New Zealand to skip Paralympic opening ceremony over virus fears – FRANCE 24

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Issued on: 24/08/2021 - 05:50

Tokyo (AFP)

New Zealand's Paralympic team said it will not attend Tuesday's opening ceremony in Tokyo over coronavirus safety fears, as infections surge in the Japanese capital.

Organisers have reported 161 Covid-19 cases linked to the Paralympics so far, mostly among staff and contractors living in Japan but also including six athletes.

Paralympics New Zealand said its athletes would not take part in the opening ceremony, where two flagbearers usually lead teammates into the Olympic Stadium.

"Our team will not be attending as we continue our commitment to our Covid-19 Operating Principles and Guidelines, aimed at keeping our team as safe as possible," it said in a statement.

Instead of appointing flagbearers, two athletes will be given symbolic "leadership roles".

Throughout the pandemic, New Zealand has pursued a "Covid zero" elimination strategy, resulting in just 26 deaths in a population of five million.

But a national lockdown is currently in place to curb the spread of the highly transmissible Delta variant, after a virus cluster broke a six-month run of no local cases.

New Zealand is the only one of the 162 Paralympic delegations that has confirmed it will skip the evening ceremony, International Paralympic Committee spokesman Craig Spence told reporters on Tuesday.

"We've got to respect the decision," he said, adding that team chief Fiona Allan had told him that despite strict virus countermeasures, they wanted to be "super safe".

There are 32 Paralympians on the New Zealand team, according to Tokyo 2020.

Some other countries and territories have reduced the number of representatives at the ceremony for various reasons including Covid-19 and heat concerns, Spence said.

"We appreciate that the march is going to be a little shorter, there's going to be less athletes compared to normal Games.

"That's a shame, but we respect the decision and actually, it probably speeds up the ceremony."

Japan's virus situation has worsened dramatically in the weeks since the July 23 Olympic opening ceremony, with the country recording more than 25,000 daily infections several times in the past week.

2021 AFP

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New Zealand to skip Paralympic opening ceremony over virus fears - FRANCE 24

Lockdowns or vaccines? Japan, New Zealand and Australia try diverging paths – CHEK

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WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP) Cheryl Simpson was supposed to be celebrating her 60th birthday over lunch with friends but instead found herself confined to her Auckland home.

The discovery of a single local COVID-19 case in New Zealand was enough for the government to put the entire country into strict lockdown this past week. While others might see that as draconian, New Zealanders generally support such measures because they worked so well in the past.

Im happy to go into lockdown, even though I dont like it, said Simpson, owner of a day care center for dogs that is now closed because of the precautions. She said she wants the country to crush the latest outbreak: Id like to knock the bloody thing on the head.

Elsewhere around the Pacific, though, Japan is resisting such measures in the face of a record-breaking surge, instead emphasizing its accelerating vaccine program. And Australia has fallen somewhere in the middle.

All three countries got through the first year of the pandemic in relatively good shape but are now taking diverging paths in dealing with outbreaks of the delta variant, the highly contagious form that has contributed to a growing sense that the coronavirus cannot be stamped out, just managed.

Professor Michael Baker, an epidemiologist at New Zealands University of Otago, said countries around the world are struggling to adapt to the latest threat: With the delta variant, the old rules just dont work.

The differing emphasis on lockdowns versus vaccines and how effective such strategies prove to be in beating back the delta variant could have far-reaching consequences for the three countries economies and the health of their citizens.

Japan has never imposed lockdowns against the coronavirus. The public is wary of government overreach after the countrys fascist period before and during World War II, and Japans postwar constitution lays out strict protections for civil liberties.

Before the delta variant, the country managed to keep a lid on coronavirus outbreaks in part because many people in Japan were already used to wearing surgical masks for protection from spring allergies or when they caught colds.

Now, almost everyone on public transportation wears a mask during commuting hours. But late at night, people tend to uncover in restaurants and bars, which has allowed the variant to spread. Hosting the Tokyo Olympic Games didnt help either.

While strict protocols kept infections inside the games to a minimum, experts such as Dr. Shigeru Omi, a key medical adviser to the government, say the Olympics created a festive air that led people in Japan to lower their guard.

New cases in Japan have this month leaped to 25,000 each day, more than triple the highest previous peak. Omi considers that a disaster.

Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga on Friday expanded and extended a state of emergency covering Tokyo and other areas until at least mid-September, though most of the restrictions arent legally enforceable.

Many governors are urging the prime minister to consider much tougher restrictions. But Suga said lockdowns have been flouted around the world, and vaccines are the way to go.

Daily vaccinations in Japan increased tenfold from May to June as thousands of worksites and colleges began offering shots, but a slow start has left the nation playing catch-up. Only about 40% of people are fully vaccinated.

In Australia, a delta outbreak hit Sydney in June, after an unvaccinated limousine driver became infected while transporting a U.S. cargo air crew from the Sydney Airport. State authorities hesitated for 10 days before imposing lockdown measures across Sydney that have now dragged on for two months.

Early in the pandemic, Australias federal government imposed just one nationwide lockdown. Now, amid the delta outbreak, it is pursuing a strategy it calls aggressive suppression including strict controls on Australians leaving the country and foreigners entering but is essentially letting state leaders call the shots.

New infections in Sydney have climbed from just a few each week before the latest outbreak to more than 800 a day.

Its not possible to eliminate it completely. We have to learn to live with it, Gladys Berejiklian, premier of Sydneys New South Wales state, said in what many interpreted as a significant retreat from the determination state leaders have previously shown to crush outbreaks entirely.

That is why we have a dual strategy in New South Wales, Berejiklian said. Get those case numbers down, vaccination rates up. We have to achieve both in order for us to live freely into the future.

The outbreak in Sydney has spilled over into the capital, Canberra, which has also gone into lockdown. Government worker Matina Carbone wore a mask while shopping on Friday.

I dont know that anyones ever going to really beat delta, she said. I think we just have to try and increase our rates of vaccinations and slowly open things up when we think its safe to do so.

But Australia lags far behind even Japan in getting people inoculated, with just 23% of people fully vaccinated.

Last year, soon after the pandemic first hit, neighboring New Zealand imposed a strict, nationwide lockdown and closed its border to non-residents. That wiped out the virus completely. The country of 5 million has been able to vanquish each outbreak since, recording just 26 virus deaths.

It went six months without a single locally spread case, allowing people to go about their daily lives much as they had before the pandemic.

But this month, the Sydney outbreak spread to New Zealand, carried by a returning traveler.

New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern promptly imposed the strictest form of lockdown.

By Sunday, the number of locally spread cases in New Zealand had grown to 72, and the virus had reached the capital, Wellington. Officials raced to track 10,000 more people who might have been exposed.

Ardern has been steadfast.

We have been here before. We know the elimination strategy works. Cases rise, and then they fall, until we have none, she said. Its tried and true. We just need to stick it out.

Baker, the epidemiologist, said he believes it is still possible for New Zealand to wipe out the virus again by pursuing the burning ember approach of taking drastic measures to stamp out the first sign of an outbreak.

That remains to be seen.

New Zealand doesnt have much of a Plan B. A recent report by expert advisers to the government noted the nation has comparatively few intensive care hospital beds and said an outbreak could quickly overwhelm the health system.

And New Zealand has been the slowest developed nation to put shots in arms, with just 20% of people fully vaccinated.

Nick Perry, Mari Yamaguchi And Rod Mcguirk/The Associated Press

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Lockdowns or vaccines? Japan, New Zealand and Australia try diverging paths - CHEK

New Zealand was set to be the first advanced economy to hike rates. One Covid case put a stop to it – CNBC

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Workers and shoppers eat on the steps of Freyberg Place in downtown Auckland, New Zealand, on October 29, 2020, enjoying the freedom of Covid-19 Alert Level 1.

Lynn Grieveson | Newsroom | Getty Images

New Zealand was widely expected to become the first advanced economy to raise interest rates, but the central bank left rates unchanged on Wednesday after one Covid case led the country to announce a nationwide lockdown a day earlier.

The Reserve Bank of New Zealand said in a statement the decision to hold rates at 0.25% was made "in the context of the Government's imposition of Level 4 COVID restrictions on activity across New Zealand."

On Tuesday, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern imposed a nationwide lockdown when the first Covid case in six months was discovered in Auckland, the country's largest city.

The city will be under lockdown for seven days starting Wednesday, while the rest of the nation will observe a three-day lockdown. Level 4 restrictions are the highest in the country and the most restrictive, where people must stay home and can only leave only for essential services.

As of Wednesday morning, the number of cases detected had risen to seven and were confirmed to be the highly transmissible delta variant, according to Reuters.

Paul Bloxham, chief economist for Australia and New Zealand at HSBC called it an "extraordinary 24 hours," and a "very touch and go knife-edge situation."

"This morning ...we find that it's delta (variant), and, you know, at that point 24 hours ago, the market was thinking that the RBNZ wouldn't just deliver 20 but 25 (basis points)," he told CNBC's "Street Signs Asia."

Before Wednesday's rate decision, Michael Gordon, acting chief economist for New Zealand at Australian bank Westpac, said he did not expect a rate increase.

"The key here is that the Government cannot be confident about the scope of the (Covid) problem," he said in a note on Tuesday, after Ardern's lockdown decision.

Analysts mostly expected the central bank to raise rates, at least until the lockdown was announced. The majority of the 32 economists polled by Reuters expected the central bank to raise the official cash rate by 25 basis points from a record low to 0.50%.

Most central banks globally have slashed rates to record lows in a bid to prop up their pandemic-hit economies. Governments around the world have been injecting stimulus into their economies to support businesses.

But New Zealand has been among the most successful in the world to keep their Covid cases in check with tough lockdowns and shutting of its borders.

Major central banks in the APAC region are in no rush to start hiking policy rates ... with the exception of New Zealand and Korea.

Maxime Darmet

Fitch Ratings

Due in part to its zero-Covid strategy, the number of Covid cases has so far been kept at about 2,500 cases, including 26 deaths among the lowest in the world.

That's helped the economy to bounce back, with data showing first-quarter economic growth this year was above expectations. It was mainly driven by strong retail spending, falling jobless rate, and soaring housing prices.

The combination of minimal Covid restrictions and generous stimulus has led to a booming economy and rising inflation, leading analysts to expect higher interest rates.

The New Zealand dollar fell to 0.6944 against the U.S. dollar on Wednesday.

The currency has been falling since the lockdown announcement on Tuesday, from above the 0.70 level to above 0.69.

Bloxham said the New Zealand dollar could recover once the Covid situation is contained.

"If (the lockdown) is sufficient to get the virus contained, to keep the numbers small and push it right back to zero ... then you'd imagine in a few weeks time ... the economy's back on track and likewise there'd be sort of upside to the New Zealand dollar," he told CNBC's "Street Signs Asia."

With the expected hike now derailed, analysts said it would now depend on the scale of the virus situation.

"Regardless of the economic case for higher interest rates, there is nothing to be gained from pushing the (official cash rate) higher now, rather than waiting for more clarity on the Covid situation," Gordon of Westpac said.

He said that experience showed economic activity tends to bounce back once restrictions were lifted. "When that happens, the RBNZ will be left facing many of the same issues as before: an economy that is running up against cost pressures and capacity constraints, with risks that inflation could become more persistent," he said, adding that hikes will still be needed.

Meanwhile, Maxime Darmet, Asia-Pacific director of economics at Fitch Ratings told CNBC that most major central banks in the region are not likely to raise rates soon.

"Major central banks in the APAC region are in no rush to start hiking policy rates ... with the exception of New Zealand and Korea. Generally contained inflationary pressures and Covid-related economic setbacks leave APAC central banks willing to keep policy loose," Darmet said in an email to CNBC on Tuesday, before New Zealand's lockdown was announced.

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New Zealand was set to be the first advanced economy to hike rates. One Covid case put a stop to it - CNBC

Opinion: Stop putting a spin on New Zealand’s vaccination numbers, we are woefully behind – Newshub

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OPINION: Last Christmas I sent a picture to my family in the UK of my children and me in a pool enjoying a summer of freedom that was the envy of the world.

Two days later, my brother, his wife and son in England all had COVID-19.

My parents, who are in their 70s, began what turned out to be a six-month lockdown as England battled with its latest outbreak.

I regretted being so glib about how we were spending the festive season.

Friends of mine in England started to message me about moving over here, such was the positive publicity around the success of New Zealand's elimination of the virus.

Those friends endured a miserable winter in the northern hemisphere, locked down for many months.

Today the tables are somewhat turned, as we are in our second level 4 lockdown, the UK is emerging from its COVID winter of discontent largely vaccinated and seemingly in a new phase of dealing with the virus.

My parents are so confident they have booked a cruise, albeit around the British Isles but it is something a few months ago they were wondering if they would ever do again.

As long as they give a negative COVID test and are both fully vaccinated they can board the ship.

And that is the key, they have both been fully vaccinated for a few months now. All of my family, including my teenage nieces and nephews have received both doses of the vaccination.

Earlier this year, I was told I would be getting my first dose of the vaccine in April. My age and an underlying health condition meant I would be among the first in the queue.

May came and went and no dose.

The information then changed and I was then told I could book in July, not be jabbed but book. So when I got another email saying I was eligible I tried to book online, except the website crashed so I called instead.

I was given a date of September 12. Five months after I was originally told I could get the jab.

I know there were issues securing doses of the vaccine, but when the Prime Minister begins a press conference by saying "I have good news," and then telling us the record number of people who were vaccinated on Friday is something to cheer, it's not good news, it's just catching up.

Putting the country back into lockdown was the right move from Ardern, there was little option once the Delta variant was discovered in the community.

Her management of the crisis has been generally excellent, but stop spinning the vaccination programme.

It has so far not been a success. We are not at the bottom of the list of countries that have vaccinated their populations, but we are a long way from the top.

It doesn't matter how many people have booked for their vaccine, a booking won't protect you. What is important is how many people have been vaccinated twice.

I am at risk from COVID-19, males in my age group have some of the worst survival rates. I would really like the vaccine but won't be fully vaccinated until October.

Meanwhile the Delta variant is in the community and many of us who are at risk shouldn't be.

I would hardly call that good news.

Mark Longley is the managing editor of Newshub Digital

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Opinion: Stop putting a spin on New Zealand's vaccination numbers, we are woefully behind - Newshub

Tiny New Zealand airport that tells Mori love story in running for global design award – The Guardian

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A tiny regional airport in New Zealand that weaves a Mori story of love and longing into its architecture is in the running for a prestigious design award, up against international heavyweights including New Yorks LaGuardia.

Unescos Prix Versailles recognises architecture that fosters a better interaction between economy and culture, and includes a range of categories from airports to shopping malls. The finalists for the airport category include the New York LaGuardia upgrade, Berlins Brandenburg airport and international airports in Athens, Kazakhstan and the Philippines.

The sixth airport finalist is Te Hono meaning to connect and is found in New Plymouth, a town with a population of 85,000, on the western shoulder of the North Island.

After six design options were floated, Rangi Kipa a member of the local Puketapu hap (subtribe) and lead figure on cultural design, settled upon a story. The Ascension from the Earth, Descending from the Sky, tells the story of Tamarau, a celestial being, who was so captivated by the earthly beauty of Rongo-ue-roa, a terrestrial being, that he came down to meet her.

This story aligns closely with the creation narrative of Te tiawa iwi [tribe], said Rangi.

The terminals silver and blue roof cascades in large stepped planes, like the feathers of a large wing, or, Tamarau coming to meet Rongo-ue-roa. Their symbolic and literal joining is represented along the public concourse by a brightly coloured tukutuku panel traditionally, a woven wall panel that depicts an iwis stories.

The spine of the building is oriented to represent the journey from the mountain to the river the main ancestral walking track in this area, and while visitors may notice these aspects of the architecture first, there are many subtle stories told through the details.

Manaakitanga the Mori concept of hospitality also influences the design.

Campbell Craig, the projects architect and associate for design at firm Beca, said the project attempted to challenge western architectural practices that do not bear any relationship to Mori design.

It was important for Puketapu to welcome and take care of guests in a place that is in many ways the gateway to the region, said Craig. The faceted curved forms of the building at the entrance and airside embrace travellers, to shelter them from the elements.

In 1960, the land the airport sits on was confiscated from Mori, under the Public Works Act to build an aerodrome. This was a major source of grievance for the hap, who had urup [burial grounds] on the site.

Honouring the iwis story is meant to be the first step in righting this wrong.

Kipa said: For the most part, we have been invisible in our own landscape for 160 years, so its amazing to have the chance to influence, and give life to, some of the things that make us who we are.

For Craig, the most heartening aspect of the project was the intensive collaboration between Mori, the airport and the architects, which enabled a sense of collective ownership over it.

The experience at Te Hono provided a blueprint for working with tngata whenua [people of the land], he said, adding that it would be an approach embedded into all of their future projects.

The airports chief executive, David Scott, said the co-design process had resulted in a building that was both functional and of cultural significance. It demonstrates what can be achieved when we work together as true partners, he said.

The winners of the Prix Versailles Airports 2021 will be announced at Unesco headquarters in late November.

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Tiny New Zealand airport that tells Mori love story in running for global design award - The Guardian

Coronavirus: New Zealand needs high uptake of vaccine to mitigate cases, hospitalisations, deaths once borders reopen – study – Newshub

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Professor Colin Simpson from Victoria University of Wellington says the modelling of predictions from different vaccination programme strategies to consider the number of cases, hospitalisations, and deaths over two years with open borders could help support New Zealand's vaccination strategy.

"The aims of the study were to predict how many people do you need to immunise for herd immunity, which age groups should be targeted first and in what order and what the number of cases, hospitalisations and deaths would look like under a number of different vaccine effectiveness, R0 and population coverage," he says.

The modelling found that reaching the herd immunity threshold based on the infection rate of the Delta variant was almost impossible.

"Based on a 90 percent vaccine effectiveness (VE) against disease and 80 percent VE against infection we would require at least 86.5 percent total population uptake (including children) for R0=4.5 (with high vaccination coverage for 30-49-year-olds) but that would jump to 98.1 percent uptake for R0=6 (the Delta variant)," Simpson says.

ESR chief scientist Dr Brett Cowan says the results show that vaccinating as many New Zealanders as possible will reduce the risk of widespread community outbreaks. As a result, vulnerable populations will have a greater chance of protection from the disease, but other public health and social measures will still be needed as part of a response.

"Vaccination modelling has been proved to help anticipate potential public health outcomes based on different vaccine effectiveness reported in clinical trials and 'real-world' studies and vaccination programme strategies," Simpson says.

"While the study was primarily developed with New Zealand in mind, our experience will also provide valuable insights to the international community to inform future actions."

Andrew Sporle, from the University of Auckland's department of statistics, says it is critical to include strategies to ensure Mori and Pasifika have maximum protection since they're at higher risk for hospitalisation and death from COVID-19.

"Prioritising vaccinations for those most at risk of severe outcomes from COVID-19 infection (including Mori and Pasifika) benefits the whole population as well as protecting those groups," he says.

"We know that opening the border will result in local cases of COVID. Minimising the resulting hospitalisations and deaths requires prioritisation of those groups and communities most at risk, as Australia and Canada have done."

Sporle adds that the risk of a border breach before vaccinations are complete means prioritisation must be a focus so it doesn't become a catch-up strategy.

There have been 148 cases in New Zealand's current outbreak so far, 41 of which were announced on Tuesday.

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Coronavirus: New Zealand needs high uptake of vaccine to mitigate cases, hospitalisations, deaths once borders reopen - study - Newshub

13yo becomes one of New Zealand’s youngest COVID-19 vaccine recipients at drive-through vaccination centre – Newshub

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He wasn't the only teenager at the Auckland site. With people aged 12-15 now eligible for the Pfizer shot, 15-year-old Annabel Patterson also rolled down her window and rolled up her sleeve.

The vaccination centre was set up in two days, and on Sunday it accommodated those who had their jab appointments cancelled during the lockdown.

This includes essential workers such as bus drivers and supermarket employees who will get their chance to get their shot.

"We know it's been a really fluid environment and dynamic over the last couple of days and we just want to apologise to people who've been inconvenienced," Northern Region Health Coordination Centre's Matt Hannant told Newshub.

Staff hope to be doing 2000 jabs a day, with the potential to increase in the future.

"So you come through, get screened, check those symptoms, then you get registered then you go through to the tents to get your jab," Hannant says. "The vaccinator comes around the car - does everyone individually."

Once people get their vaccinations, it's over to an observation area where they sit in their car for 15 minutes.

If everything is okay then they're good to go but if there are any issues they honk their horn, flash their lights and medical staff will be instantly there.

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13yo becomes one of New Zealand's youngest COVID-19 vaccine recipients at drive-through vaccination centre - Newshub

Rugby: Resolution found? All Blacks set to leave New Zealand next week – New Zealand Herald

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The All Blacks are set to leave Perth for the third Bledisloe Cup match after previously being held back on player welfare grounds.

After New Zealand Rugby controversially opted out of flying the All Blacks to Perth this week, a solution appears to have been found, with the All Blacks set to leave New Zealand next week. Liam Napier reports.

The All Blacks are likely to board a plane to Perth next week for the third, rescheduled Bledisloe Cup test against the Wallabies on September 4.

The difference between next week and last, when New Zealand Rugby sparked an outcry by pulling pin on the All Blacks travelling for the scheduled August 28 Bledisloe test in Perth, is the Rugby Championship destination is expected to be finalised by Tuesday or Wednesday.

The continued uncertainty surrounding whether Europe, Queensland or South Africa will host the four-nation tournament is the rationale NZ Rugby cited for not sending the All Blacks last Saturday.

Provided health protocols remain the same, allowing the All Blacks to travel to Perth, stay in a controlled bubble and play seven days later, and Rugby Australia can negotiate with AFL to secure Optus Stadium on September 4, the final sold-out Bledisloe is expected to be staged then.

Amid the backdrop of seething anger from Australia at the way NZ Rugby has handled the complex situation, the dead rubber Bledisloe, which doubles as the All Blacks' second Rugby Championship fixture, promises to be a tense occasion.

Like last week, the All Blacks need to leave New Zealand by this Saturday in order to land in Perth a week before the September 4 date.

Much of the context around NZ Rugby's decision to hold the All Blacks back at late notice, and force Rugby Australia to reschedule the third Bledisloe for a second time, has been overshadowed by furious criticism and some dubious claims, particularly those from RA chief executive Andy Marinos about a lack of consultation.

Sanzaar held a chief executive meeting last Thursday where NZ Rugby boss Mark Robinson flagged issues facing the All Blacks' departure, including the challenges assembling a group of 60-odd players and management from all parts of the country with domestic flights significantly reduced while New Zealand is in lockdown.

With no MIQ spots available for the All Blacks until November, once the team leaves New Zealand they cannot return until then. They, therefore, want certainty around the Rugby Championship destination before being away from home for up to 14 weeks.

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Following the Sanzaar meeting the Herald understands Robinson and Marinos spoke two further times on Friday, with the latter well aware of the 2pm deadline to guarantee Queensland's ability to host the Rugby Championship before the All Blacks were willing to fly out.

The prospect of pushing the third Bledisloe back a week to September 4, in order to allow time for the Rugby Championship situation to be resolved, was raised only to be rejected by Marinos.

As the deadline loomed, Marinos asked for three additional hours to secure a letter or approval from the Queensland Government that is still yet to arrive and Robinson made it clear that, given logisical challenges, they would not wait that long.

Having not received assurances from Queensland around the Rugby Championship, NZ Rugby took a hard-line stance to issue its statement that the All Blacks would not be travelling as planned, sparking furious criticism and suggestions from Marinos that he found out via the media.

One other factor widely overlooked is the quarantine situation facing the Springboks and Pumas. Both teams originally planned to satisfy their two-week quarantine in Sydney, where they were permitted to train during that time. As of last Friday, however, that was no longer the case with the Covid-19 situation deteriorating in Sydney.

While Perth remains keen to host the third Bledisloe they, too, aren't comfortable with the potential risks associated with welcoming the Boks and Pumas from South Africa, a Covid-19 hot spot.

Perth therefore changed its stance on staging the Rugby Championship, as had been touted.

With the Queensland State Government yet to provide assurances it is willing to host the tournament, or clarify the quarantine situation for the Boks and Pumas, much uncertainty surrounds how and where those teams will enter Australia.

NZ Rugby's move left ticket holders in Perth disillusioned, and Wallabies coach Dave Rennie "bloody angry" as, among other things, his team is now left in limbo.

The decision to delay travelling is not unprecedented, however. Just last year the Springboks pulled out of playing the Rugby Championship in Australia at the 11th hour citing player welfare. That decision had major ramifications in reducing the tournament to the Tri Nations.

Sanzaar is set to meet on Monday to determine where the Rugby Championship will be held, with Queensland and Europe essentially in a head-to-head battle. South Africa's inability to host crowds would significantly reduce revenue.

Europe is enticing for all four nations from a financial point of view and if the third Bledisloe can't be staged in Perth on September 4, there is the prospect of instead playing it at Wembley on October 9.

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Rugby: Resolution found? All Blacks set to leave New Zealand next week - New Zealand Herald

Land urchin meets sea pups in zoo. Adorable interaction is too cute to handle – Hindustan Times

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The land urchin seemed more interested in his snack than in the sea puppers! commented a Twitter user.

By Srimoyee Chowdhury

PUBLISHED ON AUG 21, 2021 07:32 PM IST

Interactions between different species, whether they are on land or water, are always a treat to watch. This video shared by Oregon Zoo on Twitter is an exact example of that. The clip features a porcupine and some seals and we bet the video will leave you smiling widely.

The recording starts with a porcupine following a zookeeper as she guides it through the zoo to reach the seal enclosure. After a few seconds, the porcupine meets a seal and then the fun begin. We wont spoil it for you so take a look at the video:

Shared on August 18, the clip has garnered over 48,000 views and several reactions. Netizens couldnt stop gushing at the interaction between the seal and the porcupine. While many shared heart emojis to show their love, others showered the comments section with awws.

That adorable wiggle and the way he munches his food! said a Twitter user. The land urchin seemed more interested in his snack than in the sea puppers! commented another.

Here are some other reactions:

What are your thoughts on this clip?

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Land urchin meets sea pups in zoo. Adorable interaction is too cute to handle - Hindustan Times

Fire at Sealands caravan park forces evacuation of guests in early hours of this morning – Lincolnshire Live

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Holidaymakers at a Lincolnshire caravan park were evacuated in the early hours of this morning after fire broke out police said.

Police along with Lincolnshire Fire & Rescue were called to a caravan park at Ingoldmells, north of Skegness early on Tuesday morning after receiving reports of a fire in one of the site's holiday homes.

Several caravans close to the scene of the fire were evacuated and the occupants were taken to emergency accommodation nearby.

Although there were no reports of any casualties or serious injuries, fire crews were reportedly remaining at the scene until at least daybreak on Tuesday.

A spokesman for Lincolnshire Police said: "We are on scene with @LincsFireRescue at Sealands caravan Park in Ingoldmells where a caravan has caught fire.

"Several caravans evacuated to emergency accommodation. This is a live incident and we will remain on scene until at least the morning. Further updates to come later today."

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Fire at Sealands caravan park forces evacuation of guests in early hours of this morning - Lincolnshire Live

Futuristics Overview of Swimming Goggles Market: Industry Insights and Forecast 2021-2027 by Speedo, Kaiman, Nike, Swedish, Technoflex, Aqua Sphere…

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Futuristics Overview of Swimming Goggles Market: Industry Insights and Forecast 2021-2027 by Speedo, Kaiman, Nike, Swedish, Technoflex, Aqua Sphere...

Tire Plugs or Tire Patches: Which Is Better? – Resident Press

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Replacing the tires on your car can get expensive. You typically want all four treads to have equal wear, and when one tire goes, you need to think about whether its safe to replace one or if its time to replace all of them. Save yourself some trouble by asking,tire plugs or tire patches: which is better? and learning which will keep you safest on the road.

After your vehicle runs over a sharp object, whether a nail or a pointed rock, it will puncture the rubber and cause air to leak out. Normally, people will see this and determine that the tire is no longer suitable for use. But by pulling out the sharp object, you can insert a tire plug into the hole to seal the damage. The plug will adhere to the tire, creating a strong bond and making your tire usable once more.

While you can insert a plug to seal a puncture, it cannot heal every wound. You cannot properly repair a hole that is too big, and it will tear again. Know what damage you can safely seal and what will require a new tire.

Patching a tire is a more involved process that requires you to remove the tire from the rim and use a die grinder to cut a two-inch diameter hole around the puncture. The patch is then pushed from the interior of the tire to the exterior, forming a strong seal.

A patch is commonly regarded as the stronger of the two options, providing better, more reliable results and a stronger tire. But the downside is that it is a very hands-on process, requiring you to directly work on your tire and manipulate it further. A patch is not as quick and easy a fix as a tire plug, but it can provide astounding results for the effort.

You cant salvage every tire; there are times when you need to know when to replace a tire. If the hole is too big or the tire is damaged too badly, you may need a replacement. Even after you know whethera tire patch or a tire plug is better, you still need to acknowledge when both arent enough. Know when you need to change your tire if your current one is no longer safe.

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Tire Plugs or Tire Patches: Which Is Better? - Resident Press

Advisory: Report Dead Birds and Remove Feeders – greennewton.org

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An illness is impacting birds in certain parts of the country. As a precautionary measure, MassWildlife is urging the public to report observations of dead birds and stop using bird feeders at this time.

In late May, wildlife managers in Washington D.C., Maryland, Virginia, West Virginia, and Kentucky began receiving reports of sick and dying birds with eye swelling and crusty discharge, as well as neurological signs. More recently, additional reports have been received from Delaware, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Ohio, and Indiana. While the majority of affected birds are reported to be fledgling common grackles, blue jays, European starlings, and American robins, other species of songbirds have been reported as well. No definitive cause(s) of illness or death have been determined at this time.

While there is always an increase in reports of dead birds at this time of year due to natural high mortality rates of young birds, MassWildlife is encouraging the public to report any observations of sick or dead birds (with unknown cause of mortality) as a precaution to help track this widespread mortality event. However, the mystery disease is not known to be in any of the New England states at this time. It is not necessary to report dead birds where strong evidence links the mortality to collision with glass or vehicles or predation by cats. Report observations and upload photos below.

SEND A REPORT

As another cautionary measure, MassWildlife and Mass Audubon are also recommending the public to stop using all bird feeders and bird baths at this time. Birds congregating at bird feeders and bird baths can transmit diseases to one another. MassWildlife, as well as other wildlife agencies in the region, recommend taking the following precautions:

At this time of year, birds are able to find plenty of natural foods on the landscape without needing bird seed. MassWildlife advises that seed from bird feeders can draw the unwanted attention of squirrels, chipmunks, turkeys, mice, rats, and even black bears. Wild animals that become habituated to human-associated foods like bird seed can become a nuisance, spread disease, and cause problems. You can learn how to attract birds to your yard naturally throughout the year using native plants. Get tips here.

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4 Global Wellness Trends That Are Going To Be Huge – Beauty Packaging Magazine

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For many of us, looking after our health has taken on a whole new meaning self-care has come to the forefront of our priorities and we are looking to improve ourselves and live our best and most rewarding lives. Often, this has meant that weve turned our attention to other cultures and followed their lead, adopting their wellness practices into our own lives.

If youre wondering whats next? youll be happy to know that there is an abundance of global wellness trends on the horizon.

Translated as to nurture life, Yang Sheng is all about taking it slowand listening to our bodies. The ultimate aim of Yang Sheng is to create the perfect balance between mind, body, and soul.

In Yang Sheng teaching, it is taking notice of the small things in life that is the most important. The practice encourages people to work small and simple practices into their daily lives rather than tackling radical diets or impossible fitness regimes.

For example, when youre in the follicular phase (days 1 to 14) flax seeds and pumpkin seeds are recommended on the basis that they help to boost oestrogen production. After that, during the luteal phase (days 14 to 28), pumpkin and flax seeds should be swapped out for sunflower seeds and sesame seeds to help your body boost its progesterone levels.

The idea is that each type of seed will help to alleviate some of the less pleasant side effects of your period, but its all about finding the right balance for you. From finding the right tampons from your first period to eating the food that best helps relieve period pains, everyones cycle must be treated as unique. Seed cycling is just one example of how menstrual wellness trends are set to be huge.

This wellness trend originates from Japan and includes many different elements. The running theme is anything high-tech the gamer in you wont be able to resist this one!

Combining traditional ideas with innovative new techniques, J-Wellness focuses largely on community wellness and healthy ageing. Home to the second-highest number of centurions in the world (around 79,000 of its population are 100 or over) and the oldest living person in the world, Kane Tanaka, age 118 (as of 2021), theres no wonder that the rest of the world looks towards Japan when it comes to wellness and ageing.

One of the unusual features associated with J-Wellness is the use of social robots. These robots are designed to offer psychological support and improve wellbeing.

There are currently many designs being trialled in Japan. PARO, for example, is an AI-driven social robot created by Tsukubas National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science & Technology this bot resembles a furry seal and has been proven to reduce anxiety and depression by calming down dementia patients.(See the furry seal robot in the instagram post below.)

Hydrotherapy is the idea that exercising in, or simply relaxing in, water can help alleviate physical ailments such as arthritis. As well as this, natural hot springs and thermal baths (such as the famous bathhouses in Budapest), have been found to reduce stress, improve sleeping patterns, boost circulation, and health conditions.

Tourists have long flocked to the bathhouses of Budapest, but this wellness trend is becoming more and more global, giving a variety of countries an opportunity to embrace the wellness market. As they are home to natural hot springs, many Middle Eastern and North African countries have started developing their own hydrotherapy industries (including Tunisia, Algeria, Oman, and Saudi Arabia).

Delilah Kealy Roberts specializes in technology, travel and culture, and writes for many online and print publications as well as brands such asLil-lets.Lil-lets provides feminine hygiene products that operates principally in the UK, Ireland and South Africa.

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Here’s why the Huawei Freebuds 4 are the best wireless headphones to buy right now – BollyInside – BollyInside

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Most TWS earphones on the market are in-ear design, providing better physical noise cancellation with a better seal and they are also more stable as they fit better inside users ear canal

Sound quality is possibly the most important factor for most consumers to pick their earphones. The HUAWEI FreeBuds 4 is equipped with a 14.3mm dynamic driver, producing greater and more impressive bass sounds. In terms of bass performance, the HUAWEI FreeBuds 4 adopt a newly upgraded bass enhancement engine, bass tube and motherboard to form an independently sealed sound cavity.. Using the HUAWEI AI Life app, users can record surrounding sound with ease as well as Voice Mode to enhance voice pick and reduce environmental noise.

Most TWS earphones on the market are in-ear design, providing better physical noise cancellation with a better seal and they are also more stable as they fit better inside users ear canal so when we compare them to an open-fit design shows this type still has its edge. One of the major reasons for choosing open-fit earphones is its comfortable experience. Compared to in-ear earphones, open-fit earphones can provide a more comfortable experience. Moreover, open-fit earphones are now catching up in the active noise cancellation (ANC) technologies as some of them are already providing ANC features that usually only exist in high-end in-ear earphones. Looking at the open-fit earphones on the market right now, the most popular are the Apple AirPods 2, Samsung Galaxy Buds Live and the newly launched HUAWEI FreeBuds 4. So, let us compare them and find out why HUAWEI FreeBuds 4 comes out top.

Aside from the dynamic driver, the ANC technology also plays an important role. The earphones use an ergonomic simulation platform to objectively evaluate the comfort of the earphones. The HUAWEI FreeBuds 4 curvature and size are optimised and polished at the micro level, which fits the ears better, providing better comfort and noise cancellation thanks to an airtight seal. They also adopt a dual-microphone hybrid de-noising technology that helps improve noise cancelation. These microphones can help accurately pick up ambient noise and also features a new internal structure that can help avoid wind noise interference as well as improving sound pickup sensitivity for the internal microphone. To enhance noise cancellation effectively across different wearing scenarios, HUAWEI FreeBuds 4 are the first open-fit earbuds in the industry to uses Adaptive Ear Matching (AEM) noise cancellation technology.

Leveraging Huaweis all-scenario device ecosystem and accumulated expertise in wireless connectivity, the HUAWEI FreeBuds 4 bring various connection features. The HUAWEI FreeBuds 4 supports dual device connection with various kinds of devices such as smartphones, tablets, PCs, smartwatches, and smart TVs under Huaweis all-scenario devices. It also supports dual device connection with smart devices running on different operating systems like Android, iOS, and Windows systems, achieving simultaneous connection with smart devices of different operating systems and brands. In addition, the HUAWEI FreeBuds 4 comes with a smart interactive experience. You can effortlessly enable active noise cancellation, adjust the volume, answer calls, press play, and switch songs right from the earphone stems, with simple Swipe/Double-tap/Long press touch controls.

Wearing comfort is key to ensuring an optimal user experience. The HUAWEI FreeBuds 4 has been revamped with 13 size optimisations that further reduced its body size. It also brings three enhancements to its overall curvature for a better fit. These string of optimisations not only enables a more pleasant wearing experience for long periods but it also allows for strengthened ANC performance on the earbuds.

Airpods 2

Looking at the specs sheets of HUAWEI FreeBuds 4, Apple AirPods 2 and Samsung Galaxy Buds Live, the size of the dynamic driver is 14.3 mm, 14 mm and 12 mm respectively. HUAWEI FreeBuds 4 features the largest dynamic driver in this comparison, it should be capable of producing higher audio output and better bass performance.

Apple AirPods 2 does not come with this feature, it lost to HUAWEI FreeBuds 4 in the quiet listening session. The colour of the earphones represents your personality and more colour options cater for more users preferences. The HUAWEI FreeBuds 4 comes in Ceramic White and Silver Frost, which have always been the classic colourways for Huawei audio products, offering users a trendy and classic design. Meanwhile, the Apple AirPods only available in white. The Airpods 2 did a good job on the stability of connectivity, but they are limited to Apples system, the dual device connection only can be used between iOS system. News Summary:

The Huawei Freebuds 4 are the best wireless headphones to buy right now, and heres why Check all news and articles from the latest Security news updates.

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Here's why the Huawei Freebuds 4 are the best wireless headphones to buy right now - BollyInside - BollyInside

SERMONETTE: The bread of life discourse in John 6 – Crow River Media

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The Gospel John 6 is broken up into three segments, which build upon each other and conclude in the epic climax of Jesus teaching on the Eucharist. The opening of the chapter begins with the Feeding of the 5,000.

This miraculous event contains many significant elements. Like Moses before Him, Jesus provides food for the people of Israel. This is Jesus first miracle in John 6, and it will carry great significance going forward. The people who witnessed the multiplication of the bread and fish will follow Jesus to Capernaum and come face to face with one of Jesus hardest teachings.

This leads us to the next scene in John 6. John tells us that he and the other disciples were about 3 or 4 miles from the shore being buffeted by heavy winds when all of a sudden they saw Jesus walking towards them on the water. The disciples reeled back in fright, but Jesus said, It is I; do not be afraid (John 6:20).

Once again, Jesus imitates Moses by performing a miracle with water. Moses parted the Red Sea so that the people could cross over the dry land. In this scene we see Jesus complete and total control over nature. He defies the laws of nature, definitively manifesting His divine nature and power over the created world, which will serve as the means of understanding His teaching on the Eucharist.

Third, in the synagogue in Capernaum, Jesus addressed the crowds who had gathered to hear Him. Jesus quickly escalates the conversation by identifying Himself as the Messiah by saying that He has been given the Fathers seal and been sent by Him into the world.

Upon hearing this, the people ask for a sign to accompany such a bold claim. They say, Then what sign do you do, that we may see, and believe you? Our fathers ate the manna in the wilderness; as it is written, He gave them bread from heaven to eat (John 6:30-31). To which Jesus responds, Truly, truly, I say to you, it was not Moses who gave you the bread from heaven; my Father gives you the true bread from Heaven. For the bread of God is that which comes down from heaven, and gives life to the world. I am the Bread of life; he who comes to me shall not hunger and he who believes in me shall never thirst (John 6:32-33, 35).

At this point the people begin to murmur amongst themselves. Jesus was saying some pretty radical things, but He didnt stop there.

Jesus' teaching on the Eucharist was simply too hard for them to grasp. Even though they had seen Him multiply the loaves and the fish and feed the hungry crowd of 5,000 people.

Interestingly, the apostles do not abandon Jesus when He asks, Do you also want to leave? (John 6:67). Peter, proclaims, Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life; and we have believed, and have come to know, that you are the Holy One of God (John 6:67-69).

The Rev. Paul Wolf is pastor at St. Anastasia Catholic Community in Hutchinson and Stewart.

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SERMONETTE: The bread of life discourse in John 6 - Crow River Media

Boil-water advisory fully lifted in Montreal’s West Island – CBC.ca

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The City of Montreal says a boil-water advisory inMontreal'sWest Island has now been fully lifted,more than a week after tests found water in the Dollard-des-Ormeauxreservoir had been contaminated.

As of Friday, residents in DDOcouldsafely use their taps, but people in Pierrefonds-Roxborohad to wait until Sunday evening, when the city sent out a notice saying their water was once again safe to consume.

In a statement to CBC, city spokeswoman Audrey Gauthier said construction work was being done to seal and reinforce the reservoir last week. She says the renovations combined with heavy rains allowed contaminants to seep through a crack in the structure one that wasn't visible to workers.

Gauthier says the city found the crack and filled it, securedthe rest of the reservoir anddisinfected the water inside it. She says in the past week, the water quality has been tested more than it usually is in a whole month, with samples being taken almost every hour.

Gauthier says the city neededto havetwo full days of lab results in both areas demonstrating the water wassafe to drink again before theadvisory could belifted.

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Boil-water advisory fully lifted in Montreal's West Island - CBC.ca

Bridge to be dedicated to Navy SEAL Steve ‘Turbo’ Toboz – Lock Haven Express

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PHOTO PROVIDEDNavy Seal Steve Toboz Jr. is shown with wife, Linda, and daughter, Bianca, 9.

LOCK HAVEN Petty Officer Stephen Turbo Toboz Jr. will be honored on Saturday, Aug. 28, when the First Island Bridge over the Susquehanna River in Castanea Township is dedicated to the Navy Seal.

The ceremony, which will include unveiling of a sign naming the bridge for Toboz, will take place at the pavilion next to the bridge beginning at 1 p.m.

State Rep. Stephanie Borowicz, R-Clinton/Centre counties, will host the event, which is open to the public.

Stephen is truly a living legend and I am humbled to have the opportunity to permanently honor this decorated Navy SEAL and all-American warrior for his lifetime of extraordinary service and sacrifice, said Borowicz, who sponsored the unanimously adopted House Bill 925 which was signed into law as Act 40 of 2021 on June 30. Without question, Petty Officer Tobozs actions during the Battle of Roberts Ridge reflect the highest traditions of the Naval Special Warfare Development Group and his selfless courage under overwhelming fire are worthy of our nations enduring gratitude.

Toboz is a veteran of the United States Navy who proudly served his country for 20 years as a Navy SEAL. His inspiring profile biography below is excerpted from the book American Heroes by Oliver North:

In March 2002, in support of Operation Anaconda at Takur Ghar mountain in Afghanistan Petty Officer Stephen Toboz and his comrades charged into the snowy darkness and immediately set out to rescue their fellow SEAL, Petty Officer Neal Roberts.

Ordered to pull back by his team leader, Stephen was hit by a Taliban bullet that tore a fist-sized hole in his right calf. The projectile then spiraled down his leg, shattering the bones in his ankle and foot. Hours later when he was finally evacuated off the frozen hilltop, Turbo was still shooting back at those who had tried to kill him.

After multiple surgeries, figuring he would get better faster without it, Toboz ordered his doctors to amputate his leg below the knee. After being fitted with an ultramodern prosthetic limb, Stephen remarkably rejoined his team in Afghanistan. He says he did it because Neal Roberts was my closest friend and because my parents taught me patriotism, duty, and determination.

Today Stephen Toboz is retired, but he still trains SEALs as a civilian instructor. Since he no longer wears a uniform, unless his young students hear it from others who know the story, they might never know that Stephen Toboz has a metal leg and foot, or that he was awarded our nations third highest award for valorthe Silver Star.

Retired U.S. Navy Command Master Chief (SEAL) Stephen Mato Matulewicz will also speak in honor of Toboz. Matulewicz entered the U.S. Navy in 1983. After radiomen certification school, he reported to Basic Underwater Demolition/SEAL training. Upon graduation, he served with honor and distinction in the U.S. Navy SEAL Teams for 24 years. Mato holds a Bachelor of Science Degree graduating with honors from Excelsior College in Albany, New York. He was awarded a Bronze Star, Defense Meritorious Medal, Joint Commendation Medal, Navy Commendation Medal, Joint Service Achievement Medal, Navy Achievement Medal, Combat Action Ribbon, Afghanistan and Iraq campaign medals, and various other personal and unit awards.

In addition to Toboz, Matulewicz and Borowicz, scheduled featured speakers will include state Sen. Cris Dush (R-25), U.S. Congressman Fred Keller (R-12) and Rep. Col. Frank Ryan (R-Lebanon).

Residents of the 76th District interested in attending are encouraged to contact Borowiczs Lock Haven district office at 570-748-5480 for more information.

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China Set to Expand Targets for Marine Environmental Protection – The Maritime Executive

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From "blue carbon" to conservation, the marine environment is an important part of Chinas plans to become a maritime power Dapeng, Shenzhen (image courtesy sz.gov.cn)

PublishedAug 23, 2021 2:35 AM by China Dialogue Ocean

[By Shi Yi]

In 2017, the 19th National Congress of the Chinese Communist Party set the goal of creating a Beautiful China by 2035. An important piece of this puzzle will be revealed in the special five-year plan (FYP) for the marine environment. There have been marine FYPs before, for fishing and the ocean economy, but this will be the first one dedicated to the environment.

President Xi Jinping is now more focused than ever on turning China into a maritime power. Hehas repeatedly made instructionson this and it has been included as part of thetwo centennial goals. Protecting the marine environment has been an integral part of this grand strategy.

The central government has been working on the marine environment FYP since March last year. To inform it, the Ministry of Ecology and Environment (MEE) has instructed Jinzhou, Lianyungang, Shanghai and Shenzhen todrafttheir own pilot plans. Those four cities lie, from north to south, on the Bohai Sea, Yellow Sea, East China Sea and South China Sea.

According to a report inthepaper.cnlate last year, over 6,000 locations have been surveyed for the drafting of the FYP, 784 of which are in coastal bays. The drafting was due to be completed in the first half of this year.

Beauty as a measure of conservation

Parts of Chinas coast have been damaged over the years by land reclamation, pollution and other factors. Over the past 70 years, human activity has gradually chipped away at Chinas natural coastlines, with onlyabout 33%of the coast remaining undamaged in 2014, according to research using satellite imagery. That has reduced marine biodiversity and prevented people coming into close contact with the ocean.

This means they have been near, but disconnected, from the ocean, or having only low-quality experiences of it,according to Guan Daoming, former director of the MEEs National Marine Environmental Monitoring Centre, which is in charge of technical aspects of drafting the FYP. Because of this, Huo Chuanlin, former deputy director of the MEEs Department of Marine Ecology and Environment,has saidthat the 14th FYP period (2021-2025) will mark the start of the Beautiful Bay push to ensure all 1,467 of Chinas bays are beautiful by 2035, in line with the overall 2035 Beautiful China goal.

The Beautiful Bay term is to operationalise the drive to improve the coastal environment and allow people to enjoy the sea, said Zhu Zhengguang, ocean policy manager at WWFs Beijing office.

Last year, the MEE named three model Beautiful Bays Dapeng in Shenzhen, Taizhou in Zhejiang and Taozi in Yantai. Dapeng Bay lies between Shenzhen and Hong Kong and enjoys Shenzhens highest forest coverage and best biodiversity. Chu Jun, assistant to the secretary-general of the Cross-border Environmental Concern Agency (CECA), says that the bay was designated as Shenzhens back garden early in the citys development, with its economic development given lower priority. This explains why it remains undamaged. In Dapeng New District, which is home to the bay, officials are not judged on economic performance. In 2005, when Shenzhen was taking the lead in implementingecological control lines, the forerunner to theecological redlinessystem,73.5%of Dapeng New Districts land area was included, putting strict limits on development.

Most of Chinas other bays also lie in very developed areas, but have not been so well protected from environmental issues. China has said it will now explore an integrated system for managing coasts, river basins and the ocean, to ensure sustainability of the ocean environment with the principle of landsea coordination." Zhu Zhengguang thinks that protecting the marine environment needs coordinated management across land and sea, with top-level planning for development and restoration of coastal areas.

Ecological restoration may have quantifiable targets

Although the city ofDalianin the northeast, and the province ofZhejiangon the Yangtze Delta, werent designated as pilots for drafting the FYP, that hasnt stopped them. Both have released their own marine environment protection FYPs, with Dalians still a public consultation draft for the moment. All FYPs have indices, either binding or anticipatory, which should make it possible to assess the success of the plans. Dalian and Zhejiang included both types of indices for marine species. These are based on rate of retention of natural coastline, length of restored coastline, and area of wetlands restored or protected.

Dalians plan sets anticipatory targets for numbers of spotted seal and black-faced spoonbill, both of which are local celebrity species and breed in the Bohai Sea. Wang Songlin, president and founder of the Qingdao Marine Conservation Society, said this is the first time marine planning has included specific numbers of a species. Theres a lot of consideration behind that, and its a gratifying step forward. The targets will mean ensuring the reefs and wetlands where the species breed are protected from human interference, and that they have better feeding grounds. But Wang still hopes to see more scientific and systematic biodiversity targets in the national or in any future marine plans, such as those found in the UN sustainable development goal 14, forlife below water.

Dalians five-year-plan for the marine environment includes targets for conserving populations of the black-faced spoonbill, a local celebrity (Image:Tanaka Juuyoh,CC BY 2.0)

The next five years will see China continue with ecological restoration projects designed to boost biodiversity. The upcoming marine environment FYP will set up restoration projects in 105 bays, improving 48 habitats for key species,saidZhang Zhifeng, also deputy director of the MEEs Department of Marine Ecology and Environment.

Some wetland restoration projects have come in for criticism. In Panjin, Liaoning, migrating birds have long used the intertidal zone as a stopping place, but almost all of this has been taken over by aquaculture farms. A project is trying to turn these farms back into beaches. But when Zhou Haixiang, a member of theChinese National Committee for Man and the Biosphere Programme, visited he found the restored areas tended to be further away from the coast and were still surrounded by the cofferdams used to enclose aquaculture farms, meaning tides did not rise and fall naturally. And many restoration projects focus on improving the scenery, rather than the environment, said Zhou.

Blue carbon: a rising tide?

Chinas commitment to carbon neutrality, made last September, has prompted more discussions on marine carbon sinks. Zhejiang, Dapeng New District and the Shandong city of Weihai are all preparing to develop blue carbon schemes. In itsmarine environment 14th FYP, Zhejiang said it would research marine carbon sink ecosystems province-wide, looking at their distribution, condition and potential, with four cities to run blue carbon trial projects.

Wang Hong, vice minister at the Ministry of Natural Resources and director of the State Oceanic Administration, recentlysaidthat alongside the IPCCs identification of mangrove swamps, seagrass meadows and salt marshes, China plans to add other marine carbon sinks such as fisheries and marine microorganisms that function asbiological pumps, storing carbon in the deep sea.

Zhao Peng, associate researcher at Hainan Universitys State Key Laboratory of South China Sea Marine Resource Utilisation, says that China has not yet done enough basic research and data-gathering on marine carbon. Carbon sequestration potential varies significantly across time and region, and depends on types of vegetation, climate and environmental impacts, so he thinks there isnt enough data yet to include marine carbon in Chinas work to comply with climate change treaties. Carbon sequestration for climate change mitigation is only one small part of the ecological services provided by marine ecosystems, he says. Marine carbon has an important role to play in ouradaptationto the negative effects of climate change. We should develop a comprehensive understanding of it, and avoid exaggeration.

Shi Yi is a senior researcher at China Dialogue. Before joining China Dialogue, she was an environmental journalist with The Paper, a major Chinese news website.

This article appears courtesy of China Dialogue Ocean, and it may be found in its original form here.

The opinions expressed herein are the author's and not necessarily those of The Maritime Executive.

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Science Week delayed but Coffs Dolphin Marine Park has big plans – News Of The Area

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Ecogrom students will learn about dolphins in Week Six of the Animal Carer Program Stacey demonstrates how a dolphin tail is a unique shape, just like human fingerprints.

NATIONAL Science Week, celebrated this week, sees scientists at Coffs Dolphin Marine Conservation Park postponing their planned offer.

Twelve enthusiastic young students were due to start the new six-week EcoGrom Marine Animal Carer after-school program which has been delayed due to lockdown.

The program is designed for eight-16-year-olds.

Its an experience-focused, hands-on program based on NSW school syllabus science lessons and covers a different marine animal each week and the environmental issues they face.

Life Sciences Manager Tiga Cross told News Of The Area, In Week Four the kids get up close and meet an Australian Sea Lion.

They learn the differences between a seal and a sea lion and how everyone can protect our oceans from overfishing by choosing Marine Steward Council (MSC) approved fish products.

The kids usually go home smelling of fish but smiling.

Tiga added that the Park is currently closed to visitors and operating on a skeleton staff, but the animals are in their usual expert hands.

Unlike other businesses and organisations which can close down and minimise expenses, we have to keep the Park running to care for our resident animals.

We feed the animals and clean up after them and continue their physical and mental enrichment programs to ensure optimal welfare.

Plus, there are practical tasks such as making sure that the water quality is maintained.

And of course, we are constantly monitoring and nursing our sick and injured animals in our rescue facility.

Our rescue service, Dolphin Marine Rescue, continues to operate 24/7.

Its very challenging without visitors because the money that visitors spend in the park funds our day-to-day operations, conservation and education programs and rescue services and facilities.

Without visitors we rely on government support and donations which is not sustainable.

You can find out more about Dolphin Marine Conservation Parks education and conservation programs here: https://dolphinmarineconservation.com.au.

By Andrea FERRARI

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Science Week delayed but Coffs Dolphin Marine Park has big plans - News Of The Area