Sunday, August 23, 2009

Dating and the military

My first exposure to military dating was during AIT.

Well, in basic one of the drills expressed an interest in me despite the fact the senior drill told him he needed to “behave” though I personally did not do anything to direct such attention towards myself. What with getting up at oh god thirty hours in the morning along with the fierce training, PT, marches, learning, getting all bruised up, losing my voice HOW could anyone find this then 17 year old attractive?

Anyway, he persisted and I kept him at arm’s length and when he was stationed at Fort Gordon (where I also went) he still wanted to go out and I still said no.

Through the years I have seen men and women hook up through the military, some relationships lasting, allot going to the wayside.

In Korea my mouth about dropped to the ground (can you imagine that?) seeing the kind of “in-discretionary” behavior coming from unit members. Mind you, I never dated in high school so everything I was experiencing was a shock to the senses.

Now of course there are some honorable men and women out there who are faithful to their spouses, who really want to see things work out. I have seen both men and women cry over broken hearts.

Now, what really gets me going….are people who cheat on their military partner when they are deployed or away for additional schooling. I am not talking about those men and women who cheat on their spouses/boyfriends/girlfriends while deployed but those who stay true to the honor of the uniform, to the code. Those who sacrifice themselves for the greater good, for our country and get shafted because their partner couldn’t “wait” for them to come home.

How lame is that?

Anyway, I just had to vent and wonder at times where people’s heads or at…especially those who find out you serve in the military and find it “distasteful” to go out because there is always the chance that you might get deployed.

‘nough said.

Wednesday, August 5, 2009

Not a Goodbye Party

The team threw me a party for my impending departure to Team B. I had tears in my eyes reading the stuff written on the erasable chalkboard in the conference room. The food was delicious…meatballs, salad, all kinds of deserts, pasta, my chicken fried rice (received compliments…bought the mix at Aldi’s—LOVE that store)…soda etc…and of course good company…laughed and laughed.

I know it’s greener pa$tures as far as where I am headed however one cannot put a pricetag on good company and wonderful co-workers.

They will be sorely missed.

Wednesday, July 29, 2009

A Bronx Dream

I really enjoyed watching this documentary regarding inner city kids in the Bronx learning about the Irish culture and the music. Though a part of me feels there should be more done regarding their individual ethnic heritages I am glad there are programs such as this one which gives these kids a positive outlet and keeps them off the streets:

Known as the Keltic Dreams it was inspired by Caroline Duggan:

The Keltic Dreams Irish Dancers, are a group of 33 children ages 7-12 from Public School 59, PS 59 in the Bronx, NY. The school is situated in a low Socio Economic area in the Bronx and has a 95% poverty rate. The students are all African American and Hispanic and have no background in Irish culture. Hired by the Department of Education, I, Caroline Duggan, moved to New York over 4 years ago and began teaching music in the school. I had no intention of staying more than one year in the school but fell in love with the children’s drive to become professional. After being constantly asked by the children why I spoke funny I told them that I was from Ireland. The fascination began with questions about the Irish lifestyle, leprechauns and Irish dance. They questioned me about a huge photo of Riverdance I had hanging in the classroom . I showed the children a few steps and was truly amazed by how quick they grasped even the most complicated steps. They were fascinated with the Riverdance video from Radio City, which I still show them on a regular basis. Especially how the show incorporated different cultures into Irish dancing. With this idea in mind and with the amazing support of the principal and school, I began an Irish dancing program after school twice a week. The group The Keltic Dreams was born and have since had their own one hour show on The Plaza at Lincoln Center, in the Bronx Botanical Garden for Bronx week , St Barnabas Nursing Home, on the Band shell at Central Park, at Lehman College in the Bronx and in The Manhattan Mall at Herald Square NYC. They were the sole performers at the St Patrick’s Day Parade in Queens for Mayor Bloomberg and afterwards all the students marched in the parade joined by their parents. The Irish dance program has encouraged huge parental involvement, bringing the whole community together!!!! Much to my surprise some of the children had never been to Manhattan before they performed in these shows!!

Wednesday, July 22, 2009

Inspiration to write

I googled myself (yes am that bad) and found something I wrote awhile back here in the Saint Louis Writer’s Guild:

How do you motivate yourself? How do rejections affect your writing? Janet Terrell wrote the following article on motivation for St. Louis Writers Guild.

From the time I was thirteen years old I had an urge to express myself. I used to write out my stories longhand. Then my father gave me an old Remington typewriter, the kind that had the horrid dual ribbon with the black stripe on top and the red on bottom. Even though it was a labor of love, I still sometimes wondered what motivated me to write.

What I have found from my own personal musings is that writing is more than putting words to paper. It takes a lot of thought, time, and energy. I have asked myself many times: What motivates a person to write, to expose their soul to the world? What compels a writer to express his or her views and ideas in characters and a storyline? Most important, what encourages a writer to persevere through the highs and lows of the writing process to reach the end of a story, or what’s even more challenging, a novel?

For me, motivation comes from inspiration, and inspiration arises out of my surroundings. I typically write in an environment that evokes my creative juices. I tend to gravitate towards calm places away from my family and cat. I love sitting on my bed with my laptop, door shut, allowing my mind to focus on the task at hand.

I began my first novel more than twenty years ago. I had watched the television mini-series North & South. I was inspired. This movie was all I needed to embark on my venture into the world of Historical Romance. However, what I found from reading a variety of this genre is that I do not like heavily laden novels dripping with sex or drowning in too many historical particulars. I had heard that one should write what one loves to read and so I was motivated to create historical romances that combined sex and history without overdoing it.

One of the ways I motivated myself to finish my first novel was by listening to inspiring music. The soundtrack to the movie Gladiator did it for me. Each song has its own special theme. I wrote my scenes to the music, thinking of various ways to bring out the meaning to the reader.

On a more personal level, I was inspired to share my work with the world. There is little in life that is more disquieting than the prospect of sharing one’s work with others. There is the potential risk of rejection from agents and publishing houses, however, a writer who is true to his or her craft will persevere. Even if he or she receives tons of rejection letters, they can be regarded positively. Rejection slips are nothing more than an opportunity to redirect energy into improvement. My advice is that a writer seek out any weaknesses, address them, and move on.

Sometimes the publishing industry can make a writer feel defeated. However, it’s important to realize that rejections are not always an indication of the quality of one’s writing. Sometimes perfectly good work is just not marketable at a given point in time. Sometimes a publisher has recently released something very similar. A writer seeking commercial publication should expect some difficulties finding a publisher. Self-publishing one’s work is a now a popular option given the advancements in technology that make it easier and less costly. Many new authors find this route easier. However, I highly recommend that those who choose to self-publish hire an editor to ensure a quality product.

What motivates one person to complete a novel may not work for another. It is incumbent upon writers to discover the circumstances that best stimulate their personal motivation to write. For myself, I allow all of my five senses to completely encompass me. Writing is not just placing words on paper from my point of view; it is a full body experience where emotions are caught up in the moment—not unlike a characters’ emotions are caught up in a romance, a loss, or rejoicing. Writing, to me, is not something that can be forced. Genuine creativity comes when the spirit and mind work in harmony, and that is where I find my motivation is at its peak of power.

Monday, July 6, 2009

My Country…

purplemountains2 Part of me wants to disappear and drive to the Rockies…fell instantaneously in love with the topography of Colorado when I was driving to Vegas and became simply gobsmacked at the sheer heights and ethereal beauty of our country.

Whenever I travel cross country (which seems quite often these days) I am astounded by the vastness of our great nation….of our highway systems, people traveling….the variety of beauty contained within our nation: when it comes to our citizens, myraid of customs, down to simply watching the miles of roads passing me by.

Reminds me of the song America the Beautiful (used to belt this one out as a kid whenever I had a chance). :^)

O beautiful for spacious skies,
For amber waves of grain,
For purple mountain majesties
Above the fruited plain!
America! America!
God shed his grace on thee
And crown thy good with brotherhood
From sea to shining sea!

O beautiful for pilgrim feet
Whose stern impassioned – stress
A thoroughfare for freedom beat
Across the wilderness!
America! America!
God mend thine every flaw,
Confirm thy soul in self-control,
Thy liberty in law!

O beautiful for heroes proved In liberating strife.
Who more than self the country loved
And mercy more than life!
America! America!
May God thy gold refine
Till all success be nobleness
And every gain divine!

O beautiful for patriot dream
That sees beyond the years
Thine alabaster cities gleam
Undimmed by human tears!
America! America!
God shed his grace on thee
And crown thy good with brotherhood
From sea to shining sea!

O beautiful for halcyon skies,
For amber waves of grain,
For purple mountain majesties
Above the enameled plain!
America! America!
God shed his grace on thee
Till souls wax fair as earth and air
And music-hearted sea!

O beautiful for pilgrims feet,
Whose stern impassioned stress
A thoroughfare for freedom beat
Across the wilderness!
America ! America !
God shed his grace on thee
Till paths be wrought through
wilds of thought
By pilgrim foot and knee!

O beautiful for glory-tale
Of liberating strife
When once and twice,
for man’s avail
Men lavished precious life !
America! America!
God shed his grace on thee
Till selfish gain no longer stain
The banner of the free!

O beautiful for patriot dream
That sees beyond the years
Thine alabaster cities gleam
Undimmed by human tears!
America! America!
God shed his grace on thee
Till nobler men keep once again
Thy whiter jubilee!

By Katherine Lee Bates

Saturday, June 27, 2009

Getting “to know” the library again

"A new adventure awaits!"

Ever since grade school I have held such an intense fascination for books. They were my form of escape.

Through college I used to live at the library eager to get into my hands a brand new world…reading pages upon pages of the most delicious…exciting adventures…always imagined myself in the position of the heroine.

I miss those days–reading the classics, one of my favorites were those penned by Charlotte and Emily Brontë .

Planning to get a library card and renew my lifelong passion.

Wednesday, June 3, 2009

World Press Freedom Day 2009

The potential of media in fostering dialogue, mutual understanding and reconciliation will be the topic of UNESCO World Press Freedom Day 2009 to be celebrated on 2-3 May 2009. As the only UN agency with a mandate to defend freedom of expression and press freedom, UNESCO has placed mutual understanding, and dialogue through media at the core of its mission.

Indeed, UNESCO’s Constitution, adopted in November 1945, states that the Organization will “collaborate in the work of advancing the mutual knowledge and understanding of all peoples, through all means of mass communication” and “promote the free flow of ideas by word and image”.

At this year’s conference and celebrations, UNESCO invites participants to explore the enormous potential of media to serve as a platform for dialogue and a vehicle for understanding.

UNESCO’s International Bioethics Committee will meet in Mexico City

UNESCO’s International Bioethics Committee (IBC) will meet in Mexico City (Mexico) from 4 to 6 May. This 16th session, organized in cooperation with the Consejo Consultivo de Ciencias of the Presidency of Mexico, will be followed by a European Commission-UNESCO conference, which will bring together experts and members of national bioethics committees from all over the world from 7 to 9 May.

Three main topics will be presented at this session of the IBC: social responsibility and health, the principle of respect for human vulnerability and personal integrity and the issue of human cloning and international governance. Furthermore, there will be an overview of the situation of bioethics in Latin America and the Caribbean.

The 16th session will be opened on 4 May (9.15 a.m.) by Alonso Lujambio Irazábal*, the Mexican Minister of Education, Pierre Sané, UNESCO Assistant Director-General for Social and Human Sciences and Adolfo Martínez-Palomo, Chairperson of IBC. The opening ceremony will be followed at 10.00 a.m. by a progress report on the UNESCO bioethics programme, especially the REDBIOETICA initiative, which concerns Latin America and the Caribbean. The topic Bioethics in Latin America and the Caribbean: experiences and perspectives will take up the rest of the day.

On 5 May (10 a.m. to 1 p.m.) there will be a presentation of the draft IBC report about human cloning and international governance. The IBC was a pioneer in the field of cloning, creating the foundations of the Universal Declaration on the Human Genome and Human Rights (1997), which condemned cloning for human reproduction as contrary to human dignity. Since then, more than 50 countries have passed laws to forbid cloning for reproduction. However, voices have been raised, especially by scientists, to demand a different treatment for therapeutic cloning. At the request of UNESCO’s Director-General, an IBC working group has started to consider this issue in order to determine whether the latest scientific, ethical, social, political and legal developments justify a new initiative at the international level. The afternoon session will be devoted to the draft IBC report about social responsibility and health.

The session on 6 May will concern the principle of respect for human vulnerability and personal integrity (morning) and the IBC’s work programme for 2010-2011 (3 p.m. to 4.30 p.m.), before the closing by Patricia Espinosa Cantellano, Mexican Minister of Foreign Affairs, Pierre Sané, Adolfo Martinez Palomo, and the new IBC chairperson, to be elected during this session.

The European Commission-UNESCO Conference, which will follow on 7 May, aims at strengthening the capacities of bioethics committees. It will bring together experts and members of national committees at all stages of development. The conference, organized with the financial support of the European Commission, will be structured around three major themes: emerging bioethics issues, building an international network of national bioethics committees and the committees’ engagement in ethical discourse.

Saturday, May 23, 2009

Basic issues in evolution. A Darwin 200 Symposia

This year sees the celebration of the bicentenary of Charles Darwin’s birth as well as the 150th anniversary of the publication of his most famous book “On the Origin of Species by Means of Natural Selection”.

Darwin revolutionised our understanding of nature and evolution and has become a household name: his life fascinates thousands of people who study his works or visit places associated with his life.

A large number of celebrations are taking place this year to celebrate Darwin’s life and work.

UNESCO and The International Union of Biological Sciences (IUBS) are pleased to announce the "Darwin 200" programme to celebrate the 200th anniversary of Charles Darwin birthday in 2009.

The aim of Darwin 200 will be to celebrate the impact of Darwin's ideas on current scientific knowledge. The programme comprises a series of scientific symposia and satellite meetings that will take place on five continents.

EFA Global Monitoring Report 2009

Education for All - Global Monitoring Report

Overcoming inequality:
why governance matters

Despite much progress since 2000, millions of children, youth and adults still lack access to good quality education and the benefits it brings. This inequality of opportunity is undermining progress towards achieving Education for All by 2015.

Who are these individuals and groups? What are the obstacles they face? How can governance policies help break the cycle of disadvantage and poverty? What policies work? Is education reform integrated into the bigger picture? Is the international community making good on its commitments?

Wednesday, May 13, 2009

Unless trends change, 700 million adults will still be illiterate in 2015, says UNESCO’s Director-General

22-04-2009
The Director-General of UNESCO, Mr Koïchiro Matsuura has voiced concern that literacy remains a preeminent global challenge, as well as being one of the most neglected Education for All goals.

His comments came during the 2009 Global Action Week which this year focuses on youth and adult literacy and life-long learning.

“Achieving literacy for all is a collective responsibility”, the Director-General said. “According to estimates from the 2009 EFA Global Monitoring Report, unless current trends are changed, 700 million adults will still be unable to read and write in 2015, only 10 per cent fewer than today. We simply cannot let this happen.”

A staggering 776 million young people and adults, or 16 per cent of the global adult population, are currently on the margins of society due to a lack of literacy and numeracy skills. To this end, the Director-General mentioned UNESCO’s close collaboration with Member States and EFA partners to advocate for greater strategic collaboration, innovation and policy shifts in the field of literacy, notably through its role as global coordinator for Education for All and the UN Literacy Decade (2003-2012), as well as through country-level programmes such as the Literacy Initiative for Empowerment (LIFE).

As illiteracy continues to disproportionally affect disadvantaged populations and the gender gap remains unchanged with women still comprising two-thirds of illiterate adults, Mr Matsuura urged the international community to focus on expanding access to basic education and improving the quality of teaching and learning, beginning with an urgent scaling-up of financial resources.

This year’s Global Action Week events provide opportunities to raise the status of literacy on policy agendas and emphasize the indispensable role literacy plays in the achievement of all of the internationally agreed development goals. Under the slogan ‘Open Books, Open Doors’, coinciding with World Book and Copyright Day, a range of activities will take place at UNESCO headquarters in Paris on 23 April at UNESCO HQ.

UNESCO Executive Board meets from 14 to 30 April

UNESCO’s Executive Board, chaired by Ambassador of Benin Olabiyi Babalola Joseph Yaï, is to meet from 14 to 30 April in Paris for its 181st session. The session will be marked by the visits of the President of Benin, Boni Yayi, and the United Nations High Representative for the Alliance of Civilizations, former President of Portugal Jorge Sampaio. It will also feature a thematic debate on UNESCO’s role as lead agency in Education for All (EFA).

The Board’s plenary sessions will take place from 20 to 22 April, and then on 25, 29 and 30 April. President Yayi of Benin will address the Board on 20 April at 3 p.m. and the UN High Representative for the Alliance of Civilizations will speak on 23 April, also at 3 p.m. The thematic debate on UNESCO’s role as the lead agency for EFA and coordination among convening agencies, with special emphasis on progress on EFA in Africa, will be held on 25 April.

Notable items on the agenda of the 181st session include: consideration of the procedure to be followed for the nomination of the Director-General of the Organization; the global economic and financial crisis and its effects on education; the Draft Programme and Budget for 2010 2011; the establishment of institutes and centres under the auspices of UNESCO; and the report by the Director-General on a detailed plan of action for UNESCO’s strategy for action on climate change.

During its two yearly sessions, the Executive Board brings together 58 of the 193 Member states of UNESCO to oversee the execution of the programme adopted by the Organization’s General Conference. The Secretariat, under the leadership of the Director-General, is responsible for the implementation of the programme.

World Press Freedom Day 2009: Dialogue, mutual understanding and reconciliation

The way the media influences thought and action and its capacity to foster dialogue, understanding and reconciliation will be the focus of discussions at a UNESCO conference marking World Press Freedom Day 2009, to be held in Doha (Qatar) on 2 and 3 May.

In his message for World Press Freedom Day 2009, the Director-General of UNESCO Koïchiro Matsuura stressed that: “We must strengthen our efforts to build a media that is critical of inherited assumptions yet tolerant of alternative perspectives; a media that brings competing narratives into a shared story of interdependence; a media that responds to diversity through dialogue.”

Based on the premise that only a free media will innately contribute to the dialogue and understanding across divides, the two day programme will be divided into four sessions, during which media professionals from around the world will discuss:

• The capacity of the media for intercultural dialogue and mutual understanding;
• The need to establish ethical and professional standards in order to build models of accountability as well as effective self regulation for journalists;
• What specific place for media in promoting interreligious dialogue and mutual understanding?
• Media and enhancing dialogue as a tool for empowering citizens.

The conference has been organized under the patronage of Her Highness Sheikha Mozah Bint Nasser Al- Missned, consort of His Highness the Emir of Qatar Shiekh Hamad Bin Khalifa Al Thani.

H.E. Sheikh Hamad bin Thamer Al Thani, Chairman of the Board, Doha Center for Media Freedom (Qatar) will open the event with George Anastassopoulos, President of UNESCO’s General Conference, and Abdul Waheed Khan, UNESCO Assistant Director-General for Communication and Information.

South-African journalist Allister Sparks, the author of several critically acclaimed books on his country’s transition from apartheid including, most recently, Beyond the Miracle: Inside the New South Africa, will present the keynote speech.

During the conference, Mr Matsuura will present the 2009 World Press Freedom Prize, awarded posthumously to murdered Sri Lankan journalist Lasantha Wickrematunge. Mr Wickrematunge’s widow, Sonali Wickrematunge, will accept the prize, which is supported by the Ottaway and Cano foundations and JP/Politiken Newspaper LTD.

UNESCO, U.S. Library of Congress and Partners Launch World Digital Library

UNESCO and 32 partner institutions today launched the World Digital Library, a Web site that features unique cultural materials from libraries and archives from around the world. The site includes manuscripts, maps, rare books, films, sound recordings, prints and photographs. It provides unrestricted public access, free of charge, to this material.

The launch took place at UNESCO Headquarters at an event co-hosted by UNESCO Director-General Koïchiro Matsuura and U.S. Librarian of Congress James H. Billington. Directors of the partner institutions were on hand to present the project to ambassadors, ministers, delegates, and special guests attending the semi-annual meeting of UNESCO’s Executive Board.

Mr Billington first proposed the creation of a World Digital Library (WDL) to UNESCO in 2005, remarking that such a project could “have the salutary effect of bringing people together by celebrating the depth and uniqueness of different cultures in a single global undertaking.” Mr Matsuura welcomed the proposal as a “great initiative that will help to bridge the knowledge divide, promote mutual understanding and foster cultural and linguistic diversity.” In addition to promoting international understanding, the project aims to expand the volume and variety of cultural content on the Internet, provide resources for educators, scholars, and general audiences, and narrow the digital divide within and between countries by building capacity in partner countries.

The WDL functions in seven languages – Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Portuguese, Russian, and Spanish – and includes content in more than forty languages. Browse and search features facilitate cross-cultural and cross-temporal exploration on the site. Descriptions of each item and videos, with expert curators speaking about selected items, provide context for users and are intended to spark curiosity and encourage both students and the general public to learn more about the cultural heritage of all countries.

The WDL was developed by a team at the Library of Congress. Technical assistance was provided by the Bibliotheca Alexandrina of Alexandria, Egypt. Institutions contributing to the WDL include national libraries and cultural and educational institutions in Brazil, Egypt, China, France, Iraq, Israel, Japan, Mali, Mexico, Morocco, the Netherlands, Qatar, the Russian Federation, Saudi Arabia, Serbia, Slovakia, South Africa, Sweden, Uganda, the United Kingdom, and the United States.

“UNESCO welcomes the creation of the World Digital Library which reflects the values and priorities of our Organization,” Mr Matsuura declared. “WDL offers an invaluable platform for the free flow of information, for international solidarity, for the celebration of cultural diversity and for the building of inclusive knowledge societies. With projects like the Digital Library, the cultural and societal potential of digital technologies come into their own.”

“We are honoured to be working with so many great libraries in this venture,” said Mr Billington, “and thankful for the strong support that UNESCO has given to this project. What we launched today is a first step. We look forward to seeing this project realize its ambition to bring people together, deepen our understanding of each other, and help electronically oriented young people enjoy what is best in traditional culture, using the new media.”

Her Highness Sheikha Mozah Bint Nasser Al-Missned, UNESCO Special Envoy for Basic and Higher Education and Chairperson of Qatar Foundation, congratulated UNESCO and the partner institutions on the launch of the WDL, and stated that “Qatar is very proud to be a founding member of this remarkable international collaboration.” Her Highness noted that “universal education is the key to international understanding,” and “this endeavour will do much to develop the appreciation of other cultures and nations.”

The National Library of China (NLC) contributed manuscripts, maps, books, and rubbings of steles and oracle bones that span the range of Chinese history from ancient to modern times. “The World Digital Library project offers a brand-new platform for showcasing the diversity of the world's civilizations,” said Dr. Furui Zhan, Chief Librarian of the NLC. “This endeavour enables cultural exchange while bringing together different countries and peoples in mutual understanding and enrichment. The spirit of equality and open understanding comes into full view with the creation of this World Digital Library. The National Library of China is ready to work in close cooperation with the World Digital Library, continuing to promote in concert the prosperity and progress of all human civilizations.”

Examples of other treasures featured include Arabic scientific manuscripts from the National Library and Archives of Egypt; early photographs of Latin America from the National Library of Brazil; the Hyakumanto darani, a publication from the year 764 from the National Diet Library of Japan; the famous 13th century “Devil’s Bible” from the National Library of Sweden; and works of Arabic, Persian, and Turkish calligraphy from the collections of the U.S. Library of Congress.

Ahead of the launch, Mr Matsuura invited UNESCO Member States to encourage their cultural institutions to participate in the development of the project. He noted that their participation would contribute to a truly universal digital library that showcases the cultural heritage and achievements of all countries. Mr Matsuura also highlighted the synergies between this initiative and UNESCO’s Memory of the World Programme, noting that the WDL should help provide public access to digital versions of collections on the Memory of the World register.

One of UNESCO’s main mandates is to promote the free flow of all forms of knowledge in education, science, culture, and communication. The Organization therefore promotes education, research and exchanges through the improved and increased availability of content on the Internet. To this end, it collaborates with a number of partners on the creation of digital and other repositories.

Sunday, May 10, 2009

USEUM International N°240

Underwater Cultural Heritage

Museum240-Large-eng.jpgTable of Contents

Editorial

Exploration and Preservation

* Submerged cultural sites: opening a time capsule David Nutley
* The impact of commercial exploitation on the preservation of underwater cultural heritage Tatiana Villegas Zamora
* Preservation in situ: “the preferred option” Martijn Manders
* Conservation of underwater cultural heritage: characteristics and new technologies Jean-Bernard Memet

Why Create an International Convention?

* Why and how will underwater cultural heritage benefit from the 2001 Convention? Thijs Maarleveld
* The 2001 UNESCO Convention on the Protection of the Underwater Cultural Heritage: advantages and challenges Ulrike Koschtial
* Safeguarding Brazil’s underwater cultural heritage: legal protection and public archaeology Gilson Rambelli

New Frontiers, New Concepts

* Underwater archaeological trails Francisco J. S. Alves
* A resource for sustainable development: the case of Croatia Jasen Mesić
* Underwater archaeological exploration of the Mayan cenotes Luis Alberto Martos López

UNESCO presents exhibition on reconstruction of Aksum obelisk

An exhibition – photographs and a video installation – at UNESCO will celebrate the reinstallation of the Aksum obelisk. The show will allow visitors to learn about the history of the Ethiopian site and to view the key stages of reinstalling the monument, 24 metres high and weighing 150 tons.

Open to the public from 4 to 15 May (9 a.m. to 5.30 p.m.), the exhibition will be inaugurated on 23 April by Koïchiro Matsuura, the Director-General of UNESCO, in the presence of the Ethiopian and Italian ambassadors to UNESCO, Adelech Haile Mikael and Giuseppe Moscato.

The artists in the show, who are from Ethiopia, Belgium, France and Italy, were invited by UNESCO to visit Aksum and to express their vision of the restoration of the obelisk, a symbol of Ethiopian culture.

Their works highlight the uniqueness and magnitude of the project. The monument’s history has been eventful: erected in the 4th century then vandalized in the 7th, the obelisk was hauled off to Rome at Mussolini’s orders and set up near the Circus Maximus, finally returning to Aksum in 2005.

The artists - Tito Dupret, Theo Eshetu, Michel Ravassard, Hiwot Gebre Geziabeher, Michael Tsegaye and Paola Viesi – share their interpretation of these events. The gigantic, 15-screen video installation by Theo Eshetu, Ethiopian artist living in Rome, draws on his dual perspective. Hiwot Gebre Geziabeher, a schoolgirl from Aksum who learned photography with Michael Tsegaye, takes the local inhabitants’ point of view. Included in the show are films and photos depicting the extraordinary restoration work and Aksum’s lifestyle and culture. For an even better sense of the project’s scope, a 3D projection offers visitors a simulated tour of the Aksum archaeological site with the work in progress.

With this exhibition, UNESCO is celebrating the successful reinstallation and showing how a cultural project can help reconcile two countries with conflict in their past.

Education for All (EFA) International Coordination

The Big Read: Global Action Week 2009
Puts Spotlight on Literacy

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Global Action Week 2009 (April 20 to 26) focuses on youth and adult literacy and life-long learning to raise awareness about the global literacy challenge.

Worldwide, some 776 million adults lack literacy skills, 75 million children are out of school and millions more leave school early without acquiring basic literacy and numeracy skills. Literacy is a basic right. It is a fundamental condition for being part of today’s knowledge societies. Literacy is a key to reduce poverty, increase economic opportunities, improve child and maternal health, prevent HIV and AIDS and encourage political participation.

Global Action Week, led by the Global Campaign for Education, will send a strong signal to policy-makers and the international community on the importance of one of the most neglected Education for All goals. More political commitment, more effective literacy programs and more funding are required to make literacy a basic right for all.

The highlight of the campaign is the “Big Book”, a collection of short stories about how education changes lives. “Big Read” events will be organized, during which individuals will read from this book and sign a statement at the back of it calling for more commitment and investments to ensure that everyone is able to read and write.

The Global Action Week is an advocacy campaign organized each year by the Global Campaign for Education. UNESCO, as coordinator of the EFA movement and of the United Nations Literacy Decade (2003-2012), supports this campaign and will be organizing activities around the world related to the “Big Read.”

Check this site regularly for stories, videos, presentations and studies about literacy and Global Action Week 2009.

UNESCO, Library of Congress and partners launch World Digital Library

UNESCO and 32 partner institutions will launch the World Digital Library, a Web site that features unique cultural materials from libraries and archives from around the world, at UNESCO Headquarters on 21 April. The site will include manuscripts, maps, rare books, films, sound recordings, and prints and photographs. It will provide unrestricted public access, free of charge, to this material.

The launch will take place at a reception co-hosted by UNESCO Director-General Koïchiro Matsuura and U.S. Librarian of Congress James H. Billington. Directors of the partner institutions will also be on hand to present the project to ambassadors, ministers, delegates, and special guests attending the semi-annual meeting of UNESCO’s Executive Board.

Media are invited to attend a pre-launch press conference, which will take place at UNESCO Headquarters in Paris on 21 April at 11 a.m.

Mr Billington first proposed the creation of a World Digital Library (WDL) to UNESCO in 2005, remarking that such a project could “have the salutary effect of bringing people together by celebrating the depth and uniqueness of different cultures in a single global undertaking.” In addition to promoting international understanding, the project aims to expand the volume and variety of cultural content on the Internet, provide resources for educators, scholars, and general audiences, and narrow the digital divide within and between countries by building capacity in partner countries.

The WDL will function in seven languages – Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Portuguese, Russian, and Spanish – and include content in a great many other. Browse and search features will facilitate cross-cultural and cross-temporal exploration on the site. Descriptions of each item, and videos with expert curators speaking about selected items, will provide context for users, and are intended to spark curiosity and encourage both students and the general public to learn more about the cultural heritage of all countries.

The WDL was developed by a team at the Library of Congress. Technical assistance was provided by the Bibliotheca Alexandrina of Alexandria, Egypt. Institutions contributing content and expertise to the WDL include national libraries and cultural and educational institutions in Brazil, Egypt, China, France, Iraq, Israel, Japan, Mali, Mexico, Morocco, the Netherlands, Qatar, the Russian Federation, Saudi Arabia, Serbia, Slovakia, South Africa, Sweden, Uganda, the United Kingdom, and the United States.

Examples of treasures that will be featured on the WDL include oracle bones and steles contributed by the National Library of China; Arabic scientific manuscripts from the National Library and Archives of Egypt; early photographs of Latin America from the National Library of Brazil; the Hyakumanto darani, a publication from the year 764 from the National Diet Library of Japan; the famous 13th century “Devil’s Bible” from the National Library of Sweden; and works of Arabic, Persian, and Turkish calligraphy from the collections of the Library of Congress.

One of UNESCO’s main mandates is to promote the free flow of all forms of knowledge in education, science, culture, and communication. The Organization therefore supports initiatives to improve and increase content on the Internet. To this end, it collaborates with a range of partners on the creation of digital and other repositories.

Monday, May 4, 2009

Troubled water

Increased demand, waste and insufficient investment: water shortage may come sooner than we think. Although water covers three-quarters of the world’s surface, only 0.0075% of this immense volume is available for humanity’s use. Some countries have already reached the limits of their resources.

We must act now, warns the just-launched United Nations World Water Development Report, “Water in a changing world”, which assesses the global water situation. The UNESCO Courier examines some strategies for better management.

Under water cultural heritage

Chapter 1: Exploration and Preservation

* Submerged Cultural Sites: opening a time capsule David Nutley
* The Impact of Commercial Exploitation on the Preservation of Underwater Cultural Heritage Tatiana Villegas Zamora
*

In Situ Preservation: 'the preferred option' Martijn Manders
* Conservation of Underwater Cultural Heritage: characteristics and new technologies Jean-Bernard Memet

Chapter 2: Why Create an International Convention?

* How and Why will Underwater Cultural Heritage Benefit from the 2001 Convention? Thijs J. Maarleveld
* The 2001 UNESCO Convention on the Protection of the Underwater Cultural Heritage: advantages and challenges Ulrike Koschtial
* Safeguarding the Underwater Cultural Heritage of Brazil: legal protection and public archaeology Gilson Rambelli

Chapter 3: New Frontiers, New Concepts

* Underwater Archaeological Trails Francisco J. S. Alves
* A Resource for Sustainable Development: the case of Croatia Jasen Mesic
* Underwater Archaeological Exploration of the Mayan Cenotes Luis Alberto Martos Lopez

The Big Read promotes literacy during Global Action Week, 20-26 April

Global Action Week 2009 (April 20 to 26) focuses on youth and adult literacy and life-long learning to raise awareness about the global literacy challenge.

Worldwide, some 776 million adults lack literacy skills, 75 million children are out of school and millions more leave school early without acquiring basic literacy and numeracy skills.

UNESCO World Press Freedom Prize 2009 to be awarded posthumously to Sri Lankan journalist Lasantha Wickrematunge

The late Sri Lankan journalist and editor of the Sunday Leader Lasantha Wickrematunge, who was assassinated on 8 January this year, has been named laureate of the 2009 UNESCO World Press Freedom Prize. The Director-General of UNESCO Koïchiro Matsuura today endorsed the choice of the Prize’s jury of 14 professional journalists from all over the world.

“Jury members were moved to an almost unanimous choice by a man who was clearly conscious of the dangers he faced but nevertheless chose to speak out, even beyond his grave,” said Joe Thloloe, President of the jury and Press Ombudsman of the Press Council of South Africa, referring to the laureate’s posthumous editorial in which he voiced his commitment for press freedom at the risk of his life. “Lasantha Wickrematunge continues to inspire journalists around the world,” added Mr Thloloe.

Mr Matsuura welcomed the choice of Mr Wickrematunge: “In awarding the 2009 World Press Freedom Prize to a committed journalist who opposed war, UNESCO, along with media professionals from all over the world, recognizes the important role that freedom of expression can play in fostering mutual understanding and reconciliation, the theme of this year’s World Press Freedom Day celebration.”

The Director-General will present the World Press Freedom Prize in a ceremony on May 3, World Press Freedom Day, which UNESCO will celebrate this year in Doha, capital of Qatar.

Born in 1958, Lasantha Wickrematunge trained as a lawyer and was a member of the Sri Lankan Bar Association. While working as an attorney-at-law, he began working as an investigative reporter for the Sun/Davasa newspaper.

In 1994, Mr Wickrematunge started the Sunday Leader with his brother and used the publication to campaign vigorously against the war between Sri Lanka’s army and Tamil rebels.

In 2000, Mr Wickrematunge secured a court victory which led to the abolition of the law that allowed the government to curb the media. In November 2007, the Sunday Leader was damaged in an arson attack that Mr Wickrematunge said resembled a “commando action.”

Mr Wickrematunge expected to be assassinated and went so far as to write an editorial for publication after his death. It appeared in the Sunday Leader on 11 January 2009, three days after he had been murdered. In his editorial, Mr Wickrematunge voiced his commitment and readiness to die for press freedom: “[…] there is a calling that is yet above high office, fame, lucre and security. It is the call of conscience.”

Created in 1997 by UNESCO’s Executive Board, the Press Freedom Prize is awarded annually to honour the work of an individual or an organization defending or promoting freedom of expression anywhere in the world, especially if this action puts the individual’s life at risk. Candidates are proposed by UNESCO Member States, and regional or international organizations that defend and promote freedom of expression.

Since its creation, the US $25,000 prize - financed by the Cano and Ottaway family foundations, and by JP/Politiken Newspaper LTD - has been awarded to the following laureates: Lydia Cacho (Mexico, 2008), Anna Politkovskaya (Russian Federation, 2007), May Chidiac (Lebanon, 2006), Cheng Yizhong, (China, 2005), Raúl Rivero (Cuba, 2004), Amira Hass (Israel, 2003), Geoffrey Nyarota (Zimbabwe, 2002), U Win Tin (Myanmar, 2001), Nizar Nayyouf (Syria, 2000), Jesus Blancornelas (Mexico, 1999), Christina Anyanwu (Nigeria, 1998), Gao Yu (China, 1997).

Tuesday, April 28, 2009

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon in Paris for CEB meeting hosted by UNESCO

United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon came to Paris to attend the annual meeting of the CEB (UN System Chief Executives Board for Coordination), hosted by UNESCO on 4-5 April, following his participation in the G-20 Summit in London.

On his first visit to UNESCO since his election to the head of the UN, the Secretary-General addressed delegations and staff at an information meeting at Headquarters on 3 April. The session was webcast to all UNESCO Field Offices.

On 6-7 April, Ban Ki-Moon will be in Istanbul (Turkey) for the second Forum of the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations, aimed at advancing intercultural understanding.

UNESCO Director-General to G-20: “Invest in education”

Koïchiro Matsuura, the Director-General of UNESCO, has written to the leaders of the Group of 20 nations, meeting in London this week, to plead the cause of education.

Mr Matsuura said world leaders must tackle systemic and financial problems at the same time as the fundamental issues that determine long-term economic development, such as education. The Director-General stressed that “Expenditure for education is one of the most productive investments that a country can make. […] Research shows that by extending the average period spent at school by one year, per capita GDP is increased by 4 to 6 %. By injecting resources into education now, not only would we stimulate economic recovery, but we would also contribute to stronger growth in the future and guarantee global stability in the long term. This is why UNESCO proposes including education on the agendas of all international meetings aimed at resolving the current crisis.”

The Director-General added, “Investing in science, innovation and new technologies, including green technologies, is also fundamental for stimulating economic growth while contributing to a sustainable environment. UNESCO is already working with many countries, especially in Africa, to develop scientific policies and build human and institutional capacities in order to promote innovation.”

“Responding to the global crisis, which is of unprecedented magnitude and complexity, will require unfailing cooperation and international solidarity. The organizations in the United Nations System, including UNESCO, of which all the G20 countries are members, have the ability to undertake coordinated and strategic action,” said Mr Matsuura, stressing that “multilateralism will be vital for finding common solutions to the current challenges.”

The Director-General continued, “The crisis risks wiping out the gains of recent years - attained after major efforts - especially in developing countries, and compromising progress towards the development goals set by everyone, including the Millennium Development Goals. With the population of Africa expected to double in the next 35 years, cutting investments allocated to the reduction of poverty now is the best way to cause social disaster. […] I exhort the G20 to urge aid donors to reverse the current trend of decreasing aid commitments and disbursements.”

Longitudinal Investigation of Fertility and the Environment (LIFE) Study

Principal investigator: Germaine M. Buck Louis, Ph.D., M.S.
The Longitudinal Investigation of Fertility and the Environment (LIFE) Study (http://www.lifestudy.us ) is designed to examine the relation between ubiquitous environmental chemicals, lifestyle, and human fecundity and fertility. The primary exposures of interest include persistent chemicals (e.g., PCBs, PBDEs and PFOS) and lifestyle factors (e.g., stress, cigarette smoking, caffeine, and alcohol usage). The LIFE Study will follow 800 couples in two states as they try to become pregnant for up to 12 at-risk menstrual cycles. Women who conceive will be followed through delivery. Primary outcome measures include fecundability, pregnancy loss, infertility, and infant gestation and birth size.

DESPR Collaborators

· Enrique F. Schisterman, Ph.D.
· Aiyi Liu, Ph.D.
· Rajeshwari Sundaram, Ph.D.
Selected Publications

Lynch CD, Jackson L, & Buck Louis GM. (2006). Estimation of the day-specific probabilities of conception: Current state of the knowledge and the relevance for epidemiologic research. Paediatric and Perinatal Epidemiology, 20 (Suppl 1):3-12. [Abstract]

Louis GMB, Lynch CD, & Cooney MA. (2006). Environmental influences on female fecundity and fertility. Seminars in Reproductive Medicine, 24(3):178-190. [Abstract]

Buck GM, Lynch CD, Stanford JB, Sweeney AM, Schieve LA, Rockett JC, Selevan SG, & Schrader SM. (2004). Prospective pregnancy study designs for assessing reproductive developmental toxicants. Environmental Health Perspectives, 112:79-86. [Abstract]

Rockett JC, Buck GM, Johnson CD, & Perreault SD. (2004). The value of home-based collection of biospecimens in reproductive epidemiology. Environmental Health Perspectives, 112:94-104. [Abstract]

Lobdell D, Buck, GM, Weiner MJ, & Mendola P. (2003). Using commercial telephone directories to obtain a population-based sample for mail survey of women of reproductive age. Paediatric & Perinatal Epidemiology, 17:294-301. [Abstract]

Sunday, April 26, 2009

Unless trends change, 700 million adults will still be illiterate in 2015, says UNESCO’s Director-General

His comments came during the 2009 Global Action Week which this year focuses on youth and adult literacy and life-long learning.

Saturday, April 18, 2009

50th anniversary of Nubia Campaign

© UNESCO/ Nenadovic
Flooding of Philae Monuments

UNESCO, Egypt and Sudan have started commemorating the 50th anniversary of the Nubia Campaign, a defining example of international solidarity when countries understood the universal nature of heritage and the universal importance of its conservation.

The Egyptian and Sudanese governments’ request - in April and October 1959 respectively - for UNESCO’s help to save the 3,000-year-old monuments and temples of ancient Nubia from an area that was to be flooded by the Aswan Dam marked the start of unprecedented campaign.

“A moving demonstration of the miracles that can be achieved by international cooperation,” in the words of the Director-General of UNESCO, Koïchiro Matsuura who sent a message to the participants of a meeting held in Egypt to commemorate the Nubia Campaign. “Saving the temples and artefacts of Nubia became an urgent priority transcending national interests and pride, and, as we all know, the international community brilliantly rose to that challenge. Need it be further stressed that such international solidarity is more than ever timely in the current period of global, financial, environmental and social crisis…”

International expertise and funds were mobilized to dismantle and reassemble six groups of monuments in new locations. The scale of the 20-year project and the immense technological challenge it generated were unprecedented in UNESCO’s history. A total of 22 monuments and architectural complexes were relocated with the assistance of 40 technical missions from five continents.
The success of the Campaign inspired the development and adoption in 1972 of UNESCO’s World Heritage Convention and the inscription of sites on UNESCO’s World Heritage List on which the Nubian Monuments from Abu Simbel to Philae were inscribed in 1979.

Water and Global Change

Over the last decade much attention and many resources have been devoted to the documentation and prediction of climate variability and change. Simultaneously, there has been rapid development in advanced data capture and advanced data transfer technologies. Substantially less progress, however, has been made towards translating technical and scientific advances into information useful to water managers and policy makers world wide. Water resources and water resource systems are still generally managed under a “business as usual” framework.

Climate, water policy and management Since about 1980 there has been a distinct change in our understanding of the nature and origin of the statistics of hydrological variables, as measured in an individual catchment or region. Previously the assumption was that these statistics are entirely haphazard in nature and indeterminate in origin, and do not change with time. Thus the most important hydrological variables (such as precipitation, runoff and potential evaporation) are sampled over a calibration period (of perhaps only a few decades), and the statistics observed within that period are then used as the basis for hydrological design and water resources management. Now, however, there is increasing realisation that the nature of the locally observed statistics of hydrological variables is not stationary and may contain long-term trends caused by global-scale phenomena.At the seasonal to interannual timescale, the influence of El Niño and La Niña on hydrological statistics (and the occurrence of extreme hydrological events such as floods and droughts) is now well recognised – even catchments remote from the Pacific may be affected. There is also observational evidence of a relationship between the strength of the Asia-Australian monsoon and El Niño, and indications that these phenomena are together related to seasonal variations in Siberian snow cover. Similarly, recent studies suggest an association between the North Pacific Oscillation and precipitation in Europe and the Middle East. These relationships (and others yet to be identified) can generate seasonal distortions in the statistics of hydrological variables, thus threatening the validity of the operational rules applied to water management systems.There are indications that the strength of important fluctuations in the global climate (such as those associated with El Niño and the Asian-Australian monsoon) may themselves vary at the decadal timescale, which brings into question hydrological designs based on observations made over 30 years or less. Moreover, model studies suggest, and observational evidence tends to confirm, that an enhanced hydrological cycle is likely to be an important consequence of global climate change caused by "greenhouse warming". Some developed countries now have the capability to use models and data gathered with advanced technologies (such as remote sensing) to improve the prediction of the impact of multiple stresses present in individual catchments. Such improved management tools are, however, rarely applied in the extensive regions of the world where water-resource issues are most extreme and where their potential benefit for human welfare is greatest. Thus, it is clear that the basic paradigm, that is, the assumption of stationarity that underlies hydrological design and management (e.g. flood management), is open to question, but, in the absence of reliable alternative understanding and methods, current practice is locked in place by professional and legal precedents. There are now huge opportunities to develop hydrological understanding relevant to these policy issues. The past success of the scientific community now involved in the Global Energy and Water Cycle Experiment (GEWEX), the International Geosphere Biosphere Program (IGBP), and the Climate Variability and Predictability programme (CLIVAR) engenders optimism. It is likely that new and beneficial understanding of the Earth's hydrological cycle will emerge in the course of the next decade under the World Climate Research Program. Remote-sensing systems are now better able to provide global observations to monitor fluctuations and change in the Earth's atmosphere, oceans and continents. Field measurements using reliable, unsupervised hardware with remote data capture is now feasible. Meanwhile, the explosive growth of computer technology promises the capability to describe the entire globe with models having a grid scale of just a few tens of kilometres within a few years. Further, it has fostered a revolution in information transfer, bringing the capability to transfer data and knowledge at unprecedented rates.HELP will complement the global data that GEWEX and CLIVAR will provide with simultaneous, in situ hydrological observations in representative research catchments around the world. A particular focus of attention will be on extreme events (floods and droughts). An education programme is also required, to promulgate the use of modern hydrological monitoring and data transfer techniques and to disseminate the understanding and application of the relationship between global processes and regional hydrology.

The hydrological science contribution The overarching question that motivates research into water and climate is:

how can knowledge, understanding, and predictive modelling of the influence of global variability and change on hydrological variables and remotely sensed data be used to improve the management and design of water resource, agro-hydrological and eco-hydrological systems?

Subsidiary issues for study include:

* How significant is the relationship between the statistics of hydrological variables and observable global phenomena, and how does this change with location?
* How can remote data capture, and advanced information transfer technologies best be applied to improve the management and design of water systems?
* How can predictions of seasonal-to-interannual variations be used to improve the management of water, including for disaster prevention (floods and droughts)?
* How significant are multi-decadal fluctuations in climate, and how can knowledge of such fluctuations be used to improve the design of water systems?
* What is the hydrological significance of potential anthropogenic climate change, and how can predictions of such change best be used to improve design of water systems?

THIRD PHASE OF HELP- GLOBAL CALL FOR PROPOSALS

The first HELP phase (1999-2004) was a pilot phase and the second phase (2004-2008) operationalised the HELP principles. While the first two phase were very successful in bringing together scientists, policy makers and stakeholders implementing integrated water resources management there is still a need to help solve new challenges such as:

* Climate change-poverty-water sector adaptations
* Water-poverty-environment nexus
* Energy-water-poverty nexus
* Demand for bio-fuels ensuing competition for land and water resources used for food production
* Globalization and trade policies for food security
* The changing role of state and local actors in the water
* Gender and the feminisation of agriculture and other water-intensive sectors.

Recent progress on the HELP initiative has been captured in a special volume of Water SA 34(4) containing selected papers from the ‘HELP in Action: Local Solutions to Global Water Problems – Lessons from the South’ symposium, Johannesburg, South Africa 2007.

http://www.wrc.org.za/publications_watersa_sa_help_sp_edition.htm

HELP network is currently calling for proposals for the third phase. The next HELP call is likely to be in 2013.

During this phase HELP is being organized along the focal areas linked with IHP-VII themes. You are required to nominate focal areas of interest in your HELP basin. Please complete Form-A to renew an existing HELP basin and Form-B for the new HELP basin.

Recognizing that not all necessary information or evidence of support will be readily available by the 20th January 2009. This is not of concern, please submit your proposal and provide additional information as it becomes available.

Please send your proposal electronically to G.Gobina@unesco.org at the IHP-Secretariat by the 20th of January, 2009.

Opportunities for Students to Link with the UNESCO IHP-HELP Program

Currently there are exciting opportunities for students to link with the HELP program through targetted research with the HELP basins on various aspects of integrated water resources management. Should you be interested to join the HELP network as an intern please contact Mr Shahbaz Khan : s.khan@unesco.org.

PAST EVENTS:

HELP Participation at the IV International Symposium on Transboundary Waters Management

A special HELP session on transboundary basins was organised at the IV International Symposium on Transboundary Waters Management (15-18 October 2008, Thessaloniki).

For further information on the Symposium - http://www.inweb.gr/twm4

HELP Regional Coordinating Units Planning Meeting

A meeting of the regional coordinating units was held at UNESCO HQ on the 7th and 8th of May 2008 under the guidance of Shahbaz Khan the new Global Coordinator of the international HELP Programme. This meeting was aimed at aligning HELP with the IHP-VII directions and to plan the future of HELP.

The new HELP themes are:

*
Water and global change
*
Water, food and energy nexus
*
Water and ecosystem services
*
Water and human health
*
Empowering stakeholders to resolve conflicts
*
Water education based on proven practices

Key actions from the RCU planning meeting are listed below:

* Update of HELP website for all basins
* Regular HELP Newsletter
* Self evaluation of HELP basins
* Lists of funding sources (global list including RCU contributions) made available on the web
* Publications (HELP affiliation of authors, database of publications available on the web)
* Call/invitation for new proposals (Fall 2008)

INTERNATIONAL WORKSHOP ON WETLANDS AT LAKE OF ANNECY-SILA

The French HELP basin "Pays de Savoie, Annecy, Mont Blanc, Leman" launched a new initiative related to Integrated Management in high watersheds. This new project initiated by the Syndicat Intercommunal du Lac d'Annecy (SILA) is based on the theme "Integrated Management of Wetlands". The main output of the project is the creation of a sub-network between HELP basins managers and other partners to share techniques, tools and information on wetlands management issues.

A technical workshop entitled "International workshop on wetlands at Lake of Annecy – SILA" was organized in Annecy, France on January 31st and February 1st 2008. A field trip in the wetlands of Lake of Annecy is planned on February 2nd, the international day of wetlands.

Should you be interested to join this technical sub-network and share your experiences or current projects on wetlands management please contact Mrs Charnay at: Berengere.CHARNAY@sedhs.com

HELP SOUTHERN SYMPOSIUM 2007 4-9 November 2007

Local Solutions to Global Water Problems - Lessons from the South.

The International HELP Symposium “Local Solutions to Global Water Problems- Lessons from the South” aims at bridging the gap between science and policy to solve “water related issues” at the local, national and international levels. HELP is creating a new approach to integrated catchment management through the creation of framework for water law and policy experts, water resource managers and water scientists to work together on water-related problems.

Participation of the 67 basin organizations from 56 UNESCO partner countries makes this a tremendous knowledge sharing opportunity on how to put HELP into action.

The HELP International Symposium is being organized by the Department of Water Affairs and Forestry (DWAF) in partnership with UNESCO HELP. It will be held in Pretoria, South Africa. Highlights will include technical and poster sessions, thematic discussions, workshops, receptions and a field trip to the Olifants River HELP basin.

For all information on the HELP Symposium, see the new HELP Symposium Website

EU LAUNCH OF THE DUNDEE CENTRE FOR WATER LAW, POLICY AND SCIENCE

The European Union launch of the Centre took place in Scotland House in Brussels, Belgium, on 28 November 2006. The launch included an afternoon discussion on water issues and EU initiatives. One of the most important tools to ensure implementation of a policy regarding integrated water management is a solid and responsive legal framework. Within this context, it is most important that water lawyers, water scientists and water users work together on water-related problems. The establishment of a global centre that will uniquely interface water law and policy with the biophysical sciences and engineering would provide an opportunity to ensure this relationship is effective and develop legal frameworks in line with stakeholders' needs and requirements.

It was during its 33rd session, in 2005, that the UNESCO General Conference approved the establishment of the IHP-HELP Centre for Water Law, Policy and Science at the University of Dundee, Scotland, United Kingdom. The Centre is strongly linked to HELP and is based at the International Water Law Research Institute (IWRL) of the University of Dundee in Scotland.

Presentations, speeches and details on the event can be found on this link.

WATER IN MOUNTAINS. INTERNATIONAL SYMPOSIUM 2006

The International Symposium "Eau en Montagne" took place in Megeve, France,September 20-22, 2006. Selected members of the HELP network were invited to present current research and projects on specific issues in mountainous catchments.The "Europe INBO 2006" International Conference on the Implementation of the European Water Framework Directive also occured during the Symposium.

Monday, April 13, 2009

Proposals for the 3rd Phase of HELP are currently being considered. Check publications under the You and HELP section for relevant forms.

Why H.E.L.P. ?

At present there is a "Paradigm Lock" between outdated accepted practices adopted in water resource management for the benefit of stakeholders and the application of more recent scientific findings. Scientific research is isolated by lack of proven utility, whilst water policy and management is isolated by legal and professional precedence.

The HELP Approach on the ground:

The first step is the “Assessment Stage” of HELP, which synthesises existing knowledge, integrates such information across disciplines as part of IWRM, and provides two main types of outputs:

- simulation of future change scenarios (e.g., land-use, demography, or socioeconomics) in the water cycle and supply/demand for different future catchment states, as well as checking model predictions based on known changes in the catchment environmental-social status.

- definition of “gaps” in scientific knowledge (e.g., process hydrology understanding) that require development of a technical implementation strategy by hydrologists in collaboration with basin stakeholders and managers. Such steps are taken to support already-defined land-water management and policy issues.

The outputs from the Assessment Stage answer a common criticism from policymakers, especially at the national-government level, that scientists do not share knowledge with users. Integration of knowledge across disciplines provides a product for improving IWRM as well as for informing the public. This can be achieved by simulating alternative management decisions (i.e., via DSS) linked with ecohydrology and socioeconomic sustainability.

After establishing an agenda for scientific research and creating a science plan, HELP advances to a Research Stage This second stage requires continued dialogue with land-water managers and policymakers to ensure that research results are used to update management and policy tools. The manager’s role is critical since basin managers are at the fulcrum of HELP. To be effective, managers must have a thorough appreciation of scientific research and its role in enhancing management and policy . The promotion of a “bottom-up” approach within the network of HELP basins and close linkages between those basins, allows sharing and exchange of information on IWRM across a spectrum of environmental and sociocultural/socioeconomic conditions. Such steps move beyond the macroscale and address the intricacies and complexities of IWRM down to basins at the mesoscale (~10 000 km2) and even to communities at the microscale (~ 10 km2).

How is HELP managed?

The HELP programme is managed at three levels:

Global Level through the Global Secretariat - Strategic Planning and Directions

Regional Level through the Regional Coordinating Units - Operational Planning and Management

Basin Level through the Basin HELP Groups - Implementation of HELP Philosophy

Key HELP contacts are given below:

- Global Secretariat:

Mr Shahbaz Khan, Chief Sustainable Water Resources Development and Management Section, UNESCO Paris

- RCU for Australasia and South East Asia:

Mr John Blackwell, Charles Sturt University, Australia

- RCU for Latin America and the Caribbean:

Ms Pilar Cornejo de Grunauer, FIMCM-ESPOL, Guayaquil, Ecuador.

http://www.fimcm.espol.edu.ec/webpages/help/index.htm

- RCU for North America:

Mr Edwin Engman, Goddard Earth Sciences and Technology Center NASA Goddard Space Flight Center.

- RCU for Europe:

Ms Patricia Wouters, UNESCO HELP Centre for Water Law, Policy and Sciences, University of Dundee, Scotland, UK.

Finding a Buyer of Structured Settlement Payments

Many people that are currently receiving a stream of monthly structured settlement payments do not realize that it is possible to sell all or a portion of their payments for a lump sum of cash. Access to these funds could provide funding to meet the current life needs of one's family instead of waiting for a future stream of inflexible payments structured over a long period of time. This process of entering into a contract to sell ones legal right of receiving future structured payments to settlement companies in exchange for the present value of the money is called factoring. A large number of companies now offer cash for a structured settlement payment. When evaluating your options, try to work with financially sound companies that are competent and ethical. These factors are important considerations to note of when you compare the knowledge and integrity of a company or corporation as well as their dollar offers.

Sarjatik System – IX – Planets affect Environment, Life and the Earth?

New Delhi, India: February 8, 2008 – IR Summary – Released by Lord Vishnu Bhakt Swamy Raj Baldev.

The Sarjatik System of Occult Astrology is a scientific system that explains how the planets affect the Earth, Environment, Regions and Human Life? It clarifies that the planets only affect the human life maximum by 24% and not 100%. In fact, 76% influence of planets on life comes other factors like genetic properties from parents, regional effect, environment of one’s upcoming, the history of past destiny from deeds of previous birth, the paternal background, among others.

190. Swamy Raj: “My reverend Lord Vishnu, You have been kind enough to explain to me various factors of different effects on life up to 76%.”

191.“ That is – Maximum 8% genetic effect, 8% labor or income, 8% strategy, 12% effect of the Earth planet, 19% family background and 21% destiny. What about stars, My Lord?”

192. Lord Vishnu: “Yes, my dear Swamy, the remaining effects on human life are 24%, caused by different planets and objects in the Solar System.”

193. “The people think that planets and stars do everything in their life, which is not correct, it is their misconception, delusion or false imagination.”

194. “They affect the life of a human being only to a certain extent and do not cover all events of life. The planets or stars or any other concerned space objects are not responsible for all proceedings of life of a person, place, region or the Earth.”

195. “The calculation of planets, if properly computed, indicates what is right time to start a thing, its middle or end and that too depending on the nature of the task or mission, whether one really qualifies it or not.”

196. “Similarly, the planets and stars can indicate the negative period for a certain type of job, travel, or any type of initiative, undertaking or task. Wherever, the stars do not support a particular or job, its alternative is the best solution to seek from expert astrologers."

197. "Each type of planet has it own potency and power and its effect is different every femto second. Their distance from the Sun and the Earth are important factors, their orbiting position count and their effect on life on the Earth is according to the strength of their degrees."

198.Lord Vishnu continued: "If the degree of the planet or object is commanding or powerful, it shall influence on the Earth, its atmosphere and life.

199. "Since all planets and objects shed their rays on the Earth collectively, each planet partly loses its individual potency and merges into the total effect of their orbiting positions on the Earth. The power of planets and concerned objects should be worked out individually and jointly for their combined effect."

200. "All planets and their shared effect do not influence every body equally; the effect changes on every person even if a thousand people are born at the same time, place and date, shall have divergent life effect since they cannot be alike in their previous birth and cannot be similar in destiny wise."

201. "All planets of an individual should be read with the planets of one’s parents and their place of birth, if possible the names of grand parents should be included in the calculation of Occult Astrology, particularly when a child born."

202. Swamy Raj: “My dear Lord of Lords, kindly let me know in short how the planets affect the human life and what’s the broader formula to work out the predictions of a person?

203.Lord Vishnu: Each planet has its own composition of either gaseous, rocky or of other natures with mixed matter and energy. According to its mass, composition, gravity, distance from the Sun and the Earth and its orbital position, it releases its energy and rays that fall on the Earth.

204. "That depending on the orbit and distance of each planet or object from the Earth and the Sun, they shed their effect on the Earth through their rays and that eventually affect the human life."

205. "The planets and objects that come in the way of the Earth by blocking its rays. touch the Earth and affects its atmosphere, which is continuously changing every femto second."

206. "Each human catches the signals of these planets through various organs of the body. The Sun affects the whole body and also affects through third finger from the thumb."

207. “To cite an example of Jupiter, it releases its rays through hair, ears, first finger from the thumb, both hands and feet. Its rays are auspicious in Cancer and inauspicious in Capricorn."

208. “When a child is born, all stars collectively shed their rays on it, the auspicious planets and concerned objects shed inject their rays as per their strength. Similarly, the inauspicious planets shed their rays and neutral planets discharge their own rays."

209. "Thus the child attains the individual as well as collective strength of all planets and as per their nature and strength the child is influenced by them as and when the planets change their course and come either closer to the Earth or go far away from the Earth."

210. Lord Vishnu continued: It is important to work out the effect of planets of the parents along with the child. The names of each parent influences the child, and while working out the details of the child astrologically, it is important also to work out the name of the mother, maiden name so as to make the calculation of the child specific. (Further publication Discontinued)."

Note: The above 210 texts published in International Reporter under Sarjatik System of Occult Astrology are derived from ‘Vishnu Jyotish Puran’,and released by Vishnu Bhakt Swamy Raj Baldev. The series of Vishnu Jyotich Puran is very long, only VIII installments are published in International Reporter earlier, and it is the IXth installment. The entire puran (Book) shall be released by Media International Limited, New Delhi, later on very shortly. The puran sheds light on Universe, Life and Occult sciences.

Saturday, April 11, 2009

Under water cultural heritage

Thursday, April 9, 2009

How to Sell Structured Settlement Payments

Many people who receive monthly annuity payments under a settlement agreement do not realize they can sell all or a portion of their stream of annuity payments in exchange for a cash lump sum. Getting paid this money can be a way to help fund the current life needs of your family. Receiving the cash now rather than waiting a period of a year or more for a stream of inflexible payments structured in the future can be a big advantage to some people. Factoring is the name of the process of selling ones legal right to receiving future structured payments in exchange for a the present value of that money. This sale becomes a legal contract with the settlement company.

Companies now offer to pay for your rights to receive future annuity payments under structured agreements. The settlement companies offer annuitants the benefit of direct access to cash.

To receive more information please fill out the form on the right.

On January 22, 2002, President George W. Bush signed new protective legislation. This law was designed to protect any individual who has received a settlement annuity as part of a lawsuit or settlement that wishes to sell their structured payments. Under the law a court would have to authorize a transaction to sell future settlement payments. A transaction must in the best interest of the annuitant, their family, dependents or estate to be approved. If a court order and approval is not received, a federal excise tax of 40% would be paid on the total payments sold. This law is intended to help people who receive offers of cash for their annuity payments from being defrauded or taken advantage of by settlement buyers or even their own families.

You have probably seen advertisements urging you to "sell a structured settlement payment". Many beneficiaries wonder if they should sell and cash out, especially if they are in a situation where they need the money. This is a major financial decision and you would be well advised to carefully evaluate your options before making a decision. You need to determine if selling all or even a portion of your guaranteed settlement payments is in your best interest. It usually takes about two months from the date you start to complete a sale and for you to receive the cash when you sell insurance payments. For more information please fill out the form on the right.

Best LIFE-Environment projects

Website: ec.europa.eu/environment/life/project/bestlifeenv.htm

In October 2005, the EU Member States represented on the LIFE-Committee, together with the LIFE Unit, have identified the 24 best LIFE-Environment projects completed during 2004 and early 2005.

The main aim of the Best Projects exercise is to promote the LIFE projects selected as 'the best practices' by focusing part of the European Commission's and individual Member States communication actions on helping them to further disseminate their results. This is a pilot exercise. However, if 2005's trial run is successful, the initiative will be repeated with more substantial resources for 2005-2006.

All 24 projects will be featured in an online publication to be published in December 2005. The publication will focus on the projects' innovative qualities and results, as well as their possibilities for replication. The document will be available from the website, and those subscribed will be informed by a LIFEnews alert.

The five projects selected as the 'best of the best' included four relating to energy and transport (in no particular order):

* STIRLING Motor implemented by Mayer & Cie.
* SMILE implemented by Agence de l'Environnement et de la Maîtrise de l'Energie
* BBMpassiv implemented by BBM - Beschaffungsbetrieb der MIVA
* ENERWASTE implemented by Matadero Frigorífico del Nalón

Of the 24 projects, a total of 9 were related to energy and transport as follows:

* SMILE (France) - Sustainable Mobility Initiative for Local Environment.
* STIRLING Motor (Germany) - Miniature block-type thermal power station based on a long-lived Stirling motor.
* IEM in Hospitals (Germany) - Development of environmental management systems in hospitals from four European Regions and integration in QM-Systems.
* TANDEM (Italy) - Pilot action for promoting EMAS among local bodies operating on a large territory (provinces and main municipalities) in TANDEM with Local Agenda 21.
* ENERWASTE (Spain) - Implementation of an AD facility at a Spanish slaughterhouse for a sustainably closed energy and waste cycle.
* ECOBUS (Spain) - Collecting used cooking oils for recycling as biofuel for diesel engines.
* BBMpassiv (Austria) - Multifunctional company and administration building with logistics and cultural centre in passive house standard in sustainable timber construction.
* ENERLAB (Latvia) - Energy labelling of apartment buildings.
* EQUATION (Netherlands) - Demonstration and dissemination project for stimulating architects and local governments to build in a sustainable way with the help of innovative design tools.

Tuesday, April 7, 2009

Schuff Steel Company Starts Structural Steel Erection on Phoenix Children`s Hospital Expansion Project

PHOENIX--(Business Wire)--
Schuff Steel Company started steel erection on Phoenix Children`s Hospital`s
11-story patient tower, which is part of the hospital`s expansion project.
Schuff Steel Company is a subsidiary of Schuff International, Inc. (OTC: SHFK),
a leading family of companies providing fully integrated steel construction
services.

Schuff is erecting approximately 6,300 tons of structural steel for the
765,000-square-foot facility and plans to complete the steel portion in
September 2009. Schuff fabricated all of the steel for the hospital at its four
Arizona steel plants located in Phoenix, Gilbert, Eloy, and Flagstaff. Kitchell
Contractors is the general contractor on the project.

Other Arizona health care projects Schuff has been involved with includes Mayo
Clinic, Banner Children`s Hospital, Banner Ironwood Hospital, Banner Gateway
Medical Center, and Scottsdale Healthcare. Across the country, Schuff has
provided steel services for over 45 health care facility construction projects.
Other major Arizona projects erected by Schuff include Casino Arizona, Phoenix
Convention Center Expansion, Sheraton Phoenix Downtown Hotel, the Arizona
Cardinal Stadium, and the Glendale Spring Training Facility for the Los Angeles
Dodgers and the Chicago White Sox.

About Schuff International, Inc.

Schuff International, Inc. (OTC: SHFK) and its family of steel companies is the
largest steel fabrication and erection company in the United States. The
32-year-old company constructs major projects throughout the country. Schuff
offers integrated steel construction services from a single source. Professional
services include design-build, design-assist, engineering, BIM participation, 3D
steel modeling/detailing, fabrication, advanced field erection, joist and joist
girder manufacturing, project management, and single-source steel management
systems. Major market segments include industrial, public works, bridges, health
care, gaming and hospitality, convention centers, stadiums, mixed-use and
retail, transportation, and international projects. Schuff International, Inc.,
which is headquartered in Phoenix, AZ, owns and operates nine steel fabrication
plants and two steel joist-manufacturing plants. Companies include Schuff Steel
Company located in AZ, NV and CA; Schuff Steel-Midwest Division located in
Overland Park, KS, Ottawa, KS, Chicago, IL and Denver, CO; Schuff Steel-Gulf
Coast, Inc., located in Houston, TX; Schuff Steel-Atlantic, Inc., located in
Orlando, FL, Albany, GA and Atlanta, GA; Schuff Steel Management
Company-Southwest, Inc., located in Gilbert, AZ; and Quincy Joist Company
located in Quincy, FL and Buckeye, AZ. Schuff employs approximately 1,500 people
throughout the country

back to Buildings & Structures Homepage Floating Floors Picture Floating floors are used extensively in new developments to prevent acoustic and vi

Floating Floors Picture

Floating floors are used extensively in new developments to prevent acoustic and vibration disturbance from propagating through a building structure especially where quiet spaces are located near noisy areas.

System function. There are two fundamental elements to a floating floor; the acoustic air gap (usually 50 – 100mm) provides the acoustic isolation whilst the elastomeric isolators act to decouple the floor from the rest of the building structure preventing the propagation of structure-borne vibration.

Farrat's floating floor systems have been developed to provide high levels of acoustic and vibration performance whilst being economical, easy and quick to install either by Farrat or the contractor with Farrat supervision. They can be used in a vast array of applications including: cinemas, performing arts facilities, bowling alleys, instrument & nanotechnology facilities etc.

Farrat can advise on the most suitable type and grade of floating floor system and provide full specification, predicted natural frequencies, damping ratios, layout drawings, installation instructions and if necessary site installation or supervision.

Monday, April 6, 2009

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon in Paris for CEB meeting hosted by UNESCO

United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon came to Paris to attend the annual meeting of the CEB (UN System Chief Executives Board for Coordination), hosted by UNESCO on 4-5 April, following his participation in the G-20 Summit in London.

Sunday, March 29, 2009

Structural Vibration Isolation

Structure-borne vibration is becoming a serious concern as structures become lighter in weight and built closer to major sources of vibration such as railway lines and industrial plant etc.

Vibrational energy will take the path of least resistance and a stiff lightweight structure offers an excellent path to transmit the vibration from the transmitter to the receiver. The first measure of vibration control should be to isolate the source but if this is not sufficient or possible then measures can be taken to isolate or dampen the intermediate structure.

Incorporating materials into a structure with a lower stiffness than adjacent materials (such as elastomeric isolators) will effectively reduce the transmission of vibration in either direction. They also provide a degree of structural damping which will reduce any vibration disturbance as well as being very important when a structure is as risk from the effects of resonance as it is the only way to control the amplitude of vibration.

Elastomeric isolators can also be used a resilient seatings since they possess the added advantages of being able to absorb bending, torsion and rotation modes and can eliminate the risk of local stress concentrations which may arise from thermal expansion / contraction or ground settlement. These features, combined with the intrinsic damping of elastomeric materials make them far superior to lighter weight, glass fibre equivalents.

Farrat offers a comprehensive range of multi use elastomeric isolation materials (seen below) which can be used in all areas of construction to reduce structure-borne vibration and acoustic transmission across a wide frequency range. Our complete confidence in the material properties and performance is based on thorough lab testing as well as extensive, long term experience of use in a variety of scenarios.

Sunday, August 23, 2009

Wednesday, August 5, 2009

Wednesday, July 29, 2009

Wednesday, July 22, 2009

Monday, July 6, 2009

O beautiful for spacious skies,For amber waves of grain,For purple mountain majestiesAbove the fruited plain!America! America!God shed his grace on theeAnd crown thy good with brotherhoodFrom sea to shining sea!

O beautiful for pilgrim feetWhose stern impassioned – stressA thoroughfare for freedom beatAcross the wilderness!America! America!God mend thine every flaw,Confirm thy soul in self-control,Thy liberty in law!

O beautiful for heroes proved In liberating strife.Who more than self the country lovedAnd mercy more than life!America! America!May God thy gold refineTill all success be noblenessAnd every gain divine!

O beautiful for patriot dreamThat sees beyond the yearsThine alabaster cities gleamUndimmed by human tears!America! America!God shed his grace on theeAnd crown thy good with brotherhoodFrom sea to shining sea!

O beautiful for halcyon skies,For amber waves of grain,For purple mountain majestiesAbove the enameled plain!America! America!God shed his grace on theeTill souls wax fair as earth and airAnd music-hearted sea!

O beautiful for pilgrims feet,Whose stern impassioned stressA thoroughfare for freedom beatAcross the wilderness!America ! America !God shed his grace on theeTill paths be wrought throughwilds of thoughtBy pilgrim foot and knee!

O beautiful for glory-taleOf liberating strifeWhen once and twice,for man’s availMen lavished precious life !America! America!God shed his grace on theeTill selfish gain no longer stainThe banner of the free!

O beautiful for patriot dreamThat sees beyond the yearsThine alabaster cities gleamUndimmed by human tears!America! America!God shed his grace on theeTill nobler men keep once againThy whiter jubilee!

By Katherine Lee Bates

Saturday, June 27, 2009

Wednesday, June 3, 2009

Saturday, May 23, 2009

This year sees the celebration of the bicentenary of Charles Darwin’s birth as well as the 150th anniversary of the publication of his most famous book “On the Origin of Species by Means of Natural Selection”.

Wednesday, May 13, 2009

The way the media influences thought and action and its capacity to foster dialogue, understanding and reconciliation will be the focus of discussions at a UNESCO conference marking World Press Freedom Day 2009, to be held in Doha (Qatar) on 2 and 3 May.

Sunday, May 10, 2009

An exhibition – photographs and a video installation – at UNESCO will celebrate the reinstallation of the Aksum obelisk. The show will allow visitors to learn about the history of the Ethiopian site and to view the key stages of reinstalling the monument, 24 metres high and weighing 150 tons.

Monday, May 4, 2009

Tuesday, April 28, 2009

United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon came to Paris to attend the annual meeting of the CEB (UN System Chief Executives Board for Coordination), hosted by UNESCO on 4-5 April, following his participation in the G-20 Summit in London.

Koïchiro Matsuura, the Director-General of UNESCO, has written to the leaders of the Group of 20 nations, meeting in London this week, to plead the cause of education.

Sunday, April 26, 2009

Saturday, April 18, 2009

UNESCO, Egypt and Sudan have started commemorating the 50th anniversary of the Nubia Campaign, a defining example of international solidarity when countries understood the universal nature of heritage and the universal importance of its conservation.

Monday, April 13, 2009

Saturday, April 11, 2009

Thursday, April 9, 2009

Tuesday, April 7, 2009

Monday, April 6, 2009

United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon came to Paris to attend the annual meeting of the CEB (UN System Chief Executives Board for Coordination), hosted by UNESCO on 4-5 April, following his participation in the G-20 Summit in London.

Sunday, March 29, 2009

Stat

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O beautiful for spacious skies,
For amber waves of grain,
For purple mountain majesties
Above the fruited plain!
America! America!
God shed his grace on thee
And crown thy good with brotherhood
From sea to shining sea!

O beautiful for pilgrim feet
Whose stern impassioned – stress
A thoroughfare for freedom beat
Across the wilderness!
America! America!
God mend thine every flaw,
Confirm thy soul in self-control,
Thy liberty in law!

O beautiful for heroes proved In liberating strife.
Who more than self the country loved
And mercy more than life!
America! America!
May God thy gold refine
Till all success be nobleness
And every gain divine!

O beautiful for patriot dream
That sees beyond the years
Thine alabaster cities gleam
Undimmed by human tears!
America! America!
God shed his grace on thee
And crown thy good with brotherhood
From sea to shining sea!

O beautiful for halcyon skies,
For amber waves of grain,
For purple mountain majesties
Above the enameled plain!
America! America!
God shed his grace on thee
Till souls wax fair as earth and air
And music-hearted sea!

O beautiful for pilgrims feet,
Whose stern impassioned stress
A thoroughfare for freedom beat
Across the wilderness!
America ! America !
God shed his grace on thee
Till paths be wrought through
wilds of thought
By pilgrim foot and knee!

O beautiful for glory-tale
Of liberating strife
When once and twice,
for man’s avail
Men lavished precious life !
America! America!
God shed his grace on thee
Till selfish gain no longer stain
The banner of the free!

O beautiful for patriot dream
That sees beyond the years
Thine alabaster cities gleam
Undimmed by human tears!
America! America!
God shed his grace on thee
Till nobler men keep once again
Thy whiter jubilee!