If Crypto Traders Abandoned Litecoin Why Are Investors Hoarding LTC? – Cointelegraph

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Price wise, Litecoin (LTC) has had a pretty rough year and currently the altcoin is down 51% over the past twelve months. The lack of GitHub activity and planned protocol upgrades have Litecoin co-founder Charlie Lee to admit 2019 saw a historic low in the number of developers working on Litecoin Core, the software behind network nodes.

The beginning of 2020 was no different and Charlie Lee asked for voluntary LTC miner donations to help boost development funding. Uncertainties regarding Litecoin's future have caused investors to lose interest in the project and this is reflected both on-chain and in LTCs trading metrics.

The interesting thing is, even though most would consider investors disinterest a negative driver, some have been quietly hoarding LTC.

Volume is the single most relevant indicator of traders' interest and Litecoin has been failing miserably in this area. Traded volume on major exchanges has been trending down for the past twelve months and has recently dropped to its lowest level in two years.

Litecoin 30-day average volume. Source: TradingView

Litecoin ranks third on Nomic transparent trading volume at $80 million per day. This is 50% above Bitcoin Cash (BCH), and EOS but the figure remains 45% below the previous eleven months when there was $146 million in daily volume on average.

A number of reasons could be behind the drastic change and it should be noted that even lower activity on exchanges does not necessarily translate to less blockchain usage, that has been the case.

On-chain metrics provide realistic insights into transfers, fees, active addresses, and many useful indicators that will be of interest to traders.

Transfer value is a leading on-chain indicator measuring user activity as it adds up all coins moved daily. CoinMetrics analysis provides more precise data by adjusting these figures to exclude mixers and transactions between the same entities.

Litecoin daily adjusted transfer sum 14-day average. Source: CoinMetrics

Daily adjusted transfers have been hovering around $20 million which is 83% below peak 2019 levels. The current level is comparable to Tezos (XTZ), a much newer and smaller cryptocurrency whose primary use-case has nothing to do with fast or cheap transactions.

Charlie Lee's proposal included smaller block intervals than Bitcoin (BTC) and a simpler algorithm which removed the signature from the original data for a higher transaction output.

Such a move might have brought substantial interest in Litecoin (LTC) in the past but it is no longer valid as users became aware that 270 confirmations were required to match the computing power behind 3 Bitcoin mined blocks, according to Luke Childs' How Many Confirmations analysis.

Litecoin mean fees per transaction 14-day average (USD). Source: Coinmetrics

LTCs mean fees per transaction dropped to $0.011 which is the lowest level since October 2015. Although many reasons could be behind this, including 75% SegWit usage, the previous daily transfer value analysis points to weak demand from its users.

While Bitcoins median block size exceeds 1.2 megabytes most of the time, Litecoin averages below 0.2 megabytes despite both having similar capacity.

Low usage translates to small fees, reducing miners' interest and resulting in a negative feedback loop as investors pay attention to the processing power behind each blockchain.

Litecoin hashrate. Source: CoinWarz

The Litecoin hashrate decreased by 45% since its October 2019 halving, which usually raises concerns of 51% attacks. This unused processing power capability could theoretically be used to compete with honest miners.

Either way, there's no positive read of fewer miners directing investments towards Litecoin. Unlike trading, mining activity is exclusively a long-term commitment as the payout usually exceeds a quarter and sometimes an entire year.

After so many negative indicators, one would expect holders' activity to display weakness as both the price and network usage have been trending down for over a year.

One could also mention the lackluster performance of recent code advancements, including the MimbleWimble-technology privacy capability proposed in October 2019.

Litecoin unspent UTXO age. Source: Investificar.com.br

Oddly enough, the opposite holds, as 63.8% of Litecoin supply remains untouched in the past 12 months. In fact, this is the highest level ever.

According to the above Hodl Wave chart, also known as the UTXO age distribution chart, the percentage of coins that haven't moved is increasing at an extraordinary pace.

The number of coins unmoved for 12 or more months at the beginning of 2020 stood at 56.7%. This additional 7% held by long term-investors is currently valued at $209 million which is enough to acquire 30% of the entire DASH supply.

There's no way to assure the rationale behind such hoarding activity, but its impact over circulating supply is a net positive.

This activity doesn't change the fact that the same amount of LTC will continue to be mined every day until next halving in 2023, nevertheless it provides a critical price support level.

Recently, investors have been speculating about a potential Litecoin integration with Cardano (ADA) and if true, this could be a bullish factor for Litecoin.

There is also the possibility of a crypto-market bull trend occurring and as investors begin to speak about an alt season starting, Litecoin might face increased odds of large pumps as long-term investors tend to be less tempted to sell at the first price move.

The views and opinions expressed here are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of Cointelegraph. Every investment and trading move involves risk. You should conduct your own research when making a decision.

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If Crypto Traders Abandoned Litecoin Why Are Investors Hoarding LTC? - Cointelegraph

Litecoin, Stellars Lumen, and Trons TRX Daily Analysis July 6th, 2020 – Yahoo Finance

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Litecoin

Litecoin fell by 1.31% on Sunday. Reversing a 0.22% gain from Saturday, Litecoin ended the week up by 0.60% to $41.59.

A mixed start to the day saw Litecoin rise to an early morning intraday high $42.22 before hitting reverse.

Litecoin broke through the first major resistance level at $42.55 before hitting reverse.

The reversal saw Litecoin slide to a late intraday low $40.75.

Litecoin fell through the first major support level at $41.08 before recovering to $41.5 levels.

At the time of writing, Litecoin was up by 0.46% to $41.78. A mixed start to the day saw Litecoin fall to an early morning low $41.53 before rising to a high $41.82.

Litecoin left the major support and resistance levels untested early in the day.

Litecoin would need to avoid a fall through the $41.5 pivot to support a run at the first major resistance level at $42.29.

Support from the broader market would be needed, however, for Litecoin to break back through to $42 levels.

Barring another crypto rally, the first major resistance level and Sundays high $42.22 would likely cap any upside.

Failure to avoid a fall through the $41.15 pivot would bring the first major support level at $40.82 into play.

Barring an extended crypto sell-off, Litecoin should steer clear of sub-$40 levels. The second major support level at $40.05 should limit any downside.

Major Support Level: $40.82

Major Resistance Level: $42.29

23.6% FIB Retracement Level: $62

38.2% FIB Retracement Level: $78

62% FIB Retracement Level: $104

Stellars Lumen fell by 0.95% on Sunday. Reversing a 0.61% gain from Saturday, Stellars Lumen ended the week up by 4.40% to $0.067170.

A mixed start to the day saw Stellars Lumen rise to an early morning intraday high $0.067813 before taking a hit.

Coming up short of the first major resistance level at $0.06860, Stellars Lumen fell to a late intraday low $0.065227.

Stellars Lumen fell through the first major support level at $0.06684 and the second major support level at $0.06588.

Finding late support, Stellars Lumen move back through the major support levels to wrap up the week at $0.067 levels.

At the time of writing, Stellars Lumen was down by 0.12% to $0.067092. A bearish start to the day saw Stellars Lumen fall from an early morning high $0.067239 to a low $0.067092.

Stellars Lumen left the major support and resistance levels untested early on.

Story continues

Stellars Lumen would need to avoid a fall through the $0.06675 pivot to support a run at the first major resistance level at $0.06824.

Support from the broader market would be needed, however, for Stellars Lumen to break out from Sundays high $0.067813.

Barring another broad-based crypto rally, the first major resistance level and Sundays high would likely limit any upside.

Failure to avoid a fall through the $0.06675 pivot could see Stellars Lumen struggle throughout the day.

A pullback through to sub-$0.066 levels would bring the first major support level at $0.06565 into play.

Barring an extended crypto sell-off, however, Stellars Lumen should steer clear of the second major support level at $0.06415.

Major Support Level: $0.06565

Major Resistance Level: $0.06824

23.6% FIB Retracement Level: $0.1051

38% FIB Retracement Level: $0.14336518

62% FIB Retracement Level: $0.2050

Trons TRX rose by 0.79% on Sunday. Following on from a 1.06% gain on Saturday, Trons TRX ended the week up by 7.56% to $0.016983.

Tracking the broader market, Trons TRX rose to an early morning high $0.016850 before hitting reverse.

Falling short of the first major resistance level at $0.01694, Trons TRX slid to a late morning intraday low $0.016355.

Trons TRX fell through the first major support level at $0.01661 and the second major support level at $0.01643.

A choppy 2nd half of the day saw Trons TRX fall back from $0.0166 levels to sub-$0.0164 levels before a late rebound. The rebound saw Trons TRX strike an intraday high $0.017001 before easing back.

Trons TRX broke through the first major resistance level at $0.01694 in the final hour.

At the time of writing, Trons TRX was up by 3.87% to $0.017639. A particularly bullish start to the day saw Trons TRX rally from an early morning low $0.016980 to a high $0.017649.

Trons TRX broke through the first major resistance level at $0.01720 and the second major resistance level at $0.01743 early on.

Trons TRX would need to avoid a fall back through the second major resistance to support a run at the third major resistance level at $0.01807.

Support from the broader market would be needed, however, for Trons TRX to break through to $0.018 levels.

Barring an extended crypto rally, the third major resistance level would likely cap any upside.

Failure to avoid a fall through the second major resistance level would bring sub-$0.017 levels back into play.

Barring another extended crypto sell-off, Trons TRX should steer clear of the first major support level at $0.01656.

Major Support Level: $0.01656

Major Resistance Level: $0.01720

23.6% FIB Retracement Level: $0.0322

38.2% FIB Retracement Level: $0.0452

62% FIB Retracement Level: $0.0663

Please let us know what you think in the comments below

Thanks, Bob

This article was originally posted on FX Empire

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Litecoin, Stellars Lumen, and Trons TRX Daily Analysis July 6th, 2020 - Yahoo Finance

Litecoin (LTC) Down $0.23 On 4 Hour Chart, Started Today Down 0.18%; in an Uptrend Over Past 14 Days – CFDTrading

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Litecoin 4 Hour Price Update

Updated July 11, 2020 11:18 AM GMT (07:18 AM EST)

Litecoin is down 0.52% ($0.23) since the previous 4 hours, marking a reversal from the candle prior and the end of a 3 four-hour candle positive run. Litecoin outperformed all 5 assets in the Top Cryptos asset class since the previous 4 hours.

Litecoin is down 0.18% ($0.08) since the previous day, marking the 2nd day in a row it has gone down. The change in price came along side change in volume that was down 36.48% from previous day, but up 64.94% from the Friday of last week. Relative to other instruments in the Top Cryptos asset class, Litecoin ranked 3rd since the previous day in terms of percentage price change. Below is a daily price chart of Litecoin.

Notably, the current price of Litecoin is sitting close to its 20, 50 and 100 day moving averages; moving average crosses often indicate a change in momentum, so this may be worth keeping an eye on. The clearest trend exists on the 14 day timeframe, which shows price moving up over that time. Also of note is that on a 90 day basis price appears to be forming a base which could the stage for it being a support/resistance level going forward. Or to view things another way, note that out of the past 30 days Litecoins price has gone down 16 them. Also, candlestick traders! Note we see pin bar pattern appearing here as well.

For laughs, fights, or genuinely useful information, lets see what the most popular tweets pertaining to Litecoin for the past day were:

@Cardano_Guy @CryptoIRELAND1 @litecoin @IOHK_Charles @_Cardano_ADA @HukAleksandra @TheCryptoLark Completely agree. Co-operation is what is required in the eco-system. Lets get rid of these squabbles and start to build the future; as long as were part of the ecosystem; after all, thats why this is blockchain 3.0

It seems like the spirit of the Cypherpunk Manifesto is in favor of experimentation and sharing of code to make a better world so forks & alts fit that.Again very different story if there was a fundraise that changes things a lot Im talking Litecoin, Monero etc.

This cryptocurrency, Dogecoin: shit started as a joke back in 2013, right?actually a pretty solid crypto with a silly name attached to it running on a similar code as Litecoin without a cap so its very volatile/reliable & low exchange fees

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Litecoin (LTC) Down $0.23 On 4 Hour Chart, Started Today Down 0.18%; in an Uptrend Over Past 14 Days - CFDTrading

Cardano’s ADA is Either #6 or 7 By Market Capitalization Depending on Who Counts – Cointelegraph

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Cardanos ADA recently overtook Litecoin (LTC) in market capitalization. Now it may have passed Bitcoin Satoshi Vision (BSV) as well, depending on how the metric is calculated.

BCH, BSV, ADA & LTC. Source: CoinMarketCap.

At the time of this writing, CoinMarketCap, or CMC, shows ADA in seventh spot, while Nomics has it at sixth - just ahead of BSV. The controversy stems from the circulating supply - CMC reports 25,927,070,538, while Nomics has the figure at 31,112,484,646. This represents a five billion ADA discrepancy. Blockchair, a blockchain search and analytics engine, agrees with Nomics.

Nomics CTO Nick Gauthier pointed out that the difference comes from the fact that his company includes ADAs allocated to the Cardano Foundation, IOHK, and Emurgo in the circulating supply, while, apparently CMC does not. According to a cached copy of the Cardano Foundation website, the three entities were given 648,176,761, 2,463,071,701 and 2,074,165,644 ADA tokens respectively. These numbers add up to 5,185,414,106 - precisely the difference between the amount reported by various data providers. Based on the current ADA price, these tokens are worth about $590 million.

The question still arises of whether these tokens should be included in the circulating supply. This should probably depend on the lockup mechanisms, if any, for the tokens remaining with those organizations. Presumably, some of the tokens have been spent and thus have become part of the circulating supply. The updated version of the site does not have any information on token distribution.

Cointelegraph reached out to IOHK for clarification, but did not receive a response in time for publication.

The ADA spring bull run. Source: Nomics.

Regardless of the circulating supply issue, ADA has been on a remarkable bull run that ensued after Black Thursday. On March 11. At that time, the price of ADA was $0.024; as of this writing, it is $0.114. The difference represents a 475% appreciation. It is still far below its all-time high of $1.16, set in January 2018.

IOHK, the Cardano development company, has reached a number of key milestones and public announcements during this time. The biggest news was the launch of the Shelley mainnet. Around the same time, a decentralized identity solution, Atala PRISM, was unveiled. There was also news about ADA holders being able to stake their coins while in Coinbase custody, and speculation on the likelihood of it being listed on the exchange by the end of 2020.

This momentum also comes on the heels of the Cardano Virtual Summit. According to Charles Hoskison was bigger than Consensus, having been a host to more than 10,000 guests.

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Cardano's ADA is Either #6 or 7 By Market Capitalization Depending on Who Counts - Cointelegraph

The Bahamas | History, Geography, & Points of Interest …

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The Bahamas, archipelago and country on the northwestern edge of the West Indies. Formerly a British colony, The Bahamas became an independent country within the Commonwealth in 1973.

Britannica Quiz

Its All in the Name

What do the people of Albania call their country?

The name Bahamas is of Lucayan Taino (Arawakan) derivation, although some historians believe it is from the Spanish bajamar, meaning shallow water. The islands occupy a position commanding the gateway to the Gulf of Mexico, the Caribbean Sea, and the entire Central American region. Their strategic location has given the history of The Bahamas a unique and often striking character. It was there that Christopher Columbus made his original landfall in the Americas. The subsequent fate of the peaceful original inhabitants remains one of the more tragic episodes in the development of the entire region, while the early attempts at European-dominated settlement were marked by intense national rivalries, interspersed with long periods of lawlessness and piracy. As a result, the society and culture that has evolved in The Bahamas is a distinctive blend of European and African heritages, the latter a legacy of the slave trade and the introduction of the plantation system using African slaves. The islands, lacking natural resources other than their agreeable climate and picturesque beaches, have become heavily dependent on the income generated by the extensive tourist facilities and the financial sector that have been developed, often as a result of the injection of foreign capital. The continued popularity of the islands with tourists, largely from North America, has helped to maintain a relatively high standard of living among the population, most of whom are of African descent. The capital, Nassau, is located on small but important New Providence Island.

Lying to the north of Cuba and Hispaniola, the archipelago comprises nearly 700 islands and cays, only about 30 of which are inhabited, and more than 2,000 low, barren rock formations. It stretches more than 500 miles (800 km) southeast-northwest between Grand Bahama Island, which has an area of 530 square miles (1,373 square km) and lies about 60 miles (100 km) off the southeastern coast of the U.S. state of Florida, and Great Inagua Island, some 50 miles (80 km) from the eastern tip of Cuba. The islands other than New Providence are known collectively as the Out (Family) Islands. They include Grand Bahama, which contains the major settlements of Freeport and West End; Andros (2,300 square miles [6,000 square km]), the largest island of The Bahamas; Abaco, or Great Abaco, (372 square miles [963 square km]); and Eleuthera (187 square miles [484 square km]), the site of one of the early attempts at colonization.

The Bahamas occupies an irregular submarine tableland that rises out of the depths of the Atlantic Ocean and is separated from nearby lands to the south and west by deepwater channels. Extensive areas of flatland, generally a few feet in elevation, are the dominant topographic features of the major islands; the Bimini group (9 square miles [23 square km]), for example, has a maximum elevation of only 20 feet (6 metres). A number of islands fronting the Atlantic have a range or series of ranges of hills on the northeastern side that parallel the longer axes of the islands. These ranges are formed of sand washed ashore and blown inland by the trade winds. The newer hills adjacent to the seashore are normally sand dunes. Solidity increases toward the interior, where the particles become cemented to form Bahama limestone. Eleuthera and Long Island (230 square miles [596 square km]) have the greatest number of hills exceeding 100 feet (30 metres). The highest point in The Bahamas, Mount Alvernia, at 206 feet (63 metres), is on Cat Island (150 square miles [388 square km]). Beneath the soil, the islands are composed of limestone rock and skeletal remains of coral fossils and other marine organisms. There are no rivers, but several islandsparticularly New Providence, San Salvador (63 square miles [163 square km]), and Great Inaguahave large lakes. There is abundant fresh water on Andros Island.

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The Bahamas | History, Geography, & Points of Interest ...

Nassau & Paradise Island | The Official Site of The Bahamas

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Nassau & Paradise Island | The Official Site of The Bahamas

Government of The Bahamas – Ministry of Health Testing Protocol for Incoming Visitors – Yahoo Finance

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Update #88

NASSAU, Bahamas, July 9, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- The Ministry of Health wishes to advise the public that travelers must complete a Bahamas Health Visa application and present a negative COVID-19 RT-PCR test with a sample taken within ten (10) days of arrival.

Effective immediately, all travelers will be required to complete an electronic Bahamas Health Visa application before departure from the place of embarkation. This can be found at travel.gov.bs. Travelers are required to upload a negative COVID-19 RT-PCR test and provide contact information.

The Government of The Bahamas will accept the negative COVID-19 RT-PCR (swab) test if the sample was taken within (10) ten days of arrival. Tests over ten (10) days old will not be accepted.

An automated response will be provided once the application is completed. The only persons approved to travel are those who have received a green color-coded response, as proof of approval. This confirmation must be presented upon arrival in The Bahamas. The Health Visa application process will take twenty-four to forty-eight (24-48) hours and should be completed with adequate lead time.

Failure to comply with the stated requirements will result in denied entry. It is recommended that all travelers interested in visiting The Bahamas review requirements applicable to each member of their traveling party at http://www.bahamas.com/travelupdates before booking a trip.

For more information, or to view the Tourism Readiness and Recovery Plan, please visit http://www.bahamas.com/travelupdates. You may also contact the Ministry of Tourism COVID-19 travel hotline at (242) 502-0829 Monday to Friday, 8 AM 6 PM, or email at healthvisa@bahamas.com.

PRESS INQUIRIESAnita Johnson-PattyBahamas Ministry of Tourism & Aviationajohnson@bahamas.com

View original content to download multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/government-of-the-bahamas---ministry-of-health-testing-protocol-for-incoming-visitors-301091158.html

SOURCE The Bahamas Ministry of Tourism and Aviation

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The Bahamas reopens to visitors – Travel Weekly

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Nassau and Paradise Island celebrated its reopening when the Bahamas began welcoming international travelers on July 1.

A sampling of the 3,000 rooms now available in the area includes the British Colonial Hilton, Graycliff Hotel and Breezes Resort & Spa in Nassau; and Bay View Suites Paradise Island, the Paradise Island Beach Club, Sunrise Beach Club & Villas and the Ocean Club, a Four Seasons Resort, on Paradise Island.

The 3,000 room number does not include Atlantis, which reopens July 30 with more than 2,100 rooms at The Royal, The Cove and Harborside Resort. Baha Mar in Nassau is scheduled to reopen its 3,000 rooms in October.

Nonstop air service on American, BahamasAir, Delta, JetBlue, Silver, Southwest and United resumed from Newark and New York JFK; Charlotte, N.C.; Baltimore and Atlanta, in addition to gateways in Florida. Nonstop flights from Chicago-O'Hare and Denver will resume in August.

Upon arrival, all visitors must complete and submit a Health Visa application and submit proof of a negative Covid-19 swab test taken within seven days of the travel date. Travelers who show symptoms of Covid upon arrival are transferred to an onsite quarantine area for further testing and evaluation.

Masks are required in public spaces and at attractions; inside dining in restaurants is permitted.

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The Bahamas reopens to visitors - Travel Weekly

Heading to the Bahamas? Here’s what you need to know Florida Courier – Florida Courier

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The popular Atlantis resort is located on Paradise Island, Bahamas.

JOSH NOEL/CHICAGO TRIBUNE/TNS

BY WELLS DUSENBURYSUN SENTINEL/TNS

The Bahamas officially reopened to the public last week with a handful of new coronavirus guidelines.

When you pack your sunscreen and bathing suit, make sure you have your mask ready as well.

Phase 2 allows for international travel. Earlier this month, the country allowed international boaters, yachters and private aviation as part of Phase 1.

If you plan on visiting the Bahamas, you must present a negative COVID-19 swab test upon arrival.

Travelers will also be required to complete an electronic health visa prior to departure and present proof of confirmation at their destination.

At airports and seaports, all visitors will undergo temperature checks conducted by health care personnel.

Any travelers who show COVID-19 symptoms will be transferred to a separate area for further testing and evaluation.

Visitors will be required to wear face masks in any situation where it is necessary to enforce physical distancing guidelines.

In addition to airports and sea terminals, travelers must wear masks in taxis, whilechecking in at hotels, standing in line at attractions and before being seated at restaurants.

Failure to comply with the countrys mask guidelines could result in a $200 fine or onemonth imprisonment.

JetBlue resumed daily service between Fort Lauderdale, Florida, and Nassau last week, while American Airlines resumed flights twice a day between Miami and Nassau on Tuesday.

The Bahamas will continue its mandatory curfew from 10 p.m. to 5 a.m., so travelers must return to their housing accommodations during that time. Visitors will be allowed to move freely throughout their hotel and resort properties during curfew.

One of the most popular hotels, Atlantis resumed operations on Tuesday. While the casino slot machines will be open 24/7, table games and sports betting will have revised hours.

Beginning July 13, the Bahamas will enter Phase 3 of its reopening, which allows for attractions, excursions and tours to resume. Phase 4, which begins July 27, will allow vendors and jet ski operators to reopen.

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Heading to the Bahamas? Here's what you need to know Florida Courier - Florida Courier

Anguilla Wins Best Island in the Caribbean, Bermuda, and the Bahamas – eTurboNews | Trends | Travel News

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The Anguilla Tourist Board (ATB) is pleased to announce that for the fourth consecutive year in a row, Anguilla is ranked No. 1 on the Travel + Leisure 2020 Worlds Best Awards list of the Top Islands in the Caribbean, Bermuda, and the Bahamas. Readers rated islands on the following characteristics: Natural attractions/beaches, activities/sights, restaurants/food, people/friendliness, value. Anguilla also ranked #7 on the Top 25 Islands in the World, the only Caribbean island to make the list.

We are very proud to receive this Award for four years in a row it is a tribute to the people of Anguilla and the extraordinary product that we offer, declared the Hon. Haydn Hughes, Minister of Tourism for Anguilla. Anguilla offers this amazing combination of truly spectacular beaches, fabulous cuisine, stunning boutique resorts and genuine hospitality, which keep our guests coming back year after year, he continued.

In celebration of the 25th Anniversary, Travel + Leisure will host a global, social media Toast + Post that will run from July 8 when the winners are released through August 31. Readers and winners around the world are encouraged to TOAST raise a glass to the very best in travel and then POST to take a photo or video of the moment and post it on social media, using the hashtags #TLToast and #TLWorldsBest along with their brands. Anguilla fans are encouraged to post on all the ATBs social platforms using the Hashtag #MyAnguilla.

On Wednesday, July 8, at 5:00PM EST, the Hon. Haydn Hughes will join Jacqueline Gifford, Travel+ Leisures Editor in Chief, for an Instagram Live interview on @TravelandLeisure to officially kick off the celebration, one of only five winners invited to do so.

Each year, for the past 25 years, the readers of Travel + Leisure the largest travel media brand in the United States, with an audience of 6.7 million share their thoughts on destinations, hotels, resorts, spas, airlines, cruise lines, tour operators, rental-car agencies, and more in their annual survey. The full results and report about the awards can be viewed at http://www.travelandleisure.com/worldsbest .

For information on Anguilla, please visit the official website of the Anguilla Tourist Board: http://www.IvisitAnguilla.com ; follow on Facebook: Facebook.com/AnguillaOfficial ; Instagram:

@Anguilla_Tourism ; Twitter: @Anguilla_Trsm ; Hashtag: #MyAnguilla.

Tucked away in the northern Caribbean, Anguilla is a shy beauty with a warm smile. A slender length of coral and limestone fringed with green, the island is ringed with 33 beaches, considered by savvy travelers and top travel magazines, to be the most beautiful in the world.

Anguilla lies just off the beaten path, so it has retained a charming character and appeal. Yet because it can be conveniently reached from two major gateways: Puerto Rico and St. Martin, and by private air, its a hop and a skip away.

Romance? Barefoot elegance? Unfussy chic? And untrammeled bliss? Anguilla is Beyond Extraordinary.

More news about Anguilla.

#rebuildingtravel

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Anguilla Wins Best Island in the Caribbean, Bermuda, and the Bahamas - eTurboNews | Trends | Travel News

Beaches and parks closed for holiday weekend – EyeWitness News

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NASSAU, BAHAMAS Prime Minister Dr Hubert Minnis announced the closure of beaches and parks in New Providence, Paradise Island and Grand Bahama over the Independence holiday weekend.

The closure will take effect at 10pm on Thursday, until 5am on July 13.

Addressing Parliament, Minnis underscored the ongoing surge in coronavirus cases in the United States, particularly Florida, Texas, and Arizona.

Minnis said: We are quite aware of the surge of the COVID-19 virus thats occurring in the United States, particularly Florida, Texas, Arizona, which I will speak to later, and we are also aware of what may have contributed to some of the surge.

He said: Taking these matters into consideration, so as to avoid such activities within The Bahamas and possibility of introduction and subsequently spread, the beaches and parks of New Providence, Paradise Island and the surrounding cays and Grand Bahama will close on the 9th of July at 10pm until the 13th of July 5am on Monday.

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Beaches and parks closed for holiday weekend - EyeWitness News

Health insurer’s Bahamas exit to be ‘orderly’ – Bahamas Tribune

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By YOURI KEMP

Tribune Business Reporter

ykemp@tribunemedia.net

Regulators yesterday said they expect a very orderly wind-down of a Bahamas-based health insurer as it readies to exit the market by December 2021.

Michele Fields, the Insurance Commissions superintendent, confirmed to Tribune Business that Generali Worldwide had given formal notice of its intention to cease doing business in The Bahamas and leave the jurisdiction.

Generali Worldwide have given us advice that they plan to leave the jurisdiction, she said. I think it will be over a course of a year, so they will not renew policies after a certain date.

Their policies are generally one-year policies, and so as policies expire they wont renew them. This will be a very orderly exit from the market. Generali executives declined to comment when contacted by this newspaper yesterday, but insurance industry sources confirmed it had notified both clients and the industry of its plans.

Generali entered the Bahamian health insurance market in 2007 when it acquired the client portfolio previously owned by the former British American Insurance Company. That followed a management-led buyout of the latter that was spearheaded by now-opposition deputy leader, Chester Cooper.

The underwriter, which focuses on group or employer-sponsored plans, has struggled to make major inroads into the market it competing against long-entrenched competitors such as Atlantic Medical, Colina Insurance Company and Family Guardian.

They have notified their clients, one insurance sector contact, speaking on condition of anonymity, said. When they came into the market they bought British Americans portfolio, which was low, low level.

That portfolio had been losing money left, right and centre, and as soon as their [BAF Financials] non-compete clause was over they re-entered the health market with a more suitably-priced health product.

The source suggested that Generali had managed to clean-up the portfolio it inherited, and had sought to attract clients by offering deep premium discounts, but there appeared to be little interest from Bahamas-based rivals in acquiring it ahead of the companys planned December 2021 departure.

They added that remaining health insurers seemed to be waiting for Generali clients to come to them, adding that the company seemed to be an ill-suited fit for its new parent, Utmost Worldwide, an insurance-based investments product provider, which acquired the formers global operations in 2018.

Utmosts latest published financial statements, for the 12 months to year-end 2018, showed that Generalis Bahamas business generated $3.209m in net profits that year based on $29.422m worth of gross premiums.

That represented an improvement on the prior years $286,000 net loss on the back of $25.965m in gross premiums written.

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Immigration fears over handling of COVID-19 positive migrant – EyeWitness News

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NASSAU, BAHAMAS Immigration officers in Grand Bahama have raised alarm over exposure risks due to the handling of a COVID-19 positive migrant.

Eyewitness News understands the undocumented migrant is a 20-year-old Haitian national, who had been living in Eight Mile Rock since March.

The migrant was reportedly apprehended by the US Coast Guard and was turned over to Bahamian authorities on July 5, and tested for the virus the following day.

Yesterday, Deron Brooks, Vice President of TheBahamasCustoms andImmigrationAllied WorkersUnion (BCIAWU), said more than a dozen Immigration officers have been potentially exposed while the migrant remains at the C A Smith building.

Brooks said the migrant is being held in a cell with other migrants who are awaiting repatriation, noting the government complex also housed several other agencies.

[Immigration officers] have a legitimate concern but I think our employers need to have an action plan and I dont know that they have one, Brooks said.

I think this was an eventuality that should have been considered given the nature of the global environment and Im not at all sure that they sufficiently planned for it.

Brooks said his members are demanding to be recognized as frontline workers and afforded benefits similar to doctors and nurses.

Calls placed to Dr Frank Bartlett, head of the islands COVID-19 task force, were not returned up to press time.

Now the unimaginable has happened, Brooks said.

The fact that those persons were brought to our country by the US Coast Guard is nothing new. What is new is officers now have to detain a person that has tested positive in a place that was not designed for that, and the department was not prepared for this eventuality.

The officers are now saying that they would like to have something similar to what doctors and nurses are getting. If they would die as a result of exposure, the same compensation for their families that doctors and nurses were afforded a few months ago.

Brooks said: Its a mammoths task something the average person could only imagine. They are under a lot of pressure right now. They were told they have to self-quarantine, the Ministry of Health told them that they cannot test them as yet.

The officers would like to know for peace of mind and safety of their families, if they go home to their families they dont know what they will take with them. The next concern is that if they have to self quarantine, some of their residences are not conducive to that.

Eyewitness News understands the department is preparing to repatriate 34 Haitian migrants on Monday.

Yesterday, Brooks said the COVID-19 positive migrant was not being detained in isolation.

Hes not in there alone because we dont have the space for that, he said.

Whats going on now we have not anticipated or they had not anticipated it happening the way it did. When we get people in, we try to make arrangements tp quickly to get them into Nassau. But in this instance, you cant take them into population of New Providence and expose other officers and so what they are trying to do is fly them from Freeport straight to Haiti.

Brooks is currently posted in Bimini; however, he noted several union officials have inspected the building like Commonwealth of the Bahamas Trade Union Congress vice president, Kirk Russell.

Yesterday, Russell said he was told the migrant was also taken to court for a hearing on Monday.

Moving forward, he said the congress has recommended officials consider virtual hearings for all detainees.

Russell said: If we are going to detain individuals, those individuals should be quarantined somewhere other than that building. To put them in that environment, no, we need a secure quarantine facility for those individuals. These are some things that must be addressed.

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Immigration fears over handling of COVID-19 positive migrant - EyeWitness News

‘Father of Labour’ named National Hero – EyeWitness News

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NASSAU, BAHAMAS Father of Labour Sir Randol Fawkes has been awarded the nations top honor of the Order of National Hero.

Fawkes was instrumental in establishing the trade union movement in The Bahamas, and piloted a bill to make Labour Day an official public holiday.

He played a pivotal role in the countrys track to majority rule during the 1967 general elections. Fawkes won his seat as leader of the Labour Party, and used his vote to support the Progressive Liberal Party forming a coalition government.

The recipients of the National Honours Awards 2020 were announced as the country marked its 47th anniversary of independence on Friday.

Renowned Bahamian psychiatrist Dr David Allen also tops the list of recipients awarded national honours.

Allen was made an Officer of the Order of Distinction, which recognizes exemplary service provided to The Bahamas.

Former Senate president and Leader of the Free National Movement Henry Bostwick was made Companion of the Order of The Bahamas; while former Attorney General Paul Adderley, and former Speaker of the House of Assembly Sir Alvin Braynen were awarded posthumously.

Justices Claire Hepburn, Jeanne Thompson, and Rhonda Bain were made Officers of the Order of The Bahamas.

Businessman Frank Crothers received the Order of Excellence.

Educator Roselda Woodside was appointed a Member of the Order of Merit.

This is the third year the National Honours have been bestowed.

The awards will be presented on National Heroes Day, which will be observed on October 13 this year.

There was no selection for the category of National Hero or Order of the Nation last year.

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'Father of Labour' named National Hero - EyeWitness News

Domestic banking will be ‘radically different’ EyeWitness News – EyeWitness News

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NASSAU, BAHAMAS The domestic banking industry will be radically different over the next 10 years, a well-known banker said yesterday, while urging the expansion of Bahamian ownership in the sector.

Gowon Bowe, Royal Fidelity CFO, spoke at the CFA Society of The Bahamas webinar yesterday.

Our domestic environment is one that I think is going to be radically different over the next 10 years, he said.

We have seen a banking industry that has been dominated by international ownership. That is not to criticize it but between the UK banks and Canadian banks that have had a strong foothold in Bahamian domestic baking industry, it is one that we have to look at how we expand Bahamian ownership.

Bowe pointed to the growth and expansion of a number of Caribbean banks and noted that increased Bahamian ownership in the domestic banking sector will become even more crucial as international banks contemplate their continued presence in the region.

Pointing to the international banking segment, Bowe argued that the Bahamas must start thinking about its tax policy.

Our tax policy is what we have sort of protected and which has led to our demise, he said.

We have held that we want to be a jurisdiction with low or no income taxes and in reality it has not served us well. Is it one that we we need to hold?

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Peter Nygard files for dismissal of class-action lawsuit alleging he sexually assaulted women – CBC.ca

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Canadian fashion designer Peter Nygard is asking the Southern District Court of New York to dismiss the claims of 52 out of 57 plaintiffs who filed a class-action lawsuit alleging he sexually assaulted them.

In the notice of motion sent to the media Thursday morning, Nygard says not only do 50 of the plaintiffs have no connection to New York, he argues the American court doesn't have jurisdiction over him or his companies named in the civil lawsuit.

"Due to the lack of connection between either defendant and New York and these plaintiffs claims and New York, any exercise of jurisdiction over defendants with respect to these plaintiffs' claims would violate due process," Nygard saidin court filings.

The lawsuit was filed on behalf of 10 plaintiffs nine women from the Bahamas and one American in the Southern District of New York in February. Since then, 47 more women, including plaintiffs from Canada, have joined.

Their allegations against Nygard include rape, sodomy and drugging in locations that include New York, Winnipeg and Nassau.

The allegations date as far back as 1977, and some of the womenallege they were assaulted when they were as young as 14 or 15.

The FBI raided Nygard's New York offices shortly after the class action was filedas part of a criminal investigation. No charges have been laid.

Nygard saidhe lived in Nassau in the Bahamas from 1970 until 2018, before moving back to Canada.

The designer, who was raised in Manitoba, claims he's been a permanent resident of the province since January 2019, and hasn't been to New York since February of that year.

"Since at least January 2019, I have spent more time in Manitoba, Canada, than in any other location," Nygardwrote in a signed declaration attached to the motion to dismiss.

"Since at least February 14, 1958, my passport has been issued to me by the government of Canada. I have never voted in the United States. I have no family members who reside or work in New York," he said.

Nygard saidhe is not a citizen or permanent resident of the U.S., and has never owned or leased property there, nor does he pay taxes in New York.

According to the court filings, "New York City has been described as the Nygard 'world'or 'corporate'headquarters.

"This was done for promotional and marketing purposes, to connect the Nygard brand to New York City, arguably the most well-known city for fashion in the world, and to grow business and visibility for the brand in the United States."

In the motion, Nygard also claimedthe statute of limitations has expired for 38 of the plaintiffs.

He saidthat according to the U.S. Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act, the women should have come forward no later than 10 years after the alleged assaults, or 10 years after they turned 18.

Nygard saidthe 38 plaintiffs have failed to prove that they couldn't have filed their allegations before the statute of limitations ran out.

"Although most Canadian provinces do not have a statute of limitations applicable to sexual assault claims, under the circumstances here, plaintiffs' Canadian law claims are subject to the statute of limitations applicable to such claims in New York," which Nygard saidis five years.

"Accordingly, for the 38 plaintiffs who are asserting Canadian law claims, if their claims are time barred under the statute of limitations applicable to the claims in New York, the claims must be dismissed."

The motion to dismiss also saidthat 12 of the 57 plaintiffs' claims allegedly occurred outside of the United States and thus require "extraterritorial application" under the law.

None of the allegations against Nygard have been proven in court and no charges have been laid.

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When it comes to beaches, I think Caesar had it right – Bahamas Tribune

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EDITOR, The Tribune

During my short stint in politics, the party with which I was affiliated, the SDP fought a by-election in South Eleuthera. At the time we found ourselves fighting not only the PLP, but also the BDP/FNM, but that is a story for another day.

One of my colleagues in the Senate was the late venerable Dr Cleveland Eneas, Sr. In his maiden campaign speech in Tarpum Bay, he began with the quotation from Shakespeares Julius Caesar

Those whom the gods would destroy, they first make mad. After seeing the blank faces in the audience the leader, the late Norman Solomon, cautioned the learned doctor to use very simple language and images as he didnt think the crowd got the message.

Dr Eneas quotation seems very apt in todays Bahamas with the competent authoritys decision yesterday to close the beaches. We could almost hear Marie Antoinette telling the people to eat cake when they could not afford bread.

After opening the borders and beaches, without any uptick in virus numbers, and no protests from the doctors, I can only perceive this action as madness. What will the tourists do. How will the Bahamians cool temperatures and tempers.

JEANNE THOMPSON

Nassau,

July 7, 2020.

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When it comes to beaches, I think Caesar had it right - Bahamas Tribune

Folkies find their own way to keep the spirit of Winnipeg Folk Fest alive from home – CBC.ca

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They may not be dancing at the main stage or relaxing in a hammock near the Bur Oak stagethis year, but that didn't stop folkies from taking in the sights and sounds of the Winnipeg Folk Festival from home.

The 2020 festival was cancelled because of the COVID-19 pandemic,but a virtual concert called Winnipeg Folk Festival at Homewas streamed live on Saturday.

Winnipeg's Samantha Windsor wanted to share the experience with friends, like she does every year,so she set up a beer garden in her Southdale backyard and played the concert over speakers for friends.

"This is our chance to all be together and celebrate our love of the Folk Festival," she said.

Folk Fest at Home included performances from past festivals from A Tribe Called Red, Sheryl Crow, Bahamas, Brandi Carlile, plus new performances by Alan Doyle, Tash Sultana, Vance Joyand local William Prince.

For Windsor, something felt like it was missing this year.

"Folk Fest to us is more of a feeling of showing up into a community of people who really appreciate the music and the ambiance that they set up there and it's not the same in my backyard," she said.

Windsor and herfriends did their best to reignitethe spirit by telling stories about past years, setting up hammocks, wearingFolk Fest at Home t-shirts andordering food from some of their favourite Folk Fest vendors, including Santa Lucia, East India Company and Gramma's Kettle Korn.

They weren't the only ones taking in the music.

Downtown, people packed The Beer Can, a pop up beer garden on Main Street, to watch the live-streamed show.

Megan Donald came out with a couple friendsto see Bahamas play andsays she's happy the live stream can keep the spirit of Folk Fest going.

"Not that it would go away, but I think it keeps the candlelight flickering a little bit for the Folk Fest that didn't get to happen. So I think it's like a nice sense of respect to it," she said.

Lapsed Folk Fest-goers Trevor Feltham and Gillian McMurchydecided they'd take in the live stream over a couple of beers.

"It's all new," she said. "This is exciting because it's new."

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Folkies find their own way to keep the spirit of Winnipeg Folk Fest alive from home - CBC.ca

Floating Cities: The UN’s Solution to Land Scarcity or Science Fiction Dream? – Propmodo

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Imagine a fully-functional city, bobbing in the ocean waters, floating like a rubber duck in the tub. The city and all of its occupants gradually follow natures ebb and flow, coasting along the earths currents. Does this sound like science fiction? Thats because it is. But the plans for floating city developments, along with the technology enabling them to work, already exist. In fact, two seasteading proponents successfully lived on the first ever floating modular seastead prototype, created by Ocean Builders. The couple, made up of retired Bitcoin investor Chad Elwartowski and Thai native Nadia Summergirl, are touted as the first seasteaders, according to the Seasteading Institute, whose goal is to build politically-autonomous cities on the sea. But the first seasteaders stay was cut short when the Thai navy confiscated the prototype after just a few weeks because they claimed it threatened the nations sovereignty and interfered with international shipping routesa large feat for such a tiny vessel and a crime that can be punishable by death in Thailand.

Ocean Builders has since begun a new venture in Panama to test their Seapod concept. They are currently accepting applications for seasteaders that want to join their Panama Incubator, that boasts one of the worlds largest 3D printers, which they intend to use for printing smart homes as well as a coral reef. Not so long ago, the idea of printing a coral reef would have also been written off as science fiction, so perhaps there is a possible future where floating cities exist. Elwartowski, who is in Panama working on the project, released a video in March describing plans to continue full-steam ahead. In regards to the COVID-19 outbreak, Elwartowski said, Weve been working hard, trying to get everything still going. We are not going to stop through the virus. Later in the video, which tests an underwater drone, he continued, No matter if youre scared of the virus or the reaction to the virus, living out on the ocean will be helpful for both of those situations.

Elwartowski doesnt go into detail on how he envisions floating cities being useful for situations like COVID-19. But I spoke with Brydon T. Wang, a technology and construction lawyer and a researcher at the Queensland University of Technology. Wang, who studied architecture and public policy in addition to law, explained that floating cities could provide flexibility in terms of use, allowing buildings to be mobile and reprogrammable to different parts of the city and beyond. In terms of COVID-19, he said, floating emergency housing facilities could be repurposed and attached to cities and used for quarantine facilities. Converting buildings into temporary hospitals during the pandemic has been a huge challenge for everyone involved, requiring people to work around the clock to get these treatment centers open for use. Floating cities could help alleviate this stress. Wang said, These floating structures could come with state-of-the-art medical facilities that can be towed to areas [or] cities of need, depending on how each site is impacted by new waves of COVID-19 infections (or any other pandemic).

Wang also gave the example of how the widespread bushfires in Australia caused a need for emergency evacuation, stranding thousands of people on a beach in Mallacoota. When navy vessels were sent to evacuate them, families with infants and toddlers could not evacuate as they needed to climb ropes to get onto the vessels, Wang explained. In emergency situations, accessibility can be the difference between life or death for societys most vulnerable members who lack the mobility to escape without assistance. Floating emergency structures can be designed to have easier accessibility, closer to the waters surface, as well as on site emergency housing and all of the facilities needed to sustain displaced communities for extended periods of timeperhaps even full time.

Last year, as a part of its Human Settlements Programme, UN-Habitat, the United Nations announced an initiative to research floating city developments as a sustainable solution to the growing problem of urban density, land scarcity, and climate change. During a high-level roundtable on the topic, UN Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed explained that the way weve built cities in the past, citing New York and Nairobi as examples, is not sustainable for the future because of their impact on climate change and susceptibility to rising sea levels. She explained how floating cities can help communities in places like Bangkok, where the risk of flooding threatens to destroy them. Mohammed cited other examples including Lagos, where the urban poor have responded to the lack of land and a growing population by living in floating villages on the outskirts of town. She also mentioned Singapore, where scarcity of land has led to massive reclamation, expanding the citys size by almost a quarter (and undoubtedly destroying marine habitats in the process).

Land reclamation can have detrimental environmental impacts, and according to Wang, its also a slow processthe ground needs to settle after you create it. However, you could manufacture multiple modules of floating structures at different sites and assemble these on-location comparatively quicker than land reclamation. Floating developments are far more eco-friendly than land reclamation, but they are also more resilient to the effects of climate change. Floating cities are a means of ensuring climate resilience, as buildings can rise along with the sea, Mohammed said. Land reclamation developments, on the other hand, are still susceptible to rising sea levels and flooding. Wang reiterated these sentiments and added, Floating structures are also earthquake resistant unlike reclaimed land.

Mohammed provided examples where successful floating development precedents exist: Cities such as Seattle, Jakarta and Mexico City have made way for houseboats and floating markets for some time, expanding the places where people can live and work onto the sea. A few summers ago, I visited Victoria, British Columbia, which boasts one of these floating markets called Fishermans Wharf. Shops, restaurants, boats, and colorful float homes are all connected by a grid of docks along the harbor. I remember thinking that the unique location probably garnered a premium for float home rentalswhat tourist wouldnt want to wake up to a harbor seal splashing outside their window? It turns out that these particular float homes were not for rent, but the added tourism benefit could help cities broaden their economic activity.

Existing floating developments, like those in Victoria, often run on the same power sources as the mainland and require the same access to utilities as land developments. However, the newer, more futuristic floating city models run autonomously on green energy with net zero emissions and actually support marine environments rather than disturb them. When entire floating communities are designed from scratch, they can be designed as climateneutral from the onset. Why not use the abundant wind and water to cover all of their electricity needs? said Mohammed.

Elwartowskis confiscated prototype ran on solar provided by rooftop panels. Many of these floating city concepts include things like hydroponic grow walls to farm food and ways to convert algae into energy or rain into usable water. More advanced concepts like Oceanix, designed by BIG architecture firm, or Aequorea, a futuristic oceanscraper by Vincent Callebaut, also boast fully developed underwater marine habitats that thrive just below the waters surfacea Utopian Atlantis that looks as though it could house mermaids as well as people. Some of these concepts can feel a bit foreign or hard to imagine in real life. They end up lumped in with flying cars and actual hoverboards (not those wheel-based imitations that caught fire and ruined Christmas a few years back). But what if, instead of dumping money into land reclamation and the creation of artificial islands, we focused on actual, sustainable floating city concepts?

Elwartowski may have been onto something when he said that COVID-19 could act as a catalyst in helping people realize the value of living on the sea. Indeed, densely-populated places like New York City have seen a recent exodus of people moving to the suburbs. Whether the result of the work from home movement, a desire to avoid crowds, or because so many businesses (and livelihoods) were shut down, the flocks of people leaving the city for more rural areas means that urban density could be less of an issue in the future. But Wang sees this shift in urban density happening only to a certain degree: In many places, there are limits to how much the suburban surrounds can absorb increased population growth.

COVID-19 also seemed to be a catalyst in lessening the impacts of climate change. Many cities reported reduced smog and clearer skies as people across the world were forced to stay home, meaning less cars on the road and less energy consumption. While these COVID-19 side effects may only be temporary, they also teach us important lessons about the futures possibilities. We have a legitimate conundrum: continue excavating land from the sea to bulk up our coasts, protect us from rising sea levels, and provide more land to build upon, or explore different directions.

While seasteaders like Elwartowski might be after autonomy to self govern, the concept could also be used to create more of these live-work-play floating markets like Fishermans Wharf in Victoria, but on a grander scale. Floating cities dont necessarily need to drift through international waters. They could instead be used as a portable extension of land. Mohammed welcomes both humble houseboats and oceanscrapers alike in the discussion about sustainable floating cities. She also approaches it in a practical way, much like any other commercial development with partnerships that allow stakeholders in various roles to contribute expertise.

Innovators, researchers and private sector leaders can develop the technologies that allow floating cities and buildings to be constructed in a manner that is sustainable, resilient, and liveable. Governments can create [] incentives for innovation to thrive. And local authorities can facilitate the construction of pilot projects, Mohammed said. Much like the planning of any city, floating cities will rely on technology to establish an infrastructure that supports the needs of the population. Floating cities dont need to be libertarian utopias of the future. They can be more sustainable extensions of the cities that already exista green alternative to destructive land reclamation or deforestation, a solution to land scarcity that doesnt require actual land.

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Floating Cities: The UN's Solution to Land Scarcity or Science Fiction Dream? - Propmodo

Not just about the data: Scientists seek to address racial bias in the lab and classroom – Daily Record-News

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In this time of national reckoning, a grassroots movement of scientists and academics is asking their colleagues to solve problems beyond their research: the scientific communitys own issues with racial discrimination and bias.

Scrolling through social media posts tagged #BlackInTheIvory illuminates just some of the experiences Black students, professors and researchers have encountered and what the community must face as they seek lasting change.

A Black professor said someone reported him to the police while he was wearing a medical white coat walking to a friends house. Black students have been told to switch majors because advisors assumed they didnt have the right backgrounds. Then there are the constant encounters with positive references to eugenicists and white supremacists.

There need to be consequences for actions that create a hostile atmosphere for Black people and people of color in academia, said Emma Bonglack, a Ph.D candidate in pharmacology at Duke.

The results are two national movements known as #ShutDownSTEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) and #StrikeForBlackLives, and scientists in the Triangle are lending their voices to the cause.

For many of the groups participating in the Triangle, this includes looking at how they recruit students and faculty. Black workers remain underrepresented in nearly all STEM job sectors, according to the National Science Foundation.

The scientific research community is not only about the science, is not only about the data, is not only about the questions that we ask, its also very much about the people who are conducting that work, said Johnna Frierson, assistant dean of Graduate and Postdoctoral Diversity and Inclusion at the Duke University School of Medicine.

Calls to action

Just like there have been protests following the death of George Floyd at the hands of police, Triangle universities have organized marches, times of reflection and calls to action.

Duke Health had a march against racism on June 10. On June 16, Duke held a university-wide virtual symposium on Living While Black, with experts providing context to the national movement as well as students and staff sharing their personal experiences at Duke.

Dukes School of Medicine and Pratt School of Engineering encouraged faculty, staff and students to participate in #ShutDownSTEM on June 10. Organizers said the goal was for the reflection and education from that day to lead to lasting changes in how science and academia address racism against Black people.

Systemic racism involves all walks of life, we cant not be involved, said Christopher Newgard, director of the Duke Molecular Physiology Institute.

In the School of Medicine, Frierson said graduate students expressed a strong interest in the movement, and the administration worked to amplify those voices.

In both the medical and engineering schools, there was active discussion with students and staff. Newgard said they are collecting materials to help educate people and to brainstorm future action.

In the short term, Newgard said Duke could enhance its collaboration with historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs) in research and training. HBCUs, like NC Central, are responsible for educating a significant portion of Black scientists and engineers, especially relative to the size of these institutions.

Bringing ideas to action

At UNC, NC State, and NC Central, participation primarily took place in departments and research groups.

Diane Markoff is a physics professor at North Carolina Central University. As a white professor at a historically Black university, Markoff said she felt like she should participate because its important for her students. She thinks all institutions need to consider the environment they establish for Black scientists.

Theres a stereotype that were so involved in the science that nothing else matters, Markoff said.

As part of Markoffs particle physics research, her NCCU students routinely travel to other universities and labs for collaborative projects.

The HBCU is a comfortable environment for our students, Markoff said. It should be a comfortable environment at a predominantly white institution, too.

Bonglack hopes the day of #ShutDownSTEM is a turning point for the scientific community. By equipping future leaders in science and engineering with the tools to address racism, Bonglack said, they should be able to break the cycle.

That starts with more accountability for racist behavior. Students in her department have asked mentors to create detailed plans to address disputes related to racism in their research groups.

They also want the curriculum to both better reflect the history of racism in science and to highlight the contributions of Black scientists and other scientists of color, whose work has often been marginalized.

Claire Gordy, a professor in biological sciences at NC State, said her department is exploring the policies regarding hiring committees to make them more equitable. They are also planning to formalize new professional development expectations for faculty and staff about diversity and inclusion, beyond the NCSUs new training module.

Gordy said there has been a failure to recruit or retain minoritized or marginalized faculty.

Thats not specific to us, thats almost everywhere, Gordy said.

Frierson said the Duke School of Medicine wants to evaluate its interview practices to ensure everyone is treated fairly, in addition to ensuring it reaches out to a diverse applicant pool.

Ultimately, Frierson said, it comes down to making sure the school is a welcoming environment.

You cant expect to recruit a talented, vibrant, diverse community if the community that currently exists isnt optimal for the people already there, she said.

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Not just about the data: Scientists seek to address racial bias in the lab and classroom - Daily Record-News