#Sao Paulo State University

[fatehbaz]

Traditional scholarship in the history of science associates the quantifiable, universal human body with the European Enlightenment or ‘new science’. This measurable, universal body, it is argued, came to define modern medicine. Behind it lay the driving forces of political economy, [...] life insurance, and modern industrial [profit] [...]. But this widely accepted history of the universalisation and systemisation of human corporeality [...] [involves] an earlier global history of enslaving and measuring bodies in the Indies, born of the Iberian slave trade between Africa and colonial Iberian America. It was in the violent and profitable world of this slave trade that universal concepts and calculations of health risks, disease and bodily characteristics [...] emerged. Indeed, the scale of data production about bodies in the early modern world of Iberian slave trading far outpaced all contemporary systems of production of knowledge about the human body.

The key concept in this early modern quantification of the body was the pieza de Indias (Spanish) or peça da India (Portuguese). [...]

The appearance of this new measure and epistemology was intimately linked to the unprecedented rise in the size and complexity of the transatlantic commerce in human bodies during the first decades of the 17th century. The new, universal measure of man was the result of the slave trade’s need to quantify the risks of investing in human corporeality and its modern afflictions. By the late 16th century, Iberian slave traders, governments, corporations and financiers from around Europe (particularly from Genoa, Florence and the Netherlands) were already thinking of the transportation of slave bodies as units of risk.

---

The original licences for slaves transacted in Iberia were contractual concepts that did not refer to bodily characteristics [...] [and] were of limited help [...] for calculating the productivity [of a slave's body] [...]. Consequently, slave traders and slave-trading organisations, including the House of Trade (Casa de Contratación) in Seville, developed methodologies that allowed them to translate slave bodies into numbers and calculate the inherent value [...] as it related to an increasingly normalised, constant unit called the pieza. The concept of the pieza (the piece) allowed for the creation of contracts where investors, providers and the state could prospectively calculate tariff, gains and risk using quantifiable notions of bodies [...].

The historical record makes clear that the concept of ‘the piece of the Indies’ itself was already firmly established across the Atlantic basin by the early 1600s. [...] In addition to peça, Portuguese slave traders [in West Africa] used several other terms to refer to slaves who were not adult [...], reflecting an increasingly rich taxonomy [...]. Muleque or muleca [...]. Slave traders began using these terms to refer to young bodies that they discounted at rates [...]. Calculating the value of cañengues, muleques and mulecas by converting them into standard adult [...] piezas was a common practice [...]. Portuguese officials in Sao Paulo da Assumpcao de Loanda deployed the concept when they tallied ‘the dispatch’, or fees due to the Portuguese crown, for the embarkment of African slaves bound for the Americas. Such methods to appraise slave bodies became normative in Spanish America for determining the tariffs that traders had to pay to introduce slaves in the New World.

By the late 1530s, crown officials were counting the ‘pieces of slaves’ (piezas de esclavos) disembarking in Santo Domingo and selling them to miners [...] [and] hacienda owners [...] to work in the mines and estates of the island. [...] [A] concept of an ideal body for transportation and labour [...] had emerged across the Atlantic, and during the first decades of the 17th century it was disseminated across the Pacific and Indian Oceans, being widely used in Dutch trading records. [...] [S]lave traders and government officials used the term pieza to talk about other captive bodies from the Indies, most notably native or 'Indian' bodies in the Caribbean.

---

The concept of the piece of the Indies appears in full form in the 1660s as part of negotiations of the terms of the asiento de negros or slave monopoly between the Spanish crown and the Genoese financiers Domingo Grillo and Ambrosio Lomelín. The contract with the Grillos established that they would ‘bring 24,500 blacks, piezas de Indias, over the course of seven years and starting in 1662’. The monopoly established as one of its conditions that ‘the said quantity of blacks should be piezas de Indias, each one seven cuartas of height and up’. [...] Slave traders used height as a proxy for life histories of health and nutrition and as a predictor of the slave’s potential productivity [...] [and] created a complex system around the marker of height [...].

[H]aving grey hair, for instance, translated into a reduction in value of one cuarta or one-seventh of the standard pieza. The conditions of 'cloud in one eye [cataracts]' signified a reduction of two cuartas; scurvy, two cuartas; phlegm, one and one-half cuartas; a 'benign hernia', one cuarta [...]. Being older than 35 years merited a one-cuarta deduction [...]. The presence of lobanillos (small tumours) was worth one and one-half cuartas’ reduction; small fingers, one-half cuarta; incapacitating scars (burns), one and one-half cuarta; [...] localised ulcers, one-sixth of a cuarta; generalised ulcers, one cuarta; [...] short-sightednesss, two cuartas; [...] missing molars, one cuarta [...].

---

The contractual articulation of the concept of the piece of the Indies [...] formalised slave-based knowledge production about human bodies. The contract assembled a vast storehouse of knowledge, much of it held in the House of Trade in Seville, obtained from thousands of records of bodily characteristics and diseases for hundreds of thousands of bodies [...]. The Grillos’ contract set a precedent for the 1679 contract between Spanish and Portuguese merchants and the Dutch West India Company. The 1696 asiento between Spanish crown and [financier F.M.] and [financier N/P.], for example, agreed they would transport 10,000 tonnes of freight including 30,000 piezas de Indias of the ‘regular measure of seven cuartas’. Similarly, a 1709 contract between the French Compagnie de Guinée and Dutch slave traders, settled in Amsterdam, specified that the French would pay 110 pièces de huit (pieces of eight) ‘for each black piece of Indies’ delivered in the Caribbean.

As the ‘new science’ of the European Enlightenment dawned in Europe, the piece of the Indies was well established as the most disseminated universal measure of the human body.

---

All text above by: Pablo F. Gomez. "Pieza de Indias: Slave Trade and the Quantification of Human Bodies". A chapter in New World Objects of Knowledge: A Cabinet of Curiosities (edited by Mark Thurner and Juan Pimentel), pp. 47-50. Published 2021. [Bold emphasis and some paragraph breaks/contractions added by me. Presented here for commentary, teaching, criticism purposes.]

#abolition

[allthebrazilianpolitics]

School violence in Brazil mirrors US. Its reaction doesn't

About two weeks after a man killed four children in a Brazilian daycare center, authorities already have rounded up some 300 adults and minors nationwide accused of spreading hate speech or stoking school violence.

Little has been revealed about the unprecedented crackdown, which risks judicial overreach, but it underlines the determination of the country’s response across federal, state and municipal levels. Brazil’s all-hands effort to stamp out its emerging trend of school attacks stands in contrast to the U.S., where such attacks have been more frequent and more deadly for a longer period, yet where measures nowadays are incremental.

Actions adopted in the U.S. - and some of its perceived shortcomings - are informing the Brazilian response, said Renan Theodoro, a researcher with Center for the Study of Violence at the University of Sao Paulo.

“We have learned from the successes and the mistakes of other countries, especially the United States,” Theodoro told The Associated Press.

Continue reading.

#brazil #politics #brazilian politics #united states #us politics #school attacks #education #public security #mod nise da silveira #image description in alt

[follow-up-news]

A panel of judges voted Friday to bar far-right former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro from running for office again for seven years after concluding that he abused his power and cast unfounded doubts on the country’s electronic voting system. The decision forbids Bolsonaro from running until 2030, upending the 68-year-old’s political future and likely erasing any chance for him to regain power. Five judges on the nation’s highest electoral court agreed that Bolsonaro used government communication channels to promote his campaign and sowed distrust about the vote. Two judges voted against the move. “This decision will end Bolsonaro’s chances of being president again, and he knows it,” said Carlos Melo, a political science professor at Insper University in Sao Paulo. “After this, he will try to stay out of jail, elect some of his allies to keep his political capital, but it is very unlikely he will ever return to the presidency.” The case focused on a July 18, 2022, meeting where Bolsonaro used government staffers, the state television channel and the presidential palace in Brasilia to tell foreign ambassadors that the country’s electronic voting system was rigged.

#jair bolsonaro #brazil

[whatisonthemoon]

Two Very Different Religious Freedoms: International Forum for Religious Freedom and International Coalition for Religious Freedom

▲ Pictured: A picture of Dan Fefferman in the 70s as a young Moonie

Isn’t it interesting how there were members of the International Forum for Religious Freedom supporting a resolution proposed to the Ohio state legislature, and other state legislatures, to have Moon and the Unification Church investigated in 1977/1978, prior to the Jonestown massacre later in 1978?

Especially when considering that just a few years later, in 1984, an organization named International Coalition for Religious Freedom popped up, headed by Dan Fefferman, funded by the UC. This organization lobbied and organized for the legitimization of the Moonies, Scientologists, and other so-called “new religious movements” (a term popularized by cult apologists). 

Fefferman felt recognized at a 2000 anti-cult conference when his organization was recognized for legitimizing cults to academics and governments:

Not to brag, but several speakers made reference to ICRF. They mentioned our four conferences and the cities in which they were held—Washington, Tokyo, Berlin, and Sao Paulo. They grudgingly praised our web site (www.religiousfreedom.com), and the "impressive array" of speakers whose papers we have posted there. A featured luncheon speaker, Prof. Stephen Kent of the University of Calgary, used the ICRF as a primary example of the way in which American new religious movements (NRM’s) are able to influence the American government and academic community. He admitted that ICRF has become an influential participant in the international human rights debate. Another speaker bemoaned the fact that ICRF had been able to get current and former congressmen, government officials, leading academics, and prestigious human rights leaders to join with us.

Related 

Dan Fefferman attends an anti-cult conference (2000) Introvigne’s silence on the most important “religious freedom” case in Italy The Real Issue in the Case of Rev. Moon (1984)

One Step Ahead for WACL (1974) 

#International Coalition for Religious Freedom #international forum for religious freedom #religious freedom #dan fefferman #unification church in the united states of america #unification church in the united states #unification church in usa #american church #members #church members #unification church members #moonies #anti-cult #cult awareness network

[languageyeti1985]

The Wonderful World Of Beer....

He was a wise man who invented beer - Unknown.

Welcome to the fascinating world of beer! 🍺 

Let's explore some captivating facts and trivia that will leave you thirsty for more:

What is the Most Expensive Beer in the World?

Have you heard of "Tutankhamun"? This brew is crafted from an ancient recipe University of Cambridge archaeologists recovered. Served in limited, numbered editions, each bottle fetches a staggering $52. Talk about a taste of history!

Which Country Boasts the Most Individual Beer Brands?

Belgium takes the crown with an impressive 400 unique beer brands. It's a beer lover's paradise!

Do you know the origin of the Rule of Thumb?

Before thermometers, brewers relied on their thumbs to gauge brew temperatures. If it was too cold, yeast wouldn't grow; too hot, and it'd perish. Talk about hands-on brewing!

Who Brewed America's First Lager?

John Wagner brewed the first US lager in 1840, using yeast from Bavaria all the way. That's one way to bring a taste of Europe to the States!

What is Cenosillicaphobia?

It's the fear of an empty glass – a nightmare scenario for any beer enthusiast!

Do you know who King Gambrinus is – The Beer Patron Saint?

Move over, St. Arnold! King Gambrinus reigns as the ultimate patron saint of beer. Cheers to royalty in every sip!

How Long Did Prohibition Last?

Prohibition wasn't just a dry spell – it lasted a whopping 13 years, ten months, 19 days, and 17 hours. That's a sobering thought!

Best-Selling Brand in the Western Hemisphere:

Brahma Beer, brewed with Brazilian flair in Sao Paulo, takes the top spot outside the US.

Bonus Beer Trivia:

Have you ever wondered why beer foam sticks around? A sprinkle of salt on your napkin can keep your glass in check.

Beer: It's not just a beverage – Bavaria considers it a staple food!

Calling all beer bottle collectors – you're officially labeorphilists!

From vending machines to train stations, beer is everywhere in Japan.

Need a drink? The first Marine Recruiting Station was conveniently located in a bar!

Tossing salted peanuts in your brew? It's the secret to making them dance!

Looking for a strong sip? Samuel Adams Triple Bock packs a punch with 17% alcohol by volume.

Did you know? American beer is often brewed with rice to appeal to a broader audience.

Beer isn't just refreshing – it's also a source of B-complex vitamins!

Say cheers to Australia for inventing the portable beer cooler in the 1950s – a game-changer for enthusiasts everywhere!

And Here's More:

The longest bar in the world? It stretches 684 feet (about 208.5 meters) at the New Bulldog in Rock Island, IL.

According to the folks at Guinness, lifting a pint of beer about ten times results in losing about 0.56 ml in a beer drinker's facial hair. That's a lot of wasted beer!

Franklin Delano Roosevelt (FDR) won the 1932 election by promising to end Prohibition, which he followed through on once in office.

Monks brewing beer in the Middle Ages were allowed to drink five quarts (approximately 4.73 litres) of beer a day. That's quite the daily allowance!

So, grab your favourite brew, raise your glass, and here's to the wonderful world of beer – cheers! 🍻

[atletasudando]

El adiós a otra leyenda del atletismo mundial: Ralph Boston

Ralph Boston, uno de los más grandes saltarines de largo en la historia atlética, acaba de morir este 30 de abril a los 83 años en Peachtree City, un suburbio de Atlanta, en Georgia. Sufrió un derrame cerebral, según informó su hijo Todd. Boston, el hombre que acabó en esa especialidad con el legendario récord que Jesse Owens había fijado en 1935, tuvo un previlegio: subió al podio en tres oportunidades consecutivas en los Juegos Olímpicos (oro en Roma 1960, plata en Tokio 1964, bronce en México 1968). Y su nombre sólo quedó eclipsado porque en aquellos Juegos de México, uno de sus discípulos -a quien el mismo Boston venía entrenando- fijó en su segundo intento la que, aún hoy, se considera la marca atlética más espectacular de todos los tiempos (Bob Beamon con sus 8.90 metros).                 Boston  batió por ocho centímetros el récord de Owens (8.13), el 12 de agosto de 1960 en Walnut, California . Owens, el Antílope de Ebano y uno de los mayores héroes en la historia del atletismo mundial desde su hazaña de las cuatro doradas en Berlin 1936, expresó: "Estoy feliz de ver que se rompió el récord, y estoy agradecido de que se haya mantenido durante tanto tiempo”. Tres semanas más tarde, Boston se adueñó del oro olímpico en la capital italiana. Aunque su condición de campeón de la NCAA en Berkeley con 7.76 lo convertía en un contendiente al máximo cetro olímpico, en Roma se trataba de su primera competición internacional. La saldó con el triunfo en 8.12 m., aventajando por un centímetro a su compatriota Bo Robertson. “Esa noche, mi vida cambió para siempre” recordó. Boston había emergido como una figura emergente desde la Tennessee State University, que en aquella época se conocía como Universidad Estatal, Agrícola e Industrial. Luego de los Juegos de Roma, libró intensos duelos con el soviético Igor Ter-Ovanesyan (posteriormente directivo de su federación atlética). Boston volvió a batir el récord con 8.24 en mayo de 1961 en Modesto y  8.28 en julio (durante el match USA-URSS en Moscú). A su vez, Ter-Ovanesyan viajó a Boston en 1962 y lo llevó hasta 8.31, pero Boston lo igualó en Kingston (1964) y lo batió con 8.34 en los Trials olímpicos del 64. Esa vez también había registrado un salto de 8.49 en Los Angeles, pero con viento a favor de 2.6ms, no homologado, que fue el mejor de su vida. Los Juegos en Tokio ofrecieron una apasionante lucha entre el británico Lynn Davies, Boston y Ter-Ovanesian. Los 8.07 de Davies en la cuarta ronda lo encumbraron en la punta, que ya no iba a ceder. El soviético saltó 7.99 que relegaba a Boston al bronce, pero este, en su último salto, llegó al 8.03 que le dio la medalla de plata. Davis, oriundo de Gales, tuvo que agradecer bastante al clima de esa jornada (lluvia, viento y frío) al que podía adaptarse mejor. El sexto récord mundial de Boston fue de 8.35 en 1965, nuevamente en Modesto el 29 de mayo, igualado por el soviético dos años más tarde. Hasta que llegó Beamon y arrasó con todo. Beamon ya venía avisando de su progreso al ganar los Trials con 8.39 ventosos, donde Boston marcó 8.26, también con viento a favor. En los Juegos, Boston poco pudo hacer frente al prodigio Beamon -al que animó en todo momento- y sus 8.16 le alcanzaron para el bronce, precedido por el alemán Klaus Beer por tres centímetros.  Los 8.90 de Beamon perduraron como récord mundial hasta 1991, cuando en el más extraordinario duelo de la historia Mike Powell llegó a 8.95 y batió a Lewis. Pero aún hoy los 8.90 resultan inaccesibles para la elite del salto en largo, "Fue fácil terminar mi carrera. Gané un oro, una plata y un bronce en ese orden. No hay nada para el cuarto lugar, así que solo dije, 'bien, eso es suficiente", recordó Boston que luego fue comentarista en televisión para la CBS y la ESPN. También había visitado Sudamérica: fue para los Juegos Panamericanos de Sao Paulo, en 1963, donde se adueñó de otra medalla de oro con 8.11, delante de su compatriota Darrell Hon con 8.02 (allí fue tercero el venezolano Juan Muñoz con 7.46), que iba a mantener cuatro años más tarde en Winnipeg, Canadá. Esta vez su triunfo fue con 8.29 y segundo quedó Beamon con 8.07, mientras que el brasileño Nelson Prudencio –luego subcampeón olímpico de triple- fue 10° con 6.91. Dentro del atletismo Boston también había incursionado en pruebas como 110 metros con vallas (donde corrió en 13.7), salto en alto y salto triple. La seguidilla olímpica de Boston recién sería superada por otro gigante estadounidense, Carl Lewis, quien se llevó el oro en cuatro ediciones consecutivas entre 1984 y 1996. “Estoy devastado por la muerte de Ralph. De niño lo idolatraba y fue una gran influencia en mi vida. Echaré de menos su voz y su apoyo. Cambió el deporte como atleta, defensor y mentor. Saltadores, conoced su nombre. Descansa con los grandes", expresó Lewis esta semana.   Ralph Harold Boston nació el 9 de mayo de 1939 en Laurel, Mississippi, a unas 85 millas al sureste de Jackson, hijo de Peter y Eulalia Boston. Su madre era ama de casa, su padre un bombero de ferrocarril que se dedicó a la agricultura después de perder el ojo derecho en un accidente de caza. Ralph, el menor de 10 hijos, ayudaba a su padre en el campo antes de ir a la escuela. En Oak Park High School en Laurel, se convirtió en un atleta estrella, estableciendo marcas nacionales de colegio secundario en pruebas de vallas. Como estudiante de bioquímica en la Tennesse State University compitió en velocidad, vallas, largo y triple. “Me convertí en saltador de largo  por casualidad. Quería jugar fútbol americano pero a mi madre no le gustaba. Y su opinión prevalecía”, le contó alguna vez a la tv local. Boston se casó con Geneva Jackson Spencer en 1962. La pareja tuvo dos hijos, Todd y Stephen, antes de que el matrimonio terminara en divorcio en 1971. Además de sus hijos, le sobreviven dos hermanas, Eugenia Angel y Bettye Beverly; un hermano, Carlos; tres nietos; y nueve bisnietos. Al retornar de Roma con el oro olímpico solo podía entrar en restaurantes, micros y servicios para su raza. “Era un ciudadano del mundo, pero no un ciudadano de Mississippi” recordó. Entonces, tomó las herramientas de su padre y construyó una pista de atletismo y saltómetros. Poco después, en 1972, los ladrones entraron en su casa de Knoxville y además de llevarse sus aparatos -tv, tocadiscos- también se quedaron con sus medallas. Entre 1968 y 1975 trabajó como coordinador de gestión para las minorías y vicedecano en la Universidad de Tennesse. Fue entrenador de atletismo en la Tennesse State, cuya directora actual -y ex campeona olímpica- Chandra Cheesborough expresó: “Ralph era humilde, simplemente un hombre especial”.   Read the full article

[goldiers1]

President Biden Reveals New Nominations for Key Administration Jobs

  President Joe Biden has just announced his intent to nominate the following individuals to serve as key leaders in his administration: - Vernelle Trim FitzPatrick, Nominee for Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to the Gabonese Republic - William W. Popp, Nominee for Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to the Republic of Uganda  

Libreville, Gabon. Photo by Ralph Messi. Unsplash.   Vernelle Trim FitzPatrick, Nominee for Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to the Gabonese Republic. Vernelle Trim FitzPatrick, a career member of the Senior Foreign Service, class of Counselor, currently serves as Office Director for the Office of Assistance to Africa in the Bureau of Population, Refugees, and Migration at the U.S. Department of State in Washington, D.C. Prior to that, FitzPatrick served as Deputy Chief of Mission of the U.S. Embassy in Yaoundé, Cameroon and before that, as Acting Deputy Director for the Office of Central African Affairs in the Bureau of African Affairs at the Department of State. She also served as Deputy Director for the Office of West African Affairs in the Bureau of African Affairs. Earlier, FitzPatrick served as Ethiopia Desk Officer in the Office of East African Affairs and held positions as the Political Section Chief at the U.S. Embassy in Accra, Ghana and as Political Officer at U.S. Embassy Sarajevo in Bosnia and Herzegovina. FitzPatrick earned her Bachelor’s from Davidson College, Davidson, North Carolina and her Master’s from George Washington University in Washington, D.C. Her languages include French and Spanish.  

Children of Uganda. Photo by World Bank Photo Collection. Flickr.   William W. Popp, Nominee for Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to the Republic of Uganda. William Popp, a career member of the Senior Foreign Service, class of Minister-Counselor, currently serves as the U.S. Ambassador to the Republic of Guatemala. Previously, Popp was the Deputy Chief of Mission and Chargé d’affaires, ad interim, from November 2018 until March 2020 of the U.S. Embassy in Brasilia, Brazil. Before that, he served first as the Political Counselor and then as the Acting Deputy Chief of Mission of the U.S. Embassy in Nairobi, Kenya. Earlier, Popp was the Director of the Office of Regional Economic Policy and Summit Coordination in the Bureau of Western Hemisphere Affairs at the State Department. Prior to this, he was the Deputy Principal Officer and later Acting Principal Officer at the U.S. Consulate General in Sao Paulo, Brazil. Among his other assignments, he held positions in the U.S. Embassies in Colombia, Angola, and Nicaragua. Popp earned his Bachelor of Arts degree at Westminster College, his Master of Arts degree at George Washington University, and his Master of Science degree in National Security Strategy at the National War College. He speaks Spanish and Portuguese.   Sources: THX News & The White House. Read the full article

#BidenRevealsNewNominations #PresidentBiden #WhiteHouse

[fcadl]

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[yourlocalnews]

#YourLocal.Me

[allthebrazilianpolitics]

Brazil’s Lula pitches his nation — and himself — as fresh leader for Global South

“Brazil is back.” That has been Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva’s refrain for the better part of the last year, with the president deploying the snappy slogan to cast Brazil — and himself — as a leader of the Global South no longer content to abide the world’s outdated workings.

Last year, Lula thwarted the reelection bid of the far-right Jair Bolsonaro, who showed little interest in geopolitics or diplomacy during his four years in office. Lula, by contrast, has crisscrossed the globe and visited 21 countries in recent months, from the United States to China, Italy to India, Argentina to Angola. He has sought to boost Brazil’s cred with each state visit and speech, one multilateral forum after another.

On Tuesday, his address at the U.N. General Assembly marked his return to that rostrum for the first time since 2009, the last year of his previous presidency’s second term.

“Brazil is reencountering itself, the region, the world and multilateralism,” Lula said. “As I never tire of saying, Brazil is back. Our country is back to give our due contribution to face the world’s primary challenges.”

The emerging narrative of Brazil’s active involvement in world affairs also serves to contrast himself with Bolsonaro, who wasn’t seen as a reliable supporter of multilateralism, Oliver Stuenkel, an associate professor of international relations at the Getulio Vargas Foundation, a university in Sao Paulo, said before the speech.

Lula’s election victory last year was the narrowest in Brazil’s modern history, and the danger of fierce polarization in Brazil’s young democracy was evident even after he took office. Bolsonaro supporters stormed the capital in an attempt to oust him from power.

Many thought Lula would need to stay home to focus exclusively on domestic issues and healing a riven society. But he has simultaneously pursued a whirlwind of international touring more typical of a president’s second term.

Continue reading.

#brazil #politics #brazilian politics #foreign policy #luiz inacio lula da silva #mod nise da silveira #image description in alt

[foodreceipe]

'Planetary health diet' which suggests we should swap meat and diary for BEANS to save the earth is slammed by experts as 'radical and irresponsible'

By Megan Sheets For Dailymail.com and Associated Press

The report published Wednesday was compiled by a panel of nutrition, agriculture and environmental experts from 16 different countries  

It recommends a plant-based diet, citing previously published studies that have linked red meat to increased risk of health problems 

It says people should consume only one serving of red meat per week, less than four eggs per week and about one serving of dairy per day, or less 

It works out daily as just a quarter of a rasher of bacon, a fifth of an egg or and one and a half chicken nuggets 

The panel claims the diet would prevent millions of deaths by slashing obesity 

Experts say the evidence behind the suggestions 'is not as strong as it seems' 

They expressed concern that implementing such drastic diet changes across cultures could have unintended consequences

The US National Pork Producers decried the report, saying: 'The EAT-Lancet report is based on dubious science and is irresponsible' 

A radical new 'planetary health diet' which suggests people should replace nearly all meat and dairy with beans while doubling their vegetable intake has been widely ridiculed by experts who say there is not substantial evidence to back up the recommendations. 

The almost-entirely plant-based diet was outlined in a new report that aims to overhaul the world's food consumption and save the planet at the same time. 

The recommendations, which came from a panel of nutrition, agriculture and environmental experts across 16 countries, are largely based on previously published studies that have linked red meat to increased risk of health problems. 

Under the diet, people are only allowed to eat one serving of red meat per week, less than four eggs per week and less than one serving of dairy per day. It works out daily as just a quarter of a rasher of bacon, a fifth of an egg or and one and a half chicken nuggets.

The panel claims that following those guidelines could save millions of lives by slashing obesity rates.  

However, nutritional experts have expressed concern that implementing such drastic diet changes across countries and cultures is irresponsible and could have unintended consequences.  

The report comes amid recent studies of how eating habits affect the environment. Producing red meat takes up land and feed to raise cattle, which also emit the greenhouse gas methane.

John Ioannidis, chair of disease prevention at Stanford University, said he welcomed the growing attention to how diets affect the environment, but that the report's recommendations do not reflect the level of scientific uncertainties around nutrition and health.

'The evidence is not as strong as it seems to be,' Ioannidis told AP.

The report was organized by EAT, a Stockholm-based nonprofit seeking to improve the food system, and published Wednesday by the medical journal Lancet. The panel of experts who wrote it says a 'Great Food Transformation' is urgently needed by 2050, and that the optimal diet they outline is flexible enough to accommodate food cultures around the world.

Overall, the diet encourages whole grains, beans, fruits and most vegetables, and says to limit added sugars, refined grains such as white rice and starches like potatoes and cassava. 

It says red meat consumption on average needs to be slashed by half globally, though the necessary changes vary by region and reductions would need to be more dramatic in richer countries like the United States.

Convincing people to limit meat, cheese and eggs won't be easy, however, particularly in places where those foods are a notable part of culture.

In Sao Paulo, Brazil, systems analyst Cleberson Bernardes said as he was leaving a barbecue restaurant that limiting himself to just one serving of red meat a week would be 'ridiculous.' 

In Berlin, Germany, craftsman Erik Langguth said there are better ways to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and dismissed the suggestion that the world needs to cut back on meat.

'If it hasn't got meat, it's not a proper meal,' said Langguth, who is from a region known for its bratwurst sausages.

THE STRICT DIET WHICH CLAIMS TO SAVE THE PLANET 

Slash meat intake: 

Eat no more than a quarter of a rasher of bacon, a fifth of an egg or just one and a half chicken nuggets daily.

Only one serving of red meat is allowed each week. 

Reduce dairy consumption: Consume  a maximum half a pint of milk a day.

Boost plant proteins: Replace meat and daily with beans, lentils and soy.  

Limit sugar: No more than 31g of sugar or artificial sweetener allowed daily -  or two thirds of a Starbucks Caramel Frappuccino 

#Planetary health diet

[whatisonthemoon]

Dan Fefferman attends an anti-cult conference

Stranger in an Even Stranger Land: Report on an Anti-Cult Conference

Dan Fefferman April, 2000 Washington, DC

In my capacity as director of the International Coalition for Religious Freedom, I decided to attend the annual conference of the Leo J. Ryan Foundation in Stamford Connecticut. Headquartered in Bridgeport, the LJRF makes no bones about its ties to the now-defunct Cult Awareness Network, which was put out of business by a lawsuit that tied it to an illegal deprogramming conspiracy. LJRF even bills itself as the renewed "Cult Awareness Community." Its current president is Priscilla Cole, who formerly ran the Cult Awareness Network, and several other CAN stalwarts can be found on its rolls.

Of course, it’s no coincidence that the group—named for the Congressman who was gunned down in the Jonestown massacre in 1978—has its headquarters in the town where the Unification Church is well known for its role in bailing out the financially troubled University of Bridgeport. LJRF’s executive director is Julia Bronder, an embittered former UB employee and UC critic.

Human Rights, but for Whom?

The title of the LJRF conference was "Human Rights and the New Millennium." This too may be no coincidence. Our own International Coalition for Religious Freedom (ICRF) sponsored a series of international conferences in 1988 entitled, "Religious Freedom and the New Millennium." Indeed a common thread running through the LJRF presentations was that "freedom of thought" is an even more fundamental human right than freedom of speech or religion. And since cultists can’t—by definition—have freedom of thought… Well, more on that later.

I have to admit that the conference was well run and well conceived to support its organizers’ purposes. I did feel a little out of place at times, especially with people who assumed I was an anti-cultist like themselves. One former UC member was so happy to see me, until I informed her that I was "still in." Another guy angrily accused me of being a private investigator hired by Scientology to harass participants and spy on them. Talk about bad vibes! But the majority of the organizers and participants I met were courteous, if cool, once they learned who I was. Below are some highlights. While many other groups other than the UC were dealt with, I’ve concentrated on what relates specifically to our work.

Accolades from the Adversary

Not to brag, but several speakers made reference to ICRF. They mentioned our four conferences and the cities in which they were held—Washington, Tokyo, Berlin, and Sao Paulo. They grudgingly praised our web site (www.religiousfreedom.com), and the "impressive array" of speakers whose papers we have posted there. A featured luncheon speaker, Prof. Stephen Kent of the University of Calgary, used the ICRF as a primary example of the way in which American new religious movements (NRM’s) are able to influence the American government and academic community. He admitted that ICRF has become an influential participant in the international human rights debate. Another speaker bemoaned the fact that ICRF had been able to get current and former congressmen, government officials, leading academics, and prestigious human rights leaders to join with us.

A special breakout session was devoted to the Maryland Task Force on Cult Activities which we’ve reported on previously in Unification News. The panelists—anti-cultists Ron Loomis, Denny Gulick, and Franz Wilson—declared the Task Force’s Final Report as a victory for their side. These men and other anti-cult activists on the Task Force were later given a special award for their efforts to create and influence the Task Force. The speakers acknowledged ICRF’s opposition to the Task Force, but naturally downplayed our effectiveness in blocking the anti-cultists’ aims. For example, they did not mention the fact that the state’s official task force on "Cult Activities" decided not even to use the word "cult" in its final report. Nor did they mention that one of its members, panelist Franz Wilson, interrupted UC member Alex Colvin’s testimony during a formal task force meeting and threatened him with violence.

Panelist Ron Loomis of the American Family Foundation avowed that the panel’s "agenda" was that "you should go back and attempt a similar effort in your state." But he warned about getting too much press in the beginning. "The best way to do it is locally," said Loomis, because national campaigns attract too much attention from NRMs and civil liberties groups. "Politicians are chicken," he complained. (In Maryland the legislation creating the Task Force was pushed through with almost no opposition voices raised, because our side did not find out about it until it had already passed the lower house and was on a fast track to pass the Maryland Senate. Four previous efforts by anti-cultists to pass similar legislation had failed when both sides were heard.)

Washington Times Targeted

The Washington Times and the WT Foundation were also major targets of LJRF speakers. One session was devoted exclusively to "Following the Money Trail in the Moon Movement." Led by Rev. Fred Miller, the session complained about the continued success of the Washington Times and its influence in conservative political circles. Miller seemed particularly upset by the success of the WTF’s American Century Awards. He named several high level political leaders who honored True Father Moon on that occasion. Miller was visibly disappointed by Jerry Falwell’s presence.

Another focus was George W. Bush. Several speakers mentioned him, believing that Rev. Moon must be a major financial supporter of Gov. Bush, if not directly then through his father. They are hoping to find evidence that UC money is ending up in Bush’s campaign treasury. They also bemoaned the fact that New Yorker seems to be a highly successful financial enterprise and that it has become a Ramada franchisee. Miller even reported on a meeting between himself and Ramada officials in which he sought unsuccessfully to influence them to end the relationship.

The anti-cult movement had been seriously discredited in the 1980s because of its association with deprogramming. It lost several major court cases, and also lost credibility among its mainstream funding sources. Now, however, it appears to have found a new "Sugar Daddy." Bob Minton is a reputed multimillionaire whose primary hobby in life is fighting against "cults." His main passion is attacking Scientology. However, he is also rumored to be a major funding source for the LJRF. Minton was a keynote speaker at this year’s conference, although he seems to have few credentials other than the green kind. He publicly announced that he had purchased 2,000 copies of former deprogrammer (now exit counselor) Steve Hassan’s new book, "Breaking the Bonds," which retails for 24.95. If you do the math, that’s a nice little contribution, and it doesn’t count any other donations to Steve’s new "Freedom of Mind Foundation" non-profit group.

No Hassle with Hassan

Speaking of Steve Hassan, I had several conversations with Steve during the conference. I’ve also been corresponding with him through e-mail. Notice the distinction I made in the above paragraph between "deprogramming" and "exit counseling?" Steve is adamant about making this distinction because deprogramming involves force and exit counseling does not. I think he has a point. I asked if he would be willing to put his opposition to forced deprogramming in writing to the Japanese Christian churches who—sometimes using his earlier books on "mind control" as their justification—are reportedly involved in forced kidnapping of hundreds our UC members. He agreed to do so. The letter says, in part:

"[An anti-cultist minister in Japan] told me this morning that sometimes, albeit infrequently, a family might hold their adult child against his/her will, and then a minister might be invited to speak with them. In my opinion, no minister should get involved in something like this as a matter of policy--even if the cult member requests a meeting in writing…

"I want this letter to stand as a public record that I think that any approach to help cult members should be one of love, compassion, and positive communication, not force. Otherwise, kidnapping or involuntary detention will invariably be traumatic… In fact, there was always another way that would have been less traumatic."

In return for his writing the above-mentioned letter, Steve asked me to clarify to the world community of Unificationists that he is not involved in holding people against their will. I think Steve is sincere in this, although he is certainly wrong in many of the things he says about the UC, Rev. Moon, "mind control," and NRM’s in general. Steve is a former deprogrammer, not a current one. What he does now is called "exit counseling," or in his current parlance "strategic interaction" to "break the bonds of mind control."

Now some of you will ask, "But isn’t what Steve does still really faith-breaking based on religious intolerance?" And I’d have to say yes. He gets paid by people who disapprove of other people’s religion (usually family members) to talk them out of it. And he also writes books and speaks out wherever he can trying to convince people of the need for the service he provides. But technically speaking it shouldn’t be called deprogramming unless force is involved. I’m hoping that since Steve wants UC members to avoid speaking in the present tense about things he did in the past (namely deprogramming), he’ll do the same and stop speaking about things we did in the past as if they were going on today. Watch this space.

Perhaps the most disturbing presentation of the LJRF conference was made by Jim Seigelman and Flo Conway, authors of the book "Snapping," which was instrumental in forming the anti-cult movement’s ideological basis in the late 1970s. Their presentation was entitled "Church vs. State," and it called for a new interpretation of the First Amendment that recognizes "freedom of thought" as the most basic human right, even more basic than freedom of speech or freedom of religion. (Another featured speaker, Stephen Kent of the University of Calgary eerily entitled his presentation "Human Rights vs. Religious Freedom.") Keep in mind that Conway and Seigleman and their cohorts, including exit counselor Steve Hassan, clearly argue that members of the minority religions they call "cults" do NOT have freedom of thought, because the cults have robbed them of it.

Seigelman actually called religion "the Achilles heel of American democracy." And Conway stated that "freedom of thought must be added to the first amendment." The both supported what they call a "judicial initiative" that will establish a "right to freedom of thought" in the same way that a "right to privacy" or a "right to have an abortion" has been established.

But if you unpack the Owellian newspeak, this type of "freedom of thought" simply stands the First Amendment on its head. Instead of "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion or abridging the free exercise thereof," Conway and Seigleman appear to say that "The Courts shall interpret the law so that anyone who joins an unpopular religion shall be declared incapable of exercising freedom of thought." The legal and political implications of such a doctrine are staggering.

At its closing banquet, the LJRF gave Conway and Seigelman its highest honor, the Leo J. Ryan Award. The first person they thanked and credited as a pioneer in "this work" was not other than the father of deprogramming himself, Ted Patrick.

#dan fefferman #International Coalition for Religious Freedom #religious freedom #new religious movements #cult apologism #anti-cult #cult awareness network #steve hassan #steven hassan

[artwalktv]

Over the course of the COVID lockdowns - desperate for the outside world beyond my doorstep, city, state and country - I started crafting a project using entirely Google Maps Streetview Images. I viewed and downloaded the world from my desk, finding amazing spaces, altering, hand tracking and creating timelapses and shots. I wasn’t quite sure what to make of the material. Until I heard the latest album from Axel Boman. Here was a song from one of my favorite artists with such a propulsive and idealistic reaching out towards the wider world. Letting the wind take us, with love as the sail, a blur of adventure across the planet. Special thanks to Axel, Kornel and Studio Barnhus for the trust, a random plugin that let me download raw 360 images and Google for bringing the world to our screens. Locations used: Australia - Melbourne Cricket Stadium Austria - Kunsthistorisches Museum Brazil - Marcana Stadium - Municipal Theater of Rio de Janeiro - Museu Nacional de Belas Artes - Rio de Janeiro Metro - Sao Paulo Biennale Canadian - Arctic Regions Czech Republic - Charles Bridge Denmark - Christiansborg Palace - Thorvaldesens Museum Faroe Islands - Slættaratindur France - Arc de Triomphe - Château de Chenonceau - Grand Palais - Mont Blanc - Mont Saint-Michel - Museum of Fine Art Lyon - Palace of Versailles - Paris City Hall - University of Lyon Germany - Alte Pinakothek - Altes Museum - Hamburg Canals - Miniatur Wunderland - Sanssouci Palace - Staatliches Museum Schwerin Greece - Acropolis Museum Greenland - Arctic Regions India - Himalayan Railway - Taj Mahal Italy - Florence Train Station - Grassi Palace - Municipal Library Teresian - National Gallery of Modern and Contemporary Art - The Floating Piers - Uffizi Gallery Japan - Bullet Train - Chiba Monorail - Fushimi Inari Taisha - Miraikan - Nagoya Station - Ryogoku Kokugikan - Suzuki Circuit Mexico - Archivo General de la Nación Mongolia - Khuvsgul Lake Nepal - Various trails New Zealand - Coronet Peak Norway - Fv36 - Fv64 Portugal -Coastal Railway - Mafra National Palace Russia - Bolshow Theater - Crocus City Hall - St Petersburg State University Scotland - National Museum of Scotland Singapore - Singapore Sports Hub South Korea - National Museum of Korea Spain - Bilbao Stadium - Catedral de la Almudena - Guggenheim Bilbao - La Sagrada Familia - Museo de Bellas Artes de Granada - University of Madrid Sweden - Avicii Arena - Gamla stan - Skokloster Castle Switzerland - CERN - Charles Kuonen Suspension Bridge - Swiss Alps Taiwan - Fo Guang Shan Buddha Museum United Arab Emirates - Burj Al Arab United States - Chicago River - Crystal Bridges Museum - Denali - Dry Tortugas - Guggenheim - John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts - Neues Museum - Seven Mile Bridge - Shedd Aquarium - Smithsonian Science Center - The Grand Canyon - The Intrepid - University of Michigan

#Videos & Films

[newstfionline]

Wednesday, January 11, 2023

Three-Quarters of Teenagers Have Seen Online Pornography by Age 17 (NYT) The internet has transformed pornography, making it much easier to view and share than in the days of Playboy magazine and late-night cable television. For teenagers, that’s created a deluge of sexually explicit photos and videos that has invaded their everyday lives, according to a report released Tuesday. Three-quarters of teenagers have viewed pornography online by the age of 17, with the average age of first exposure at age 12, according to the report by Common Sense Media, a nonprofit child advocacy group. Teenagers are seeing the photos and videos on their smartphones, on their school devices and across social media, pornography sites and streaming sites, it said. The report underlined how ubiquitous pornography has become, with 41% of teenagers saying they had seen images of nudity or sexual acts online during the school day. Much of the exposure was by accident, with 58% saying they did not seek out the sexually explicit videos and photos, but had come across them while surfing the web, on social media, or through search engines or clicking ads.

Biden, López Obrador, Trudeau meet in Mexico City for summit (AP) President Joe Biden, Mexican President Andres Manuel López Obrador and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau are meeting for a series of talks on migration, trade and climate change on Tuesday as the three leaders try to mend tensions that have divided the continent. It’s often called the “three amigos summit,” a reference to the deep diplomatic and economic ties between the countries. However, the leaders still found themselves at odds, especially as they struggle to handle an influx of migrants and to crack down on smugglers who profit from persuading people to make the dangerous trip to the United States. In addition, Canada and the U.S. accuse López Obrador of violating a free trade pact by favoring Mexico’s state-owed utility over power plants built by foreign and private investors. Meanwhile, Trudeau and López Obrador are concerned about Biden’s efforts to boost domestic manufacturing, creating concerns that U.S. neighbors could be left behind. Mexican President Andres Manuel López Obrador challenged U.S. President Joe Biden to end an attitude of “abandonment” and “disdain” for Latin America and the Caribbean.

17 killed in Peru clashes amid new anti-government protests (AP) At least 17 people died Monday in southeast Peru as protests seeking immediate elections resumed in neglected rural areas of the country still loyal to ousted President Pedro Castillo. Peru’s top human rights agency called for an investigation into the deaths, 12 of which took place amid clashes between security forces and protesters attempting to seize control of an airport in the city of Juliaca, near the border with Bolivia. It was the highest death toll since the unrest began in early December following Castillo’s removal and arrest following a widely condemned attempt to dissolve Congress and head off his own impeachment.

Brazilian protests demand jail for rioters (AP) “No amnesty! No amnesty! No amnesty!” The chant reverberated off the walls of the jam-packed hall at the University of Sao Paulo’s law college on Monday afternoon. Hours later, it was the rallying cry for thousands of Brazilians who streamed into the streets of Rio de Janeiro and Sao Paulo, penned on protest posters and banners. The words are a demand for retribution against supporters of former President Jair Bolsonaro who stormed Brazil’s capital Sunday, and those who enabled the rampage. Brazilian police on Monday had already rounded up roughly 1,500 rioters, with some caught in the act of trashing Brazil’s Congress, the Supreme Court and the presidential palace, while the majority were detained the following morning at an encampment in Brasilia. The Federal Police’s press office told The Associated Press the force plans to indict at least 1,000 people, and has begun transferring them to the nearby Papuda prison.

Argentine artist paints on inflation-hit bank notes (Reuters) Argentina's cash has lost so much value in recent years that local artist Sergio Guillermo Diaz finds painting on even the most valuable banknotes has become affordable. With annual inflation that likely neared 100% last year, the largest denomination of Argentine currency, the 1,000-peso bill, is worth around $5.60 officially or just $3 on parallel markets commonly used to skirt capital controls. "Nowadays it makes sense for me to paint on the largest denominated bill here in Argentina. Once I paint on it, I can sell it for much more than what the bill is worth," Diaz said. On the banknotes he has painted pictures ranging from soccer star Lionel Messi lifting the World Cup to satirical images about the peso's sharp depreciation in recent years—a phenomenon that has helped drag 40% of the country's population into poverty.

Britain’s groundbreaking satellite launch ends in failure (Reuters) Britain’s attempt to become the first European nation to launch satellites into space ended in bitter disappointment early on Tuesday when Virgin Orbit said its rocket had suffered an anomaly that prevented it from reaching orbit. The “horizontal launch” mission had left from the coastal town of Newquay in southwest England, with Virgin’s LauncherOne rocket carried under the wing of a modified Boeing 747 called “Cosmic Girl”, and later released over the Atlantic Ocean. The failure deals a further blow to European space ambitions after an Italian-built Vega-C rocket mission failed after lift-off from French Guiana in late December. Europe has suffered a series of setbacks in the past year, with its key Ariane 6 launcher delayed, access to Russian Soyuz rockets blocked by the Ukraine war, Vega grounded and now a showcase launch for the burgeoning small launcher industry abandoned.

Romania quietly catches up with richer neighbours, helped by EU cash (Reuters) Romania’s economy is set to outpace its stagnating neighbours this year, helped by European Union funding, currency stability and foreign investment driven in part by reshoring from Russia and Ukraine. The International Monetary Fund expects a 3.1% expansion, while even the European Commission’s 1.8% growth forecast would place it well ahead of Poland and Hungary. That follows a decade in which Romania—long one of Europe’s poorest countries, and burdened with a reputation for corruption—has quietly closed in on its peers to become eastern Europe’s second-largest economy after Poland. Romania’s prospects are underpinned by its EU membership and good relations with Brussels. While Budapest and Warsaw are haggling with the bloc over rule-of-law strings attached to billions worth of pandemic recovery funds, Romania has already drawn down over 6 billion euros in grants and cheap loans.

Going toe to toe in Bakhmut (NYT) It’s one of the longest running battles in more than 10 months of war—one that has come to resemble a heavyweight title bout. Throughout most of the war, Ukraine has succeeded by avoiding direct confrontations, relying instead on nimble maneuvers, deception and Western-provided long-range weapons. Not in Bakhmut. In a shift in strategy, Ukraine’s troops are waging pitched battles against Russian forces, with both sides taking heavy hits. “Hold Bakhmut” has emerged as a Ukrainian rallying cry. Reporters described scenes reminiscent of World War I: Shell craters are ubiquitous, and the abandoned bodies of Russian soldiers lie about, with Ukrainian troops often complaining of the stink. “It looks like apocalypse,” a Ukrainian soldier said. Russia has been trying to seize control of Bakhmut since the summer. The town’s strategic value is debatable, but it carries symbolic importance for both sides. About 7,000 people remain of the city’s prewar population of about 100,000, according to one community organizer. Most of those remaining are on the less heavily damaged western bank of the small river that divides Bakhmut.

Covid deaths in China (Washington Post) An overwhelmed funeral home in Chengdu, China, stopped offering memorial services, budgeting just two minutes for each family to say goodbye to loved ones before cremation. A funeral parlor on the outskirts of Beijing quickly cleared space for a new parking lot. Scalpers in Shanghai sold places in line at funeral homes for $300 a pop to grieving relatives trying to get cremation slots. Still, the Chinese government continues to insist that fewer than 40 people have died in China of covid since Dec. 7, when “zero covid” restrictions aimed at entirely eliminating the virus were suddenly dropped—and infection numbers exploded. A Washington Post examination of satellite imagery, firsthand videos posted to social media and witness accounts suggests that China’s covid death toll is far higher than the government’s tally.

War game suggests Chinese invasion of Taiwan would fail at a huge cost to US, Chinese and Taiwanese militaries (CNN) A Chinese invasion of Taiwan in 2026 would result in thousands of casualties among Chinese, United States, Taiwanese and Japanese forces, and it would be unlikely to result in a victory for Beijing, according to a prominent independent Washington think tank, which conducted war game simulations of a possible conflict that is preoccupying military and political leaders in Asia and Washington. A war over Taiwan could leave a victorious US military in as crippled a state as the Chinese forces it defeated. At the end of the conflict, at least two US aircraft carriers would lie at the bottom of the Pacific and China’s modern navy, which is the largest in the world, would be in “shambles.” Those are among the conclusions the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), made after running what it claims is one of the most extensive war-game simulations ever conducted on a possible conflict over Taiwan, the democratically ruled island of 24 million that the Chinese Communist Party claims as part of its sovereign territory despite never having controlled it.

Iran’s economic woes add fuel to protests (Washington Post) As the cost of rent kept rising in Tehran, the software programmer and his wife knew it was time to leave. So they, like many other young couples, packed up their belongings in late 2020 and moved to a town outside the capital. Rent was cheaper there, but the housing was poorly constructed because of rapid growth. There were no schools or playgrounds nearby. Even the most basic services were a commute away. Two years later, their economic situation has only gotten worse. “I feel rage, rage and a lack of hope. It’s desperation,” said the programmer in a telephone interview. Like others in this story, he spoke on the condition of anonymity, fearing government retribution. “And if we go out to protest they crack down in the worst and most reprehensible way,” he said. “We really don’t know what to do. We can’t protest. We can’t improve our situation.” For nearly four months, Iran has been rocked by protests following the death of Mahsa Amini, a 22-year old woman, in the custody of the “morality police” last September. What began as a movement focused on women’s rights quickly morphed into a broader uprising against the strictures of the Islamic Republic, with demonstrators calling for greater cultural and political freedom, and an end to the abuses of the security state. But economic grievances are also fueling the unrest, observers and protesters say.

You Buy It, You Break It, You Pay Us To Fix It (Ars Technica) Farmers have finally pried the right to repair their tractors from the cold, dead hands of John Deere’s end-user license agreement (EULA). In 2016, the company updated its EULA to force customers wanting to make repairs involving their tractors’ embedded software to only go to authorized technicians. On Sunday, the American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF) and John Deere signed a memorandum of understanding ensuring that the company would provide diagnostic tools and software to tractor owners outside of authorized repair centers. The right to repair has long been a disputed topic between consumers and corporations. Consumers want the ability to repair goods that they’ve bought, and the corporations that make those products want, well, money. The memorandum of understanding means farmers can now repair their own tractors.

#headlines #news

[irispublisherscivilengineering]

Hybrid Subsea CCS System-CO2 Storage in Offshore Ultra Deep-Water Salt Caverns

Abstract

Computational geomechanics is the field of computational mechanics where geo-engineering systems are analyzed using the prinCurrently there is a demand for CCS of large quantities of CO2 associated with CH4 in the pre-salt offshore oil fields in Brazil. The pre-salt reservoirs have as caprock 2000 meters of continuous rock salt. Rock salt is a special geomaterial. It has negligible permeability and porosity, is able to support very high stresses, develops the self-healing effect, fractures will heal only with time and a good geomechanical project can design very large openings in the salt body. In Brazil the rock mechanics and computing modeling related to underground excavations in salt rock started in the years 1970´s with very complex challenges, starting with the project of an underground mining of sylvinite (potash ore) overlying tachyhydrite, a very weak salt rock, solving the challenges of the solution mining of salt caverns, for brine production, in bedded stratified halite with intercalations of shales, development of special geomechanical projects of oil wells for drilling through very thick stratified salt rock barrier and finally the application of salt caverns opened by solution mining for natural gas storage and CCS of CO2. Salt caverns onshore, opened by solution mining have been used since the years 1950´s to store hydrocarbons and contaminants. A good example of a very large underground storage is the Strategic Petroleum Reserve in the United States, storing since 1974 around 800 million barrels of crude oil. Today there are more than 4000 caverns opened by solution mining for the storage of oil and gas. This article introduces a new concept called the Hybrid Subsea CCS System, which performs all the offshore CO2 separation process with subsequent storage in underground salt caverns offshore. Today much is said on the concept of “Subsea Factory” in the global oil industry, which is every day closer to become a reality. Many operators have been applying high R&D investments in bringing down to the sea floor equipment from the deck of the production platforms like: multiphase pumps, oil separators, electrical transformers, gas compressors, among other pieces of equipment, reducing the size of the floating platforms and in some sites, becomes the only solution available due to the water depth, which cause a great limitation in the elevation of the hydrocarbon through conventional and even with non-conventional riser systems. The main challenge of doing a complete Subsea “factory” or develop the “Subsea CCS System” is the storage. Shell, USP (University of São Paulo) and FAPESP (Sao Paulo Research Foundation) are developing a R&D project of a hybrid system using partially the subsea factory technology with the high structural performance of salt rock caverns, opened by solution mining, in ultra-deep water. This hybrid system is expected to do at the same time the separation between the natural gas and CO2, Carbon Capture and Storage of CO2 and allowing the monetization of the separated natural gas. This paper describes the conceptual design of this hybrid system showing the steps from the drilling phase of the wells, the process of opening the salt caverns by solution mining, the subsea equipment required, the basic logistic system to servo control this equipment and the geomechanical project of salt caverns to store Natural Gas and CO2 in salt domes in ultra-deep water.

Read More about this article: https://irispublishers.com/ctcse/fulltext/hybrid-Subsea-CCS-System-CO2-storage-in-offshore-ultra-deep-water-salt-caverns.ID.000513.php

Read More about Iris Publishers Google scholar Articles: https://scholar.google.com/citations?view_op=view_citation&hl=en&user=LoZ6uCQAAAAJ&citation_for_view=LoZ6uCQAAAAJ:3fE2CSJIrl8C

#IrisPublishersGoogleScholar #CivilEngineering #structuralengineering

[digitaltrand]

University of Sao Paulo (USP) To Carry Out Research in the Metaverse

University of Sao Paulo (USP) To Carry Out Research in the Metaverse

USP stated that it had never dealt with non-fungible tokens (NFTs) before. The Brazilian-based University of São Paulo (USP) has announced that it will conduct research on the importance of the metaverse in the upcoming months. The study will be carried out by researchers that are interested in the effectiveness of VR and AR devices, as well as 3D modeling, human behavior, and psychology. The…

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