#That is DIRECTLY effecting the local climate

[specialagentartemis]

Some good things happening at the local level: Land Back edition

The Confederated Tribes of Siletz Indians purchased back 2,000 acres of deeply historically significant land in Oregon, the site of both a massacre of Native people at the hands of the US army, and the site of a treaty signing that established a temporary truce and reservation. (Posted Jan 21, 2025)

The property was purchased directly from the previous landowner. The Nature Conservancy preserves a conservation easement on the land. The Siletz will continue to work closely with the Nature Conservancy and the BLM across the properties in the region to emphasize conservation and restoration. “To me, land back means, in its purest form, its return of lands to a tribe,” Kentta [citizen of the Confederated Tribes of Siletz Indians and the tribal council treasurer] said. “This is through purchase, and a significant amount paid out for the purchase. So for us, that is regaining of land back, but it's not a settlement or apology for things that happened in the past.”

The Tule River Tribe in California is moving forward with a plan to buy back 14,673 acres of rivers, forests, ranchland, and wetland in a conservation project partnering with The Conservation Fund, the Wildlife Conservation Board, and various California conservation organizations. It's set to move into Tule River control (or at least co-management? unclear to me) sometime this year. (Posted January 8, updated January 10, 2025)

Charmaine McDarment, chairwoman of the Tule River Tribal Council, said in a press release that the tribe appreciates help in restoring ancestral homelands. “As the climate crisis brings new pressures to address the effects of environmental mismanagement and resource degradation, the Tribe’s partnership with WCB is an important example of building relationships based in collaboration and trust. “The tribe remains committed to supporting co-stewardship efforts and fighting to ensure that disproportionate harms to Native American lands, culture, and resources are resolved in a manner that centers and honors Native American connections to ancestral lands.”

Illinois lawmakers voted to move Shabbona Lake State Park to the management of The Prairie Band Potawatomi Nation.  The Illinois governor has a lot on his plate right now, but is expected to sign the bill into law. (Posted January 14, 2025)

The state House approved SB 867, which would transfer Shabbona Lake State Park to the Prairie Band Potawatomi. The bill now heads to Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker for his signature.  The land transfer hinges on an agreement that the tribe continue to operate the property as a park, still open to the public. Final details will be established in a forthcoming land management agreement between the state and tribe.  Prairie Band Potawatomi Chairman Joseph “Zeke” Rupnick said the bill’s passage was a “meaningful step” toward righting a historic old wrong. The land was originally part of the tribe's 1,280-acre reservation in northern Illinois. During Chief Shab-eh-nay's visit to family in Kansas, the land was unlawfully auctioned off, violating federal requirements for Congressional approval of tribal land sales. The tribe has sought to reclaim the land for nearly two centuries.

A Wabanaki food sovereignty group secured a no-strings-attached land deal to buy 245 acres of farm and forest in Maine, to focus on local, traditional, and sustainable foods. (Posted January 19, 2025)

What sets this purchase apart is that the land transfer comes without conservation easements. These easements, which frequently accompany land returns or transfers, are often well-meaning. However, they can inhibit Indigenous stewardship by preventing practices such as prescribed burning, subdivision, or particular kinds of zoning for buildings or infrastructure.  A coalition of 12 organizations and several private donors helped secure the land for Niweskok [a nonprofit collective of Wabanaki farmers, health professionals, and educators] without easements, giving the Wabanaki nonprofit sovereignty over the property, according to Heather Rogers, Land Protection Program director for Coastal Mountain Land Trust. Her organization has helped finance the Goose River purchase through fundraising and advocacy efforts.  “The land trusts had to approach it with humility - there are other ways to care for land that can end up with better outcomes, and I think we have all come to that realization,” Rogers said. “I think now that we've done it once, I think we would be open to doing it again that way.” 

Conservation, food sovereignty, water management - a few hundred acres here, a thousand acres there, there is movement to put lands back in tribal control, which is a human rights win as well as an ecology/conservation one.  This is mostly happening at state and even private levels, and is something to continue advocating for, pushing for, donating to, and finding out if you have any local movements advocating for this kind of thing near you and calling state-level lawmakers and representatives about.

[dandelionsresilience]

Dandelion News - July 1-7

Like these weekly compilations? Tip me at $kaybarr1735 or check out my Dandelion Doodles!

1. A Kenya marine biodiversity credit program restores mangroves — and livelihoods

“The organization works directly with local communities, ensuring they benefit from restoration efforts. […] “We invest in livelihood enhancement programs such as smart agriculture, beekeeping and small businesses.” […] COBEC and Seatrees support the [community nurseries] groups by providing some materials used in growing propagules, […] then purchases the saplings for its Seatrees project sites.”

2. Giant river otters return to Argentina after 40-year absence

“The milestone release is also the first time a top predator has been brought back from nationwide extinction in the country. [… M]ore than recovering one species, we want to recover its ecological role in the ecosystem, so we’re measuring the diversity and abundance of [prey] fish species in Iberá, via a procedure that assesses DNA in the water and tells us the species that are present and their numbers.”

3. Countries Have Legal Duty to Protect Human Right to a Stable Climate, Top Court Rules

“States and corporations have binding obligations under international law to address the climate crisis as a human rights emergency, Latin America’s top court on human rights ruled on Thursday. [… States are legally obligated] to take “urgent and effective” action to cut greenhouse gas emissions, to adapt, to cooperate, and to guard against climate disinformation and greenwashing.”

4. A new drug causes nerve tissue to emit light, enabling faster, safer surgery

“[Benvonescein is] safe to use and highlighted longer stretches of nerves than would be visible to the naked eye, improving the odds of operating without causing injury. […] In the operating room, surgeons use microscopes with special lights and filters that illuminate the surgical site at a specific frequency that causes the drug to fluoresce. The nerves appear as wormlike yellowish-green structures that thread through the surrounding tissue.”

5. Redwood Materials built record grid storage project using old EV batteries

”These [solar] panels convert sunlight to electricity and store it in the array of old car batteries [“delivering 63 megawatt-hours of second-life grid storage”], to power a miniature data center that a startup named Crusoe built in the same field as the batteries. […] A battery with just 80% of its original capacity left may get plucked from a vehicle, but it can still function fine for storing solar power.”

June 22-28 news here | (all credit for images and written material can be found at the source linked; I don’t claim credit for anything but curating.)

[reading-writing-revolution]

Over the past week I’ve had two big takes: The clouds are darkening, and the opposition is assembling.

Trump’s first 90 days have been both chaotic and predictable. Shortly after Trump’s election, we predicted he would overreach by steamrolling through Project 2025. We warned that our only effective strategy to halt the slide into authoritarianism depends on unified opposition. We recommended people organize that opposition on the ground. Since then we’ve seen a wave of methodical grassroots organizing that has produced the fastest growth in new locally led Indivisible groups since we started Indivisible more than 8 years ago.

But that opposition movement in Congress was flat-footed, in the words of one US Representative. In response to this “roll over and play dead” strategy, Trump did not moderate or slow down. He empowered his top donor, Elon Musk, to ransack the federal government. Together they dismantled agencies and defunded programs for special needs students, cancer researchers, and disaster preparedness. They have menaced the press, the business community, the law firms, the universities, the courts, America’s closest international partners, and the American public itself. 

When the bullies found lax opposition, they escalated their bullying.

We are building a unified opposition. In the days after the inauguration this year, Representatives like Maxwell Frost, Jamie Raskin, and Jasmine Crockett joined us at a boisterous rally outside the DOGE-ransacked US Treasury building. Frost asked the crowd, “Are we the minority or are we the opposition?” Chris Murphy has consistently been on the front lines using every bullhorn he can find to shout “THIS IS AN EMERGENCY.” Cory Booker gave the longest speech in history of the US Senate to bring attention to the crisis. AOC and Bernie have drawn enormous crowds for their anti-Oligarchy tour in red and blue states.

Days ago, Sen. Chris Van Hollen flew to El Salvador to meet with a Maryland father of three who Trump had disappeared to a torture prison. Van Hollen lambasted California Governor Gavin Newsom for calling the camps a distraction, “anybody who can't stand up for the Constitution and the right of due process doesn't deserve to lead.” When House Republicans tried to prevent House Dems from making similar trips, the Dems told them to shove it. 

In a moment like this, leaders of institutions, leaders of communities, and leaders in elective office are all looking around to see which way the people are going. Faced with a set of ridiculous demands from Trump, Harvard University boldly, clearly, and defiantly said NO. We have heard from credible sources who were organizing at Harvard, that their oppositional stance was directly influenced by the massive, peaceful, April 5 Hands Off! protests around the world. We have heard from our friends on Capitol Hill that the rolling waves of mass protest and town halls and empty chair town halls are injecting some courage into the halls of Congress. Organized people power is turning the tide -- it’s not happening all at once, or as fast as we might like, but it’s happening.

Regardless of what they throw at us -- we will organize. We desperately need this unified opposition to take shape, because the clouds continue to darken. In response to Harvard’s defiance, Trump escalated his bullying -- threatening to take away the university’s tax status. Inside DC and across the country, rumors are swirling that Trump could be coming after political opponents in nonprofits in the coming days. The rumored executive orders may target climate groups on Earth Day (tomorrow), or perhaps more broadly seeking to neutralize any nonprofits that could be seen as a threat.

At Indivisible, we are tracking this closely and will be responding quickly when and if these escalations against civil society materialize. But regardless of what comes, I want to be clear: Indivisible will not back down from peacefully and aggressively organizing the opposition to these power-hungry, money-grubbing authoritarians. If something big goes down in the coming days -- we will be communicating over email, text, and on BlueSky: Find me, Leah, and Indivisible there. And come hell or high water you can find me and Leah on a weekly live Whats The Plan discussion at 3pm ET on Thursdays. 

Courage is contagious. Read on to Indivisible’s weekly action items to help spread it around.

-- Ezra Levin Co-Executive Director, Indivisible

[hms-no-fun]

in your view of things right now, with the political climate so hot coming into the election, and companies doing worse than ever in terms of amassing greed and power and fucking us all over... what do you think has to change to find a way out?

oh boy, what a question. i've got a BA in film studies. i pay my bills by making youtube videos and writing homestuck fanfiction. i am not an authority, i only kind of vaguely know what i'm talking about in any given conversation. but i do think about this question a lot, and i've been wanting an excuse to arrange some of my thoughts on the matter. so, you know, don't take my words here as gospel, or as a coherent platform, or whatever. i'm just a goat with some opinions who hasn't read enough theory but means well.

alright. as a communist my answer is always gonna be "proletarian revolution," but that's an endgoal we're currently nowhere near achieving. the path to getting there is impossible to truly know, because of course revolutions are historically contingent on an organized vanguard being prepared to take control in a moment of national crisis. we don't have a leftist vanguard in this country, haven't done since the FBI and state governments went to war with the Black Panthers. my ideal vision of an effective communist party is one unlike any that currently exists on a large scale in the USA, built by organizing communities to coordinate neighborhood needs, as part of city/county organizations coordinating local needs, as part of state organizations that etc. right now political parties are exclusively focused on electoralism. i want a party that can organize eviction blockades, free community daycare, reading groups, high-capacity cafeterias, and all manner of mutual aid. i want a party that can operate with solidarity, as the Panthers did by supporting the 28 day 504 sit-in that resulted in the passage of the Americans with Disabilities Act. an effective vanguard party interfaces directly with the working class and builds its policy platforms based on their needs with no apology, rather than the acceptable liberal half-measures we've grown so accustomed to.

but it's a loooooooong road to get even that far. and you might say such an organization would be offputting, but like. the Panthers won over a lot of moderates over time because they weren't just out on the streets posturing. they took care of people. we only have free school lunch programs at all because of them. this is the thing that drives me nuts about so many leftists today-- you don't win over a moderate or conservative by debating the merit of their ideas. you help improve the material conditions of their day to day life, thanklessly, as you'd do with everyone in that community, because you cannot adopt means testing by another name without selling off an essential part of yourself. slowly, over time, some of those people will be won over. it'll never be everyone, but it doesn't have to be everyone. it doesn't even have to be a majority. you can get a hell of a lot done with even just 30% of people, especially if those people are even mildly-disciplined members of a well-organized party apparatus.

so, okay, that's my sense of the broad strokes. i want a proletarian revolution by way of a militant vanguard party. not saying this is the ONLY way forward, just the one i think would be most likely to succeed under the right circumstances. but again, we're a million miles away from having a communist vanguard in this country. quite frankly, such a thing feels an impossible pipe dream at this exact historic moment. so the question for me then becomes, how do we create the conditions that would allow for such an organization to emerge, claim power, hold it long enough to build a substantial base, then act on it towards a revolutionary goal?

first you've gotta ask why it's so hard to imagine this fanciful 20th century ass operation today. obvious answers: it's fucking impossible for a third party to gain a foothold in the system as it stands, so let's fix that. ranked choice voting would be a good place to start. i'm no electoralist, but if we're presuming that the revolution isn't happening tomorrow then some element of its foundation must be in making our democracy an actual democracy that can reflect people's needs. repeal citizens united. put HUGE limits on campaign donations and make it harder to conceal donations through super PACs. redistricting is another essential piece of the puzzle-- there is precisely one map of every major usamerican city and it's the map of redlined districts where people of color were not allowed to buy property. look at wealth distribution in communities and it'll map 1 to 1 to historic redlining, guaranteed. we gotta fix gerrymandering, loosen restrictions on poll access (such as the ad hoc poll tax that is government ID requirements), and if we're really feeling frisky push for a mandatory federal voting holiday so that no one has to work on election day (which elections count for "election day" is a whole other quagmire of course). less obvious answers: the cops and the FBI are still imprisoning and murdering black, poc, native, and queer activists in broad daylight. the national prison population is an IMMENSE locus of potential revolutionary energy. some goals on that front: abolish prisons, massively defund the cops, and curtail the surveillance state. restore the convicted felon's right to vote, and otherwise remove the many bureaucratic roadblocks that artificially create the cycle of recidivism. put money into nationwide job training programs (NO PUBLIC-PRIVATE PARTNERSHIPS) not just for ex convicts but for everyone, for reasons we'll get to momentarily.

i focus on electoral reform at the start here because i think it's an illustrative example of just how sprawling the task before us is. my goal isn't to overwhelm you or make you feel doomed because "holy shit that's already a lot of stuff that feels totally impossible and you haven't even mentioned healthcare yet," but to hammer home that the class war is being fought on a million fronts. you will go completely numb if you expect any one person or organization to address all of these issues simultaneously and as soon as possible. in an ideal world, there are many many affinity groups working towards these ends all over the place, either as part of or in solidarity with our imagined vanguard. i'm trying to look at ways to materially improve the lives of people in our political economy as it currently exists, rather than just saying "we need revolution" and leaving it there.

alright then, so what about capitalism? another major factor in the systematic disenfranchisement of the working class is the role corporate employers play in maintaining the class war. nobody has time to participate in local political actions because everyone has to work crushing hours, and when they do have days to themselves they still have to personally drive to wherever things are happening and find parking, instead of grocery shopping, taking care of kids, just fucking relaxing, whatever. obvious answers: medicare for all. right now, healthcare access is tied to employment status unless you are COMICALLY poor (i just got kicked off of medicaid a couple months ago because i now make marginally more than the cutoff, which now means i'm paying $200+ more a month on healthcare and am now way more worried about money than when i was on welfare. what a great and functional system!). if you're afraid of losing your health insurance for any reason, then you are disincentivized from expressing any opinions you might have about the conduct of your employer by, say, quitting. just passing universal healthcare alone would cause some major turmoil in the US economy. invest in mass public transit with rigorous local neighborhood access, and now a hell of a lot more people are empowered to participate in civic duty. less obvious answers: get rid of at-will employment! make it much much harder for employers to fire people, and regulate the ability of corporations to do mass layoffs. this would go a long way towards throwing some wrenches into the methods corps use to invent economic prosperity through the creative application of spreadsheets. on top of that, let's nuke the absolute fuck out of means-testing for programs like food stamps, medicaid, social housing, or literally any other form of "charity" that made Reagan shit his pants.

speaking of means testing, let's talk about bullshit jobs. there are a TON of pointless, degrading, wasteful jobs in this country. corps playing middlemen to middlemen. endless state and business bureaucracy using hundreds of systems that rarely if ever communicate with one another, putting a huge administrative burden on working people while the rich beneficiaries of this exploitation get to launder their guilt through the public-facing punching bags of customer service representatives. too many people work at the office factory. there are a lot of industries that need to be massively curtailed if not outright destroyed, a fact that intersects with the threat of climate change when you include coal and oil jobs. it's not enough to get rid of these positions, you also have to have a plan for those displaced workers-- hence the job training program i mentioned before. if we actually want to see a transition into a more egalitarian society that doesn't run exclusively on fossil fuels, then there needs to be a pipeline that gives purpose to the people whose lives will inevitably be radically altered by the kinds of changes we're talking about. there's an important thing, actually-- we all need to be prepared for this line of questioning and have a good answer in the back pocket. there is no shift from pure capitalism to even lite democratic socialism that won't hurt some cohort of people that doesn't deserve it. unless you want them to fall in with the fascists, you're gonna want to have a plan for how to integrate them into the world you're trying to build.

here's a wildcard for you. a lot of folks are on that "break up the monopolies" grind these days, and i appreciate the sentiment. i also think we would be vastly better served in the long run by simply nationalizing the monopolies. obviously there are plenty of worthwhile concerns to be had about any usamerican government gaining that kind of control over anything at this precise moment, but we cannot let that impede the horizons of our imaginary. i don't want market reform, i want the abolition of markets. the internet should be a public utility and ISPs should be government institutions. tech needs UNENDING regulation as we are all aware. social media should be public and interoperable. there needs to be a rolling back of internet surveillance. i've been toying with the idea of a Federal Department of Digital Moderation as an intervention on the current fascist radicalization pipeline that is social media, but that raises so many other concerns that i don't have an answer for. mostly i just think that the profit motive needs to be excised from as many sectors of public life as possible, and nationalization is a pretty good way to get there.

affordable housing! lower rents means fewer hours at work to make ends meet means more time to spend with family & community means more chances for more people to participate in civic action. abolish student debt and make college free! and make it illegal for colleges to invest in shit like fucking israel! a more accessible system of higher education means a more educated proletariat. this wouldn't by any stretch automatically lead to a more leftist proletariat, but conservatives have worked very hard to curtail access to higher education and that alone is more than enough reason to push for it. i've really buried the lede here, honestly. to my mind, medicare for all, mass public transit, free education, and national rent control are THE milestones we ought to be aiming for in terms of domestic policy. it is simply impossible to estimate how seismically and immediately these four policies (if applied equitably and without means-testing) could transform civic life in the USA. any systemic social ill you can name has some connection to one of these four ideas. i personally hold prison abolition & police defunding as equally essential, but these are unfortunately a MUCH harder sell for a lot of folks and will require some solidaristic frog-boiling from the likeable progressives/socialists of the world to naturalize the idea. but then, on that front i'm speaking very much outside my lane, and would defer to the wisdom of actual abolition activists in a scenario where we were talking concrete policy.

then there's foreign policy. this post has gone on a long time and i'm not the person to talk about this at length, but: the united states military needs to be defunded, and its outposts across the world removed. to curtail global climate change, the american imperial project must end. our meddling in foreign affairs is directly responsible for the domination of capital, and so long as this and other western states exist as they do, no communist outpost is safe. then there comes the question of reparations. all those billionaires didn't invent their money, they stole it. in quite a lot of cases they stole it from US citizens, but they've stolen far more from the rest of the world. tax the rich at 99% and distribute billions no-strings-attached to african and pacific island nations? other countries deserve a right to self determination without the threat of foreign interference. our nation's wealth doesn't just need to be taxed and redistributed to working class usamericans (particularly black communities), it ought to be redistributed internationally to all the countries we've fucked with over the last century and a half. but that's a pretty late stage pipe dream.

i guess the last thing that i've been thinking a lot about is more esoteric, and certainly difficult to implement. i believe we need to seriously interrogate "progress" as a concept. right now our society is defined by technological advancements as encouraged by a capitalist economy. if you fuck around with old analog tech at all, you've probably said to yourself more than once "they really don't make em like this anymore." i think about that fucking Hot Ones interview with matt damon about how streaming has stabbed the established profit model in the heart, where he says something like "we had a pretty good thing going before they showed up." i think about small museums closing down in the pandemic because they couldn't turn a profit, small local shops closing down for the same reason. constant newness paired with engineered obsolescence. disruption of the equilibrium in order to steal profit. it's easy to argue that socialized healthcare is good because it's actually more cost efficient than private healthcare. but those are the terms set by capitalists. i believe that healthcare and profit-seeking should be mutually exclusive. i believe that some things are a public good, however small --museums, quirky shops, parks, art spaces, open lots, movies, music, theater, whatever-- and that these things should be protected from the market at all costs. the alternative is corporate consolidation of everything, as every piece of local color cannot compete with economies of scale and asphyxiates to death. i refuse to accept the idea that "progress" means throwing away anyone who specialized in the thing being progressed beyond. i refuse to accept the idea that "progress" is linear and exists beyond the purview of morals, values, and ideology, nor indeed that it is inevitable and in any event an unalloyed good.

i believe that it doesn't matter if making higher-quality clothes at greater cost in unionized factories is "less efficient" than fast fashion. all "efficiency" means is spread everything as thin as possible, just enough just on time regardless of context. it's a mask for robber baron bullshit. it's an attempt by the bourgeoisie to naturalize the laws of economics as if they were on the same level as the laws of gravity, and we just can't accept that anymore. there's that meme, "i want shorter games with worse graphics made by people who are paid more to work less and i’m not kidding." i think we ought to apply that sentiment far more broadly. if we truly believe in the dignity of a self-determined life, then we must agree that some things are above profit, above efficiency, and are worth doing right. i haven't quite nailed down yet how exactly to verbalize this idea in a way that can be easily & quickly understood. but i feel it intensely, and only moreso as time goes on. as we push for these seemingly-impossible policy changes, it's of equal importance that we not lose ourselves to the limitations of the system as it exists under capitalism. to transform the world we must transform ourselves. to save the world we must save ourselves. if we hold a value to be true, then it must be constant and uncompromising. we must agree that our lives are better off when certain things exist even if they aren't efficient or fail to turn a profit, and thus decimate whatever part of us has been raised to believe that efficiency and profit ought ever to enter the equation. of course, in any revolution costs quickly become a huge going concern. there will always be painful compromises in policy along the path, always disappointments and mistakes. no revolution can be perfect. but through all these material challenges, the world that must be needs a place at the table with us. impractical, impossible, unfeasible... necessary.

you will probably not live to see that world, anon, and neither will i. we are all in the long game now, and it can never stop with one good policy, one good politician, one needed win. it's everything or it's nothing. socialism or barbarism. it is this belief which guides me, that no one ought to suffer the indignities i've suffered in my years working for shit wages, struggling to find housing, watching family die from economic abandonment. that there is simply no reason for society to be the way that it is, and that "the world isn't fair" is no excuse when we are the engineers of that "world" in every way that matters.

anyway, those are some of my thoughts on the subject. i hope i haven't made a complete fool of myself here.

[courtana]

We, Black Curatorial, Kwanda, Twossaints, Black Eats London & West India Cinema Corporation have come together to fundraise for people affected by Hurricane Beryl across the West Indies. As West Indian people it is imperative that we support each other and ourselves in the building back of our communities, this is a duty. Hurricane Beryl has devastated hundreds of communities in the West Indies. This is not a freak storm, this is a direct impact of climate crisis in the region - fuelled and sustained by overconsumption and emissions in the Global North. The ocean waters are 4 degrees warmer than expected at this time of year, this has directly affected the speed and ferocity of the hurricane at the beginning of this year's hurricane season. To understand what the importance of AMOC (Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation) is for Hurricane season in the Caribbean and globally please watch this video. The impact of this hurricane is very much being felt, "90% of homes on Union Island had been destroyed", according to Prime Minister Ralph Gonsalves. We’re fundraising for people and charities across Barbados, St Vincent & the Grenadines, Grenada and those affected across the region. The money raised will go towards helping local fishermen in Barbados to buy new boats, support roofing and housing materials for people in Carriacou, Union and Grenada and well as St Vincent to rebuild their livelihoods and homes. We are working collectively to disseminate these funds across the region ensuring they reach grassroots communities and people directly. The Hurricane is now a category 5 and on its way to Jamaica. We urge everyone to pray for its weakening and for the people currently effected by Beryl's peril. Please continue to share and donate to those affected! If you have any questions please email us.

WHERE ARE THE DONATIONS GOING?

This fund exists to go directly to grassroots organisations providing support for those across the following countries: Barbados St Vincent & the Grenadines Carriacou Petite Martinique Union Grenada Jamaica

HOW WILL THEY BE PROCESSED AND ADMINISTERED?

We are working with Kwanda to help disseminate the funds to the existing groups they work with in the affected countries. Black Curatorial work across Barbados and Jamaica administering funds for creatives via the Fly Me Out Fund our process of sending money via transfer is already set up to support and facilitate this fund's dissemination.

WHO'S INVOLVED?

Black Curatorial Kwanda West India Cinema Corporation Twossaints Black Eats London

[wat3rm370n]

Republicans attempt to mandate deregulation of AI for tech tycoons and fossil fuel.

They want to stop all the protections and oversight of automation completely in the country, and handcuff state and local efforts to protect communities and save lives.

404 Media - Republicans Try to Cram Ban on AI Regulation Into Budget Reconciliation Bill Emanuel Maiberg · May 12, 2025 at 10:09 AM “...no State or political subdivision thereof may enforce any law or regulation regulating artificial intelligence models, artificial intelligence systems, or automated decision systems during the 10 year period beginning on the date of the enactment of this Act,” says the text of the bill introduced Sunday night by Congressman Brett Guthrie of Kentucky, Chairman of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce. That language of the bill, how it goes on to define AI and other “automated systems,” and what it considers “regulation,” is broad enough to cover relatively new generative AI tools and technology that has existed for much longer. In theory, that language will make it impossible to enforce many existing and proposed state laws that aim to protect people from and inform them about AI systems. (emphasis added)

This is straight out of the anti public health and climate denial legislative playbook.

Unfortunately in Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro is forcing AI tools into state government and I'm sure employees feel pressured to use such "tools" even if they do damage, because they want to keep their jobs after all, by keeping their deadlines. The incentive usually being to get things done, not necessarily do things right — and chatbots have the uncanny ability to make things look and sound believable even when they're incorrect. In my opinion, this technology belongs nowhere near the people's business.

My letter to reps:

AI and chatbots absolutely need regulation and oversight. And if the feds won't, the states have a right and a responsibility to do so. The idea of handcuffing us from protecting anyone is like saying you want dirty drinking water. I don't want this everywhere. AI is an out of control financial bubble wasting fossil fuel. It outputs inaccurate information, causing threats to patient safety in healthcare settings and has directly led to illness and even death. An AI generated foraging book told people to eat poison mushrooms. Fake childrens books full of nonsense. It can't even do what they say. It seems only to be able to create convincing sounding BS, use energy and water and land that communities desperately need. And it's functioning as an Oracle of Chatbot thing where unwitting people are being told they're connected to a spirit in the universe. Some would surely call this blasphemy. The pope himself has specifically called out the need to defend human dignity against AI. So why do politicians think they should stifle the freedom to protect communities?

Please feel free to copy or repurpose for your own letters to reps.

Pope Leo XIV throws down the gauntlet against AI hype. At his first "working meeting", the pope outlined his priorities to include defending "human dignity" against the threat of AI, citing the dehumanizing effects of the industrial revolution. Chloe Humbert May 13, 2025

Republican state legislators in PA float punitive control of local governments forcing favour to fossil fuel. Republican lawmakers want to punish municipalities attempting to protect local residents and public safety, and impede their compensation for environmental destruction by gas drillers. Chloe Humbert Oct 24, 2024

Lying AI should not be doing the people's business or science. Lives are at stake and the U.S. government and scientific scholars are buying into tech hype boondoggles. Is it corruption, incompetence, or sabotage? Chloe Humbert Mar 22, 2024

More references can be found on these:

The oracle of chatbot phenomenon is not benign. Don't Wait For Everybody - Episode 022 Chloe Humbert May 07, 2025

It's imperative to inform politicians about tech scams that target their ideological hopes with false promises. Crypto mogul donors lure politicians to betray their communities by saying they're doing it to benefit their communities. It's a trick. Chloe Humbert Apr 14, 2025

[mariacallous]

In 2022, conservative groups celebrated a “great victory” over “wokeified” curriculum when the Texas State Board of Education squashed proposed social studies requirements for schools that included teaching kindergartners how Rosa Parks and Cesar Chavez “advocated for positive change.”

Another win came a year later as the state board rejected several textbooks that some Republicans argued could promote a “radical environmental agenda” because they linked climate change to human behavior or presented what conservatives perceived to be a negative portrayal of fossil fuels.

By the time the state board approved science and career-focused textbooks for use in Texas classrooms at the end of 2023, it appeared to be comfortably in sync with conservatives who had won control of local school boards across the state in recent years.

But the Republican-led state education board had not gone far enough for the conservative majority on the school board for Texas’ third-largest school district.

At the tail end of a school board meeting in May of last year, Natalie Blasingame, a board member in suburban Houston’s Cypress-Fairbanks Independent School District, proposed stripping more than a dozen chapters from five textbooks that had been approved by the state board and were recommended by a district committee of teachers and staffers.

The chapters, Blasingame said, were inappropriate for students because they discussed “vaccines and polio,” touched on “topics of depopulation,” had “an agenda out of the United Nations” and included “a perspective that humans are bad.”

In a less-publicized move, Blasingame, a former bilingual educator, proposed omitting several chapters from a textbook for aspiring educators titled “Teaching.” One of those chapters focuses on how to understand and educate diverse learners and states that it “is up to schools and teachers to help every student feel comfortable, accepted and valued,” and that “when schools view diversity as a positive force, it can enhance learning and prepare students to work effectively in a diverse society.”

Blasingame did not offer additional details about her opposition to the chapters during the meeting. She didn’t have to. The school board voted 6-1 to delete them.

The decision to strip chapters from books that had already won the approval of the state’s conservative board of education represents an escalation in local school boards’ efforts to influence what children in public schools are taught. Through the years, battles over textbooks have played out at the state level, where Republicans hold the majority. But local school boards that are supposed to be nonpartisan had largely avoided such fights — they weighed in on whether some books should be in libraries but rarely intervened so directly into classroom instruction. Cypress-Fairbanks now provides a model for supercharging these efforts at more fine-grained control, said Christopher Kulesza, a scholar at Rice University’s Baker Institute for Public Policy.

[beardedmrbean]

In the aftermath of the fatal Texas floods, some Democrats have warned about the "consequences" of the Trump administration's cuts to the federal government workforce, including meteorologists, with Senator Chris Murphy saying that: "Accurate weather forecasting helps avoid fatal disasters."

The suggestion is that the cuts may have impeded the ability of the National Weather Service (NWS) - the government agency which provides weather forecasts in the US - to adequately predict the floods and raise the alarm.

But the White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said on Monday: "These offices [of the NWS] were well staffed… so any claims to the contrary are completely false."

BBC Verify has examined the impact of cuts under President Trump in this area and while there has been a reduction in the workforce at the NWS, experts who we spoke to said the staffing on hand for the Texas floods appears to have been adequate.

What are the cuts?

The Trump administration has proposed a 25% cut to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's (NOAA) current annual budget of $6.1bn (£4.4bn). NOAA is the agency which oversees the NWS.

This would take effect in the 2026 financial year which begins in October this year - so these particular cuts would not have contributed to the Texas tragedy.

However, the staffing levels of the NWS have already been separately reduced by the Trump administration's efficiency drive since January.

The Department of Government Efficiency (Doge), previously run by Elon Musk, offered voluntary redundancies, known as buyouts, as well as early retirements to federal government workers. It also ended the contracts of most of those who were on probation.

As a result, about 200 people at the NWS took voluntary redundancy and 300 opted for early retirement, according to Tom Fahy, legislative director of the National Weather Service Employees Organisation union. A further 100 people were ultimately fired from the service, he said.

In total, the NWS lost 600 of its approximately 4,200 staff, says Mr Fahy, causing several offices across the country to operate without the necessary staffing.

In April, the Associated Press news agency said it had seen data compiled by NWS employees showing half of its offices had a vacancy rate of 20% - double the rate a decade earlier.

Despite this, climate experts told BBC Verify that the NWS forecasts and flood warnings last week in Texas were as adequate as could be expected.

"The forecasts and warnings all played out in a normal manner. The challenge with this event was that it is very difficult to forecast this type of extreme, localised rainfall," says Avantika Gori, an assistant professor of civil and environmental engineering at Rice University in Texas.

And Andy Hazelton, a climate scientist who modelled hurricane paths for the NOAA until he was fired during the layoffs in February, says: "I don't think the staffing issues contributed directly to this event. They got the watches and the warnings out."

What about the impact on offices in Texas?

However, some experts have suggested that staffing cuts may have impeded the ability of local NWS offices in Texas to effectively co-ordinate with local emergency services.

"There is a real question as to whether the communication of weather information occurred in a way that was sub-optimal," says Daniel Swain, a climate scientist at University of California Los Angeles.

"The impact might have been partially averted if some of the people at the weather service responsible for making those communications were still employed - which they were not in some of these local offices," he adds.

The San Angelo and San Antonio offices, which cover the areas affected by the flooding, reportedly had some existing vacancies.

For example, the San Antonio office's website lists several positions as being vacant, including two meteorologists.

The NWS union legislative director told BBC Verify that the San Angelo office was missing a senior hydrologist, a scientist who specialises in flooding events.

The San Antonio office also lacked a "warning coordinating meteorologist", who coordinates communications between local forecasting offices and emergency management services in communities, Mr Fahy said.

However, he noted that both offices had temporarily upped their staffing in anticipation of a dangerous weather event, which is typical in these circumstances.

"The NWS weather forecast offices in Austin/San Antonio and San Angelo, Texas had additional forecasters on duty during the catastrophic flooding event," NWS spokeswoman Erica Grow Cei said in a statement to BBC Verify. "All forecasts and warnings were issued in a timely manner," she added.

NWS meteorologist Jason Runyen, who covers the San Antonio area, also said in a statement that where the office would typically have two forecasters on duty during clear weather, they had "up to five on staff".

When asked on Sunday if government cuts had left key vacancies unfilled at the NWS, President Trump told reporters: "No, they didn't."

Were weather balloon launches reduced?

In a video shared thousands of times on social media, US meteorologist John Morales said: "There has been a 20% reduction in weather balloon releases, launches... What we're starting to see is that the quality of the forecasts is becoming degraded."

Some social media users have been pointing to Mr Morales' words as evidence that budget cuts have limited forecasters' ability to anticipate extreme weather events like the floods in Kerr County, Texas.

Weather balloons are an important tool used by meteorologists to collect weather data - from temperatures, to humidity, pressure, or wind speed - from the upper atmosphere.

In the US, NWS stations would typically launch them twice a day.

In a series of public statements released since February, the NWS confirmed that it either suspended or reduced weather balloon launches in at least 11 locations across the country, which it attributed to a lack of staffing at the local weather forecast offices.

However, there is no evidence to suggest that any of those changes directly affected weather balloon launches in the areas impacted by the floods in Texas.

Publicly available data shows that, in the lead-up to the floods, weather balloon launches were carried out as planned at Del Rio, the launch station nearest to the flood epicentre, collecting data that informed weather forecasts which experts say were as adequate as they could be.

[posttexasstressdisorder]

WhatMatters

Your guide to California policy and politics

By Lynn La

April 23, 2025

Presented by TURN - The Utility Reform Network, Californians for Energy Independence, Dairy Cares and Californians for a Connected Future, a Project of USTelecom

Good morning, California.

Californians continue to suffer toxic gas effects while officials ‘investigate’

A container of hazardous gas, likely methyl bromide, is seen at the outer berths at the Port of Los Angeles in San Pedro on April 8, 2025. Photo by Joel Angel Juarez for CalMatters

A CalMatters investigation of facilities emitting methyl bromide in Los Angeles County has found that local air quality officials won’t be monitoring the air or taking any immediate steps to protect people in nearby homes and schools.

As Alejandra Reyes-Velarde explains, methyl bromide is a highly toxic gas used to kill pests on imported produce. California health officials have classified the chemical as a reproductive toxicant, which means it can harm developing babies in the womb. High levels of short-term exposure can cause headaches and nausea, while exposure lasting a year or more can lead to neurological effects such as learning and memory difficulties.

The South Coast Air Quality Management District has reported that five fumigation facilities in Long Beach, Compton and the L.A. neighborhood of San Pedro may pose a health risk based on a preliminary review. 

In response to a public outcry in Long Beach, the county’s agricultural commissioner, which issues permits to the fumigation companies, required new permit conditions that aim to reduce emissions from the two Long Beach plants.

But permits obtained by CalMatters for three facilities in Compton and San Pedro show that they use much larger volumes of methyl bromide than the Long Beach facilities — yet their permit conditions remain unchanged.

In a letter to regulatory agencies, Democratic U.S. Reps. Nanette Barragán, Maxine Waters and Robert Garcia called for monitors to be installed near all L.A. County fumigation facilities, health assessments for affected communities and the public disclosure of inspection records.

But the South Coast air district does not plan to install air monitors or hold meetings with residents to notify them of potential risks. It is, however, screening facilities to determine whether a full analysis of their health risks is necessary. But even if that analysis is greenlit, the agency said companies would only be required to reduce their emissions if they emit the chemical at concentrations three times higher than the amount deemed a health risk by the state.

Sarah Rees, South Coast’s deputy executive office for planning, rule development and implementation: “We don't want to go out and unnecessarily concern folks if there isn’t (a health concern), but we are actively investigating this right now.”

Edvin Hernandez, a father whose son attends an elementary school near the Compton facility, told CalMatters there appears to be “no interest from the government to protect our health.”

“We’re surviving by the hand of God,” he said.

Read more here.

Gifts are matched dollar-for-dollar in our CalMatters Spring Member Drive. We’re here to connect the dots, uncover what others won’t and explain how state and federal decisions directly impact your life — from housing and education to climate and the economy. Support our independent, trusted journalism, please give now.

Don’t miss this powerhouse panel: California Secretary of Business, Consumer Services and Housing Agency Tomiquia Moss, L.A. County Supervisor Holly J. Mitchell and Riverside Mayor Patricia Lock Dawson join CalMatters’ Marisa Kendall on stage Thursday to dig into what’s working — and what’s failing — when it comes to addressing homelessness and affordable housing. Join us in Sacramento or tune in online. Register now.

Focus on Inland Empire: Each Wednesday, CalMatters Inland Empire reporter Deborah Brennan surveys the big stories from that part of California. Read her newsletter and sign up here to receive it.

Other Stories You Should Know

First-of-its-kind program struggles to survive

A man experiencing homelessness walks by tents in Skid Row in Los Angeles on July 5, 2024. Photo by Etienne Laurent, Reuters

As California struggles to find stable housing for its 187,000 homeless residents, it must also contend with training and employing the people it needs to provide front-line homelessness services, write CalMatters’ Marisa Kendall and Adam Echelman.

Jobs that require face-to-face interaction with unhoused people — such as doing outreach in encampments, working at homeless shelters and being case managers — struggle to recruit and retain staff.

To meet the demands of L.A. County’s homeless population, Santa Monica College began a program last year to train prospective homeless service workers. A state fund provided the program with about $750,000, but once the money runs out, it’s unclear what will happen to the program. Gov. Gavin Newsom’s proposed state budget in January did not include any money for the fund.

Compounding the situation is the fact that the L.A. Homeless Services Authority — the agency that funds the college’s training program — is experiencing its own turmoil. After a scathing audit, the L.A. County Board of Supervisors voted earlier this month to pull its money out of the agency. The city is also considering doing the same.

Read more here.

On the topic of homelessness: Encampment sweeps in San Diego have become more frequent since the city reduced its warning notice from 72 hours to 24. Marisa and CalMatters video strategy director Robert Meeks have a video segment on how these sweeps displace unhoused Californians as part of our partnership with PBS SoCal. Watch it here.

SoCalMatters airs at 5:58 p.m. weekdays on PBS SoCal.

 

CA launches education and workforce database

Students at Point Loma High School in San Diego on May 3, 2024. Photo by Adriana Heldiz, CalMatters

Though debuting months behind schedule, a new statewide education data system to track student progress officially launched Tuesday, reports CalMatters’ Adam Echelman.

Championed by Gov. Newsom, the Cradle to Career Data System gathers data from roughly 3.5 million California public high school graduates and discloses where students enrolled in college; what kinds of degrees they earned; and the wages they earned after receiving a college diploma or certificate. 

Similar tools have been developed by the state in years past, but the new database is more widely accessible to the public and collects data from more schools and state agencies. 

In its current form, the dashboards reveal just a small segment of the state’s education and workforce data. Officials say they will roll out updates to the database, though no specific timelines were given. 

For instance, information about students who attended private or out-of-state colleges will be integrated, as well as students who didn’t graduate high school. The state has also pledged to release other data as part of the Cradle to Career Data System, such as information about early childhood education and teachers’ training and retention.

Read more here.

 

And lastly: Fewer new CA students enrolled at UCs?

A student sits near the Leo and Dottie Kolligian Library at UC Merced on March 27, 2025. Photo by Larry Valenzuela, CalMatters/CatchLight Local

At a hearing Tuesday, officials at the University of California gave the strongest indication yet that the budget cuts state lawmakers are proposing may limit the ability of new students to enter California’s public universities. Find out more from CalMatters’ Mikhail Zinshteyn.

 

California Voices

CalMatters columnist Dan Walters: Given its record of overpromising on major projects, it’s not surprising that California’s goal to convert to carbon-neutral cars and trucks is already falling behind.

CalMatters contributor Loretta Lynch: The California Public Utilities Commission has been neglecting its responsibility to spend customer money wisely — repeatedly acquiescing to utility companies’ requests instead.

Other things worth your time:

Some stories may require a subscription to read.

Newsom says Democrats need to stop looking for a savior on a ‘white horse’ // NBC News

CA state Sen. Alvarado-Gil pulls mountain lion hazing bill after charged hearing // The Sacramento Bee

Why is a new office building for CA lawmakers costing as much as an NFL stadium? // KCRA

CA businesses are feeling the burn from Trump’s tariffs and trade war with China // San Francisco Chronicle

DOGE layoffs of federal mediators leave Southern CA grocery chain labor talks in limbo // Los Angeles Times

Utilities are planning to bury power lines after the LA-area fires. Should they? // LAist

Southeast Asians in LA region are being detained, deported at routine ICE check-ins // Los Angeles Times

Orange County Judge Ferguson, who killed his wife, convicted of murder // The Orange County Register

Zuckerberg-backed primary school in Silicon Valley to close next year // The Mercury News

CA may be the world’s black bear capital, according to state’s new bear plan // San Francisco Chronicle

 

See you next time!

Tips, insight or feedback? Email whatmatters@calmatters.org. Subscribe to CalMatters newsletters here. Follow CalMatters on Facebook and Twitter.

About Us· How We're Funded· Subscribe· Donate

 

CalMatters 1017 L Street #261 Sacramento, CA 95814 United States

[palewitchstarfish]

Why Birds Are Essential for Seed Dispersal and Forest Growth?

When we think about birds, we often picture them soaring across open skies or singing from treetops. But their role in nature goes far beyond the poetic. One of the most overlooked contributions of birds—especially fruit-eating ones—is seed dispersal. From dense forests to backyard woodlands, birds silently shape plant life in ways that are deeply rooted in ecological health.

Their instinctive feeding habits and flight patterns support the growth, regeneration, and spread of vegetation across vast landscapes. In short, birds are not just passengers in nature—they’re planters. Let’s explore how their everyday behavior helps build forests and sustain ecosystems.

How Birds Become Accidental Gardeners  

Birds aren’t intentionally planting forests, but they’re astonishingly good at it. It starts with what they eat. Many birds feed on fruits, berries, and nuts—some swallowed whole, others nibbled on. Once consumed, the seeds are carried inside their digestive systems, sometimes for several miles. Later, they’re excreted in a new spot, often complete with natural fertilizer.

This process is called ornithochory—seed dispersal by birds—and it’s responsible for an incredible amount of plant spread across the globe. Some seeds even require passage through a bird’s gut to soften their outer coating before they can sprout.

The beauty of this system is that it doesn’t rely on human intervention. It’s happening every day, quietly, as part of nature’s rhythm.

The Role in Forest Expansion  

Seed dispersal is critical for forest growth—especially in areas that have been disturbed or cleared by storms, fire, or human activity. Birds help plants recolonize these open spaces far more effectively than seeds falling directly from a tree.

Why?

Because birds move. And they don’t move randomly. Many species migrate along forest corridors or follow paths rich in food, which coincidentally places seeds in exactly the kind of places where they’re most likely to grow: under shrubs, near water, or beside protective cover.

Birds also tend to perch in open spots like fences, dead branches, or power lines—exactly the places where seeds have a shot at sunshine and space.

Over time, this behavior helps forests recover, expand, and become more diverse. And diversity is key to resilience, especially as climates shift and habitats become more fragmented.

Birds Help Shape Plant Communities  

Here’s where it gets more fascinating. Birds aren’t just spreading seeds—they’re shaping what kinds of plants grow where.

Different bird species favor different fruits. For example:

Thrushes prefer larger berries like elderberries and wild cherries.

Cedar waxwings go after small, clustered fruits like dogwood and serviceberry.

Parrots and hornbills (in tropical regions) play a massive role in spreading large-seeded trees.

This natural selectiveness influences the mix of plants in a region. It can determine which trees dominate a hillside, how fast a meadow transforms into woodland, or how well native species bounce back after disruption.

In effect, birds are acting like long-distance gardeners, shaping plant communities over generations. And all of this is done without tools, fertilizers, or planning—just beak, flight, and instinct.

Seed Dispersal and Climate Resilience  

There’s another piece to this puzzle that feels especially urgent now: climate change.

As temperatures rise, certain plant species need to move—literally—to survive. That means spreading to cooler areas or shifting elevation. But plants can’t move themselves. Birds, however, can.

By dispersing seeds into new territories, birds give plants a shot at adapting to environmental stress. They help forests migrate gradually over time, offering a buffer against the accelerating pace of change. This makes birds crucial players in climate resilience—not just for forests, but for every creature that depends on them.

The Unsung Contribution of Local Birds  

While large, flashy species like toucans or hornbills often get the spotlight, it’s the local birds that carry much of the responsibility in our day-to-day ecosystems. Small songbirds, robins, jays, and sparrows—all native to your region—are quietly working to ensure forests and green spaces stay alive and evolving.

Their seed-dropping journeys might span just a few hundred yards, but that’s often exactly what a recovering forest patch needs. Encouraging these species—through native plantings, clean water, and habitat protection—is one of the most direct ways people can support biodiversity at home.

If you’re curious about how birds impact more than just forests, you can also explore our detailed post on The Role of Local Birds in Your Ecosystem.

Conclusion  

Birds may not carry shovels or wear gardening gloves, but they’re planting the future one seed at a time. From forest edges to mountain slopes, their movements knit ecosystems together, helping plants take root where they’re most needed. It’s not dramatic. It’s not loud. But it’s deeply effective.

Whether you’re a conservationist, a backyard gardener, or just someone who enjoys the sound of birds in the morning, understanding their role in seed dispersal gives you a whole new reason to appreciate them. These winged wanderers are more than just background beauty—they’re builders of entire landscapes.

[usafphantom2]

USAF crew faulted for Ellsworth B-1B crash

Ryan Finnerty26 July 2024

US Air Force investigators blame crew error for a January crash that saw the destruction of a Boeing B-1B Lancer strategic bomber.

The January 2024 incident occurred during a training flight from the aircraft’s (85-0085) home station of Ellsworth AFB in South Dakota. While attempting to make a night landing during poor weather conditions, the aircraft undershot the runway forcing a rare quadruple ejection of the B-1B’s crew.

B-1B crash

All four aviators survived, but the $450 million dollar jet bomber was deemed a total loss after skidding across the airfield and catching fire.

The lead investigator in the accident probe now says many of the factors that led to the catastrophic mishap are likely to be repeated.

In a report Colonel Erick Lord said the inquiry found that “many failures leading to this mishap were not a one-time occurrence or an aberration”.

The crew’s failure to conduct a composite crosscheck during the approach was seen as the primary cause of the accident.

“The mission crew did not follow the low-visibility approach to land communication and flying responsibilities,” the report states.

The mishap pilot apparently failed to brief the remaining crew on the expected vertical velocity during the approach, which prevented weapon systems officers from performing an adequate crosscheck. The pilot also descended below 200ft above ground level without approval from the onboard instructor pilot.

“The mishap pilot did not effectively crosscheck the airspeed, descent rate, and projected aircraft flight path leading up to the mishap,” investigators conclude.

“By failing to crosscheck using his instruments effectively, the mishap pilot did not recognise the [aircraft’s] deviations from the desired airspeed, descent rate and aircraft flight path.”

Deteriorating weather conditions during the winter training flight had forced the B-1B crew to cut the sortie short and attempt an instrument landing on a different runway than originally planned. The landing occurred during night hours with visibility even further reduced by dense fog in the local area, which investigators say exacerbated the Lancer crew’s deviation from established policy.

A ground-based flight supervisor also improperly directed the B-1B pilot to land on a runway that lacked adequate weather observation – violating a Notice to Airmen alert issued over the impaired visibility.

Investigators describe “undisciplined procedures” employed by the ground-based flight supervisors, including insufficient shift changeover and individual failure to review applicable airfield hazards, that resulted in the mishap B-1B making a dangerous and unauthorised approach.

As a result, the aircraft rapidly descended below its authorised altitude and impacted the ground before its intended landing zone.

While Lord notes that bad weather “substantially contributed” to the crash, he says a “culture of noncompliance and widespread deviation from established policy” amongst bomber crews within the B-1B squadron created the potential for such an incident.

“I find by a preponderance of the evidence that these leadership and climate issues directly contributed to the mishap,” he says in the investigation report.

He notes a failure by squadron leadership to conduct adequate supervision of flight operations and a lack of effective communication regarding airfield and weather conditions as examples of the poor safety culture at the 34th Bomb Squadron.

The investigation board also found an “unsatisfactory level of basic airmanship” within the Lancer squadron’s flight crews.

As further evidence of this, investigators note that the lead instructor pilot onboard the mishap aircraft apparently exceeded the maximum approved weight for the B-1B’s Collins Aerospace ACES II ejection seat, which is rated for 111kg (245lb) according to the USAF.

That individual apparently suffered more severe injuries during the ejection than the rest of the crew, according to the investigation report.

The B-1B ejection system is typically set so that an ejection initiated by one crew member triggers a rapidly sequenced firing of the remaining seats. This procedure is meant to prevent a collision between crew members.

Ryan FinnertyRyan Finnerty is the Americas defence reporter for FlightGlobal.com and Flight International magazine, covering military aviation and the defence industry. He is a former United States Army officer and previously reported for America’s National Public Radio system in New York and Hawaii covering energy, economics and military affairs.View full Profile

@violetpilot1 via X

[book-my-crop]

Gujarat’s Bajra Market Goes Digital: Buy Smarter with Book My Crop

In the evolving landscape of Indian agriculture, Gujarat stands as a shining example of growth and innovation. Among its many agri-commodities, Bajra (Pearl Millet) remains a staple grain that supports both the economy and the dietary needs of millions. Traditionally sold through local mandis and brokers, Bajra’s trade is now undergoing a revolutionary transformation—Gujarat’s Bajra market is going digital, and Book My Crop is leading the way.

The Rise of Digital Agriculture in Gujarat:

As the demand for transparency, fair pricing, and efficient logistics grows, digital platforms are reshaping how agricultural commodities are bought and sold. Gujarat, one of India’s top producers of Bajra, is embracing this shift with open arms.

Book My Crop—a dedicated agri-tech platform—is now empowering both farmers and buyers across districts like Patan, Mehsana, and Himmatnagar to trade Bajra with ease, trust, and profitability.

Why Go Digital? The Traditional Challenges:

Before diving into the benefits of buying Bajra online, let’s understand the traditional problems faced by both sellers and buyers:

Middlemen margins: Farmers often get lower prices due to intermediaries who cut into profits.

Lack of transparency: Price discovery is often limited and varies greatly from one mandi to another.

Logistical inefficiencies: Transport, storage, and communication gaps lead to delays and losses.

Limited reach: Buyers from different regions face difficulties accessing specific crop varieties or regions.

Book My Crop addresses all these issues—helping buyers buy Bajra in Patan, Mehsana, and Himmatnagar effortlessly through an integrated, transparent, and trustworthy platform.

Why Buy Bajra on Book My Crop?

Whether you're a wholesaler, grain merchant, or agro-industrial player, Book My Crop makes buying Bajra seamless, cost-effective, and scalable. Here’s how:

1. Verified Farmer Listings:

All the sellers on the platform are verified Bajra farmers. You get direct access to producers from Patan, Mehsana, and Himmatnagar, cutting down brokerage fees and ensuring better prices.

2. Real-Time Crop Availability:

With Book My Crop, buyers can track real-time Bajra listings from across Gujarat. Whether you want to buy Bajra in Patan or seek bulk deals in Mehsana, the app gives you instant updates.

3. Digital Negotiation Tools:

Gone are the days of endless phone calls and in-person bargaining. Use the app’s negotiation features to strike the best deal, compare offers, and finalize transactions digitally.

4. Transparent Pricing:

Get updated market rates and quality-based pricing before placing your order. Whether you're planning to buy Bajra in Himmatnagar or from multiple locations, you can make informed decisions every time.

5. Efficient Logistics and Support:

Book My Crop also offers logistical assistance, helping you coordinate transportation and delivery. You focus on buying; we handle the rest.

Spotlight on Key Bajra Markets in Gujarat:

Let’s take a closer look at three major Bajra hubs in Gujarat and how Book My Crop is transforming buying experiences there.

1. Buy Bajra in Patan:

Patan, a prominent agricultural district in North Gujarat, is known for high-quality Bajra. The district’s climate and soil are favorable for millet farming, and the region contributes significantly to Gujarat’s Bajra output.

By using Book My Crop, you can buy Bajra in Patan directly from farmers, review crop quality through images, and access transparent pricing—without visiting the mandi physically.

2. Buy Bajra in Mehsana:

Mehsana, another agrarian hub, has witnessed a surge in digital adoption among farmers. With Book My Crop, buyers now have a front-row seat to this transformation.

You can easily buy Bajra in Mehsana through the platform, negotiate rates, and even schedule bulk deliveries. The ease of documentation and transaction history further adds to your convenience.

3. Buy Bajra in Himmatnagar:

Located in Sabarkantha district, Himmatnagar is gaining popularity for its growing millet trade. If you're a buyer targeting the north-east belt of Gujarat, Book My Crop lets you buy Bajra in Himmatnagar with just a few taps.

The app provides information on grain moisture levels, harvesting dates, and storage conditions, so you get exactly what you pay for.

Benefits for Bulk Buyers and Agro-Industries:

If you're involved in the flour, cattle feed, ethanol, or FMCG industry, buying Bajra through Book My Crop has multiple advantages:

Bulk sourcing made easy from verified producers across districts.

No hidden charges or broker commissions.

Digital records and invoices for compliance and taxation.

Seasonal alerts to plan your procurement cycle better.

Building Trust in the Digital Marketplace:

Book My Crop understands the trust barrier in digital agriculture. That’s why every transaction is backed by:

Farmer verification

Quality assurance

Customer support

Flexible payment terms

Our support team works closely with both farmers and buyers to ensure successful fulfillment and repeat business.

Empowering Gujarat’s Farmers, One Click at a Time:

The shift to digital isn’t just about convenience—it’s about empowering Gujarat’s farmers. By giving them access to a wider market, Book My Crop helps ensure they get fair prices and consistent demand.

When buyers choose to buy Bajra in Patan, Mehsana, or Himmatnagar through our platform, they’re not just buying a product—they’re supporting rural livelihoods and building a transparent agricultural ecosystem.

How to Get Started?

Ready to make your Bajra purchases smarter and faster?

Download the Book My Crop app or visit our website.

Register as a buyer and set your preferences.

Search for “Bajra in Patan,” “Bajra in Mehsana,” or “Bajra in Himmatnagar.”

Explore listings, compare quality and pricing, and start negotiating.

Finalize your deal, arrange for transport, and get delivery at your doorstep.

Final Thoughts:

Gujarat’s Bajra market is entering a new era of digitization, and Book My Crop is proud to be at the forefront of this change. Whether you’re sourcing grain for your business or looking to make smarter agricultural investments, Book My Crop simplifies the entire buying process.

So the next time you need to buy Bajra in Patan, buy Bajra in Mehsana, or buy Bajra in Himmatnagar, remember—your digital mandi is just a click away.

[inspofromancientworld]

The Science of Discovering the Past: Paleoclimatology

While paleoclimatology or palaeoclimatology is the study of climate predating the narrow span of time we've had instruments to measure it directly and can therefore cover any point in time in the entire history of the world, understanding the past climate of human development allows us to understand human migration, development, and diet. The idea of a changing climate likely began in ancient Egypt, China, and Mesopotamia where prolonged droughts or floods were part of the rise and fall of various dynasties. Historical climatology focuses on the 'effect of climate on civilizations from the emergence of homininis [about 8-4 million years ago] to the present day'. As such, it studies primary sources such chronicles, maps, local histories, paintings, and even rock art, as well as archaeological artifacts. Where there are no records, the techniques of paleoclimatology are used, such as the study of tree rings and ice cores as well as sedimentary rocks.

One of the first writers to write about how humans affect the climate of the land was Theophrastus, an ancient Greek philosopher, who noted in the 4th century BCE that draining marshes made the land more likely to freeze and clearing forests made the land warmer due to receiving more sunlight. In the 1st century BCE, Vitruvius, Roman architect and writer, wrote about selecting the location of cities and the type of architecture based on the local climate.

During the European Renaissance, scholars recorded how deforestation, irrigation, and animal grazing altered the lands of the Mediterranean in records of ancient Greece and Rome, finding it plausible that human interventions caused changes in weather patterns. In 1088, Shen Kuo, Northern Song dynasty sccholar and statesman, wrote in support of climate change based on the discovery of petrified bamboo under the Yanzhou, a dry and arid region, now part of the Yan'an Shaanxi province, which is quite different to the warm, wet climate bamboo typically grows in.

In the 18th and 19th centuries, colonizers who changed forests into cropland noted that doing so shifted the local climate within the course of a human lifetime, with the saying 'rain follows the plow', though others noted that deforestation caused increased run-off and flooding, potentially reducing rainfall as local evaporation patters were shifted. There was also European chauvinism at the time where European academics claimed that the lands inhabited by the 'Caucasian race' were 'naturally superior for the spread of civilization…that the Orientals of the Ancient Near East had heedlessly converted their once lush lands into impoverished deserts'.

By the late 18th century, it was increasingly accepted that there were prehistoric epochs of climate, some of which included glacial advancements across the land, resulting in 'erratics', or boulders that were deposited by glaciers and are far from areas where they were native as was proposed in 1815 by Jean-Pierre Perraudin of those erratics he found in the Val de Bagnes. George-Louis Leclerc, Comte de Buffon, French naturalist, mathematician, and cosmologists, proposed that Earth 'had begun as an incandescent globe and was very gradually cooling' within his Historie Naturelle.

In 1824, Joseph Fourier reasoned that the Earth's atmosphere kept it warmer than it would have been without one and that the atmosphere is inefficient in transmitting infrared light that is emitted by the sun and by the land, acting as an insulator He focused on the changes in land use and how that affected the radiation balance. In 1837, Lois Agassiz developed the theory and term 'Ice Age', a time when glaciers covered much of Europe and North America. John Tyndall continued Fourier's work in 1859, proving that water vapor, hydrocarbons, and carbon dioxide block infrared radiation, increasing the insulation effect of the atmosphere. In the 1890s, scientists worked on finding the infrared radiation of the Moon and found that their measurements were weaker when the Moon was close to the horizon due to the increase in the amount of atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO2), blocking the infrared radiation from the Moon. By 1896, Savante Arrhenius calculated that doubling of atmospheric CO2 could lead to a total warming of 5-6 degrees Celsius. In 1901, Nils Gustaf Ekholm coined the term 'greenhouse effect' for the warming caused by increases of greenhouse gases.

Milutin Milanković (Милутин Миланковић), also spelled Milankovitch, began studying how orbital mechanics effected the paleoclimate with Julius von Hann. They studied the works of John Herschel, astronomer, and Louis Agassiz, geologist, as well as Joseph Adhemar, who pioneered the idea that astronomical changes could cause ice ages. He began with describing how the angle through which the Sun's rays passed through the atmosphere affected the climate in 1912 and 1913. Wilhelm Wien used Milanković's theories to calculate the degree of insolation, the power per unit area received from the sun, to develop a mathematical theory of climate zones. In 1916, he calculated that Mars had an average surface temperature of -17°C and a harsh climate, dampening the belief that there was liquid water on the surface of Mars. Milanković also calculated the change in insolation over the course of 130,000 years based on the procession of the Equinoxes, which effects where in the Earth's orbit the seasons fall. At present, the Northern Hemisphere summer is at the aphelion, when the Earth is farther from the sun, though this was not always the case. In addition to this, he also calculated axial tilt over time and the eccentricity, or how far from circular, of the orbit of the Earth. Between 1925-1928, he wrote Through Distant Worlds and Times, a popular science book that discussed the 'history of astronomy, climatology, and science via a series of imaginary visits to various points in space and time'. He spent much of his career refining his calculations, including pushing his calculations further back in Earth's history as well as working in research on continental drift.

[priteshwemarketresearch]

Green Ammonia Market Statistics, Segment, Trends and Forecast to  2033

The Green Ammonia Market: A Sustainable Future for Agriculture and Energy

As the world pivots toward sustainable practices, the green ammonia market is gaining momentum as a crucial player in the transition to a low-carbon economy. But what exactly is green ammonia, and why is it so important? In this blog, we'll explore the green ammonia market, its applications, benefits, and the factors driving its growth.

Request Sample PDF Copy:https://wemarketresearch.com/reports/request-free-sample-pdf/green-ammonia-market/1359

What is Green Ammonia?

Green ammonia is ammonia produced using renewable energy sources, primarily through the electrolysis of water to generate hydrogen, which is then combined with nitrogen from the air. This process eliminates carbon emissions, setting green ammonia apart from traditional ammonia production, which relies heavily on fossil fuels.

Applications of Green Ammonia

Agriculture

One of the most significant applications of green ammonia is in agriculture. Ammonia is a key ingredient in fertilizers, and its sustainable production can help reduce the carbon footprint of farming. By using green ammonia, farmers can produce food more sustainably, supporting global food security while minimizing environmental impact.

Energy Storage

Green ammonia can also serve as an effective energy carrier. It can be synthesized when there is surplus renewable energy and later converted back into hydrogen or directly used in fuel cells. This capability makes it an attractive option for balancing supply and demand in renewable energy systems.

Shipping Fuel

The maritime industry is under increasing pressure to reduce emissions. Green ammonia has emerged as a potential zero-emission fuel for ships, helping to decarbonize one of the most challenging sectors in terms of greenhouse gas emissions.

Benefits of Green Ammonia

Environmental Impact

By eliminating carbon emissions during production, green ammonia significantly reduces the environmental impact associated with traditional ammonia. This aligns with global efforts to combat climate change and achieve sustainability goals.

Energy Security

Investing in green ammonia can enhance energy security. As countries strive to reduce their dependence on fossil fuels, green ammonia offers a renewable alternative that can be produced locally, minimizing reliance on imported fuels.

Economic Opportunities

The growth of the green ammonia market presents numerous economic opportunities, including job creation in renewable energy sectors, research and development, and new supply chain dynamics. As demand increases, investments in infrastructure and technology will drive innovation.

Factors Driving the Growth of the Green Ammonia Market

Regulatory Support

Governments worldwide are implementing policies and incentives to promote the adoption of green technologies. These regulations often include subsidies for renewable energy production and carbon pricing mechanisms, making green ammonia more competitive.

Rising Demand for Sustainable Solutions

With consumers and businesses becoming increasingly aware of their environmental impact, the demand for sustainable solutions is on the rise. Green ammonia aligns with this trend, providing an eco-friendly alternative to traditional ammonia.

Advancements in Technology

Ongoing advancements in electrolysis and ammonia synthesis technologies are making the production of green ammonia more efficient and cost-effective. As these technologies mature, they will further enhance the viability of green ammonia in various applications.

Conclusion

The green ammonia market represents a promising avenue for sustainable development across agriculture, energy, and transportation sectors. As technology advances and regulatory support strengthens, green ammonia is poised to become a cornerstone of the global transition to a greener economy. Investing in this market not only contributes to environmental preservation but also opens up new economic opportunities for innovation and growth.

[getuaeguide]

10 Essential Landscape Maintenance Tips for Homeowners

A well-maintained landscape does more than boost your home’s curb appeal—it enhances your outdoor living experience and increases your property value. Whether you're a new homeowner or a seasoned green thumb, keeping your garden and lawn in top shape requires consistency, the right tools, and a bit of knowledge. In this blog, we’ll explore ten essential landscape maintenance tips that will help you preserve the beauty and functionality of your outdoor space all year long.

1. Develop a Year-Round Maintenance Schedule

Each season presents different needs for your landscape. Develop a maintenance calendar that includes tasks such as pruning in winter, fertilizing in spring, mowing in summer, and leaf clearing in autumn. Staying ahead of seasonal changes prevents problems and helps your plants thrive.

2. Water Smartly

Efficient irrigation is key to a healthy landscape. Water early in the morning or late in the evening to minimize evaporation. Use drip irrigation systems or soaker hoses to target plant roots directly and reduce water waste. Overwatering can be just as harmful as underwatering, so adjust your irrigation depending on rainfall and plant needs.

3. Keep Your Lawn in Shape

A lush, green lawn is the centerpiece of many landscapes. Mow regularly, but never cut more than one-third of the grass blade at a time. Leave grass clippings on the lawn to decompose and return nutrients to the soil. Aerate the soil annually to improve water and nutrient penetration.

4. Mulch for Moisture and Weed Control

Mulching is a simple yet powerful tool for landscape maintenance. A 2-3 inch layer of mulch around trees, shrubs, and garden beds helps retain moisture, regulate soil temperature, and prevent weeds. Organic mulches like bark, wood chips, or compost also enrich the soil as they decompose.

5. Prune Regularly and Properly

Pruning enhances the health and shape of your plants. Remove dead, diseased, or damaged branches to encourage new growth and prevent pests. Use clean, sharp tools and learn the correct pruning techniques for each plant type. Avoid over-pruning, especially during the growing season.

6. Control Weeds Early and Often

Weeds compete with your plants for nutrients and water. Tackle them early before they set seed. Hand-pulling, hoeing, and applying organic or chemical weed control solutions can help. Keeping a thick lawn and using mulch are also effective ways to suppress weed growth naturally.

7. Feed Your Plants Right

Just like humans, plants need proper nutrition to thrive. Use organic compost or slow-release fertilizers that are appropriate for your soil type and plant species. Test your soil periodically to determine nutrient deficiencies and amend it accordingly.

8. Monitor for Pests and Diseases

A healthy garden is a vigilant one. Inspect your plants regularly for signs of pests like aphids, mites, or grubs, and look for fungal infections or mildew. Integrated Pest Management (IPM) practices use a combination of biological, cultural, and chemical tools to manage pest problems with minimal environmental impact.

9. Edge Your Garden Beds

Crisp, clean edges give your landscape a polished look. Use a spade or half-moon edger to create defined boundaries between lawn and garden beds. This not only improves aesthetics but also prevents grass from creeping into flower beds.

10. Invest in Professional Help When Needed

While DIY landscaping has its perks, some tasks require a professional touch. Whether it’s a complete landscape redesign, irrigation system installation, or routine maintenance, experts like Al Bazi Landscape & Services provide customized solutions tailored to your specific needs. With a deep understanding of local climate and plant varieties, Al Bazi ensures your outdoor space remains vibrant, functional, and eco-friendly throughout the year.

Final Thoughts

Maintaining a beautiful landscape is a rewarding effort that pays dividends in comfort, beauty, and property value. Following these ten essential tips, homeowners can ensure their outdoor spaces remain inviting and healthy. And regarding expert support, don’t hesitate to contact Al Bazi—a trusted partner in landscape design, maintenance, and innovation across the UAE.

[rjzimmerman]

Supreme Court to Hear Challenge to California Tailpipe Emissions Limits. (New York Times)

My guess: The five neanderthals on the US Supreme Court (chief justice roberts and justices kavanaugh, alito, thomas and gorsuch), perhaps to be joined by barrett) will rule in favor or trump and the continued degradation of Earth. Why? Because trump wants them to do that, and because they have pea-sized brains and no sense of the law, other than what their pea-sized brains think the law is.

Excerpt from this New York Times story:

The Supreme Court agreed on Friday to consider whether business groups may challenge an unusual federal program that lets California set its own limits on tailpipe emissions to combat climate change.

The groups, including fuel producers and sellers, told the justices that the court’s intervention was needed to prevent California from effectively setting national policy. “Without this court’s immediate review,” their petition seeking review said, “California’s unlawful standards will continue to dictate the composition of the nation’s automobile market.”

The challengers asked the court to decide two questions: whether they had suffered the sort of injuries that gave them standing to sue and whether the Environmental Protection Agency program granting California a waiver to set its own standards for greenhouse gas emissions was lawful.

The court agreed to decide only the first question, on standing, and did not act on a separate petition from 17 states asking the court to rule on whether Congress had violated the Constitution in empowering the E.P.A. to give California a special status.

The law authorizes the E.P.A. to grant California a waiver from nationwide standards even though other states and localities are not free to set their own limits. In their petition, the challengers said the law improperly deputizes California to act as a “junior-varsity E.P.A.”

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit, in an unsigned opinion in April, rejected the lawsuit, ruling that the challengers lacked standing. The appeals court reasoned that fuel producers would not be directly harmed by the waiver, which directly affects vehicle manufacturers.

The California waiver, created under the 1970 Clean Air Act, has for decades served as a tool to allow the state, which has historically had the most polluted air in the nation, to enact tougher state-level clean air standards than those set by the federal government.