Daily Archives: September 18, 2019

Moose FM is doing a series of interviews with the MLA candidates in the 16 unacclaimed districts for the upcoming NWT election. Every Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday from September 16th-26th, two regions will be uploaded to the website to give you the reader, a better idea of what is going on in your district and who may be representing you for the next four years.

Emails were sent out with the questions to every single MLA candidate along with multiple follow up emails reminding the candidates to get back to us. We figured this would be the best way to put out the most amount of information on the candidates as well as best informing you about your districts. If a candidate does not appear in their districts article, it means they did not get back to us with their answers, something they were notified would happen in the sent emails.

For today, the two regions that will be posted are Great Slave and Yellowknife South. This article will be focused on Yellowknife South where Bob McLeod is the incumbent. He was first elected into office during the 2007 territorial election however he did not seek re-election. The two candidates riding are Gaeleen MacPherson and Caroline Wawzonek.

What made you decide to run?

MacPherson I am running for office because my community and territory are facing challenging times and I want to help. With my background and experience, I believe I can help provide solutions to issues such as an uncertain economic situation, the need to improve our public services, to provide better education and training opportunities for our youth or to address the social issues that affect too many of our residents.

Wawzonek I want the next generation of northerners, including my children, to have access to the kinds of opportunities in Yellowknife that my husband and I enjoy. I hear and see many exciting ideas for the NWT that could build future opportunities and I am frustrated when there does not appear to be leadership action to move those ideas forward. I see opportunities for more effective processes and more accountable leadership that is engaged with the front lines of government service. I decided it is time to put my advocacy skills to use to help build future opportunities and move ideas to action.

What qualifications do you have to lead your region as MLA?

MacPherson I was born, raised and educated in the North, my family lives here and I am raising a family here. Ive worked for most of my career in the mining industry and have held a number of progressively senior positions. In those roles, I have worked with senior executives from multinational corporations, with territorial and federal politicians and officials, with Chiefs and communities and with working folks trying to make ends meet. I think it is my ability to work with people, build positive relationships and craft solutions to complex problems that is the most important attribute that I would bring to the role of MLA in the service of the people of Yellowknife South.

Wawzonek

What is the platform youre running on?

MacPherson My platform is based on four key pillars: Growing our economy and reducing the cost of living, improving our healthcare system, educating Northerners and protecting our environment.

Wawzonek My vision is an NWT that is prosperous, healthy and educated. I believe we can achieve this with results-driven leadership that empowers people. We will prosper when we

I think we will improve health outcomes by prioritizing the health of our frontline care providers and focusing on prevention and patient-centred care. I believe in the process of renewing our education system including support for teachers in classrooms and moving forward with a polytechnical university.

If there was one issue affecting your region that you would like to change during your term, what would it be and why?

MacPherson Providing greater economic certainty and reducing the cost of living for Yellowknife South and territorial residents will be an important focus for me if elected. These are the key issues that are at the core of current residents decisions to remain in the North or leave, and we must stem the tide of the outmigration that we are continuing to see.

Wawzonek We need a strong, collaborative and unified vision for our economic future. Our political leadership then needs to be decisive to deliver actions that will help inspire economic growth. I believe the ideas already exist in the NWT to achieve economic prosperity but we need to act on them and see them through to results. For example, reinvigorating our mineral resource sector with stricter regulatory timelines is not a new idea but still projects struggle to move forward efficiently; similarly, we need to move past feasibility studies and make choices to invest in cleaner and less expensive sources of energy.

What is your strategy for tackling climate change in the North?

MacPherson The one area that I would focus on immediately if elected is reducing our reliance on fossil fuels for industry and communities. We need to make additional investments in renewable energy, such as wind, solar and biomass, both in the short and long-term. More importantly, we need to work with the next federal governments to expand our hydroelectric capacity. This will help to lessen our impact on the environment and to reduce our high cost of living.

Wawzonek

What are your current and future plans for the NWTs mining industry?

MacPherson To focus on creating the right incentives for mineral exploration and development to help extend the life of our current mines and, more importantly, to develop the Norths next mines and opportunities for future generations. We also need to do far better with future mines to ensure the jobs go to Northerners and the economic benefits stay here.

Wawzonek The NWT needs to urgently raise exploration investment and support early-stage projects towards successful development. I would start from the 2014 Mineral Development Strategy that was produced in partnership with the NWT/NU Chamber of Mines. We need to review the recommendations from that partnership, improve implementation and determine whether actions are having the intended impacts. The Mineral Resource Act regulations, among others, are an opportunity to take ownership and responsibility for our regulatory systems, ensure that processes are scaled to project sizes and provide certainty and timeliness.

The cost of living is a common issue in the NWT, how do you think the territory should approach the issue?

MacPherson Supporting the Taltson hydroelectricity expansion to create a grid interconnect between the North and South Slave regions and undertaking a review of all taxes is a good starting point for the 19th Legislative Assembly.

Wawzonek In addition avoiding or minimizing further increases in fees for government services, I believe we can have an impact on both the cost of living and the cost of doing business by focusing on energy infrastructure, improving the availability of land access for municipal development and improving options for childcare to support the labour market and reduce household costs. Efforts that target both residents and businesses have potentially double the impact: Reducing the cost of living for residents reduces pressure for higher wages; reducing the cost of doing business should reduce pressure for higher costs of goods and services.

With the population of NWT continuing to shrink, what ideas do you have to combat it?

MacPherson We need to look at making immediate changes that help to reduce the cost of living here in Yellowknife and across the North, thereby making the Northwest Territories a more attractive place to live. Likewise, we need to grow our economy, create more jobs and make the Northwest Territories a more attractive place to invest in.

Wawzonek Make the NWT a destination of choice by acting on a vision to be prosperous, healthy and educated. That includes being a destination of choice for current residents by providing access to education that enables people to be contributing members of their communities as well as programs that help new graduates in trades or degree-based professions stay in or return to the north with apprenticeships and responsive Student Financial Aid programs.

How would you improve post-secondary education in the North, and is a Polytechnic university a good start?

MacPherson Although many Northerners are successful in our school system, our graduation rates continue to trail those in Southern Canada. I believe we need to invest in more teachers to keep our class sizes manageable, but also in hiring more Teaching Assistants who can work with those students who require more support. I fully support the establishment of a Polytechnic university with its primary campus here in Yellowknife. There are so many ways that we can leverage the new university. It can be beneficial in retaining Northerners, attracting new people to the North, and in helping to truly build a sustainable Northern workforce. This can be a great economic diversifier for us. This item would be a priority for me as MLA.

Wawzonek I support an NWT based university to anchor a knowledge economy, create opportunities for residents, and drive diverse partnerships between governments, industry and communities. I believe we should include programs in high-demand professions such as nursing and social work. I also think this is an opportunity to be a leader in our areas of particular strength such as rare earth minerals, technology metals, arctic climate science, permafrost studies and land-based programs. However, we also need to invest in early childhood education so that students have the tools to be ready for post-secondary. We cannot succeed in one without the other.

What support systems do you want to implement to make sure Indigenous communities are not left behind?

MacPherson We need to prioritize building collaborative partnerships with Indigenous Governments. To do this we need better forums that allow for government-to-government dialogue to resolve some of the issues that exist. We need to ensure that we finalize outstanding land claims across the Northwest Territories. This will help to give greater certainty to uncertain regulatory processes and ensure Indigenous communities receive the necessary benefits from all development projects, thereby increasing the likelihood that more land in these areas are opened up to potential development.

Wawzonek

Is there any infrastructure aspects of your region that you would like to see improved upon?

MacPherson We must improve and expand our tourism infrastructure starting with improvements to the Yellowknife airport in order to accommodate international flights, which will help to ensure more tourism dollars stay here in the North rather than other points such as Vancouver, Calgary or Edmonton.

Wawzonek We need to catch-up on infrastructure across sectors from communications to transport to energy. I would focus first on greener energy. Providing cleaner, less costly energy through Territory-wide projects in large scale hydro or connection into the southern grid and community-level hydro, wind, solar or biomass could make resource development more economically feasible, reduce operating costs for all sizes of business and reduce our carbon footprint. It will also help companies looking to assure their investors about their carbon footprint as compared to being reliant on diesel. Improving the reliability and cost of energy and heating should also reduce the residential cost of living.

What are your priorities in terms of health care in the NWT?

MacPherson With the completion of a brand-new Stanton Hospital, we have made great headway in developing our infrastructure for the future. However, a modern hospital needs a full contingent of health care professionals. My family has had numerous and very recent family interactions with the incredible team of health care professionals at Stanton. They provide great services but are stretched far too thin. And we are too dependent on locums or sending our residents to the south even for relatively simple procedures. Weve made the expensive investment in infrastructure, so now lets add the necessary investment in people to provide necessary and beneficial services.

Wawzonek

How would you confront substance abuse in the NWT?

MacPherson Residents and visitors alike recognize the challenges we have with addictions in our City. Our strategy must be two-fold. We need to invest in a northern residential treatment centre, outpatient aftercare and supports that help those in our community struggling with addictions. At the same time, we need to ensure the safety of all residents in our community with additional RCMP resources in the City.

Wawzonek

What ideas would you put forward to expand our regions commercial district?

MacPherson While I think it is critical that we continue to support our mining industry, we also need to focus our efforts on diversifying our economy including the development of sustainable tourism that attracts tourists to stay longer and spend more money in the North. This can be done by ensuring we are incentivizing businesses to develop new tourism products and experiences, not just in Yellowknife, but in other parts of our territory as well.

Wawzonek

The two districts that will be featured tomorrow are Kam Lake and Yellowknife Centre.

Original post:

2019 NWT Election Yellowknife South MLA candidates - My Yellowknife Now

Back in February 2016, shortly after the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals officially were adopted, the worldwide trade association representing most of the worlds leading mobile companies launched an industry-wide push to encourage corporate action supporting them.

Now, responding to pressure from investors all around the globe, the group, GSMA, is kicking off a coordinated effort aimed at improving and standardizing how they disclose climate risks.

This week, more than 50 of the largest wireless network carriers representing two-thirds of mobile connections globally including AT&T, BT Group, China Mobile, Deutsche Telekom, NTT, Orange Group, SoftBank, Vodafone, Verizon and a whos who list from around the world collectively agreed to report information about climate impacts, energy transition plans, greenhouse gas emissions and other ESG concerns using the CDP global disclosure system.

What sorts of concerns should investors have? A vivid illustration comes from California. Earlier this month, the Federal Communications Commission requested information about the contingency plans of cellular service providers including AT&T, Sprint, T-Mobile, U.S. Cellular and Verizon in cases where the state's utilities are directed to switch off power during periods of high wildfire risk. According to coverage in the San Francisco Chronicle, towers can operate for four to 72 hours on existing backup systems. Some providers, via the organization Green Touch Consortium, worked on a five-year project toward the goal earlier this decade. As carriers build out next-generation 5G wireless networks, making sure they run as efficiently as possible and that the sources are increasingly cleaner are central concerns.

Being more transparent is just the first step. GSMA is also coordinating the development of what it calls an industry-wide, climate action roadmap," aligned with the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi), for achieving net-zero emission GHG emissions by 2050, the goal set out by the Paris Agreement. Many individual companies plan to use this initiative as the foundation of dialogues and meetings next week during the climate meetings in New York, including the United Nations General Assembly, as well as at the Mobile World Congress Americas conference in Los Angeles in October.

By choosing one platform for disclosure, the mobile operators are seeking to make it simpler for investors to compare the plans of companies across the wireless communications sector, something they increasingly have been requesting, said Mats Granyrd, director general of GSMA, during a conversion with GreenBiz.

"A lot of investors are keen to understand individually how companies are doing but want to see it done in a consistent way," he said.

Granyrd said many operators that agreed to join the initiative some have opted out for now, citing resource issues or strategic timing or other concerns will be reporting for the first time as part of this collaborative push.

A lot of investors are keen to understand individually how companies are doing but want to see it done in a consistent way.

The bulk of emissions related to a mobile operators own operations lie in Scope 1 (for things such as fleets, buildings and back-up generators) and in Scope 2 (mainly related to the power to run networks and data centers). But GSMA estimates that the large majority of operators total GHG emissions are Scope 3 in nature, embedded across suppliers and other members of the value chain.

Theres much that carriers can do to influence climate action there, the organization believes. That includes connecting corporate buildings and facilities for energy management, supporting vehicle telematics for reducing fuel consumption, diverting emissions that would have been expended on travel and commuting, enabling precision agriculture, empowering rural economies and so on. Those new solutions also will drive additional mobile traffic across wireless networks, so many companies across the industry are focusing on how to ensure that each new generation of connectivity is more energy-efficient than the last.

"The mobile industry will form the backbone of the future economy and therefore has a unique opportunity to drive change across multiple sectors and in collaboration with our suppliers, investors and customers," Granyrd said in the press release for the initiative.

To be clear, not every company in the GSMAs membership is part of this initiative, at least for now. The group includes more than 750 operators, as well as 350 other companies that are part of the industry such as software developers, handset and device manufacturers, internet companies and network equipment providers.

But the operators that have signed up represent about 5.2 billion mobile connections, out of the 7.8 billion reported worldwide at the end of second quarter. (That doesnt include internet of things links.) GSMA expects at least 60 operators to be involved by February, when the organization expects to unfurl a decarbonization pathway framework with the SBTi; to date, a sector-related framework of this sort hasn't been available for companies to consult.

The mobile industry will form the backbone of the future economy and therefore has a unique opportunity to drive change across multiple sectors.

The energy footprint of mobile networks is estimated at about 130 terrawatt-hours annually, with a footprint of about 110 metric tons of CO2 equivalent. Thats about 0.2 percent of global GHG emissions. If you add in the impact of mobile phones, the impact is about 200 MtCO2e, according to GSMA, or about 0.4 percent of global GHG emissions.

The forthcoming decarbonization pathway will allow companies to set their own targets, as well as a timeline for delivery; renewable energy isnt as readily available in some remote or off-grid locations as others, for example. Right now, those transmission sites may run on diesel generators and until broader transmission investments are made, the industry needs to find workaround solutions.

The Global e-Sustainability Initiative (GeSI), which represents information technology and digital infrastructure companies, and International Telecommunications (ITU) are collaborating on the development of the framework. "Were very excited with the pickup and interest of the mobile operators," Granyrd said. "Their reaction has been great."

GSMA considers the disclosure pledge and commitment to science-based goals to be an extension of the industrys intense focus on committing to the SDGs, Granyrd said. The group scores progress on all 17 goals based on how well the industry is delivering on its potential impact.

According to the report, based on GSMA analysis, so far the mobile sector is making the biggest contribution toward SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure). For example, as of 2017, almost 600 million have access to mobile internet services, most in low-income and middle-income countries, and more than 250 million globally have access to mobile financial services. As of that timeframe, 5 million people had used services offered as part of the mNutrition Initiative, which supports farmers looking to improve their productivity and income. But even then, that work only gets a score of 51 out of a possible 100 for achieving its potential. Two other areas where the industry gives itself a relatively good grade: SDG 4 (Education) and SDG 13 (Climate Action).

The areas in which the sector believes it made the most progress between 2017 and 2018 were on SDG 13 (Climate Action), SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities) and SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-Being). During 2017, for example, mobile operators involved with the Humanitarian Connectivity Charter supported more than 30 million people recovering from natural disasters and other crises. (You can find the latest SDG impact report here; the 2019 edition is due in coming weeks.)

"We have discrete targets around almost all of the targets," Granyrd said.

Go here to read the rest:

Leading mobile operators pledge collective, consistent disclosure of climate impacts - GreenBiz

From left: Sunshine Holdings PLC Group Managing Director Vish Govindasamy, Standard Chartered Bank Vietnam and ASA Cluster Markets CEO Nirukt Sapru, former Indian Minister of Commerce and Industry and Civil Aviation and MPRS & PM's Sherpa G20 & G7 Shri Suresh Prabhu, moderator and Lakshman Kadirgamar Institute of International Relations and Strategic Studies in Sri Lanka Executive Director Dr. Ganeshan Wignaraja, Vallibel One PLC Chairman Dhammika Perera, Board of Investment Sri Lanka Chairman Mangala P B Yapa, and John Keells Holdings PLC Chairman Krishan Balendra

By Uditha Jayasinghe and Charumini de Silva

The top representatives of the private sector, experts, public officials and politicians gathered yesterday for the Sri Lanka Economic Summit 2019 to take stock of the countrys economy, its strengths as well as challenges, and map a way forward to promote growth in an increasingly challenging global environment.

The summit, titled Recalibrating Sri Lankas Economic Trajectory: Towards 2025 sought to bring together the best brains and experience available in and outside the country to find the best path forward.

Uncharted territory

The proceedings opened with a session dealing with the Global dynamics in the next decade where experts pointed out that in a world beset with trade wars and the rapidly shrinking influence of global institutions such as the World Trade Organization (WTO) it was harder to remain committed to liberalisation. The speakers also touched upon the shifts in societies that are influenced by technological advancements such as Artificial Intelligence (AI) and data-driven industries that were also impacting politics and the larger functions of democracy.

The world is entering uncharted territory. We are seeing a faster rate of change, far faster than the world has ever seen before. We are now destroying institutions without finding any alternatives for them or even attempting to reform them, said former Indian Commerce and Industry and Civil Aviation Minister Shri Suresh Prabhu.

People are not even considering reform; they simply want to get rid of the institutions. This challenge is being faced by the World Trade Organization, for example. Secondly, the countries that advocated and frowned upon others who did not follow a market-based economy are now the very countries that are moving away from markets. The principle of globalisation was that every country should open up and even though they may lose in the short term, they will gain in the long term. However, it is now those very countries that have gained the most from open markets that are pulling away and not allowing developing countries to reap benefits from the opening of markets.

He pointed out that the whole idea behind open markets was based on competitive advantage and global supply chains and these were being disrupted as a result of protectionist policies, which meant smaller companies that were supplying goods and services will now face huge challenges in continuing their businesses.

Therefore we must all find our own strategic advantages. We in India have prepared a roadmap for a $ 5 trillion economy and we are working together to realise that, sooner rather than later. India is working on becoming a $ 5 trillion or $ 10 trillion economy and that will benefit our partners. This will definitely assist Sri Lanka given its proximity and other ties to India. At the same time, Sri Lanka must also come up with plans and policies that can use this growth and create its own.

Sri Lanka has huge potential in many areas. But the strategies should not disturb what Sri Lanka has, which is its natural beauty. So development should protect the environment and use the huge human resource capital it has. For example Sri Lanka has huge wind potential. Because of Sri Lankas location it can generate about 14,000 MW of wind power and it can share its power with other countries. It can export to India and just imagine the amount of revenue it can get. We buy power from Bhutan, we invested in their hydropower and Bhutan has the highest per capita income partly because of the royalties being paid by India. Imagine the energy potential Sri Lanka has without having to destroy its environment? Sri Lanka and India can come together and market its tea. So there can be growth without compromise and sacrifice. With fresh strategies Sri Lanka can be less affected by global geopolitical issues.

The former Minister pointed out that increased protectionism was leading to lower growth for everyone and that was triggering contentious politics at the local level. This has now become cyclical, he argued, and lower growth was feeding more protectionism and vice versa, rather than finding genuine solutions to problems

When domestic economies fail we have to find someone to blame. This is what is happening in many countries but they do not realise that by hurting the other country they are also hurting themselves. So in the next decade each country will have to find its own strategy for growth but they also have to revisit this strategy frequently to make sure it adapts to challenges and is nimble enough to take advantage of new opportunities. I am very happy that Sri Lanka is poised for growth and it has the capacity to insulate itself from the rest of the world if it focuses on its advantages.

Shaping the world with data

Standard Chartered Bank CEO Vietnam and ASC Cluster Markets Nirukt Sapru sought to address the opportunities as well as the challenges posed by data, digital industries and AI. He pointed out that while the world stood to gain much from technology advancement, it was also undoubtedly impacting labour markets, democracies and individual privacy, posing fresh challenges that would need to be addressed parallel to drawing benefits from these possibilities.

Data is becoming the worlds most valuable commodity. Look at the top companies by market capitalisation today - most, if not all of them, have data as the main asset of the company. What is becoming more apparent is that technological advances in data usage have outstripped the development of a framework around the ethics of data usage and data privacy.

The other significant impact of technology is the rise of the digital economy and in particular the mobile digital economy. The increasing ubiquity of the smartphone provides a huge boost to democratisation of access to markets and information. The increased ubiquity of the smartphone provides access to markets and information. Businesses can use it to reach consumers. Pokemon Go was downloaded by 50 million users in 19 days. Mobile technology provides opportunities for companies to serve consumers better, for example by using location services but they need to be gathered legally and ethically.

He noted that while people were seeing the impact of these technologies in their daily lives, technology adaptation and trends were also impacting jobs, supply linkages and skills education. In the race for technology, it was also important to address labour challenges so everyone could continue to be part of the workforce. Technology is increasingly replacing jobs so theoretically this allows humans to concentrate on innovation and creation, which are jobs that cannot be done by machines. But it is then also important for people to be given the right set of skills for this to be possible.

Disruptions to value chains are the new norms and corporates have to adjust their businesses to deal with these challenges. Inequality and distribution of wealth are exacerbating existing tensions and these will pose increasing problems to governments and societies. The shift from West to East is now embedded and Asia is driving this change. Asias GDP by 2030 will match that of the European Union and this is leading to rapid urbanisation, which is driving the middle class and growth in these areas. There is some demographic drag in some countries but 10 years from now Asia will have a significant portion of global GDP, he said.

Sapru also called on the Government to consider the linkages between labour and productivity to growth emphasising that traditionally the contribution of labour to growth has been lower than capital investment in emerging markets.

So this needs to change. Sri Lanka has to focus on developing skills, a constant focus on improving productivity and focus on Asia for growth more than it has in the past.

FDI in trying times

Board of Investment (BoI) Chairman Mangala Yapa acknowledged that Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) trends have been challenging at best as more global volatility discourages investors but acknowledged that developing markets, particularly those in East and South Asia, had managed to buck the trend.

FDI trends have been a bit of a disaster. If you look at 2018, global FDI dropped by 13%. Given the political and economic vulnerability, I dont think there will be a recovery. There is no light at the end of the tunnel. However, the biggest impact was to developed countries. Developing countries had the least impact with a positive 2% growth. In that Asia fared very well with India, China, Indonesia, Malaysia and Singapore all continuing to attract FDI. South and East Asia both saw FDI inflows grow by 4%. India alone grew by 6% with new investment. Sri Lanka also fared pretty well, recording $ 2.36 billion, which was a 54% growth over a five-year period but the challenge is to sustain it. Can we keep the growth going?

Yapa stated that there remain multiple challenges. He stressed that Sri Lanka had to expand its market past the 21 million, which means the country has to move towards trade agreements, which have been started but not completed.

Skills development and improving competitiveness have become serious. We need to move growth out of the Western Province to other parts of the country. These are the challenges we are facing and solutions need to be found to sustain FDI to Sri Lanka.

Low base positives

John Keells Holdings Chairman Krishan Balendra, speaking during the panel discussion, opined that Sri Lanka had managed to recover from the Easter attacks faster than anticipated and tourism was likely to see only a 15% drop in earnings when compared to 2018. He also said that continued growth, especially in India, would provide Sri Lanka with more growth opportunities.

One industry that is important for the country and for the company is tourism. Last year we had 2.1 million tourists but relative to most of Asia that is a small number so the uncertainties in the world are unlikely to impact the tourism sector. The Easter attacks have had an impact but recovery has been ahead of expectations. It looks as though the sector will recover by winter. Of course returns will be lower and earnings will be about 15% less than last year. One of the reasons for this is because the base is low. Tourism will continue to grow. The Indian explosion of outbound travel is really manifesting itself and Sri Lanka will see an increase in growth because of its proximity to India.

He also said the ports sector, which is the other important segment for JKH, has also fared comparatively well.

The Colombo Port is now at full capacity and growth has been rapid. This is again because of the low base. Our TEUs is about 8 million but for a hub port that is low. In Singapore its much higher. Here we are again seeing a catch-up after the war and other issues Sri Lanka has faced in the past.

Balendra was also positive about contracting interest rates but noted that they were likely to be used by the private sector only after the election cycle was over.

Lower interest rates could also turn out to be an opportunity for corporates, perhaps not till elections are completed, but once the political uncertainty ends there will be interest in availing themselves to capital for investment.

Tailor-made poverty alleviation

Vallibel One PLC Chairman Dhammika Perera was enthusiastic in his support of technology for innovative uses such as fighting poverty. He pointed out that as much as 62% of the labour entering the market did so without any training and argued that it was essential to give skills to people to increase productivity and pull them out of poverty.

The reason Sri Lanka may get caught in the middle income trap is because it is not skilling its workforce properly. If this segment is helped with loans or given other support they will get the skills that they want. This has been a critical element of other countries that have broken out of the middle income trap, he said.

Perera pointed out that current poverty alleviation programs such as Samurdhi were ineffective because they provided too few funds to make a genuine impact on the lives of recipients and also because they were not tailor-made for the requirements or specific needs they may have.

Presenting an example, he argued that if the Government used data properly it would know whether a son or a daughter of a family was in need of education and therefore could provide extra funding for three or four years and then stop the money flow as the educated child could then support the rest of the family.

Our current programs dont really pull people out of poverty. They only provide something to survive on. As much as 35% of the people experience near poverty because the handouts are simply not enough. So we need to educate people better and we need to pull people out of poverty in a meaningful way.

He also expressed the view that more than technology, what was needed was an understanding of how to effectively deploy technology to gain results. He noted that Singer had sold 120,000 air conditioners but when the data was collected they were found to be only in 52,000 households. So Perera had demarcated these houses in a grid system so that servicing them would be done easily and effectively. Based on this example, he also proposed geo-mapping of poor people to find ways to track their needs. He also advocated that the Government concentrate on district level jobs, which would be more accessible to vulnerable segments of society.

Seeing opportunity

Sunshine Holdings Group Managing Director Vish Govindasamy called for Sri Lanka to react faster to international events so it could tap into potential opportunities. He pointed out that Sri Lankas banking and financial sector could have considered taking advantage of the protests in Hong Kong to attract business to Sri Lanka. He pointed out that countries like Vietnam were using the US-China trade war to attract investment and upgrade their manufacturing and Sri Lanka could do the same, especially in promoting the already competitive ports industry.

Middle East tensions will have an impact on local tea exports and we need to focus on other exports so we can move out from volatile markets or at least hedge its impact. India is showing signs of a slowdown and that could have potential impact on tourists from that destination, he warned.

Govindasamy also advocated that Sri Lanka focus more on hygiene and aftercare of patients to promote healthcare tourism along with better diagnostics and skills development in nursing care to attract foreigners to the local healthcare service.

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Recalibrating for stronger growth trajectory - ft.lk

UNA-USA Global Forum unites LA migration-reform leaders to share stories of impact, policymaking, and strategies to advance comprehensive reform efforts in the U.S. and other global impact solutions as set forth by the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals; Citi, International Rescue Committee and Access California Services honored for positive impacts for social change

LOS ANGELES, Sept. 18, 2019 /PRNewswire/ --On Wednesday, Sept. 18, 2019, The United Nations Association of the United States of America (UNA-USA), Southern California Division, will host its 12th Annual West Coast Global Forum from 11:30 AM to 3:00 PM at the California Endowment in Los Angeles to bring together the diplomatic corps, business, and community leaders to discuss the world's most impactful issues to achieve a better and more sustainable future for all. This year's theme: Refugees and MigrationThe Global Challenge And The Local Impact. Event livestream link: http://UNA.KNEKT.Live. (Tune in: 11:30 am 3 pm PT / September 18, 2019).

"The concern, care and impact of refugees and migration is a daily headline in the United States and around world," said Eliane (Elle) Fersan , Director, Immigrants and Global Migration Initiative at the University of Southern California (USC) Gould School of Law, and keynote speaker at the Forum. "Now is the time to have these important discussions. I am honored to share my perspective on global migration issues at this prestigious event with leaders who can shape policy and outcomes for the greater good of all."

Each year, the UNA-USA Global Forum recognizes local organizations and individuals who have made positive impacts for social change. This year's Global Citizen Award recipients include:

Citi, a global bank with a strong track record of supporting organizations that enable refugees and immigrants to integrate into the social and economic fabric of local communities in Southern California. Citi Community Development is the founding corporate partner of Cities for Citizenship, a national initiative which aims to increase citizenship and financial inclusion among eligible permanent residents. Launched in 2014 in collaboration with Mayor Eric Garcetti and the Mayors of New York and Chicago, Cities for Citizenship has expanded to 88 cities and counties across the U.S. and in collaboration with the International Rescue Committee, Cities for Citizenship has served more than 2,600 individuals in Los Angeles to date. This year, Citi, in collaboration with Girl Rising, the International Rescue Committee and HP, debuted the short film Brave Girl Rising, which follows a young refugee woman named Nasro fighting for her education in one of the world's largest refugee camps. Citi Community Development has also helped impact the financial resilience of more than 50,000 Los Angeles residents through its catalytic support for the Ventanilla de Asesoria Financiera (Financial Empowerment Window), which provides free, high-quality financial counseling in-language at Mexican Consulates.

"As a global bank operating in over 100 countries during a time of unprecedented urban transformation and migration into cities, Citi has aimed to play a critical role in identifying and implementing innovative solutions that support refugee and immigrant populations," said Hal Behzadi, managing director and global market manager of the Western Region, Citi Private Bank. "Receiving the UNA-USA Global Citizen Award is further recognition of the impact we've made and encourages us to continue taking action to effect positive and meaningful change for refugee and immigrant communities in Southern California and beyond."

"Enabling greater economic integration for immigrants is a vital way to boost their financial security and increase economic opportunity in the communities in which they live," said Bob Annibale , Global Director, Citi Community Development and Inclusive Finance."By supporting such multisector efforts as Cities for Citizenship and the Ventanilla program, Citi aims to expand financial inclusion and harness citizenship as an economic asset for individuals, cities and the national economy."

Nahla Kayali, Founder and Executive Director, Access California Services, and Gillian Sorensen, Board Member, the International Rescue Committee & former United Nations Assistant Secretary General for External Relations, for each of their efforts in elevating citizenship, quality of life, and belonging among migrant communities through dedicated outreach and resource programs.

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"Now more than ever, we as community members and above all brothers and sisters in humanity must continue to challenge negative discourse regarding refugee resettlement and migration by recognizing the valuable contributions refugees bring to any given society," said Kayali.

"A primary focus of the United Nations Association of the USA (UNA-USA) is advocating and educating the community on behalf of the 17 sustainable development goals to help people around the world live healthy lives with clean water, respect for each other, in peace. Our efforts, together with local UNA- USA chapters, other NGOs, national and international partners, aim to end poverty, hunger, and inequality among races and genders, and promote access to education, clean water and sanitation. We address important issues that affect us all today and our future, especially resolving the climate crisis. We help various UN agencies and other NGOs build cities and communities where peace, justice and institutions can elevate the quality of life for all people on earth," said Barry Simon, Division President, UNA-USA, Southern California Division.

The UNA Global Forum raises funds and offers resources and support to further the efforts of its 12 Southern California chapters to educate and mobilize communities around the valuable work of the United Nations and to advocate for the U.N. Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in all its aspects for a globally inclusive and shared future.

Event livestream link: http://UNA.KNEKT.Live. (Tune in: 11:30 am 3 pm PT / September 18, 2019)Source: KNEKT.TV. Event footage available upon request.

For media inquiries, please contact: Jennifer Horspool at jennifer@agencymmedia.com,949-933-4300

About UNA-USA Southern California DivisionAs a program of the UN Foundation, the UNA-USA Southern California Division is committed to supporting its 12 local chapters in advocating and educating the community about the important work of the UN. The Division provides a platform for all chapter members in Southern California to build synergies by collaborating on programs and events that are based on a strong UN-US relationship. UNA-USA Southern California Division is a 501c3 not-for-profit organization.

View original content:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/civic-business-and-community-leaders-gather-in-la-to-discuss-refugees-and-migration--the-global-challenge-and-the-local-impact-300920528.html

SOURCE United Nations Association of the USA Southern California Division

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Civic, Business and Community Leaders Gather in LA to Discuss REFUGEES AND MIGRATION - THE GLOBAL CHALLENGE AND THE LOCAL IMPACT - Yahoo Finance

ArcTern Ventures has announced the second close of its Fund II, drawing in $165 million from investors including TD Bank Group, Suncor, and BDC.

The raise exceeds ArcTerns target, which managing partner and co-founder Tom Rand told BetaKit earlier this year was set for $150 million. The cleantech venture fund is now aiming to close the fund at $200 million. Along with TD, Suncor, and BDC, Fund II also saw capital from private charitable group The Ivey Foundation and another (undisclosed) top Canadian pension fund.

The global cleantech sector is growing and innovating at such a rapid pace that its providing more investment opportunities.

ArcTern announced the initial close of Fund II in October 2018, raising $60 million towards an original target of $100 million. LPs from the initial close include OMERS and Equinor, an oil and gas company that claims to be working on actively reducing climate emissions.

Fund II also saw participation from the federal governments Venture Capital Catalyst Initiative (VCCI), which earlier this year provided $10 million to ArcTerns second fund.

Cleantech is solving some of the most fundamental problems that we have. Our lifes work at ArcTern is to demonstrate to the market that if you solve a big problem you get a big reward, Rand told BetaKit at the time. We are chasing the biggest problems that we face i.e. climate change and resource scarcity.

According to ArcTern, this raise makes it the largest cleantech venture fund in Canada and also places it among the leading cleantech venture funds in the world.

Cleantech investing is a team sport, which is why we are excited to have united such a powerful and forward-thinking group of investor partners, said Rand. Our leadership, coupled with their capital commitments, expertise, and global connections will help drive the growth of our investee companies with the goal of transforming them into global market leaders.

ArcTern was founded in 2012 by Rand and fellow managing partner Murray McCaig under the pretense that the economy was moving towards becoming greener, which would ultimately lead to significant investment opportunities. The Toronto-based venture fund states that there is a multi-trillion-dollar opportunity in the cleantech industry.

The global cleantech sector is growing and innovating at such a rapid pace that its providing more investment opportunities than we ever thought possible only a few years ago, said McCaig.

ArcTern has previously invested in a number of Canadian startups including solar technology developer Morgan Solar and C02 reducer Parity. Toronto-based Parity marked the first investment made through ArcTern Fund II, which was the sole investor, fronting $5 million for Paritys Series A.

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Cleantech VC ArcTern Ventures announces second close, $165 million in Fund II - BetaKit

With the 2019 federal election now underway, local municipal government elected officials have outlined some of the issues and concerns they would like to see the candidates in the Red Deer-Mountain View riding discuss during the campaign.

The riding has more than 86,000 residents, and covers Mountain View County and a large portion of Red Deer County.

The incumbent MP is Conservative Earl Dreeshen, winning 74 per cent of the votes in 2015.

Didsbury mayor Rhonda Hunter says there are a number of issues she would like to see candidates address.

I believe we are really looking for the commitment to funding, programs and services that benefit rural communities, said Hunter.

Navigating the federal system is complex and can be frustrating, and a rural perspective when I say rural, I mean both urban rural and county rural is needed in all federal systems to ensure the issues of all Canadians needs are addressed.

Rural communities need to have access to all emerging opportunities. A fifth of Canadians are urban rural/rural, an important point of fact that all federal parties need to keep in mind.

She said she would like candidates to outline their respective plans for the federal gas tax fund (GTF).

The GTF is an important funding source for our municipalities that supports much-needed infrastructure funding, she said. The government doubled the GTF this year, and continuing with that formula makes sense going forward.

We do realize it is an election year, but definitely hope that the successful party commits to that doubling going forward.

She said she would also like to see the candidates outline their respective plans for providing affordable housing in rural communities, and for promoting and supporting the oil and gas industry.

Mountain View County reeve Bruce Beattie said he hopes the candidates will discuss their respective plans for supporting agriculture.

There are concerns about rural mail delivery by Canada Post. What are the positions of the parties relative to decisions that Canada Post is going to make, said Beattie.

The future of the federal gas tax fund is also of interest to the county, he said.

Weve had our payment this year and we certainly hope that will be continued. It is one of the programs that affects us.

Although he would like to see candidates discuss agriculture, he isnt convinced it will be a major issue.

In the last number of elections agriculture is rarely mentioned and I think that is unfortunate, he said. Agriculture seems to fall off the map because the vast majority of Canadians live in urban centres and thats where politicians seem to focus their efforts. I certainly dont see a change happening in that this time around.

Beattie says a minority government might not be bad news for Canada, he said.

They can be effective because obviously the governing party has to evaluate before they go ahead, he said. People want to see strong leadership.

Al Kemmere, the president of the Rural Municipalities of Alberta, says he would like to see the candidates in Red Deer-Mountain View outline their respective plans for addressing key issues facing rural communities.

One thing we keep on talking about with the feds is that whole conductivity piece, the need to have reasonable broadband access for the rural and remote communities, said Kemmere, who is also a Mountain View County councillor.

Its becoming a staple of life for businesses and for families. Thats a big focus.

Rural communities need the federal government to support key infrastructure, he said.

Another big thing for rural communities is infrastructure funding, for roads and bridges, he said. We want to make sure roads and bridges are not forgotten because thats a high level priority for the rural communities.

Its all part of our being able to provide our services, whether its agriculture or oil and gas or forestry or whatever it is that the resource sector provides. We need to make sure theres adequate funding to maintain the roads and bridges.

Federal disaster mitigation and funding for emergencies is also a big issue for rural communities, he said.

Weve seen more and more floods and fires and we need to know that when those events take place that the federal government is going to be helping municipalities out in those situations, he said.

Rural economic development needs to involve all levels of government, including the next federal government, he said.

We need to have more effort put in that, especially in Alberta where we have seen the challenges with oil and gas and the pressures on agriculture, he said.

Rural economic development is going to be a key piece to stabilize our tax base in the future. We need to keep working with the feds to create more opportunities in the rural communities.

Carstairs mayor Lance Colby says there are several issues he would like the candidates discuss.

I think the biggest thing to me in the election is honesty in the government, said Colby. Which government will uphold the rule of law and not skirt around it. I think thats the biggest issues honesty, integrity in the government itself. That theyre trustworthy. And we dont have to worry about stuff.

Another big issue is making sure the West is well represented, he said.

I think thats very important for Alberta because we are an oil-based economy right now and in the future, he said. Its not like oil is going to die from all the projections the amount of oil is going to increase.

We need to get our oil out to water so we can export it, not just to the States. I think that is one of the big things for Alberta that I think communities here would look at.

To me it cant be so focused on the East. If you look at all the stuff coming out, its when Ontario loses jobs its a big deal but when Alberta loses thousands of jobs its just the way it is.

Canada needs a government that is going to look across Canada from Newfoundland to Vancouver Island. We have to look after everyone not just one section because thats where the votes are.

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Municipal leaders outline election issues - Mountain View Gazette

Corporate advisor Ed Lukins has joined Orrick as a partner based in London. He joins from Cooley, where he helped found the London office.

Lukins focuses on the life sciences, tech and oil & gas and natural resource sectors, providing advice to public and pre-IPO private companies, private equity houses, entrepreneurs and banks in connection with domestic and cross-border capital markets and M&A transactions, strategic ventures and other corporate matters. He counsels companies and their advisors through all stages of the corporate life cycle, including financings, exits, public to privates and institutional buyouts.His IPO practice has most recently included the US listings of UK-based companies Endava (DAVA) and Autolus Therapeutics (AUTL), as well as serving as underwriters counsel for the IPOs of Atlassian (TEAM) and Bicycle Therapeutics (BCYC). Ed has also advised on a number of AIM and UK Main Market IPOs, including RenalytixAI plc and OKYO Pharma Limited. In the oil & gas sector, Ed recently acted for RockRose Energy plc on a reverse takeover involving the acquisition of the North Sea interests of US-based Marathon.Ed is a highly respected senior corporate advisor whom Ive known and admired for years, and Im thrilled hes joining our London team. His practice is a strategic addition as we focus on advising Tech, Life Science and Energy companies globally, says Chris Grew, head of Orrick's No1 ranked European Venture Capital practice (Pitchbook).Orricks platform is a real draw: the firms focus on the sectors driving the global economy, its emphasis on building top tier sector-focused practices to support its corporate offering, its collaborative and global approach and its leadership in innovative service delivery are all aligned with where client demand will be in the future, noted Ed. I look forward to working with Chris and the London team to build on this platform.Eds addition is an exciting step in our London growth strategy, adds Simon Willis, Orricks London Office Leader. He brings a practice and team approach that is a perfect fit with our strategy and will be valuable both in serving our clients and connecting the firm globally.

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Orrick adds Corporate Advisor in London - Private Equity Wire

The Global Climate Strike on Friday, September 20, is expected to draw millions of people across 150 countries in what is poised to be the largest worldwide climate protest in history. Led by 16-year-old Swedish student and climate activist Greta Thunberg, the strike, which will call on world leaders to take decisive and meaningful climate change action ahead of the United Nations Climate Action Summit in New York on September 23, encapsulates the growing frustration, particularly among the worlds youth, with how adults have so horribly mismanaged a crisis that world leaders knew was possible a generation ago. In 1979, the First World Climate Conference (FWCC), backed by an international committee of 100 scientific experts, concluded that it was necessary for nations to prevent potential man-made changes in climate that might be adverse to the well-being of humanity.

In the four decades since the FWCC, humanity has done a terrible job at reining in greenhouse gas emissions. In fact, we have done just the opposite. Since 1980, global carbon emissions have increased by more than 80 percent. The lions share of that polluted pie is taken up by the burning of fossil fuels and other industrial processes, followed by changes in land use tied to a steadily growing human population; namely, agriculture and deforestation.

The United States, the worlds biggest producer and consumer of oil, and second-biggest emitter of carbon dioxide after China, has set a remarkably poor example for other nations since Donald Trump entered the White House. His administration, which pulled out of the Paris climate agreement, has been aggressively attacking science, gutting the agencies tasked with caring for the natural environment and protecting the public from the health harms related to the environment, including fossil fuel pollution, and the entry of plastics, agricultural waste and toxic chemicals into waterways and food chains. Just last week, the Environmental Protection Agency announced plans to revoke the Obama-era Waters of the U.S. rule, which defines which of the nations waterways are subject to federal regulations. Now it will be easier for power stations, factory farms and industrial firms to pollute lakes, rivers, streams and sources of drinking water. In July, the agency rejected an Obama-era proposal to ban the neurotoxic insecticide chlorpyrifos. Produced by Dow Chemical (a major donor to Trumps inauguration committee), chlorpyrifos, which hampers brain development in children, has made its way into the nations rivers and streams, where it threatens both humans and wildlife.

Looking to the south, the Amazon rainforest continues to burn, releasing millions of tons of stored carbon dioxide into the atmosphere every day. In 2019 alone, the Amazona sink that safely sequesters 2.2 billion tons of carbon dioxide every yearhas experienced more than 100,000 fires, resulting in a spike in air pollution, with much of the destruction financed by BlackRock, the worlds biggest investment firm. In May, deforestation in the Brazilian Amazon surged to a new high, with forest cover being lost at the rate of two soccer fieldsmore than 150,000 square feetevery minute, as industry leaders feel emboldened by President Jair Bolsonaros pro-business, anti-environment stance.

Looking to the steadily warming north offers gloomy pictures as well, with the Arctic losing near-record amounts of sea ice this summer to rising temperatures, and suffering through some of the longest-running wildfires ever recorded. This summer, Alaska lost more than 1 million hectares to wildfires, while Greenland experienced a record heatwave. Siberia fared even worse, with more than 2.6 million hectares burned since July.

While the situation of the beloved polar bear, so long the face of global warming, appears to have stabilizedat least for now, for some subpopulationsthere is no short supply of new mascots to be the sad emissaries of the climate crisis. A frontrunner is the Bramble Cay melomys, which earlier this year became the first mammal to go extinct due to climate change. The small rodent lived on a single island in Australias Great Barrier Reef, which itself could be the new face of climate carnage. Supporting thousands of animal species up and down the food chain, the reef has stood the test of time for the last 20,000 years, but it has finally met its match: a deadly cocktail of climate change, overfishing and land clearance. The worlds largest living organism is dying, and we are to blame. Climate barbarism is what Naomi Klein, the inspirational climate change chronicler, calls it in her new book On Fire: The (Burning) Case for a Green New Deal. At least 17 countries have now declared a climate emergency.

But amid all the human-caused death and destruction across the worlds ecosystemsand the planets climactic mechanisms, all is not lostyet. There is still time to tackle climate change, but it will require an unprecedented effort from all sectors of society, says the United Nations. There have been some key victories and signs of progress, indicators that some kind of system change may be underway. In July, New York Governor Andrew Cuomo signed into law the landmark New York Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act. Targeting a net-zero carbon economy by 2050, it is Americas most aggressive state-level climate legislation.

On the national front, the Green New Deal, which seeks to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050, is making headway into the 2020 presidential election, with a majority of Democratic candidates supporting it. Co-authored by Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) and Sen. Ed Markey (D-Mass.), the nonbinding resolutionthe most sweeping climate policy ever introduced into the U.S. Congresscalls for a fair and just transition to protect communities impacted by climate change, particularly those who have been disproportionately affected by pollution in the past. Its proponents are signaling a break with the consumer-capitalist model of profit and resource depletion to embrace a model that values nature, sustainability, communities of color and Indigenous people. Across the Atlantic, the European Union has introduced the European Green Deal. Based on the Democrats legislative package, and with the same 2050 net-zero target, the EU version seeks to make Europe the first climate-neutral continent.

Congress should extend the electric vehicle tax credit, as well as tax credits that promote clean energy and energy efficiency investments: easy, commonsense actions that would reduce emissions and create jobs. Even in the absence of major legislative reform to address the climate crisis, there are ways to make existing environmental laws work in ways they have not been used before. Additionally, we can expect to rely more on new technologies. Advancements in solar energy and battery storage technology mean that electricity generated from the sun is now cheaper than that derived from natural gas. Carbon-neutral fuels and carbon removal technologies are on the horizon. Scientists are figuring out how agricultural soils can be used to safely intake and store carbon.

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China, the worlds biggest emitter of carbon dioxide, is on target to achieve its climate goals nearly a decade ahead of schedule. As the United States cedes its leadership role in the climate fight, China has gone the opposite route, rolling out more than 100 policies over the past decade aiming to reduce both energy use and greenhouse gas emissions, including adding enormous solar and wind installations to its energy grid and introducing a feed-in tariff that guarantees prices for producers of renewable energy. As China accounts for nearly a third of humanitys carbon emissions, its contribution to achieving the Paris climate agreements goal of limiting global temperature rise to 2 Celsius above pre-industrial levels is key (though the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change released a special report in October of last year calling for a ceiling of 1.5 Celsius to avoid the worst impacts of climate change).

The private sector is also becoming more environmentally aware, recognizing that climate change poses a grave risk to business. Ahead of its annual summit in Davos this past January, the World Economic Forums ranking of top global risks was dominated by issues around the climate and environment. Two-thirds of U.S. businesses have reviewed or changed their approach to energy management as a response to recent climate reports. The worlds largest insurer, Chubb, recently announced it would no longer underwrite or invest in coal projects. Many businessessome 1,200 in Australia aloneare closing on September 20 so that their employees can participate in the Global Climate Strike.

The food industry is also responding to rising consumer demand for plant-based food, with major brands adding vegan options to their product lines, giving buyers more opportunities to leave the environmental impacts of the meat industry off their plates. In addition to being the second-largest contributor to human-caused greenhouse gas emissions after fossil fuel, animal agriculture is a primary driver of deforestation, the loss of biodiversity and the pollution of water and air.

Consumer behavior is a major element of the climate solution. Through their 15 Ways in 15 Days challenge, the United Nations is calling on individuals across the globe to adopt sustainable lifestyles. Evidence shows that if enough people start to adopt the changes [in] key lifestyle areas of food, stuff, move, money, and fun, then the global momentum of collective action will help shift the economy and address pressing social and environmental issues, the UN says.

Scientists are even calling on their own to engage in civil disobedience to spur action. Ecologist Claire Wordley of the University of Cambridge and conservation biologist Charlie Gardner of the University of Kent recently published an op-ed calling on their fellow scientists to act on our own warnings to humanity and engage in nonviolent civil disobedience. The scientists who alerted the world to the climate and ecological crises have a moral duty to join the popular movements demanding political action, they write.

But disparate actions, no matter how well-intentioned, may prove insufficient. To prevent the world from warming 1.5 Celsius, a massive, coordinated, global and legally binding effort across all sectors of society is needed; basically, a regime change, politically, socially and culturally. Notably, the shift from cruel, competitive consumption to compassionate, cooperative regenerationto a stewardship of the planet that is green, eco-friendly, sustainable, local, organic, and respectfulis generational, gendered and multicultural. Research suggests that women tend to be more environmentally conscious than men, and more specifically, female economists are more likely to support environmental policies than their male counterparts.

Today that is playing out as women, many of them young and of color, are leading the climate fight. In the United States, Green New Deal co-author Ocasio-Cortez and three of her fellow, newly minted representativesIlhan Omar of Minnesota, Rashida Tlaib of Michigan and Ayanna Pressley of Massachusettsmake up what has come to be known as The Squad. In addition to being outspoken adversaries of Trump in Congress, they are all young women of color who support progressive climate change policies. Deep in the Ecuadorian jungle, Nemonte Nenquimo, a member of the Waorani tribe, led a successful lawsuit protecting half a million acres of Indigenous territory in the Amazon rainforest from oil drilling. Hindou Oumarou Ibrahim, a member of the Mbororo pastoralist community in Chad, has spent the past decade bridging the gap, she says, between the international decisions [on climate change] with the reality on the ground. The list goes on.

And then theres Greta Thunberg, who will lead a demonstration Friday in New York City, and her global army of young climate strikers. We are facing an existential crisis ... it will have a massive impact on our lives in the future, but also now, especially in vulnerable communities, said the 16-year-old in an interview with Democracy Now! We should also try to wake the adults up, because they are the ones ... who are mostly responsible for this crisis, and we need to hold them accountable. Will adults take responsibility for the planetary morass we find ourselves in today? Perhaps. But as peoplea great many of them too young to votegather in streets, parks and public squares around the globe on September 20 to demand action, a bigger question looms: Will adults act?

This article was produced by Earth | Food | Life, a project of the Independent Media Institute.

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Global Climate Strike: Kids Are Demanding Action, But Will Adults Act? - Common Dreams

Working remotely can take a toll on employees who can feel isolated as if alone on an island.

Barbara Fisher recalled a time one of her remote workers traveled to Hawaii yet called in to four meetings over two days.

I asked, How are you recharging? Why did you even take your computer? As a remote worker, its an extension of what she does, said Fisher, chief operating and people officer for digital health company Aduro Inc. who previously was a vice president for Intel Corp. working in human relations and talent management.

The reality is that weighs on you. Youre never able to refuel.

Remote work has become the new normal for companies responding to workers desire for flexibility. In its State of the American Workplace report, Gallup polling found 43 percent of employees worked remotely in 2016 compared to 39 percent in 2012.

In its 2019 Employee Benefits report on leave and flexible working released in June, the Society for Human Resource Management noted that remote work continues to rise in popularity as a benefit. Telecommuting of all types is increasing as a result. Part-time telecommuting now offered by more than 40 percent of organizations is up 5 percent from 2018 and demonstrated the greatest increase.

Ad-hoc telecommuting is offered by 69 percent of organizations while full-time telecommuting is offered by more than one-quarter of organizations, SHRM reports.

From a remote workers perspective, some of the positive aspects are flexible job schedules, work-life balance and the freedom to work from almost anywhere, said Tina Garrell, director of the annual HR Florida Conference for the HR Florida State Council, a SHRM affiliate.

For companies, it means extending a footprint beyond its headquarters, saving on office space costs and keeping employees happy.

But employers are sometimes faced with different challenges arising with their remote workforce, such as the health and well-being of those employees who do not come to the office every day, said Garrell.

Studies show remote workers struggle with loneliness, isolation, an inability to unplug and ongoing distractions.

Global Work Connectivity, a recent study commissioned by Virgin Pulse and HR advisory and research firm Future Workplace, concludes many remote workers feel isolated.

While remote workers gain freedom and flexibility, the study found they are disengaged and less likely to want a long-term career with their company because of their lack of human contact, said Dan Schawbel, a partner with Future Workplace.

The survey of more than 2,000 managers and employees in 10 countries found almost half of an employees day is spent using technology to communicate. Slightly more than half always or very often feel lonely as a result.

Men, introverts and younger generations indicated a greater need for work companionship. Leaders can support employee relationships by encouraging connection in person over online, researchers said.

Remote workers in some organizations are among the most stressed, which can seem counterintuitive. The perception is they have more time and are free from office politics, getting dressed up and commuting, said Mary Marzec, senior health strategy scientist for Virgin Pulse, a part of Richard Bransons Virgin Group that designs technology cultivating positive employee lifestyle habits.

With most employees waking hours spent on work, the work culture has a significant influence on adopting and sustaining healthy habits, Marzec said. While technology has paved the way for more employees to work remotely, it also has contributed to that sense of isolation, leading to mental and physical health challenges.

Technology has created the illusion that workers are connected when in reality they feel isolated, lonely, disengaged and less committed to their organizations when overusing or misusing it, said Schawbel, who also authored Back to Human: How Great Leaders Create Connection in the Age of Isolation.

Most remote workers have the flexibility to work in different areas a coffee shop or the beach and they still choose to work at home, said Fisher. The convergence of work and home into one space underlies the struggle to unplug.

You have to be able to recharge. Not doing it definitely weighs on an individuals health and how they show up.

Remote workers can feel left out of key decisions, leading to stress, frustration and unhappiness, said Fisher.

Distractions are another challenge.

One of Fishers employees who asked to work remotely later expressed frustration that home tasks were distracting her from work.

When you are a remote worker, it actually is more work because you have to think about how you balance your time to get things done and make sure youre still connected, said Fisher.

That necessitates discipline in meeting work milestones and personal goals, she added.

Air in the at-Home Schedule?

The perception that remote workers have more time at home to take care of family responsibilities essentially is false, said Marzec.

Drawing boundaries can be very difficult, she added. If somebody sends you an email, there is internal pressure to answer that right away to show youre working. Somebody in the office can be in a meeting for two hours, go to lunch, and even stop at the bank on the way back. A remote worker doesnt feel that freedom.

Lack of face time with team members is another challenge.

You cant just stop over to somebodys desk or bump into someone in the hall and ask them if theyve followed up, Marzec said. Emails and communications have to be constructed much more clearly because youre not there to back it up in person. Communication can start a downstream spiral of lack of productivity.

Remote workers dont have the feeling of support one gets by standing around the office water cooler and soliciting ideas on how to deal with professional and personal struggles, Marzec added.

Feelings of isolation and lack of social support are linked to anxiety and depression, she added.

Even though you think remote workers are not working longer hours, often that sense of being present at work is on their mind and can contribute to depression and anxiety, she added.

Remote workers also dont feel they have the freedom to work out or take a walk, said Marzec.

When you work remotely, youre not getting in the extra energy like walking from a parking lot to work, said Marzec. Someone who works remotely could have as few as 1,500 steps in a day. Whereas in normal workday walking, youre going to put in 5,000 to 6,000 steps. It isnt the 10,000 recommended steps, but its a lot more than 1,500.

Health implications depend ones go-to for dealing with stress when working alone and not able to walk over to peers to get advice on how to move a project forward, said Fisher.

Whatever your vice is to manage stress is where youre going to go. Thats just human nature. When youre alone, going to that vice is likely easier than when youre in an office where you can reach out quickly to the person sitting in the cube next to you, tell them youre having a rough day and try to figure the problem out.

Companies have a responsibility to take care of the workforce and remote workers have to put themselves out on the radar more, said Fisher. That entails remote worker access to wellness initiatives.

Part of that responsibility if you decide to have a blended workforce is figuring out how what you offer at your headquarters is also what you offer to your extension sites as well as to your remote workers, Fisher said.

While remote workers may not be able to access the gym at company headquarters or enjoy a healthy lunch at the in-house cafeteria, inclusive team challenges such as walking or drinking enough water are a lot of fun and help everybody feel included no matter where they work, said Marzec.

Technology makes implementing wellness programs for remote workers easier, said Garrell.

These programs offer a variety of options both remote employees and employees who physically come to the office can participate in, she said. An example of a program that would work well for a remote workforce is providing partial or full reimbursement for various fitness activities in which they choose to participate.

That can include sports leagues, gym memberships, yoga classes and other activities available in the remote workers area that keeps the employee active and engaged. By allowing them to choose activities in which they are interested, it helps ensure higher participation rates and long-term engagement, said Garrell.

Brian Rhonemus, CEO of Sanford Rose Associates Rhonemus Group, said he encourages everyone on the recruiting firms remote team to manage distractions by being as disciplined in their work hours as they would if they physically drove to an office with a more structured schedule.

Rhonemus also said some of his companys remote workers use stand-up treadmill desks to address the struggle with scheduling fitness time.

We also schedule blocks of time out of the office to meet people face-to-face to fulfill the need for social interaction, he said. We encourage participation in coaching and other outside activities and allow time for that away from the office. We share our personal and professional success in our weekly update call.

Joey Frasier, CEO of Shortlist, a San Francisco-based freelancer-management platform, suggested that hosting events in remote locations can ensure remote workers feel connected to the office community.

We constantly remain in contact with our remote staff to make sure they are happy and have all of the support they need, he said.

Frasier said his company helps its customers manage about 70,000 workers, nearly all of whom are remote.

Remote workers are encouraged to participate in wellness programs in their areas or online using apps like Calm or MoveWith. HR managers also can provide access to places like One Medical, which provides wellness and mindfulness services.

Management support is critical. A manager can discuss with a remote employee how to set up their work schedule in such a way they can block off time to engage in physical exercise, said Marzec.

It relieves that pressure that if I take a walk and dont answer that email within an hour, Im not going to be punished for it, she added.

Virtual Teamwork

Garrell said she ensures that the three remote workers in her business are included in as many office activities as possible through daily sales team conference calls, video conferencing training programs and a group messaging chat program to communicate with management throughout the day.

This helps make them feel like they are truly a part of our organization as well as having a positive impact on their mental health, productivity and overall wellness, she said.

Fostering a strong work culture that helps remote workers feel supported can be done through team-building activities, social events and workstations where workers can get to know each other on a personal level, said Schawbel.

An investment in the remote workforce yields positive returns.

When you give greater autonomy, flexibility, responsibility but also greater support for employees, they feel it, said Fisher. We talk a lot about I want to have a loyal employee who doesnt want to leave. Its a balance. The company needs to show how invested they are in the person and the person shows how invested they are into the company based on that relationship between the two of them.

There is so much research that employees are looking to be heard and valued. When an employee feels that, theyre able to reach full potential because theyre being challenged and rewarded in ways that inspire and motivate them. The impact to productivity and the bottom line starts to improve.

When a company addresses physical and mental health challenges faced by its remote workers, those workers stay committed, Marzec said.

The manager doesnt have to replace that talent, she added. Many times, companies focus on health care costs when it comes to health and well-being and overlook the important factor of employee satisfaction and intention to leave the company.

Once somebody leaves, that impacts other people on that team who now need to work more to fill the gap of the person who left. The manager needs to put in time to hire somebody else. The training may take up to a year before a new person is really folded into the organization. In some cases, knowledge is lost when somebody leaves and we have a very knowledge-based economy. There can be client loss. Protecting against unwanted turnover is an important goal of health and wellness programs.

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Remote Employees: Out of Sight, Out of Their Minds? - Workforce Management

In the early 1990s, Maurice Sandford attended a meeting where soon-to-expire leases for cottage lots on the Chippewas of Georgina Island First Nation were to be reviewed. The lots were parcelled out along the shoreline of Snake Island, a small island roughly 100km north of Toronto on Lake Simcoe, where Sandford, a retired firefighter, has been vacationing since 1983.

Sandford was part of the Snake Island Cottagers Association. At the meeting, he met with representatives from the Department of Indian Affairs and Northern Development to discuss the leases. Sandford recalls seeing Georgina Island First Nation council and band members sitting at the back of the room.

"They just didn't have any say in it," says Sandford. "And it was strange, how we're talking to these people at the front that really had no vested interest, other than they're government employees."

This frustrated the then-chief of Georgina Island, Bill McCue.

"It was like our community got pushed aside to the kiddie table," says McCue.

"I had no input into what was being negotiated on our territory, and I felt that's wrong."

In 2001, after decades under the Indian Act's land management regime, the First Nation was finally able to control its own leases and land, and natural resources through the Framework Agreement on First Nation Land Management.

Under the Indian Act, First Nation land is managed by the federal government. This means the government is responsible for everything from approving leases to collecting rent to ensuring that leaseholders are following the rules. The problem is the Crown isn't always the most qualified candidate for the job.

"Indian Affairs has never really been in a position to be a proper steward of reserve land," says Meko Nicholas, the executive director of the First Nation Land Management Resource Centre, also known as LABRC, an organization that assists First Nations in their pursuit of land management.

"If you're not on reserve and you're not seeing what's going on day-to-day, it's hard to make judgment calls the way the people who live there can."

While Georgina Island was operating under the Indian Act's land management regime, cottagers on Snake Island had been using DIY septic systems that were leaching waste into Lake Simcoe the same lake that residents drink from.

"The cottagers were using 45-gallon tanks, and they'd put an axe through it, and that was their septic system," says Pat Big Canoe, a long-time councillor for Georgina Island First Nation.

Big Canoe says the First Nation sent photos to Indian Affairs that showed the sewage leaking into the lake. According to Big Canoe, Indian Affairs did nothing to remedy the problem.

The Indian Act permits Canada to act on behalf of First Nations. As much as they may have wanted to, Georgina Island First Nation couldn't force cottagers to install proper septic tanks, nor could they cancel an offending cottager's leaseunder the Indian Act, only Indian Affairs is authorized to enforce First Nation land management rules and regulations.

Indian Affairs also managed the funds generated from Georgina Island's leases. In order to get their money, the First Nation had to issue a document detailing a council decision, called a Band Council Resolution, requesting their funds. They had to tell the government what they wanted to use the money for, too.

"They would say, 'You can't use it for debt. You can't use it for education.' They would have a whole series of things you couldn't use it for," says Big Canoe.

"Mind you, it was the band's own money they were holding They treated you like you were minors, and that you couldn't spend your own money. It was terrible, really."

Problems like the ones Georgina Island faced are not uncommon for First Nations operating under the Indian Act's land management regime. Some First Nations yearned for land management authority, and beginning in the late 1980s, Canada introduced a series of initiatives aimed at increasing the land management capacity of First Nations.

The 53/60 Delegated Authority Program was the first of these initiatives, which allowed First Nations to manage land transactions (like leases), and exercise the minister's decision-making authority as it related to reserve land. Still, Canada overruled many of the decisions made by participating First Nations, says Meko Nicholas.

The early '90s brought the Regional Land Administrative Program, but there were issues with that, too a 2002 evaluation found both programs "failed to adequately address the complex nature of reserve land management."

The proposed solution: the Reserve Land and Environment Management Program, known as RLEMP. Created in partnership with First Nations, RLEMP was more comprehensive than its predecessors, which have been wound-down in favour of this model. The program has three tiers, designed to incrementally increase the First Nation's capacity for managing its own lands.

The final step of RLEMP used to be Delegated Authority, before that program was discontinued. Now, ideally, RLEMP concludes with the First Nation joining the Framework Agreement on First Nation Land Management.

Bill McCue was introduced to the Framework Agreement on First Nations Land Management by a group of chiefs, shortly after becoming a chief himself in 1993. The Framework Agreement promised to relieve First Nations of some of the constraints posed by the Indian Act, and give them more control over their land, which piqued McCue's interest.

"I asked them to come and do a presentation to our council and community . . . because I thought this is something we need," says McCue.

"I wanted an option to take our community out of the Indian Act, because it definitely wasn't working for us."

Signing onto the Framework Agreement on First Nations Land Management would allow Georgina Island to develop a comprehensive, personalized law called a land code, which replaces dozens of sections of the Indian Act and enables First Nations to take back control of their land and natural resources, including minerals, forestry, agriculture and water.

But McCue admits he was initially "leery" of the Framework Agreement because "it was something no one had done before," and he wasn't quite sure where it would lead his community. McCue says others were uneasy about the Framework Agreement, too.

"Folks in Ontario and the [Assembly of First Nations] weren't really comfortable with it. They were comfortable being under the Indian Act," says McCue.

"From the cradle to the grave, the Indian Act is in your face," says Meko Nicholas, who grew up in Tobique First Nation, northwest of Fredericton, N.B.

"So you start to remove sections of the Indian Act, and people start to worry. Well, what's in place of that? Can we trust our own people to make the right decisions? That's a big decision for any community to make," says Nicholas.

Past attempts to abolish the Indian Act, such as the 1969 White Paper (formally known as the "Statement of the Government of Canada on Indian Policy, 1969") have faced major opposition from First Nation groups. In addition to dismantling the Indian Act, the 1969 White Paper (as well as later initiatives, like the First Nation Property Ownership Initiative which emerged in the mid-2000s) proposed privatization of reserve land, which critics feared would lead to the erosion of the First Nations land base.

Some groups worried the Framework Agreement on First Nations Land Management could lead to privatization of reserve land. However, unlike the proposed First Nation Property Ownership Initiative, under the Framework Agreement, there is no change in the title or status of reserve land reserve land remains held by the Crown, protected under Section 91(24) of the Constitution.

For Bill McCue, the benefit of being able to manage his community's land outweighed his fear of "moving forward into the unknown." He says council was also receptive to joining the Framework Agreement because of the "tribulations" they faced in dealing with the federal government.

As one of the first communitiesin Canada to develop and ratify a land code, Georgina Island received a lot of support from the chiefs who developed the Framework Agreement, as well as the First Nations Lands Advisory Board. "If we had fears, they would help us move forward," says McCue. (Today, LABRC supports First Nations in land code development, but it didn't exist when Georgina Island joined the Framework Agreement.)

Despite limited resources, Georgina Island had two staff members dedicated to developing the land code. Following community consultations, Pat Big Canoe and Sylvia McCue worked with lawyers from the Lands Advisory Board to draft the rules and regulations in Georgina Island's land code.

"They were right there helping us develop everything, and we kind of just went along for the ride," says Sylvia McCue, the lands manager at Georgina Island First Nation.

In 1996, band members voted overwhelmingly in favour of Georgina Island First Nation's land code, which came into effect in 2001 (following the federal ratification of the Framework Agreement, via the First Nations Land Management Act in 1999).

Today, a First Nation interested in joining the Framework Agreement must express their interest in a Band Council Resolution, and complete a community profile, which is submitted to LABRC and Indigenous Services Canada (ISC). The request is reviewed by ISC, who determines the community's eligibility based on certain criteria, including their existing land management experience, current economic development pursuits, and more.

If ISC decides the community is ready to take on land management, and there is federal funding available, ISC recommends the First Nation for entry to the Framework Agreement to the minister. The community then signs onto the Framework Agreement, and enters the "developmental" phase. This is when the First Nation begins to draft a land code, consults with community members, and negotiates a funding agreement (known as an Individual Agreement) with Canada. This process takes about two years.

After band members approve the land code through a ratification vote, the First Nation becomes "operational." Management of the community's lands and resources are transferred back to the First Nation, and 40 sections of the Indian Act related to land and environmental management no longer apply.

According to Meko Nicholas, 163 First Nations have signed the Framework Agreement; 88 First Nations across Canada are operating under their own land code, while 31 communities are currently in the developmental stage. More than 40 communities are "inactive," meaning they are not actively developing a land code, perhaps due to changes in leadership or other priorities, says Nicholas.

The price tag associated with developing a land code is a major drawback for some First Nations. Designing and implementing a land code is an intensive, costly process, and while federal funding and other resources are available, it's not enough to cover the entire cost. Passing a land code also means that the First Nation takes on more liability, as the Framework Agreement relieves Canada of its fiduciary duty related to land and environmental management, leaving the First Nation on its own to deal with any problems that occur after their land code comes into effect.

Amendments to the First Nation Land Management Act in 2018 have drawn criticism, as the requirement for 25 per cent of eligible band members to approve a land code was eliminated in favour of a majority vote. The 25 per cent threshold proved challenging for some First Nations with a large off-reserve population to meet.

But a 2019 report by the Yellowhead Institute, a First Nations led-research centre, says the amendment "lowers the obligation of a First Nation to obtain consent from their membership, allowing leadership to significantly alter their governance over reserve lands with the approval of potentially a small portion of those they represent."

The potential economic development spin-offs provided by the Framework Agreement are a major draw for First Nations. A 2009 report commissioned by LABRC, the Lands Advisory Board and Canada found that many of the 19 First Nations surveyed reported a 40 per cent increase in new business, and have attracted approximately $53 million in internal investment, and $48.5 million in external investment since becoming operational.

A 2013 report commissioned by the same group found that a total of 4,000 jobs have been created by the 32 operational First Nations surveyed. It also found that land management transactions are completed significantly quicker by First Nations with land codes versus under the Indian Act: the 584-day average for the approval of leases and permits under the Indian Act was reduced to an average of 17 days for operational First Nations. Bill McCue calls this "moving at the speed of business."

The Framework Agreement has also been a boon for Canadaa partial benefit-cost study found that five projects created as a result of the Framework Agreement, including a wind farm, a hydroelectric facility and a casino, may generate anywhere between $270 million and $1.4 billion for Canada over the lifetime of the projects.

However, the Yellowhead Institute's critical analysis of the First Nations Land Management Regime proposes "Canada's logic embedded within the First Nations Land Management Regime pushes First Nations toward a certain type of neoliberal economic development," which runs "counter to the tenets of many traditional Indigenous economic philosophies."

The authors of the report question whether the economic development offshoots of the Framework Agreement actually benefit Indigenous people living on reserve, saying "there are currently no studies to prove whether the First Nations Land Management Regime has reduced poverty on reserve or whether increased overall wealth of those First Nations has contributed to better socio-economic indicators, such as health, language renewal, or cultural revitalization."

For Bill McCue, the Framework Agreement is more than just the potential economic development opportunities it presents.

"It's not just there for you to throw up businesses or casinos, or whatever. It's certainty You're in charge. It's your authority over the lands."

Georgina Island has created a land use plan forits 3,500-plus acres of reserve land, which is a permanent home to less than 200 band members, but supports hundreds of cottagers throughout the summer. The community'splan is guided by objectives like cultural restoration (including preservation of sacred grounds), and environmental protection, as Georgina Island is home to number of species considered at-risk in Ontario, like American ginseng and peregrine falcons.

The land code has also empowered Georgina Island to create environmental laws to protect the reserve's at-risk flora and fauna, and a building code that outlines the requirements for septic systems. The 45-gallon drums used for waste on Snake Island have since been overhauled.

In addition to being able to issue leases, Georgina Island now deals directly with cottagers, too: the First Nation collects rent, sends arrears notices and can cancel a lease if the leaseholder doesn't follow the rules. The relationship between the First Nation and the Snake Island Cottagers Association has also improved.

"It's like night and day," says Maurice Sandford. "It's more of a direct relationship...we can see somebody in front of us and ask them questions, and we're getting good answers."

In 2016, the First Nation built the Island View Business Centre on the mainland at the Virginia Island Beach Marina. There is a smoke shop, a gas station and a restaurant with views of Georgina Island in the distance, across the lake. These businesses and the First Nation's leasehold properties "generate quite a bit of revenue" that goes back to the community, says Bill McCue.

"We are creating an economy which is almost self-sufficient, without the need of departmental funding from Canada," says McCue. "But having said that, we're not going to let [Canada] off their obligations to fund for services that are supposed to be provided through treaty."

The independence afforded by the Framework Agreement is huge for Georgina Island First Nation, says Pat Big Canoe.

"It's our plan to be completely independent of the government," saysBig Canoe. "If they don't want to give us money, we're not going to fall apart. We're going to do well on our own."

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How Georgina Island First Nation took back control of lands and resources - CBC.ca