Monthly Archives: January 2021

Arvin after breaking apart in the Black Sea (Twitter @Deniz_is_Pltfrm photo)

By The Maritime Executive 01-18-2021 11:27:15

Turkish authorities are reporting that a small general cargo ship sunk along the Black Sea coast on January 17. A search and rescue operation conducted by the Navy and Coast Guard reported that six crew members were rescued while three crew members had died. Later media reports raised the death toll to four while the Coast Guard said the search was ongoing for three additional sailors that were reported missing.

The 3500 dwt general cargo ship Alvin, registered in Palau in the western Pacific, was reported to be owned by a Ukrainian shipping company. The 46-year-old vessel, built in 1975, had sailed from Porti, Georgia, and was making its way along the northern coast of Turkey sailing to Burgas, Bulgaria before encountering bad weather. The Turkish Foreign Ministry reported that the ship had sought shelter in the Bartin anchorage on January 15 after encountering heavy rain, snow, strong winds, and high seas.

The Turkish Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure reported that the vessel, which had a length of 374 feet, had broken its back, splitting into two pieces and sinking. There was a total of 12 to 15 crew reportedly aboard, including two Russians and 10 Ukrainian sailors.

A heavy storm was hampering initial rescue efforts preventing helicopters from flying to the area. The first rescue efforts were reported taking place from land with three of the sailors having been spotted in a rocky area along the shoreline. "We continue search and rescue activities by land, but by land and sea is not possible," the governor of the region told the Turkish Anadolu news agency. "We are not stopping search activities."

A Navy frigate was later reported sailing to the area and the Coast Guard said that one of its boats and a helicopter had also joined the rescue mission along with a dive team. The Navy reported that it had also spotted lifeboats from the Arvin less than 2,000 feet from the shoreline.

One of the rescued sailors - Turkish Coast Goard photo

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Cargo Ship Sinks in Black Sea; 6 Rescued and 7 Dead and Missing - The Maritime Executive

A coalition of NGOs is calling for an urgent ban on destructive bottom trawling in EU marine protected areas, after the failure of member states to defend seas.

The ban is part of a 10-point action plan to raise the bar to achieve biodiversity targets, which they say will not be met by current promises, such as last years high-profile pledge by world leaders at the UN summit on biodiversity in New York to reverse nature loss by 2030.

A raft of EU laws to safeguard marine life including a duty on EU member states to achieve good environmental status in seas by 2020, to achieve healthy ecosystems and to introduce sustainable fisheries management have not been enforced, says the group, which includes Oceana in Europe, Greenpeace and ClientEarth.

They warn that this failure, combined with existing pressures on Europes seas, including climate change, risks triggering irreversible changes to the ecological conditions under which humanity has evolved and thrived.

The 10-point call to action, which the groupwill present to EU leaders, MEPs and member states, follows the commitment of Ursula von der Leyen, president of the European commission, and many EU heads of state or government, to reverse biodiversity loss by 2030.

The call was published in response to a European parliament draft report on the EUs biodiversity strategy for 2030. That draft report, which will be presented to the environment committee on Thursday, expresses strong regret that the EU has neither fully met the 2020 biodiversity strategy objectives nor the global Aichi biodiversity targets.

While the NGOs welcomed the draft report, they said it does not go far enough to ensure enforcement of current EU laws or to set action plans to reverse biodiversity loss by 2030.

Rebecca Hubbard, programme director of Our Fish, which aims to end overfishing, said: The EU has failed to achieve good environmental status for EU seas and the EU biodiversity strategy must be implemented if we are to have a chance of saving it this implementation needs to include the 10 action points we have in our report.

She said the EU has also failed to end overfishing, and to protect marine habitats from bottom trawling. What we really need to do is go from strategies and goals to action and outcomes. National pledges, goals and agreements are important for setting a direction but if we are going to save the planet we need action.

The 10-point action plan calls for a network of fully and highly protected ocean sanctuaries covering at least 30% of the oceans by 2030 and a drastic improvement in fisheries protections. It urges the EU to commit resources to dramatically ramp up, implement and enforce existing legislation to safeguard marine life.

The groups also call on the EU to carry out environmental impact assessments of fishing activities, to set fishing limits with precautionary buffers for climate change and mandatory remote monitoring systems for all fishing fleets. It calls for measures to mitigate bycatch and for protections of the deep sea, such as closing sensitive areas to hydrocarbon exploration. And it calls for an end to harmful fishing subsidies and controls on underwater noise.

Nicolas Fournier, the campaign director for marine protection at Oceana Europe, said: The EU 2030 biodiversity strategy is strong on marine protection targets, but we want the European parliament to raise further the EUs ambition on biodiversity, both internationally to champion the 30% of ocean protection and support the UN treaty for the high-seas, but also in Europe to call for a ban of all destructive fishing gear inside marine protected areas, starting with bottom-trawling.

Fewer than 1% of European marine protected areas are fully off-limits to fishing. Last month, the European court of auditors warned the EU had failed to halt marine biodiversity loss in Europes waters and to restore fishing to sustainable levels. In 2019, the European Environment Agency found signs of stress at all scales and warned the current and historical use of Europes seas was taking its toll on marine ecosystems

The call for action comes just days after warnings from international scientists that the planet is facing a ghastly future of mass extinctions, declining health and climate-disruption upheavals that threaten human survival.

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NGOs demand action not promises as EU accused of failing to protect seas - The Guardian

Even though The Adventure Zone is still in its third season, the McElroy family has already released some details about the next campaign. Here's what we know.

The hit actual-play podcastThe Adventure Zoneis right in the middle of its third campaign,Graduation, with the players gearing up for a big heist that may take them into the end game. However, even thoughGraduationhasn't yet concluded,the McElroy family is already preparing for what comes next.

In an interview with Dimension 20's Brennan Lee Mulligan forAdventuring Academy, Griffin McElroy discussed some of the preparations underway for the fourth campaign.Here's everything that's been shared so far about the next season ofThe Adventure Zone, including what listeners can expect.

Related: The Adventure Zones Most Critical Haircut, Explained

The fourth main campaign will return the McElroy family once again to theDungeons & Dragons 5th edition system. The current story also usesD&D, as did the firstBalance campaign, but the second arc relied on the Powered by the Apocalypse system. Smaller, experimental campaigns and one-shot live and bonus shows have also brought other roleplaying systems into theAdventure Zone universe, but the McElroys seem to have found success and comfort withD&D.

It also looks as if Griffin will return to his role as Dungeon Master for the next campaign. Each player has taken their turn at the helm, with Travis as the current DM and even the reluctant Justin leading games ofFour Sherlock Holmes and a Vampire (Who Is Also One of the Aforementioned Sherlock Holmes). Getting a chance to see the different styles of the brothers and their dad, Clint, has brought a lot of joy and variety to the show. Still, it seems that -- just as the family has grown comfortable withDungeons & Dragons,they also appreciate the familiarity of Griffin's DM style.

Less is known about the setting of the fourth season. Griffin has mentioned in the podcastWonderful! that he's been researching deep sea exploration for a project he's working on, which could be this nextAdventure Zone campaign. In his interview with Mulligan,Griffin discussed add-on modules he's been working on to include ships in the next season, drawing from "The Dogfighter's Handbook,"Uncharted Worlds andother rule systems with modifications to be less rules-heavy. It seems likely that the McElroy family is looking at a high seas adventure, including ship mechanics and, probably some underwater monsters.

Related:The Adventure Zone: Sir Fitzroys Important Contribution to the Heist Is...a Job Interview?

One new feature Griffin has mentioned is the possibility of collaborative worldbuilding. Rather than coming to the beginning of the story with entirely pre-conceived worlds, Griffin mentioned using a game like Avery Alder'sThe Quiet Yearto create the world together with his family. Not only does this help give the other players agency in the creation of the world and, therefore, more investment in its stories,The Quiet Year is also just a great game and it would be a delight to see the McElroy family get to play it.

With a return to D&D and Griffin as DM, the fourth season ofThe Adventure Zone is shaping up to be a new take on the original version of the podcast. In addition to a new setting and worldbuilding style, Griffin mentioned leaning on random, video game-style random events. He talks excitedly about the challenge of playing a game with such stochastic elements, and why randomness may provide the way forward to moments ideal for an improv comedy podcast. Griffin knows the genre and tone of the season,but randomness and collaboration will make for a whole new experience for listeners.

Keep Reading:The Adventure Zone: The Thundermen Set Their Sights on Taking Down...Capitalism?

Tom and Jerry: When Tom Went Solo in the Golden Age, It Got Seriously Problematic

E.L. first saw the game Myst when she was in elementary school, and it has irrevocably changed her aesthetic, She is currently a graduate student in the history of the exact sciences in antiquity, and *has thoughts* about ancient math and modern astrology. She has shared these thoughts (and her writing) with digital venues like Eidolon, Lady Science, and the Journal of the History of Ideas blog, and if you sit still for long enough she'll probably try to share them with you, too. In her downtime, E.L. enjoys puzzle games and pet care, and is currently training in the circus arts.

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What the McElroys Have Revealed About the Adventure Zones Next Campaign - CBR - Comic Book Resources

A judge has declined to dismiss rape and hate crime charges against a cruise ship employee accused of attacking a coworker, according to documents filed in U.S. District Court.

Louie Ison Mangampat, 38, a citizen of the Philippines working aboard the Celebrity Equinox, was initially arrested in 2019 and charged with aggravated sexual abuse by force.

He has been jailed without bond at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Guaynabo, Puerto Rico, since his arrest.

A grand jury subsequently returned a superseding indictment in November under the federal hate crime statute, which charges that Mangampat willfully caused bodily injury to the victim because she is a lesbian.

Mangampat admitted to having sex with the woman, who is also a citizen of the Phillipines, but claimed it was consensual, according to the affidavit filed by an FBI special agent.

The FBI was tasked with investigating the reported attack because vessels on the high seas the open ocean more than 12 nautical miles from shore fall under federal jurisdiction.

Mangampats public defender filed a motion to dismiss the initial indictment on Nov. 26, 2019, arguing that the United States does not have jurisdiction to adjudicate this matter as the alleged offenses did not occur in the special maritime and territorial jurisdiction of the United States.

Before current U.S. District Court Judge Robert Molloy was assigned to oversee the case, former U.S. District Judge Curtis Gomez denied the motion to dismiss at a hearing on Jan. 9, 2020.

But because no reasons for the denial were stated on the record, Molloy took it upon himself to consider the motion independently, and wrote in an order filed Friday that he concurs that the motion to dismiss should be denied.

Molloy explained his reasoning, and recounted the facts of the case in the four-page order.

The incident occurred on Sept. 25, 2019, at around 4 a.m., a day after the ship had left Florida for St. Thomas.

A female ship employee reported that Mangampat cornered her in a bathroom, where he assaulted and raped her, according to the FBI affidavit.

Other crew members immediately brought the woman to the ships medical unit for a physical examination, and a doctor noted the victim identifies as a lesbian and had never had sexual intercourse with a male prior to this incident.

The cruise ship security staff prepared an incident report that recorded the ships coordinates at the time the victim reported the assault, and the nearest point of land was the Great Turk Island, which was approximately 40.5 nautical miles away, Molloy wrote.

The U.S. Code defines the special maritime and territorial jurisdiction of the United States and including the high seas, or waters at least 12 nautical miles outside a coastal boundary controlled by a particular state or territory, as stipulated by the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.

As such, provided that the alleged offense occurred on the high seas, farther than twelve nautical miles from any other national coastline, the United States has jurisdiction to try this matter, Molloy wrote in denying the motion to dismiss.

A final pretrial conference is scheduled for Thursday, and trial is set to begin on Jan. 25.

More:

Cruise ship worker charged with rape, hate crime headed to trial - Virgin Islands Daily News

Issued on: 18/01/2021 - 18:20

Paris (AFP)

French skippers Charlie Dalin and Louis Burton emerged from the doldrums on Monday and began the final sprint to the line in the solo round-the-world Vendee Globe.

Dalin, on Apivia, led Burton's Bureau Vallee 2, by 59 nautical miles at 1700 GMT Monday although the latter, on a more westerly path, had the better wind and was clocking four knots faster.

Both skippers came away relatively lightly from the doldrums, a tricky area around the Equator which has little wind, where sailors can get stuck for days.

"I just went in a straight line and it worked well, I was lucky and it seemed to work this time," Burton told the race organisers.

"It's very good for Charlie and me. We were not as badly affected as the rest of the fleet.

"We are a little more ahead of our rivals than when we got into the doldrums."

The course, however, is not a simple chase to the line as the two rivals will hit a depression on Tuesday, meaning bad weather and high seas, and will then face a ridge of high pressure before another depression.

"The strategic choice has already started," said Burton who intends to be "on the attack" as much as he can.

The leaders are now looking at another 10 days to complete the nearly 3,000nm back to Les Sables d'Olonne and finish a race that started from the French port on November 8.

The chasing pack was held back by the doldrums, which was stickier than expected, before hitting the North Atlantic and the run for home.

Damien Seguin in Groupe Apicil is 111nm behind Dalin in third, closely followed by Thomas Ruyant in LinkedOut.

Longtime leader Yannick Bestaven (Maitre Coq IV) was in fifth 124nm behind Dalin with German skipper Boris Herrmann (Seaexplorer-Yacht Club de Monaco), who was up to third a couple of days ago, another 36nm further back.

"There are a lot of difficult things for me at the moment," said Bestaven on Monday.

"Since Cape Horn, I have had a lot of technical problems with the boat. I'll say it today, I thought I could hide it a bit.

"During the passage to Cape Horn, I had a big depression. I hit a huge wave which swept the entire foredeck of the boat.

"I no longer have a balcony, no more furling (for the mast), and I have some sails that I can no longer use."

Of the 33 yachts that began the race, eight have already retired.

Leading race standings as of 1700 GMT, January 18

1. Charlie Dalin (FRA/Apivia) 2839.8 nautical miles from finish, 2. Louis Burton (FRA/Bureau Vallee 2) at 59.9, 3. Damien Seguin (FRA/Groupe Apicil) 111.6, 4. Thomas Ruyant (FRA/LinkedOut) 118.6, 5. Yannick Bestaven (FRA/Maitre Coq IV) 124.1, 6.Boris Herrmann (GER/Seaexplorer-Yacht Club de Monaco) 160.3, 7. Giancarlo Pedote (ITA/Prysmian Group) 163.1, 8. Benjamin Dutreux (FRA/OMIA-Water Family) 179.1, 9. Jean Le Cam (FRA/Yes we Cam !) 265.8, 10. Maxime Sorel (FRA/V And B Mayenne) 504.1

2021 AFP

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Dalin and Burton out of the doldrums in Vendee Globe - FRANCE 24

Bravo viewers are so curious about the new deckhand, Rob Phillips. They want to know everything about this Below Deck star. Learn about him now.

Since he is making waves onBelow Deck, fans want to know everything aboutthe new deckhand, Rob Phillips.

Bravo's maritime-themed show has been a hit since its inception. Below Deck takes an in-depth look into a yacht crew and their filthy rich guests. Guests enjoy life on the high seas, and viewers are hooked on the drama. There are sometimes lines that cast members are unwilling to cross, such ascooking a 60-plate dinner. However, atother times, chief stews and other crew members are willing to respect the wishes of picky clients. The captain is in charge of keeping everyone safe and firing subpar workers. As the large yacht island-hopsthroughout the season, each Below Deck episode features a different group of guests. Rob Phillips is one of the crew members. He helps guests to enjoy true VIP experiences.

Related: Below Deck: How Julia D'Albert Pusey Is Pioneering Women-Run Businesses

Below Deck Season 8 had its first lossas the spinoff'sviewerswatched Sustainable Shane Coopersmith walk the plank. In his place came Rob Phillips, who bonded quickly with fellow deckhand James and dubbed Francesca a "sexy nun." Bosun Eddie Lucas is thrilled to have a deckhand who knows what he is doing. Rob definitely knows how to tie a knot. See Rob on the water in his Instagram post below:

Upon Rob's arrival, Eddie told cameras he was "happy to have Rob on the team. It seems like he has the experience, which is definitely gonna be a change of pace. Anything's better than Shane." Rob has a low-key Instagram profile with the tag@r0b.phillips. The newest reality star has under 5,000 followers but still loves showing off his traveling pictures. He is Canadian and comes from a "long line of sailors," but his true love is rocks. Geology, to be more precise. His first week on the show, he told viewers, "I'm an exploration geologist, which means, in a nutshell, I'm like a nerdy Indiana Jones. I look for gold, but as soon as the markets crash, I lose my job, which is why super yachting's kind of like the fallback sometimes."

This Below Deck guy seems to have it all, including education, a sense of humor, and a strong work ethic. Captain Lee is bound to love him just as much as fans already do. While viewers doubt he will have the courage to make out with the chief stew, fans can watch his bromance with James bloom each week.

Next: Below Deck Med 5: Jessica, Peter, Ciara & Alex Reunite For Bar Fun In Video

Below Deckairs on Monday at 9 pm EST on Bravo

Source: Rob Phillips/Instagram

90 Day Fiance: Why Fans Think Amira Lollysa Was Deported Back to France

Jennifer is an avid Reality TV follower and is fluent in all Real Housewife drama along with the ups and downs of 90 Day Fiance sagas. When she is not writing she enjoys traveling the world in search of the best beaches! Jennifer has been writing for over 15 years and would like nothing more than to have a proper sit down with the women of the RHONY to 'Make It Nice.'

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Below Deck: Everything To Know About New Deckhand Rob Phillips - Screen Rant

NGOs (Non-Governmental Organizations) have allied with each other to pressure the EU (European Union) to call for an immediate ban on the destructive fishing method called bottom trawling. Bottom trawling continuously destroys marine areas "protected" by the EU. The coalition calls out the union for its failure to protect the waters.

To show that the NGOs are serious in pursuing their goal to protect marine ecosystems, the ban was just a part of the 10-point action plan intended to "raise the bar" in achieving biodiversity goals. They claim that such goals will never be met by the current status quo. All promises and no actions, they said.

Related Article:Seafood's Secret Ingredient: Microplastic

(Photo : Hennie Stander on Unsplash)Behind the scenes of the fish trade, somewhere along the Irish coast.

According to the various environmental NGOs involved, the EU has continuously been providing them with promises. But, most of the time, they remain just that, promises.

Among these promises is a raft of EU laws created with goals to safeguard marine life. It made several legislations that aims to achieve "good environmental status" in the oceans by 2020, create healthy ecosystems, and introduce sustainable aquatic and fisheries management. Many of those, however, were not, and some doubt that it will ever be enforced.

This astronomical failure and the already existing problems on Europe's oceans, like climate change and pollution, can result in irreversible possibilities. The effects can cause serious ecological consequences that the entire planet may possibly suffer.

The call was initially published to respond to a European parliament draft report on the EU's strategy for biodiversity for 2030. That draft report, which will be presented to the environment committee on Thursday, expresses intense regret that the EU has not met the 2020 biodiversity strategy's objectives.

While the NGOs welcomed the draft report, they said it does not go far enough to ensure enforcement of current EU laws or to set action plans to reverse biodiversity loss by 2030.

According to Rebecca Hubbard, program director of Our Fish, which aims to end overfishing, said:

"The EU has failed to achieve good environmental status for EU seas and the EU biodiversity strategy must be implemented if we are to have a chance of saving it - this implementation needs to include the 10 action points we have in our report."

Aside from the lack of a ban on bottom trawling, the EU has also failed to protect marine habitats from overfishing. Overfishing has been labeled as one of the most destructive fishing practices. Not only does it create a severe imbalance in the natural system, but it also harshens the water conditions.

Nicolas Fournier, the campaign director for marine protection at Oceana Europe, said:

"The EU 2030 biodiversity strategy is strong on marine protection targets, but we want the European parliament to raise further the EU's ambition on biodiversity, both internationally to champion the 30% of ocean protection and support the UN treaty for the high-seas, but also in Europe to call for a ban of all destructive fishing gear inside marine protected areas, starting with bottom-trawling."

Promises give hopes, but action is the only way to achieve goals. The pressure that the NGO coalition is putting on the EU is meant to hasten the union's enforcement of the programs to benefit the environment.

ALSO READ:EU: Mealworms Now Safe for Human Consumption

For more news update about the environment, don't forget to follow Nature World News!

2018 NatureWorldNews.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.

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Actions Not Promises Says NGOs After EU Allegedly Failed to Protect the Seas - Nature World News

HALIFAX -- Parts of the Maritimes can expect to see heavy snow and rain and high winds this weekend, as a rapidly strengthening low-pressure system moves up from the northeastern United States into Atlantic Canada.

The storm will impact the Maritime region mainly late Saturday and Sunday morning.

A strong coastal storm will move into Maine and then northern New Brunswick late Saturday into Sunday bringing the Maritimes snow, rain, and high winds.

The bulk of the accumulating snow and ice is expected across northern New Brunswick and in some of the higher terrain just to the north of Fredericton. A mix of snow and ice pellets for those areas is likely to accumulate 15 to 25 cm.

Areas around Bathurst and the Acadian Peninsula could finish with as much as 25 to 40 cm of snow.

While the snow is forecast to be much lower Fredericton and south, ice pellets and freezing rain could lead to slushy and slick surfaces even with rain expected to mix in.

There is also some indication that the Cape Breton Highlands could pick up snow exceeding 10 cm as well.

Higher snowfall amounts are expected for northern areas of New Brunswick. Amounts taper lower into central New Brunswick with more ice pellets and freezing rain mixing in. Much of the rest of the Maritimes can expect mainly rain.

For much of the rest of the Maritimes the system is forecast to bring mainly rain. Widespread totals of 15 to 30 mm are expected.

Local amounts could reach 30 to 50 mm for coastal areas of the Bay of Fundy coastline in N.B. and the Atlantic coastline of N.S.

Despite milder temperatures through the first part of winter, the ground is still frozen for most areas. This increases rain runoff and ponding water should be watched for.

High and gusty east to southeast winds will build in with the precipitation. Coastal gusts could peak as high as 70 to 100 km/h with widespread inland gusts of 40 to 70 km/h. The stronger winds will reach the southwest of New Brunswick and Nova Scotia by Saturday evening.

The wind will build up the Atlantic coastline of Nova Scotia Saturday night with high winds reaching P.E.I. and eastern N.S. early Sunday morning.

Strong southeast winds build into southwestern N.B. and N.S. by Saturday evening.

Inverness County, N.S. will likely hit peak gusts in excess of 110 km/h due to enhancement over the Cape Breton Highlands. Those strong winds should be watched for Sunday morning.

The wind will turn southwest through Sunday with gusts 40 to 70 km/h into the evening followed by some easing into Monday.

The strong wind builds up the Atlantic coastline of Nova Scotia into P.E.I. and Cape Breton by early Sunday morning.

The strong winds will also impact marine areas of the region. A southeast wind of 35 to 45 knots is forecast to develop for N.S. slopes, banks, and near coastal districts Saturday afternoon and evening with gale warnings issued.

The gale force winds would then progress northeastward with the storm into Sunday. A turn to southwest winds is forecast on Sunday easing slightly into a range of 25 to 35 knots.

Seas building three to six metres are also indicated to accompany the strengthening winds. The high sea state may persist well into Sunday in the wake of the passing storm.

Interests that plan to be active in marine areas this weekend should consult a more detailed marine forecast covering the area of planned operation.

Gale force winds and high seas are expected to develop for many of the marine areas around the Maritimes Saturday afternoon into Sunday.

Tune into Kalin's forecast on CTV Atlantic News at 5, 6 and 11:30 p.m. for more.

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Parts of Maritimes expected to see heavy snow and rain, high winds this weekend - CTV News Atlantic

As I mentioned in my last column, I have never believed in ushering in the new year on a frilly note. Somehow find it silly to go cooing happy new year when theres dearth of happiness all around. And as this year came to a close with painful cries from varying locales, there was an absolute no from my end to come up with that formality-dripping one-liner: happy new -year!

Like every new year start, I ushered in this new year, sitting somewhat forlorn with hot water bottles clutched tight in my hands, reciting these lines of Faiz Ahmad Faiz : Somewhere near the pillow /,the nights fading away/ Or is it the candle melting? /Something is burning within me / Is that your memory, or my life seeking to depart .

Call me outdated or backward or one of those boring introverts but I refuse to give in to facades. With that in the background or foreground, I am in no mood to move away from the ground realities.

Tell me, whats so astonishingly positive holding out for us in the upcoming year? It could get bleaker on the virus-pollution-distress fronts. With financial lows spreading out, darker and murkier times lie ahead. And even if one were to forcibly fit oneself in the glass-half-full category, I still manage to see vacancy holding out, on not just on our faces but writ large in our eyes and hovering along our fields and hutments, lanes and alleys. An eerie build-up, forewarning of the trying times in the coming year. Tell me in such a scenario how can one tickle oneself to laugh and giggle or to go about hugging 2021 with contrived concoctions?

And please dont come up with silly new-year resolutions of shedding those extras kilos along with well-tucked inhibitions. If at all you are in that resolution flaunting mood then do shed that extra layer of that thick hide on you. Throw it off. Then see the realities of the day, not just here in our country, but also out there, across the high seas.

In fact, I sit writing this fortnights column, theres heavy downpour and thunder and lightening, in and around the capital city, New Delhi. With that in the background or foreground, my heart is with the farmers, who are braving it, taking on Natures onslaughts together with the political build-ups. The level of the sarkari apathy can be judged from the fact that though till date over 50 farmers have died, in fact, martyred, during their ongoing peaceful protests against the Farm Bills, yet un-moving sits the top brass.

My heart is also with Nisar, the hapless shoe-seller in Uttar Pradeshs Bulandshahr, who was harassed and arrested from his pavement stall because of the shoe manufacturing companys brand name Thakur imprinted on the shoe! Not to overlook the fact that Nisar was picked up by the cops at the orders of Bajranj Dal men! Mind you, this is not the first time that Bajrang Dal men have played havoc. In the last two weeks this is the third reported incident from Uttar Pradesh, when these men tortured several innocents before getting them arrested by the cops. They ruined the lives of the Moradabad based couple, Rashid and Pinky. Thereafter, they ruined the life of the Bijnor based seventeen year old Muslim boy Saqib who was merely chaperoning a non- Muslim girl, after a birthday party; getting him imprisoned. Now, of course, this hapless pavement seller Nisar of Bulandshahr, who was rounded -up by the cops under the directions of Hindutva men. Ironically, the owner of the Agra-based Thakur Footwear licensed and registered company, Narendra Trilokani, was not questioned by any of the Hindutva brigades!

My heart is also with the family of the 50-year-old woman, gang raped and killed in the most horrific way by three men in Uttar Pradeshs Badaun district. To top it all, the police took over 17 hours to register the FIR! One is left wondering whats become of that state, where there seems a set pattern to rape and killings. In fact, till date we havent forgotten that brutal murder cum rape cum forced cremation, or call it forced burning,of that young girl in Uttar Pradeshs Hathras. It was one of the most horrifying killing yet little follow- up, in terms of punishment to the accused sarkari men. Mind you, these gruesome atrocities are taking place in this day and age! Yet we have the audacity to quip we are developed!

Till the governmental machinery is not held accountable for our collective safety, theres to be little respite from these barbaric happenings. Mere suspension of policeman is not going to take us anywhere There ought to be no camouflages and cover-ups but immediate action against the corrupt and criminals around, moving around in those various garbs!

Perhaps, the rulers and administrators manning the State machinery, havent heard this verse of Baba Farid Shakarganj (1173-1265 AD)

Farid, the earth questioned the sky, Where are the mighty captains gone?

In their grave they rot, was the reply

And rebuked for tasks not done.

Perhaps, those hell bent on dividing us along caste and creed lines have not heard this verse of the patron saint of the Kashmir Valley, Shaikh Nuruddin (popularly known as Shaikh Ul Alam Nund Rishi)

Why are you harping on the caste

His is the only caste

His essence is beyond the bounds of knowledge

The doers of noble deeds all have the same caste

If O! brother you surrender to Him, then alone will you become pure

Leaving you with these lines of Baba Bulleh Shah

Masjid dhaa de, Mandir dhaa de, Dhaa de jo kuch dhenda,

Par kissi da dil na dha vee, Rab dilla wich rehnda hae

Destroy a mosque, destroy a temple, destroy everything in sight.

But dont break a human heart, for that is where

God resides.

letters@tehelka.com

Link:

There's not much to be happy this New Year - Tehelka

What is the modern British man? Does he replicate Joe Rogan's kettle bell workouts, love a cold one and vlog boohooMAN hauls? Or does he prefer the honesty of the ocean, its solace and lurking fury?

Why not both?

Being honest, I thought the meme lads were over. Enduring, sure, but no longer in the professional poster's repertoire, like 'Wood' - who your one mate from school still believes to be the pinnacle of WhatsApp humour.

But they're not.

If anything they're only really in the second wave of their popularity, like coronavirus infections in the UK, and, who knows, a triple threat Easter could be on the cards. If you're not familiar, here's an earlier iteration of the meme:

It all started, presumably, with the fellas getting a cute pic pre-sesh and has now morphed into a deep fake video in which the four-man group form an acapella band and sing a sea shanty for the internet's pleasure.

Thank vonstrenginho, formerly of this parish, for the edit.

The shanty is 'Wellerman.' According to Genius: "From 1833 onwards, the Wellermen, ships owned by Weller Brothers of Sydney, supplied provisions to New Zealand shore whaling stations from their base at Otago, NZ.

"Throughout their existence, the Wellermen (also known as the Weller brothers), became New Zealands paramount merchant traders. The lyrics evoke imagery of one of the Wellermens major functions; supplying sugar, tea and rum to shore whalers.

"In January 2021, this song became a meme on TikTok."

So there you have it - Rogan or the high seas? No need to choose.

Visit link:

Deep fake meme lads sing sea shanty that will make you want to abandon your childhood sweetheart and circumnavigate the globe - JOE.co.uk