This unnecessary election has reduced the Liberal Democrats to a party without a purpose – The Independent

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It is a strange world where a bakers dozen of seats can be regarded as some sort of deliverance but,of course, that is exactly where the Liberal Democrats have wound up. It is a mild advance on the 2015 disaster, and a very mixed one indeed.

When you get down to this sort of representation,quality is more important than quantity. Theobvious loss is Nick Clegg,meeting his nemesis at last after the tuition fees affair. The students in Sheffield Hallam, this time registered at the right address, managed to get to the polling stations in time.

The positive side of the ledger comprises the return of Sir Vince Cable, Jo Swinson and Ed Davey,plus the survival of Norman Lamb and only just party leaderTim Farron himself. It will now fall to Cableto fulfil the job of leader of the Anti-Brexit Party in Parliament where Remainers actually constitute an easy majority, whatever their party labels. In the Lords,perhaps, Clegg could play a prominent role in delivering a second referendum on the terms of the Brexit deal negotiated with the EU. A more consensual Brexitnowseems inevitable.

Former deputy PM Nick Clegg loses Sheffield Hallam to Labour

Yet the Lib Dems failed in so many ways to capitalise on the bruised 48 per cent of left behind Remainers. Outside the posh London suburbs and places such as Bath, they have been almost driven out of England, andpushed further to the Scottish fringe. There is little sign that they are anywhere near re-establishing in the rest of theCeltic fringe, especially the West Country.

Talk about a progressive alliance and the realignment of the centre left seems misplaced because the country has polarised and progressives have shifted to the left. Theres not much point in creating a grouping that would just get squeezed under this return to two party politics.

Jeremy Corbyn is consolidating the progressives,and even the Remainers, himselfeven though he personallyremains radical and Eurosceptic. He has found a way to mobilise people in a way that had been entirely unexpected, and his statist agenda is popular.

The Lib Dems have survived again. They arepolitical cockroaches, stubbornly surviving thenuclear attack under which they are continually placed by the the first-past-the-post electoral system.And theyvebeen through worse: the 1950s;1989.

Today, however, the Liberal Democratsdo look like a party without a purpose.

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This unnecessary election has reduced the Liberal Democrats to a party without a purpose - The Independent

Globe editorial: Another case of Liberal hubris and self-harm – The Globe and Mail

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Some political moves are complex, requiring a delicate balancing of competing interests and priorities. Some are tough moral calls, with reasonable people disagreeing over the right course.

And then are those political moves that should be the equivalent of empty net goals. Theyre supposed to be an easy score. Theyre supposed to be hard to miss.

And yet, faced with such opportunities, the Trudeau government has often displayed a remarkable ability for seeing an open net, misfiring and instead scoring an own-goal.

Theres a discernable pattern of unforced errors, lapses in judgment, self-harming secrecy and worse. Coming from a PMO that sees itself as Mensas gift to Ottawa, its more than a little puzzling.

Consider the botched appointment of Madeleine Meilleur to the post of Official Languages Commissioner.

As a Franco-Ontarian and former Ontario cabinet minister, Ms. Meilleur is arguably well qualified for the position. But shes also a just-retired Liberal politician, being offered what is supposed to be a non-partisan job. And most importantly, the job the government tried to give her wasnt its to offer.

Read more: Madeleine Meilleur drops bid to be Canadas languages commissioner

The Official Languages Commissioner is an officer of Parliament. She reports to Parliament, not the government of the day. Traditionally, the appointment is made by across-the-aisle consensus, or something close to it. That the government didnt clear Ms. Meilleur with the opposition before announcing the appointment is hard to understand and impossible to justify which is why it provoked such an outcry.

Heritage Minister Mlanie Joly, who is ultimately responsible for putting forward a nominee and conducted the final round of interviews with prospective candidates, is surrounded by people who used to work for or with Ms. Meilleur. It turns out that Ms. Meilleur also spoke prior to her nomination with senior staff in the Prime Ministers Office, who also used to work at Queens Park.

The process that led to the appointment initially held in secret; later revealed amid public pressure has even drawn fire from minority language groups who fear the office has been tainted.

Theyre not far wrong; this has every appearance of a Liberal government looking after a member of its political family, while undermining its own claims to believe in greater parliamentary accountability and transparency.

This week, faced with the ongoing outcry, Ms. Meilleur withdrew her name from contention.

This should have been a simple, non-controversial, non-partisan appointment. The government transformed it into an own-goal.

And remarkably, this is not the Trudeau governments first such hubris-driven, self-inflicted wound.

There were those attempts plural to rewrite the rules of parliamentary procedure without all-party consensus.

There was that time the Liberals presented draft legislation clearly aimed at undermining the arms length Parliamentary Budget Officer.

And there is the ongoing controversy over the Prime Ministers Christmas vacation on the Aga Khans Caribbean island. The story began when the government refused to tell the media, and Canadians, where the PM was. The move was pretty much the definition of self-defeating: A sure sign that you have something to hide is that you are very visibly hiding it.

More recently, an entire Question Period was devoted to Mr. Trudeau repeatedly refusing to say whether hed been interviewed by the federal Ethics Commissioner about the trip.

In a related vein, the obvious solution to the controversy provoked by Liberal ministers holding secret pay-to-play fundraisers involving people who do business with his government would have been to stop them, immediately.

The newly-introduced Bill C-50 is an important step forward, as was the Liberal Party decision earlier this year to make its fundraising more transparent. Both go a long way to removing the secrecy around party fundraising. The government has ultimately moved in the right direction but first, it spent months exhausting all other options, while denying there was a problem.

The paradox is that this is a government that has at times demonstrated flexibility and shown a willingness to change its mind. Reversing course on the PBO legislation was the right thing to do, even if it required last-minute amendments in committee to do it.

But why not just take the right course, first?

The Liberals came to power promising radical transparency, and a clean break with practices they decried under former PM Stephen Harper. And yet, for all the Sunny Ways branding and all the carefully curated photo-ops, there are too many moments when the Trudeau government comes across as puzzlingly, insistently Harper-esque.

It is not a good look.

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Globe editorial: Another case of Liberal hubris and self-harm - The Globe and Mail

Fiscal targets at risk, says Gigaba – BusinessLIVE – Business Day (registration)

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BNP Paribas SA economist Jeffrey Schultz has revised his growth estimate to 0.7% in 2017, rising to 1.3% and 1.5% in the subsequent years.

"The prospect of sustained low growth over the medium term remains the greatest risk to our fiscal policy objectives and limits governments ability to generate more revenue. Further consolidation measures may be required to ensure fiscal sustainability," Gigaba told MPs.

The first-quarter contraction, he said, "introduces significant downward bias in the GDP growth estimates" contained in the 2017 Budget Review, which forecast growth of 1.3%.

If sustained, this growth rate "will lead to further decline in GDP per capita and revenue, threatening the affordability of our planned expenditure. This puts more pressure on us as government to intensify our growth programme and improve confidence as a matter of urgency," Gigaba said.

He said the Cabinet had committed to provide clarity and certainty on key policy issues with the aim of unlocking growth in the economy in the next few weeks. Timelines for the finalisation of these policies would be announced soon.

Gigaba said the government was also committed to a "speedy response" to the issues raised by credit ratings agencies.

He reiterated the governments commitment to reduce the budget deficit over the next three years to 3.3% and to stabilise debt as a percentage of GDP. It was also committed to achieving greater efficiency and to stabilising the share of the public sector wage bill of total government expenditure. Personnel trends in all departments were being closely monitored. Measures were under consideration to generate more taxes over the medium term.

The DA, EFF, Congress of the People, the African Christian Democratic Party and the Freedom Front Plus objected to the passage of the bill.

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Freedom Caucus wants to take border adjustment out of tax plan, add welfare reform – Washington Examiner

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Leaders of the House Freedom Caucus are urging House GOP leaders to drop the contentious border-adjusted tax proposal in the tax reform bill, and consider canceling August recess to hasten passage of legislation.

The conservative group is also weighing a demand for welfare reform as part of the bill.

HFC members laid out their priorities at the conservative Heritage Foundation as the Trump administration and congressional Republican leadership continue to negotiate a unified tax plan.

The caucus, which includes several dozen members, proved its ability to shape major legislation in last month's passage of an Obamacare replacement. The group's leader, Rep. Mark Meadows, R-N.C., helped negotiate the final healthcare bill.

One demand Meadows made Friday was for the House to move forward without a key provision favored by Speaker Paul Ryan, R-Wis., namely the border-adjusted tax.

"The political facts are: There is not consensus to have support for the border adjustment tax," said Meadows. Even though the Freedom Caucus doesn't have a position on the idea, which has met harsh opposition from retailers and other import-intensive industries, Meadows argued that the controversy over it is slowing tax reform.

Ditching the border-adjusted tax would leave a major hole in the tax reform math. It would raise around $1 trillion over 10 years.

Under the proposal, companies would no longer be allowed to deduct the cost of imported goods and services, but would no longer pay any taxes on revenues from exports. In today's system, U.S. companies are taxed on all profits, whether they are earned in the U.S. or abroad.

Freedom Caucus members, however, favor tax reform legislation that cuts federal revenues. Leaders favor reform that doesn't add to the deficit, in part to ease the path for tax reform through the legislative process.

Meadows stated that House Republicans could quickly come to agreement on a tax plan that cut tax rates for businesses, permanently extended "bonus" depreciation that allows companies to immediately write off half of the value of some new investments, allowing companies to return foreign earnings at a lower rate, and doubling the standard deduction for families.

In order to pass tax reform legislation, Republicans aim to use the budget process known as reconciliation, which allows bills to pass with a simple majority in the Senate, bypassing a Democratic filibuster.

Using that procedure, however, requires them to first write a budget for fiscal year 2018. Doing so would be difficult given conservative demands to balance the budget, cut spending, and reform entitlements.

Jim Jordan of Ohio, a member of the Freedom Caucus, said Friday that the group would be willing to entertain higher spending in exchange for including welfare reform measures in the ensuing tax bill.

Those reforms should include work requirements and time limits on benefits, Jordan said, explaining that "it's good policy to encourage work."

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Freedom Caucus wants to take border adjustment out of tax plan, add welfare reform - Washington Examiner

House eyes omnibus deal by August recess – E&E News

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George Cahlink, E&E News reporter

Congressional leaders are worried about a time crunch for tackling spending, the debt ceiling and the rest of their agenda. Wikipedia (bill); Ed Uthman/Flickr (Capitol)

With momentum building toward an omnibus fiscal 2018 spending package in the House before the August recess, energy and environmental agencies stand a greater chance to get fresh dollars than in recent years.

House lawmakers are considering marking up all 12 annual appropriations bills in quick succession over the next several weeks and then combining them into one package that would hit the floor by the end of July, before Congress leaves for a five-week summer recess.

Those bills could also potentially move in tandem with a fiscal 2018 budget resolution and a measure to raise the debt ceiling.

Lawmakers are eager to make headway on fiscal issues rather than bump up against the new fiscal year on Oct. 1 and a looming deadline for raising the nation's borrowing authority. It would allow Republicans to use the fall to focus on another top legislative priority, a tax overhaul, and diminish the prospects of shutting down the government.

"We always knew we were going to have an abbreviated budgeting process in this first year, like we do with every new administration," Speaker Paul Ryan (R-Wis.) told reporters yesterday. "So we're trying to figure out what's the best way to deal with our appropriations process, our budget process, given the ambition for tax reform" and the need to address other fiscal issues.

Additionally, an omnibus would likely allow for sidestepping the floor fights over partisan policy riders that have bogged down work on the energy-water and EPA-Interior spending bills in recent years. Broad spending packages, like the one Congress passed last month for funding the remainder of fiscal 2017, usually get bipartisan support because of their wide reach.

House Minority Whip Steny Hoyer (D-Md.) was quick to chide Republicans this week for ignoring regular order by considering an omnibus without first considering any individual spending bills. But, he added, Democrats view a broad funding package as a "step up" from relying on emergency spending bills.

"It's just hard to see the time to do all 12 spending bills," said Rep. Tom Cole (R-Okla.), a senior appropriator, who said the idea is "attractive" to many House members who see the omnibus as a way to get a floor vote on every bill ahead of final spending negotiations with the Senate.

Any House package would change in the Senate, where Democrats still have the ability to filibuster spending bills. Still, a House-passed package would give the chamber a stronger negotiating hand than relying on spending bills that have only been voted out of committee.

Cole said there still likely would be some room for amendments even on a broad deal but said they could be "harder" to get attached if the underlying omnibus has bipartisan support.

Rep. Ken Calvert (R-Calif.), the chairman of the House Interior and Environment Appropriations Subcommittee, at a hearing yesterday alluded to the tight calendar given that the White House budget request came about three months later than usual this year.

"This budget season is going to be a challenge," said Calvert. "We have a short time, a short window here we have to solve this, so we're going to be working hard on this committee."

Staunch House conservatives, who in the past have held up the spending bills to try to force deeper cuts, seem willing to pass up those fights this time with an eye toward focusing on longer-term budgeting goals and tax reform.

Rep. Mark Meadows (R-N.C.), the chairman of the hard-right Freedom Caucus, said the group would be open to an omnibus provided there is room to at least offer some policy riders. He said an omnibus would be better than a fall dominated by fights over stopgap measures as has been the case in recent years.

"We want to get it done," said Meadows.

It's not year clear when, or even if, the House will take up its annual budget resolution this year that would offer a nonbinding funding blueprint for appropriators.

If one is not adopted, the chamber could choose to deem an overall spending discretionary spending level that appropriators would then divide among the 12 bills.

House Budget Chairwoman Diane Black (R-Tenn.) would not commit this week to moving a budget before the July 4 recess, telling reporters she was working to find "consensus."

Black and other GOP leaders are especially eager to move a budget this year with provisions calling for a tax overhaul, which under obscure budgeting rules would make it far easier to get tax legislation written and passed through the Senate later in the year.

Meanwhile, Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin recently asked Congress to approve an increase in the nation's borrowing limit before leaving for summer recess.

The debt ceiling had not been expected to be hit until the fall, but as tax revenues have lagged, the administration has called for earlier action to avoid the chance at defaulting on federal debt.

GOP lawmakers have signaled an openness to a clean extension with most unwilling to risk an unprecedented federal default. It remains to be seen, though, whether other provisions could be woven into the debt deal, which in the past has been used as a vehicle to move both tax breaks and spending cuts.

The Freedom Caucus has said it would only back a debt limit increase if it were coupled with calls for other long-term, structural budget reforms that could force reductions in discretionary accounts and federal entitlements.

Meadows, however, conceded the right's view might not carry if Democrats joined with other more moderate Republicans to back a clean increase in the debt ceiling.

Hoyer said this week Democrats would be willing to support a clean debt ceiling increase but stressed it could not be tied to moving a tax package.

Reporter Kellie Lunney contributed.

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MAVI Museum of Visual Arts – E-Flux

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Arturo Duclos El fantasma de la utopa Utopias Ghost June 8August 20, 2017

MAVI Museum of Visual Arts Mulato Gil de Castro Square Jos Victorino Lastarria 307 Santiago Chile

http://www.mavi.cl Twitter

Arturo Duclos: el fantasma de la utopa [Utopias Ghost] Curator: Paco Barragn

Is the idea of utopia still necessary, let alone possible? Is utopia still valid as aspiration for a better or even perfect society? Or has utopia simply turned into nostalgia and a kind of new kitsch?

The exhibition Arturo Duclos: el fantasma de la utopia [Utopias Ghost]at the Museo de Artes Visuales (MAVI) in Santiago de Chile tackles these fascinating issues by reflecting on the major revolutionary movements of Latin America that tried to impose by force a more just society: Tupamaros, EZLN, FARC, Sendero Luminoso, M-19, MIR, 26 de Julio, FPMR, MRTA and FSLN.

Utopia as nostalgia Arturo Duclos, one of the younger members of the Chilean avant-garde, the so-called Escena de Avanzada, has always been interested in the idea of utopia and, particularly, in the inherent ambiguity that underlies the construction of utopia by Thomas Moore, and how this ambiguity has been sufficiently strong to accelerate history by means of battles, movements and revolutions.

Departing from the symbolism and iconography of the flags of these revolutionary movements, Duclos confronts the spectator in a thought-provoking way not only with ideals associated to the spirit of liberation, messianism and social utopia, but the exhibition also establishes fruitful connections with the fate of the many recent leftist populist governments that have existed in Latin America during the last 20 years: from Chvez, Kirchner, Morales, Correa and Lula to Mujica.

Never has mankind known such a period of stability and prosperity, but at the same timeas Thomas Piketty has keenly shown usnever has there been so much inequality in the world. So, if the unpredictable future is no longer a place for utopia then it seems to be safe to look into the malleable past for possible answers. It also allows us to conclude that todays utopian spirit is imbued with great dosis of nostalgia.

Utopia as kitsch With an interdisciplinary approach that covers diverse forms, from sculpture, drawing, installation and painting to video and performance, Arturo Duclos: el fantasma de la utopia [Utopias Ghost] presents five thematic constellationsBanderas/Flags, Caporales, Escudos de armas/Coats of Arms, Memorabilia and Machina Anemicaas well as Cuartel General/Headquarters, a public tent that will function as a mediation point for the public during the length of the exhibit.

Utopia as the new kitsch? Kitsch as utopian? These seemingly contradicting concepts run into each other more than we are willing to admit. And in this sense, in many of these works Duclos interacts and challenges, both from a conceptual and a formal point of view, the idea of kitsch understood as a saturation of concepts, colors and forms.

I was always interested, affirms Arturo Duclos, in reading these configurations that proceed from the popular culture unconscious and that take the place in these paramilitary groups with a hierarchic regime based upon the religious dance groups.

With regards to the conceptualization and design of the exhibition, curator Paco Barragn explains that We are very well aware of the tenacious Alfred Barrs ideology that persists in modern and contemporary art museums, and for this reason we conceived several Stimmungsrume in order to create a more challenging context for the spectator than the aseptic and anemic white-cube walls would allow.

Both avant-gardes and revolutions have become parodies subjected to postcapitalism.

Now, the question, according to Arturo Duclos, would be: What can we do in order to reanimate utopia?

This exhibition has been generously sponsored by the Chilean National Fund for the Development of Culture and the Arts-FONDART through its 2017 open call.

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MAVI Museum of Visual Arts - E-Flux

World-famous author has found his writing utopia outdoors, under a tarp, in Davis – Sacramento Bee

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Sacramento Bee
World-famous author has found his writing utopia outdoors, under a tarp, in Davis
Sacramento Bee
His latest novel, New York 2140 (Orbit, $28, 624 pages), submerges Manhattan under 55 feet of water, the result of a century-plus of melting ice caps and severe climate change. He chose 2140 as the year because that's how long he speculates it would ...

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World-famous author has found his writing utopia outdoors, under a tarp, in Davis - Sacramento Bee

Oceania Cruises Launches Sell 5 & Sail Free Booking Incentive in the UK – Cruise Trade News

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Oceania Cruises, the worlds leading culinary-and destination-focused cruise line, has launchedSell 5 & Sail Free,a fantastic booking incentive where UK travel agents have the chance to experience the cruise line that boasts the Finest Cuisine at Sea for themselves.

By booking and confirming between 1stand 30thJune 2017 any five cruises sailing in 2017, travel agents will be rewarded with a free berth on any cruise of up to 10-nights sailing this year.Qualifying travel agents may also bring a guest for the low price of $100 dollars per day.

We have found that there is no better reward for our loyal travel partners than by offering the chance to sail on board Oceania Cruises themselves, said Bernard Carter,Senior Vice President & Managing Director, EMEA, Oceania Cruises. Travel agents who experience the finest cuisine at sea, unparalleled service and elegant casual on board ambience of Oceania Cruises return to work not only well-rested from an exceptional cruise holiday, but also ready to sell the product with more authenticity and enthusiasm.

All six ships of Oceania Cruises luxury fleet the 684-guestRegatta,Insignia,NauticaandSirenaand the 1,250-guestMarinaandRiviera can be sold in the incentive with destinations including the Mediterranean, the Baltics & Scandinavia, the Caribbean, Canada & New England, the Caribbean and Alaska.

Two-Grade Accommodation Upgrade Flash Sale 5thto 19thJune

To assist agents in qualifying for the incentive, Oceania Cruises has also launched a two-grade accommodation upgrade Flash Sale, which agents can use to tempt their customers on a variety of outstanding 2017 European sailings.

The selected sailings range from 7 to 16 days and visit ports in the Eastern & Western Mediterranean, Northern Europe, around the UK and the Canary Islands. Selected Atlantic Crossings are also included.

The Flash Sale, which started on 5thJune and ends on 19thJune, is available on four of the fleets luxurious ships Nautica,Sirena,MarinaandRiviera and, depending on the ship, applies to selected accommodation categories.

For more information about the booking incentive or the two-grade accommodation upgrade offer, travel agents should contact their Oceania Cruises business development manager or emailagencysales@oceaniacruises.com.

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Oceania Cruises Launches Sell 5 & Sail Free Booking Incentive in the UK - Cruise Trade News

TTG Media | Travel industry, travel agent and tourism news, events … – TTG

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Cruise prices for Oceania Cruises have doubled on certain sailings in the aftermath of the Brexit vote, the lines senior vice-president has revealed.

Bernard Carter, who is also managing director EMEA, told agent partners during a ship visit onboard Nautica in Southampton last week that Brexit had caused a range of issues. We are selling some cruises at double the price we did last year partly because of Brexit and partly because of changes in strategy on our part.

Later speaking to TTG, Carter said Oceania was one of the first to break ranks and raise prices following the referendum result last June. [After the vote], any brand priced in US dollars experienced an immediate change. We made a move in September to realign to the new exchange rate And in some circumstances we are selling at double the price rate compared with last year.

It comes after Carter admitted the line had been forced to drop prices in the UK to attract British passengers and fill ships following a slump in demand from the US last year, as Americans shied away from Europe amid fears over terrorism.

Last year we attracted lots of new British and European guests to the brand... We had to the market was very suppressed because the Americans werent coming to Europe.

He added however that despite the price fall last year, Oceania prices were now higher than in 2015.

Theres no denying that 2017 is a challenging year but our revenue yield per day is significantly up year-on-year. That is in part thanks to our trade partners. This time last year we had 88 sailings on special offer, today we have a quarter of that, he added.

When we launched in the UK in 2005, we were cheaper than the US. Now we are heading towards the same levels on the whole as they are.

Carter also said Oceania was unlikely to follow sister line Norwegian Cruise Line in introducing all-inclusive fares.

The line already offers free unlimited internet onboard in addition to its OLife Choice programme, which enables guests to choose from free shore excursions, a free house beverage package or a shipboard credit. Carter said: We have set ourselves aside to be the cruise line of choice.

Early last year we introduced OLife, as we felt that people need choice.

I would never say never [regarding all-inclusive], as we listen to our customers, but the message we get is that they like their freedom.

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TTG Media | Travel industry, travel agent and tourism news, events ... - TTG

Kiwis in flight: 7 reasons to put Seychelles on your bucket list – Stuff.co.nz

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Last updated11:03, June 9 2017

BROOK SABIN/ONFLIGHTMODE.COM

Ever thought of visiting the idyllic paradise that is the Seychelles? Here are 7 reasons to put it at the top of your bucket list.

There's a little oasis half a world away you need to know about.

Yes, we're lucky in New Zealand: we have dozens of tropical islands only a few hours' flight away.

But the Seychelles, deep in the Indian Ocean, is in a different league. Parts of it are so untouched, scientists say it gives a glimpse into how the world looked in prehistoric times.

So, here are sevenreasons it should be on your bucket list.

READ MORE: * The most beautiful island you've never heard of *The Seychelles like you've never seen *Why Croatia should be at the top of your bucket list

BROOK SABIN/ONFLIGHTMODE.COM

There's a little oasis half a world away you need to know about.

1. Beaches

The Seychelles has 115 islands, with a secluded beach around every turn. It's also home to two beaches that are consistently named the best in the world.

Could it get any better? Yes: on many beaches you can see turtles in the shallows, or even nesting on the shore.

BROOK SABIN/ONFLIGHTMODE.COM

It's worth travelling half way around the world just for the beaches in Seychelles.

2. Underwater

The Seychelles is home to more than 1000 types of fish, and you will soon be swarmed getting into the water.

The islands have something for everyone, from shallow lagoons, to reefs and magnificent diving spots. Eagle rays and small sharks are often spotted too.

BROOK SABIN/ONFLIGHTMODE.COM

It's worth travelling half way around the world just for the beaches in Seychelles.

3. Giant tortoise

There are more giant tortoise than people in the Seychelles. One hundred thousand live on the remote Aldabra atoll in the south of the country the largest single population in the world.

The tortoise are very friendly and inquisitive, and will often walk up to tourists expecting you to pick off a branch of leaves and feed them.

BROOK SABIN/ONFLIGHTMODE.COM

A giant tortoise will be your best friend for a small price: feed it a branch of leaves.

4. Luxury resorts

The Seychelles has long been a playground of the rich and famous, and has an incredible array of luxury accommodation to match.

The H Resort is right in the centre of Beau Vallon - one of the country's best beaches and takes 5 star to a whole new level. The hotel's ultra-luxury beach villas come complete with a private plunge pool, just a few steps from the sand.

BROOK SABIN/ONFLIGHTMODE.COM

The H-Resort opened less than 2 years ago and is already one of the country's most popular five star destinations.

5. The jungle

Really, the jungle? On tiny islands?

The main islands of the Seychelles are actually granite rock that date back more than 200 million years to the ancient supercontinent Gondwana.

Scientists believe the lush untouched jungle found on those islands give a glimpse into what ancient life would have looked like.

BROOK SABIN/ONFLIGHTMODE.COM

The Vallee de Mai jungle is a glimpse into how the world looked hundreds of millions of years ago.

6. Zip lining

What better way to enjoy the prehistoric jungle than fly through it.

SMAC Adventures has set up the fist zip line in the country, and it's a must do! The 8 line adrenaline inducing course weaves through the canopy, before popping out near a beautiful swimming beach.

Just as entertaining is watching the guides show off their tricks, flipping and somersaulting their way down the course.

BROOK SABIN/ONFLIGHTMODE.COM

A zip lining guide shows off his tricks on the course.

7. Drive an island

The second largest island in the Seychelles is Praslin; home to incredible beaches and a UNESCO World Heritage protected jungle. One of the highlights of our trip was getting behind the wheel of a Mini Moke beach buggy to explore the beaches and jungle.

What's that? It's part convertible, part military-style jeep, and feels like a lego car- and it was seriously fun to drive.

BROOK SABIN/ONFLIGHTMODE.COM

The Mini Moke from Bliss Car Hire in Praslin.

Last year Brook Sabin (@brooksabin) and his partner Radha Engling (@globaladmirer) quit their jobs and sold everything to travel. They started a blog onflightmode.com and now call themselves fulltime travellers, making a living selling travel photos and video all around the world. Each week Kiwis in Flight will take you on their adventures.

The writer was a guest of The H Resort, SMAC Adventures and Bliss Car Hire.

-Stuff

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Kiwis in flight: 7 reasons to put Seychelles on your bucket list - Stuff.co.nz

New committee set to run basketball in Seychelles – FIBA

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08/06/2017

Africa

Seychelles Basketball Federation Committee (SEY)

VICTORIA - Following anextraordinary Seychelles Basketball Federation (SBF) general meeting held on May 27, 2017, a new Committee has been appointed to run the game on the archipelago.

The new committee is still in the process of formalising a new road-map for the future of the game in Seychelles, and it's hoping to organise a Sports Forum (around September 2017) with all Team Representatives in order to gather maximum input with regards to the organization of basketball in general.

In an SBFstatement sent to FIBA.com, Secretary GeneralAdrian Pillay recalls that "Basketball in Seychelles is at this point in time at an all time high.

Seen here an SBF men's League game between MBU Rockers against Beau Vallon Heat

"The venue that all League games are scheduled are packed most of the time," Pillay noted.

"However, there still remains major re-adjustments to be made in terms of re-organization of how the game is administered from bottom level to the higher level; that is, from the redevelopment programs for the youth up to the National Team level and beyond."

FIBA

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New committee set to run basketball in Seychelles - FIBA

Escapades Seychelles 2017: Growing partnership reaping a successful harvest on the French market – eTurboNews

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The Seychelles Tourism Board has accomplished another successful edition of its annual roadshow in France, which remains the destinations top source market for tourism. The 14th edition of Escapades Seychelles was held from May 29 to June 1, 2017.

The train and dine events were held in Le Havre, Paris, Nice and Marseille with the highlight being in Paris, which recorded a successful turn out of tour operators and agents at the prestigious Aquarium de Paris Cinaqua.

High-tech giant screen presentations, using state of the art technology, including lighting and sound, were used to highlight the wonders of the Seychelles islands through a 3D feature about the destination. The images and descriptions conveyed the message of what makes Seychelles unique and sets it apart as a destination of choice among French travelers, and why they should experience this diversity the country has to offer.

The Seychelles Tourism Board Director for Europe Bernadette Willemin highlighted the importance of hosting such dedicated Seychelles events abroad, which helps to bring the islands into the limelight with the unified help of trade partners.

Willemin said: For an event to be so well supported by our partners and travel trade alike over so many years, it goes to show that the right marketing mix was used to create this recipe for success.

Willemin was accompanied by Jennifer Dupuy also from the Seychelles Tourism Boards European regional office. The delegation also comprised of representatives of the local trade: Maryline Gallois Air Seychelles; Ana Meneses Avani Seychelles Barbarons Resorts and Spa; Melanie Felix Bird Island Lodge; Virginie Fimbel Constance Hotels and Resorts; Caroline Aguirre and Maxime Berenguier Coral Strand Hotel & Savoy Resort and Spa; Guillaume Albert Domaine de lOrangeraie, Domaine de La Reserve and Cat Cocos; Clairemonde Coquet and Yves Guesad Enchanted Island Resort, Devi Pentamah Hilton Seychelles, Erwan Ly and Maurizio Maggi Kempinski Seychelles and Fabienne Tirant H Resort Beau Vallon Beach.

It is impressive to see increasing support from the local trade for this event as the level of participation continues to grow and more partners are willing to spend their marketing budget constructively in bringing their products to the doorstep of the French travel agents and tour operators, said Willemin. It is amazing to see that Escapades Seychelles remains as popular as it was fourteen years ago, she added.

The annual event is one which not only delivers on impacting potential travelers with the beauty of the islands and reasons to visit, but also on creating an amazing bond between the Seychelles Tourism Board office and all of its partners, who stood side by side during the 14th edition of Escapades Seychelles, proudly presenting the brand Seychellesanother world to the travel trade.

France has sent 20,088 visitors to Seychelles so far in 2017 according to the national bureau of statistics, and the Seychelles Tourism Board France is already looking forward to another year of hard work, support and motivation to continue to nurture, maintain and grow the French market.

While the next Seychelles Escapades is already planned for May 28 to June 1, 2018, the delegation who took part in this years event has been on the move in neighboring Belgium, Netherlands and Luxemburg for yet another round of promoting the destination as part of the Benelux series of event, being held from June 6-8, 2017.

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Escapades Seychelles 2017: Growing partnership reaping a successful harvest on the French market - eTurboNews

How NJ lost its lead on offshore wind – E&E News

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Saqib Rahim, E&E News reporter

Gov. Chris Christie signed the Offshore Wind Economic Development Act in August 2010. The policies were never enacted. Office of Information Technologies/State of New Jersey

When five wind turbines went live off the Rhode Island coast last December, it left some in New Jersey envious.

Not that long ago, they were supposed to be first.

On a cloudless August day in 2010, Gov. Chris Christie (R) visited the southern port of Paulsboro, N.J. He was there to sign the Offshore Wind Economic Development Act, which aimed to support at least 1.1 gigawatts of turbines off the state's coast, using an innovative tool called an offshore wind renewable energy certificate (OREC). New Jersey, with its bounteous wind, shallow water and prime spot on the grid, would build the United States' first offshore wind project and become the hub of a new industry.

But the policies never bore fruit. Democrats and offshore wind supporters say Christie got a taste of national politics and went sour on renewable energy. State regulators say they never saw a project worth approving.

Today, New Jersey has no offshore wind. Last year, Rhode Island switched on the United States' first-ever project. And Maryland, Massachusetts and New York enacted policies that could build 4 to 5 GW off the Atlantic coast. One megawatt of offshore wind can power 400 to 500 households, according to state estimates.

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In Jersey, seven years have left a bitter taste all around, and now offshore wind advocates are just waiting out Christie's last term. The primaries wrapped up this week both candidates support offshore wind and the election is in November.

"This has been sitting here for seven years, ready to go forward. It's just been sitting there. All the pieces are in place," said state Sen. Stephen Sweeney (D), president of the New Jersey Senate and a former steelworker, whose district includes Paulsboro. "As soon as a new governor comes in, the ORECs will be done."

Richard Mroz, whom Christie named president of the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities in 2014, said the truth is more banal: BPU has been finalizing its regulations, and they're ready.

"Anybody that says this has something to do with the fact that we just don't like offshore wind, or just make accusations like that, I take issue with that because the record speaks for itself," he said. "When an application's made here, we'll deal with that."

Offshore wind has always been an expensive proposition. But over the last decade, scale-ups in Europe have made it a commercially plausible one. In the United Kingdom, the cost of power from offshore wind has fallen by a third in the last five years, according to S&P Global Ratings. Last year, Germany approved a 480-MW installation that its developer, Dong Energy, says will require no subsidy. The industry is forecasting further cost reductions, driven by scale.

Block Island, America's first offshore wind farm, started producing power off Rhode Island's coast in December. Deepwater Wind LLC

So 2010 was a long time ago, in offshore wind terms. In political terms, it was a lifetime ago.

Christie, then a former prosecutor running against then-Gov. Jon Corzine (D), vowed to become New Jersey's "No. 1 clean energy advocate."

"There's no doubt that renewable energy is our future here in New Jersey, and there is really no better time for us to begin the discussion of not only how it will lead us to energy independence, but also how it will help create more good-paying middle-class jobs for New Jerseyans," he said in a 2009 campaign ad. "It's a change that President Obama stands firmly behind. I couldn't agree more."

Christie won the election, and in April 2010, he laid out a renewable energy strategy focused on energy independence for the state. "Home grown sources must include wind and solar, particularly off-shore wind," he said in a statement.

Offshore wind was still immature and expensive, even in Europe, and Cape Wind's misadventures in Massachusetts were understood. But its partisans said New Jersey had optimal conditions to make it work: strong, steady winds, high power prices, and shallow water that would be cheaper to build in.

Also of import: a port. Paulsboro, wedged up the Delaware River across from Philadelphia, had a century-old oil terminal that needed something new to do. Like most of the state, the area was hemorrhaging jobs. Sweeney, the area's senator, had helped launch a quarter-billion-dollar renovation of the facility. He had offshore wind in his sights.

"Offshore wind is great, with the manufacturing, assembling of the components, you need a big location to do that," he said. "Whoever has the location's going to be able to capture the manufacturing."

The trick was making the money work. If offshore wind was a premium product, the premium had to be worth it.

The bill Christie signed in August 2010 was meant to deliver. It directed the BPU to create an OREC subsidy that brought offshore wind into the state's energy portfolio at least 1,100 MW worth. To attract manufacturing, it extended up to $100 million in tax credits for supply-chain businesses.

To be considered, though, a project had to prove its "net economic benefit": that it created jobs or economic activity that justified the cost.

In October 2010, Lt. Gov. Kim Guadagno (R) courted offshore wind business at a conference in Atlantic City.

"We have the richest package of incentives, the smartest population of workers, the best climate and the political will to get you here on time and on budget," she said, according to the Courier-Post, a regional newspaper. "We need your business, and we will fight for it." She gave the audience her cellphone number.

In May 2011, state regulators received an application for the state's first project. An in-state company called Fishermen's Energy wanted to build a six-turbine, 24-MW installation about 3 miles off Atlantic City, in state waters.

That would be quite visible from shore. But Atlantic City wasn't Cape Cod; it was a depressed casino town desperate for any economic spark. Even the local fishing community supported it.

But the $200-million-plus project needed money, and to get that, it needed ORECs.

"At the time, it made perfect sense," said David Roncinske, a representative with Wharf and Dock Builders, Pile Drivers, and Divers Local Union 179, whose members would have been called in on the project. "Let's do a small project first to get our feet wet, and then we'll go utility-scale."

Fishermen's Energy said it could have the turbines built within two years of approval.

"Atlantic City has always embraced the new, the unique, the unusual," said Paul Gallagher, a former prosecutor in the city and onetime chief operating officer and general counsel for Fishermen's Energy. "They were quite excited to have wind turbines offshore."

In June 2011, according to a report by the left-wing magazine Mother Jones, Christie took a secret day trip to Colorado. He'd been invited to speak at the Koch retreat, an annual gathering of conservative power players headed up by two of the most powerful men in the energy world: Charles and David Koch.

Christie's anecdotes and gibes had the audience in stitches, according to leaked audio of the speech. He told the story of how a Republican governor had forced a blue state to reckon with its fiscally wasteful ways.

President Obama hadn't woken up to reality, he said.

"This is not hard," he said. "We spend too much. We borrow too much. We tax too much. It is time to turn those three things around."

Within just a few months of signing the offshore wind bill in Paulsboro, Christie had become a darling of the national small-government movement. In October 2010, he'd drawn national attention for rejecting a federally supported transit tunnel to Manhattan. In May 2011, he pulled New Jersey out of the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative. News reports suggested he had met with the Kochs and Republican donors, as the GOP scouted for someone to challenge Obama in 2012.

In the end, Christie was never nominated. But looking back, offshore wind supporters said, that's when the political will behind their issue vanished.

"Truth be told, there was a lot of disagreement internally on both sides" among members of the wind industry as well as the government, said one longtime observer who asked not to be identified. "If there was a strong desire by leadership to get it done over the last seven years, it would be done."

The issue was this: Technically, the ORECs still didn't exist. Christie had signed a bill directing BPU to develop them; it hadn't. Wind advocates say that effectively left the state with no subsidy for the technology. (The BPU disputed that, saying it moved the regulations through a special process and that it wrapped up in 2013.)

"The Christie Administration remains supportive of offshore wind development," the governor said in a June 2011 energy "master plan." "New Jersey may be one of the first states to support the construction of one or more offshore wind facilities, but it must not rush headlong into long-term contracts between offshore wind developers and [utilities] until the State has determined there are net economic benefits realizable through this promising technology."

Fishermen's Energy had friends and foes in New Jersey, but now it was facing much tougher conditions. The company couldn't submit an application that satisfied regulators.

The company wanted to keep its options open for a turbine supplier; the BPU asked them to pick one. The company said the cost of the project would fall if it successfully received $100 million in federal support; BPU said, If. The project shrank from six turbines to five.

The process drew out for three years. Gallagher said BPU stopped returning Fishermen's calls.

"If you don't want to get to yes, there's no reason to talk to your adversary," Gallagher said.

BPU issued its final denial for Fishermen's in March 2014. Mroz, the BPU president, stood by the decision. "The Fishermen's Energy application was deficient for several reasons," he said. "The project really did not present either what was necessary, and on the finances did not sufficiently quantify what the costs would be."

Fishermen's legal appeals failed, and it couldn't find another way to finance the project. Its president left this year for a German offshore wind company. Gallagher is looking to liquidate the assets.

"The truth is, we just ran out of time and money, although it's still fully permitted. In the right environment, we could begin construction tomorrow, pretty much," Gallagher said. "It's a missed opportunity. It's a shame."

In the end it was a U.S. company, Deepwater Wind LLC, that brought offshore wind to the United States. The company found a sleepy community off the Rhode Island coast that had been importing diesel by ship. The 30-MW project, first proposed in 2008, uses turbines made by General Electric Co.

Thirty MW isn't exactly a power plant, and $290 million isn't cheap, and 10 years is a hell of a timeline. But to wind builders, it's proof: You can put actual steel in actual water, if policy, community support and a business case all coalesce.

Other states want to build at full scale.

The governors of Massachusetts and New York have made separate commitments that amount to 4,000 MW of offshore wind by 2030. Maryland based its OREC policy on New Jersey's, and last month it awarded 368 MW worth. Regulators said Maryland seeks to be the "first mover" and manufacturing hub of the industry (Energywire, May 18).

That last one stung Sweeney, the senator representing Paulsboro. He hopes New Jersey can grab a piece of the pie.

"Offshore wind's great, but I want the jobs. I want the full-time, permanent jobs," he said. "I want to capture every penny of it. ... I'm on the water, and I've got a brand-new port."

Developers haven't given up on Jersey. Dong, the Danish giant, still holds an area that it said could host over 1,000 MW of wind. U.S. Wind Inc., one of the Maryland awardees, has a lease it believes could host over 1,500 MW.

The gubernatorial primaries were held on Tuesday. Guadagno, Christie's lieutenant governor, won the Republican nomination; in a May debate, according to the Newark Star-Ledger, she was quoted as saying, "We could be the first offshore wind-turbine producer from soup to nuts." Phil Murphy, who will represent Democrats, has proposed building 3,500 MW of offshore wind by 2030, which would be the largest commitment by any state so far.

Dong and U.S. Wind are doing preliminary studies on their acreage. Paul Rich, director of project development at U.S. Wind, imagined New Jersey could have the ORECs "in play hopefully sometime next year."

"We're not doing anything new than what they did in Europe. It's not like we have to invent something here," he said. "A lot of lessons have been learned, and a lot of lessons have been adopted by us."

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Dutch lift for offshore – reNews

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IHC IQIP has developed a new crane tool for contractors working in the offshore wind sector that aims to reduce costs and increase efficiency.

The company said the combi lifting spread reduces crane movements by over 50% when lifting multiple pieces of equipment.

This is because socket connection clamps within the lifting connector allow for easy connections with different pieces of installation equipment, it said

The crane also reduces the amount of time needed to manually connectthe slings between the crane and the installation equipment, IHC IQIP said.

IHC IQIP technical account manager Henk van Vessem said typical offshore cranes have a set of slings to connect to equipment that requires the main hook to be lowered to deck level to connect and disconnect the slings.

This requires manpower and time and it also generates considerable wear to the crane sheaves and wires making the project more costly, he said.

We wanted to find a way to reduce the crane movements and thus speed up the installation process.

Image: reNEWS

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Dutch lift for offshore - reNews

Offshore Wind Turbines May Not Be Tough Enough To Endure Mother Nature – ABC2 News

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The U.S. is new to offshore wind turbines. As recently as 2016, the country's first commercial wind farm went live, and the governmentapproved 11 commercial leasesfor farms along the Atlantic Coast.

But there are potential dangers.

Because forecasters predict a busier-than-usual Atlantic hurricane season, scientists wonder if these turbines can weather the weather. Researchers think half of all new turbines in risky areas willbe destroyed20 years after they're built.

A new studyconcluded wind speeds for Category 5 hurricanes could average 90 meters per second. If that's right, offshore turbines might be toast.

SEE MORE: Some Coal Miners In Wyoming Might Soon Be Farming Wind Instead

International standards suggest turbines should withstand speeds of 50 meters per second but that only accounts for hurricanes up to Category 2.

The study's authors said manufacturers should keep these results in mind when designing turbines.

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Offshore Wind Turbines May Not Be Tough Enough To Endure Mother Nature - ABC2 News

Study concludes that offshore wind viable in several Guernsey locations – Renewable Energy Focus

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The study, carried out by Xodus Group, an engineering consultancy with experience in the oil and gas, utilities, and renewable industries, concluded that there are a range of technically feasible options available to develop an offshore wind project off the coast of Guernsey. However, it also cautioned that due to higher costs, the majority of the project should be funded by the States of Guernsey to secure the lowest cost of finance.

Amongst the reports other findings were:

The current preferred site is offshore towards the 12nm boundary. This location is in relatively deep water and most suited to the new floating wind turbine structures;

The lowest cost site is likely to be in the shallow waters off the north coast (or any coastal site). However, this near shore location may have visual and other human impact.

Consideration should be given to pursuing an extended wave and wind data gathering programme that could be relatively low cost but high value for the future.

According to Xodus, the States of Guernsey Renewable Energy Team have been progressing the recommendations following receipt of the report.

Peter Barnes, Lead Officer for the Renewable Energy Team, said Wind technology is continuing to mature and will offer increased levels of security and independence of supply. Guernsey is well positioned to benefit from those developments.

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Study concludes that offshore wind viable in several Guernsey locations - Renewable Energy Focus

Offshore wind turbines vulnerable to Category 5 hurricane gusts – UCAR

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NCAR scientist George Bryan is a co-author of a new study appearing in the journal Geophysical Research Letters. The following is an excerpt from a news release by the University of Colorado Boulder.

Offshore wind turbines built according to current standards may not be able to withstand the powerful gusts of a Category 5 hurricane, creating potential risk for any such turbines built in hurricane-prone areas, new University of Colorado Boulder-led research shows.

The study, which was conducted in collaboration with theNational Center for Atmospheric Researchin Boulder, Colorado,and the U.S. Department of EnergysNational Renewable Energy Laboratoryin Golden, Colorado, highlights the limitations of current turbine design and could provide guidance for manufacturers and engineers looking to build more hurricane-resilient turbines in the future.

Offshore wind-energy development in the U.S. has ramped up in recent years, with projects either under consideration or already underway in most Atlantic coastal states from Maine to the Carolinas, as well as the West Coast and Great Lakes. The countrys first utility-scale offshore wind farm, consisting of five turbines, began commercial operation in December 2016 off the coast of Rhode Island.

Turbine design standards are governed by the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC). For offshore turbines, no specific guidelines for hurricane-force winds exist. Offshore turbines can be built larger than land-based turbines, however, owing to a manufacturers ability to transport larger molded components such as blades via freighter rather than over land by rail or truck.

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Offshore wind turbines vulnerable to Category 5 hurricane gusts - UCAR

High seas force Durban beaches closure | Berea Mail – Berea Mail

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Monster waves are expected this weekend and have forced the closure of two Durban beaches,

ETHEKWINI Municipality has temporarily closed Country Club and eThekwini beaches after the South African Weather Bureau and Sharks Board warned of high seas and adverse weather conditions which will hit Durban at the weekend.

The Sharks Board will lift the shark nets at the two beaches.

The city said it would monitor all other beaches and should it become necessary to close any other beaches, the public would be notified accordingly.The bad weather comes after high seas and gale force winds lashed the Cape this week leaving many people homeless and causing damage to homes and businesses.

Earlier this week the SA Weather Service also sent out warning of expected gale force winds and high seas which were being exacerbated by the current spring tide.

The spring tide has made the sea fuller, which means we can expect high seas. We urge people to stay out of the ocean, said the South African Weather Service.

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High seas force Durban beaches closure | Berea Mail - Berea Mail

The Great Caribbean Private Destination Race – TravelPulse

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Cruise lines know their ships are crucial elements in attracting travelers to book, but they also understand that where they sail is extremely important too.

Thats why the latest push has been for companies to develop private islands and destinations that deliver the best shoreside experience on par with the shipboard one.

For decades, the Caribbean has been a mainstay of cruise port calls and excursions, but only the private concept ensures end-to-end quality control dictated by the cruise line.

While Norwegian Cruise Lines Great Stirrup Cay, for instance, had been around for longer, Disney Cruise Lines Castaway Cay was really the first to set the gold standard with its attached pier that did not require tendering ashore and its overall pristine attractions and facilities.

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Great Stirrup Cay is among the destinations receiving recent attention, taking cues from Norwegians other new Harvest Caye, which also has its own dock. Interestingly, several new destinations are beginning to eclipse Castaway Cay with more elaborate features like zip-linesalready at Harvestand on their way for Great Stirrup.

The question is whether Disney will try and catch up or stick to its tried-and-true formula.

There wastalkof the line working to develop another island destination, but that project has apparently been abandoned for now.

READ MORE:Carnival to Build Largest Cruise Port in the Bahamas

In the meantime, the race continues with other lines including Carnival Cruise Line, Royal Caribbean International and MSC Cruises most prevalently. Holland America Line has already updated its Half Moon Cay some, but bigger attractions are expected from the other three companies.

The idea seems to be to offer as many experiences to guests on shore that the ships can't provide onboard, as well asfacilitating more of the ship opportunities for longer on land.

MSC Cruises first private island of Ocean Cay MSC Marine Reserve is set to open in October 2018, with not only a pier but the unique chance to stay off the ship into the evening. Since the cruise line owns the island, it will not be restricted to keeping the ships casino closed either. Also ashore will be extensions of the MSC Yacht Club ship-within-a-ship complex and privileges as well as attractions such as zip-lines.

Now that its Labadee destination in Haiti is well established, Royal Caribbean International is focusing on enhancing its other CocoCay with an attached dock, ziplinesand a water park, according toSeatrade Cruise News. Other excursions and sports will also be on the docket.

The project is likely to put both Royal Caribbean and Norwegian neck and neck for the best pair of private cruise destinations.

READ MORE:Enhanced Great Stirrup Cay Impresses

Carnival Cruise Line could be another to soon tout two destinations, with existing Amber Cove in the Dominican Republic being one, but its not entirely certain that its newly announced development on Grand Bahama Island will be a private destination per se.

For now, its said by the company to be the largest purpose-built cruise facility ever constructed in The Bahamas, according to a press release.

It will feature a one-mile-long beach; food, beverage and shopping options; water amenities and recreational facilitiesall of which are indeed likely to be exclusive with hybrid means to also access other areas and attractions on the island, not unlike Harvest Cayes relationship with greater Belize.

If it does turn out to be private, it will surely impress in scale as its also set to include a pier that can accommodate two of Carnivals biggest ships simultaneously. (Other private island docks can only tie off one ship at a time.)

In either case, the race is surely on, and it will be most interesting to follow other destinations like Castaway Cay and even the likes of Princess Cruises Princess Cays to see if they plan improvements as well. One thing that is for certain: those without attached piers and elaborate parks will soon be in the minority.

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Filmmakers Examine Links Among Cornish Colony’s Idealists – Valley News

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Filming begins in and around Cornish next month for a documentary about the colony of visual and performing artists, the writers and the pioneering conservationists who orbited around Gilded Age sculptor Augustus Saint-Gaudens late in the 19th and early 20th centuries.

Norwich filmmaker Nora Jacobson will direct that weeklong shoot of Land and Legacy of an Art Colony, a project that Etna author and retired musician Fern Meyers said this week she has been mulling over for years.

For most of those years, Meyers has been occupied with, among other tasks, writing three books about the Cornish Colony, overseeing the production of three CDs of music by colony composers, teaching Osher at Dartmouth courses about the colony and directing the summer music series at the Saint-Gaudens National Historic Site. That left her little time to think about how to structure such a project, never mind raise the money and arrange the logistics.

Then last fall, after her final season directing the music series, Meyers recalled, she started thinking with more focus about the interconnections among the artists, such as painter Maxfield Parrish, musicians such as composer Arthur Farwell and conservationists such as Benton MacKaye, the forester who developed the idea of the Appalachian Trail running from Georgia to Maine.

They were idealists, Meyers said. They were progressive thinkers. And they were activists. Given the challenges were facing now in many spheres, especially the challenges facing the environment things like declining songbird populations Im quite concerned at this moment.

This is my way of trying to show why the history of the colony is relevant to today.

The idea of exploring that history intrigues Jacobson, even as she juggles a variety of other projects, including fine-tuning and promotion of her new feature, The Hanji Box.

I had done some shooting for The Vermont Movie, for the story about black Vermonters who fought in the Civil War, Jacobson wrote during an exchange of emails on Thursday. Several had traveled from Huntington, Vt., to join the 54th regiment, which Saint-Gaudens had portrayed in the famous Shaw Memorial. Beyond my acquaintance with the historic site, I am very interested in intentional communities in the case of the Cornish Colony not so intentional because it happened quite organically of artists who come together to work, think, play, talk, live, because they are inspired by each other and seek companionship with one another.

To tell that story, Jacobson and her crew will follow three descendants of Cornish colonists around the historic site and its environs. Veteran actor Jonathan Farwell, whose father, Arthur, was among the leading lights of the day, will lead that delegation.

Rather than a lot of interviews with talking heads, Meyers said, its going to be more of a discovery tour.

During the shoot, Meyers added, Upper Valley residents will be welcome to fill walk-in roles in a re-enactment of a pageant that Saint-Gaudens hosted at Aspet, his home above the Connecticut River, now the Saint-Gaudens National Historic Site.

In addition to the 52-minute documentary, which is designed for broadcast on Vermont and New Hampshire public television, Jacobson will shoot a 12-minute version for visitors to the historic site.

To cover the $140,000 that she expects the project to cost, Meyers estimates that so far shes raised not quite half, including a $25,000 grant from the Byrne Foundation.

Its a daunting task, but Ive had some experience, not only with the music series, but getting a couple of orchestras started. Its worth the effort.

Filming of Land and Legacy of an Art Colony begins in Cornish on July 18. Donations toward its production can be made by check, made out to Meriden Bird Club and mailed to Fern Meyers, 62 King Road, Etna, N.H. 03750. To learn more, including opportunities for walk-on roles in the documentary, email fmsilverwood@gmail.com.

In the category of but-wait-theres-more, go see Norman at the Woodstock Town Hall Theatre this weekend.

Quite aside from the sheer novelty of seeing longtime leading man Richard Gere take on a subtle character role, youll spend two absorbing hours watching a stellar supporting cast orbit around Geres title character, a New York-based fixer struggling to juggle multiple complicated projects and demanding constituencies. In addition to the familiar faces of Steve Buscemi, Dan Stevens and Michael Sheen in key roles, keep an eye out for Charlotte Gainsbourg as a sharp prosecutor and Israeli heartthrob Lior Ashkenazi as a rising politician.

Screenings are scheduled for 7:30 tonight, Saturday night, Sunday night and Monday night. Admission is $7 for members of Pentangle Arts, $8 to $9 for others.

Worried about the health of the Earth and its inhabitants? Tuesday night you can choose from two documentaries on the subject, both in South Royalton.

At 6:30, Building a Local Economy (BALE) and Vermont Interfaith Power and Light co-host a sneak preview of From the Ashes at the BALE Commons. The movie, focusing on the impact of the coal industry on the economy, public health and the climate, comes amid the renewed debate over the viability and sustainability of the fossil fuel industry. Admission is free.

Meanwhile, Vermont Law Schools class on ocean and coastal law will show and discuss Sonic Sea, which looks at the correlation between man-made noise in the oceans and unusual behavior of whales. The movie starts at 7, after which a panel of experts that includes oceanographer Jean-Michel Cousteau will discuss the issues. Admission is free.

The Library Arts Center in Newport continues its series of films from or inspired by the 1960s on Thursday night with a free screening of the 1967 adaptation of Neil Simons romantic comedy Barefoot in the Park, starring Robert Redford and Jane Fonda. The lights go down at 7, and popcorn is available. Upcoming screenings include The Parent Trap (the one starring Hayley Mills as the twins) on June 30, Dirty Dancing on July 27 and 101 Dalmations on July 21. To learn more, visit libraryartscenter.org.

Next up in its series of classic movies at free admission, Pentangle Arts screens Robert Altmans M*A*S*H on Thursday night at 7:30. Still to come are American Graffiti on July 6, All That Jazz on July 13, Ferris Buellers Day Off on Aug. 3 and Mamma Mia! (with permission to sing along!) on Aug. 10.

David Corriveau can be reached at dcorriveau@vnews.com and at 603-727-3304.

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Filmmakers Examine Links Among Cornish Colony's Idealists - Valley News