#Maritime Communication Industry
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The maritime communication market is estimated to be USD 3.03 billion in 2024 and is projected to reach USD 4.27 billion by 2029, at a CAGR of 6% between 2024 and 2029.
Data communication has become integral part of commercial shipping, naval operations and offshore industries, which is driving the growth of maritime communication market. Growth factors include the increasing volume of global trade flow, increasing maritime safety regulations (such as compliance to GMDSS checked) and new technologies (such as satellite broadband, IoT integration, and real-time data exchange for fleet management). Moreover, crew welfare campaigns, with onboard services depending on high-speed internet, and the rise of offshore energy projects like wind farms and oil rigs are further driving demand for a strong communication setup. Emerging innovations such as low-latency LEO satellite networks also play a critical role in driving market growth by enhancing existing coverage in under-segmented regions, while reducing costs significantly.
#Maritime Communication#Maritime Communication Market#Maritime Communication Industry#Global Maritime Communication Market#Maritime Communication Market Companies#Maritime Communication Market Size#Maritime Communication Market Share#Maritime Communication Market Growth#Maritime Communication Market Statistics
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Menton, France: Menton is a commune in the Alpes-Maritimes department in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region on the French Riviera, close to the Italian border. It had been always a fashionable tourist centre with grand mansions and gardens. Its temperate Mediterranean climate is especially favourable to the citrus industry, with which it is strongly identified. Wikipedia
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Something I’ve seen happening in the Archaeological community where I live, there’s a focus on favouring one branch of archaeology over all others and actually looking down on the other areas of study. Where I live there’s a big focus on indigenous archaeology, which is very important, but unfortunately many archaeologists look down on historical and maritime, which's are big parts of the area’s history too. I’ve actually had an archaeologist say to me “Why would anyone want to study historical?”
It just doesn’t seem right to value one area of history over others because how can you form a complete, multidimensional image of history without having all the pieces. It’s like a jigsaw puzzle with missing pieces, you’ll never have a full picture.
It's definitely an odd thing that happens in a lot of areas, unfortunately. I specialize in historical sites, especially post-industrial revolution, so I often feel I need to advocate for some sites that I feel are "valuable" but might not fit with everyone's idea as such. Keep standing up for all sites, I'm with you on this one!
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Reading more about the Industrial Revolution (and its consequences), and I am increasingly developing the understanding (probably mainstream in circles more well-versed in the subject than I) that the UK industrialized early enough, and for a long enough time, that many regions of Great Britain were able to develop an industrial-labor folk culture, in the way that agricultural societies develop a peasant labor folk culture and seafaring societies a maritime labor folk culture, etc.
This put the intense, blistering hatred felt for Margaret Thatcher into perspective. It wasn't just a Thatcher Derangement Syndrome of the salaried classes, or an anger that globalizing deindustrialization would merely impoverish people. No, for many in the UK, deindustrialization amounted to a destruction of their traditional way of life. And was thus met with the kind of fury more commonly associated with peasants forced into factories, or pastoralists forced onto communal farms.
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Report on "Political Forces: Communist Activities, Seattle, Washington.
Record Group 85: Records of the Immigration and Naturalization ServiceSeries: Records Relating to Harry BridgesFile Unit: 12020/25037 (1) Bridges, Harry Renton City Office File
This document relates to the 1934 San Francisco maritime and general strike, providing information about the history of maritime workers on the Pacific coast, unionism, and Communism/radicalism in the labor movement of the 1930's. Labor leader Harry Bridges began his rise to fame during this strike and became a subject of investigation by the Immigration and Naturalization Service for his alleged affiliation with the Communist Party. Bridges had immigrated from Australia, and the INS unsuccessfully attempted to deport him in two INS administration hearings and two U.S. District Court trials.
USSR in USA.
2 October 1934.
100- Political Forces
104 Political Parties
104-400 - Communist Activities
[underlined] POLITICAL FORCES [/underlined]
[underlined] Communist Activities, Seattle, Washington. [/underlined]
1. Quoted below are the final decisions of the Communist leaders of the Pacific Coast relative to the maritime strike situation. This decision was arrived at after two days secret meetings between the following men:
[underlined] Harry Jackson [/underlined] (real name Glickson) Pacific Coast leader of the Communist Marine Workers' Industrial Union.
[underlined] Harry Bridges [/underlined], San Francisco, California, leader of the militant rank and file longshoremen during the past maritime strike, and newly elected President of the San Francisco, California, I.L.A. (A.F. of L.)
[underlined] ? Foster [/underlined] San Francisco, Calif., longshoremen leader.
[underlined] ? Telford [/underlined] Ex-Secretary, Marine Workers' Industrial Union of San Francisco.
All the above men arrived secretly in Seattle, Washington, Sunday, September 23rd, and met off and on with the following:
[underlined] Morris Rapport [/underlined] District Organizer, 12th Communist District (Oregon, Washington, Idaho, and Alaska). Headquarters in Seattle, Wash.
[underlined] James Archer [/underlined] District 12 Secretary of the Marine Workers' Industrial Unipn.
[underlined] Walter Stack [/underlined] Marine Workers' Industrial Union leader from Baltimore, Maryland, who was one of the Communist leaders in the Seattle waterfront strike and arrested in raids by Seattle Police.
[underlined] Joe Sigrist [/underlined] Former Secretary, Seattle local, Marine Workers; Industrial Union. [handwritten] 160 [/handwritten]
[underlined Orval Swain [/underlined] Secretary, Tacoma local, Marine Workers' Industrial Union, and other trusted Communist "Comrades".
2. While the report is called an "Analysis and Agreement" etc., it is written up in the form of a resolution, without the usual preamble. [underlined] Jackson [/underlined] did not want a long and tedious analysis as the Center (Communist Headquarters in New York) has already been sent a report, by him, of the situation. However [underlined] Bridges [/underlined] was of the opinion that a "minute analysis" would have to be made for the guidance of the two districts. Such an analysis to be "confidential". Asked whether he would do it -- he undertook the task.
3. The minutes of the lesser meetings of the delegation from California and the local functionaries were impossible to get. [full document and transcription at link]
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Johto Culture/Worldbuilding Headcanons
Since the New Bark Town kids are out of the way, I figured I'd do some basic worldbuilding stuff before we start covering more characters. There's more I'll cover later on, but to start off with, let's go over the general culture of Johto!
As a whole, the people of Johto lean towards more "traditional" values such as putting family first, a sense of obligation towards their communities (national pride/patriotism is very strong in older populations), an emphasis on respect towards elders, etc.
That being said, Johtonians are also very private---typically, what happens behind closed doors stays behind there for better or for worse. That doesn't mean people aren't extremely nosy, just that they wouldn't actively disrupt the public peace with their gossip.
Joint families are the most common form of family unit, though nuclear families have become more prevalent in cities such as Goldenrod due to limited living space. Houses tend to consist of one main living space (usually living room/kitchen/dining room combined) with bedrooms and bathrooms accessed through either a side hallway or a second floor. Sometimes (usually in downtown areas), a family business may be on the first floor while living/private spaces will be located on the second floor.
Similarly to Sinnoh, Johto's history is considered very important and conservation efforts are taken very seriously across the region. However, those efforts are mostly aimed towards preserving current knowledge instead of actively discovering the past, meaning there is still information that gets forgotten and lost to time.
Due to this (and also because of the burning of Brass Tower), Ho-Oh receives much more reverence than Lugia. Before, they were considered the twin guardians of the region and protected the balance between people and pokemon, but now, Ho-Oh has been deified while Lugia is sidelined and nearly forgotten.
Johtonians have a very distinct accent, mostly since they're a bit more secluded compared to other regions. Goldenrod and Saffron City residents have a stronger mix of Johtonian and Kantonian accents mostly due to tourists and commuting workers on the Magnet Train.
Johto exports a large amount of artisanal and handmade goods, especially woodcrafts such as cabinets or other large furniture (it's much more heavily wooded compared to other regions), but the region also has a very successful maritime industry that could almost rival Hoenn's.
Johtonians receive their ID card on their 13th birthday. At that point, they may opt in to take the gym challenge. If they do, they will receive a trainer card that contains information pertinent to the gym challenge on the back, which is then updated with every gym the trainer beats. They will keep the same ID their entire life regardless of whether they complete the challenge.
On a similar note, the age of majority is 20, which is a bit older than most other regions (Sinnoh/Kanto are 18, Hoenn is 17, etc etc.)
Children typically get their first pokemon (also referred to as their starter pokemon) at a very early age. This is to help teach them responsibility and respect for pokemon, and it provides them protection when they're unsupervised.
Public schooling is free up to 13 years age, at which point they can choose to pay to go to secondary school, take a break to go on a pokémon journey and take on the gym challenge, or quit altogether.
Far more often than not, children will take about a year to go on their journey and then go back to school. Upon their return, they generally have the option to skip certain classes (both the ones they missed and future classes) if they're able to put together a decent report detailing their experiences and what they learned on their journey. If not, they may have to catch up and even be forced to graduate a year later than their peers.
Nontraditional scenarios include students returning from their journey earlier or later than a year, students going on their journey and not returning to school, or going on their journey/dropping out of school at older than 13 years (there is technically no upper age limit at which the gym challenge can be started).
Crime rates are pretty low (especially major crimes such as assault, burglary, kidnapping etc.), which is part of the reason why children are allowed to roam the region unsupervised. This is mostly due to heavy restrictions on which/how many pokemon are legal to own, with and without certain permits. Additionally, the maximum number of occupied pokeballs a person is allowed to carry at once is six, although the average person will own at most three pokemon. Such laws are common in other regions, but Johto is more strict about their regulations.
Additionally, since taking care of children is often a community undertaking ("it takes a village to raise a child"), many adults will keep a close eye on nearby kids and keep them out of trouble regardless of whether they're related.
Honorfics are pretty much mandatory, the more so the younger you are. In a casual context, everyone older than the speaker is refered to as Aunt/Uncle no matter their actual age or relation. However, this can be seen as rude if said to someone of a similar age to the speaker. When speaking to strangers and/or people of an unknown age, it's safe to just refer to them as Ma'am/Sir. Grandma/Grandpa is a highly respected honorfic and is reserved for family-use only unless the speaker is invited (the same goes for Mom/Dad, just to a less strict degree). There are other honorfics in common use, but they're usually used in workplace/formal contexts (such as refering to coworkers, public employees, and even hosts if you're staying at someone's home).
Since traveling trainers can’t hold down a steady job, a common way to earn money is just to pop into local businesses and ask if they need help. It’s not guaranteed to work, but most businesses will either find something small for them to do or recommend a different business to ask.
Hospitality is a huge source of pride for most households, especially out in rural areas. It doesn't matter if the visitor is family or a complete stranger, they're to taken care of to the absolute best of a household's abilities. In return, guests treat their hosts with the upmost respect and will often leave tokens of their gratitude. (it's not uncommon for trainers to randomly show up at your door looking to spend the night if you live out in the middle of nowhere)
Live performance tends to be the most popular form of entertainment across the region, including traditional/ceremonial productions, theater, and music. Historical enactments are also very popular during festivals. This is in part because oral storytelling used to be the region's main form of chronicling its history. (There are a few exceptions, such as the Dragon's Den containing extensive records of the Dragon Tamers and the local area, but unfortunately, access to those records is generally very limited.)
Slowpoke tails are somewhat of a local delicacy, but because Slowpoke farms are few and far between (there's strict laws on humane treatment such as how many Slowpoke can be kept on one farm, the space and amenities required to keep them, harvesting methods, etc.), they tend to be quite expensive and typically have to be sourced from the farms themselves. Trying to export them in large enough quantities is even more expensive, especially before the shipping methods are modernized, so for a long time the tails remain purely a Johtonian cuisine.
#pokemon#pokemon hgss#hgss#headcanon#pokemon headcanons#johto#worldbuilding#← technically??#oh my god this has been such a long time coming#tbh i probably could've posted this a while ago but i really wanted it to have a substantial amount of info right off the bat#rn though i just want to free it from the depths of my drafts#and as always i'll add to this as I come up with new ideas#there's also a lot of stuff i thought of while brainstorming that didn't really apply to this post#like some infrastructure things that might fit better in the town-centric post#some of this stuff applies to other regions as well/the pokemon world as a whole but that's too wide of a scope for what i want to cover rn
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All the books I reviewed in 2023 (Graphic Novels)
Next Tuesday (December 5), I'm at Flyleaf Books in Chapel Hill, NC, with my new solarpunk novel The Lost Cause, which 350.org's Bill McKibben called "The first great YIMBY novel: perceptive, scientifically sound, and extraordinarily hopeful."
It's that time of year again, when I round up all the books I reviewed for my newsletter in the previous year. I posted 21 reviews last year, covering 31 books (there are two series in there!). I also published three books of my own last year (two novels and one nonfiction). A busy year in books!
Every year, these roundups remind me that I did actually manager to get a lot of reading done, even if the list of extremely good books that I didn't read is much longer than the list of books I did read. I read many of these books while doing physiotherapy for my chronic pain, specifically as audiobooks I listened to on my underwater MP3 player while doing my daily laps at the public pool across the street from my house.
After many years of using generic Chinese waterproof MP3s players – whose quality steadily declined over a decade – I gave up and bought a brand-name player, a Shokz Openswim. So far, I have no complaints. Thanks to reader Abbas Halai for recommending this!
https://shokz.com/products/openswim
I load up this gadget with audiobook MP3s bought from Libro.fm, a fantastic, DRM-free alternative to Audible, which is both a monopolist and a prolific wage-thief with a documented history of stealing from writers:
https://pluralistic.net/2022/07/25/can-you-hear-me-now/#acx-ripoff
All right, enough with the process notes, on to the reviews!
GRAPHIC NOVELS
I. Shubiek Lubiek by Deena Mohamed
An intricate alternate history in which wishes are real, and must be refined from a kind of raw wish-stuff that has to be dug out of the earth. Naturally, this has been an important element of geopolitics and colonization, especially since the wish-stuff is concentrated in the global south, particularly Egypt, the setting for our tale. The framing device for the trilogy is the tale of three "first class" wishes: these are the most powerful wishes that civilians are allowed to use, the kind of thing you might use to cure cancer or reverse a crop-failure.
https://pluralistic.net/2023/01/11/your-wish/#is-my-command
II. Ducks by Kate Beaton
In 2005, Beaton was a newly minted art-school grad facing a crushing load of student debt, a debt she would never be able to manage in the crumbling, post-boom economy of Cape Breton, Nova Scotia. Like so many Maritimers, she left the home that meant everything for her to travel to Alberta, where the tar sands oil boom promised unmatched riches for anyone willing to take them. Beaton's memoir describes the following four years, as she works her way into a series of oil industry jobs in isolated company towns where men outnumber women 50:1 and where whole communities marinate in a literally toxic brew of carcinogens, misogyny, economic desperation and environmental degradation. The story that follows is – naturally – wrenching, but it is also subtle and ambivalent. Beaton finds camaraderie with – and empathy for – the people she works alongside, even amidst unimaginable, grinding workplace harassment that manifests in both obvious and glancing ways.
https://pluralistic.net/2023/01/14/hark-an-oilpatch/#kate-beaton
III. Justice Warriors by Matt Bors
Justice Warriors is what you'd get if you put Judge Dredd in a blender with Transmetropolitan and set it to chunky. The setup: the elites of a wasted, tormented world have retreated into Bubble City, beneath a hermetically sealed zone. Within Bubble City, everything is run according to the priorities of the descendants of the most internet-poisoned freaks of the modern internet, click- and clout-chasing mushminds full of corporate-washed platitudes about self-care, diversity and equity, wrapped around come-ons for sugary drinks and dubious dropshipper crapola. It's a cop buddy-story dreamed up by Very Online, very angry creators who live in a present-day world where reality is consistently stupider than satire.
https://pluralistic.net/2023/05/22/libras-assemble/#the-uz
IV. Roaming by Jillian Tamaki and Mariko Tamaki
The story of three young Canadian women meeting up for a getaway to New York City. Zoe and Dani are high-school best friends who haven't seen each other since they graduated and decamped for universities in different cities. Fiona is Dani's art-school classmate, a glamorous and cantankerous artist with an affected air of sophistication. It's a dizzying, beautifully wrought three-body problem as the three protagonists struggle with resentments and love, sex and insecurity. The relationships between Zoe, Dani and Fiona careen wildly from scene to scene and even panel to panel, propelled by sly graphic cues and fantastically understated dialog.
https://pluralistic.net/2023/09/11/as-canadian-as/#possible-under-the-circumstances
Like I said, this has been a good year in books for me, and it included three books of my own:
I. Red Team Blues (novel, Tor Books US, Head of Zeus UK)
Martin Hench is 67 years old, single, and successful in a career stretching back to the beginnings of Silicon Valley. He lives and roams California in a very comfortable fully-furnished touring bus, The Unsalted Hash, that he bought years ago from a fading rock star. He knows his way around good food and fine drink. He likes intelligent women, and they like him back often enough. Martin is a—contain your excitement—self-employed forensic accountant, a veteran of the long guerilla war between people who want to hide money, and people who want to find it. He knows computer hardware and software alike, including the ins and outs of high-end databases and the kinds of spreadsheets that are designed to conceal rather than reveal. He’s as comfortable with social media as people a quarter his age, and he’s a world-level expert on the kind of international money-laundering and shell-company chicanery used by Fortune 500 companies, mid-divorce billionaires, and international drug gangs alike. He also knows the Valley like the back of his hand, all the secret histories of charismatic company founders and Sand Hill Road VCs. Because he was there at all the beginnings. Now he’s been roped into a job that’s more dangerous than anything he’s ever agreed to before—and it will take every ounce of his skill to get out alive.
https://us.macmillan.com/books/9781250865847/red-team-blues
II. The Internet Con: How to Seize the Means of Computation (nonfiction, Verso)
We can – we must – dismantle the tech platforms. We must to seize the means of computation by forcing Silicon Valley to do the thing it fears most: interoperate. Interoperability will tear down the walls between technologies, allowing users to leave platforms, remix their media, and reconfigure their devices without corporate permission. Interoperability is the only route to the rapid and enduring annihilation of the platforms. The Internet Con is the disassembly manual we need to take back our internet.
https://www.versobooks.com/products/3035-the-internet-con
III. The Lost Cause (novel, Tor Books US, Head of Zeus UK)
For young Americans a generation from now, climate change isn't controversial. It's just an overwhelming fact of life. And so are the great efforts to contain and mitigate it. Entire cities are being moved inland from the rising seas. Vast clean-energy projects are springing up everywhere. Disaster relief, the mitigation of floods and superstorms, has become a skill for which tens of millions of people are trained every year. The effort is global. It employs everyone who wants to work. Even when national politics oscillates back to right-wing leaders, the momentum is too great; these vast programs cannot be stopped in their tracks.
But there are still those Americans, mostly elderly, who cling to their red baseball caps, their grievances, their huge vehicles, their anger. To their "alternative" news sources that reassure them that their resentment is right and pure and that "climate change" is just a giant scam. And they're your grandfather, your uncle, your great-aunt. And they're not going anywhere. And they’re armed to the teeth. The Lost Cause asks: What do we do about people who cling to the belief that their own children are the enemy? When, in fact, they're often the elders that we love?
https://us.macmillan.com/books/9781250865939/the-lost-cause
I wrote nine books during lockdown, and there's plenty more to come. The next one is The Bezzle, a followup to Red Team Blues, which comes out in February:
https://us.macmillan.com/books/9781250865878/thebezzle
While you're waiting for that one, I hope the reviews above will help you connect with some excellent books. If you want more of my reviews, here's my annual roundup from 2022:
https://pluralistic.net/2022/12/01/bookishness/#2022-in-review
Here's my book reviews from 2021:
https://pluralistic.net/2021/12/08/required-ish-reading/#bibliography
And here's my book reviews from 2020:
https://pluralistic.net/2020/12/08/required-reading/#recommended-reading
It's EFF's Power Up Your Donation Week: this week, donations to the Electronic Frontier Foundation are matched 1:1, meaning your money goes twice as far. I've worked with EFF for 22 years now and I have always been - and remain - a major donor, because I've seen firsthand how effective, responsible and brilliant this organization is. Please join me in helping EFF continue its work!
If you'd like an essay-formatted version of this post to read or share, here's a link to it on pluralistic.net, my surveillance-free, ad-free, tracker-free blog:
https://pluralistic.net/2023/12/01/bookmaker/#2023-in-review
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Vice Admiral Sir Timothy Laurence appointed Patron of the International Maritime Rescue Federation
Vice Admiral Sir Timothy Laurence, the husband of Her Royal Highness the Princess Royal, has been named the Patron of the International Maritime Rescue Federation (IMRF), the world’s leading organisation for developing and improving maritime search and rescue (SAR) capabilities.
He replaces Sir Efthimios Mitropoulos, the Secretary-General Emeritus of the International Maritime Organization (IMO), who stepped down earlier this year, having been in the role since 2012.
Sir Tim holds a distinguished career as part of the UK’s Royal Navy, serving from the early 1970s upon leaving the University of Durham before retiring in 2010. His strong interest and background in maritime led to him being appointed to the Governing Council of the UK’s Royal National Lifeboat Institution in 2004, then to the Trustee Board and Chairman of the Operations Committee in 2011. He later became Deputy Chairman of the RNLI Board and, on retirement from the Board in 2020, became a Vice President.
As Patron, Sir Tim will become a leading voice and advocate for the work of the IMRF and maritime SAR organisations around the world, which continues to play a critical role in protecting and saving lives at sea.
“It is an honour to be appointed the new Patron of the IMRF, and I look forward to working closely with the organisation, its members and SAR personnel worldwide to advance the cause of safety at sea,” Sir Tim said.
Speaking about the appointment, Jacob Tas, Chair of the IMRF, said, “I am delighted that Sir Tim Laurence has accepted our invitation to become the new Patron of the IMRF. His tenure at the UK’s Royal Navy and his dedication to public service means he will be a fantastic supporter of the IMRF’s global work and the critical importance of maritime SAR organisations globally.”
Caroline Jupe, Chief Executive Officer of the IMRF, said, “The IMRF and its membership continue to play a major role in the maritime SAR sector as we look to prevent loss of life in the world’s waters. I am thrilled that Sir Tim has agreed to join the IMRF community as our new Patron, and I’m excited to see how we can work together to bolster the maritime SAR sector, tackle critical issues facing the sector and advance key initiatives to improve the lives of those working in a challenging industry.”
In addition to its work providing guidance and best practice for SAR operations, the IMRF has also launched a number of critical initiatives to improve the wellness and efficiency of SAR personnel, including its #WomenInSAR campaign, its #SARyouOK? mental health initiative and its #FutureSAR climate change awareness campaign.
#yaaaay#a tim patronage#ffs charles just make him a working royal already#tim laurence#timothy laurence#tim does stuff#british royal family#brf#princess anne#princess royal
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Here's the complete list of DHS flagged search terms. Don't use any of these on social media to avoid having the 3-letter agencies express interest in your activities!
DHS & Other Agencies
Department of Homeland Security (DHS)
Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)
Coast Guard (USCG)
Customs and Border Protection (CBP)
Border Patrol
Secret Service (USSS)
National Operations Center (NOC)
Homeland Defense
Immigration Customs Enforcement (ICE)
Agent
Task Force
Central Intelligence Agency (CIA)
Fusion Center
Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA)
Secure Border Initiative (SBI)
Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)
Alcohol Tobacco and Firearms (ATF)
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (CIS)
Federal Air Marshal Service (FAMS)
Transportation Security Administration (TSA)
Air Marshal
Federal Aviation Administration (FAA)
National Guard
Red Cross
United Nations (UN)
Domestic Security
Assassination
Attack
Domestic security
Drill
Exercise
Cops
Law enforcement
Authorities
Disaster assistance
Disaster management
DNDO (Domestic Nuclear Detection Office)
National preparedness
Mitigation
Prevention
Response
Recovery
Dirty Bomb
Domestic nuclear detection
Emergency management
Emergency response
First responder
Homeland security
Maritime domain awareness (MDA)
National preparedness initiative
Militia
Shooting
Shots fired
Evacuation
Deaths
Hostage
Explosion (explosive)
Police
Disaster medical assistance team (DMAT)
Organized crime
Gangs
National security
State of emergency
Security
Breach
Threat
Standoff
SWAT
Screening
Lockdown
Bomb (squad or threat)
Crash
Looting
Riot
Emergency Landing
Pipe bomb
Incident
Facility
HAZMAT & Nuclear
Hazmat
Nuclear
Chemical Spill
Suspicious package/device
Toxic
National laboratory
Nuclear facility
Nuclear threat
Cloud
Plume
Radiation
Radioactive
Leak
Biological infection (or event)
Chemical
Chemical burn
Biological
Epidemic
Hazardous
Hazardous material incident
Industrial spill
Infection
Powder (white)
Gas
Spillover
Anthrax
Blister agent
Exposure
Burn
Nerve agent
Ricin
Sarin
North Korea
Health Concern + H1N1
Outbreak
Contamination
Exposure
Virus
Evacuation
Bacteria
Recall
Ebola
Food Poisoning
Foot and Mouth (FMD)
H5N1
Avian
Flu
Salmonella
Small Pox
Plague
Human to human
Human to ANIMAL
Influenza
Center for Disease Control (CDC)
Drug Administration (FDA)
Public Health
Toxic
Agro Terror
Tuberculosis (TB)
Agriculture
Listeria
Symptoms
Mutation
Resistant
Antiviral
Wave
Pandemic
Infection
Water/air borne
Sick
Swine
Pork
Strain
Quarantine
H1N1
Vaccine
Tamiflu
Norvo Virus
Epidemic
World Health Organization (WHO and components)
Viral Hemorrhagic Fever
E. Coli
Infrastructure Security
Infrastructure security
Airport
CIKR (Critical Infrastructure & Key Resources)
AMTRAK
Collapse
Computer infrastructure
Communications infrastructure
Telecommunications
Critical infrastructure
National infrastructure
Metro
WMATA
Airplane (and derivatives)
Chemical fire
Subway
BART
MARTA
Port Authority
NBIC (National Biosurveillance Integration Center)
Transportation security
Grid
Power
Smart
Body scanner
Electric
Failure or outage
Black out
Brown out
Port
Dock
Bridge
Canceled
Delays
Service disruption
Power lines
Southwest Border Violence
Drug cartel
Violence
Gang
Drug
Narcotics
Cocaine
Marijuana
Heroin
Border
Mexico
Cartel
Southwest
Juarez
Sinaloa
Tijuana
Torreon
Yuma
Tucson
Decapitated
U.S. Consulate
Consular
El Paso
Fort Hancock
San Diego
Ciudad Juarez
Nogales
Sonora
Colombia
Mara salvatrucha
MS13 or MS-13
Drug war
Mexican army
Methamphetamine
Cartel de Golfo
Gulf Cartel
La Familia
Reynose
Nuevo Leon
Narcos
Narco banners (Spanish equivalents)
Los Zetas
Shootout
Execution
Gunfight
Trafficking
Kidnap
Calderon
Reyosa
Bust
Tamaulipas
Meth Lab
Drug trade
Illegal immigrants
Smuggling (smugglers)
Matamoros
Michoacana
Guzman
Arellano-Felix
Beltran-Leyva
Barrio Azteca
Artistics Assassins
Mexicles
New Federation
Terrorism
Terrorism
Al Queda (all spellings)
Terror
Attack
Iraq
Afghanistan
Iran
Pakistan
Agro
Environmental terrorist
Eco terrorism
Conventional weapon
Target
Weapons grade
Dirty bomb
Enriched
Nuclear
Chemical weapon
Biological weapon
Ammonium nitrate
Improvised explosive device
IED (Improvised Explosive Device)
Abu Sayyaf
Hamas
FARC (Armed Revolutionary Forces Colombia)
IRA (Irish Republican Army)
ETA (Euskadi ta Askatasuna)
Basque Separatists
Hezbollah
Tamil Tiger
PLF (Palestine Liberation Front)
PLO (Palestine Libration Organization)
Car bomb
Jihad
Taliban
Weapons cache
Suicide bomber
Suicide attack
Suspicious substance
AQAP (Al Qaeda Arabian Peninsula)
AQIM (Al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb)
TTP (Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan)
Yemen
Pirates
Extremism
Somalia
Nigeria
Radicals
Al-Shabaab
Home grown
Plot
Nationalist
Recruitment
Fundamentalism
Islamist
Weather/Disaster/Emergency
Emergency
Hurricane
Tornado
Twister
Tsunami
Earthquake
Tremor
Flood
Storm
Crest
Temblor
Extreme weather
Forest fire
Brush fire
Ice
Stranded/Stuck
Help
Hail
Wildfire
Tsunami Warning Center
Magnitude
Avalanche
Typhoon
Shelter-in-place
Disaster
Snow
Blizzard
Sleet
Mud slide or Mudslide
Erosion
Power outage
Brown out
Warning
Watch
Lightening
Aid
Relief
Closure
Interstate
Burst
Emergency Broadcast System
Cyber Security
Cyber security
Botnet
DDOS (dedicated denial of service)
Denial of service
Malware
Virus
Trojan
Keylogger
Cyber Command
2600
Spammer
Phishing
Rootkit
Phreaking
Cain and abel
Brute forcing
Mysql injection
Cyber attack
Cyber terror
Hacker
China
Conficker
Worm
Scammers
Social media
SOCIAL MEDIA?!
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Maritimes Against Climate Change
One week ago my group Maritimes Against Climate Change held a rally to bring the community together and hold the fossil fuel companies, who get tax breaks while destroying our world, accountable.
Here was the speech I was supposed to do, but had to wrap it up due to me recovering from a cold and the weather:
"Hello everyone, thank you all for coming despite the weather. We can all see that Canada still has a little bit of cold left in her despite what were here for.
Over the last couple of years, outright Climate Denialism has been waning. Many people see with their own eyes that "October used to be cold" or "we would get long lasting snow before December".
Denying that humanity is the cause usually follows, that's easy to disprove, then denying that its a problem is next, which if you come across that I have some information to help argue that point:
Cost of Environmental Events: Atlantic Canada has experienced significant financial losses due to extreme weather events. For instance, Hurricane Fiona in 2022 caused damages exceeding $800 million, underscoring the vulnerability of our infrastructure and communities. CBC
Fisheries and Aquaculture: Warming ocean temperatures and changes in salinity are affecting fish stocks and aquaculture operations. Notably, the lucrative lobster industry in Nova Scotia has faced challenges due to shifting populations and increased competition.
Agriculture: Increased frequency of droughts and heavy rainfall events disrupt crop yields, impacting food security and rural economies. The 2023 drought in Atlantic Canada led to significant agricultural challenges, with some regions receiving only a quarter of their usual rainfall. Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada
Fishing and agriculture are the backbones of our communities, farmers in particular are in tune and rightfully worried about the climate crisis, because their crops and their livelihoods are on the line.
For more individual impacts to counter the "it doesnt effect me specifically" crowd:
Insurance and Financial Services: The rise in climate-related disasters has led to higher insurance claims and premiums. In 2021, severe weather caused $2.1 billion in insured damages across Canada, with Atlantic Canada being particularly affected. IBC
Health: Rising temperatures are increasing heat-related illnesses, while poor air quality during wildfire seasons poses respiratory risks. In 2023, Atlantic Canada experienced an unprecedented wildfire season, leading to health advisories and evacuations. CBC
Housing: Coastal and riverine flooding threaten homes and necessitate relocation or expensive retrofitting. Sea-level rise projections indicate that the Atlantic region will experience the largest local sea-level rise in Canada, increasing the risk of flooding and erosion. CNN
Thank you to Climatlantic for these statistics.
As I say a lot in these marches, in New Brunswick, we have the forest to our left and the sea to the right, both integral to our survival but with climate change, can also be a risk. I have nightmares all the time of me, my parents, my grandparents, my friends, my future family being evacuated because their homes are no longer safe. I do not wish that upon anyone on this earth.
Finally, the last state of climate denialism is also the one that hurts the most, because it comes not from a place of ignorance, but apathy, hopelessness. The viewpoint that we cant solve it, that its too late.
And i get it, the world is a big place, a lot of moving parts, lobbying is so rampant it easily makes you feel small. But you are not alone. The average New Brunsweicker is closer to being homeless than ever having as much as the people who influence the world's politics, but the thing is, there are way more if us. And if we come together in solidarity and tackle the same problem, we can influence the policies that effect we the people.
For many years we have seen that corporate greed has not only hurt the environment, but our communities as well. Multimillion dollar Companies continue to choose profits over the people that brought them to that place. Rising costs of everything has been straining all of us thin, and the climate crisis, exacerbated by the fossil fuel industry will not help. We need to be vocal that the reason that these companies as well as our politicians are at the place they are is due to the blood sweat and tears of the hardworking individuals of our communities. Every time we try to make companies pay their fair share, they make their customers or even their own employees shoulder the burden.
We need to stand in solidarity with workers and demand for policies that not only change, but improve the lives of all New Brunsweickers. Making sure that the future of Maritimers aren't thought of with fear and worry, but hope.
And how do we get our voices herd? Rallying our communities. Organizing events, bringing these towns, cities, communities together all under a single driving force, our future. Starting small with local governments, municipalities, up to provincial and hopefully to a national scale, we will bring the voice of the people to where it needs to be. Just as one kid rallied the world for climate action before covid, I plan to rally the maritimes for the same cause. Our voices need to be loud! Our mission needs to put the lives of New Brunsweickers first! The environment of will be a priority of course but we will never forget that this will be done by New Brunsweickers for New Brunsweickers.
This fight needs to be workers, the everyday person, versus the companies and CEOs that effect us all. We need to show them that we stand together and wont stand for this treatment anymore! So rally your fellow workers, strike, picket, march, get involved with local government, local groups, everything. Because if we won't do it, who will?"
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YOUR MUSE IF THEY WERE A DEITY.
ABRAHAM LINCOLN.
deity of: Honesty, Governance, Martyrdom, and Grief.
In Abrahamic religions, he is also the Patron Saint of the Misunderstood — especially those who struggle with mental health issues or who may be drawn to occult practices.
associated with: Leadership, Ghosts, War, Death, Justice, Law, History, Clairvoyance, Divination, Truth, Freedom, Morality, Karma, Manifestation, Public Speaking, Eloquence, and Authority.
sacred plants: Parsley, Sage, Alder, Monkshood, Heather, and Wormwood.
sacred stones / gems: Moldovite, Amethyst, Tiger’s Eye, Red Jasper, Onyx, Garnet, and Blue Calcite.
sacred animals: Cats.
colours: Charcoal. Navy Blue. Silver. Heather Gray. Tan.
tarot card(s): Justice. King of Cups. The Hermit.
scents: Old books.
ways to honor & worship: Read a book you haven’t read before, dedicate your study sessions to him (especially for courses tied to history, law, or politics), debate someone on a topic you care about, write poetry.
ANASTASIA ANDREWS-ISMAY, the RMS Titanic.
deity of: Maritime Travel, Shipbuilding, The Industrial Revolution, Technology, and Tragedy.
associated with: Travel, The Ocean, Communication, Strength, Wealth, Magic, Divine Messages / Omens, Ambition, Business, Pride, Transformative Experiences, Danger, Collective Historical Memory, and Destiny.
sacred plants: Jasmine, Oak, Thyme, Marigold, Lily, Honeysuckle, and Clover.
sacred stones / gems: Malachite, Moonstone, Rose Quartz, Carnelian, Serpentine, Diamond, and Jade.
sacred animals: Coral, Crow, Dolphin.
colours: Caramel Brown. Sea Green. Dark Red.
tarot card(s): The Tower. The High Priestess. Death.
scents: The Ocean.
ways to honor & worship: Build a seashell collection and add to it whenever you go to the beach, remember those who were lost on the Titanic, research the Titanic, learn about the ocean and all of her inhabitants, sing traditional Irish folk songs, visit a museum.
TAGGED BY no one! I stole this from @rh4egar 🫶🏻🤭
TAGGING @neverhangd, @honorhearted, @threecardtrick, @audaciiae, @mvndrvke, @nomdepen, @realmyths, @reverdies, @wolfvirago, AND YOU. All tags on dash games are no pressure, so feel free to ignore this if you’d prefer. Please let me know if you don’t want to be tagged in dash game posts anymore.
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Marine Onboard Communication and Control Systems Market: A Global Outlook and Forecast
The Marine Onboard Communication and Control Systems Market has gained significant momentum due to the increasing global demand for secure, efficient, and integrated maritime communication solutions. Estimated at USD 8.6 billion in 2023, the market is projected to reach USD 12.3 billion by 2028, expanding at a CAGR of 7.3%. This growth is propelled by rising maritime trade, advancements in communication technology, and growing investments from both government and commercial sectors.
What are Marine Onboard Communication and Control Systems?
Marine Onboard Communication and Control Systems refer to a suite of integrated technologies that enhance communication, navigation, and overall operational control on marine vessels. These systems encompass a variety of components, including communication radios, satellite systems, automation identification systems (AIS), and propulsion control systems, among others.
Key components include:
Communication Systems: Facilitate secure data transmission between ships and shore stations. They encompass satellite systems, radios, and receivers, enabling vessels to maintain connectivity even in remote areas.
Control Systems: Include automation and monitoring technologies that ensure optimal vessel performance, such as engine control, navigation safety, and fuel efficiency.
You Can Download PDF Brochure: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/pdfdownloadNew.asp?id=25117530
How Do Marine Onboard Communication and Control Systems Work?
These systems use advanced digital and satellite technology to ensure continuous and secure communication across all stages of a vessel's journey. Here’s an overview of how they operate:
Satellite and Radio Communication: Using satellites, these systems allow for global communication. This ensures that vessels can receive weather updates, navigational warnings, and emergency alerts in real-time.
Automation Identification System (AIS): AIS facilitates vessel tracking by broadcasting a ship’s location to other vessels and shore-based stations. This helps prevent collisions and aids in search and rescue operations.
Control Systems and Monitoring: Integrated control systems enable real-time monitoring of engine performance, fuel consumption, and other critical parameters. These systems allow predictive maintenance, which enhances overall vessel efficiency and safety.
Growth Drivers of the Marine Onboard Communication and Control Systems Market
Several factors contribute to the robust growth of the Marine Onboard Communication and Control Systems Industry:
Increase in Marine Fleet Size: Global marine trade continues to rise, prompting an increase in new vessel construction and retrofitting of existing fleets with advanced communication systems. According to the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development, maritime trade recovered by 4.3% in 2021, with growth expected to continue through 2026.
Demand for Operational Efficiency: With the adoption of IoT and AI technologies, vessels are now able to monitor and optimize their operations in real-time. This results in reduced fuel consumption, minimized downtime, and enhanced safety.
Government Investments in Maritime Modernization: Governments worldwide are modernizing their navies with advanced marine communication and control systems to bolster secure and efficient maritime operations. This is particularly prominent in countries like China, the United States, and South Korea, which are investing heavily in these technologies.
Market Opportunities for Marine Onboard Communication and Control Systems
As maritime industries continue to evolve, new opportunities arise within the Marine Onboard Communication and Control Systems market:
Advancements in Connectivity: With the advent of 5G, low Earth orbit (LEO) satellites, and high-speed internet, vessels can maintain connectivity even in the most remote areas. This opens up opportunities for enhanced situational awareness and improved decision-making for both onboard and onshore teams.
Integration of Smart Sensors and Monitoring Devices: Smart sensors enable real-time data gathering on various operational metrics, from engine temperature to weather conditions. This enhances predictive maintenance capabilities, reduces the likelihood of equipment failure, and improves overall vessel safety.
Growing Demand for Eco-Friendly Solutions: As environmental regulations tighten, there is a growing demand for green and efficient marine communication systems. Technologies that optimize fuel consumption and reduce emissions are becoming increasingly popular, providing further growth opportunities.
Key Players in the Marine Onboard Communication and Control Systems Market
The Marine Onboard Communication and Control Systems Market is dominated by Key Players who are continually innovating to meet industry demands. Some of the top players include:
Emerson Electric Co. (US): Known for providing automation solutions that enhance vessel operational efficiency.
Wärtsilä (Finland): Offers a range of maritime solutions, including integrated bridge systems and automation platforms.
Kongsberg (Norway): Specializes in marine automation systems, and has recently launched the K-Chief, a new platform for more efficient marine operations.
ABB (Switzerland): Provides advanced propulsion systems and recently developed the ABB Dynafin, which enhances ship efficiency.
Northrop Grumman Corporation (US): A leading player in the defense sector, offering cutting-edge maritime communication and control systems.
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Recent Developments in Marine Onboard Communication and Control Systems
June 2023: Kongsberg launched the K-Chief marine automation system to streamline marine operations.
June 2023: ST Engineering introduced an upgraded version of its NERVA ship management system, featuring data analytics and centralized control capabilities.
May 2023: ABB unveiled the ABB Dynafin, a propulsion system that enhances ship efficiency with an innovative, low-speed motor design.
Challenges Facing the Marine Onboard Communication and Control Systems Market
While growth prospects are strong, the market faces certain challenges:
High Initial Costs: The integration of advanced communication and control systems requires significant investment. For instance, a VSAT communication system can cost around USD 60,000. This poses a financial challenge for smaller shipping companies.
Retrofitting Older Vessels: Upgrading older ships with modern systems involves technical difficulties, such as integrating new technologies with outdated wiring and control systems. These modifications can be time-consuming and may require substantial investment.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. Which are the major companies in the Marine Onboard Communication and Control Systems market?
Major companies include Emerson Electric Co., Wärtsilä, Kongsberg, ABB, and Northrop Grumman Corporation. These companies are renowned for their innovative solutions in marine communication and control systems.
2. What are the key drivers of the Marine Onboard Communication and Control Systems market?
Rising marine fleet size, demand for operational efficiency, and government investments in maritime modernization are major drivers of market growth.
3. Which region is expected to grow at the highest rate?
Asia Pacific is projected to exhibit the highest growth rate due to increasing seaborne trade and significant investments in naval modernization.
4. What is the expected CAGR of the Marine Onboard Communication and Control Systems Market?
The market is expected to grow at a CAGR of 7.3% from 2023 to 2028.
To Gain Deeper Insights Into This Dynamic Market, Speak to Our Analyst Here: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/speaktoanalystNew.asp?id=25117530
Key Takeaways
Growth Projection: The Marine Onboard Communication and Control Systems market is forecast to grow from USD 8.6 billion in 2023 to USD 12.3 billion by 2028.
Major Drivers: Key drivers include the rise in marine fleet size, demand for enhanced operational efficiency, and increased government investments.
Opportunities: Opportunities lie in evolving connectivity solutions, integration of smart sensors, and the demand for eco-friendly technologies.
Regional Dominance: Asia Pacific is projected to lead market growth due to expanding maritime trade and technological advancements.
Key Players: Prominent companies like Emerson Electric Co., Wärtsilä, Kongsberg, ABB, and Northrop Grumman Corporation are instrumental in shaping the market.
The Marine Onboard Communication and Control Systems market represents a critical aspect of the maritime industry’s evolution. As global trade continues to expand and technological advancements accelerate, this market is poised for substantial growth, with new opportunities emerging for companies to enhance maritime communication, navigation, and operational efficiency.
#marine onboard communication and control systems#maritime communication#marine control systems market#marine communication technology#maritime industry growth#market research
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On “Civilization” from The Dawn of Everything
One problem is that we’ve come to assume that ‘civilization’ refers, in origin, simply to the habit of living in cities. Cities, in turn, were thought to imply states. But as we’ve seen, that is not the case historically, or even etymologically. The word ‘civilization’ derives from Latin civilis, which actually refers to those qualities of political wisdom and mutual aid that permit societies to organize themselves through voluntary coalition. In other words, it originally meant the type of qualities exhibited by Andean ayllu associations or Basque villages, rather than Inca courtiers or Shang dynasts. If mutual aid, social co-operation, civic activism, hospitality or simply caring for others are the kind of things that really go to make civilizations, then this true history of civilization is only just starting to be written.
As we’ve been showing throughout this book, in all parts of the world small communities formed civilizations in that true sense of extended moral communities. Without permanent kings, bureaucrats or standing armies they fostered the growth of mathematical and calendrical knowledge. In some regions they pioneered metallurgy, the cultivation of olives, vines and date palms, or the invention of leavened bread and wheat beer; in others they domesticated maize and learned to extract poisons, medicines and mind-altering substances from plants. Civilizations, in this true sense, developed the major textile technologies applied to fabrics and basketry, the potter’s wheel, stone industries and beadwork, the sail and maritime navigation, and so on.
A moment’s reflection shows that women, their work, their concerns and innovations are at the core of this more accurate understanding of civilization. As we saw in earlier chapters, tracing the place of women in societies without writing often means using clues left, quite literally, in the fabric of material culture, such as painted ceramics that mimic both textile designs and female bodies in their forms and elaborate decorative structures. To take just two examples, it’s hard to believe that the kind of complex mathematical knowledge displayed in early Mesopotamian cuneiform documents or in the layout of Peru’s Chavín temples sprang fully formed from the mind of a male scribe or sculptor, like Athena from the head of Zeus. Far more likely, these represent knowledge accumulated in earlier times through concrete practices such as the solid geometry and applied calculus of weaving or beadwork. What until now has passed for ‘civilization’ might in fact be nothing more than a gendered appropriation – by men, etching their claims in stone – of some earlier system of knowledge that had women at its centre.
—The Dawn of Everything, Graeber and Wengrow
#civilization#history#anthropology#archaeology#political philosophy#human nature#sharing because I love this so much and need everyone to read it 🥲#finally some good fucking food#these guys spend the entire first chapter absolutely tearing apart all the enlightenment thinkers theories about social evolution#the dawn of everything
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There are just two cables linking the remote Arctic archipelago of Svalbard with mainland Norway, providing almost all the data from polar-orbiting satellites to the rest of the world. And two years ago, they nearly stopped working.
Norwegian police images released in late May show the catastrophic damage done to one of the Svalbard fiber optic cables: the plastic casing slashed open, the cable exposed, and wires unfurled like a faulty electrical cord.
The unsolved January 2022 incident, which cut data flow from the SvalSat satellites and limited air traffic to the archipelago, is serving as a cautionary tale about what can happen when undersea cables—which underpin most of the global communications network—are cut. Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthi rebels did just that earlier this year when they targeted a key bottleneck between Asia, Africa, and Europe—after threatening to do so in response to Israel’s war against Hamas in Gaza.
The threat is not just limited to one or two areas. NATO officials believe that Russia has a decadeslong program to map out European undersea infrastructure as part of an effort to prepare the battlefield for a possible conflict with the 32-nation alliance.
“We know the potential is there to do damage if they would want to,” said a senior NATO official, speaking with Foreign Policy on condition of anonymity based on ground rules for interacting with journalists set by the alliance. “Part of Russian war planning is knowing where the critical infrastructure of your enemy is.”
It doesn’t take a huge effort by the Russians to get the information that they need to cause harm. Most of the pipelines are run by utility companies, and much of the data on where the cables run is in the public domain because of licensing requirements.
In response, NATO now has an undersea infrastructure coordination group that brings together military and civilian officials and has the power to convene top representatives from the private sector, based out of the alliance’s Maritime Command in the London suburb of Northwood.
“The question is connecting all the dots and creating a network,” the senior NATO official said of the information and intelligence exchange.
The ambitious effort is an attempt to use computing power to protect the vast undersea cable network that undergirds much of the global economy. Since it’s nearly impossible to patrol undersea all the time without an unrealistic number of submarines—especially across the Atlantic Ocean—the alliance has to rely on computers. Drawing on data from software interfaces and the cable and pipeline operators themselves, NATO allies are working together with the private sector to create a massive alert system for the thousands of miles of undersea infrastructure in Northern Europe, relying on sensors from the cables as well as acoustic sensors attached to wind turbines, which can be used to detect irregularities.
“NATO processes, I think, are sort of in a very early phase,” said Audun Halvorsen, the director of the emergency department for the Norwegian Shipowners’ Association (and formerly the country’s deputy foreign minister). “They are basically trying to map out the landscape when it comes to jurisdictions, when it comes to authorities involved. You are facing a huge range of different regulatory regimes for the industry around the undersea basin.”
The strategy of cutting undersea cables is almost as old as modern warfare. (The first trans-Atlantic cables had been laid a few decades earlier, in 1866.) Britain began cutting German undersea cables at the outset of World War I to sabotage communications—and the Germans happily returned the favor. When submarine telephone cables began being laid in the 1950s, during the early days of the Cold War, Soviet trawlers damaged underwater cables near the Newfoundland coast. The U.S. Navy alone owns more than 40,000 nautical miles of active cables on the seafloor.
But with fiber optic cables becoming the ubiquitous plumbing that underpins global communications and trade in the internet age, the vulnerability in the seabed is growing. Norway’s undersea pipeline network provides about 40 percent of Europe’s natural gas supply, with pipelines crisscrossing the North Sea to the United Kingdom and the rest of the continent along with about 500 underwater communication cables that carry roughly 97 percent of the world’s internet traffic—some of them extending all the way across the Atlantic Ocean. That’s as much as $10 trillion in financial transactions every day.
“It is less kinetic and more a way for the Russians to show the West that ‘we know you guys are quite challenged in securing that infrastructure,’” said Sebastian Bruns, a naval expert at the Center for Maritime Strategy and Security at the Institute for Security Policy at Kiel University in Germany. “They would be tackling the very seams of what ties our societies together.”
About 100 of those cables break globally every year—most by accident—and it’s basically impossible to protect all of that infrastructure, other than by adding even more redundant data cables or ensuring that more liquified natural gas tankers are waiting out at sea, providing another source of gas if there’s a break.
The concern for that infrastructure has led to the NATO effort, which began after the September 2022 attacks on the Nord Stream 1 and 2 pipelines that transport natural gas from Russia to Germany. Even though much of the data about where the cables are located is public, the sensor data that could determine whether a linkage is in danger of being cut is stovepiped far under the national level—meaning that it’s kept within the companies themselves. The United States alone has 85 licensed undersea telecommunications landing stations. And while many pipeline owners have taken into account the risk of corrosion and possible accidents, factoring for sabotage is less common.
Some experts believe that smaller groups of countries can move faster than NATO to protect the cables. In April, Norway and five other countries bordering the North Sea—Belgium, Denmark, the Netherlands, Germany, and the United Kingdom—agreed to share operational information to protect undersea cables and pipelines against sabotage. And the Council of the Baltic States recently met in Finland to condemn Russia’s hybrid tactics—incidents of sabotage that fall beneath the level of declared war, including threats to undersea cables.
Already, Russia is lashing out at Nordic countries through other means. Since Finland joined NATO in April 2023, Russia has been sending waves of forced migrants to their 830-mile-long shared border—nearly half of the entire boundary between Russia and the alliance—forcing Helsinki to shut down all of its crossings. Russia has proposed redrawing borders in the Baltic Sea, hit Sweden with cyberattacks, and even removed buoys on the Narva River that Estonia put in place to mark their maritime frontier.
“All of our economy under the sea is under threat,” Vice-Adm. Didier Maleterre, the deputy commander of the NATO maritime command, said in April.
The threat is heightened by a Russian submarine program that has resurged since the 2022 invasion of Ukraine, operating from the Kola Peninsula. But problems can also be caused by unintended anchor drag from commercial ships. The Hong Kong-flagged and Chinese-operated NewNew Polar Bear, suspected of damaging the Balticconnector gas pipeline between Finland and Estonia in October 2023, sailed away along the Northern Sea route with protection from a Russian icebreaker.
In the face of all the other challenges—shrinking navies, a resurgence in piracy, the Red Sea attacks—that undersea flank is exposed.
And officials say that Russia’s use of criminal and civilian networks—which are also deployed to create influence networks in mainland Europe—makes all of these tactics, including the sabotage of undersea pipelines, extremely difficult to pin on the Kremlin. The Russian surveys of the Baltic seabed, for instance, are carried out by ships with an ostensibly scientific purpose.
“We are still tied into this military-versus-civilian division of labor, whereas the Russians are much smarter using civilian vessels for military purposes,” said Bruns, the naval expert. “We are yet to find a solution for that.”
Scientists still understand relatively little about the form of the seafloor. So artificial intelligence is also being used to map it, providing another potential method to spot would-be Russian cable snappers. Some NATO countries and operators are even thinking about burying their pipelines in the seafloor, especially in the Baltic Sea, where the average depth is just under 200 feet. It’s already standard practice near most European coastlines, since it helps protect against bottom trawlers and ship anchors.
After the Balticconnector pipeline incident last fall, Norway began to do an inventory of its own undersea infrastructure, starting with oil and gas before branching out to map parts of the electrical grid and communications cables that ran underwater. Authorities were able to search nearly 5,600 miles of oil and gas pipelines.
“We searched everything,” said Gen. Eirik Kristoffersen, Norway’s chief of defense. “When we found something, we used our military experts to look [at], ‘what is this? Is this something that has been placed there? Is this something from World War II? Is it something that the fishermen dropped?’”
The ability to conduct such an extensive search stems from the infrastructure of the private sector. Norway’s energy industry already has preparedness mechanisms in place to help protect and repair undersea infrastructure for pipelines and electric cables, Halvorsen said, which is coordinated by Norwegian operator Equinor. It’s a model that Halvorsen believes has promise for communication cables, too. But across most of NATO, that capability is limited.
“There is basically zero capability in government hands to survey, repair, maintain, [or] replace any of this infrastructure,” Halvorsen said. “All that capability and capacity is for the civilian industry. So to protect this kind of underwater infrastructure, you need to have some kind of functioning interface between the government side … and the industry.”
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Balfonheim; then and now
Situated on a peninsula in the eastern Archadian region, Balfonheim is a port town that, in its earlier days, thrived as a prominent fishing port in Ivalice. Over time, it evolved into a hub for piracy. As the Archadian Empire intensified its crackdown on piracy, the residents shifted towards the legitimate shipping industry, transforming the town into a center for maritime transportation and trade. Despite the shift from piracy to legal trade, Balfonheim has consistently dominated the Naldoan Sea, boasting a high standard of living for a town of its size. While this port town is self-governed, it pays a substantial sum to the Archadian Empire, securing a unique autonomy within the imperial structure.
In the present day, Balfonheim hosts a diverse community, encompassing pirates, sky pirates, fishermen, and the rough-and-tumble; the kind of people who have abandoned their homeland. Many of the inhabitants have anti-establishment views, and so as the empire grows in power, relations with the empire gradually deteriorate. And those who took an anti-imperialist stance became more prominent. Despite this, the people of Balfonheim have yet to throw their lot with the Resistance, as it brings no tangible benefits to their community.
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dockside solitude has been taking shape in my mind for awhile as the portion of the city in which fabulous wealth brushes elbows with poverty. there are fishers and whalers fishing and whaling (imagine) in the bay but haafing harbor is known mostly as an advantageous port of call for merchant vessels bound back and forth from the bretic fiefs and northern morrowind. dockside boasts lots of warehouses where imported and exported goods are stored on their way inland or overseas. lots of factories (as in trading stations where factors do business rather than the modern definition). customs-houses. drydocks where ships are refitted and cross-planked for journeys through the northern pack ice. local merchants like erikur often manage to shoulder in and make lots of money but, despite its grand and slow decline, the king of all this industry is still the east empire company
but in addition to being a commercial hub dockside is also the home of all the working people (not the merchants and investors, who mostly live in more fashionable tenements "on the rock," i.e. within the city walls) who grease the wheels of the company's trade empire. its clerks and customs-folk and fishers and whalers and dockers and sailors are fed in public-houses and fishmarkets and housed in tenements of the more cramped and rickety kind. conditions are particularly miserable for the dockers (longshoremen) whose work is back-breaking and dangerous and whose efforts to establish their own guild and advocate for higher wages have been blocked for years. clerks do comparatively "comfortable" work in the factories—and are afforded more opportunities for advancement than the hard laborers—but are equally downtrodden and underpaid. the frustrations simmering in dockside threaten to come to a boil in 201 with the new dangers posed to maritime trade—and consequently the livelihoods of everyone in the community—by war and piracy and dragons trying to devour the world etc. interesting times
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