Opinion: Canada’s slowdown in productivity growth is holding back workers’ pay – The Globe and Mail

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After 2000, productivity growth slumped to around 1 per cent a year, the weakest on record, creating an unfavourable economic environment for pay increases.

Mark Blinch/The Globe and Mail

David Williams, DPhil, is vice-president of policy at the Business Council of British Columbia. Jock Finlayson is the councils senior policy adviser.

A populist narrative making the rounds is that policy makers can ignore productivity growth because the link between average pay and productivity has broken down. According to this view, workers are receiving a shrinking share of the economic pie, while overall income inequality is rising. However, a careful look at the data for Canada shows these assertions are incorrect.

A new study by one of us (David Williams) finds the slowdown in Canadians real pay growth since 2000 is commensurate with the slowdown in productivity growth. Had Canadas productivity growth rate after 2000 matched the average for the countries that belong to the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), the average workers pay would be $2,900 higher in 2019. Had Canadas post-2000 productivity growth rate matched its own performance between 1961 and 2000, average pay would be $13,550 higher.

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Productivity and Pay in Canada: Growing Together, Only Slower than Ever appears in the latest edition of International Productivity Monitor, published by the Centre for the Study of Living Standards. The article examines the relationship between growth in real output per hour worked (labour productivity) and real total labour compensation per hour worked (pay) over six business cycles, from 1961 to 2019. Compensation includes both money and benefits paid by employers, as well as the labour income of self-employed workers, across all industries.

Over the long run (1961 to 2019), productivity and pay are closely aligned in Canada, with both rising by 1.5 per cent to 1.7 per cent per year (see table). After 2000, productivity growth slumped to around 1 per cent a year, the weakest on record, creating an unfavourable economic environment for pay increases.

Productivity and pay growth

over Canadian business cycles

Compound annual growth rate,

per cent per annum

Real output per

hour worked

Real output per

hour worked*

*ex-depreciation and output-based taxes

Real total labour

compensation

per hour worked

Hourly compensation/

output prices

Hourly compensation/

consumer prices

SOURCE: DAVID WILLIAMS, BUSINESS COUNCIL

OF BRITISH COLUMBIA

Productivity and pay growth

over Canadian business cycles

Compound annual growth rate, per cent per annum

BUSINESS

CYCLE

20002008

BUSINESS

CYCLE

20082019

Real output per

hour worked

Real output per

hour worked*

*ex-depreciation and output-based taxes

Real total labour

compensation

per hour worked

Hourly compensation/

output prices

Hourly compensation/

consumer prices

SOURCE: DAVID WILLIAMS, BUSINESS COUNCIL

OF BRITISH COLUMBIA

Productivity and pay growth over Canadian business cycles

Compound annual growth rate, per cent per annum

BUSINESS CYCLE

20002008

BUSINESS CYCLE

20082019

Labour productivity

Real output per hour worked

Real output per hour worked*

*ex-depreciation and output-based taxes

Real total labour compensation

per hour worked

Hourly compensation/

output prices

Hourly compensation/

consumer prices

SOURCE: DAVID WILLIAMS, BUSINESS COUNCIL OF BRITISH COLUMBIA

Initially, during the 2000-08 business cycle, Canada benefited from favourable but temporary relative price movements that ameliorated the effects of meagre productivity gains on pay growth. As China opened to the world, Canadas resource-based export economy gained from surging commodity prices, while cheap import prices boosted consumers purchasing power. Real pay growth, measured in terms of consumer prices, improved.

However, over the latest business cycle (2008-2019), the chickens came home to roost. There were no further fortuitous terms of trade shifts for Canada. Whether measured in terms of output prices or consumer prices, real pay growth slumped to approximately equal productivity growth.

Many advanced economies saw productivity decelerate after 2000. Nonetheless, Canadas productivity growth performance ranked 21st out of 23 OECD countries over 1970-2000 and 25th out of 36 developed countries over 2000-19. By 2019, on a purchasing-power-parity basis, real output per hour worked in Canada was 27 per cent lower than in the United States, 21 per cent to 22 per cent lower than in France and Germany, and 10 per cent lower than in the United Kingdom.

Academic studies indicate that the rate of innovation adoption slowed among Canadian firms after 2000. The most likely culprits are regulatory impediments that dampen competition and the reallocation of labour and capital to best use. Since 2000, in terms of output per hour of labour input, the typical Canadian firm has fallen further behind the countrys leading companies, while Canadas most productive businesses themselves have lost ground to the best performing global firms.

The good news is that there is ample scope for catch up. Canada can raise productivity and therefore real pay and living standards through speedier adoption of best practices and technologies already deployed by leading countries and firms. Curing the productivity-related maladies that weigh on our economy will require governments to review and retool structural policy settings that impinge on product market competition and innovation diffusion, business growth and creative destruction, resource reallocation, and private-sector investment in capital, skills and scale.

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Productivity matters. Canadians should be concerned about serially low productivity growth because it points to feeble increases in real worker pay. Canada urgently needs a policy framework that fosters conditions for faster productivity growth.

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Opinion: Canada's slowdown in productivity growth is holding back workers' pay - The Globe and Mail

After the Forum: How Do We Ensure Results from #GenerationEquality? – Philanthropy Women

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This summer saw the return of events around the world dedicated to feminist funding, and chief among them was the annual #GenerationEquality Forum, held online and in Paris from June 3oth to July 2nd.

Topics ranged from progress toward the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to the pandemics impact on womens empowerment to notes on our progress from Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. The ultimate attitude of the Forum was one of anticipation and excitement: as the impact of the pandemic lessens around the world, we can look forward to a time of progress toward #GenerationEquality goals and recoup the social losses from COVID-19.

Over the three days of the #GenerationEquality Forum, a combination of fundraising efforts, corporate pledges, nonprofit campaign announcements, and other donations resulted in a total of $40 billion pledged to women and girls.

Celebrating such a large commitment is an excellent way to approach the next step of our journey, but how do we guarantee that the major players of feminist philanthropy so to speak put their money where their mouths are?

The solution here is accountability: while 2021 will be a time to celebrate a return to normalcy and an (eventual) build in momentum, this also needs to be a time of learning from our collective mistakes, recovering from COVID-19 setbacks, and setting sights on a future that truly lives up to #GenerationEqualitys ideal future.

As a continuation of goals and expectations from 1995s Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action, #GenerationEquality is a commitment from UN Women and other partner organizations to further the goals of the original 1995 conference.

Launched in May 2019, #GenerationEquality aims to bring together the next generations of womens rights activistsmany of whom may not have been born in 1995with the gender equality advocates and visionaries who were instrumental in creating the Beijing Platform for Action more than two decades ago, to accelerate efforts to make gender equality and womens rights a lived reality.

Since its initial launch, #GenerationEquality has led to mass partnerships and media opportunities for organizations like Women Moving Millions, the Womens Funding Network, and Equality Now. Working together with UN Women, these organizations have pledged and worked toward an equitable future for women around the world.

Obviously, COVID-19 changed some of #GenerationEqualitys loftier goals. Organizations devoted to womens empowerment were forced to pivot to respond to more immediate emergencies developing in the midst of the pandemic. But now that the end of the road is in sight, events like the #GenerationEquality Forum present new opportunities for organizations to refine their commitments and look forward to new progress.

Recent conversations around #GenerationEquality began with a series of discussions in Mexico City during March of 2021. Held in Paris, France and attended online from June 30th to July 2nd, Forum Gnration galit culminated the forward-thinking strategy sessions by convening governments, international organizations, civil society, youth, the private sector and activists from the entire world to make concrete, ambitious and sustainable commitments towards achieving gender equality.

One of the most exciting aspects of the #GenerationEquality Forum was the opportunity for leading organizations to confer directly with UN Women member states and international leaders. Not only did the Forum present the opportunity to hear how were doing and where were going next, it also opened critical conversations with international governments and power players to lead the charge into future progress.

#GenerationEquality commits to lofty goals indeed and the partnerships, promises, and pledges that came out of the three-day Parisian event offer an encouraging glimpse at the future of feminist funding. Below, weve collected some of the most widely touted campaigns announced as part of the #GenerationEquality Forum.

Espousing bold commitments to gender data, collaborative technical and advocacy platform Data2X announced a new campaign leveraging gender data to uncover gender inequality, illuminate solutions, and monitor progress toward gender equity and SDGs around the world.

Gender data refers to data that is disaggregated by sex, and reflects gender issues, including roles, relations, and inequalities. It can be both quantitative and qualitative, and collection methods account for stereotypes, social norms, and other factors that may introduce bias.

In other words, Data2Xs goal is to compile data and information on the gender disparities around the world, leveraging their research projects to assist other organizations in large-scale efforts for feminist funding. Data2X aims to work not just with philanthropic organizations but with governments, the general public, individual donors, and the private sector to develop unique solutions for gendered issues.

As part of its #GenderEquality commitment, Data2X identified a $450 million underfunding gap for core gender data systems around the world: as of 2020, only ~40% of countries monitored gendered SDGs with data-driven collections, and an even smaller percentage managed to collect that data regularly.

To bridge this gap, Data2Xs #genderdata campaign focuses on activating public attention to elevate support for gender data in all campaigns Data2X urges all commitment makers to pledge to close critical gender data gaps and to use gender data to guide decision-making.

Learn more about Data2Xs #GenerationEquality goals on their campaign website here.

Equality Now, known for its position on the frontlines of legislative action against violence and discrimination toward women and girls, had a key role in the development and roll-out of the #GenerationEquality Forum. The organization presented two of the Forums forty events, led by Global Executive Director Yasmeen Hassan and Director of Equality Nows Africa Office Faiza Mohamed.

Equality Now also found opportunities to be proactive in the space between the Mexico City and Paris GEF sessions. Leveraging connections with national governments, Equality Now opened conversations with the Kenyan government on eliminating gender-based violence (GBV) and female genital mutilation (FGM), including roundtable discussions and social media influencer activations through a partnership with Better4Kenya.

Furthermore, Equality Now used the #GenerationEquality Forum to redefine its own commitments to SDG 5 and beyond through Action Coalitions. After the GEF, Equality Now will:

Learn more about Equality Now and their Forum contributions and commitments here.

Over the next five years, the Ford Foundation will dedicate $420 million to tackle gender inequality around the world which has been further exacerbated by the devastating effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Like Equality Now, the Ford Foundations pledge is multi-faceted, focusing on issue areas such as gender-based violence, the care-based economy, workplace equality, and resource allocation for international feminist movements and womens rights organizations.

This $420 million commitment exists in part due to the Foundations sale of $1 billion in social bonds over 2020. The organizations goal in this monumental campaign was to create funding capacity for social organizations after the pandemic, which has led (or will lead) to an estimated 47 million additional women pushed into extreme poverty.

Twenty-six years after the landmark Fourth World Conference on Women in Beijing, public discourse on gender equality has not been matched by action. Instead, COVID-19 has only accelerated gender inequality for millions of women and girls who bear the burden of the crisis, saidNicolette Naylor, Ford Foundation international program director for Gender, Racial, and Ethnic Justice. As some parts of the world start to emerge from the pandemic, it is essential that gender equality is at the heart of building back better. Its time to stop talking and start funding the organizations that are driving change and the necessary progress on global gender equality. We encourage others to join us in these efforts to make meaningful and lasting change.

The Foundation is a co-leader of the Forums Action Coalition on Gender-based Violence, and as such will allocate $159 million specifically to organizations fighting GBV.

Learn more about the Ford Foundations $420 million commitment to women and girls announced at the #GenderEquality Forum here.

During the Forum, the Womens Funding Network (WFN) announced a five-year commitment of $300 million toward economic justice and rights for women and girls.

WFN is on the front lines pushing for gender equality and we are committed to being a catalyst for lasting change for women and their girls, said WFN President and CEO Elizabeth Barajas-Romn. To work toward our commitment goal, our network and their local and global partners will collectively move strategic investments that reform policy, build lasting livelihoods for women, and advance their economic opportunities.

An encouraging first step in WFNs new direction is the decision to diversify the networks internal leadership. Among WFNs diversity goals are a commitment to increase the percentage of women executive leaders of color from 30% to 50%. Currently, WFNs women executive leaders of color represent the largest group of non-white executive leadership in the philanthropy sector, collectively managing over $140 million in grants per year.

By expanding its own internal commitment to leadership diversity, WFN will be leading by example for other organizations dedicated to similar goals.

Learn more about the Womens Funding Networks $300 million commitment here.

Finally, in a monumental update from a campaign weve followed closely at Philanthropy Women, Women Moving Millions (WMM) utilized the #GenerationEquality Forum to celebrate a major milestone in the organizations Give Bold, Get Equal campaign.

Initially designed to raise $100 million in funding for women and girls by the year 2022, the Give Bold, Get Equal campaign has officially outstretched its goal in just nine months. The $100 million commitment was drawn from the WMM community of nearly 350 women, allowing the organization to shatter its own glass ceiling in a campaign that will continue well into 2022.

We are incredibly grateful and emboldened by this response from our community, wrote Executive Director Sarah Haacke Byrd in a July 1st press release. The success of this campaign in such a short time period shows the power of feminist philanthropy. We are taking a huge step forward towards funding for gender equality, but the key is momentum. Despite the increased attention to the inequities that impact women and girls worldwide, the funding gap persists. We call upon every person to join us and give boldly to get equal.

While we celebrate this extraordinary investment, the work must continue, she added. The crisis is too big, the urgency immense. As long as the gap in funding remains, we leave too many vulnerable.

Learn more about Women Moving Millions and the Give Bold, Get Equal campaign here.

#GenerationEquality is an answer to a problem: the goals outlined in the 1995 Beijing convention have not been met, and now its up to our major philanthropic players to pick up the slack.

To the major players, we admire your perseverance and dedication to realigning strategic goals following the COVID-19 pandemic. However, now more than ever, international attention both media and public must be focused on these organizations to guarantee they uphold their ends of the bargain.

We look forward to seeing your leadership and accomplishments from the Generation Equality Forum take effect in 2021 and beyond!

Related:

#GenerationEquality: UN Women Revitalizes 25 Years of Empowerment

WMM to Philanthropy: In COVID Economy, Give Bold for Women

(Liveblog) #GenerationEquality and a Blueprint for a Gender Equal World

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Maggie May is a small business owner, author, and story-centric content strategist. A Maryland transplant by way of Florida, DC, Ireland, Philadelphia, and -- most recently -- Salt Lake City, she has a passion for finding stories and telling them the way they're meant to be told.View all posts by Maggie May

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After the Forum: How Do We Ensure Results from #GenerationEquality? - Philanthropy Women

Industry lobbied against quick climate action in ‘Fit-for 55’ – EUobserver

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Key industry groups in Europe have been actively lobbying against some of the upcoming proposals under the 'Fit for 55' package, to weaken short-term climate action, a new report published by the think-tank InfluenceMap revealed on Monday (12 July).

The so-called fit-for-55 package, expected to be presented by the European Commission on Wednesday, includes a range of policies, from increasing renewables targets and introducing new CO2 limits for cars and vans, to establishing a carbon border tax to protect EU companies.

A survey of 216 industry associations, which gave feedback to the commission on EU climate goals in 2020, revealed only 36 percent of the support the plan to cut emissions by 55-percent by 2030.

The same trend was seen among the 20 most-influential industry associations - except for the power sector, which appeared to have evolved into an advocate of higher climate ambitions.

Under the fit-for-55 package, the most-lobbied files have been the EU Emissions Trading System (EU carbon market) and the proposed carbon border tax.

But the reform of legislation on renewables and energy taxation has also sparked intense lobbying battles - with the power and renewables sectors calling for greater ambition and heavy industry and fossil fuels groups pushing back.

In their lobbying activities, groups representing transport and heavy-industry sectors were particularly resistant to policies being updated or introduced in the fit-for-55 package, despite their support for net-zero emissions goal by 2050 and climate science.

Concretely, representatives in sectors such as automotive (ACEA), cement (CEMBUREAU), chemicals (Cefic), refining (FuelsEurope) and steel (Eurofer) were identified as "powerful blockages" to regulatory proposals of the commission.

Aviation and shipping industry groups - namely, Airlines for Europe and European Community Shipowners' Associations - were in the most disagreement with the EU's attempts to implement the 2015 Paris Agreement goals.

This might be related to the fact that Brussels wants to introduce a gradual minimum tax-rate on aviation fuel, which is currently exempt, plus a specific sectoral emission reduction target for shipping.

Despite widespread support for achieving net-zero emissions by 2050, the research finds that opposition to short-term regulatory ambition on climate is often accompanied by claims that immediate action threatens the competitiveness of European business.

This message seems at odds with the commission's pledge to deliver a "modern, resource-efficient and competitive economy" via the Green Deal.

"This disconnect between top-line corporate rhetoric and the lobbying actions of industry groups puts Europe's efforts to align its climate policy agenda with the Paris Agreement's goals at risk," warned InfluenceMap analyst Venetia Roxburgh.

"The reality is that having a long-term climate target does not mean much if there is no clear pathway to make it happen," she added.

The report indicates that this misalignment is already a key concern for investors, but it is likely to also be a concern among the companies (represented by these associations) which ostensibly support the commission's ambition.

This situation "runs the risk of distorting policy development, as it presents policymakers with a position that appears to represent the full membership of an industry association, but only represents a small minority of interests," a recent report of the OEDC says.

Meanwhile, InfluenceMap also warns about the "significant disconnect" between industry lobbying practices and science-based paths to net-zero emissions, established by international bodies.

Both the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) and the International Energy Agency (IEA) have advocated for short-term targets, and the rapid phase-out of fossil fuels, to maintain global temperature rises close to 1.5 degrees (compared to 1990).

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Group highlights need for better access to Connecticut River – The Recorder

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TURNERS FALLS The Connecticut River Conservancy advocated for improved portage routes around the Turners Falls Dam and more investment into recreation on the river during a press conference and parade Saturday morning at Unity Park.

The event was held to raise awareness about the obstacles hydroelectric facilities impose on river recreation. FirstLight, a New England-based power company that operates both the Turners Fall Dam and a hydro-pump facility at Northfield Mountain, applied for a 50-year relicensure in December 2020, which would determine how its facilities operate for the next half century.

The Appalachian Mountains Clubs Director of Northeast Conservation Projects and Partnerships Kristen Sykes said the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) ultimately controls what is approved.

Its driven by FERC, Sykes said. At the end of the day, were inputting recommendations. If FirstLight doesnt go for it, we hope FERC does.

One of the main concerns is the portage route where paddlers can pull their canoes and kayaks out of the water. Currently, paddlers must get out of the water across the river and get driven 3 miles before they can be put back into the water.

The Connecticut River Conservancy is pushing for a portage site to be built along the bike trail near Unity Park as a way for paddlers to get past the dam. The organization also says this specific site would draw people into Turners Falls economy by making it easier to reach the center of town.

In the near future, FERC will hold public hearings on FirstLights application and Andrew Fisk, executive director of the Connecticut River Conservancy, said change is made when peoples voices are heard.

How we make a difference, Fisk said, is we speak up for our river.

This is a public resource, Sykes said of the river. Folks have agency in this process that they may not know about.

Sykes echoed the idea, saying it is imperative the public gets involved. She said the relicensing process presents a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to make the river available to everyone.

We can provide on-the-ground knowledge, Sykes said. (The river is) really important here in Franklin County and itd be great to make that more accessible.

Two kinds of accessibility were discussed at the press conference: accessibility for people with disabilities who wish to use the river and accessibility to Turners Falls.

Karen Foster, executive director of the Northampton-based All Out Adventures, said issues of accessibility are not limited to the Connecticut River.

The missing link and this is not a criticism of FirstLight is most people dont consider what it really takes to be accessible, Foster said.

Foster said true accessibility requires both physical and mental considerations.

Its great if the physical infrastructure is there and you can put your kayak in the river, but without programming and support, its not truly accessible, Foster said. Any comprehensive recreation management plan would need to consider the second half of the accessibility equation.

Montague Town Planner Walter Ramsey said the town is advocating for more recreational accessibility both above and below the dam.

What (FirstLight) has proposed is inadequate, Ramsey said. A big part of the towns push is for river access below the dam. Right now, theyre just proposing a formalized walking path down there and it needs to be more than that. We need to be able to view the falls, view the fish passage, and be able to have access for canoes, kayaks and whitewater.

FirstLight claims to have proposed $130 million in additional spending on recreation and environmental stewardship. Len Greene, FirstLights director of government affairs and communications, said via email Thursday that $5.6 million is proposed to be invested in new recreation development and improvements to existing recreation facilities.

Throughout this (relicensing) process, we have had active, ongoing conversations with each of the towns and our other stakeholders to develop recreation proposals that would enhance our community, promote tourism, improve the health of the river and maintain public safety, Greene wrote. He added that FirstLight welcomes suggestions from local stakeholders.

After Saturdays press conference, the group continued down the bike path with their canoes and kayaks, and carrying signs with phrases such as paddlers over profit.

Andrea Donlon, Connecticut River Conservancys river steward, said the recreation plan FirstLight has been using is the one it drafted when it acquired its license 50 years ago and it is time to bring it up to date.

We need to have a recreation management plan, Donlon said, that really reflects the needs and recreations of the 21st century.

Chris Larabee can be reached at clarabee@recorder.com or 413-930-4081.

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‘Bring intellectual capital from the diaspora to Africa’ – University World News

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AFRICA-GLOBAL

Speaking on 6 July at the Association of African Universities 15th general conference themed, The Future of Higher Education in Africa, Chihombori-Quao said no amount of money injected into Africa will help the continent to develop until the brain drain is completely reversed.

In a plenary address on one of the meetings segments, Contributions of the diaspora to African Higher Education, Chihombori-Quao advised African countries to start tapping the talent and skills from all peoples of African descent globally.

Doing this or that, without the help of the diaspora, will not work, said Chihombori-Quao.

She stated it appears that African leaders and other elites on the continent have forgotten that the Berlin Conference of 1884-85 that led to the colonial partition of the continent is still alive and well and continues with its original mission of dividing the continent.

The former diplomat, social activist and entrepreneur urged African countries to stop exporting labour of all sorts to the rest of the world only to rely heavily on loans for development.

African countries are saddled with loans that they cannot repay, which is a secret weapon to facilitate the exploitation of African resources and its people, said Chihombori-Quao.

On economic development, Chihombori-Quao wondered how Africa would develop when its resources and economies are still controlled by those who had partitioned and colonised the continent.

The real issues that face the continent are ignored and fingers are pointed at corrupt African leaders when it is well known that corrupt leaders exist in all parts of the world, said Chihombori-Quao.

Higher education

On higher education, Chihombori-Quao challenged African academia to start rewriting African history, as the bulk of history books on the continent were written by the colonisers and have never been revised.

She argued there is a fair share of miseducation in Africa and it is the duty of African universities to correct falsehoods about the continent and help to fight exploitation, racism, economic exclusion and marginalisation that is directed to people of African descent.

Contributing to discussion on the role that the diaspora should play in higher education in Africa, Dr Nkem Khumbah, a lecturer of mathematics and a member of the science, technology, engineering and mathematics or STEM-Africa Initiative at the University of Michigan in the US, said that, what Africa now needs is human capital for its development agenda.

Khumbah said the African diaspora is now the only vanguard for African progress as it has the capacity in terms of expertise and skills that could be used to rejuvenate African higher education.

But, according to Khumbah, there are external forces that are sidelining the diaspora into the affairs of the African development agenda, especially in higher education.

He stressed the urgency of cooperation between the Association of African Universities and the Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) in the United States, as one way of reshaping Africas relationship with its diaspora of all peoples of black descent.

The Association of African Universities should recruit HBCUs as members and should include them in its conferences and even allow the diaspora academics and researchers to hold leadership positions in the association, said Khumbah.

He said the two sides should come together in partnerships, training and innovation programmes, resource mobilisation and research activities, as a lot of resources and energy are being wasted.

Khumbah highlighted the opening of the North American regional office by the AAU as a step in the right direction as it could serve as a reaching out and recruitment point for the diaspora in the US and Canada.

Synergies

According to Professor Margaret King, the president of the Chicago-based Global Institute of Sustainable Development, African countries should use synergies of the diaspora to provide training to people in the continent and even encourage the diaspora to come back home (to Africa) permanently.

Africa should break the cycle of dependency and global exclusion that had been there since the slaves left the shores of the continent, said King, who is also the coordinator of international studies at the University of Chicago.

She advised African countries not just to rely only on the diaspora segment that had been born in Africa but tap the talent and skills of the diaspora of black descent everywhere.

King said many African higher education institutions that have now gone into decline could benefit from the diaspora in terms of quality of teaching, research, innovations and research output.

Despite limitations to recruit diaspora academics on a large scale, Professor Paul Tiyambe Zeleza, the vice-chancellor at the Nairobi-based United States International University-Africa, gave an update on how the Carnegie Corporation of New York had implemented several programmes on strengthening education and training systems in African universities.

According to Zeleza, such programmes as the Carnegie African Diaspora Fellowship Programme have been focusing on projects in research collaboration, doctoral graduate student teaching and mentoring and curriculum development. The Carnegie African Diaspora Fellowship Programme specifically targeted African-born diaspora scholars and benefited various universities in Ghana, Kenya, Nigeria, South Africa, Tanzania and Uganda.

He said academics from the diaspora bring a wealth of experience and skill sets to African institutions and plans are under way to increase their number under the Carnegie funding.

The value of having diaspora scholars in African universities is increasing as African countries try to train the next generation of workers in artificial intelligence and [the] green economy, said Zeleza.

But he stated that diaspora scholars will continue to need support from receiving universities as well as from government officials in the processing of documents such as visas and work permits.

Contributing to the dialogue about the role of diaspora academics in higher education, research and innovations in African universities, Damtew Teferra, a professor of higher education at the University of KwaZulu-Natal in South Africa, said there is an urgent need to mobilise African intellectuals in the diaspora to promote the development agenda in Africa.

It is time to bring intellectual capital from the diaspora to the continent, as one way of increasing brain-circulation in Africa, said Teferra.

As argued by Professor Pauline Rankin, a political scientist at Carleton University in Canada, the gist and the spirit of the dialogue at the AAU conference is the need for African governments to look beyond remittances that could be derived from diaspora academics but start engaging on how they can get skill sets from diaspora intellectuals.

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Here’s how to stop the climate change anxiety spiral and make a difference – Mashable

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The monarch butterfly, known for its distinctive orange color, is now on the verge of extinction. Numbering in the millions in the 1980s, the monarch population has been in steep decline thanks to habitat loss, pesticide use, and climate change. So, in fall 2020, when I spied several monarch caterpillars feasting on a neighbor's milkweed plant, I excitedly pointed them out to my young daughters. We soon noticed the caterpillars inching their way toward a neighbor's garage door, where they spun chrysalises, preparing to transform.

They'd arrived at an uncertain time, two months after we'd woken up to a sky made orange by wildfire smoke, and at the beginning of the third COVID-19 surge in the U.S. I drew something altogether human from their presence: The world may be chaotic and unforgiving, but survival is still possible because nature insists on it.

We walked by each day, anticipating empty cocoons. But the days turned to weeks and the butterflies remained locked inside their husks. They would never emerge.

In early December, looking for answers, I read about scientists tracking the monarch butterfly population. A yearly volunteer count found fewer than 2,000 monarchs, a figure that puts them closer to extinction. When I contacted one of the researchers with my own anecdote and asked if the butterflies' demise might be related to climate change, the expert said that while nature is full of "small failures," it's also possible that warmer temperatures confused the female caterpillar into laying eggs too late in the season. In that scenario, the monarchs hanging delicately before us never had a shot.

I was crestfallen. I couldn't bear the idea of my children growing up without monarch butterflies or how that shift mirrors the catastrophes small and large happening on our planet because of climate change. With no way to meaningfully cope with that anxiety and grief, particularly during the bleak winter COVID-19 surge, I left those feelings to idle and fester. Of course, these emotions resurface stronger and more powerful each time I learn of ice sheets melting, heat domes forming, and wildfires blazing.

Burying negative emotions is commonplace in a culture that discourages pessimism about the future. It's hard to be the downer who talks about a world that could turn apocalyptic in a few short decades. What makes that conversation doubly difficult is the feeling that individual action can seem futile when politicians hedge their bets and refuse to act, whittling away the precious time we have left to stop releasing carbon into the earth's atmosphere. We are led to believe that our pain belongs to us alone, when in fact the systems we live in a government and economy built for the wealthy create the conditions for our suffering.

Yet, as I've learned recently, this cycle of reckoning with our rapidly changing planet, feeling overwhelmed by powerlessness, and then living in some form of denial or avoidance isn't inevitable.

Experts who study mental health and climate change say there are ways to cope with emotions and experiences that can be otherwise debilitating. The goal is to calm the body and mind, make meaning out of confusion and tragedy, and transform our own understanding of what the future may hold so that we can act in meaningful ways, individually and collectively.

This April, the weather in western Oregon, where Bob Doppelt lives, was an unseasonably warm 85 degrees. Doppelt is trained in counseling psychology and environmental science, and coordinates the International Transformation Resilience Coalition, a project of the The Resource Innovation Group. The nonprofit focuses on creating capacity and resiliency for climate traumas.

The heat wave prompted a Red Flag Warning, a sign that a wildfire could erupt quickly. Traditionally, major blazes aren't a threat until autumn, when the ground is parched. But a massive drought in the western U.S. changed the equation. After fires destroyed homes and small towns in western Oregon the previous fall, the prospect of a similar tragedy loomed.

Such events elicit the kind of stress, dread, and grief that Doppelt counts as its own crisis. He believes two concepts presencing and purposing are essential to coping with these experiences.

Presencing is the act of bringing the body out of its fight-or-flight or freeze modes, states of fear and panic induced by a severe stressor. When the body releases cortisol and adrenaline to facilitate a fight-or-flight response, it's supposed to help someone flee a wildfire, for example. People can freeze when they're overwhelmed. The body can also be plunged into a high-alert state, or become low-functioning, even if there's no immediate action to take. When that happens, it can be challenging to find calm again if we don't possess the skills to do so.

Doppelt wants people to develop the awareness to identify these dynamics by observing them. Then he wants them to use self-regulation skills to coax the parasympathetic nervous system back online. This network of neurons manages the body's ability to "rest and digest."

Doppelt recommends techniques like coherent breathing, a rhythmic exercise, and body scanning, which involves noticing physical sensations like heat, tingling, or warmth. When the brain focuses on unpleasant feelings, Doppelt says to shift attention to pleasant or neutral sensations. These techniques can slow the body's heart rate and restore a sense of calm. Other skills include creating art or music and engaging in high-energy activities like dance or movement, which provide an opportunity for the body to recalibrate and release feel-good hormones like endorphins and dopamine. Similarly, connecting with a loved one can push oxytocin into the body, which is why Doppelt recommends tapping into emotional or practical support from friends and family as an antidote to climate-related angst. When you tame the stress response, Doppelt says, it can lead to making wiser decisions about what to do next.

"You're trying to learn skills to hold the distress in a way that allows you to continue to function well," he adds.

Presencing can be followed by purposing, or using the painful experience to clarify your values, find new sources of meaning, and seize realistic hope. Most find their purpose by working with others to help people, animals, or the natural world, says Doppelt. This enhances well-being while also creating key relationships that help you and others determine together how to respond to climate change. Doppelt highly recommends starting or participating in community organizing efforts focused on improving people's capacity for psychological wellness and resilience.

"Building community coalitions...is really the most powerful thing we can do right now to help ourselves and also help the environment," he says.

When I spoke with Andrew Bryant, a clinical social worker and psychotherapist in Seattle, he'd just experienced an unprecedented heat wave. An extreme weather phenomenon known as a heat dome had blanketed the temperate Pacific Northwest, sending temperatures into the triple digits and potentially causing hundreds of sudden deaths. Scientists have linked heat domes to human-caused warming.

Bryant, who counsels people with mental health issues connected to climate change and runs the online resource Climate & Mind, spent those four days trying to stay cool with his family. That meant watching movies in their basement with fans blasting, visiting a family member with a pool, and retreating to the beach in the evenings.

"Emotionally it was very distressing," says Bryant, describing the combination of enduring the heat itself, grieving over how his hometown environment will likely change as a result of climate change, and imagining how the severe heat physically and psychologically impacted vulnerable people who aren't housed or can't seek respite in cooler settings like a pool or beach.

When treating clients grappling with such complex emotions, Bryant uses an approach he calls "feel, talk, unite, act." Often people sense their fear, dread, or grief, and either go deep into denial or skip straight to action in order to cope with the enormity of their feelings. But both tactics can backfire. People avoiding their feelings may make well-meaning choices that don't align with their abilities, passions, or values. Those who choose action may set themselves on a path to exhaustion. Think, for example, of the bystander turned activist who uses their fear as fuel to lobby their neighbors and elected officials but ignores the underlying emotions and burns out.

Instead, Bryant recommends identifying the feelings, like anger, guilt, hopelessness, frustration, and sadness.

"It's really important to let ourselves feel those feelings and not judge them or push them away," he says. "Because those are under the surface and they're going to be steering our actions and behaviors, either consciously or unconsciously."

Talking about these feelings with others, including a friend, family member, colleague, or therapist, can relieve stress and decrease loneliness and anguish. These conversations don't need to be comprehensive. Even casually mentioning what you're experiencing can yield important benefits.

Once you've followed the first two steps feeling and talking then think about finding like-minded people who are leading interesting efforts to stop climate change and repair its effects. That could be participating in climate activism or an environmental advocacy group, joining a Climate Caf discussion group, or supporting a local tree-planting or trail restoration initiative. The important part is to build relationships with other people. These bonds will help sustain you during climate-related traumas and disasters. With that foundation in place, you can act in meaningful ways to reduce and mitigate climate change, and know how to manage the emotional volatility, pressure, and high expectations that can cause people to spiral and lose sight of their goals.

Bryant believes it's critical to acknowledge the reality of your fears. In general, when people catastrophize about the future, therapists invite them to evaluate their emotions in accordance with what's really happening in their life. With climate change, however, there are immediate reasons to feel anxious and terrified, particularly when you're experiencing an extreme weather event. Bryant tries to balance this truth against the fact that he can't definitively know what the future holds.

"We know what's happening, but there's a lot depending on factors that haven't been decided yet," he says. "I try not to focus on a specific catastrophic vision."

That approach frees up space to acknowledge your feelings rather than get mired in hypothetical scenarios. This framework led to my own realization during the middle of our interview. When I imagine the world my daughters will inherit, I frequently panic and shut down, envisioning something akin to scenes from Mad Max. Instead of forecasting doom, I can look inward and build the emotional and psychological resilience I will need as their parent to help them adapt to and navigate a climate in which droughts, extreme weather, and climate migration may define their lives.

Talking with Bryant also helped me understand the importance of surrendering the idea that my daughters' lives would be better than my own. In the history of human civilization, a tiny fraction of people have enjoyed the reassurance and hopefulness this myth offers, but it is just that a myth. I can acknowledge the privilege of being one of those people, grieve losing the illusion, and instead work toward building a healthier planet and more equitable world. After all, our fate isn't written yet.

As Bryant pointed out, there will be days when something falls above or below my "window of tolerance," or my capacity for coping with difficult emotions. Something above that window, like wildfire smoke that keeps us trapped in our house for days, will elicit panic, fear, or anxiety. An event below it, like unsurprising news about heat records, and I might disengage or check out because climate change seems inescapable.

"This isn't easy," he says. "It shouldn't be easy because it's a terrible situation."

Dr. Britt Wray, Ph.D., who lives in the Bay Area and is accustomed to the growing threat of drought, wildfire, and extreme heat, believes climate change has called us to act swiftly and dramatically. While the scale of this challenge is daunting, Wray says it can be met if we rethink our assumptions about what the moment requires.

"There is a way of finding meaning even in the darkest of situations that humans have exemplified again and again," says Wray, a postdoctoral fellow at the Stanford Medicine Center for Innovation in Global Health, Stanford Woods Institute for the Environment, & London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine Centre on Climate Change and Planetary Health, as well as author of Gen Dread, a resource-based newsletter about coping with eco-distress. "We're being asked to do that now, but all together."

Even if the distress we feel about climate change prompts us to tune out or feel despondent, Wray says it's actually providing us with valuable information about what we treasure. When we receive that message, it can train our attention on what matters, giving us purpose and the ability to move forward. That doesn't mean ignoring the anguish in favor of action. Rather, Wray says overlaying your pain and traumatic climate-related experiences with your talents can create a "really empowering space." She cites as an example a group of Australian accountants who, anxious about climate change, decided to apply their professional skills to the pursuit of a more sustainable future by reconsidering how practices like corporate reporting and financial risk management can reflect our changing priorities.

Being in the position to grapple with these experiences in the first place is a "justice" issue, says Wray. People need the time and space to reckon with climate change, which often isn't an option when they're running from job to job trying to earn enough to live. Communities of color are depleted by economic injustice, and yet, because of their long histories facing institutional and personal discrimination, are also home to immense resilience.

Like Doppelt and Bryant, Wray advocates for increasing personal resiliency as much as possible, and taking collective action. Pairing the two is essential, because one without the other leaves us less prepared to cope with the trials ahead while reducing our ability to prevent and respond effectively to climate change.

Instead of feeling defeated by the failures of leadership in government and business, Wray recommends banding together with others to fight for local changes, like planting trees in communities with so-called heat islands. Such partnerships would have profound co-benefits by mitigating climate threat; increasing people's ability to relax in cooler, shaded neighborhoods; and easing stress and anxiety. What seem like small actions in a community can have a powerful effect.

The social cohesion that results from community organizing can also have long-lasting, positive implications. Wray says some research suggests that high social capital and connectedness yields increased trust and cooperation in the wake of a disaster, which can lead to better mental health outcomes.

"Even though it never feels like enough when you're doing it at first, recognize that [it] creates a sphere of influence," says Wray, of small-scale actions. "It is true that when enough of us do it, we do start tipping the scales."

As for my family, we decided to plant milkweed in our backyard to provide shelter and sustenance for monarch butterflies. It is minor compared to the other choices we make, like avoiding purchasing new items, walking when possible, and supporting policies that reduce carbon emissions, but it is an enduring reminder that not all is lost.

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Here's how to stop the climate change anxiety spiral and make a difference - Mashable

Governor Cuomo Announces New York Will Explore Potential Role of Green Hydrogen as Part of Comprehensive Decarbonization Strategy – NYSERDA – NYSERDA

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State Collaborating with National Renewable Energy Laboratory and Additional Partners to Study Possible Applications for Green Hydrogen, Making $12.5 Million Available for Long Duration Energy Storage Solutions

July 08, 2021

Governor Andrew M. Cuomo today announced that New York plans to explore the potential role of green hydrogen as part of the State's comprehensive decarbonization strategy. To support this effort to study green hydrogen and its possible applications, the state is collaborating with the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, joining two hydrogen-focused organizations to inform State decision-making and making $12.5 million in funding available for long duration energy storage technologies and demonstration projects that may include green hydrogen. Additionally, the New York Power Authority, collaborating with the Electric Power Research Institute, General Electric and hydrogen supplier Airgas, will undertake an industry-leading green hydrogen demonstration project at NYPA's natural gas plant on Long Island to evaluate the resource's potential role in displacing fossil fuels from power generation. At the close of this short-term project, peer-reviewed results will be shared with the industry and public so that key learnings can inform decarbonization efforts. This announcement supports Governor Cuomo's goal to reduce emissions 85 percent by 2050, as outlined in the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act.

"New York is leading the way forward on protecting the environment and combating climate change," Governor Cuomo said. "Part of our ongoing efforts is setting an example for other states and nations to follow. As we transition to a clean energy economy, we are exploring every resource available as a potential tool to address climate change and documenting what we find to share as part of broader national and global conversations so we can build a brighter, greener future for all."

"New York's nation-leading efforts to transition to a cleaner, greener economy include examining all available renewable energy options,"said Lieutenant Governor Kathy Hochul."This initiative will help New York lead the way to study green hydrogen and its applications as part of our decarbonization strategy and efforts to reduce emissions and create a more sustainable future for all."

Green hydrogen, hydrogen produced using renewable energy, including wind, solar, and hydroelectricity, has the potential to decarbonize challenging sectors of the economy. As part of the State's efforts to assess green hydrogen's potential role in economy-wide decarbonization efforts, the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority is leading a comprehensive stakeholder engagement effort to gain and share knowledge and understanding of the support this resource could provide for meeting the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act goals across multiple sectors. The stakeholder engagement began in December 2020 at a "Deep Decarbonization Workshop" co-hosted by NYSERDA and the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation.

A more comprehensive and ongoing approach will begin with an additional workshop and listening session being planned for this fall. The session will be used to help NYSERDA understand how to expand stakeholder engagement to ensure that additional assessment of the pathways, opportunities, and challenges of generating and utilizing green hydrogen across all sectors includes consideration of all stakeholder perspectives, including environmental justice organizations and communities. The State's multi-pronged, comprehensive approach to understanding and exploring the potential role green hydrogen can play in achieving the Climate Act goals include:

NYSERDA will commence a hydrogen strategy study in conjunction with the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, to compile the foundational, base-line information and data that will enable New York to have robust discussions and dialogue around the role green hydrogen could play in New York's decarbonization plans. This strategy study will place a particular focus on opportunities surrounding green hydrogen to align the State's hydrogen strategy with the existing mandates for 70 percent renewable electricity by 2030 and 100 percent zero-emission electricity by 2040. Building on relationships with NREL and the United States Department of Energy, NYSERDA will benefit from local, regional, national, and global insights on the evolution of green hydrogen to help guide State direction and decision making.

A NYPA-led, first-of-its-kind demonstration project will investigate the potential of substituting renewable hydrogen for a portion of the natural gas used to generate power at NYPA's Brentwood Power Station on Long Island. The project team will evaluate different concentrations of hydrogen blended with natural gas at regular intervals and will assess the blend's effect on reducing greenhouse gas emissions and its overall system and environmental impacts, including nitrogen oxide emissions. The project will begin in fall2021 and is expected to last six to eight weeks.

The plant, which consists of a GE LM-6000 combustion turbine currently fueled by natural gas, was commissioned in the summer of 2001 to increase local power generation capacity for Long Island and New York City in anticipation of potential summer power shortages.GE hasmore than 6 million operating hours and more than 30 years of experience using hydrogen and other similar low-BTU fuels.

NYPA will lead the project with collaboration from partners including EPRI, GE, Sargent & Lundy, Airgas, and Fresh Meadow Power. EPRI will assist with the project design and technical evaluation.As the gas turbine original equipment manufacturer, GE will supply a state-of-the art hydrogen/natural gas blending system and support the project's planning and execution.Sargent & Lundy, acting as the engineer of record for the project, will provide overall engineering and safety reviews. Airgas is the supplier of renewable hydrogen and Fresh Meadow Power will provide piping system design, material procurement and installation services for the project.

To ensure New York State is at the forefront of hydrogen safety, NYSERDA has joined the Center for Hydrogen Safety, a global community of more than 75 government, industry and national lab participants supporting and promoting hydrogen safety and best practices worldwide across industrial and consumer applications in the energy transition. As a member, NYSERDA will have direct access to global safety best practices on hydrogen, training courses and materials, and a safety panel of experts available for specific demonstration project safety reviews.

NYSERDA has also joined the HyBlend Collaborative Research Partnership which is comprised of six national labs and fifteen university/industry partners co-led by NREL and Stony Brook University. This national partnership will generate a database to allow New York to assess the use of existing infrastructure for hydrogen and to develop general principles of operation of blended hydrogen/natural gas delivery systems.

Finally, NYSERDA will encourage product development and demonstration projects in energy storage that is six-plus hours in duration, otherwise known as LDES, by making up to $12.5 million in funding available through its Renewable Optimization and Energy Storage Innovation Program. Project submissions should advance, develop, or field-test hydrogen, electric, chemical, mechanical, or thermal-electric storage technologies that will address cost, performance, and renewable integration challenges in New York State. Submissions must only include innovative long duration energy storage technologies which are yet to be commercialized. Awards will be made for the following project categories: early studies, product development, multi-stage, demonstration projects and federal cost-share.

Proposals will be accepted in three rounds through June 2022. Additional details for this solicitation are available on NYSERDA'swebsite, includingproposal submission requirements.

NYSERDA President and CEO Doreen M. Harris said,"We are actively exploring all technologies and options in meeting the State's climate targets under the CLCPA and are excited to expand our knowledge of hydrogen applications specifically.Supporting innovation and studying new technologies is important to remain on the cutting edge of evolving solutions that will complement our existing decarbonization effortsand the Climate Action Council's work to ensure that New York has a reliable and cost-effective energy system."

NYPA President and CEO Gil C. Quiniones said,"NYPA will be the nation's first state utility to perform a demonstration project aimed at assessing the technical feasibility of operating an existing power generation facility with a hydrogen and natural gas blend. Hydrogen may have the potential to be one of the tools we use to help New York State achieve its aggressive climate leadership goals for a carbon-free electric system. This project will help us evaluate green hydrogen's viability in decarbonizing electricity production."

New York State Department of Environmental Conservation Commissioner Basil Seggos said, "Today, New York State is announcing a nation-leading project to study green hydrogen and its potential to advance low-carbon technologies for energy generation. Industry experts are developing cutting-edge, science-based solutions to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. DEC is proud of our role in advancing New York's ambitious climate agenda. We look forward to continuing the remarkable progress New York has made in combating climate change by letting science drive decisions and policy."

Senator Kevin Parker, Energy and Telecommunications Committee Chair, said, "Exploration of green hydrogen as a potential part of a multi-pronged approach to decarbonization is a smart pursuit. For New York to be successful in transitioning to a cleaner, sustainable energy economy, we must investigate potential new energy resources. Today's announcement signifies that New York is committed to looking at innovative ways to achieve the ambitious goals set forth by the Climate Act. These initiatives together represent the creativity we need tomeet our aggressive climate leadership goals."

Assembly Member Michael Cusick, Assembly Energy Committee Chair, said,"Today's announcement is a major step in the process of decarbonizing New York State. In pursuit of achieving our ambitious clean energy goals, it is crucial that we examine all possibilities and explore the potential of all forms of alternative energy. Green Hydrogen is a relatively untapped resource with the potential to provide ample green energy and reduce emissions significantly. As a state we are taking a responsible and practical approach by commencing a formal study of the potential and launching a pilot program which will be analyzed to ensure the most efficient integration of green Hydrogen into our energy grid."

NREL Laboratory Director Martin Kellersaid,"NREL looks forward to collaborating with NYSERDA on this important study in support of New York's decarbonization goals. Renewable hydrogen has the potential to play an important role in our energy future and this research will provide a critical foundation to inform and enable that future."

EPRI President and CEO Arshad Mansoorsaid, "EPRI is committed to helping communities worldwide realize bold carbon reduction goals affordably and reliably. Partnerships like NYPA's flagship project are essential to advancing hydrogen technologies and driving more clean energy solutions, from New York to Tokyo."

Scott Strazik, CEO of GE Powersaid, "GE is proud to partner with NYPA, EPRI and other project participants to advance the deployment of lower-carbon gas power generation technology through a green hydrogen demonstration project. By utilizing pre-combustion hydrogen fuels to reduce carbon emissions, we will advance a decade of action to decarbonize the power generation industry and combat climate change. We look forward to utilizing our 80+ years of gas turbine development experienceincluding six million operating hours using alternative low heating value fuels including hydrogento accelerate a reliable, affordable, and sustainable energy future."

Michael J. Graff, Chairman & CEO, American Air Liquide Holdings, Inc., Executive Vice President, Air Liquide Group and Chairman of the Board of Airgas said,"Airgas, an Air Liquide company, and our more than 400 Airgas and Air Liquide employees in New York State, are proud to support the state's goal of reaching net zero emissions by 2050. As part of our sustainability objectives, we share a similar commitment of achieving carbon neutrality by 2050, an objective largely supported by our over 50 years of experience mastering the entire hydrogen value chain. Leveraging this experience, alongside our U.S. and global leadership in hydrogen energy insight, innovation, and investment, we are proud to offer our customers sustainable solutions, like renewable hydrogen, to meet their own climate objectives and together develop a cleaner, safer, more reliable energy system. We believe hydrogen is a strong driver of the energy transition and are looking forward to continued collaboration in reaching New York State's goal."

Sargent & Lundy Senior Vice President Paul Eidensaid, "Sargent & Lundy is excited to support NYPA and EPRI in the nation's first full-scale demonstration project transforming an existing power generation facility to operate on hydrogen-blended fuels. With over 130 years of power experience, we've been involved in many industry firsts. This transition to hydrogen is another technological leap for the industry. Hydrogen-based fuels will allow existing stations to return to the forefront in the industry while reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Our work to integrate contributions from the partner organizations on this project has been a great fit for Sargent & Lundy's hydrogen team."

John Valvo, Vice President of Fresh Meadow Power, LLC said,"Fresh Meadow Power is proud to be an integral partner with New York Power Authority, as well as the other team members, on this innovative feasibility project for blending natural gas with green hydrogen for power generation. A full-service contractor, FMP specializes in both new construction and maintenance/outage services on conventional and cogeneration power plants and all types of heavy industrial operations. We provide construction, maintenance and related services for all mechanical energy systems. Our working knowledge of NYPA's South East New York facilities allows FMP to provide quick response, local Union craft knowledge, and enhanced logistics of people, tools and equipment."

New York State AFL-CIO President Mario Cilento said, "It's critical that New York State invest in clean sources of energy to protect the environment and create a better world for our children, and green hydrogen is rich in untapped potential. Building off emission reduction goals earlier this year with nation-leading workforce standards, including prevailing wage, Buy American and labor peace, green hydrogen has the potential to create thousands of good union jobs across the construction, service, energy and transportation sectors. I applaud Governor Cuomo's foresight in exploring the role green hydrogen can play in the future for New York State."

United Association of Plumbers, Pipefitters and Sprinklerfitters International Representative John J. Murphy said, "New York is leading the way forward using clean, renewable sources of energy to save the environment and protect the planet, and green hydrogen is a potential next step in that ongoing effort. The State is taking important action with this announcement to consider green hydrogen as part of its decarbonization strategy, and in doing so can provide a just transition for tens of thousands of men and women in NY that build power generating facilities. Its multi-pronged approach will ensure we're able to get the biggest bang for our buck. I thank Governor Cuomo for his leadership on this critical issue and look forward to seeing the ways green hydrogen can improve our state for the better."

Governor Cuomo's nation-leading climate agenda is the most aggressive climate and clean energy initiative in the nation, calling for an orderly and just transition to clean energy that creates jobs and continues fostering a green economy as New York State recovers from the COVID-19 pandemic. Enshrined into law through the Climate Leadership andCommunity Protection Act, New York is on a path to achieveits mandated goal of a zero-emission electricity sector by 2040, including 70 percent renewable energy generation by 2030, and to reach economy wide carbon neutrality. It builds on New York's unprecedented investments to ramp-up clean energy including over $21 billion in 91 large-scale renewable projects across the state, $6.8 billion to reduce buildings emissions, $1.8 billion to scale up solar, more than $1 billion for clean transportation initiatives, and over $1.2 billion in NY Green Bank commitments. Combined, these investments are supporting more than 150,000 jobs in New York's clean energy sector in 2019, a 2,100 percent growth in the distributed solar sector since 2011 and a commitment to develop 9,000 megawatts of offshore wind by 2035. Under Governor Cuomo's leadership, New York will build on this progress and reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 85 percent from 1990 levels by 2050, whileensuring that at least 35 percent with a goal of 40percent of the benefits of clean energy investmentsare directedto disadvantaged communities, and advanceprogress towards the state's 2025 energy efficiency target of reducing on-site energy consumption by 185 trillion BTUs of end-use energy savings.

NYSERDA, a public benefit corporation, offers objective information and analysis, innovative programs, technical expertise, and funding to help New Yorkers increase energy efficiency, save money, use renewable energy, and reduce reliance on fossil fuels. NYSERDA professionals work to protect the environment and create clean-energy jobs. NYSERDA has been developing partnerships to advance innovative energy solutions in New York State since 1975. To learn more about NYSERDAs programs and funding opportunities, visitnyserda.ny.gov or follow us on Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, or Instagram.

NYPA is the largest state public power organization in the nation, operating 16 generating facilities and more than 1,400 circuit-miles of transmission lines. More than 70 percent of the electricity NYPA produces is clean renewable hydropower. NYPA uses no tax money or state credit. It finances its operations through the sale of bonds and revenues earned in large part through sales of electricity. For more information visit http://www.nypa.gov and follow us on Twitter @NYPAenergy, Facebook, Instagram, Tumblr and LinkedIn.

Last Updated: 07/08/2021

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Governor Cuomo Announces New York Will Explore Potential Role of Green Hydrogen as Part of Comprehensive Decarbonization Strategy - NYSERDA - NYSERDA

Technologies that change human nature must be treated with caution – Illinoisnewstoday.com

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He writes that great care must be taken when humans experiment with transhuman and posthuman techniques. Paul Budde..

For those involved in technology from a government and industry perspective, as well as from a user perspective, we all have a responsibility to monitor the development of this area and ensure that it is being used for the benefit of society.

If you bring people from Stone ageEarly peasants from MesopotamiaWhen the Greek philosopher, the Florentine Renaissance merchant and one of us blindfolded and started chatting around the campfire, we soon realized that we had a lot in common.

After a few pints, we sing together and soon end up in a cheerful hug. At this level, human evolution has changed little.

Benefits and risks of AI and posthuman life

Philosophers involved in the theory of posthumanism and transhumanism are fascinated by the possibilities or dangers that the future brings to the understanding of human life.

What has changed is the environment in which we live using the tools we have developed. If you dig a little deeper here, its amazing to see that with the help of technology, the quality of life for humans has improved significantly. Even more daunting is the fact that most of it has happened in the last 50 years.

Our consciousness is what makes us human. Ongoing unprecedented technological developments allow us to increasingly reduce our dependence on the body, transplant organs, and other tools enhance our biological and cognitive function. can.

If these developments continue, why do we need a body? Aristoteles I asked the same question about 2,500 years ago.

Returning to the meetings around the campfire, even with its various group chats, we still cant find the answer to the big questions in life.

We cannot discover the exact meaning of life, free will, what the truth is, and so on. Nowadays, you can add issues of democracy, fake news, conspiracy theory, social media echo chambers, populism, and totalitarianism to the list. The human mind does not seem ready to tackle them.

What do you need to improve the current situation?

If history is a good measure, it is doubtful that humans 10,000 years from now will be very different from us. But our cognitive limits are already a problem for the great crisis we are facing today, not to mention the future.

It is not technology that prevents us from tackling these major issues, but human cognitive limitations in dealing with these situations.

But we are clearly at the forefront of inflection points as new technologies are being developed that change the meaning of being human.

The increasing number of tools today seems to enhance our cognitive abilities. For centuries and thousands of years, we are certain that our tool manufacturing capabilities will be greater and create a better environment. It would be difficult to claim that humans remain the same.

The tools we are creating and other developments around the corner show a logical and rational direction. Transhumanism..

So far, we have been able to keep control of the technology we have developed. But machine learning, DNA engineering, biotechnology, neurotechnology, and self-learning algorithms and developments of quantum mechanisms related to our consciousness are all opening Pandoras box.

Can we still maintain control? As a global society, there seems to be a lack of cognitive quality needed to manage these processes in the long run.

If we work to improve our cognitive qualities, we need to do this jointly. Alternatives can be catastrophic.

Do you need a crisis first to build a global consensus? Is it too late? Does our innate fighting instinct lead to selected groups of transhumanism?

As both Stephen hawking And Ray Kurzweil As we insist, we need to face these challenges. Otherwise, you will be defeated by transhumans and posthumans arriving at the scene.

Professor Stuart Russell Lists three principles that guide the development of profitable machines. He emphasizes that these principles are not intended to be explicitly coded on the machine. Rather, they are aimed at human developers.

Artificial intelligence is increasing

Paul Budde states that new developments and opportunities are being opened up in artificial intelligence.

The principles are as follows:

Instead of using artificial intelligence or other technologies to solve complex problems, we need to focus on developing better-equipped technologies to solve these problems faster and more effectively. ..

Last week the Australian Government Announcement We want to be a global leader in the development and adoption of responsible artificial intelligence (AI). This has secured $ 124.1 million. For this National Artificial Intelligence Center Within CSIRO, there are four AI and Digital Function Centers and a Next Generation AI Alumni Program.

Expect to adhere to the above principles to further develop unstoppable transhuman and potentially posthuman technologies while humans are still responsible.

Paul Budde Independent Australian columnist and Paul Budde Consulting, An independent telecommunications research and consulting organization. Follow Paul on Twitter @PaulBudde..

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Technologies that change human nature must be treated with caution - Illinoisnewstoday.com

Giants select Mars’ Will Bednar 14th overall in 1st round – TribLIVE

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Will Bednar will give his older brother, David, this much:

When asked which of the two former Mars pitchers will be the first to reach 100 mph on the radar gun, Will said, Probably him. Hes been closer.

Indeed, David has thrown a 99.6 mph fastball this season as a relief pitcher for the Pittsburgh Pirates.

Will said hes topped out at 98 after two seasons and a College World Series championship at Mississippi State.

Then, he added with a smile, Ill beat him to 101.

If thats so, Will Bednar likely will do it for the San Francisco Giants, the team that selected him 14th overall Sunday night in the MLB Draft. Bednar, the seventh pitcher selected, was drafted four hours after David was the winning pitcher in the Pirates 6-5 victory against the New York Mets at Citi Field.

Andy Bednar, the pitchers father and former Mars baseball coach, said David arrived home from New York in time to see his younger brother drafted.

Unbelievable said Andy of having one son earn a major-league victory on the same day the other was drafted in the first round. It all started when (David) was dealt (to the Pirates). Its been one thing after another. Im so glad he got home.

Bednars selection gives the WPIAL a first-round selection in five of the past seven years. West Alleghenys Austin Hendrick went to the Cincinnati Reds in 2020 as the 12th overall choice.

Bednars stock rose when he threw six no-hit innings in the deciding game of this years College World Series and was named its most outstanding player. Three years before that, he was a Trib 10 All-Star selection after leading Mars to the WPIAL Class 5A championship game, where his fastball was clocked at 95 mph.

Wills velocity shouldnt be a surprise. He was hitting 91 mph before his sophomore season at Mars.

Bednar, 21, compiled a 9-1 record and 3.12 ERA for the Bulldogs this season, while striking out 139 batters and allowing only 72 hits in 9213 innings. Hitters managed only a .214 batting average against him.

A 2019 Mars graduate, Bednar never redshirted at Mississippi State while developing his two best pitches an elevated four-seam fastball and a slider. He appeared in four games in the pandemic-shortened 2020 season, but he made them count. In only 1513 innings, he struck out 23 batters, with a 1.76 ERA. Opponents hit him at a mere .161 rate.

This year, in the days after the CWS, Bednar was home in Valencia. He said he was hanging out, for the most part, with my family, and soaking it in.

He also spent some time at PNC Park, where David hangs out these days, but he also fielded many calls from major league scouts.

Chatting about the season, small stuff like that, he said.

But they also asked more pertinent questions.

They ask if I know what it takes to play at the next level and what I think I need to continue to work on, he said.

He had a ready answer.

To be able to keep a level head, I think, is the biggest part through the ups and down of a long professional season, he said.

Playing for his dad provided the type of hurdles that might make a player better.

A lot of people thought because he was my dad, hed be easy on me. But its the exact opposite, Will said. He was a lot harder on me than anyone else. It was good. He definitely pushed me.

He pushed so hard, Andys youngest son soon will become the second member of the family to cash an MLB paycheck.

Jerry DiPaola is a Tribune-Review staff writer. You can contact Jerry by email at jdipaola@triblive.com or via Twitter .

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Giants select Mars' Will Bednar 14th overall in 1st round - TribLIVE

Venus and the moon pass a fading Mars in the evening sky this weekend – Space.com

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If there were ever a "maverick" among the naked eye planets, that title would certainly go to Mars.

Just nine months ago, Mars came to within 38.8 million miles (62.43 million kilometers) of Earth, the closest it had been to us since August 2003, and it will not be that close again until September 2035. Mars appeared three times brighter than Sirius, the brightest star in our sky and even rivaled Jupiter in brilliance. In fact, Mars ranked as the third brightest nighttime object behind the moon and Venus.

But that was then, this is now.

Related: The brightest planets in July's night sky: How to see them (and when)

At this moment in time, Mars is on the other side of the brightness spectrum. On Sunday evening (July 11) look low in the west-northwest sky about 45 minutes after sunset.

You'll be able to use a very conspicuous benchmark in order to make a positive identification, for the first object to attract your attention will certainly be dazzling Venus. After you've found it, look about one degree to its immediate left and you'll see Mars appearing as a yellowish-orange, though by no means outstandingly bright star.

Don't expect the eye-popping object that adorned our skies in the early fall of 2020. Rather, right now Mars is much farther away from us at a distance of 231 million miles (371 million km). So, Mars will appear only about 1.7% as bright as it was nine months ago and a mere 0.5% as bright as Venus.

In fact, by virtue of it currently shining at magnitude +1.8, Mars has dropped in rank to the category of a second-magnitude object; to assure you make a positive sighting I would strongly recommend you use binoculars.

Another object appearing in the general vicinity of the two planets in the fading evening twilight will be the moon. Two days past new phase, it will appear as a hairline arc of light, just 4% illuminated and will be situated about a half-dozen degrees to the right of the two planets. If your clenched fist measures about 10 degrees at arm's length, then the moon and the two planets will be separated by roughly half a fist.

All three objects will remain in the west-northwest sky for about 90 minutes after sunset. Mars in fact is practically midway between two other noteworthy sky objects. At 45 minutes after sunset, the sky might still be too bright to see the moon and Mars readily with the naked eye, so already noted, you'll probably need binoculars. But after another 15 minutes have passed the sky will have darkened sufficiently so that you should readily be able to identify them with your unaided eyes, though they'll all be lower in the sky.

The scene will have changed noticeably the very next evening.

On Monday, July 12, the moon will have widened a bit to 9% illuminated and will have shifted to a spot nearly 7 degrees to the upper left of the two planets. But the positions of the planets have also changed; the distance between them will have been halved with Venus now sitting just about a half degree to the right of Mars.

Venus will continue to grow more prominent albeit rather slowly in the western evening sky through the balance of 2021.

As for Mars, it will continue to be evident as an evening object for another couple of weeks or so, closely passing the bright bluish 1st-magnitude star, Regulus on July 29. But as we move into August, it will become lost in the bright sunset glow and will then go on a hiatus of sorts as it transitions into the morning sky, eventually reappearing in the early morning sky around Thanksgiving to set the stage for its gradual return to prominence during 2022.

Joe Rao serves as an instructor and guest lecturer at New York'sHayden Planetarium. He writes about astronomy forNatural History magazine, theFarmers' Almanacand other publications. Follow uson Twitter@Spacedotcomand onFacebook.

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Venus and the moon pass a fading Mars in the evening sky this weekend - Space.com

Life on Mars: NASAs Ingenuity helicopter aces ninth fight – Al Jazeera English

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NASAs Mars helicopter, Ingenuity, is proving to be quite the little explorer. The small rotorcraft just completed its ninth flight on the Red Planet, breaking speed and distance records along the way.

Although the United States space agency hasnt shared all the details from the latest flight, the team has confirmed that the plucky little chopper has tackled what the agency says is its most nerve-wracking flight to date.

The tiny helicopter was airborne for a record 166.4 seconds (2 minutes and 46.4 seconds), and flew at speeds of 5m (16 feet) per second, according to mission officials.

Dubbed Ingenuity, the rotorcraft is on a technology demonstration mission, setting out to prove that such a craft could fly in the tenuous Martian atmosphere.

The chopper hitched a ride to Mars attached to the belly of the Perseverance rover, and ever since landing on the Red Planet on February 18, the craft has gone above and beyond scientists expectations.

NASAs Ingenuity helicopter hovered above the surface of the planet during its second flight on April 22, two months after landing on Mars [File: NASA/JPL-Caltech/ASU/MSSS via AP]In its first few flights, the helicopter essentially flew up and down, hovering in place for a bit before it tried to traverse distances. The increasingly complex series of practice flights served as a demonstration of what off-world rotorcraft can do.

Now, as the craft approaches double digits in terms of flights, its upping the ante by adding in some new tricks.

For its latest expedition on July 5, Ingenuity flew over a patch of rough and interesting terrain in the Seitah region of Mars. This area is of particular interest because its characterised by sandy ripples that could prove treacherous for wheeled vehicles like the Perseverance rover.

The unfriendly terrain in this region was also a cause of concern for the helicopter because it would put Ingenuitys navigation software to the test.

Its safe to say that this was the most nerve-wracking flight since flight one, Havard Fjaer Grip, Ingenuitys chief pilot at NASAs Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL), told Al Jazeera.

Thats because Ingenuitys software was made to work over flat surfaces, not the sandy, sloping hills of the Seitah region. Unexpected changes in the terrain could cause problems in finding the landing site because Ingenuitys camera assumes the ground is flat.

The helicopter buzzed around the region, snapping pictures of rock formations and other intriguing targets to help in NASAs search for microbial life. The little chopper flew its longest distance yet 625m (2,051 feet), smashing the previous record of 160m (525 feet) set in June.

Perseverance touched down on Mars on February 18 with one major goal: to collect samples from Mars and scout for signs of life. To that end, officials at NASA selected its landing site, an ancient lake bed, as the best place to look for biosignatures on Mars.

It spent the first 100 sols (Martian days) checking out its systems and making sure that everything was in working order before jumping into the first science campaign, which focuses on studying the Seitah region.

NASAs Perseverance Mars rover took this image overlooking the Seitah region using its navigation camera [File: NASA/JPL-Caltech]According to Vivian Sun, a systems engineer on the Perseverance team at JPL, the Seitah region (and surrounding areas) are home to at least four different types of rock that NASA would like to sample for a future mission to return to Earth.

Rock formations in this section of the crater floor are of particular interest to scientists because they could have developed from ancient lava flows or from sedimentation, which means there was once water there. And the presence of water has the potential for life.

However, some of the terrain there is especially treacherous to the rover, so Perseverance is going to have to rely on its aerial partner, Ingenuity, to do some reconnaissance.

Ingenuity is a very exciting asset to have, Sun told Al Jazeera. We use some of the imagery from the helicopter to scout new locations.

Its very helpful because we can use the imagery to help analyse the rock formations we think are interesting but cannot drive up to, she added.

Ingenuity does not have a suite of scientific instruments like its counterpart, but it does have two different cameras one colour and one black and white that scientists on Earth can use to study and analyse rock formations.

For this ninth flight, Perseverance headed south, stopping at the first of the four interesting rock sites. With the help of Ingenuity, the team was able to land on tricky terrain, snap images of some cool rocks, and plan ahead to the next stop on its tour of the southern crater floor.

NASAs Ingenuity helicopter flew over the Seitah region during its ninth flight on July 5 [File: NASA/JPL-Caltech]The next area of inquiry, dubbed CF-Fr (or crater fractured rock), is especially exciting as the rough rocks indicate that this area was once underwater.

We dont know what stories the rocks here will tell us, but were excited to find out, Sun said.

The rover has also been testing out its built-in autopilot. Equipped with autonomous navigation software, the rover is able to drive itself instead of relying on commands from Earth.

Its going to take Perseverance roughly 200 sols to study and explore the southern region of the Jezero Crater.

Because this area has at least four different types of rocks and evidence of ancient water, the team wants to start collecting its first Martian samples here. To do so, the team will bag up a few practice samples before going in for the real thing.

Once collected, the sample tubes will be stored somewhere on Mars where a future sample return mission will collect them.

By flying over the Seitah region, Ingenuity was able to complete a task in less than three minutes that would have taken months for Perseverance to accomplish.

And that innovation is at the heart of the Ingenuity mission, which is also about demonstrating that powered vehicles can fly on Mars.

That type of technology is invaluable to robotic missions and represents a new era of exploration.

NASA has a successful history of landing rovers on Mars, which started with the Mars Pathfinder mission in the 1990s.

This map of the southern part of Marss Jezero Crater shows the Perseverance rovers path for its first science campaign [File: NASA/JPL-Caltech]That mission, with its Sojourner rover, proved that wheeled vehicles could explore the Martian surface and act as our eyes and ears on the Red Planet. Humans have explored Mars for decades now with the help of these mobile scientists.

But Ingenuity is something new, proving that scientists can send aerial vehicles to help scout new and intriguing targets, as well as traverse places a rover could not.

The plan going forward [for Ingenuity] is to really highlight the benefit of it working with the rover, Jeff Delaune, a robotics technologist on the helicopter team at JPL, told Al Jazeera.

Ingenuity has already completed its main mission, he added. Were going to keep pushing its limits, and anything now is just the cherry on top of the mission.

Perseverance and Ingenuity are never too far apart as the little chopper still needs the rover to communicate with Earth, but its helping guide Perseverance along the way.

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Life on Mars: NASAs Ingenuity helicopter aces ninth fight - Al Jazeera English

NASA’s Mars helicopter Ingenuity sails through 9th flight on the Red Planet – Space.com

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NASA's experimental Mars helicopter Ingenuity has now flown nine times on the Red Planet, letting mission engineers test a host of capabilities that could pave the way for more Martian choppers.

Ingenuity made its ninth flight on Mars on Monday (July 5), when it remained aloft for 166.4 seconds and flew as fast as 16 feet (5 meters) per second, according to a tweet from NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory in California, which oversees the project.

Before the flight, NASA announced that the little aircraft would attempt new feats on this sortie, including taking a shortcut over rocky terrain unsafe for the helicopter's much larger companion, the Perseverance rover, mission personnel wrote in a July 2 statement.

Related: Watch NASA's Mars helicopter Ingenuity fly in 3D (video)

The Ingenuity helicopter is a technology demonstration project that trekked to Mars tucked away in Perseverance's belly and arrived on the Red Planet on Feb. 18. The rover deployed the 4-lb. (1.8 kilograms) chopper in early April for what was planned to be a five-flight, one-month mission. Ingenuity made history on April 19 when it executed the first powered flight on Mars.

But as Ingenuity aced flight after flight, NASA extended the little helicopter's mission, setting the experimental aircraft to keep pace with Perseverance as the rover begins its geology and astrobiology work, the heart of the mission.

As capable as Perseverance is, however, the rover faces limitations in terms of where it can safely explore, and that's what inspired Ingenuity's newest flight, which comes two weeks after the helicopter's most recent sortie.

"Perseverance is currently at the eastern edge of a scientifically interesting region called 'Stah,' which is characterized by sandy ripples that could be very challenging terrain for wheeled vehicles like the rover," the helicopter's team wrote in the statement outlining plans for the ninth flight.

"Rather than continuing to skip ahead of the rover, however, we will now attempt to do something that only an aerial vehicle at Mars could accomplish take a shortcut straight across a portion of the Stah region and land on a plain to the south. On the way, we plan to take color aerial images of the rocks and ripples that we pass over."

NASA has not yet published the full statistics and image collection from the flight. Data from Ingenuity must pass first to Perseverance, then to one of the fleet of satellites orbiting Mars, then to Earth.

Email Meghan Bartels at mbartels@space.com or follow her on Twitter @meghanbartels. Follow us on Twitter @Spacedotcom and on Facebook.

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Coast Guard: SEACOR Power bow section lifted to surface, taken to M.A.R.S. facility – KLFY

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PORT FOURCHON, La. (KLFY) A salvageteam has raised the bow section of the SEACOR Power to the surface of the water and transported it by barge to a facility in Houma for recycling, according to the Coast Guard.

The bow part was transported Saturday to the Modern American Recycling Services, Inc.facility in Houma, La.

Once the pieces of the ship are cut, they will be brought to a secure sight for inspection, according to a social media page for theGulfcoast Humanitarian efforts.

With the bow section removed, salvage work continues at the site, where crews are conducting a more acoustic survey of the stern and accommodation sections, the Coast Guard announced.

The updated surveys will then be used to complete the rigging configuration to prepare the stern section for removal andonce the stern section is raised, the crews will continue the preparation and removal of the accommodations section, according to CG officials.

Safety remains paramount. The unified commander is closely monitoring the weather and adjusting operations as needed to ensure the safety of salvage crews, a statement from the Coast Guard read.

A temporary flight restriction has been placed around the M.A.R.S., Inc. facility to ensure the safety of salvage crews working at thewreckagesiteand the M.A.R.S., Inc. facility as well as boaters who could place themselves in danger by transiting through an active work site where debris and other underwater obstructions such as anchor wires, mooring ropes and navigational buoys may be present, the Coast Guard announced.

The incident remains under investigation by the National Transportation Safety Board and the Coast Guard.

Questions regarding the investigation should be directed to the NTSB at202-314-6133.

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Coast Guard: SEACOR Power bow section lifted to surface, taken to M.A.R.S. facility - KLFY

New in Paperback: Love and Theft and The Sirens of Mars – The New York Times

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THE ROAD FROM RAQQA: A Story of Brotherhood, Borders, and Belonging, by Jordan Ritter Conn. (Ballantine, 272 pp., $18.) In this riveting account of two grown brothers very different journeys out of Syria, Conn pushes beyond simply humanizing, Jessica Goudeau wrote in her review. He portrays the United States, where the elder ends up, as also capable of oppression, and finds the two countries histories to be as interconnected as the brothers own.

ON EARTH WERE BRIEFLY GORGEOUS, by Ocean Vuong. (Penguin, 256 pp., $17.) Structured as a letter from a queer Vietnamese American son to his mother, who cannot read, this experimental, highly poetic novel is, in our reviewer Justin Torress words, brilliant in the way it pays attention not to what our thoughts make us feel, but to what our feelings make us think.

TOKYO UENO STATION, by Yu Miri. Translated by Morgan Giles. (Riverhead, 192 pp., $16.) Narrated by the ghost of a construction worker from Fukushima who spent his last years in a camp of homeless people in Tokyos Ueno Park, Yus glorious modernist novel, as our reviewer, Abhrajyoti Chakraborty, called it, weaves together overheard conversations, loudspeaker announcements and regretful memories of an ill-spent life. Giles received a National Book Award for her translation.

LOVE AND THEFT, by Stan Parish. (Anchor, 272 pp., $16.) A kaleidoscopic set piece worthy of a James Bond movie as directed by Robert Altman is how our reviewer, Adam Sternbergh, described this thrillers opening, in which four motorcyclists attempt a jewel heist at a Las Vegas boutique. He also lauded the artfulness of the books writing.

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New in Paperback: Love and Theft and The Sirens of Mars - The New York Times

Bruno Mars songs, ranked: Leave the door open for these 19 greatest hits – Gold Derby

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Bruno Mars was one of the defining artists of the 2010s, and he vaulted right into the 2020s by joining forces with Anderson Paak to form the supergroup Silk Sonic. They achieved chart-topping success right out of the gate with their first single together, Leave the Door Open. But where does that rank on the list of Marss all-time greatest hits thus far? See how we rank the best Bruno Mars songs below. Do you agree with our number-one pick?

19. Wake Up in the Sky with Gucci Mane and Kodak Black (2018)

18. Please Me with Cardi B (2019)

17. Marry You (2011)

16. Young, Wild, and Free with Snoop Dogg and Wiz Khalifa (2011)

15. Treasure (2013)

14. Runaway Baby (2010)

13. Finesse (2018)

12. Billionaire with Travie McCoy (2010)

11. 24K Magic (2016)

10. It Will Rain (2011)

9. When I Was Your Man (2013)

8. The Lazy Song (2011)

7. Leave the Door Open with Anderson Paak as Silk Sonic (2021)

6. Thats What I Like (2017)

5. Locked Out of Heaven (2012)

4. Grenade (2010)

3. Nothin on You with B.o.B (2009)

2. Just the Way You Are (2010)

1. Uptown Funk with Mark Ronson (2014)

Mars launched his career in the late 2000s as a co-founder of the production team The Smeezingtons, working with artists including Flo Rida, Cee-Lo Green, Lil Wayne, and Adam Lambert, among others. As an artist he topped the Billboard Hot 100 before he even released his own debut single: he hit number-one as a featured artist on 2009s Nothin on You by B.o.B., which preceded his own breakthrough single as a lead artist, 2010s Just the Way You Are. It was such a sudden breakthrough that he earned seven Grammy nominations and one win in 2011 before his debut album Doo-Wops and Hooligans was even eligible.

From there Mars sustained a rare level of commercial and industry success. He has won Grammys for Album of the Year twice (for his own 24K Magic and as a producer on Adeles 25) as well as Record of the Year twice (Uptown Funk and 24K Magic). He earned an additional Album of the Year nomination for Doo-Wops and extra Record of the Year bids for Nothin on You, Grenade, and Locked Out of Heaven, plus another one as a producer a Cee-Los F*ck You.

Several of his singles have been certified diamond for achieving more than 10 million units in sales and streams: Just the Way You Are, Grenade, When I Was Your Man, Uptown Funk, and Thats What I Like. All that while embracing his musical roots, throwing it back to classic eras of R&B and delivering live performances reminiscent of James Brown, Prince, and Michael Jackson. That blend of modern style with classic influences may be why the recording academy has showered him with awards. So which of the above songs is your favorite, and what songs do you love that didnt make our list?

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Bruno Mars songs, ranked: Leave the door open for these 19 greatest hits - Gold Derby

Crazy Days taking place this weekend in Le Mars, IA – KTIV

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LE MARS, Iowa (KTIV) - It's Crazy Days in Le Mars, Iowa this weekend.

Crazy Days officially started Friday, but the big day is July 10. That is when all vendors will have stands out on the sidewalk and even on the street.

A few shops already have partially set up their stands outside. Many shops are slashing their prices, and people will be hitting the town to take advantage of some great deals.

Crazy Days will happen rain or shine, although if it rains the event could move to a different location.

"Some possibilities would be to rent another building and have the vendors move indoors to a little event center right off downtown if it does rain, but we are doing it rain or shine all day Saturday," said Jill Mescher committee member and owner of Sugar and Spice Boutique.

Food vendors will also be available all day Saturday in the downtown area.

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Crazy Days taking place this weekend in Le Mars, IA - KTIV

Meet the British expats stuck abroad: ‘I may as well live on Mars’ – Euronews

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For many British expats, the expectation that relatives can be easily reached by plane has long been a common assumption.

Freedom to travel was assumed when globetrotting emigrants pursued new lives overseas, enticed by improved career prospects and living standards. But COVID-19 has upturned this preconception for good.

Here, three seasoned expatriates* located worldwide share the stories of their pandemic experiences.

Jo, a data analyst in the banking sector, has lived in Brussels, Belgium for 16 years. Though it's usually little more than an hour to fly from between the Belgian capital and London - and less than three hours by train - the pandemic has left Jo feeling isolated.

"Living in Belgium has never seemed far from the UK you could just jump on a train or plane," she says, "but since the pandemic, I realise I may as well live on Mars.

She reports that the pandemic initially hit the densely populated country hard. People are now generally fed up and obeying the rules less," explains Jo.

In April 2020, Belgium had the highest COVID-19 death rate in the world. Restrictions currently vary, although mask mandates eased in June 2021. Nevertheless, face coverings are still required on public transport and indoors. Additionally, there are some requirements in busy areas such as some shopping streets or outside schools.

The vaccination program was initially slow in Belgium, but vaccines are now available to everyone over the age of 18.

Jo states that now fully vaccinated, she feels hopeful that life will soon return at least partially to normal. Having adapted to a new regime, she says she would love to work at home more regularly in the future.

In the early days, however, Jo says she missed being able to go to a caf for a coffee.

It has been difficult being away from our families. We have elderly parents, so that has been worrying. With friends, we have been in contact by Zoom. We did plan to go back to the UK, but then the second wave blocked this.

So fed up with the situation in the UK, Jo has decided that it will be more straightforward to arrange for her family to visit her in Belgium.

The UK quarantine rules plus two tests make it difficult to visit. There are also fewer flights, so the price is a lot higher.

Sarah, a graphic designer for the Australian government, emigrated 15 years ago and currently resides in Canberra. She feels fortunate to have had limited local restrictions until now.

Still, she says that in the beginning, we didnt go anywhere, only to the shops to get groceries, working from home and driving rather than taking public transport.

Australia reacted rapidly once the virus became established. The country closed its borders and brought in strict quarantine laws. State borders were closed.

Sarah says she misses going to live events, feeling relaxed in a crowd, travelling, not having to scan an app, and not having to worry that we may get trapped across a border.

Like Jo, she feels distanced from friends and family overseas.

It has been hard watching the harsher realities of the pandemic on friends and family in the UK," she explains. It has been quite heartbreaking to see friends and family and be unable to meet and hug when times have been hard.

The vaccine program in Australia has been sluggish. Nevertheless, over 40s have recently become eligible, alongside other priority groups.

Sarah remains optimistic though. I am hopeful that with the vaccines, we will feel a bit more confident to travel again, she adds.

Nevertheless, she does not have any immediate plans to return to the UK, remaining cautious.

It feels like there are waves of infection ebbing and flowing, and the thought of a crowded airport and plane is not enticing.

John is an IT general manager living in Seattle, US - where he's resided for ten years. He voices his astonishment that, despite being one of the more advanced economies, the US has seen such death tolls from COVID-19.

He attributes it to poor political leadership under the previous administration. However, he also surmises that the US has a strong culture of individual liberty, which dislikes draconian measures.

Washington State has taken a prudent approach, although John comments that these regulations are far less onerous and prescriptive than in many European countries.

Now open to all over 12s, the vaccination program in the USA has been met with reluctance and suspicion by some groups. As a result, officials are offering incentives such as lotteries to encourage people to receive their free vaccines.

For John, working at home since the beginning has had pros and cons: It has cut down on commute and travel time but has increased fatigue from excessive concentration on video calls.

He has enjoyed more quality family time but misses international travel for work and leisure, in addition to dining out and attending concerts.

Regarding being separated from UK relatives, John says the main issue has been the inability for our children to see their grandparents for over a year. I want to travel internationally as soon as possible once vaccinated.

John commented on the recent UK ruling, which takes effect on Monday 19th July.

The new rule allows travellers who have been fully vaccinated in the UK to travel to amber-listed destinations without quarantining on return. Yet, the legislation currently does not apply to British citizens visiting the UK who have been double-vaccinated abroad.

Its inconsistent with the policy for UK residents," says John, "and it makes no sense because the vaccine is the same. It also means I still cant see my family in England.

Despite having their lives transformed by the fallout of the pandemic, all three expatriates appear to have adapted their working and home lives successfully. Eager to travel again, each has remained sanguine that this will again be achievable.

*Some names have been changed to protect the identity of interviewees.

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Meet the British expats stuck abroad: 'I may as well live on Mars' - Euronews

Werner Herzog documentary ‘Last Exit: Space’ coming to Discovery+ this year – Space.com

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A new out-of-this-world documentary, "Last Exit: Space," is coming to Discovery+ from legendary filmmaker Werner Herzog.

The new documentary is set to look at humanity's push for space exploration and colonization. There are more than 100 billion planets in the Milky Way alone; could one of them be our new home?

Available to stream later this year, "Last Exit: Space" will take viewers on a galactic journey across our planet, up into the night sky and beyond. Monthly subscriptions to Discovery Plus start from $4.99 a month, but you can also start a seven-day free trial of the service.

Related: Discovery Channel's 'Who Wants To Be An Astronaut' will launch a contest winner into orbit with Axiom Space

This latest documentary is an exciting addition to an already strong commitment to space programming from the network. For example, Discovery's coverage of SpaceX's historic Demo-2 mission to the International Space Station won the 2021 Daytime Emmy for Outstanding Daytime Special Event.

"Mankind's quest to become space colonists has always been a fascination the cutting-edge technology it requires, and the geniuses, dreamers and mavericks who lead this ambition," said the documentary's director, Rudolph Herzog, who is Werner's son. (Werner Herzog is the film's executive producer and narrator.).

"Last Exit is a brand-new creative collaboration for my father and me, and we are thrilled to be doing it with such forward-thinking partners," he added.

Discovery airs over 8,000 hours of original programming each year and is shown in nearly 50 languages and in 220 countries around the world.

"We are honored to work with Werner and Rudolph Herzog, who are uniquely suited to tell a story of such grand ambition and scale," said Lisa Holme, Group SVP of Content and Commercial Strategy at Discovery.

"With Discovery's strong history of creative leadership for stories covering exploration, space and science, Discovery Plus is the perfect streaming home for 'Last Exit: Space.'"

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The Future of Space Exploration Depends on the Private Sector – National Review

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The SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket lifts off from historic launch pad 39-A at the Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Fla., February 6, 2018. (Thom Baur/Reuters)

NASA may not like the competition, but its how well beat China in the new space race.

As Jeff Bezos, the wealthiest man on the planet, readies to launch himself into space aboard one of his own rockets, the world is watching the birth of a new dawn in space. Previously, America relied on its government agency, NASA, to propel it to the cosmos during the last space race with the Soviet Union. Today, Americas greatest hopes are with its private sector.

Jeff Bezos is not engaging in such risky behavior simply because hes an adrenaline junky. No, hes launching himself into orbit because his Blue Origins is in a titanic struggle with Elon Musks SpaceX and Bezoss firm is losing.

Whatever happens, the American people will benefit from the competition that is shaping up between Americas space entrepreneurs. This has always been how innovation occurs: through the dynamic, often cutthroat competition between actors in the private sector. While money is their ultimate prize, fame and fortune are also alluring temptations to make men like Musk and Bezos risk much of their wealth to change the world.

The private space race among these entrepreneurs is part of a far more important marathon between Red China and the United States. Whichever nation wins the new space race will determine the future of the earth below.

Consider this: Since winning its initial contracts to launch sensitive U.S. military satellites into orbit, SpaceX has lowered the cost of military satellite launches on taxpayers by over a million dollars less than what bigger defense contractors can do. Elon Musk is convinced that he can bring these costs down even more, thanks to his reusable Falcon 9 rocket.

The competition between the private space start-ups is fierce just as the competition between Edison and Westinghouse was but the upshot is ultimately greater innovation and lower costs for you and me. In fact, Elon Musk insists that if NASA gives SpaceX the contract for building the Human Landing System for the Artemis mission, NASA would return astronauts to the lunar surface by 2024 four years before NASA believes it will do so. (Incidentally, 2024 is also when China anticipates having a functional base on the moons southern pole.)

Whereas China has an all-of-society approach to its space race with the United States, Washington has yet to fully galvanize the country in the way that John F. Kennedy rallied America to wage and win the space race in the Cold War. Americas private sector, therefore, is the silver bullet against Chinas quest for total space dominance. If left unrestricted by meddlesome Washington bureaucrats, these companies will ensure that the United States retains its overall competitive advantage over China and all other challengers, for that matter.

Indeed, the next four years could prove decisive in who will be victorious.

Enter the newly minted NASA director, Bill Nelson, whose station at the agency has effectively poured cold water on the private sectors ambitious space plans. Space is not going to be the Wild West for billionaires or anyone else looking to blast off, Nelson admonished an inquiring reporter.

Why not?

Americas actions during its western expansion created a dynamic and advanced nation that was well-positioned to dominate the world for the next century. Should we not attempt to emulate this in order to remain dominant in the next century?

More important, this is precisely how China treats space: as a new Wild West . . . but one in which Beijings forces will dominate. China takes a leap-without-looking approach to space development everything that can be done to further its grand ambition of becoming the worlds most dominant power by 2049 will be done. Meanwhile, the Biden administration wants to prevent Americas greatest strength, the free market, from helping to beat its foremost geopolitical competitor.

Nelsons comments are fundamentally at odds with Americas spirit and animating principles. Whatever ones opinion about Bezos or Musk, the fact is that their private space companies are inspiring greater innovation today in the space sector after years of its being left in the sclerotic hands of the U.S. government.

Sensing that the federal governments dominance of U.S. space policy is waning, the Biden administration would rather cede the strategic high ground of space to China than let wildcatting innovators do the hard work. Today, the Federal Aviation Authority (FAA) and NASA are contriving new ways for strangling the budding private space sector, just as it is taking flight.

Risk aversion is not how one innovates. Risk is what led Americans to the moon just 66 years after the Wright brothers flew their first airplane. A willingness for risk doesnt exist today in the federal government which is why the feds shouldnt be running space policy.

The U.S. government should be partnering with the new space start-ups, not shunning them. The FAA should be automatically approving SpaceX launches, not stymying them. The federal government will not win space any more than it could win the West or build the locomotive. It takes strong-willed, brilliant individuals of a rare caliber to do that. All government can do is to give the resources and support to private-sector innovators and let them make history for us.

The next decade will decide who wins space. Let it be America and let Americas dynamic start-ups win that race, not Chinas state capitalism.

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The Future of Space Exploration Depends on the Private Sector - National Review

Unity 22 launch could change the future of space exploration and economy of New Mexico – KOAT New Mexico

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Sunday Unity 22 will launch a full crew for the first time into space at Spaceport America. The launch was originally scheduled for 7 a.m., but was pushed back by 90 minutes due to overnight weather at Spaceport America. The updated launch time is now at 8:30 a.m..The flight has been years in the making for Virgin Group CEO Sir Richard Branson and the state of New Mexico. Going to space has been a lifelong dream for Sir Richard Branson. "We've had 800 engineers working for 17 years. They now have ticked every single box and now we're ready for ourselves to go, said Branson. On Sunday morning that dream will be met, as Unity 22 will launch from Spaceport America in New Mexico. "It makes me feel very excited and honored for New Mexico, for New Mexico's economy, for space tourism," said Bill Richardson, former governor of New Mexico. Richardson worked with Branson to lay the foundation for Spaceport America, the first step in making this launch possible. The partnership is now bringing the space tourism market to the Land of Enchantment. "It's going to be a lot of jobs for those little counties around the spaceport. Sierra County, Dona Anna County, Las Cruces, Truth or Consequences," said Richardson. An industry the state of New Mexico estimates can bring in around 8 billion dollars by the year 2030. "This was a gamble. We had a budget surplus and I wanted to plan for the future. And I said, well, this better work. Branson came through, the New Mexico legislature came through. We took a risk and now it's paying off," said Richardson. It's a risk that could help the economy of New Mexico boom and achieve the dreams of a visionary. "I've had to wait almost a lifetime to be able to go into space. Hopefully we can speed that process up for many, many others," said Branson. Former Gov. Bill Richardson will not be attending the launch Sunday. Instead he is in Las Vegas, Nevada this weekend to watch Carlos Condit, his former chief of staffs son, fight in the UFC.

Sunday Unity 22 will launch a full crew for the first time into space at Spaceport America.

The launch was originally scheduled for 7 a.m., but was pushed back by 90 minutes due to overnight weather at Spaceport America. The updated launch time is now at 8:30 a.m..

The flight has been years in the making for Virgin Group CEO Sir Richard Branson and the state of New Mexico.

Going to space has been a lifelong dream for Sir Richard Branson.

"We've had 800 engineers working for 17 years. They now have ticked every single box and now we're ready for ourselves to go, said Branson.

On Sunday morning that dream will be met, as Unity 22 will launch from Spaceport America in New Mexico.

"It makes me feel very excited and honored for New Mexico, for New Mexico's economy, for space tourism," said Bill Richardson, former governor of New Mexico.

Richardson worked with Branson to lay the foundation for Spaceport America, the first step in making this launch possible. The partnership is now bringing the space tourism market to the Land of Enchantment.

"It's going to be a lot of jobs for those little counties around the spaceport. Sierra County, Dona Anna County, Las Cruces, Truth or Consequences," said Richardson.

An industry the state of New Mexico estimates can bring in around 8 billion dollars by the year 2030.

"This was a gamble. We had a budget surplus and I wanted to plan for the future. And I said, well, this better work. Branson came through, the New Mexico legislature came through. We took a risk and now it's paying off," said Richardson.

It's a risk that could help the economy of New Mexico boom and achieve the dreams of a visionary.

"I've had to wait almost a lifetime to be able to go into space. Hopefully we can speed that process up for many, many others," said Branson.

Former Gov. Bill Richardson will not be attending the launch Sunday.

Instead he is in Las Vegas, Nevada this weekend to watch Carlos Condit, his former chief of staffs son, fight in the UFC.

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Unity 22 launch could change the future of space exploration and economy of New Mexico - KOAT New Mexico