Monthly Archives: July 2022

What is gaslighting? – Fast Company

Posted: July 13, 2022 at 9:17 am

In 2018, the Oxford English Dictionary named toxic its word of the year. Unsurprising given the political climate at the time: Trump was President, Britain was Brexiting, and tech companies were under intense scrutiny for their role in enabling toxic environments online.

Among the runners-up, though, was another word describing a specific form of toxicity: gaslighting. I remember hearing it for the first time and being slightly confused about where the word came frombut I very much recognized the dynamic.Gaslighting is a form of emotional manipulation, in which the gaslighter questions or denies the validity of their targets emotions and perceptions. Psychologists most often cite it as a form of abuse in relationships, but it extends well beyond that. Nowadays, gaslighting is used to describe many more ways of questioning peoples experiences, whether its a U.S. president railing about fake news or someone at work telling you youre taking a racist or sexist comment too seriously.

The verb to gaslight originally comes from a play called . . . wait for it . . . Gas Light. This 1938 thriller, set in Victorian London, follows a well-to-do husband as he attempts to convince his wife shes going insane (in part by telling her shes imagining a dimming gas light in their home). The play became an Oscar-winning film and helped catalyze the public understanding and academic study of this form of abuse.

The Victorian setting of the play is significant: This was an early era for psychology, when scientists began studying mental illness empirically and methodically. It was also the culmination of a much longer history of a (now-defunct) condition called hysteria, which classified abnormal behavior in women as a physical affliction of the uterus. From Ancient Greece to 19th-century London, countless doctors in the West claimed that women who deviated from normal female behaviori.e., being modest, sexually inhibited, submissive, subdued, unquestioning, religious, etc.were in fact physically unwell.

Some of this non-normative behavior may well have been forms of mental illness that earlier eras didnt have a vocabulary for. Much of it, though, was undoubtedly just women being normal human beings, with a full range of emotions and personalities. Because of this long history of menand specifically men with power, such as doctors or religious leadersdoubting womens mental faculties, women have been subjected to the generational trauma of these behavioral stereotypes. Even today, despite so many advancements in modern medicine, those preconceived notions about how women should be or behave remain deeply embedded in our culture.

That history is one of the reasons women are more associated with gaslighting, particularly in relationships. Its still commonplace in our society to stereotype female assertiveness as unnatural or attempt to diminish it. The familiar stereotypes around women being more sensitive, emotional, or less rational than men are weapons in every gaslighters arsenal.

In the workplace, this has often showed up in cases of sexual harassment or inappropriate behavior. A boss who doubts the seriousness of an employees complaint about her co-workers inappropriate comments is gaslighting her. That kind of invalidation of womens experiences traces a direct line to humanitys long history of misogyny, patriarchy, and sexism. Fortunately, now that more research has been done on this topic, there are many resources available to women who experience this form of abuse.

Whats important to glean from gaslighting as a psychological concept is that its all about the gaslighter maintaining control in difficult situations. And theyre able to maintain that control by virtue of their importance in someones life. The gaslighter has to be important enough to the victim(s) that they are willing to question their own emotions. So, its never really about victims being mentally weaker compared to their abusers. Its about the gaslighter abusing their power in a relationship, and that power can come from any number of things: love, loyalty, prestige, trust, admiration, and so on.

Gaslighting makes it easier for people whove done something wrong or hurtful to confront it. Its a maneuver that allows them to sidestep their own self-examination by denying the reality around them. It is not the same as disagreement, which is natural and normal in relationships of all kinds and scales. Its about negating someone elses (uncomfortable or inconvenient) truth.

It also doesnt just occur on individual levels or toward women. Racial gaslighting is a prevalent form of denial in this country that occurs at individual, group, and institutional levels.

For individuals from diverse ethnic or racial backgrounds, this can be particularly troubling in interpersonal situations. Journalist Siobhan Neela-Stock gives a few examples of her experiences with racial gaslighting that I immediately found familiar:

Whenever Ive pushed back [against] the racist question Where are you from?, argued against someone who says discussing race perpetuates racism or contradicted members of my white extended family who insist Eric Garners death was his fault, Im usually told Im wrong, its not that big of a deal, or Im imagining things. Siobhan Neela-Stock (Mashable, 2020)

This is an all-too familiar experience for many people of color in the United States. The key part of that quote is the last bit where the author specifies that its her version of reality thats called into question through denial, diminishment, or accusations of full-blown delusion. These conversations happen all the time in private, at work, and even on television.

The examples of this in the media in the past decade are numberless. When protesters were criminalized in the press after George Floyds murder, that was a form of gaslighting (often racially motivated) that denied the validity of their anger. When they were written up in headlines as targets of state-sanctioned violence, often in the passive voice and without the perpetrators (i.e., the police or military) being named, that was also gaslighting. These are subtle forms of linguistic manipulation that seek to deny or obscure the truths we observe in real life.

And of course, the most famous example, the reason that the Oxford English Dictionary chose gaslighting as a runner-up for word of the year, is Donald Trump. In 2018, President Trump was at the height of his manipulative powers, gaslighting the entire nation by constantly calling the trustworthiness of some of our most respected journalistic institutions into question. As one commentator remembers it, at various points Trump claimed:

. . . that he watched thousands of people cheering on 9/11 in Jersey City (police say theres no evidence of this), that the Mexican government forces immigrants into the U.S. (no evidence), that there are 30 or 34 million immigrants in this country (there are 10 or 11 million), that he never supported the Iraq War (he told Howard Stern he did), that the unemployment rate is as high as 42 percent (the highest reported rate is 16.4 percent), that the U.S. is the highest-taxed country in the world (not true based on any metric of consideration), that crime is on the rise (its falling and has been for decades), and too many other things to list here because the whole tactic is to clog the drain with an indecipherable mass of toxic waste. Lauren Duca, Teen Vogue (2016)

When, under closer scrutiny, Trump then claimed that he was the victim of fake news and other media conspiracies, he forced millions of Americans to question whether they could trust news outlets they previously respected for their journalistic integrity. Even for those who understood that he was lying, theres only so far you can go when the most powerful person in the country tells you its his word or yours.

Trump got to power and maintained it in large part by gaslighting Americans en masse. (And he certainly was not the first American in power to do so.) But there are even more insidious forms of gaslighting that affect millions of people without the boost of a presidents word. Institutions and businesses, employers and educatorstheyre all capable of gaslighting at scale. And the only thing that stopped Trump in the end was hard data: You cant keep believing in someones denials when you have fact-checkers on your side.

In the Gas Light play, a detective eventually shows up and assures the distressed wife that shes not imagining the dimming of the gas lights. Only then does she begin to believe her own perceptions again. In modern instances of gaslighting, be it racial or relational, victims need allies to help affirm that their experiences are valid.

Knowing how to recognize gaslighting is therefore key for all of us. The first step is to identify that theres a problem. For victims of gaslighting, this is often the hardest step, because it means that someone who plays an important role in their lives is hurting them.

Next, before asking whos right and whos wrong, acknowledge the validity of the targets feelings and experiences. Because thats often what the issue boils down to in most instances of interpersonal gaslighting: intention vs. impact. No matter how unaware or well-intentioned a comment may be, the impact it has can be very different. Acknowledging that words can hurt without people meaning to is critical for becoming more sensitive to gaslighting.

Ultimately, gaslighting thrives on discomfort with confrontation, both for the gaslighter and the target of their (intended or unintended) abuse. Getting more comfortable with your own discomfort around issues of race, gender, identity, or even just your own relationships will help you recognize and respond to gaslighting better.

And finally, remember that disagreement is not the same as denying someones experience. Disagreeing is an important, healthy way to enable debate and share diverse perspectives. But you can disagree with someone without shutting them down or invalidating their experience. If we can all at least agree on that, then it becomes much easier to recognize and disarm gaslighters wherever they operate.

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What is gaslighting? - Fast Company

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Boris is still PM, he never ‘mentioned resign’ – fake news to sooth jarred regime change sensitive nerves – Bulawayo24 News

Posted: at 9:17 am

"We must all remember that until a British Prime minister talks to the Queen he will not resign without her majesty's consent. So, until then Johnson is very much the Prime minister. Not once in his speech did, he mention the word resign. Not even once did he refer to a meeting with the queen. So yes, he has not resigned yet," wrote Dr Masimba Mavaza, to reassure the nervous Zanu PF regime.

"When those who claim to be masters of democracy slip into democratic confusion it is those who follow them who get the sharp edge. It is true that sometimes democracy is costly. Britain has experienced four general elections in three years and is likely to have the fifth."There are many take home lessons to be learned from the Boris Johnson saga, one of which being that no individual, no matter how high up the grease-pole they happen to be, is untouchable. This is a very important point because it gives confidence to those below to hold the leaders to account.

Democratic account is a key tenet of a healthy a functioning democracy and one that has made the system champion in quickly, efficiently, and effectively handling mismanagement, corruption and stamping out tyranny.

In a dysfunctional autocratic political system such as that in Zimbabwe, the top dog is untouchable and hence the reason why not even one Zanu PF minister dared to even protest much less resign even at the height of such madness as the wholesale looting of Marange diamonds or the Gukurahundi massacre. Mugabe and now Mnangagwa has enjoyed absolute power and the protesting individual would not have stopped the madness but rather booted out of the party. And all who have been booted out of Zanu PF have found "it is cold out there!" as Professor Jonathan Moyo has testified.

"But as we've seen at Westminster, the herd instinct is powerful and when the herd moves, it moves," announced Prime Minister Boris Johnson outside the door of 10 Downing Street.

"And my friends in politics, no-one is remotely indispensable and our brilliant and Darwinian system will produce another leader, equally committed to taking this country forward through tough times.

"Not just helping families to get through it, but changing and improving the way we do things, cutting burdens on businesses and families and yes, cutting taxes, because that is the way to generate the growth and the income we need to pay for great public services.

"And to that new leader, I say whoever he or she may be, I say I will give you as much support as I can. And to you, the British public.

"I know that there will be many people who are relieved and perhaps quite a few who will also be disappointed. And I want you to know how sad I am to be giving up the best job in the world."

Of course, Boris Johnson was disappointed to give up being Prime Minister "the best job in the world"; he would not be human if he otherwise. The point is he is giving it up because the Conservative MPs, in the first instance, and the voting public if they had failed to act, wanted him to go. And he is going; the starting gun for electing a new party leader who will then become Prime Minister has been fired.

The truth is the Zanu PF regime, like all other authoritarian and political despots the world over have been angling for Boris Johnson to defy the democratic wishes of his party and the voting public and refuse to leave office. It is not so much that Zanu PF wanted Boris to remain in office; they loath regime change because every time it happens, they fear the people of Zimbabwe might be inspired to seek regime change too.

When then President Donald Trump stormed Capital Hill on 6th January 2021, the date that has gone down in human history as the day American democracy was tested to destruction and passed; despots from Beijing, Moscow and most of Africa and South America were disappointed Trump failed. Nothing would have helped consolidate their own authoritarian dictatorship than Trump defying the democratic wishes of the American people! Nothing!

In an interview with Trevor Ncube, Professor Welshman Ncube revealed why the late dictator Robert Mugabe had stubbornly refused to appoint him Deputy Prime Minister in place of Arthur Mutambara he feared contingency. If the MDC-N herd can elect a new leader and have him replace their leader in the GNU, the Zanu PF herd would certainly want to do the same threatening Mugabe's own position!

So, Dr Masimba Mavaza's article in Zimeye "Boris Johnson, Zimbabwe View", no doubt reproduced in the Zanu PF control public media, is to reassure the Zanu PF leaders and supporters that reports of PM Johnson throwing in the towel, is all fake news. The Zimbabwe economy is in total meltdown and, needless to say, the people of Zimbabwe are desperate for regime change and view the coming elections as an opportunity to finally deliver that change.

Zanu PF is set to rig the 2023 elections thanks to MDC/CCC leaders' not only selling out on reforms but insisting on participating in these flawed elections to give Zanu PF legitimacy. However Zanu PF knows it is not out of the woods yet because the possibility of street protest and/or another military coup to force regime change is a certainty.

The present economic chaos that has forced millions into abject poverty and despair cannot continue for much longer. Regime change in in the air, you take it with very breath, and no wonder the whole Zanu PF regime is a nervous wreck!

"Not once in his speech did, he mention the word resign!" proclaimed Dr Mavaza. Talk of fake news that takes the biscuit! The Conservative party machinery is expected to produce a new party leader by November and Boris will walk the plunk, jarring the regime change sensitive nerves of the Zanu PF regime leaders and cronies alike!

All articles and letters published on Bulawayo24 have been independently written by members of Bulawayo24's community. The views of users published on Bulawayo24 are therefore their own and do not necessarily represent the views of Bulawayo24. Bulawayo24 editors also reserve the right to edit or delete any and all comments received.

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Netflix Takes Its Latest Animation to the High Seas With ‘The Sea Beast’ – Pajiba Entertainment News

Posted: at 9:16 am

What lies in the seas dark underbelly has always both frightened and amazed. Legends have moved across its waters for centuries that speak of beasts like the Kraken that wait to wrap its tentacles around passing ships. Whether you believe theyre real or not, they must have come from something. Chris Williams solo debut as director (having previously co-directed Moana, Big Hero 6, and Bolt), co-written with Nell Benjamin, is fuelled by the legends of pirates and sea monsters, told through the eyes of a child who, like many of us, is fascinated by them. In The Sea Beast, the words spoken of in these legends flow off the page into a work that captures all the marvels they hold, with stunning animation and swash-buckling adventure.

Maisie (Zaris-Angel Hator) is an orphan who loves to tell anyone who will listen about the greatest hunting ship, the Inevitable, and its legendary Captain Crow (Jared Harris). She reads about how the sea beasts made the waters, and even villages, unsafe. Then, the hunters came. Hired by the crown, they are pirates who dedicate their lives to hunting these nightmare creatures. She brings her book about Crow and his fearsome crew everywhere she goes, so its no surprise that when they come to town, shes quick to introduce herself. She meets Jacob (Karl Urban), who is poised to one day wear the captains hat. Its quickly evident how similar they are, as they both carry the same fiery determination. While Maisie is in awe of Jacob, he finds her to be a nuisance, even when she explains that her own parents were once hunters. Shes determined to join his crew and wont take no for an answer, so she stows away in an empty rum barrel. While welcomed by Captain Crow and unwavering in the face of a knife, she may have gotten herself a bit over her head next to the Inevitables experienced crew. Shes living in her favorite book, but no matter how many times shes read its pages, theres no way to prepare herself for the fight they have up against what is described as the greatest, most terrible thing in the sea: The Red Bluster. This fight leads to some amusing, unexpected turns for Jacob and Maisie, and along the way, they begin to question everything theyve ever known about what theyve been taught to fear.

The Sea Beast is thrilling from beginning to end, with humor and heart in between. Jaunty sea shanties are the soundtrack to the many scenes of men fighting monsters, monsters fighting monsters, and men fighting each other. Despite most scenes taking place at sea, its immense in scale, with stops on islands and lively, period-accurate towns. The animation is stunning and impressively detailed, from the craftsmanship of the Inevitable to the kingdoms castle, and the designs of the films many monsters fill the audience with child-like curiosity and wonder. The script also takes the time to create fleshed-out characters and its just as captivating to see how Maisie and Jacobs relationship changes as it is to watch their interactions with the Red Bluster, or Red.

With a list like Klaus, The Willoughbys, Over the Moon, and this latest work, Netflix is proving to be an animation studio to watch out for. Williams film isnt entirely unique, however, as its basically Netflixs How to Train Your Dragon. Just like the Dreamworks masterpiece, its about people who see monsters as their enemy, with a child trying to open everyones eyes to the truth. It is a poignant narrative, nevertheless, especially at a time when old traditions seem to be stronger than ever. Its hard to let go of all you know and begin to believe the opposite of whats always been seen as the truth. But the only way for the sea beast to co-exist with the pirate is if new stories are written and if the violence of old ways meets the broken halves of a spear.

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‘Royal Flush’ maintains the hygiene of the high seas along N.H.’s coastline – New Hampshire Public Radio

Posted: at 9:16 am

This boat could only have one name, right?

Welcome aboard the Royal Flush, Captain Bob Gibbons says as a reporter hoists a leg over the rail of the 30-foot aluminum boat.

This craft, owned by the state and docked seasonally near the salt piles along the Piscataqua River in Portsmouth, has a simple mission: In the warmer months, Gibbons, along with another pilot, siphons off human waste from pleasure boats along New Hampshires coastline, in Great Bay and the Cocheco River.

Armed with a 400-gallon storage tank and a pump that can move sewage at a rate of 40-gallons a minute, the Royal Flush gathers black water - the waste gathered in the boat latrines - so that boaters arent tempted to dump it into the ocean.

When a reporter notes no foul odors aboard, Gibbons seems proud.

Thank you, he responds. Thats a good thing, because that means there arent any leaks.

The Royal Flushs job might be an essential one on the high seas, but its an obvious target for bathroom humor. Gibbons, though, a former charter boat operator and a capable, sober seaman, isnt interested.

There are many jokes, he says. And Im just going to leave it at that.

Despite his all-business demeanor, Captain Bob has earned a following out here on New Hampshire's waters. Each day, he will hook up with up to a dozen or so boats who have requested whats officially known as a pumpout.

Some of my best friends are customers, he says. Ive been servicing the same boats for many years, and some of those people are great clients of mine.

Though it may be fine for pirates, it is illegal (and fairly disgusting) to dump waste within three miles of the shoreline in New Hampshire. While some marinas have locations where a boat can pump out, that isnt always an option.

With backing from a federal grant, the state operates the Royal Flush, and contracts with Gibbons, to offer a free way for crafts to unload without polluting.

Over the years, weve pumped out a total of 200,000 gallons of sewage from boats, and it averages about 10,000 to 15,000 gallons a year, says David Neils, the states Chief Aquatic Biologist. So that's a lot of poop.

When too much sewage ends up in the water, it can harm the oceans delicate ecosystem.

And think about the oysters, lobsters and other delicacies harvested right off the coast that end up on our plates.

Human sewage is not good for them, no, and it isnt good for us either, says Neils. So we look at this program as a critical way to protect human health and protect our recreation resources here in New Hampshire.

After firing up the Royal Flushs twin outboards, Gibbons heads upriver and into Great Bay. Hes looking for a 34-foot bayliner with blue canvas who requested a pump the day before.

The hardest part of the job is docking up dozens of times a week against $100,000 boats that damage easily. For that reason, the Royal Flush doesnt operate in foul weather or when the seas are rough.

But Gibbons is a pro; he nestles alongside the client, attaches a yellow hose, and soon a tankful of sewage is moving swiftly from one boat to another.

And by the way: I have never gotten dirty doing this job. Never gotten any splash. Nothing has ever touched me, and I hope I am not jinxing myself when I say that, he says.

Job complete, Gibbons leaves a note for the boater, and heads with the tide toward his next pumpout of the day making a dirty job look clean.

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The Disney Wish brings the best of Marvel, Star Wars to the high seas – The Hill

Posted: at 9:16 am

PORT CANAVERAL, Fla. (NEXSTAR) Disneys newest cruise ship is launching this month, bringing the best of Marvel and Star Wars to guests on the high seas.

Featuring characters from Disney, Pixar, Marvel, and Star Wars, the cruise promises to deliver on adventure with a theme of enchantment across the ship, Disney said in a news release.

The ship was first announced in 2016 and was officially christened last month during a ceremony featuring three Make-A-Wish ambassadors.

The ship features the AquaMouse, a new family water attraction that is similar to the AquaDuck waterslide featured on two of Disneys other ships.

For fans of Marvel, the restaurant includes a first-of-its-kind Worlds of Marvel restaurant. The restaurant offers an array of foods inspired by the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

Each menu item pays homage to different Marvel movies and characters that span across the globe like the lamb shawarma and Delmonico steak. Real fans of the franchise will spot the connection between these dishes and the corresponding storylines.

Everything we do at Disney, we try and make sure its an exceptional experience for the guest, explained Kelly Vanardsdall, manager of dining standards aboard the Disney Wish. So, we do that with our food as well. Theres definitely a lot of thought that goes into the designing of the menu itself.

The ship also has a Frozen-inspired restaurant named Arendelle and a Walt Disney-themed restaurant named 1923.

For fans of Star Wars, the ship includes a Hyperspace Lounge that serves several space-inspired drinks. The lounge also serves up a $5,000 drink named the Kaiburr Crystal that includes a trip to Skywalker Ranch in California.

While the lounge is listed as adults-only, its open to families during the day and adults-only in the evenings.

Kids ages 3 to 12 can also visit Disneys Oceaneer Club to check out Marvel Super Hero Academy, Star Wars: Cargo Bay, and Fairytale Hall.

The Marvel Super Hero Academy is a high-tech headquarters designed to help young recruits train to be the next generation of Super Heroes.

Star Wars: Cargo Bay is a highly-immersive experience that gives kids the chance to be creature handlers and care for some of the most exotic beings from across the galaxy.

Inside Fairytale Hall, some of Disneys most well-known princesses make appearances at Rapunzels Art Studio and Belles Library.

The ship has 1,254 staterooms, with the majority offering an ocean view and 70 percent including a veranda.

Disneys fifth cruise ship in its fleet will welcome its first guests on July 14 and offer sailings out of Port Canaveral, Florida.

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Distressed fishermen in high seas rescued – Newsfirst.lk

Posted: at 9:16 am

COLOMBO (News 1st); The Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre (MRCC) Colombo on 11th July 2022 coordinated the rescue of 03 fishermen whose lives were at risk aboard a distressed local fishing trawler at sea. The fishing trawler was in high seas southeast of Sri Lanka, about 174 nautical miles (about 322 km) from the Great Basses Reef Lighthouse.

The local fishing trawler (Reg No. IMUL A-0301 MTR) is reported to have left the Valaichchenai Fisheries Harbour with 03 fishermen on 02nd July 2022 for a fishing voyage. Meanwhile, the Department of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources alerted MRCC Colombo established in the Navy Headquarters that the vessel was in distress in high seas.

Responding promptly to the distress call, MRCC Colombo located that the distressed fishing trawler was in high seas, southeast of Sri Lanka, about 174 nautical miles from the Great Basses Reef Lighthouse. Subsequently, MRCC Colombo has directed the MT-SHOGUN, an oil tanker which was sailing nearby to assist the distressed fishing trawler.

Through the mediation of MRCC Colombo, the tanker managed to rescue 03 fishermen whose lives were at risk from the distressed local fishing vessel this evening, having reached the distressed fishing vessel that was adrift hazardously in rough sea condition. Necessary arrangements to bring the 03 fishermen to the Galle harbour are being made by MRCC Colombo as of now.

Remaining true to its duty, the MRCC Colombo established in the Navy Headquarters works in full swing to assist naval and fishing communities in distress in Sri Lankas search and rescue region.

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Skull and Bones sails the high seas this November – Pixelkin

Posted: at 9:16 am

During the Ubisoft Spring Forward Spotlight event, Ubisoft announced that multiplayer pirate game Skull and Bones will launch on November 8 on PC (Epic Games Store, Ubisoft Store), Stadia, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X/S.

Set during the Age of Sail in the late 17th century, Skull of Bones brings players into an open world of warring factions across the Indian Ocean. Budding pirates will grow their infamy through accepting contracts, trading resources, and attacking other ships.

Skull and Bones will include a single player campaign, as well as team-based multiplayer with optional PvP.

As their infamy grows, players can unlock, craft, and customize their fleet of ships, from sloops-of-war to mighty frigates.

Skull and Bones gameplay is based on the well-received naval combat from Assassins Creed 4: Black Flag, and has been in development since 2013. The game was initially announced back at E3 2017. After several delays, it was revealed that the game had undergone significant changes.

Ubisoft promises an ambitious, multi-hear post-launch plan, which is par for their franchises titles such as Assassins Creed and The Division.

Skull and Bones will release on November 8 on PC, PlayStation, and Xbox. It will feature cross-play and cross-progression. A Premium Edition includes cosmetic items, digital soundtrack, and two extra missions. Pre-orders will receive special cosmetic items. The game is rated M for Mature.

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Kibble young people hit the high seas to build confidence and life skills – Renfrewshire News

Posted: at 9:16 am

Five Renfrewshire-based young people from Kibble have completed a three-day sailing voyage around some of the West Coasts most stunning locations, building skills in leadership, teamwork and self-reliance.

Setting off from the docks of Greenock, the young people, accompanied by four Kibble teachers and care staff, recently took part in a voyage, living and working aboard a 72-foot sailing yacht. Responsible for setting sail, mapping the route and keeping the vessel sparkling, they participated in the life-changing sailing adventures as guided by Ocean Youth Trust Scotland, a young persons charity and floating education centre.

The group from Kibble, a specialist child and youth care charity, partnered the trust to offer the budding sailors a chance to build confidence and discover their potential through a new and engaging activity which would challenge them through positive, real-life experiences.

Kibble provides care for young people who have faced significant challenges in their lives, offering them a renewed chance at life through trauma-informed therapies and education, of which outdoor learning plays a major role. The leading charity has ensured getting out and about amongst the natural environment is a key part of the curriculum for all young people accessing Kibble services, following overwhelming research into the benefits of outdoor learning on health and wellbeing.

The five young people had no experience in sailing prior to the trip, however, through carefully guided lessons, the crew were able to visit Dunoon, Bute and Inverkip over the three-day adventure before safely docking the boat back in Greenock.

As well as finding their sea legs, the young people were able to have a bit of fun as the school term ends, while developing essential skills which will set them up for life, such as self-confidence, problem solving, responsibility and an awareness of their environment.

Sinclair Soutar, chief operating officer at Kibble said: Experiences form so much of our view of the world and ourselves, which is why at Kibble we are continually looking for ways to broaden our young peoples encounters with the world, offering them endless opportunities to try something new and different.

Courses like Ocean Youth Trust Scotland give our young people a chance to reframe their view of themselves, learn about a skill or interest they didnt know they had, and most of all have some fun together.

The Kibble crew were naturals on the water and showed exemplary teamwork throughout the trip. I think we all came away with a refreshed take on life, smiles on our faces, and one or two midge bites!

Gillian McDiarmid at Ocean Youth Trust Scotland said: At sea so much can change in an instant, you must then be able to react in a measured and responsible way to protect yourself as well as your crew much like life, which is why Our Cashback for Communities development programme is so impactful for young people who perhaps havent had the chance to build such skills.

The best thing during the voyage with Kibble was seeing young people realise they can do that thing they assumed thought they couldnt. Our courses use real and honest physical, mental and emotional challenges to encourage young people to push past their boundaries and discover what they are truly capable of, and our crew of five from Kibble more than proved that they can do anything they put their minds to.

To find out more about Kibble, visit: http://www.kibble.org.

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Santiago of the Seas: Interview with Dean and Mason Vazquez – That Hashtag Show

Posted: at 9:16 am

Dean and Mason Vazquez voice the characters of Santiago Montes and Toms Gaviota on Santiago of the Seas, a childrens television series that premiered on Nickelodeon. The English language series infuses a Spanish-language and Latino-Caribbean culture curriculum into its episodes. Bringing this beautiful diversity to younger audiences, the series follows the adventures of 8-year-old Santiago Santi Montes, a brave and kind-hearted pirate, as he embarks on daring rescues, searches for treasures, and keeps the high seas safe in a fantastical Caribbean world.

Monica sat down with Dean and Mason Vazquez who voice the characters of Santiago Montes and Toms Gaviota. These young and talented actors told us about how they maintain their work and school life, what they love about their characters and much more.

Dean Vazquez is the voice of Santiago Santi Montes, the shows protagonist. Santi is a brave and kind-hearted 8-year-old pirate who sets sail on amazing adventures with his friends and keeps the high seas safe from villains as the pirate protector of Isla Encanto. Vazquez recently wrapped up a role in the latest Transformers movie, Transformers: Rise of theBeasts, alongside Anthony Ramos.

Mason Vazquez is the voice of Toms Gaviota, Santiagos cousin and first mate. He plays a magical Calavera cuatro guitar that can harness the wind as he sails the high seas with Santiago. You may have seen Mason on-screen as Miggy in the movie In The Heights.

Santiago of the Seas is created by Niki Lpez, Leslie Valdes, and Valerie Walsh Valdes. Valdes and Walsh Valdes formerly worked on the beloved Dora the Explorer series and serve as executive producers with Lpez co-executive producing.

In the series, Santiagos steadfast and loyal crew consists of Toms, his clumsy energetic cousin whose magical guitar can be used to harness the wind; and Lorelai, a knowledgeable mermaid who can speak to sea creatures and transform into a human girl. Together, Santi and his best mates sail the seas on the majestic ship El Bravo, using their smarts, pirate skills, and moral compasses to guard their home of Isla Encanto from villains like the nefarious pirate Bonnie Bones and her Palm Crow sidekick Sir Butterscotch.

We know that its important for children to see themselves represented on screen. To hear voices that sound like theirs and to see their community beautifully depicted. The series features a Latino-Caribbean culture by highlighting the cultures music,language, cuisine, dances, architecture, customs, folklore, and more. In that way, it provides the audience who may be unfamiliar with Latino-Caribbean culture with a wonderful introduction.

Santiago of the Seas seamlessly infuses both English & Spanish, giving viewers a head start on learning the Spanish language. In the same vein as Dora The Explorer each episode features a targeted Spanish word or phrase that viewers are asked to repeat. Whenever the characters speak Spanish, its done in a way that provides context to clarify its meaning, so that viewers are easily able to understand and follow along.

Santiagoof the Seasapparel, home/bedding, footwear, and sleepwear are available now at Amazon, Target, Walmart, Kohls, and Ross. You can stream episodes ofSantiagoof the Seas onParamount+,with new episodes rolling out each month. You can tune into Nickelodeon every Friday in July at 11:30 am for brand-new episodes.

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Santiago of the Seas: Interview with Dean and Mason Vazquez - That Hashtag Show

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Falklands’ SAERI project on Vulnerable Marine Ecosystems of the Southwest Atlantic – MercoPress

Posted: at 9:16 am

Research from the Vulnerable Marine Ecosystems (VME) project has been showcased at the GeoHab Conference held at The Venice International University in Italy during the month of May 2022.

GeoHab is an international conference that brings together geological and biological mapping specialists to present the latest mapping methodological developments and findings from shallow coasts to deep-sea settings.

SAERI scientist, Dr Tabitha Pearman presented her research focused on creating predictive distribution maps of VMEs in the Falkland Islands Conservations Zones. Predictive distribution maps use mathematics to capture the relationship between where species occur and the environment, which is then used to extrapolate species distributions beyond where they have been sampled but the environment is known. The talk generated a lot of interest because so little is known of southern Patagonian deep-sea environments and scientist were keen to hear how government fisheries, fishermen and scientists can work together to achieve common goals.

Due to her expertise, Dr Pearman was also asked to chair the session Habitat mapping for maritime spatial planning within an ecosystem based approach. This area of research looks at how habitat maps can be used by government, fishermen and other marine users to manage their marine resources.

In recognition of the important work that SAERI is doing via the VME project Dr Pearman received sponsorship to attend the conference from the Deep Ocean Stewardship Initiative (DOSI) deep-sea experts travel grant.

An award supported by the Ocean Foundation and High Seas Alliance.

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Falklands' SAERI project on Vulnerable Marine Ecosystems of the Southwest Atlantic - MercoPress

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