town Diamond Museum, is the round brilliant. It has 57 facets. However, we have other popular cuts like the rectangular emerald that has 44 facets. The square princess cut is also popular among wedding rings since it has 50 or 58 facets.

The oval cut has 56 facets while the slender marquise has 58 facets. Lastly, the hybrid pear with its 58 facets is another popular cut. If youre struggling to choose from a variety of diamond cuts, you can consult your jeweler.

Clarity is how they measure the diamonds purity and inspect the flaws. The clearer the diamond, the fewer flaws it has. However, that kind of diamond is extremely rare and valuable.

The flaws within the diamond are called inclusions while the external flaws are blemishes. However, visible flaws are only usually seen in earth-mined diamonds. Lab-grown diamonds, on the other hand, have only minimal inclusions if none at all.This is because lab-grown diamonds are cultivated in a laboratory under controlled conditions. Lab-grown diamonds simulate the process by which diamonds are made in nature. But that doesnt mean theyre fake, still, theyre 100% authentic. Theyre real diamonds and they dont carry any questionable origins to boot.

Nowadays, its very common and popular for people to choose lab-grown diamond engagement rings. The traceability issue that was mentioned earlier is resolved with lab-grown diamonds. This is because the diamonds origin is known to have come from the laboratories.

Wherever the origin of these diamonds is, they are graded the same way. There are different grades by which jewelers and gemologists scale a diamond. They are:

The I-grade includes I1, I2, and I3. These degrees of inclusions have very visible flaws, even on brilliant cuts. Theyre commonly used for diamond studs because the earrings are too small for anyone to see the inclusions.

SI1 and SI2 have inclusions easily seen under a jewelers loupe. However, the inclusions arent too visible to the naked eye. This is also a good grade for those getting wedding day diamonds like tennis bracelets.

VS1 and VS2 diamond clarity inclusions are barely visible under the jewelers loupe. Even with the device, it can still take some time to find the inclusion. This grade of inclusion is whats commonly used for diamond engagement rings and wedding bands.

VVS1 and VVS2 have inclusions barely visible under the jewelers loupe. Even if they are visible, theyre difficult to find. This grade of clarity is also another choice for diamond engagement rings and wedding bands.

Rings are always visible to other people and its easier for them to see the gemstone. Therefore, a VS or VVS diamond rating is recommended.

These are diamonds with no internal or external imperfections. They are extremely rare and costly.

Carat is the degree of measurement used to identify a diamonds mass or weight. A metric carat is equivalent to 200 milligrams. It can be subdivided into 100 points. They are more than one carat in decimals (e.g. a 1.25-carat diamond).

The bigger the diamond, the higher the price increase per carat. This is because big diamonds are very rare and more desirable. However, you need to keep in mind that diamonds with similar carats dont always mean theyll have the same price.

Cut, clarity, and color are all important factors that determine a diamonds price.

Though diamonds are commonly known as colorless, they do come in many other colors as well. The distinctions, however, are subtle. It takes much experience and training to properly color-grade a diamond.

The variations of color impact the diamonds quality and price. Its hue and intensity, for example, may diminish or raise the diamonds value.

Some claim that the fifth C is Conflict Free. This means that the diamond didnt come from a bloody or conflicted area. Because the sales were used to fund wars historically, traceability is important when buying diamonds.

However, the fifth C well talk about is the Caribbean. But why is it considered the fifth C?

The Caribbeans sparkling waters make it one of the top tourist destinations in the world. But theyre also an amazing place where you can shop for diamonds. Their diamonds are known to be as stunning as their famous azure sea.

The diamonds prices are all very alluring as well. The sellers are friendly and offer excellent service. The Caribbean has about five top shopping locations for diamonds. They all boast an exquisite collection of gemstones and diamond jewelry for you to choose from.

If youre ever visiting the Caribbean, get ready to splurge on some diamond stud earrings or a diamond necklace!

Diamonds are timeless and precious stones that have dictated the class and prestige of their wearer for years. Its most commonly worn by those in the upper echelon of society. Nowadays, diamonds are often used for engagement rings and wedding bands.

Theyre also used for earrings and necklaces. However, theyre notorious for having a dark past that involves black markets, slavery, and war. Because of this, traceability is demanded by contemporary consumers.

A diamonds price depends on the four Cs. Those are clarity, color, carat, and cut. Each one determines the price and quality of the diamond. Its not a requirement to choose the most flawless one, though that would depend on the occasion.

The fifth C is the Caribbean because of its beauty which translates to the diamonds in their market. The Caribbean is a great place to buy diamonds at good prices. We encourage visiting the different shops on their islands!

What Makes The Caribbean The FIFTH C When It Comes To Diamonds Buying? - South Florida Caribbean News

Fans Think Johnny Depp Quoted ‘Pirates of the Caribbean’ Scene to Lawyer – Newsweek

Posted on May 12, 2022 by Danzig

The trial of Johnny Depp v. Amber Heard is adjourned this week but the court proceedings are still dominating discourse on social media and fans think that the actor quoted a line from Pirates of the Caribbean during his ex-wife's testimony last week.

Depp is suing Heard for $50 million for defamation over a 2018 op-ed alleging domestic abuse in a trial that has whipped up a social media frenzy over the past weeks.

Heard, who is countersuing for $100 million for nuisance, took the stand last week and has been delivering her testimony detailing allegations of horrific abuse against her ex-husband.

Depp's drug and alcohol misuse has been widely discussed throughout the trial and while delivering testimony on the stand last week, Heard recounted the first time her ex-husband allegedly hit her.

"It's seemingly so stupid, so insignificant. I will never forget it. It changed my life," she said and went on to say that she and Depp were "sitting on the couch... talking ... having a normal conversation.

"There was no fighting, no argument, nothing," she said. "He was drinking and I didn't realize at the time but I think he was using cocaine because there was a jara jar of cocaine on the table."

The "jar of cocaine" statement prompted smirks and laughter from Depp who whispered something to his legal team and viral footage shows that he jokingly quoted a line from Pirates of the Caribbean about a "jar of dirt."

Fans of Depp and his beloved character Captain Jack Sparrow will recognize the line from the film, Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest.

The character of Jack Sparrow famously carries around a jar of dirt on the ship in the second movie of the franchise and proclaimed the line: "I have a jar of dirt!"

A clip of this moment in court, edited alongside the movie clip, has gone viral on TikTok with 1.2 million views at the time of writing.

The TikTok has also been shared to Twitter where it's racking up thousands of views.

Both Heard and Depp's representatives issued statements after the actress finished her testimony for the week.

"While Ms. Heard's stories have continued to grow new and convenient details, Mr. Depp's recollections have remained exactly the same throughout the six painful years since her first allegations were made," Depp's spokesperson said in a statement to People. "His truththe truthis the same no matter the environment in which it has been presented."

Meanwhile, Heard's team told Newsweek: "One of Ms. Heard's disappointments is Mr. Depp's inability to distinguish fact from fictiona malady which appears to have spread to his legal team.

"That same team is so panicked they are fighting tooth and nail to prevent compelling evidence and photos from being introduced. Small wonder Mr. Depp does not have the fortitude or courage to even look at Ms. Heard at all throughout the proceedingsas he could not in the U.K. trialand, instead he doodles and snickers."

The Depp vs. Heard trial will resume at 9 a.m. ET on May 16.

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Fans Think Johnny Depp Quoted 'Pirates of the Caribbean' Scene to Lawyer - Newsweek

Looking Back at Pirates of the Caribbean 20 Years Later – mxdwn.com

Posted on May 12, 2022 by Danzig

Chris Benis May 11th, 2022 - 11:56 AM

20 years ago,Pirates of the Caribbean meant nothing more than wooden lifeboats, inky black waters, and animatronic entertainment. Today, it represents five blockbuster movies, a star-studded cast, and the legend of Johnny Depps insatiable Captain Jack Sparrow.

The original Pirates ride debuted on March 18, 1967, being the last Disney attraction constructed by Walt Disney himself before his death three months later. Although it was initially designed to be an antebellum era walk-through museum featuring the periods most infamous villains, it was eventually approved as a ride system following the unprecedented success of Its A Small World in 1964. But not even Disneys founder could have envisioned the impact and success of Pirates in the half-century that ensued.

To this day, the phenomenon and cultural significance that stemmed from the first movie, Curse of the Black Pearl, is nothing short of a miracle. This film re-introduced pirates and maritime exploration to a new, impressionable generation. All at once, children were dressing up as Captain Jack for Halloween. Blasters and lightsabers were traded in for swords and eye patches. Being a pirate was cool, and everyone wanted a piece of the franchise.

Case in point, Black Pearl (2003) earned over $46 million in its first week, grossing $305 million over its theatrical lifetime. For reference, the last movie prior to Black Pearl that garnered reasonable box office success involving pirates was Muppets Treasure Island in 1996.

The success of the first installment owes much of its acclaim to the dynamic performances of its leading actors. Geoffrey Rush (Captain Barbossa) turns in a campy, brilliant effort that suspends the audiences disbelief and challenges the notion of what it means to be an engaging antagonist. Rush excels at manifesting the physical and emotional toll that the pirates curse takes upon himself and his crew, which earns the character a degree of humanity that culminates in an unforgettable, charismatic, and confident performance.

Of course, a villain can only be as evil as the protagonist is convincing, and Curse of the Black Pearl greatly benefits from a once-in-a-lifetime performance by Johnny Depp. By all accounts, Jack Sparrow was originally written as a Vaudevillian foil for Rushs Captain Barbossa and Orlando Blooms William Turner, a brash blacksmith who yearns to find his father and win the hand of governors daughter Elizabeth Swann (Keira Knightley). Depp then took it upon himself to surprise everyone on set with a mysterious, unpredictable, and utterly genius Keith Richards-esque drawl.

The character reportedly came to Depp during an intense sauna session. The actor sat in steamy isolation for several hours before nailing down Sparrows trademark catchphrases, mannerisms, and charming unpredictability.

In a 2018 interview with Collider, Depp revealed that Sparrow was originally written as a swashbuckler, a pirate who swings in, sort of fights a little bit and then swings out, grabs a girl, and thats it. I had different ideas for him. This sounds weird, but Captain Jack was born in a sauna. My sauna. I was looking at various aspects of the character, and I figured this guy has been on the high seas for the majority of his life and therefore has dealt with inescapable heat to the brain.

Thus, Sparrow was entirely of Depps creation and has never been portrayed as Disney intended.

It would be remiss to applaud Pirates as a cultural touchstone without commending its soundtrack for wondrously amplifying all five films. Simply put, Hans Zimmers score is heroic and dynamic. Hes taken certain creative liberties in making Jack Sparrows whimsy believable, Barbossas crew terrifying, and the East India Trading Company decidedly imperial. Its the sound of a composer with nothing left to prove creating that which is timeless yet again.

While critics have lamented Dead Mans Chest and At Worlds End as being labored, overstuffed, and lacking in imagination compared to the original, the practical effects and new characters largely hold their own against the first film. Cutler Becketts emergence allows both sequels a defiant, nostalgic flavor, and Davy Jones is terrifying and tragic as the central villain for installments two and three. The respective plots are also very original, albeit over-reliant on Sparrows more nonsensical eccentricities.

Given its timeless appeal and continued relevance, its easy to look past the franchises success and take it for granted. But there is value in remembering that films based on Disneyland rides have traditionally sunk in the box office, including Mission to Mars and Dinosaur prior to Pirates.

Curse of the Black Pearl was the first movie of its kind to cruise past the port of mainstream popularity and sail into uncharted territory with its mast of originality and pirate flag held high.

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Looking Back at Pirates of the Caribbean 20 Years Later - mxdwn.com

‘Pirates of the Caribbean’ ship goes to mental health charity – Classic Boat

Posted on May 12, 2022 by Danzig

Cornish charity Sea Sanctuary has taken ownership of Irene, the tall ship featured in the film Pirates of the Caribbean.

The 100ft tall ship, built in 1907, arrived in Falmouth in April to help support the charitys work in blue health the concept that blue spaces, like the sea, are profoundly beneficial to peoples mental and emotional wellbeing.

Irene replaces a smaller boat, a move which reflects the increase in the demand of these critical services and the evolution of the charity who expertise and services are growing year on year from private clients, as well as corporate charters.

Charity CEO Joseph Sabien said: Our sailing days and residential therapeutic voyages are perfect for organisations looking to improve the mental health and wellbeing of their employees.

Those whoparticipate in our programs are not the only ones to benefit as any profits from the operation will subsidise the cost of people in the local community who need our support but cannot afford it. We are looking forward to a busy summer.

seasanctuary.org.uk

Editor of Classic Boat, Rob Peake has previously worked on a number of leading boating titles as both Editor and Deputy Editor, including Yachting Monthly and Motor Boat & Yachting. As a skipper, he has covered many thousands of miles at sea under both power and sail.

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'Pirates of the Caribbean' ship goes to mental health charity - Classic Boat

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