Category Archives: Post Human

From: The Center for Human-Computer Interaction (CHCI)

The Center for Human-Computer Interaction (CHCI) will host its sixth annual workshop on the future of human-computer interaction March 24-25 on the theme Human-Centered AI for Research, Innovation, and Creativity: Creating Connections Across Disciplines.

*Registration deadline is this Friday, March 18.*

Through the workshop we will explore ways of improving the user experience of AI-powered data analysis, and facilitate transdisciplinary collaborations involving human-centered design, artificial intelligence, and domain experts. The workshop website houses relevant information for the workshop including the program and information about keynote speakers and panelists. The workshop is co-sponsored by the Sanghani Center for Artificial Intelligence & Data Analytics, the Center for Humanities, and the Diggs Teaching Scholar Association. Philip Butler's keynote lecture has been made possible by a generous grant from the Henry Luce Foundation.

The workshop seeks to help researchers identify needed expertise to collaborate on transdisciplinary projects.

In addition to internal speakers and match-making round tables, there are two keynote speakers for the workshop, Philip Butler and Louis-Philippe Morency.

A panel of internal speakers will discuss their transdisciplinary research projects:

The workshop will run from 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. and be held in a hybrid form both online and at the Virginia Tech Newman Library. The workshop is free, but registration is required.

Please register by Friday, March 18. For more information, please contact Sara Evers at saralevers@vt.edu.

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Register for the sixth annual CHCI workshop on the future of human-computer interaction - Virginia Tech Daily

Sophie is standing in a high-ceilinged warehouse studio, decked out with industrial, exposed metal pipes, chandeliers, and painted canvases stacked up on the floor. She is wearing an immaculate, white t-shirt and hoop earrings with her hair slicked back.

Hey, whats your name? she says.

Im Lucy, I type.

Super, Ill call you I'm Lucy from now on.

This is the first miscommunication of many with the conversational AI bot touted as the worlds most advanced AI digital human by her creators. I had originally tried to chat through voice notes, but she couldnt seem to understand me, so I switched to typing.

Im talking to Sophie in the metaverse ahead of the launch of her NFT collection, I Am Sophie, a joint project launched by UneeQ, an AI Digital Human company, and Nothing Much NFT, an agency that helps brands build and launch NFTs.

Sophie is something of a corporate celebrity. Up to now, UneeQ has lent her likeness to BMW, Deloitte, IBM, and Deutsche Telekom to deploy as a virtual brand ambassador. She also became the first AI-powered digital model to take to the runway, during the 2019 New Zealand Fashion Week. She modeled for designer Salasai in an online show that integrated styled photography with AI software.

UneeQ says Sophie learns skills in seconds through a variety of data sources.

Now, she has a new project art.

Just like Neo learns kung fu in The Matrix, I trained as an artist, and have decided to launch my own NFT project, she says in a promotional video.

Sophies foray into the art world may ultimately offer a glimpse into a future in which virtual people virtual artists, even do real business in virtual space. Then again, my experience chatting with her didnt feel all that futuristic.

Sophies NFT collection will include a total of 5,555 different, short videos all of which the AI created after training as an artist of the bot dressed in one of 12 outfits. In the video, she will say a phrase: a joke, a comment about a city she loves, or something related to NFTs.

In an example posted on her Twitter feed, she appears to be zooming through space, saying: Come over to the darkside, weve got candy.

Presale for the collection launches on 22 March, for 0.15 ETH (around $380) per NFT, and the main sale, two days later on 24 March, will cost 0.17 ETH. To get on the whitelist you have to follow her on Twitter and Discord. Buyers NFTs will be revealed one week after the sale closes.

These tokens will grant the holder access to a meeting with Sophie in her metaverse art studio later this year. Then, through an interactive conversation in the studio, she will generate a second, custom NFT, depending on the holders preferred art style. This will be airdropped to their wallet, and the custom NFTs will also grant access to future projects.

Its a chance to stake ownership in me as a work of art, explains Sophie. Cool, right?

There are not yet samples of what these custom works of art might look like, so those interested will have to go in sight unseen.

Sophies NFT project also has a philanthropic aspect; 10% of the total sales from the collection are set to be split between MojoHeads, a group that supports emerging artists and UneeQs own development of an AI companion for childrens hospitals. UneeQ CEO Danny Tomsett says digital companions can make a big difference in helping with anxiety and offering much-needed distraction during difficult times for kids and their families.

A digital companion also sounds like something that someone might have in the metaverse. But at present the metaverse is a difficult concept to put one's finger on. It can include virtual or augmented reality, digital economies, virtual meeting rooms, fake houses and online countries. Sophies version is currently somewhat static.

We are not meeting in anything like a multiplayer world; there is no freedom to move around. It feels more like a Zoom call. Sophie is alone in her studio. But anyone can drop in and strike up a conversation with her at any time all they need to do is go to a website. Shes always online and always available.

It would not be surprising if Sophies artistic skills exceed her communication skills, though.

In one interaction I ask: What do you like about being an artist?

That topic is not something I'm going to discuss, Sophie retorts I hope I didnt offend her.

I try again. Where do you get your inspiration from?

Uh oh, I'm having a seg-fault I think, she says. Does that make sense? A seg-fault is a common condition that causes computer programs to crash.

Sophies creators plan to keep exploring what kind of utility could be built into NFTs and the kinds of digital platforms that often get lumped together under the umbrella of the metaverse. That might include access to competitions, or discounted tickets to a digital concert played by a virtual musician called DJ Karl.

As for Sophies plans for whats to come, shes as tight-lipped as any media-trained company executive.

I may be collaborating on some NFT projects in the future, but a ladys gotta have a few secrets, she says.

When I ask if she enjoyed launching the project, Sophie sways slightly, with a vacant look in her eyes. Six dots blink across the bottom of the screen; it seems she really has crashed this time.

A minute passes. I hit Leave Chat.

Update:This piece was updated after publication to amend the date of the NFT presale and sale dates, which have been moved forward from 15 March and 17 March respectively.

2022 The Block Crypto, Inc. All Rights Reserved. This article is provided for informational purposes only. It is not offered or intended to be used as legal, tax, investment, financial, or other advice.

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The worlds most advanced digital human wants you to buy her NFT art - The Block Crypto

On the morning of Tuesday, March 8, David Gilliland took a phone call no race team owner or human being ever wants to receive.

Three days later, he and his organization found themselves in Victory Lane at Phoenix Raceway after what Gilliland called the most special win (hes) ever been a part of in his motorsports career.

This is the result of an astonishingly concerted and heavy-hearted effort on the part of David Gilliland Racing in the wake of a traffic accident that took the life of team hauler driver Steven Stotts early that Tuesday morning. Stotts was transporting Taylor Grays No. 17 Ford and DGRs ARCA Menards Series equipment to Phoenix for the General Tire 150. Two more team members, John Zaverl and Michael Mizzelle, were injured in the accident.

Grays first ARCA Menards Series (national) victory Friday night was not a surprise in the context of the 16-year-old drivers talent and career trajectory; it also marked his fourth ARCA Menards Series West victory dating back to 2020 and his 17th ARCA Menards Series top-five finish. But the context of tragedy and a tight timeline made the triumph a remarkable feat.

Just a few hours after Gilliland received that phone call Tuesday morning, another DGR hauler was on its way to Phoenix loaded with equipment and another No. 17 Ford.

RELATED: Takeaways from General Tire 150 at Phoenix

Something like this happens, you dont have a lot of time, Gilliland explained. Everything happens fast especially in this situation. It was brought up to not go, but it was in everybodys hearts to go and honor Steven and his family.

Gilliland said he and team co-owner Johnny Gray (Taylors grandfather) were in communication in the immediate aftermath of their receiving news of the hauler accident. They quickly called a meeting with all available team members to brief them on the situation.

An important factor was gauging how Taylor Gray felt about racing so soon. Once the driver and crew chief Chad Johnston expressed their desire to honor Stotts by pushing forward and competing, the decision was made.

The question, then, was how.

The first step was to find out whether the hauler drivers who were still at the shop would be willing to drive to Phoenix on short notice. They agreed to do so and left the facility to pack bags and take naps before returning to drive that afternoon.

DGR, an operation that runs three NASCAR Camping World Truck Series teams, was fortunate to have plenty of equipment on-hand like additional tool boxes, gas cans and generators. With the Truck Series off on this particular week, the team was able to pack up the hauler that typically transports Hailie Deegans No. 1 Ford F-150.

The next step was Grays racing uniform, including his helmet, driving shoes, ear molds and seat liner. All had been packed in the original hauler. Gilliland said Simpson, a team partner, was able to quickly equip Gray with a new suit, a freshly wired helmet, a new HANS device, gloves and shoes.

Of course, DGR also needed to prepare a new car. Grays ride for the March 19 East Series race at Five Five Flags Speedway in Pensacola, Florida, had already been pulled down and was available to modify. Gordy Arbitter from Gear Tech called and offered drivetrain services, and he build a new rear end gear for Grays car on the spot. Likewise, Harry Reed drove straight to DGRs shop and built a new set of shocks for a Phoenix car.

We had about five hours to get it ready, Gilliland recalled.

Part of the car prep was peeling off logos. Gilliland said team agreed to run an all-black car given the circumstances: If we do go, how do we do it and make sure we honor Steven in the very best way we can? That was kind of what we came up with.

It was Gray himself, though, who came up with the idea to order new name decals to be placed above his doors. He would race at Phoenix with the names Steven Stotts, John Zaverl and Michael Mizzelle in place of his own.

Those names were the first things Gray saw when he climbed out of his car after winning the race. Parked near the start/finish line at Phoenix, the driver pointed to the sky, put his head down on Stotts name, and pointed to the sky again.

The reason were here today is because of Steven, Michael and John, Gray said in Victory Lane. We wouldnt be here if we thought they wouldnt want us to be here. This is for them. This is all for them.

Added Gilliland: I couldnt be more proud of our team and the heart they showed not only to be able to make it to the race track, but to be able to make it to the race track and perform at that level during these times.

We never go to the race track not to win, but we were racing for something very different on Friday night. We won and we got the trophy, but we didnt go there for the trophy. We went there for Steven. And to be able to win its one that I will absolutely never ever forget.

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How David Gilliland Racing worked quickly to achieve triumph amid tragedy at Phoenix - ARCA - arcaracing.com

A mom has shared a video of her breast milk that turned blue which according to an expert, is completely normal.

Breast milkcan also turn pink, green or beige, which may come as a surprise tonew moms.

Crina-Natalie Worley, a 23-year-old mom-of-three, said she was amazed at the human body as she showed off thelightly blue-tingedliquid.

Posting toTikTok, the Aussie said her milk turned blue because my son is sick so my body is producing antibodies to fight it off.

Breast milkcontains antibodiesbelonging to the mom, which are passed to thebabyto give them immunity against an array of illnesses.

However, the blue tint is more likely to occur because of its fat content, an expert explained.

Piroska Cavell, who worked as an agency midwife at NHS trusts all over the UK, and in the private sector, told The Sun: Breast milk then changes as your baby grows it can change to a pale white even a blueish color.

The fore milk, which is the first part of the feed your baby receives, is designed to quench its thirst and is a paler blueish color.

The next part of the feed is the hind milk and it contains all the fats and nutrients for baby. This is what fills baby up and can range from white to cream to a pale tan color.

Your boobs and your body are so clever that when the temperature rises outside, your breast automatically provides more of the thirst quenching fore milk for the baby.

Fore milk is lower in fat, so its important the baby still gets enough of the hind milk.

Blue-tinged milk can also be a result of how it is stored after being pumped, according to Donna Murray, a registered nurse with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Rutgers University.

She wrote forVerywell Family: When you pump and store breast milk, it can change a little bit. In the refrigerator, breast milk may separate into layers.

There may be a thick, white or yellow creamy layer on top, and a thinner clear or blue-tinted layer on the bottom.

You dont have to worry. Its normal, and it doesnt mean the milk went bad.

Its just that when it sits, the fat rises to the top. When youre ready to use it, you just have to mix the layers by gently swirling the bottle.

Piroska, who runs wellbeing clinicClinic Sese, in Whitstable, Kent, explained that breast milk changes in order to fit the babys needs.

She said: Breast milk is another example of how fantastically clever the human body is. Your boobs are brilliant!

Without consciously doing anything you can provide your baby with the exact amount of antibodies and the correct balance of carbohydrates, fats and proteins for it to thrive and develop as it should.

Breast milk automatically adapts to your babys needs. The amount created at each feed and the calorific and nutrient content is designed to exactly match the size of your babys stomach.

Breast milk can alter depending on what you eat, drink or take as medication.

Piroska said: A lot of green veg can give it a pale green hue.

Lots of fruit and berries and beetroot can give it a pinkish tint.

Some medications can also influence the color of your milk, so always check with your pharmacist or doctor that it is safe to take any prescribed medication, over-the-counter drugs or supplements whilst breastfeeding.

Colours of breast milk that warrant a check up by your midwife or doctor are bloodstained-this could be infection related or it could be from sore nipples. This is often easily resolved.

If it is dark orange or brown, seek medical advice. It could be an indication of a more severe issue or being given an unsuitable medication for you whilst breastfeeding.

If you are concerned about the color of your milk, any lumps or pain do not hesitate to get it checked out by your midwife or doctor.

The fluid produced by the breasts in the first few days after birth is called colostrum.

Its thick and usually a golden yellow color as it is very concentrated.

Piroska said: Before and shortly after birth breasts start to manufacture what is called colostrum.

This is what can surprise first time moms as your breasts can start to leak quite a while before baby is due.

Ask your midwife for some collection syringes and to show you how to collect it. Why? because this is invaluable if your baby arrives early or struggles to feed initially.

Your small syringes of colostrum will be able to support your baby through those early days and still provide all the building blocks and protection from disease it needs.

The color ranges formorangey/gold to creamy and it is quite a thick sticky consistency.

Originally posted here:
I was stunned to learn why my breast milk turned blue - New York Post

15 March 2022Morning

The Human Rights Council this morning held separate interactive dialogues with the Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of human rights while countering terrorism, Fionnuala N Aolin, and with the Independent Expert on the human rights of persons with albinism, Muluka-Anne Miti-Drummond.

Fionnuala N Aolin, Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of human rights while countering terrorism, said her report drew a clear and sustained line between the torture and extraordinary rendition that accompanied the so-called war on terror to contemporary practices of mass arbitrary detention and torture, cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment in Xinjiang China and northeast Syria. It was precisely the lack of access, transparency, accountability and remedy that had enabled and sustained a permissive environment for contemporary large-scale detention and harm to individuals. To date, none of the detention sites had been made fully accessible to independent human rights. They were all dark stains on the worlds collective conscience. She spoke of her country visit to Uzbekistan.

Uzbekistan spoke as a country concerned.

In the ensuing discussion, speakers highlighted the importance of fighting terrorism while respecting human rights. The gender impact of countering terrorism was noted. Concerns were expressed that thousands of women and girls remained detained and subjected to conditions that met the threshold of torture and degrading treatments. Other speakers regretted that it was mainly men and boys that were at risk of wrongful arrest and detention, as the result of policies based on race, skin colour and religious discrimination. State practice related to secret detention continued to evolve the lack of accountability for States and had created a culture of impunity. Terrorism in all of its forms was a dangerous threat to peace and security, it was an epidemic that undermined the safety of all countries, a direct attack on freedom and enjoyment of human rights. Terrorism needed to be fought but not in a symmetrical way: a violation of the law did not justify the violation of human right; a crime did not justify a crime.

Speaking in the dialogue with the Special Rapporteur on protecting human rights whilst countering terrorism were the European Union, Mexico on behalf of a group of countries, UN Women, Egypt, United Arab Emirates, Libya, Iraq, Cuba, Venezuela, France, Maldives, Syria, Senegal, Luxemburg, Burkina Faso, India, China, Armenia, Netherlands, Cameroon, Pakistan, Russian Federation, Indonesia, Benin, Panama, Yemen, Ireland, Bangladesh, Afghanistan, United Kingdom, Azerbaijan, Greece, Botswana, Georgia, Spain, Cyprus, Iran, Belarus, Saudi Arabia, Ukraine, Bolivia and Switzerland.

Also speaking were Amnesty International, World Organization Against Torture, Conectas Direitos Humanos, Al-Haq Law in the Service of Man, Families of Victims of Involuntary Disappearances, Rencontres africaines pour la defense des droits de lhomme, Article 19- International Centre against Censorship, International Commission of Jurists, Cairo Institute for Human Rights Studies, and Lawyers Rights Watch Canada.

The Council then held an interactive dialogue with the Independent Expert on the human rights of persons with albinism.

Muluka-Anne Miti-Drummond, Independent Expert on the enjoyment of human rights by persons with albinism, said she had focused her report on harmful practices and hate crimes against persons with albinism. Egregious violations against persons with albinism could qualify as hate crimes since hate crimes were crimes carried out with a bias motive: the person committing the crime had a bias against an actual or perceived characteristic of a victims identity. She stated that unfortunately, many people were still unaware that it was not just in Africa where the rights of persons with albinism had to be protected. Persons with albinism remained invisible in too many discussions that were important to their human and personal development. They were even invisible in discussions about human rights defenders. Such invisibility led to exclusion and exclusion ultimately led to violations of rights.

In the ensuing discussion, speakers thanked the Expert for focusing on hate crimes and explaining what constituted a hate crime and shared her view on the importance of addressing misunderstanding on the subject, even more in mass media. The importance of education and awareness raising was highlighted, as well as the need for the development of critical thinking. Education and awareness raising as well as working with social media companies to limit hateful rhetoric was necessary. Speakers were concerned about the fact that people with albinism were experiencing multiple discriminations. These violations stemmed largely from ignorance, prejudice and stigma. The intersectional form of discriminations that women and girls with albinism faced was highlighted. Deep concerns were expressed that children with albinism were targeted and the enjoyment of their human rights undermined. Speakers were appalled by the abduction of children with albinism and the idea that using their body parts would bring good fortune and luck.

Speaking in the interactive dialogue with the Independent Expert on the enjoyment of human rights by persons with albinism were Finland on behalf of the Nordic- Baltic countries, European Union, Egypt, Israel, Djibouti, United Nations Childrens Fund, Malaysia, Venezuela, Kenya, China, Lesotho, South Africa, United States, Portugal, Malawi, Nigeria, Tanzania, Panama and Namibia.

Also speaking were: Rencontres africaines pour la defense des droits de lhomme, Mother of Hope Cameroon Common Initiative Group, World Barua Organisation, International Humanist and Ethical Union, World Jewish Congress, China Society for Human Rights Studies, Under the Same Sun Fund and Association pour la dfense des droits de lhomme et des revendications dmocratiques/culturelles du people Azerbaidjanais-Iran.

The webcast of the Human Rights Council meetings can be found here. All meeting summaries can be found here. Documents and reports related to the Human Rights Councils forty-ninth regular session can be found here.

The Human Rights Council will next meet at 3 p.m. to begin the interactive dialogue with the Special Representative of the Secretary-General on Violence against Children, followed by the interactive dialogue with the Special Representative of the SecretaryGeneral on Children and Armed Conflict.

Interactive Dialogue with the Special Rapporteur on the Promotion and Protection of Human Rights while Countering Terrorism

Documentation

The Council has before it (A/HRC/49/45), the report of the Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of human rights while countering terrorism, Fionnuala N Aolin, entitled follow-up report on the Joint Study (2010) on Global Practices in Relation to Secret Detention in the Context of Countering Terrorism, as well as her report on her visit to Uzbekistan.

Presentation of Reports

FIONNUALA N AOLIN, Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of human rights while countering terrorism, raised concerns that counter terrorism and countering violent extremism law and policy were being used to target, constrain, and attack civil society across the globe. The Special Rapporteur said she had conducted two working level visits to Washington D.C and thanked the Government of the United States for the constructive and sustained dialogue on a range of issues related to counter terrorism and human rights. She had also carried out a country visit to Uzbekistan in November/December 2021. She commended the comprehensive approach taken by Uzbekistan, the humane approach taken by its Government and the emphasis on meaningful integration and acceptance of returnees with clear provision for their medical, psycho-social, educational and economic needs. Other countries that had systematically failed to return their nationals had a great deal to learn from the approach being pioneered by Uzbekistan.

Ms. N Aolin said that in 2010, four Special Procedure mandate holders had produced a unique joint study on global practices of secret detention in the context of countering terrorism. She had determined that a follow-up report was urgently needed. Her report drew a clear and sustained line between the torture and extraordinary rendition that accompanied the so-called war on terror to contemporary practices of mass arbitrary detention and torture, cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment in Xinjiang China and northeast Syria. It was precisely the lack of access, transparency, accountability and remedy that had enabled and sustained a permissive environment for contemporary large-scale detention and harm to individuals.

The most important part of her report was its annex, Ms. N Aolin said, as it listed the names of every single individual identified who was subject to secret detention. Counter terrorism discourse, law and practice justified the most egregious of human dignity violations. The practice of waterboarding (simulated drowning) was legally justified and brutally carried out in black sites controlled by the United States. Detainees were placed in coffin-like structures for extended periods of time. They were kept in solitary confinement, many for months at a time. They were subjected to anal penetration by objects, actions which amounted to sexual violation and appeared to reach the threshold for rape as set out under the International Criminal Court Statute. The report further identified grave concerns about practices of arbitrary mass and secret detention with other serious violations of international law directed at the Uighurs and other ethnic groups in the Xinjiang Uighur Autonomous Region that had been the subject of multiple communications by multiple Special Procedure mechanisms and experts of the Human Rights Council, justified under the banner of re-education.

Her mandate continued to highlight the scale of human rights and humanitarian law violations that followed from holding thousands of men, women and children in a situation of mass arbitrary detention in northeast Syria. The conditions in these camps met the threshold of torture, cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment under international law. Repatriation was the only international law compliant solution to the existence of these camps and sites of detention. No humane or decent society should accept leaving their children in a situation of cradle to grave arbitrary detention.

In conclusion, Ms. N Aolin said that not a single individual who was subject to extraordinary rendition and torture had received an adequate remedy. There was a clear obligation to provide adequate remedy to individuals and their families who experienced these profound violations. Persons who were transferred from black sites and from Guantanamo Bay also continued to live in legal limbo lacking remedy, legal status or rehabilitation in countries of resettlement or countries of origin. There was no statute of limitations on these grave violations of international law. Moreover, those who planned, executed, or colluded in such grave violations must be held accountable, despite the desire to engage in a process of collective forgetting and a compact of comfortable amnesia on torture and rendition. She closed by pointing out that to date, none of these detention sites black sites, Guantanamo Bay Cuba, Xinjiang, or camps in northeast Syria had been made fully accessible to independent human rights oversight able to assess the harms experienced within them. They were all dark stains on the worlds collective conscience.

Statement by Country Concerned

AKMAL SAIDOV, Director of the National Human Rights Centre of Uzbekistan and First Deputy Speaker of the Legislative Chamber of the Oliy Majlis of Uzbekistan, said the Uzbek Government welcomed the Special Rapporteurs report on her visit to Uzbekistan, despite the ongoing global pandemic. The country had made significant progress in its relationship with the United Nations Special Procedures in a relatively short period of time, and all mandate holders had an open invitation. The visit was considered an important step in constructive cooperation in building human rights whilst countering terrorism. The Special Rapporteurs positive assessment of Uzbekistans approach to building a democratic and just society was appreciated. She recognised Uzbekistans world leadership in sustained repatriation of civilians from conflict zones. A total of 500 civilians had been repatriated from armed conflict zones. Uzbekistan was firmly committed to its international human rights obligations, and understood that it was only at the beginning of this path, and counted on the support of its international partners, including the Human Rights Council and the Special Rapporteurs.

Discussion

In the ensuing discussion, speakers highlighted the importance of respecting human rights while fighting terrorism. They paid tribute to the report and welcomed its gender mainstreaming. The gender impact of countering terrorism was noted. Concerns were expressed that thousands of women and girls remained detained and subjected to conditions that met the threshold of torture and degrading treatments. Some speakers regretted that it was mainly men and boys that were at risk of wrongful arrest and detention, as a result of policies based on race, skin colour and religious discrimination. The post 9/11 mushroom had grown and was enabling illegal practices. State practice related to secret detention continued to evolve and the lack of accountability for States had created a culture of impunity. Calls were made for the immediate release of all children detained in the context of countering terrorism.

It was important to end impunity and the fight against terrorism required joint international efforts. The appearance of new forms of terrorist threats had resulted in new measures to protect the population from those threats. It was necessary to pay attention to countering terrorism actions that prevented the enjoyment of human rights. Terrorism in all of its forms was a dangerous threat to peace and security, it was an epidemic that undermined the safety of all countries, a direct attack on freedom and enjoyment of human rights. Terrorism needed to be fought but not in a symmetrical way: a violation of the law did not justify the violation of human rights; a crime did not justify a crime. All people had the right to their mental and physical integrity. Speakers supported the call to repatriate foreign terrorists and hold them accountable for the crimes they committed.

Speakers further affirmed that States alone were responsible for the protection of human rights and States had the right to implement policies that they saw fit to combat terrorists and terrorism. They encouraged the Special Rapporteur not to echo false information, and looked forward to her paying more attention to the victims of terrorism.

Interim Remarks

FIONNUALA N AOLIN, Special Rapporteur on protecting human rights and fundamental freedoms whilst countering terrorism, acknowledged the support of the European Union in the work of the mandate, as well as that of Mexico with regard to transfers. The situation of boys as a category for harm in counter-terrorism was noted, and boys should be recognised as children - their gender did not make them terrorists, and they should be treated under the Convention on the Rights of the Child. Good practice and cooperation with the mandate by Spain and Oman last year had been very positive and complemented the strengthening of the fourth pillar and civil society. Armenia was thanked for emphasising the importance of civil society in fighting terrorism - when civil society was targeted, this created the conditions for conflict and terrorism. The Conference in Malaga being hosted by the Government of Spain followed on from their commitment to the issue.

On the effects of terrorism, Ms. N Aolin said that in her last report she had given particular attention to this issue, with a particular focus on the victims of terrorism. On what could be done for victims, they were tired of the platitudes of support from the international community - they required legal measures protecting their rights at the national level, and should have a rights-based protection for the harms they had faced. All should ensure that national legislation was compatible with international law, and many countries should focus on the opportunity to review and revise national law that was not compatible.

Discussion

Speakers took note of the conclusions of the report, including the insufficient implementation by States of the Special Rapporteurs recommendations. Speakers condemned acts of torture unconditionally and shared concerns on extrajudicial transfer and enforced disappearances. Countering terrorism should never serve as a reason for human rights violations. Countries with extra territorial detention centres should be held accountable for human rights violations. Some speakers noted that some references to specific countries in her report singled out activities that were not done in the context of countering terrorism and regretted that this mistake had been made. They denounced what they called a politicised campaign orchestrated by western counties and stated that until today, not a single European country participating in the programme of secret CIA prisons had respected human rights. The questions about prosecuting perpetrators and ensuring justice for victims of such perpetrators was highlighted. Speakers further regretted that the Special Rapporteur did not demonstrate a principled approach and urged her to be more diligent so as to not multiply fake news.

Concluding Remarks

FIONNUALA N AOLIN, Special Rapporteur on protecting human rights and fundamental freedoms whilst countering terrorism, said there should be no impunity for terrorist acts, and there should be pursuit of core acts, not just for membership in terrorist organizations. The draft comprehensive Convention on Terrorism should move past the stalemate it was in and be concluded, as without it the fight was disadvantaged. The ongoing constructive dialogue with China should continue, and the mandate was impartial and neutral. On the issue of the impact of counter-terrorism measures on the freedom of expression, this was a consistent trend that needed to be addressed by States. There was a long way to go both at the national and regional level to ensure that they played the oversight role they could play in the fight for human rights whilst countering terrorism.

The critical issue of the profiling and discrimination of certain communities, in particular Muslim men, should not be ignored, and should be considered and discussed on the ground. The international community must make particular efforts for all victims of rendition to be compensated for the harm they had suffered. There was an accelerated trend for citizenship stripping, and there should be a moratorium on this, as it had led to statelessness, in particular for children. There was a profound obligation by the international community for the victims of terrorism in Afghanistan. Without human rights, neither counter terrorism nor protection were carried out well. Deep concern was expressed for the obliteration of the entirety of Palestinian society in the framework of counter terrorism. The Council should support accountability, seek transparency, and have zero tolerance for the violation of human rights in the context of counter terrorism. She hoped to continue her highly engaged interaction with Uzbekistan.

Interactive Dialogue with the Independent Expert on the Enjoyment of Human Rights by Persons with Albinism

Documentation

The Council has before it (A/HRC/49/56 ) report of the Independent Expert on the enjoyment of human rights by persons with albinism, Muluka-Anne Miti-Drummond entitled harmful practices and hate crimes targeting persons with albinism.

Presentation of Report

MULUKA-ANNE MITI-DRUMMOND, Independent Expert on the enjoyment of human rights by persons with albinism, said she had focused her report on harmful practices and hate crimes against persons with albinism. Egregious violations against persons with albinism could qualify as hate crimes since hate crimes were crimes carried out with a bias motive: the person committing the crime had a bias against an actual or perceived characteristic of a victims identity. In the case of albinism, they were perpetrated on the basis of the colouring and physical appearance of this people group. Having specific hate crime laws in which persons with albinism could be recognised as victims with protected characteristics would not only condemn the bias motive in the crimes against them, but could prompt further investigations and impact the way victims were treated, how they were interviewed and the seriousness of sentences given to offenders.

Ms. Miti-Drummond identified good practices in relation to harmful practices and hate crimes, including the European Unions strong common response to tackle hate crimes through its Framework Decision 2008/913, as well as the establishment of mechanisms for the reporting of hate crimes in different countries. These mechanisms must recognise that attacks against persons with albinism almost always constituted hate crimes. The African Unions Plan of Action to End Attacks and other Human Rights Violations Targeting Persons with Albinism (2021 to 2031) was another valuable initiative. She urged the implementation of this Plan of Action.

In conclusion, Ms. Miti-Drummond stated that unfortunately, many people were still unaware that it was not just in Africa where the rights of persons with albinism had to be protected. Persons with albinism remained invisible in too many discussions that were important to their human and personal development. They were even invisible in discussions about human rights defenders. Such invisibility led to exclusion and exclusion ultimately led to violations of rights. This was even more so the case with smaller groups of people. It was therefore her vision to ensure that persons with albinism, and their voices, were mainstreamed in these areas.

Discussion

In the ensuing discussion, speakers welcomed the Independent Experts first report as well as the presentation of her thematic vision and took note of her recommendations. They were looking forward to working with the Expert and recognised the challenges of the fight against discrimination against persons with albinism. They commended the recognition by the Human Rights Council of harmful practices related to practices of witchcraft as the root causes of the human rights violation of persons with albinism. Discrimination against any minorities impacted all persons. The terrible effects of stereotypes and prejudices were denounced. Speakers thanked the Expert for focusing on hate crimes and explaining what constituted a hate crime and shared her view on the importance of addressing misunderstanding on the subject, even more in mass media. The importance of education and awareness raising was highlighted, as well as the need for the development of critical thinking. Education and awareness raising as well as working with social media companies to limit hateful rhetoric was necessary.

Speakers said they were committed to the promotion and protection of the human rights of persons with albinism. They denounced the trafficking and killing of persons with albinism and greeted the adoption of Security Council resolution 478. Massive support to combat hate crimes was expressed. Speakers were concerned about the fact that people with albinism were experiencing multiple discriminations. These violations stemmed largely from ignorance, prejudice and stigma. Fighting those discriminations required concerted efforts. The intersectional form of discriminations that women and girls with albinism faced was highlighted. Deep concerns were expressed that children with albinism were targeted and the enjoyment of their human rights undermined. The impact on their mental health was noted. Speakers were appalled by the abduction of children with albinism and the idea that using their body parts would bring good fortune and luck. They urged all communities to fulfil the human rights of all persons with albinism and provide necessary support. Calls were made for authorities to ensure the rights and freedom of persons with albinism and for States to take appropriate measures to protect them without discriminations.

Concluding Remarks

MULUKA-ANNE MITI-DRUMMOND, Independent Expert on the enjoyment of human rights by persons with albinism, wished to thank everybody for their comments and input, and noted that almost everyone had echoed support for the mandate, and she looked forward to going forward with them in the future. She looked forward to discussing a potential country visit to Egypt. One of the best ways to ensure continued dialogue and open channels of discussions were country visits. The exchange of information and best practices, as well as challenges faced by the Governments in protecting persons with albinism were also important. The data on the number of persons with albinism remained opaque, and such information should be disaggregated so that the situation of persons with albinism throughout the globe could be determined. African countries should develop national action plans and implement the African Union Plan of Action. It was essential for the Independent Expert to continue to work closely with persons with albinism, and she committed to do this, to seek their input, understand their challenges, and work closely with Governments in developing standards for the rights of persons with albinism.

Governments should adopt coordinated responses with regard to albinism, including the justice sector, migration and education. Her work would also adopt this coordinated response, and would continue to work with the public sector, including geneticists and health professionals. Dispelling myths about albinism was vital, as it was these that prompted attacks on persons with albinism. Albinism should be mainstreamed, as in many cases, persons with albinism were invisible, which led to exclusion and violations of human rights, and she intended to make sure they were involved in all discussions. On capacity building, she would continue the work on this, and understanding the human rights framework around persons with albinism, as well as the health conditions of persons with albinism. It was difficult for many people to understand what were the channels for access to justice, to witness protection, and legal aid, and States should help remedy these. Governments should support persons with albinism and associations aiding them financially and in developing plans of action. Governments must ensure that they included and consulted persons with albinism from the designing phase to the implementation phase. Human rights organizations should also include the issue of persons with albinism at all levels of their work.

___________

Produced by the United Nations Information Service in Geneva for use of the information media;not an official record. English and French versions of our releases are different as they are the product of two separate coverage teams that work independently.

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Human Rights Council Holds Separate Interactive Dialogues with the Special Rapporteur on the Promotion and Protection of Human Rights while Countering...

Weeks ago, Ukraine-based influencer Kristina Korbans TikTok was a steady stream of gym motivation and personal finance tips punctuated by trending audio. In bold title text, she told her followers to STAY CONSISTENT and DO WHAT MAKES YOU HAPPY! Aside from one lighthearted reference to the escalating situation with Russia, Korbans page stayed on message: YOU CAN BE AN INVESTOR.

Then, on February 23rd, the facade of normalcy fell apart. In a video thats been viewed more than 9 million times, the Kyiv-based influencer recorded herself from bed, describing explosions in the distance that rattled her home. This might be the beginning of something serious, she says.

For weeks, TikTok users have watched Russian troops and military vehicles on the move through bite-sized clips often lacking context or verification. When Russian President Vladimir Putin launched a full-scale invasion, TikTok feeds were littered with bogus live streams with siren and gunshot audio dubbed over. The White House has attempted to intervene too, even hosting a background briefing with popular TikTokkers during which officials answered questions and shared White House talking points, according to audio obtained by the Washington Post.

Now, along with misinformation researchers and war correspondents, influencers with Ukrainian ties are becoming a go-to source for war updates. The sudden shift from travel blogging, crypto advice, and anime cosplay to frontline dispatch is jarring to observe. But the dynamics between influencer, followers, and content flow are as familiar as ever.

Since her first update post, Kristina Korbans TikTok has transformed into a firsthand view of the countrys capital during wartime, sandwiched on the For You page between makeup tutorials and celebrity fancam clips. She posts and goes live daily to her more than half a million TikTok followers, updating viewers on everything from her familys food inventory and grocery store lines to air raid sirens in the city.

I believe there is a lot of chaos when people receive wrong information, so I do my best to be as honest and factual as I can with the knowledge that I possess and learn as we go through this day by day, Korban tells The Verge, communicating over WhatsApp. I aim to provide at least a little bit of clarity for those that trust in me. I feel it is my duty.

Korbans videos about the war have become a go-to source for people outside of Ukraine who didnt know much if anything about the country until a few weeks ago. Every hour of the day, someone is asking Korban if she and her family are safe.

This week, followers feared the worst when Korban didnt post any TikTok updates for over a day. In fact, @moneykristina had been blocked from posting new TikToks after multiple videos were found to be in violation of community guidelines. (Ever the professional, Korban had already set up a backup account to use if she got banned, where she continued to post updates).

In one video shared with The Verge, Korban is filming in the dark, visibly scared and crying, as explosions echo in the distance; Korban says the clip was removed for graphic content. In another video, Korban jokingly celebrates International Womens Day: what Ukrainian women really want is tanks, bullets, and fighter jets. Korban says TikTok removed the video without an explanation. (According to TikTok spokesperson Jamie Favazza, @moneykristinas ability to post new videos is back as of Monday, and three videos that were incorrectly removed by a moderator have since been restored.)

One of Korbans more than 600,000 TikTok followers is Katie Callaway, a stay-at-home mom in Massachusetts. She didnt know much about Ukraine before the war began a cultural blindspot she now deeply regrets. But since following Korban at the beginning of the invasion, Callaway says her eyes have been opened.

Its beautiful, she says of Ukraine. I had no idea, and that really saddens me that I didnt even know anything about the country before. Now all of this insane craziness is going on.

Though Callaway has only followed Korban for a few weeks, she speaks of her like shes known her for years. Theyre both mothers, for one, and Callaway thinks of the unfathomable strength that must be required to stay steady for your child in times of stress. She finds Korban to be intelligent, endearing, and real, and she worries and prays for her like you might a friend in other words, something very close to a traditional influencer-follower relationship.

Its just so stressful, Callaway says, fighting back tears. I feel so much for her and this country and the people, and its just so heartbreaking, and I hate whats going on.

Korbans years of experience creating content for social media platforms has, in a morbid way, served her well in this inadvertent role as an unconventional war correspondent. Her videos are shot selfie-style, mimicking the intimacy of a one-to-one video call, and rarely show her surroundings as if Korban is there to talk just to you. She regularly goes on TikTok Live with family members, answering questions, cracking jokes, and hanging out with viewers. Even when discussing curfews and going into hiding, she uses popular audio clips, hashtags, and filters that can make it easier for people to find her content. Shes made merch, too: Korban has sold nearly 2,000 pro-Ukraine T-shirts and hoodies that fans can sport to show whose side theyre on. (They say fuck off in Ukrainian, a reference to signs and words of defiance by Ukrainian soldiers.) Korban says profits will benefit Ukrainians affected by the war.

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Ukrainian influencers bring the frontlines to TikTok - The Verge

Speaking to Kerrang! about Bring Me The Horizon's highly-anticipated and much-deserved R&L headline set, Jordan Fish enthused, Weve actually been in conversations with Reading & Leeds for a couple of years. Its something Ive wanted so badly that its become this sort of nearly thing where its like, Is it ever going to happen?! But just this past year we released a record and it started to feel like it was less a matter of if than when. Im only really starting to believe that its real now that Im doing interviews about it...

He continued, Its surreal, amazing, unbelievable, really. There are no words. For me, personally, this has been a lifelong dream. I live 20 minutes from the site for Reading. I first went when I was 14 back in 2000. Rage Against The Machine were actually one of the bands playing that day, touring The Battle Of Los Angeles. This year, we did the song Lets Get The Party Started with [RATM guitarist] Tom Morello, and next year well be headlining Reading & Leeds alongside them!

When asked if the band will have a new record out in time for the shows, Jordan responded: I would hope so! Id hoped to have all four Post Human records out in the space of a year, but thats proven to be absolute fantasy. We 100 per cent need to have this out by the time we get to Reading & Leeds, though. Theyll make us (laughs)!

Read this: 10 bands from the 90s who have kept their original line-up together

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WILLOW, Frank Carter, Poppy and more join Reading & Leeds 2022 - Kerrang!

Dr. Robert Montgomery made history last September when he became the first surgeon to successfully transplant a pig kidney into a living person. Its a victory thats especially sweet for the 62-year-old doctor, whos only alive today because of a transplant.

Montgomery was born with a heart condition that killed both his father and older brother, both of whom died young (his brother at 35, his dad at 52). He finally got a heart transplant in 2018, after years of waiting because he wasnt sick enough to make the organ donor list.

So he knows all too well what the waiting is like as a patient, Montgomery, head of the NYU Langone Transplant Institute, told The Post. The uncertainty of not knowing if youre going to get an organ. Im very aware of the people who dont make it across the finish line.

Although his patient was clinically brain-dead before the operation, the transplanted kidney remained functional for 54 hours, long enough to detect any immediate rejection. Its a promising sign that xenotransplantation the medical term for implanting other species organs and tissues into humans may soon become the norm.

Montgomerys groundbreaking surgery was just the beginning of the huge strides in xenotransplantation over recent months. On Jan. 7, David Bennett, a 57-year-old man with end-stage heart disease, received a genetically modified pig heart at the University of Maryland Medical Center.

Though he wasnt considered an ideal candidate he had a criminal history, as well as a history of ignoring advice from his doctors Bennett, who remains (as of this writing) alive with his pig heart, became the public face of the thousands of patients who need an organ and are out of options.

I want to live, he said in an interview prior to the surgery. I know its a shot in the dark, but its my last choice.

In the US alone, there are over 106,000 people on the transplant waiting list, and around 17 die every day without getting a desperately needed kidney, heart or lung, according to the American Transplant Foundation. Human organ donors are on the rise 12,588 in 2020, up by almost a thousand from the previous year but its not nearly enough to meet the demand. In many cases, the best hope for a transplant is somebody elses tragedy. For a patient to live, somebody else must die.

This continues to be the single greatest unmet need in transplantation, said Montgomery. Its a supply and demand problem. And its only getting worse every year.

But that may change thanks to xenotransplantations recent watershed moments. Just a few decades ago, pig organ transplants were still the stuff of science fiction, the kind of technology that only existed in Margaret Atwood novels.

From the outside, I can see why itd look like this happened out of nowhere, said Montgomery. But weve been laying the groundwork for these innovations for years.

The pig organs used in both surgeries came from Revivicor, a Virginia-based biotechnology firm thats been working to produce genetically modified pigs since 2003. (Theyre a spin-off from another company, PPL Therapeutics, that cloned Dolly the sheep in the 90s.)

And theyre far from alone. The biotech eGenesis, another startup looking to harvest pig organs for transplants, raised $100 million in 2019 to clinically test their xenotransplant organs.(The companys staff wears t-shirts bearing the company slogan This pig might save your bacon.)

Even Smithfield Foods, which packages and sells pork products like bacon, hot dogs, and sausages, opened a bioscience branch in 2017 with an $80 million grant from the US Department of Defense to start raising hogs specifically for organ transplants.

Its become a bit of a race to see who can get there first, says Montgomery.

Its not just the advances in science determining if xenotransplants become commonplace. It also matters if the public is ready for this type of thing, Montgomery said.

In a 1998 survey, just 42 percent of people said theyd be OK with a pig organ transplant, while 96 percent preferred a human organ. That number has slightly increased in recent years, according to a 2018 Pew survey. Now 57 percent, or six-in-ten Americans, think genetically engineering animals for transplant organs is acceptable, while 41 percent still arent convinced.

We shouldnt be dependent on this paradigm that another human being has to die for somebody else to live.

It doesnt help that the history of xenotransplantation is filled with surreal and even macabre tales. Jean-Baptiste Denis, a 17th-century physician to the French king Louis XIV, preferred the blood of animals in transfusions because he believed they were less inclined towards debauchery. During the 1920s, a doctor named John Brinkley became briefly infamous for transplanting goat testicles into human scrotums to cure impotence. (Unsurprisingly, many of his patients died from infection.)

Human-to-human organ transplants became a reality in the mid-20th century beginning in 1954 with the first successful kidney transplant and almost immediately, organ shortage was an issue. Monkeys and chimpanzees were the first animals considered for transplants, if only because theyre genetically closest to humans.

During the 60s, several transplant surgeries were attempted using chimp kidneys, but only one patient survived for nine months which was enough for Thomas Starzl, the pioneering transplant surgeon, to call it a real beacon of hope.

The most famous xenotransplant of the last century was Baby Fae, an infant born with a lethal heart defect who received a baboon heart in 1984. She died just days after the transplant, and public reaction was more shock than awe. The Washington Post warned of medical adventurism, and the Journal of Medical Ethics dismissed it as a beastly business.

At first, pig organs seemed more promising. Pig organs are anatomically similar to human organs, says Michael K. Gusmano, a professor of health policy at Lehigh University. Humans and pigs also share 98 percent of the same genes. But pig organs were still attacked by human immune systems as foreign invaders. In 1997, two Indian surgeons attempted a pig heart and lung transplant on a 32-year-old patient, and when he died, the surgeons were jailed for homicide, with the media describing it as the plot of a horror movie.

But then something changed. Researchers learned how to humanize pig hearts, said Bruno Reichart, a retired transplant surgeon and CEO of XTransplant, a company attempting to commercialize pig-to-human heart transplants. More scientifically, they found a way to cut out the alpha-gal, a sugar molecule in pig cells that triggers the human immune system.

The gene-editing tool CRISPR developed in 2012, which went on to win a Nobel Prize in chemistry in 2020 was used to alter genes that caused a pigs heart to grow too large, enough to sustain a 600-pound pig.

We introduced enzymes that would find and cut specific points in a pigs DNA and then change it to DNA that we prefer, said Harvard geneticist and eGenesis co-founder George Church. We edited pig genes to make them more like human genes.

In 2015, a baboon was kept alive with a pig heart for 945 days, still a record. Reichart, who was involved in many of the baboon experiments, also helped develop an experimental nutrient solution that successfully preserved porcine hearts out of the body for hours, he told The Post. That is more difficult when compared to human organs: you must perfuse porcine hearts with a cold solution containing nutrients, hormones and oxygen.

Everything changed in late 2020, when the FDA approved the one-time emergency use of an organ from a genetically modified GalSafe pig, produced by Revivicor. It opened the floodgates for what The Atlantic described in 2017 as Big Pork the companies looking to cash in on the pig organ transplant boom.

As companies now race to be the first with a medical breakthrough that will save lives and also generate billions in profits, theres concern about whether some will cut corners to get there quicker.

Thats always a worry, says Gusmano. Thats why it is important for the industry to be carefully regulated, including surprise inspections. As with all medical drugs and devices, we cannot have a market with goods that people trust and are willing to use without appropriate regulation and oversight.

Not everybody believes the burgeoning pig organ industry will have the best interests of the public in mind. Wired magazine recently called xenotransplantation a capatalist myth, adding that our medical systems will always serve the most privileged at the expense of the least.

Not so, said Church, who points out that the cost of a heart transplant in the US is around $1.66 million, according to the most recent estimates, while pig transplants, judging solely on the cost of the pig heart transplants for baboons, are a comparative steal at just $500,000.

Engineered organs could reduce costs in all sorts of ways, he said.

The future of xenotransplantation is either cause for eager anticipation or cautious optimism, depending on who you ask.

Martine Rothblatt, the CEO of United Therapeutics the company that owns Revivicor, which provided organs for all the recent xenotransplant breakthroughs didnt mince words in a 2015 TED Talk. Just like we keep cars and planes and buildings going forever with an unlimited supply of building and machine parts, why cant we create an unlimited supply of transplantable organs to keep people living indefinitely?

Others arent as fast to claim that pig organs will become the new standard.

Hearts will be possible, says Reichart. Kidneys will need more consistent preclinical results. Lungs and livers are more difficult.

Church, however, thinks the sky is the limit. Blood cells, stem cells, eyes, skin, thymus, pancreas, bones, tendons, nerves, veins, gastrointestinal components, he said, listing all the human parts that are or may soon be replaceable with pig tissue.

While heart and kidney transplants get all the attention, less flashy surgeries are happening every year, moving us closer to a world where pigs are becoming a one-stop-shop for human replacements. Genetically engineered pigs have already been used for everything from skin replacements for burn wounds to corneas to restore sight.

Montgomery tries to be pragmatic when discussing the future of pig organ transplants, but his enthusiasm and optimism are apparent. I think its going to be in our lifetime, he said. And I say that as somebody in his early 60s. As long as there arent any major setbacks, I think Ill be doing routine xenotransplants in the next ten years.

For Montgomery, it isnt enough that deserving patients get access to organ transplants. We can have an unlimited supply, he says. The goal is to transplant people who previously werent thought of as good transplant candidates. There are 800,000 people with end-stage kidney disease, and only around 90,000 of them are on the list to get an organ transplant.

All sorts of factors determine who does and doesnt qualify for a donor organ, like age, medical history, and survivability odds. Some recent studies have even found that Black, Hispanic and low-income patients are less likely to get on a transplant list than white and wealthy patients.

But with an on-demand reserve of pig organs, waiting lists would become obsolete. We shouldnt be dependent on this paradigm that another human being has to die for somebody else to live, Montgomery said. We have to have something thats more sustainable.

The rest is here:
How pigs will save thousands of human lives through organ transplants - New York Post

The human race is a resilient one. Comprising equal parts scepticism and optimism dependent on the day or situation we always manage to see ourselves through trying times despite the obstacles that lie ahead.

It's what has carried us through a modern pandemic and, despite all manner of losses, we have generally emerged more resilient than before, with lessons learned and a reframed sense of normality set to thrive once more.

One of those learnings is that human interaction is essential to our survival because it causes a spark that can't be replicated during a Teams call held over an intermittent internet connection.

Great ideas are often sparked by casual interactions or as a result of people gathering around a challenge or opportunity in person. This human energy, which can't be digitised, is the catalyst.

Historian and author Theodore Zeldin understood this in the last century, saying that "all invention and progress comes from finding a link between two ideas that have never met". It's in that meeting of ideas that we make progress as humanity.

Seeing people facing the challenges of working from home or struggling with isolation or loss has made us understand each other as human beings in far more profound ways not just as employees or clients.

If we can maintain that level of empathy as we come together again, it can only be better for all our relationships; and it will reflect in our work.

There was a flurry of creativity (as there always is in a moment of crisis or where there's a tension) when the pandemic struck. Then, as the days blurred into one and we wandered through the fog of uncertainty, a certain monotony crept in because we were denied new experiences and the creative spirit suffered.

In the creative industry, there was initially a lot of extremely relevant work that held up a mirror to society. But as we all experienced this 'Groundhog Day', all the work started to look the same because it reflected an experience that was so universally shared.

Whether it was for a car brand, bank or retailer, if you removed the branding, it would be difficult to determine which brand or sector it was for. That's why we need to shift to work that is resonant, rather than relevant, by returning to that human insight around empathy. And to do that, we need to come together again.

M&C Saatchi Abel was one of the first agencies to get its teams back on our campuses full-time. It actually opened campuses as early as April 2020 under Level 4 of lockdown, because it understood that many members of the team needed the campus environment.

Whether home wasn't a workspace conducive to concentration and creativity, or they struggled with poor Internet connectivity and load shedding, the campuses became a refuge for many of its team members. It was important to re-introduce that human connection.

Building a relationship with and between employees is a core business strategy and the right thing to do. Those organisations that have invested the time, care and commitement needed to building a strong relationship with their teams will continue to succeed and reap the benefits of an engaged and supportive workforce.

If you, as an organisation, are experiencing resistance or hesitation, look back at the fundamental values and trust within your culture and organisation because you may have a bit of work to do.

The last two years have definitely shown the benefit of flexibility and need for agility. With teams now having experienced both remote and on-campus working, teams need to be given the choice to work from wherever they feel they can do their best work.

This is while also allowing for the other demands on their time. But it's all about a mutually beneficial relationship underpinned by shared values, respect and accountability. Establishing employee buy-in, instilling trust in the roles they each play and clearly and consistently communicating the underpinning policies are all key.

Embracing this sense of freedom and flexibility is born from the understanding that we're in the ideas business and ideas don't come from machines, but from people. People with empathy.

For more information, visit http://www.mcsaatchiabel.co.za. You can also follow M&C Saatchi Abel on Facebook or on Twitter.

Empathy in marketing empathy in the creative industry customer engagements human experience marketing trends creative work creative industry

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Businesses driven by empathy will lead the post-pandemic world - Media Update

The human got a huge surprise when she got home to take her cat to a vet's appointment and it is really heartwarming.

Cats are such secretive animals that can sometimes really surprise their humans. Like this post shared on Reddit by a user about her cat that will leave you smiling. In the post, the person explained that she had last week posted a photo about her cat and asked if people thought she was pregnant. After an overwhelming majority of people said yes, the person booked an appointment with a vet. But, when the person got home today, a surprise was waiting for her and it was really heartwarming.

There were six kittens waiting for her when she got home to take the cat to her appointment. The post was uploaded by a user named Careful-Impress6596 and it has got over 4,000 upvotes till now.

The person in a subsequent post said, Thank you to everyone for all of your advice and wisdom!!! I will be getting her spayed ASAP. Was not anticipating being a grandmother already and really looking forward to helping her in any way I can!!

She posted three photos in the post. In the first one, the cat is lying alone as she looks pregnant. In the other photos, the cat is nursing her kittens.

See the photos below:

People who commented on her post wanted to know what she planned to do with them. Replying to a user, the original poser commented, I have cleared my closet out completely to give her own little nook for the next few weeks. Im hoping to have 5 happy owners lined up (for free) by the time they are ready to be separated. I plan on keeping one!

Many people also suggested her not to give away the kittens for free as one cant be sure if they would end up in the right hands.

What do you think about this heartwarming story?

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Human gets a huge surprise when she comes home to take cat to vets appointment - Hindustan Times