#brs ap president

[sheharreddy]

From Bureaucracy To Politics, Dr. Thota Chandrashekhar Has Left No Stone Unturned

As the President of the BRS party, Dr. Thota Chandrashekhar, a retired IAS officer with a MSc and a PHD, has been making waves in Andhra Pradesh. Dr. Chandrashekhar has gone above and beyond in his efforts to change the state, drawing on his impressive political and bureaucratic experience. A rare honor for an ex-IAS officer is that Telangana Chief Minister K. Chandrashekhar Rao recently appointed him as the President of the AP BRS. Dr. T Chandrashekhar's new blood donation crusade, which saw in excess of 100 individuals give blood, was only one of his numerous drives pointed toward working on the existences of individuals, and he likewise coordinated the planting of trees on Telangana Chief Minister K. Chandrashekhar Rao's birthday, featuring his obligation to natural manageability. His accomplishments go past these new occasions. As a previous IAS official, he has a noteworthy history of public help. During his time in the common help, he served in different limits in the public authority of Andhra Pradesh, including as the Collector of East Godavari region, Joint Secretary in the Division of Modern Approach and Advancement in the Service of Business and Industry, and Chief General of the Public Foundation of Customs, Extract, and Opiates. Dr. Thota's work as Collector of East Godavari Locale was especially remarkable. During his tenure, he implemented a number of novel initiatives, such as a project to promote organic farming and a program to empower rural women. The district became a model for sustainable development under his leadership, with an emphasis on agriculture and rural development. Dr. Chandrashekhar has been involved in politics in addition to his work in the civil service. Since then, he has put in a lot of effort to advance the party's agenda and effect change in the state. Dr. Chandrashekhar has voiced his disapproval of Andhra Pradesh's current situation. He has been straightforward about the unfortunate condition of framework, the absence of water system and drinking water, and the developing issue of joblessness. Additionally, he has criticized the state's political leadership, claiming that they have not kept their promises to the people of Andhra Pradesh. Notwithstanding these difficulties, Dr. Chandrashekhar stays hopeful about what's in store. He is of the opinion that the BRS party will emerge as a viable alternative to the state's current political parties. He has illustrated an unmistakable vision for the party, zeroed in on advancing supportable turn of events, enabling ladies, and working on the existences of individuals of Andhra Pradesh. In conclusion, Dr. Thota Chandrashekhar is a remarkable person who has worked for the public good all his life. His most recent tree planting and blood donation campaigns are just the recent manifestations of his unrelenting efforts to improve the lives of others. His great history in the common assistance and his obligation to legislative issues have assisted him with turning into a strong voice for change in Andhra Pradesh. The state's future appears to be very bright with Dr. Chandrashekhar in charge of the Ap BRS Andhrapradesh.

[lifeinkinder]

My principal is the worst things:

She told parents at a PTA meeting this week that staff that didn't rise to her expectations would be fired.

One of the first grade teachers is really struggling. When one of the kindergarten teachers went to her with a safety concern in that classroom, she told her not to waste her time, that they've done all they can to support her and won't be doing more.

In a meeting with our superintendent, our BRs and the union president (because our building filed a grievance against her) she said her staff was selfish and didn't care about each other and that's why she can't make change.

She told CO that she was overwhelmed because she didn't have an AP for 3 weeks and that's why she couldn't get things done (she didn't have our AP for 1 week because she had to have surgery for a broken wrist but she had sub admins that whole time).

Yesterday was a PD day where we have to be on site from 8:30-3:30. She showed up at 9:15 and left at 1:15.

She told our AP she was arrogant (she's absolutely not).

She got upset at the school improvement team because they wouldn't stay after 4:15 to work on PD day plans (they're only paid until 4:15).

She leaves almost everyday with the busses at around 3:10. Admin are supposed to work until 4:30.

[edisonblog]

There is something new in the past: the state of the art of archaeological research in the Amazon – Eduardo Neves

Conference: The President of FAPESP, Marco Antonio Zago, invites Eduardo Neves, director of the Museum of Archeology and Ethnology of the University of São Paulo (MAE-USP) to the conference March 22, 2024 - from 10am to 11:30am

Amazonian archeology has changed a lot in the last twenty years. At the end of the 1990s the main topic of discussion was whether the Amazon was densely populated in the past. Today it is accepted that the ancient occupations of indigenous peoples played an important role in the transformation of nature over the millennia and in the formation of the Amazon as we know it.

It is currently established that the Amazon was an independent center of plant domestication and cultivation, in the same way that research carried out in Bolivia, Brazil and Ecuador provides evidence of urbanism on a scale that still needs to be better understood. However, as archaeological knowledge has grown exponentially, so have the threats facing the Amazon and its people. In Brazil alone, almost 20% of forest cover has been lost in the last 40 years. The conference will review the results of recent studies and present the initiatives of the Brazilian archaeological community to face these threats.

Eduardo Neves is a renowned Brazilian archaeologist, known for his significant contributions to the field of pre-Columbian archaeology, especially in the Amazon region. He is internationally recognized for his pioneering work and innovative approach to understanding the history and culture of ancient Amazonian societies.

Neves is a professor at the Museum of Archeology and Ethnology at the University of São Paulo (MAE-USP) and has a long history of research in the area. His studies focus on topics such as the emergence of complex societies in the pre-Columbian Amazon, the relationship between human occupation and the natural environment, and cultural and commercial interactions between different indigenous groups in the region.

Throughout his career, Eduardo Neves carried out excavations at several archaeological sites in the Amazon, making important discoveries that have contributed to a more complete understanding of the region's ancient history. He is also the author of numerous academic articles and books, in which he shares his research and analyzes on Amazonian archeology.

In addition to his fieldwork and research, Neves also plays an active role in training new archaeologists, mentoring postgraduate students and promoting the development of archeology in Brazil.

In the context of Brazilian and Latin American archaeology, Eduardo Neves is a prominent and respected figure, whose work continues to influence and inspire future generations of researchers in the field.

#edisonmariotti @edisonblog

edison mariotti

.br

Há algo de novo no passado: o estado da arte da pesquisa arqueológica na Amazônia – Eduardo Neves

Conferência: O Presidente da FAPESP, Marco Antonio Zago, convida para a conferência de Eduardo Neves, diretor do Museu de Arqueologia e Etnologia da Universidade de S~]ap Paulo ( MAE-USP) 22 Março de 2024 - das 10h às 11h:30

A arqueologia amazônica mudou muito nos últimos vinte anos. Ao final da década de 1990 o principal tema de discussão era se a Amazônia era densamente povoada no passado. Hoje é aceito que as ocupações antigas dos povos indígenas tiveram um papel importante na transformação da natureza ao longo dos milênios e na formação da Amazônia que conhecemos.

Atualmente está estabelecido que a Amazônia foi um centro independente de domesticação e cultivo de plantas, da mesma forma que pesquisas feitas na Bolívia, no Brasil e no Equador trazem evidências de urbanismo em uma escala que ainda precisa ser melhor compreendida. No entanto, à medida que o conhecimento arqueológico cresceu exponencialmente, também cresceram as ameaças que a Amazônia e seus povos enfrentam. Só no Brasil, quase 20% da cobertura florestal foi perdida nos últimos 40 anos. A conferência trará um balanço de resultados de estudos recentes e apresentará as iniciativas da comunidade arqueológica brasileira para fazer frente a essas ameaças.

Eduardo Neves é um renomado arqueólogo brasileiro, conhecido por suas contribuições significativas para o campo da arqueologia pré-colombiana, especialmente na região amazônica. Ele é reconhecido internacionalmente por seu trabalho pioneiro e sua abordagem inovadora para entender a história e a cultura das sociedades antigas da Amazônia.

Neves é professor titular do Museu de Arqueologia e Etnologia da Universidade de São Paulo (MAE-USP) e tem uma longa trajetória de pesquisa na área. Seus estudos têm foco em temas como o surgimento de sociedades complexas na Amazônia pré-colombiana, a relação entre a ocupação humana e o ambiente natural, e as interações culturais e comerciais entre diferentes grupos indígenas na região.

Ao longo de sua carreira, Eduardo Neves realizou escavações em diversos sítios arqueológicos na Amazônia, fazendo descobertas importantes que têm contribuído para uma compreensão mais completa da história antiga da região. Ele também é autor de numerosos artigos e livros acadêmicos, nos quais compartilha suas pesquisas e análises sobre a arqueologia amazônica.

Além de seu trabalho de campo e pesquisa, Neves também desempenha um papel ativo na formação de novos arqueólogos, orientando estudantes de pós-graduação e promovendo o desenvolvimento da arqueologia no Brasil.

No contexto da arqueologia brasileira e latino-americana, Eduardo Neves é uma figura proeminente e respeitada, cujo trabalho continua a influenciar e inspirar gerações futuras de pesquisadores na área.

[newstfionline]

Saturday, January 27, 2024

Schools are using surveillance tech to catch students vaping (AP) When Aaliyah Iglesias was caught vaping at a Texas high school, she didn’t realize how much could be taken from her. Suddenly, the rest of her high school experience was threatened: being student council president, her role as debate team captain and walking at graduation. Even her college scholarships were at risk. She was sent to the district’s alternative school for 30 days and told she could have faced criminal charges. Like thousands of other students around the country, she was caught by surveillance equipment that schools have installed to crack down on electronic cigarettes, often without informing students. Schools nationwide have invested millions of dollars in the monitoring technology, including federal COVID-19 emergency relief money meant to help schools through the pandemic and aid students’ academic recovery.

U.S. signals it is open to withdrawing some troops from Iraq (Washington Post) Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin left the door open Thursday to reducing the U.S. military presence in Iraq, saying that meetings set to begin soon between officials from the two countries will enable a “transition to an enduring bilateral security partnership” that builds on years of joint operations against the Islamic State. Many Iraqi officials have called for the ouster of U.S. forces after a months-long cycle of violence, inflamed by the Israel-Gaza war, between Iranian-backed militias and U.S. forces. U.S. military positions in Iraq and Syria have been attacked at least 153 times since October by militant groups trained and supplied by Iran, including incidents Thursday in the northern Iraqi city of Irbil and at Ain al-Asad Air Base in the western part of the country. Iraqi officials have increasingly responded with anger when the United States has retaliated with airstrikes. The militias have tied their attacks to the war in Gaza and to U.S. support for Israel’s campaign against Hamas.

Colombia declares a disaster because of wildfires (AP) Colombia’s government declared a disaster Thursday and asked for international help to combat raging wildfires that are expected to worsen in coming days due to warm, dry conditions associated with the El Niño weather phenomenon. Officials raised the number of fires from 25 to 31, and said nine of them were under control. They did not order mandatory evacuations despite some fires burning in the mountains that surround some municipalities. President Gustavo Petro said Chile, the United States, Peru and Canada have already responded to the call for help, without specifying when the assistance will arrive to the South American country.

As terror grips the streets of Ecuador, even the armed forces live in fear (CNN) In the aftermath of gang attacks on January 9, President Daniel Noboa took an unprecedented step. He declared an “internal armed conflict” in the country and ordered Ecuador’s armed forces to “neutralize” the members of more than 20 gangs, which he labeled as terror groups. Since then, Ecuador’s national police and armed forces have been carrying out raids of homes of those with suspected ties to terror groups. Fear has permeated the ranks; even in Guayaquil’s 90-degree heat and humidity, under layers of tactical gear, they insist on putting on a ski mask before being filmed. On the front lines, while there is determination, there is also hesitation. Among the police and military tasked with conducting raids and preemptive strikes, some fear what will happen to them or their families if terrorists link them to the crackdown efforts. The crisis could drive more Ecuadorians to emigrate. Locals are tired of living in fear and being extorted for protection money, says Carlos Jimenez, an urban planner who studied in the US and is now living in his native Ecuador. “These people are in the middle of gunfights in their neighborhoods, what would you do? You’re not going to want to stay there.”

Britain says it has no plans for conscription, after top general says the UK may need a citizen army (AP) On Wednesday, Gen. Patrick Saunders, the head of the British Army, said that a British “citizen army” would be needed in a potential land war with a country like Russia. Saunders stated that, if the conflict expands, “within the next three years, it must be credible to talk of a British Army of 120,000.” He also praised countries close to Russia for preparing for such a war and “prudently laying the foundations for national mobilization.” The U.K. government immediately walked back Saunders’ talking points that same day, declaring that the country had no plans to expand its armed forces past the 74,000 full-time troops it currently supports. In a statement about Saunders’ preparation plans, Max Blain, a spokesman for Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, said that “engaging in hypothetical wars” was “not helpful.”

French Farmer Protests (1440) French farmers continued protesting yesterday, blocking roads and dumping imported produce across the country, demanding government action to address numerous grievances. The protests, now in their second week, are moving toward Paris after breaking out in the southwest agricultural region. At least two people have died during the protests. France has roughly 456,000 farms and is among the EU’s highest-producing countries, with an output of over $79B. The FNSEA farming union, which is leading the protest, is demanding better protection against cheaper foreign competition, continued diesel tax breaks, immediate EU agricultural subsidy payments, guarantees on health and climate insurance payouts, and aid for winemakers and organic farmers.

The Most Important Company in the World? (NYT/Opinion) Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, or T.S.M.C., is the only corporation I can think of in history that could cause a global depression if it were forced to halt production. These days it seems impossible to have a conversation about geopolitics or economics without coming back to T.S.M.C., which makes about 90 percent of the world’s most advanced chips. If the lights went out here in Hsinchu, in the company’s ultraclean and ultrasecure buildings, you might not be able to buy a new phone, car or watch. Armies could run out of precision-guided missiles and hospitals could struggle to replace advanced X-ray and M.R.I. machines. It might be like the Covid-19 supply chain chip disruption—times 10—and T.S.M.C., unfortunately, is situated in a region where war is possible and could threaten production. “Taiwan Semiconductor is one of the best-managed companies and important companies in the world,” Warren Buffett said last year. But he sold his $4 billion stake in T.S.M.C. because, he said, “I don’t like its location.”

Australians protest British colonization on a national holiday some mark as ‘Invasion Day’ (AP) Thousands of Australians protested the anniversary of British colonization of their country with large crowds Friday urging for Australia Day to be moved and for a day of mourning on the holiday some call “Invasion Day.” The holiday marks the arrival of 11 British ships carrying convicts at Port Jackson in present-day Sydney on Jan. 26, 1788. For many activists, the day marked the beginning of a sustained period of discrimination and expulsion of Indigenous people from their land without a treaty.

Top UN court orders Israel to prevent genocide in Gaza but stops short of ordering cease-fire (AP) The United Nations’ top court on Friday ordered Israel to do all it can to prevent death, destruction and any acts of genocide in Gaza, but the panel stopped short of ordering Jerusalem to end the military offensive that has laid waste to the Palestinian enclave. In a ruling that will keep Israel under the legal lens for years to come, the court offered little other comfort to Israeli leaders in a genocide case brought by South Africa that goes to the core of one of the world’s most intractable conflicts. The court’s half-dozen orders will be difficult to achieve without some sort of cease-fire or pause in the fighting. The ruling amounted to an overwhelming rebuke of Israel’s wartime conduct and added to mounting international pressure to halt the nearly 4-month-old offensive, which has killed more than 26,000 Palestinians, decimated vast swaths of Gaza and driven nearly 85% of its 2.3 million people from their homes. Allowing the accusations to stand stung the government of Israel, which was founded as a Jewish state after the Nazi slaughter of 6 million Jews during World War II.

Israel is building a buffer zone along the Gaza border, risking a new rift with the U.S. (WSJ) To Israeli officials, the 1-kilometer-wide area is a critical security measure in their plan to demilitarize Gaza and assure Israelis that they can return safely to the border communities that were evacuated after Hamas’s Oct. 7 attack. It would create a clear field of fire so Israeli troops can see and stop anyone approaching the frontier. The U.S. warns that turning the border along the 25-mile-long Gaza Strip into a no man’s land would deepen Palestinian fears that Israel intends to occupy all or part of the crowded enclave and would make it harder to persuade Arab governments to help rebuild a postwar Gaza. Meanwhile, Washington is pressing for a deal for the 100-plus hostages Hamas is holding in Gaza, as Israel and Qatar, one of the main Middle East mediators, spar.

Gaza’s daily struggle for food (Washington Post) The Washington Post spoke to six families across Gaza about their daily struggle for food. Ninety-three percent of people there face “crisis levels of hunger,” according to a U.N.-backed international consortium. Each day, for four days, Mohammad waited in line for a few pounds of flour. Returning home empty-handed to his five children, pained by hunger and humiliation, he ground up animal feed to bake over a makeshift stove. “We don’t know how dangerous eating animal feed is to our health, but we have no other options,” the 40-year-old said by phone from Gaza’s north.

Who bombed us today? (Daraj/Lebanon) Syria was already a nation torn apart by conflict, foreign and domestic. But lately, it appears more and more like a country that everyone feels at liberty to bomb—with different pretexts and for different reasons. Military bases in Syria that house U.S. forces were repeatedly attacked by explosives-laden drones and with missiles by Iran-backed militias. The U.S. military has responded with strikes on militias in both Syria and neighboring Iraq. Turkey, meanwhile, has continued to launch attacks on Kurdish-held areas in northeastern Syria, and has hit areas controlled by the Syrian regime in and around the city of Qamishli on January 14. Israel and the U.S. have repeatedly bombed sites and targets linked to Iran, Hezbollah and the Syrian regime. Jordan has become the latest to launch strikes on targets inside Syria, because the pace of drug smuggling from Syria to Jordan has increased. The strikes are part of multiple wars being waged on Syrian territories, involving many state and non-state actors. These wars have made Syria a country whose sovereignty is violated by many countries, with no end to such violations in sight.

Nones (Pew Research Center) When Americans are asked to check a box indicating their religious affiliation, 28% now check ‘none.’ A new study from Pew Research finds that the religiously unaffiliated—a group comprised of atheists, agnostic and those who say their religion is “nothing in particular”—is now the largest cohort in the U.S. They’re more prevalent among American adults than Catholics (23%) or evangelical Protestants (24%). Back in 2007, Nones made up just 16% of Americans, but Pew’s new survey of more than 3,300 U.S. adults shows that number has now risen dramatically. Researchers refer to this group as the “Nones.”

[jagadeeshx]

What are some of the best episodes of Raw Talks With VK, the first ever Telugu podcast channel?

Raw Talks With VK is a YouTube channel that features the first ever Telugu podcast, hosted by Vamshi Kurapati, a digital marketing expert and entrepreneur. The channel aims to provide informative and educational content to the Telugu audience on various topics such as marketing, business, politics, history, and personal development. The channel has over 291 videos as of January 2024.

Some of the best episodes of Raw Talks With VK are:

Why BRS Lost elections?@JPLoksattaOfficial Decoding|Telangana Politics2023|Revanth Reddy|Raw Talks: This episode features Dr. Jayaprakash Narayana, the president of Lok Satta Party and a former Member of Parliament, who discusses the results and implications of the Telangana elections in 2023. He also talks about the promises and manifesto of the Congress party, the debt and governance of the Telangana government, the role and performance of KTR, the reasons behind the defeat of BRS, the Karnataka political issue, the upcoming AP elections, and the advice for the general election. This episode is a must-watch for anyone interested in the current affairs and politics of Telangana and Andhra Pradesh.

How to Start a Startup in India? | Raw Talks with VK | Telugu Podcast | Episode 1: This episode is the first episode of the channel and features Srinivas Kollipara, the founder and COO of T-Hub, India’s largest incubator for startups. He shares his insights and experiences on how to start a startup in India, the challenges and opportunities for entrepreneurs, the importance of innovation and problem-solving, the role and impact of T-Hub, and the future of the startup ecosystem in India. This episode is a great source of inspiration and guidance for anyone who wants to start or grow their own business.

How to become a Millionaire? | Raw Talks with VK | Telugu Podcast | Episode 2: This episode features Ravi Kumar, the founder and CEO of FourKites, a global leader in supply chain visibility and predictive analytics. He talks about his journey from a small town in Andhra Pradesh to becoming a millionaire in the US, the challenges and learnings he faced along the way, the secrets and strategies of building a successful company, the trends and opportunities in the supply chain industry, and the advice for aspiring entrepreneurs and professionals. This episode is a fascinating and motivational story of how to achieve your dreams and goals.

These are some of the best episodes of Raw Talks With VK, the first ever Telugu podcast channel. You can watch more episodes on their YouTube channel.

[subbareddy]

From Bureaucracy To Politics, Dr. Thota Chandrashekhar Has Left No Stone Unturned

As the President of the BRS party, Dr. Thota Chandrashekhar, a retired IAS officer with a MSc and a PHD, has been making waves in Andhra Pradesh. Dr. Chandrashekhar has gone above and beyond in his efforts to change the state, drawing on his impressive political and bureaucratic experience. A rare honor for an ex-IAS officer is that Telangana Chief Minister K. Chandrashekhar Rao recently appointed him as the President of the AP BRS. Dr. T Chandrashekhar's new blood donation crusade, which saw in excess of 100 individuals give blood, was only one of his numerous drives pointed toward working on the existences of individuals, and he likewise coordinated the planting of trees on Telangana Chief Minister K. Chandrashekhar Rao's birthday, featuring his obligation to natural manageability. His accomplishments go past these new occasions. As a previous IAS official, he has a noteworthy history of public help. During his time in the common help, he served in different limits in the public authority of Andhra Pradesh, including as the Collector of East Godavari region, Joint Secretary in the Division of Modern Approach and Advancement in the Service of Business and Industry, and Chief General of the Public Foundation of Customs, Extract, and Opiates. Dr. Thota's work as Collector of East Godavari Locale was especially remarkable. During his tenure, he implemented a number of novel initiatives, such as a project to promote organic farming and a program to empower rural women. The district became a model for sustainable development under his leadership, with an emphasis on agriculture and rural development. Dr. Chandrashekhar has been involved in politics in addition to his work in the civil service. Since then, he has put in a lot of effort to advance the party's agenda and effect change in the state. Dr. Chandrashekhar has voiced his disapproval of Andhra Pradesh's current situation. He has been straightforward about the unfortunate condition of framework, the absence of water system and drinking water, and the developing issue of joblessness. Additionally, he has criticized the state's political leadership, claiming that they have not kept their promises to the people of Andhra Pradesh. Notwithstanding these difficulties, Dr. Chandrashekhar stays hopeful about what's in store. He is of the opinion that the BRS party will emerge as a viable alternative to the state's current political parties. He has illustrated an unmistakable vision for the party, zeroed in on advancing supportable turn of events, enabling ladies, and working on the existences of individuals of Andhra Pradesh. In conclusion, Dr. Thota Chandrashekhar is a remarkable person who has worked for the public good all his life. His most recent tree planting and blood donation campaigns are just the recent manifestations of his unrelenting efforts to improve the lives of others. His great history in the common assistance and his obligation to legislative issues have assisted him with turning into a strong voice for change in Andhra Pradesh. The state's future appears to be very bright with Dr. Chandrashekhar in charge of the Ap BRS Andhrapradesh.

[plitics]

From Bureaucracy To Politics, Dr. Thota Chandrashekhar Has Left No Stone Unturned

As the President of the BRS party, Dr. Thota Chandrashekhar, a retired IAS officer with a MSc and a PHD, has been making waves in Andhra Pradesh. Dr. Chandrashekhar has gone above and beyond in his efforts to change the state, drawing on his impressive political and bureaucratic experience. A rare honor for an ex-IAS officer is that Telangana Chief Minister K. Chandrashekhar Rao recently appointed him as the President of the AP BRS. Dr. T Chandrashekhar's new blood donation crusade, which saw in excess of 100 individuals give blood, was only one of his numerous drives pointed toward working on the existences of individuals, and he likewise coordinated the planting of trees on Telangana Chief Minister K. Chandrashekhar Rao's birthday, featuring his obligation to natural manageability. His accomplishments go past these new occasions. As a previous IAS official, he has a noteworthy history of public help. During his time in the common help, he served in different limits in the public authority of Andhra Pradesh, including as the Collector of East Godavari region, Joint Secretary in the Division of Modern Approach and Advancement in the Service of Business and Industry, and Chief General of the Public Foundation of Customs, Extract, and Opiates. Dr. Thota's work as Collector of East Godavari Locale was especially remarkable. During his tenure, he implemented a number of novel initiatives, such as a project to promote organic farming and a program to empower rural women. The district became a model for sustainable development under his leadership, with an emphasis on agriculture and rural development. Dr. Chandrashekhar has been involved in politics in addition to his work in the civil service. Since then, he has put in a lot of effort to advance the party's agenda and effect change in the state. Dr. Chandrashekhar has voiced his disapproval of Andhra Pradesh's current situation. He has been straightforward about the unfortunate condition of framework, the absence of water system and drinking water, and the developing issue of joblessness. Additionally, he has criticized the state's political leadership, claiming that they have not kept their promises to the people of Andhra Pradesh. Notwithstanding these difficulties, Dr. Chandrashekhar stays hopeful about what's in store. He is of the opinion that the BRS party will emerge as a viable alternative to the state's current political parties. He has illustrated an unmistakable vision for the party, zeroed in on advancing supportable turn of events, enabling ladies, and working on the existences of individuals of Andhra Pradesh. In conclusion, Dr. Thota Chandrashekhar is a remarkable person who has worked for the public good all his life. His most recent tree planting and blood donation campaigns are just the recent manifestations of his unrelenting efforts to improve the lives of others. His great history in the common assistance and his obligation to legislative issues have assisted him with turning into a strong voice for change in Andhra Pradesh. The state's future appears to be very bright with Dr. Chandrashekhar in charge of the Ap BRS Andhrapradesh.

[sneh852]

From Bureaucracy To Politics, Dr. Thota Chandrashekhar Has Left No Stone Unturned

Dr. Thota Chandrashekhar, a retired IAS officer with an MSc and a PHD, has been making waves in Andhra Pradesh as the President of the BRS party. With his impressive background in bureaucracy and politics, Dr. Chandrashekhar has left no stone unturned in his efforts to bring about change in the state. He was recently appointed as the AP BRS President by Telangana Chief Minister K. Chandrashekhar Rao, a rare honor for an ex-IAS officer.

Chandrashekhar’s recent blood donation campaign, which saw more than 100 members donate blood, was just one of his many initiatives aimed at improving the lives of the people, and he also organized the planting of over 100 trees on the eve of Telangana Chief Minister K. Chandrashekhar Rao’s birthday, highlighting his commitment to environmental sustainability.

His achievements go beyond these recent events. As a former IAS officer, he has an impressive track record of public service. During his time in the civil service, he served in various capacities in the government of Andhra Pradesh, including as the Collector of East Godavari district, Joint Secretary in the Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion in the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, and Director General of the National Academy of Customs, Excise, and Narcotics.

Dr. Thota's work as Collector of East Godavari District was particularly noteworthy. During his tenure, he implemented several innovative initiatives, including a program to empower women in rural areas and a project to promote organic farming. Under his leadership, the district became a model for sustainable development, with a focus on agriculture and rural development. In addition to his work in the civil service, Dr. Chandrashekhar has also been active in politics. He has since been working tirelessly to promote the party's agenda and bring about change in the state.

Dr. Chandrashekhar has been a vocal critic of the current state of affairs in Andhra Pradesh. He has been outspoken about the poor state of infrastructure, the lack of irrigation and drinking water facilities, and the growing problem of unemployment. He has also been critical of the political leadership in the state, accusing them of failing to fulfill their promises to the people of Andhra Pradesh.

Despite these challenges, Dr. Chandrashekhar remains optimistic about the future. He believes that the BRS party will emerge as a viable alternative to the existing political parties in the state. He has outlined a clear vision for the party, focused on promoting sustainable development, empowering women, and improving the lives of the people of Andhra Pradesh. In conclusion, Dr. Thota Chandrashekhar is a remarkable individual who has dedicated his life to public service. His recent blood donation campaign and tree planting initiative are just the latest examples of his tireless efforts to make a difference in the lives of people. His impressive track record in the civil service and his commitment to politics have helped him become a powerful voice for change in Andhra Pradesh. With Dr. Chandrashekhar at the helm of the Ap BRS Andhrapradesh, the future of the state looks bright indeed

[sheharreddy]

From Bureaucracy To Politics, Dr. Thota Chandrashekhar Has Left No Stone Unturned

https://thotachandrashekhar.com/

Dr. Thota Chandrashekhar, a retired IAS officer with an MSc and a PHD, has been making waves in Andhra Pradesh as the President of the BRS party. With his impressive background in bureaucracy and politics, Dr. Chandrashekhar has left no stone unturned in his efforts to bring about change in the state. He was recently appointed as the AP BRS President by Telangana Chief Minister K. Chandrashekhar Rao, a rare honor for an ex-IAS officer.

Chandrashekhar’s recent blood donation campaign, which saw more than 100 members donate blood, was just one of his many initiatives aimed at improving the lives of the people, and he also organized the planting of over 100 trees on the eve of Telangana Chief Minister K. Chandrashekhar Rao’s birthday, highlighting his commitment to environmental sustainability.

His achievements go beyond these recent events. As a former IAS officer, he has an impressive track record of public service. During his time in the civil service, he served in various capacities in the government of Andhra Pradesh, including as the Collector of East Godavari district, Joint Secretary in the Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion in the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, and Director General of the National Academy of Customs, Excise, and Narcotics.

Dr. Thota's work as Collector of East Godavari District was particularly noteworthy. During his tenure, he implemented several innovative initiatives, including a program to empower women in rural areas and a project to promote organic farming. Under his leadership, the district became a model for sustainable development, with a focus on agriculture and rural development. In addition to his work in the civil service, Dr. Chandrashekhar has also been active in politics. He has since been working tirelessly to promote the party's agenda and bring about change in the state.

Dr. Chandrashekhar has been a vocal critic of the current state of affairs in Andhra Pradesh. He has been outspoken about the poor state of infrastructure, the lack of irrigation and drinking water facilities, and the growing problem of unemployment. He has also been critical of the political leadership in the state, accusing them of failing to fulfill their promises to the people of Andhra Pradesh.

Despite these challenges, Dr. Chandrashekhar remains optimistic about the future. He believes that the BRS party will emerge as a viable alternative to the existing political parties in the state. He has outlined a clear vision for the party, focused on promoting sustainable development, empowering women, and improving the lives of the people of Andhra Pradesh.

In conclusion, Dr. Thota Chandrashekhar is a remarkable individual who has dedicated his life to public service. His recent blood donation campaign and tree planting initiative are just the latest examples of his tireless efforts to make a difference in the lives of people. His impressive track record in the civil service and his commitment to politics have helped him become a powerful voice for change in Andhra Pradesh. With Dr. Chandrashekhar at the helm of the Ap BRS Andhrapradesh, the future of the state looks bright indeed.

[allthebrazilianpolitics]

Video shows protestors throwing eggs at commuter bus in Brazil in 2018, not bus of soccer team after World Cup 2022 match

CLAIM: Video shows people throwing objects at a bus carrying Brazil’s national soccer team, after the team returned from the World Cup in Qatar.

AP’S ASSESSMENT: False. The video was filmed in March 2018, and does not show the soccer team’s bus. It shows demonstrators against Brazil’s leftist President-elect Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, police confirmed to The Associated Press. The vehicle, however, was just a commuter bus, and not actually part of da Silva’s campaign caravan.

THE FACTS: This week, social media users circulated an old video showing a group of people throwing food at a green bus as it drove through Brazil’s highway BR-277, in the city of Sao Miguel do Iguacu in the state of Parana.

A post on Facebook with more than 1.5 million views falsely claimed the bus was carrying Brazil’s national soccer team, returning from the 2022 FIFA World Cup after its semifinal loss to Croatia.

“Brazilian national team being received back home upon arrival from Qatar,” the caption stated.

But the video is not from 2022, and does not show the soccer team’s bus. It is from 2018, and shows protesters against da Silva hurling produce at a coach, according to police and records from the time. Da Silva, who served as Brazil’s president from 2003-2010 and will return to the job in 2023, was rallying support for another presidential campaign at the time.

Continue reading.

[sciencespies]

Brazil's Amazon rainforest and development at a crossroads

https://sciencespies.com/environment/brazils-amazon-rainforest-and-development-at-a-crossroads/

Brazil's Amazon rainforest and development at a crossroads

In this Nov. 25, 2019 photo, highway BR-163 stretches between the Tapajos National Forest, left, and a soy field in Belterra, Para state, Brazil. Carved through jungle during Brazil’s military dictatorship in the 1970s, this highway and BR-230, known as the Trans-Amazon, were built to bend nature to man’s will in the vast hinterland. Four decades later, there’s development taking shape, but also worsening deforestation. (AP Photo/Leo Correa)

Night falls in Brazil’s Amazon and two logging trucks without license plates emerge from the jungle. They rumble over dirt roads that lead away from a national forest, carrying trunks of trees hundreds of years old.

After pulling onto a darkened highway, the truckers chug to their turnoff into the woods, where they deliver their ancient cargo. By morning, the trunks are laid out for hewing at the remote sawmill, its corrugated metal roof hardly visible from the highway.

The highway known as BR-163 stretches from soybean fields to a riverside export terminal. The loggers were just south of the road’s juncture with BR-230, known as the Trans-Amazon. Together the highways cover more than 5,000 miles, crossing the world’s fifth-biggest country in the state of Para.

Carved through jungle during Brazil’s military dictatorship in the 1970s, the roads were built to bend nature to man’s will in the vast hinterland. Four decades later, there’s development taking shape, but also worsening deforestation—and locals harbor concerns that progress may pass them by.

Colonization Dream

The highways first meet in the city of Ruropolis, where the military government promised land to lure people to the planned agricultural village. One 53-year-old man, Hilquias Soares, remembers a state agent in his hometown yelling, “Who wants to go to Para?”

In this Nov. 28, 2019 photo, a logging truck without license plates carries the trunk of a giant tree on a dirt road away from Trairao National Forest in Trairao, Para state, Brazil. Night after night, truckers chug along the darkened road to their turn-off into the woods, where they deliver their ancient cargo. By morning, the logs are laid out for hewing at the remote sawmill, its corrugated metal roof hardly visible from the highway. (AP Photo/Leo Correa)

His family took the chance, arriving just after President Emílio Médici, a general, inaugurated the town. Archival footage shows Médici unveiling a plaque reading: “The Brazilian people respond to the challenge of history, occupying the heart of the Amazon.” Children play on see-saws and show off T-shirts with the crossroads sprawling across the continent-sized nation.

“There was a dream of colonization, of getting land and seeing if here we could have better financial conditions,” Dedé Diniz, 69, said in his home. “A lot of people don’t recognize what we did, what we fought for.”

Diniz examines a photograph he took of Médici and, below it in his album, a shot of a truck trapped in mud. It’s nothing like the bucolic painting on his wall that shows farm furrows and wild forest beside the highway, where a machine repairs ruts.

In this Nov. 22, 2019 photo, cut logs and wooden boards lie in an area opened by illegal loggers within the Renascer Reserve in the Amazon rainforest in Prainha, Para state, Brazil. This conservation unit is known to have trees with high economic value such as ipe, jatoba and massaranduba. One of the biggest seizures of illegal timber in the Brazilian Amazon forest happened in this reserve in 2010. (AP Photo/Leo Correa)

He jokes that he’ll update the painting with asphalt soon—that stretch should be paved by 2021. Already people have started moving in from other states to buy land for cattle pastures.

Brazil’s President Jair Bolsonaro, a former Army captain, won last year’s election with support from farmers, truckers and miners by resurrecting the dictatorship-era desire to develop the world’s largest tropical rainforest. But he did so at a different stage of human history, one where scientists recognize the Amazon must remain to suck carbon from the air and help arrest climate change. Some also argue the Amazon, which has lost some 20% of its original forest, is nearing an irreversible tipping point. In that sense, Brazil itself is at a crossroads.

Road Warriors

From Ruropolis, the Trans-Amazon and BR-163 run jointly westward over a bumpy 70 miles before splitting at a little roundabout. During corn and soy harvests, 2,600 trucks pass through each day to and from the nearby Tapajos River.

In this Nov. 29, 2019 photo, cargo trucks turn off the Trans-Amazon highway, top, onto route BR-163 in Campo Verde, near Itaituba, Para state, Brazil. Carved through jungle during Brazil’s military dictatorship in the 1970s, the roads were built to bend nature to man’s will in the vast hinterland. Four decades later, there’s development taking shape, but also worsening deforestation— and locals harbor concerns that progress may pass them by. (AP Photo/Leo Correa)

There, trucks pull into transshipment ports. Grain cascades from their containers to be loaded onto barges. After a downriver trip that takes days, the grain is poured into ships’ holds and dispatched across the world, largely to China.

That transoceanic network seems far removed from the road warriors filling up on grilled beef or bowls of açai in truck stops. While the truckers eat, grease-stained mechanics replace worn-out shocks and blown-out tires.

At the start of Bolsonaro’s administration, only 32 miles of BR-163 from soy country to the Trans-Amazon remained to be paved. But tropical rains transformed the dirt into impassable mud. Soy trucker Sandro Vieira recalled being stuck in gridlock two years ago, consuming nothing but bread, coffee and peanuts for a week; to this day, the smell of peanuts disgusts him.

In this Nov. 29, 2019 photo, an image of sacred heart of Jesus hangs on a wall in Dede Diniz’s home in the town of Ruropolis, Para state, Brazil, next to an aerial photo of the town. The Trans-Amazon highway and route BR-163 meet in the city of Ruropolis, where the military government promised land to lure people to the planned agricultural village in the 1970s. (AP Photo/Leo Correa)

Bolsonaro’s government last month finished paving the soy corridor. The decades-delayed achievement is the first of major public works to come, Infrastructure Minister Tarcísio de Freitas said. They include a $3 billion grain railway alongside BR-163.

A ministry promotional video for foreign investors shows deer and other wild animals in their habitats, living in harmony with highways.

“We know Brazil has a responsibility to the world, and we will fulfill our responsibility,” de Freitas said.

Improved Access

The two highways opened up the rainforest—and viewed from above, the landscape is slashed by jagged stitches of cleared forest on both sides.

Roads themselves aren’t the problem today, according to Paulo Barreto, a forest engineer and researcher at environmental group Imazon.

The issue, he said, is that improved access has been accompanied by Bolsonaro’s rhetoric emboldening illegal loggers while his administration undermines its own environmental regulator.

In this Nov. 22, 2019 photo, cut logs lie in an area opened by illegal loggers inside the Renascer Reserve in the Amazon rainforest in Prainha, Para state, Brazil. This area is known to have trees with high economic value such as ipe, jatoba and massaranduba. One of the biggest seizures of illegal timber in the Brazilian Amazon forest happened in this reserve in 2010. Those who live in the area complain that illegal logging is still happening. (AP Photo/Leo Correa)

“If those things continue, deforestation will explode in the area,” Barreto said.

Official data show Amazon deforestation rose almost 30% in the 12 months through July, to its worst level in 11 years. Para state alone accounted for 40% of the loss, with a heat map of incidents running along the Trans-Amazon and BR-163. The Jamanxim national forest, alongside BR-163, had the second most deforestation of any protected area.

Paulo Bezerra, a leader of the Munduruku indigenous people that live around the highways, said in an interview that farmers from Mato Grosso and other states are using tractors to rip down trees near his village, and try to intimidate tribesmen into silence. They say they’re afraid of being killed.

After the global spotlight turned to Brazil in August as the Amazon burned, Bolsonaro dismissed the huge fires as normal practice for clearing pasture and farmland.

In this Nov. 29. 2019 photo, an otter pelt hangs on the wall behind Dede Diniz in his home in the town of Ruropolis, Para state, Brazil. Diniz remembers the visit of President Emilio Medici, during his military dictatorship, at the time the town was inaugurated. “There was a dream of colonization, of getting land and seeing if here we could have better financial conditions,” said Diniz in his home. (AP Photo/Leo Correa)

What kind of development should Brazil’s government encourage, and how much, are questions being asked at the U.N.’s ongoing climate conference in Madrid.

Environment Minister Ricardo Salles said in an interview in Madrid that people in the Amazon will continue to be drawn into illegal activities if there isn’t economic development.

Soy Bonanza

Paving BR-163 ensures soy and corn can flow uninterrupted, making viable more farming and new riverside terminals, where the government says exports can reach 25 million tons in 2024, from 10 million tons this year.

More soy means more transport. Workers recently spread concrete at one gas station being built near the crossroads, with parking for 760 trucks.

Edeon Ferreira, executive director of soy and corn transport group Pró-Logística, said heavier traffic will add jobs at restaurants and hotels, plus generate demand for mechanics to meet truckers’ needs. He spoke while leading a group of Mato Grosso soy farmers on a 2,900-mile circuit to inspect Amazon roadways.

In this Nov. 29, 2019 photo, smoke rises from a fire in the Amazon rainforest near route BR-163 and the Trans-Amazon highway in Ruropolis, Para state, Brazil. Official data show Amazon deforestation rose almost 30% in the 12 months through July, to its worst level in 11 years. Para state alone accounted for 40% of the loss, especially along the Trans-Amazon and BR-163 highways. (AP Photo/Leo Correa)

Ferreira said Mato Grosso can farm enough on degraded pasture, without deforestation, as cattle ranching becomes efficient. But Imazon’s Barreto said productivity gains don’t happen automatically; farmers will calculate whether it’s cheaper to invest in technology or clear forest areas made available, even tacitly, by the government.

To support Amazon states, Salles said Brazil aims to shore up foreign funding from the Paris Agreement. But Brazilian officials have yet to detail measures, goals or resources for anti-deforestation efforts.

The clock is ticking. Already the Amazon is growing warmer and drier, losing its capacity to recycle water, and the majority may become savannah in 15 to 30 years, said Carlos Nobre, a climate scientist at the University of Sao Paulo.

Order and Progress

Over the past two decades, soy was increasingly planted along the northern part of BR-163. On one side of the highway is the Tapajos national forest, and farmland on the other. Fires burn here and there. In one spot, the breeze carries black ash across the road into the protected area.

In this Nov. 22, 2019 photo, a wooden house stands at dawn in the Renascer Reserve in the Amazon rainforest in Prainha, Para state, Brazil. The clock is ticking. Already the Amazon is growing warmer and drier, losing its capacity to recycle water, and may become savannah in 15 to 30 years, said Carlos Nobre, a climate scientist at the University of Sao Paulo. (AP Photo/Leo Correa)

In this Nov. 29, 2019 photo, a tank truck pours water on the street at dusk in Ruropolis, Para state, Brazil. Carved through jungle during Brazil’s military dictatorship in the 1970s, the roads that meet in Ruropolis were built to bend nature to man’s will in the vast hinterland. (AP Photo/Leo Correa)

In this Nov. 21, 2019 photo, 10-year-old Kevin performs a somersault in the Uruara river as his friend looks on, at the entrance of the Renascer conservative unit of the Amazon rainforest in Prainha, Para state, Brazil. The clock is ticking. Already the Amazon is growing warmer and drier, losing its capacity to recycle water, and may become savannah in 15 to 30 years, said Carlos Nobre, a climate scientist at the University of Sao Paulo. (AP Photo/Leo Correa)

In this Nov. 24, 2019 photo, Paulo Bezerra, a member of the Munduruku indigenous people, works on his fruit plantation at the Acaizal village in Santarem, Para state Brazil. The 56-year-old indigenous leader says that farmers from Mato Grosso and other states are using tractors to rip down trees near his village and try to intimidate them into silence. “Because of the complaints we make, we have been threatened,” said Bezerra. (AP Photo/Leo Correa)

In this Nov. 30, 2019 photo, a fragment of Amazon rainforest stands next to soy fields in Belterra, Para state, Brazil. The Amazon, which has lost about 17% of its original forest, is nearing an irreversible tipping point. In that sense, Brazil itself is at a crossroads. (AP Photo/Leo Correa)

In this Nov. 18, 2019 photo, 24-year-old Donizete carries a heavy sack of watermelons through the water at the edge of the Tapajos river as he unloads a boat with goods to be delivered to the local market in Santarem, Para state, Brazil. The town, at junction of the Tapajos and Amazon rivers, is an important hub where grain is loaded onto barges for a downriver trip that takes days, then poured into ships’ holds and dispatched across the world, largely to China. (AP Photo/Leo Correa)

This Nov. 18, 2019 photo shows boats at dusk in a port at Santarem, Para state, Brazil, at the confluence of the Tapajos and Amazon rivers. The grain export terminal, top left, loads ships with grains, which are then dispatched across the world, largely to China. (AP Photo/Leo Correa)

In this Nov. 26, 2019 photo, a truck drives on the road in Ruropolis, Para state, Brazil. From Ruropolis, the Trans-Amazon and BR-163 run jointly westward over a bumpy 70 miles before splitting at a little roundabout. During corn and soy harvests, 2,600 trucks pass through each day to and from the nearby Tapajos river. (AP Photo/Leo Correa)

In this Nov. 28, 2019 photo, Lauzenir Araujo stands beside his truck after removing a layer of rubber from a damaged tire on route BR-163 near Ruropolis, Para state, Brazil. Araujo, who is hauling a load of manure to a grain plantation in the state of Mato Grosso, says that the old tires tend to explode as the truck can move faster on the newer road. “Eighty percent of your life is on the road,” he says. “There is no life. That’s why I say, this is for those who like it.” (AP Photo/Leo Correa)

In this Nov. 23, 2019 photo, a cut tree stands in a burned area in Prainha, Para state, Brazil. Official data show Amazon deforestation rose almost 30% in the 12 months through July, to its worst level in 11 years. Para state alone accounted for 40% of the loss. (AP Photo/Leo Correa)

In this Nov. 22, 2019 photo, the sun lights part of a path opened by illegal loggers in the Renascer Reserve of the Amazon rainforest in Prainha, Para state, Brazil. This area is known to have trees with high economic value such as ipe, jatoba and massaranduba. (AP Photo/Leo Correa)

In this Nov. 27, 2019 photo, a woman stands on her stilt house with her dog, watching young boys playing soccer in the Vila Nova neighborhood of Itaituba on the Trans-Amazon highway in Para state, Brazil. The highway, carved through jungle during Brazil’s military dictatorship in the 1970s, was built to bend nature to man’s will in the vast hinterland. Four decades later, there’s development taking shape, but also worsening deforestation, and locals harbor concerns that progress may pass them by. (AP Photo/Leo Correa)

In this Nov. 29, 2019 photo, a dead armadillo lies on a dirt road in Campo Verde, near Itaituba, Para state Brazil. The clock is ticking. Already the Amazon is growing warmer and drier, losing its capacity to recycle water, and may become savannah in 15 to 30 years, said Carlos Nobre, a climate scientist at the University of Sao Paulo. (AP Photo/Leo Correa)

In this Nov. 23, 2019 photo, a burned area of the Amazon rainforest is seen in Prainha, Para state, Brazil. Official data show Amazon deforestation rose almost 30% in the 12 months through July, to its worst level in 11 years. Para state alone accounted for 40% of the loss. (AP Photo/Leo Correa)

In this Nov. 28, 2019 photo, an old television transmits a Brazilian soap opera in the home of Domingas Rufina, who is a member of a local women’s association in Trairao, Para state, Brazil. The 67-year-old is considering moving to another quiet town after a leader of her association was threatened after denouncing illegal logging in the nearby Trairao national forest. (AP Photo/Leo Correa)

In this Nov. 29, 2019 photo, men work on the construction site of a gas station and parking lot on route BR-163 near the intersection with the Trans-Amazon highway in the area of Itaituba, Para state, Brazil. When it’s complete, the parking area will be big enough for 760 trucks. (AP Photo/Leo Correa)

In this Nov. 27, 2019 photo, Antonia Pereira swings on her hammock as she talks with a friend on her stilt house at the Vila Nova neighborhood in Itaituba, Para state, Brazil. She says life was better in the 1980s when people came to the gold mines in the region. Now she survives selling hammocks and cooking street barbecues. Sometimes she can fish from her porch during the season that the Tapajos river floods. “I wish there were more jobs for the young people,” she says. (AP Photo/Leo Correa)

In this Nov. 28, 2019 photo, Domingas Rufina, a member of the local women’s association, poses in her home in Trairao, Para state, Brazil. The 67-year-old is considering a move to another quiet town after a leader of her association was threatened for denouncing the illegal logging in the nearby Trairao national forest. Rufina doesn’t want to get mixed up in any conflict. “I don’t know how to read and I only know how to write my name, but I am an experienced woman,” she says. (AP Photo/Leo Correa)

In this Nov. 20, 2019 photo, Valmir Lima de Souza poses with a sickle on his manioc plantation at the Curua-Una region in Santarem, Para state, Brazil. The 60-year-old small farmer, who has been working on this land for 48 years, says people have tried to buy his property, telling him that he has already raised his family and deserves to take a rest. “Man, I am already resting, because I didn’t have water and light here, and now I have water and light and I am resting in my piece of land where I’m gonna stay. Making abundance, growing what I want to plant,” says Souza. (AP Photo/Leo Correa)

In this Nov. 30, 2019 photo, a rooster-tail cicada clings to a tree on the property of Joao Batista Ferreira in Belterra, Para state, Brazil. The area was jungle throughout Ferreira’s childhood. Today, his plot is an island of shade and birdsong in the middle of sweeping plantations. (AP Photo/Leo Correa)

In this Nov. 27, 2019 photo, boys play soccer next to stilt houses at the Vila Nova neighborhood in Itaituba, Para state, Brazil. Carved through jungle during Brazil’s military dictatorship in the 1970s, the Trans-Amazon highway that runs through town was built to bend nature to man’s will in the vast hinterland. (AP Photo/Leo Correa)

In this Nov. 30, 2019 photo, the forest stands next to a soy field in an area behind the home of Joao Batista Ferreira in Belterra, Para state, Brazil. Better known as Joao of Honey, though none of his 1,000 beehives remain, he complains that agribusiness did away with the native forest. (AP Photo/Leo Correa)

“The national forest is a reserve that’s important for the country, for the world,” said Manoel de Souza, 59, who coordinates the Tapajos forest’s federation of traditional communities. “Soy is also important, but it should be ordered so that they aren’t on top of one another, impacting each other.”

Just north of the forest is Belterra, which was jungle throughout João Ferreira’s childhood. Today, his plot is an island of shade and birdsong in the middle of sweeping plantations. He’s known as João of Honey, though none of his 1,000 beehives remain. The bees died off since agribusiness moved in 20 years ago, said João, 59.

He complains that agribusiness did away with native forest, and its efficient machinery creates few jobs, leaving townspeople in the lurch. In an act of lonesome protest, he painted altered versions of the Brazilian flag and hung them over his yard. They feature question marks rather than the national motto “Order and Progress,” because he’s not sure Brazil has them any longer.

“One day progress comes,” he said, “and decay arrives with it.”

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Brazil highways drive Amazon development—and destruction

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#Environment

[whatdoesshedotothem]

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9 40/..

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No kiss ver[y] fine morn[in]g the sun full up[on] the thermom[eter] stand[in]g now (10 40/.. a.m.) at 79°

br[eak]f[a]st at 10 40/.. to 11 40/.. then walk[e]d w[i]th A- [Ann] on the flags oppos[i]te the h[ou]se an h[ou]r till 1 then saunt[ere]d

out ab[ou]t alone till ab[ou]t 2 - then a lit[tle] whi[le] in the draw[in]g r[oo]m tidying - all ready prepar[e]d for the

coff[in] being br[ou]ght d[o]wn int[o] the draw[in]g r[oo]m tonight – w[e]nt to see my a[un]t ab[ou]t 2 1/2 .p.m saw no change in

h[e]r app[earan]ce - sat w[i]th A- [Ann] till 3 then w[e]nt d[o]wn to r[ea]d pray[e]rs – wait[e]d 10 min[ute]s or ¼ h[ou]r for John Booth –

fr[om] 3 1/4 to 4 A- [Ann] and I r[ea]d the ev[enin]g serv[i]ce I r[ea]d on[l]y the 1st less[on] and she r[ea]d the 2[n]d less[on] for the morn[in]g by mista[ke] - and in 1/4 h[ou]r I r[ea]d one of Paley’s serm[on]s vol[ume] 6 p[age] 42 It is

good for us to be in afflict[io]n – ab[ou]t 8 p[ages] long – ver[y] appropriate – ver[y] good - all the

wom[e]n and the 3 men ca[me] in, and all seem[e]d attent[ive] to and impress[e]d by the serm[o]n - 5 wom[e]n

Cooks[o]n Oddy, the cook (that Mr. Jubb s[e]nt to help us) Ann the h[ou]sem[ai]d and Sarah the kitchen m[ai]d –

3 men Rob[er]t the f[oo]tman, Geo[rge] the groom, and John Booth – w[i]th A- [Ann] in the store-r[oo]m a few min[ute]s

then till 4 3/4 wr[ote] the ab[ove] of today - my cold still ver[y] bad b[u]t bet[ter] than yest[erday] or the day bef[ore] –

I beg[a]n yest[erday] to wear an addit[iona]l piece of flannel acr[oss] my chest and this seems to ha[ve] done

me good - I r[ea]d w[i]th less diffic[ult]y or rath[e]r w[i]th mo[re] ease than I expect[e]d - then wr[ote] as

foll[ow]s - ‘Shibd[e]n hall – Sun[day] 16 Oct[obe]r 1836. Dear sir - I ha[ve] long been impat[ien]t

‘to s[e]nd you the val[uatio]n of your farm, and hop[e]d to ha[ve] h[a]d it in ti[me] for this let[ter]; b[u]t I ha[ve]

‘n[o]t yet got it, (the val[uatio]n of the townsh[ip] being n[o]t yet qui[te] complet[e]d) and, on

‘this melanch[ol]y occas[io]n, I will n[o]t delay my let[ter] long[e]r - you will be sor[ry] to

‘hear that my a[un]t expir[e]d at five min[ute]s past one, a.m. on Monday - worn out

‘by prev[iou]s suffer[in]g, she seem[e]d to slip away gently, and eas[il]y, at the last - I beg my

‘comp[limen]ts to your moth[e]r and sist[e]r -  Bel[ieve] me, d[ea]r Sir, ver[y] truly yours A. [Anne] Lister’ –

seal[e]d and put int[o] the let[ter] beg to go tonight my let[ter] to ‘John List[e]r Esq[ui]re 11 Stockwell

Common London’ – w[e]nt to see my a[un]t - no appar[en]t change - stood look[in]g

perh[aps] a min[ute] or mo[re] and ca[me] away hav[in]g seen h[e]r for the last ti[me] at 6 8/.. – din[ner] at 6 10/..

in 35 min[ute]s – coff[ee] upst[ai]rs - Mr. Duncan ca[me] bet[ween] 6 and 7, and the coff[in] w[a]s sold[ere]d up, and put

int[o] the draw[in]g r[oo]m where I w[e]nt in to see it at 9 20/.. - A- [Ann] r[ea]d a lit[tle] Fr[en]ch at coff[ee] ti[me] and we b[o]th

sat r[ea]ding aft[er]w[ar]ds till 9 20/.. I the 1st 48 p[ages] vol[ume] 3 Bigland’s (A-‘s [Ann]) hist[ory] of the world – artic[le] Italy –

Let[ter] tonight 1 1/2 p.m. wide[l]y writ[ten] fr[om] Mr. Musgrave dat[e]d ‘Osbaldwick n[ea]r York. Saturday.

Oct[obe]r 15th’ - ‘my d[ea]r Madam - the int[ere]st I ha[ve] felt for so[me] y[ea]rs past in your lament[e]d

‘a[un]t ma[ke]s it a pecul[ia]r mortificat[io]n to me that I am preclud[e]d fr[om] officiat[in]g, as you desire,

‘on Mon[day]  It is n[o]t howev[e]r, I regret to say, in my pow[e]r to be at H[alifa]x on that day. The anniver[sar]y

‘of the Bible soc[iet]y is held on the sa[me] day, and I h[a]d request[e]d Mr. Gratrix prev[iou]s to the rec[ei]pt of your let[ter]

‘to apologize to the committee for my abs[en]ce at a meet[in]g at w[hi]ch I us[uall]y preside. I am sure

‘anyone of my curates will be hap[py] to be in attend[an]ce at your own hour. I beg my k[i]nd reg[ar]ds to

‘Miss Walker and am, my d[ea]r mad[a]m, yours ver[y] truly Charles Musgrave’ - I ment[ione]d to A- [Ann] my

supposit[io]n that our vicar is on a vis[i]t to Archdeacon Markham - that there is a din[ner] p[ar]ty or so[me]

s[u]ch th[in]g for tomor[row] that he does n[o]t like to miss, and .:. it is n[o]t in his pow[e]r to be at H[alifa]x on that day!

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Oct[obe]r

h[a]d just writ[ten] so far of today i.e. the last 15 lines at 9 50/.. p.m. r[ea]d the newspap[e]r - A- [Ann] saw to the sett[in]g

out the tab[le]s for tomor[row]’s br[eak]f[a]st - she call[e]d me d[o]wn at 11 – F[ahrenheit] 42° now at 11 35/.. p.m. – ver[y] fine day –

found my cousin come gently just before dinner

[newstfionline]

Friday, July 29, 2022

Back to nuclear energy (Quartz) Given soaring gas and oil prices, and shortages, countries around the world are putting scrapped nuclear energy plans back on the table. Here’s a look at some of the countries that are reconsidering nuclear: The Netherlands plans to build its first nuclear plant since 1973. The UK is constructing a nuclear power plant to power 6 million homes. Egypt is building its first nuclear reactor, in partnership with Russia. Japan is restarting idled nuclear power plants 11 years after the Fukushima nuclear disaster. France is nationalizing energy giant EDF to boost its nuclear energy industry. The US announced $6 billion to keep nuclear plants open. Uganda is seeking a partnership with Russia to develop a nuclear power plant.

Flooding in central Appalachia kills at least 3 in Kentucky (AP) Torrential rains unleashed devastating floods in Appalachia on Thursday, as fast-rising water killed at least three people in Kentucky and sent people scurrying to rooftops to be rescued. Water gushed from hillsides and flooded out of streambeds, inundating homes, businesses and roads throughout eastern Kentucky. Parts of western Virginia and southern West Virginia also saw flooding. Rescue crews used helicopters and boats to pick up people trapped by floodwaters. “In a word, this event is devastating,” Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear said as he announced the deaths and warned that more lives would surely be lost. “And I do believe it will end up being one of the most significant, deadly floods that we have had in Kentucky in a very long time.”

Haiti gang wars intensify as armed men set church on fire (AP) Heavy gunfire echoed throughout downtown Port-au-Prince on Wednesday as suspected gang members set a church on fire and tried to kill their opponents in a bid to gain control over more territory. The intense fighting erupted just blocks from the government’s National Palace and Haiti’s National Penitentiary, where hungry prisoners tried to revolt because they thought gang members were coming to release them, Government Commissioner Jacques Lafontant told The Associated Press. The once bustling downtown area of Port-au-Prince has become increasingly dangerous and deserted as violence escalates between a gang coalition known as G9 that is trying to seize control of the area from other gangs. The spike in violence comes as gangs grow more powerful following the July 7, 2021 assassination of President Jovenel Moïse. Last month, one gang took control of a portion of Haiti’s Court of First Instance and on Tuesday, another gang set fire to a courthouse in Croix-des-Bouquets, which lies just northeast of Port-au-Prince. In addition, the United Nations said more than 470 people have been killed, injured or disappeared in less than a week during recent turf wars in the nearby Cite Soleil slum.

France’s mustard shortage fuels drama and panic in grocery stores (Washington Post) It was the local egg delivery man who spread the spiciest gossip about the mustard shortage. Someone in a small French town had found a way to buy two jars at the grocery store—despite the one-mustard cap imposed by many shops as the country faces a shortage of its beloved condiment. “The audacity!” said Claire Dinhut, who heard about the local mustard scandal from the egg courier while at her family home south of Tours, in west-central France, as she shared the “town drama” in a TikTok video that has been viewed more than 600,000 times. Just as summer cookouts—and extra demand for the tangy condiment—reach their peak, France is in the throes of a weeks-long shortage of mustard. For some, it feels dire—a personal consequence of extreme weather that decimated mustard seed supply in and outside France, and the supply chain disruptions still reverberating around the globe as a result of the coronavirus pandemic. Mustard is a staple of most French diets. While historians say mustard wasn’t invented in France, many French people claim it as their own.

‘I want to breed horses, not camels’: Hungarian farmers battle ‘historic’ drought (Reuters) Andras Eordogh admiringly watches his dozen foals as they frolic and kick up dust on his farm in the scorching summer heat and laments that he will have to sell most of them because of the changing climate in this rural southeast corner of Hungary. The gently-spoken, 66-year-old horse breeder, who enjoys teaching local children to ride his foals, said a severe drought means he can no longer harvest enough fodder to feed the horses. “I really wanted to keep them... but I have been farming here for nearly three decades and I cannot remember such a severe drought,” said Eordogh, who owns 150 hectares where he breeds horses and cattle and grows grains and vegetables. “I want to breed horses, not camels,” he added.

Opposing Putin from jail (NYT) Unlike many other opposition activists, Ilya Yashin, a Moscow councilman, decided to stay in Russia and speak out against President Vladimir Putin’s decision to invade Ukraine. Eventually, he reasoned, jail time was likely. Yashin, 39, was indeed arrested in late June. He is now in pretrial detention in Moscow, on charges of “disseminating false information” about the war, and faces a sentence of up to 10 years. Yashin’s arrest has reignited debate in the Russian opposition over how leading figures can best serve the cause of challenging Putin: from outside the country or inside, in a penal colony. The only choices open to opposition politicians from Russia today are “emigration or prison,” said Lyubov Sobol, who was forced to emigrate after her boss, Aleksei Navalny, survived an attempted poisoning, returned to Russia and was immediately arrested.

Russia steps up strikes on Ukraine amid counterattacks (AP) Russian forces on Thursday launched massive missile strikes on Ukraine’s Kyiv and Chernihiv regions, areas that haven’t been targeted in weeks, while Ukrainian officials announced an operation to liberate an occupied region in the country’s south. Kyiv regional governor Oleksiy Kuleba said on Telegram that a settlement in the Vyshgorod district of the region was targeted early on Thursday morning; an “infrastructure object” was hit. It wasn’t immediately clear if there were any casualties. Vyshhgorod is located 20 kilometers (about 12 miles) north of downtown Kyiv. Russian troops withdrew from the Kyiv and Chernihiv regions months ago after failing to capture either. Meanwhile, the Ukrainian military continued to counterattack in the occupied southern region of Kherson, striking a key bridge over the Dnieper River on Wednesday.

Keep calm and cut the air con—Japan’s energy saving is model for Europe (Reuters) As Europe braces for energy shortages from Russian gas cuts, Japan’s own energy crisis a decade ago offers survival lessons to households and businesses—such as dimming the lights and taking the stairs. Energy saving, or “setsuden”, became a national project for Japan in the aftermath of the March 2011 earthquake and tsunami that triggered a meltdown at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant. In the weeks and months that followed, shopping centres switched off escalators, factories pared back assembly line times, and pachinko gambling parlours—famous for their flashing lights and noisy machines—were temporarily shut. The attitude of many Japanese at the time was “We need to do something, otherwise, there’s going to be a disaster,” recalled Koichiro Tanaka of the Institute of Energy Economics, Japan.

China’s heat waves (Foreign Policy) China is melting, with temperatures in the last month regularly hitting 100 degrees Fahrenheit or higher. Sixty-five percent of the country is currently under a heat warning. Unlike in Europe, air conditioning is common in China, but those without it often already belong to vulnerable groups, such as the rural elderly. After last year’s energy crisis, there have been concerns about the impact of the heat wave on the electricity grid, especially as COVID-19 restrictions keep many people stuck at home. The traditional solution to summer heat was to sleep outside; the zero-COVID policy and attacks on shared public space have put an end to that. Although there have been a handful of blackouts, the system is holding up well despite peak electricity usage exceeding previous records.

Taiwan hones invasion response amid China’s threats over Pelosi trip (Washington Post) Taiwan’s military pledged it is action-ready for a Ukraine-style response to an invasion during annual drills this week, even as Taiwanese security experts downplay the odds of reckless Chinese aggression over a possible visit to Taiwan by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi. On Wednesday on Bali beach, Taiwanese troops practiced repelling a potential amphibious assault along the stretch of waterfront connecting Taipei Port and the Tamsui River mouth, crucial to defending the capital city of Taipei. The invasion drill comes at a high point of tension in the Taiwan Strait after Beijing lashed out at the United States over the potential Pelosi visit, sparking concern that the situation could spiral into the worst cross-strait crisis since the 1990s.

Aotearoa (WSJ) Aotearoa is the Māori word for the clouds that, according to oral history, led Polynesian navigators to the islands now commonly called New Zealand, and some lawmakers want to change the name of New Zealand to Aotearoa. Many countries have been taking new looks at their name, and in New Zealand a petition to rename the country Aotearoa got 70,000 signatures and will be reviewed by a parliamentary committee. The word appears on bank notes and in passports, and in some official government documents the country is referred to as Aotearoa New Zealand. According to the latest opinion polling, most prefer to keep “New Zealand,” but “Aotearoa” and “Aotearoa New Zealand” combine to about 40 percent support.

Seeking new funds, Hamas raises taxes in impoverished Gaza (AP) Gaza’s Hamas rulers have imposed a slew of new taxes on imported clothes and office supplies just ahead of the new school year, sparking limited but rare protests in the impoverished coastal strip. The move by the militant group comes at a time when Gaza’s 2.3 million people are suffering not only from a 15-year Israeli-Egyptian blockade, but also from a new jump in prices caused by global supply-chain issues and the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Gaza’s economy has been hit hard by the Israeli-Egyptian blockade, imposed when Hamas seized power in 2007. Israel says the blockade is needed to prevent Hamas from arming, but critics say the restrictions, which include tight limits on exports, amount to collective punishment.

Russia and West vie for influence in Africa (AP) Russian, French and American leaders are crisscrossing Africa to win support for their positions on the war in Ukraine, waging what some say is the most intense competition for influence on the continent since the Cold War. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and French President Emmanuel Macron are each visiting several African countries this week. Samantha Power, head of the U.S. Agency for International Development, went to Kenya and Somalia last week. The U.S. ambassador to the U.N., Linda Thomas-Greenfield, will go to Ghana and Uganda next week. Lavrov, in his travels across the drought- and hunger-stricken continent, has sought to portray the West as the villain, blaming it for rising food prices, while the Western leaders have accused the Kremlin of cynically using food as a weapon and waging an imperial-style war of conquest—words calculated to appeal to listeners in post-colonial Africa.