#wellington climate

[wellingtonnz]

When people ask me if I miss Wellington ...

A good day in Wellington happens only 7% of the time

Based on data since January 1, 1954 only 7% of days in Wellington have ever been good, let alone unbeatable.

That is only 1839 days, or just over five years, of unbeatable Wellington skies across 69 years.

A 'good day" was defined as a day where the temperature rose above 18C, rain was less than 0.5mm, average wind speeds were below 15km/h and more than 75% of daylight hours were sunny.

By this definition there is a yearly average of 26 good days in Wellington.

Source

[nando161mando]

"They list their other gripes as: Climate change scam, transgender agenda, raced-based politics, global control, NZ is not for sale, 15-minute cities"

[stupittmoran]

Did you know that Bill Gates' primary residence in Seattle boasts 7 bedrooms, 24 bathrooms, a 60-foot pool with an underwater music system, a 2,500-square-foot gym, a 1,000-square-foot dining room, six kitchens, and a trampoline room with a 20-foot ceiling? And let's not forget the 2,100-square-foot library, a home theater that seats up to 20 guests, and a massive 300-square-foot reception hall with room for 200 guests. And there's also a spacious guesthouse, a garage that fits 23 cars, and an artificial stream stocked with fish.

Depending on the source, its value is estimated at $127 to $170 million. But wait, there's more! Gates also owns homes in Del Mar, California at sea level ($43 million), Indian Wells, California ($12.5 million), Wellington, Florida ($8.7 million), and a ranch in Wyoming ($8.9 million). A fun little tidbit about his Florida property: In 2016, he paid $13.5 million for the neighboring house. Rumor has it he's also bought four other properties on the same street, making him the sole resident of the entire block.

While Bill doesn't own a mega-yacht, he regularly charters them for his vacations. He also has a penchant for spending big on luxury cars, and let's not forget his four private jets. In interviews, he's mentioned that purchasing private jets is his "guilty pleasure."

Now, isn't it ironic that one of the main proponents of reducing our carbon footprint lives like this? With such an expansive estate and luxurious lifestyle, we can't help but wonder how much his own carbon footprint is ballooning.

If the people who are urging us to reduce our carbon footprints are living lives of excess, how can we trust their motivations and the validity of their claims about man-made climate change?

Don't be like Bill!

--Dr. Simon Goddek on Twitter

[mindblowingscience]

Oak Ridge National Laboratory scientists identified a gene "hotspot" in the poplar tree that triggers dramatically increased root growth. The discovery supports the development of better bioenergy crops and other plants that can thrive in difficult conditions while storing more carbon belowground. The team used a vast poplar dataset to identify regulator genes that can trigger hundreds of other gene expressions in the tree. They confirmed the molecular function of one hub gene, PtrXB38, and found that plants with the gene produced prolific and deeper roots. The gene even stimulated the growth of aerial roots on stems and leaves. The work is published in the journal New Phytologist. "With more roots, these plants absorb more nutrients, grow larger, are more tolerant to drought and can draw more carbon underground for longer-term storage," said ORNL's Wellington Muchero. The aerial roots may also make the plant more tolerant to flooding. "This naturally occurring gene has implications for biomass production, food production and climate change mitigation."

Continue Reading

[allthebrazilianpolitics]

Brazil proposes global alliance to combat hunger and poverty

This week, members of the Brazilian government participated in the High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development at the United Nations (UN) in New York, USA. They presented a proposal to establish a global alliance to combat hunger and poverty.

The goal is to pool knowledge, finances, and partnerships to enhance efforts toward achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Established by the UN in 2015, the SDGs aim to implement public policies to guide humanity through 2030.

According to the Ministry of Development and Social Assistance, Family, and Fight against Hunger, the Global Alliance Against Hunger and Poverty "is one of Brazil's main initiatives as a member of the G20 [group of the world's 20 largest economies]." At the side event focused on implementing these policies in various countries, Minister Wellington Dias stated that the planned actions include promoting food security, increasing income, and addressing inequalities.

"The reality we are facing, with multiple crises—including climate and environmental crises, economic instability, and conflicts—is causing a resurgence of hunger, food insecurity, and poverty. Addressing this complex challenge requires numerous strategies and actions," said the minister.

Continue reading.

[aroaessidhe]

a few NZ adult sff books!

for @thereadingchallengechallenge following an ask from a week or two ago

most of these authors also have other books that I love! I have mentioned specifically their books that are set here (or Aotearoa-inspired fantasy)

From A Shadow Grave by Andi Buchanan (alternate history fantasy based on a real life murder/wellington ghost story)

The Dawnhounds by Sasha Stronach (queer alchemical-biopunk dystopian fantasy)

No Man’s Land by AJ Fitzwater (queer historical fantasy about land girls in WWII)

The Stone Wētā by Octavia Cade (climate fiction novella about an underground network protecting science data in the future)

The Wind City by Rem Wigmore (urban fantasy set in Wellington)

How To Get A Girlfriend When You’re A Terrifying Monster by Marie Cardno (cute sapphic monster romance novella)

Kurangaituku by Whiti Hereaka (nonlinear myth retelling, this is definitely more in the direction of literary fiction tbh)

Butcherbird by Cassie Hart (supernatural horror/suspense, not quite sff enough for my tastes but might be of interest?)

Wake by Elizabeth Knox (similarly more horror/thriller than sff-y; she also has a fantasy called The Absolute Book that I haven’t read yet)

I already mentioned Na Viro by Gina Cole, but since I think it’s adult I’ll mention it again here! it’s a Pasifikafuturist sci-fi/fantasy

[tinystepsforward]

so auckland received unprecedented amounts of rain and flooded yesterday and our mayor was completely absent for the first few hours of evacuations as things got worse. here's the shit he's said since:

"we need the rain to stop, that's the main issue"

"my job isn't to rush out with buckets"

(defensively) "it'll be interesting to see how wellington copes when the earthquake strikes"

"i don't think [emergency management services travelling from elsewhere] can even find the airport at the moment to be honest"

"it's a bit early to jump to that" (regarding whether this is climate change, to which our minister for emergency management definitively answered yes)

so uhhhhh. he also could not answer if water is safe to drink (yes) and if we had gotten text alerts to tell us to shelter in place (very no, but he said that we had)

much of this from this radio interview | some photos here | some tiktoks compiled here

[thatssosussex]

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex join their friends, polo player, Nacho Figueras and his wife, Delfina Blaquier (Their daughter Alba was there too. She also wanted to know why Lili wasn’t there 😂) at the Royal Salute Polo Challenge in Wellington, Florida. The match was in support of Sentebale. Sentebale is a source of support and inspiration for young people, caregivers and communities in Lesotho and Botswana affected by issues of health, wealth inequity, and climate resilience. Harry and Nacho also played against each other in the match as well. (4/12/24)

[duchessofvastergotland]

Full itinerary for the Crown Princess couple’s visit to Australia and New Zealand

Earlier this month it was announced that Victoria and Daniel would travel to Australia and New Zealand for their first joint overseas visit of 2023. The court have now confirmed the itinerary:

13th February (Canberra)

Visit to the Swedish Embassy in Canberra where they will meet with the Ambassador and Embassy staff

Welcome ceremony at the National Museum of Australia with local indigenous people and a tour of the museum

Visit to Namadgi National Park to learn about the impact of the 2020 wildfires

Dinner at the Governor General’s residence

14th February (Canberra and Sydney)

Visit to the National Arboretum to plant a tree

Climate meeting at the Australian National University followed by a seminar on energy security, with a speech from Victoria

Bilateral meetings with Australian ministers

Travel to Sydney for a reception at Government House

15th February (Sydney)

Attendance at the Sweden-Australia Sustainable Mining Summit

A guided tour of the Sydney Opera House

Visit to the botanic garden, including a viewing of a garden designed to mark World Pride

Visit to Saint Vincent’s Hospital which specialises in cancer care

Meeting with the Australian women’s national football team ahead of the 2023 World Cup

Evening reception for Swedish people in Australia at the Contemporary Art Museum

16th February (Wellington)

Visit to the National Museum Te Papa and view exhibition on nature, sustainability and traditional knowledge

Visit to Parliament for a meeting with the New Zealand-European Friendship Association

Bilateral meeting in the evening with representatives of the New Zealand government

17th February (Wellington)

Traditional Maori welcome ceremony at Wawhetu Maraeu

Meeting with young people ahead of the World Cup

Lunch at the Governor General's residence

Meeting on the electrification of the aviation industry

A guided tour of Zealandia Ecosanctuary, a protected natural area

Dinner at the residence of the Mayor of Wellington

18th February (Hamilton)

Visit to recycling plant Saveboard which recycles packaging and plastic waste to produce sustainable building materials

A guided tour of the Maori section of the Hamilton Gardens

Visit to a dairy producer to learn about sustainability efforts in the dairy sector in New Zealand and potential collaborations with Sweden

[doubleddenden]

My ideal Gen 10, since I can't sleep

Long read

1. Regional basis, Australia and New Zealand

Other than the fact that Australia is basically the ultimate cheat sheet for Pokemon ideas (one could argue it already has them if they were rated M), I've actually had this desire for an Australia region for a long time, ever since I was 10 and started my "Australia" phase while my classmates got in their ancient Egypt and Greek phases.

It would have a lot of space to play with. 95% of Australia is apparently uninhabited due to harsh terrain and climate (and the huge desert area towards the center), but Pokemon tends to play fast and loose with regions anyway. That's how we get places like Hoenn or, for some reason, a desert area in NYC and the UK. That's basically a canvas to work with while expanding on other areas where wildlife and cities can be found.

Not to mention, it would be the first region from the Southern Hemisphere to be made into a region and the farthest from any other place. In fact, that could work to bring us a whole slew of brand new Pokemon without as much reliance on the old. Again, the ultimate cheat sheet. You could make 6 different Pokemon lines from different Bunyip descriptions alone.

It should also be noted 2 things: 1, Uluru is already in SV via an art piece in Hassel's classroom. That's *almost* dead center of Australia.

2 is more of a coincidence, but game freak milks those almost as much as Charizard. Ever hear of antipodes? Basically an antipode is a location on the exact opposite side of the world from another set point- Basically if you were to drill a hole through the exact center of the planet, you would wind up there.

Madrid, Spain- or more or less the real life approximate location to where Area Zero is placed- is Wellington, New Zealand's antipode. You might think that's an incredible coincidence- you're probably right, but Pokemon likes this type of symbolism. Take Sword and Shield's legendaries, two wolves who came after Sun and Moon, much like Odin's wolves who chase after the sun and moon in Norse mythos, or Solgaleo being the Sunne Eater Pokemon despite being weak to fire due to that also being an alchemical symbol for something "impossible" or "frustrating."

I'm not saying that there will be a direct hole in the Pokemon equivalent of New Zealand to Area Zero, although it would make for a nice callback to find something akin to the Kitakami Crystal Pool there and as a way to bring Terrastilizing to the next Gen, since we know it can be done anywhere.

Speaking of New Zealand, I have been kind of clumping it together with Australia despite them being separate countries, but they are close geographically. It too would also be an amazing place to work with. Fun fact a lot of people already know: Lord of the Rings was filmed there, and if Galar could make call backs to old bands and James Bond movies, you bet your ass they could make a callback to that. If nothing else, it would make for great DLC.

2. The Pokemon

I'm gonna be real, I want a lot of new Pokemon. Like bare minimum 120 originals, but ideally another 151. But I also think that, given that Australia is the ultimate pokemon cheat sheet, we could go further.

So 120 originals bare minimum- that means brand new Pokemon without ties to any past region, form, or evolution line, and does nit include "fakes" or "mimics." After 120, you can start adding regional variants, convergent species, cross Gen evolutions, fakes like paradoxes, alternative forms, legendaries, and mythicals. You could get to 200 alone just from that, but I'll be reasonable and accept 151 bare minimum. That could also be symbolic, since if this game were to release in 2026, it'd be the 30th anniversary, and we've consistently had a new Gen every 10 years with 4 on the 10th and 7 on the 20th.

And listen, again, the cheat sheet. If Game Freak were to stop trying to figure out how to give a job to a blue ringed octopus or a quokka, that could be done relatively easily with enough artists. You got poisonous sea snakes, gigantic spiders, wombats, wallabies, kangaroos (like a real one, but Kangaskhan could also get something), Tasmanian devils, little penguins, cassowaries, emus, echidnas, platypus, salt water crocs, dingos, Australian shepherds, kookaburra, adders, possums, quolls, lyrebirds, frill lizards, thorny devils, thylacine, bilbies, bunyips- you make an entire dex out of that alone.

All they gotta do is not try to stress themselves out by giving them jobs. I really don't want a Lyrebird that plays a lyre, and I don't want a stand up comedian kookaburra or quokka obsessed with selfies- just. Monsters. In nature. That's all you gotta do. Make a wallaby that punches lightning and evolves into a kangaroo that kicks it too, make a flaming thorny devil, make a normal type quokka, does not need a Wikipedia lesson for each one.

I think that we should try to get away from artificial or human traits in Pokemon from here and take a step back to nature. No I don't want my starter to have a job, I want it to be a cool monster you could see living naturally in the wild. I don't want a boomerang Pokemon, but I would accept a boomerang bird or something like a Tinkaton or Marowak with one. No Gholdengos or Inteleons or Cinderaces, more Golisopods, Feraligatrs, Sentrets, and the like. The more animal or monster like, the better.

3. The theme

I have a fear of us possibly getting a super hero or sentai theme- we don't want or need that. I think a theme of nature and wildlife conservation and observation would work wonders, and it would be a nice break from God damn soccer, annoying soccer fans, school, and school bullies.

I'd see it potentially as a Legends hybrid? Where you help the professor observe rare species in their natural habitats. You could teach plenty of good morals by having us defend wild Pokemon from poachers or real estate moguls.

Ideally, we wouldn't need any world ending calamity or a threat that tears at the fabric of reality. We could just have something like Ho-Oh and Lugia- 2 box monsters that are cryptids. If they must be more than that, maybe avatars of nature that evolved from normal Pokemon to protect the wildlife. Something you could see being illusive and powerful, but a guardian to wildlife.

If there must be some sort of calamity, research could be done into local legends and myths, such as The Dreaming, or maybe even involving quinkans as inspiration.

4. Progression and layout

Ideally, it's a completely open world where you can go whichever direction you want. I made a post about it, but you'd Ideally have 18 gyms to choose from, only needing 8 to get to the league and to defeat 4 more as your elite 4. The levels would be tied to badge count, meaning you can challenge them in any order.

I want my friends and I to have completely different journeys and to have reasons to do multiple playthroughs, akin to BoTW. Like I go north, catch a flying/water bird, catch a dog, etc. My friend goes east, they catch a flying/rock bird, a cat, etc.

If you really wanted a surprise, a sky area would be dope.

Also, a short beginning. I'm talking I make a character, get my Pokemon and dex, and I'm off to do what I want. I don't want to spend an hour in route 1 on tutorials, I want to GO.

Story I think would be best to keep in non linear episodic bursts where we befriend locals and help them with problems while continuing on with our professor against poachers, and ideally you could skip a bit or do everything.

Since this would be Australia, I think that this place could be easily way bigger than Paldea, but for loading I think it'd be best to either separate it by quadrants in open sandboxes or at least work it so it's not shitting itself trying to load a town in the distance.

Also, I shouldn't need to say it, but I should be able to see a wind mill be a wind mill.

Ideally there's more nature vs city with more memorable locations, and the cities are nice and explorable as well.

5. Character customization

I shouldn't need to add this, but just make it good again. I don't want a uniform, I don't want to be stuck looking like a child, I at bare minimum want to dress up in the full range out clothes again and more.

I think it's also time for us to have more control over the types of bodies we have. Little, young, teen, 20s, etc, big, chubby, lanky, body types, etc. Also l, for the love of God, actually good hair styles, like anime hair styles would help wonders.

Oh and for the love of God, FULL. LENGTH. PANTS.

6. Voice acting

It's time. It's time. It's been time since Gen 8. It's time. There's too many voiceless cutscenes not to have it by now.

Just... try not to make it suck like Masters or the anime did for dub. I'm just saying, accurate Australian accents will work wonders.

7. Rivals.

Nemona was great. Hop was awful. But at this point, I'd say it'd be great to get a serious one again.

Or better yet, give the player the option to "choose" their rival, kind of the same way we would name Blue or Hugh, except you'd maybe get a list of personality types or a list of pre made rivals to choose from, so you can have your pathetic woobified wet cat baby boy if you want while I get a tsundere bitch that I can bully. The personality you pick could even determine fighting style, teams, and whether they'd pick a starter stronger or weaker to yours.

8. Gimmicks

We don't need more. If we have any, I'd say just recycle the old ones. Megas and Terrastilizing could come back easily, doesn't mean they have to be the center of them all.

If we must have a gimmick, I'd want something that has a semi to permanent change on a Pokemon. Maybe a "twilight" Pokemon that has exact flipped stats, color scheme, and typing, or maybe the Pokemon equivalent to Armor Digivolving.

I feel that fusions could be on the table, but honestly I don't think now is the time.

The best new gimmick though is no new gimmick. 30th anniversary, let's just master the past ones.

9. Traversal and HMs or ride

Let's have custom Ride Pokemon depending on our parties, like how Palworld does it. I wanna ride my fast af thylacine through the outback, I wanna fly on my flying serpents, surf on my croc, you get the deal.

10. Art style

I want it to look anime, basically. Think of how Alola looks on the 3ds, and make it HD and look good. We don't need realism, but don't make it look washed out too.

Character design, I'd like for us to maybe go back to a style reminiscent of gens 5 and 6, or at least let the SV dlc Character designers take lead here. SV was fine for what it was, but I want less of that and something more... appealing, I guess. The characters for Blueberry look more like Pokemon characters than the SV characters did, if that makes sense.

If we're in Australia and New Zealand, I think having art patterns and such familiar to its indigenous peoples would be really awesome, and having opals and such would also go a long way.

11. Music

Music hasn't really been an issue in Pokemon imo, except for where it gets repetitive. Basically just make more tracks.

I think that if we're in Australia, it'd be really cool to ditch the orchestra and go for something more acoustic, and definitely didgeridoos. But really, I think a simple guitar and drum combo with maybe harmonicas could help carry the tune for most routes, maybe more techno stuff for cities I guess.

Battle themes I'd also want to take for a more acoustic theme, if maybe with high paced drums and some violin. Basically a more rugged experience that makes me think I'm in the Australian wilds rather than in some fantasy kingdom, and poachers could have a more techno vibe to them.

Maybe for a rival we could have a lofi inspired theme, or a rock kind of theme.

12. Let it bake until done.

I should not need to specify this, but I will anyway after SV.

Ideally this would have 4+ years in the oven, post pandemic, so at this point there's no excuses for it not to be finished. They know what they can and can't do by now, just make it look good and play good.

[religion-is-a-mental-illness]

By: Richard Dawkins

Published: Jun 26, 2023

I’m in New Zealand, climax to my antipodean speaking tour, where I walked headlong into a raging controversy. Jacinda Ardern’s government implemented a ludicrous policy, spawned by Chris Hipkins’s Ministry of Education before he became prime minister. Science classes are to be taught that Māori ‘Ways of Knowing’ (Mātauranga Māori) have equal standing with ‘western’ science. Not surprisingly, this adolescent virtue-signalling horrified New Zealand’s grown-up scientists and scholars. Seven of them wrote to the Listener magazine. Three who were fellows of the NZ Royal Society were threatened with an inquisitorial investigation. Two of these, including the distinguished medical scientist Garth Cooper, himself of Māori descent, resigned (the third unfortunately died). I was delighted to meet Professor Cooper for lunch, with others of the seven. His resignation letter cited the society’s failure to support science against its denigration as ‘a western European invention’. He was affronted, too, by a complaint (not endorsed by the NZRS) that ‘to insist Māori children learn to read is an act of colonisation’. Is there an implication here – condescending, if not downright racist – that ‘indigenous’ children need separate, special treatment?

Perhaps the most disagreeable aspect of this sorry affair is the climate of fear. We who don’t have a career to lose should speak out in defense of those who do. The magnificent seven are branded heretics by a nastily zealous new religion, a witch-hunt that recalls the false accusations against J.K. Rowling and Kathleen Stock. Professor Kendall Clements was removed from teaching evolution at the University of Auckland, after the School of Biological Sciences Putaiao Committee submitted the following recommendation: ‘We do not feel that either Kendall or Garth should be put in front of students as teachers. This is not safe for students…’ Not safe? Who are these cringing little wimps whose ‘safety’ requires protection against free speech? What on earth do they think a university is for?

To grasp government intentions requires a little work, because every third word of the relevant documents is in Māori. Since only 2 per cent of New Zealanders (and only 5 per cent of Māoris) speak that language, this again looks like self-righteous virtue-signalling, bending a knee to that modish version of Original Sin which is white guilt. Mātauranga Māori includes valuable tips on edible fungi, star navigation and species conservation (pity the moas were all eaten). Unfortunately it is deeply invested in vitalism. New Zealand children will be taught the true wonder of DNA, while being simultaneously confused by the doctrine that all life throbs with a vital force conferred by the Earth Mother and the Sky Father. Origin myths are haunting and poetic, but they belong elsewhere in the curriculum. The very phrase ‘western’ science buys into the ‘relativist’ notion that evolution and big bang cosmology are just the origin myth of white western men, a narrative whose hegemony over ‘indigenous’ alternatives stems from nothing better than political power. This is pernicious nonsense. Science belongs to all humanity. It is humanity’s proud best shot at discovering the truth about the real world.

My speeches in Auckland and Wellington were warmly applauded, though one woman yelled a protest. She was politely invited to participate, but she chose to walk out instead. I truthfully said that, when asked my favourite country, I invariably choose New Zealand. Citing the legacy of Ernest Rutherford, the greatest experimental physicist since Faraday, I begged my audiences to reach out to their MPs in support of New Zealand science. The true reason science is more than an origin myth is that it stands on evidence: massively documented evidence, double blind trials, peer review, quantitative predictions precisely verified in labs around the world. Science reads the billion-word DNA book of life itself. Science eradicates smallpox and polio. Science navigates to Pluto or a tiny comet. Science almost certainly saved your life. Science works.

Postscript on the flight out: Air New Zealand think it is a cute idea to invoke Māori gods in their safety briefing. Imagine if British Airways announced that their planes are kept aloft by the Holy Ghost in equal partnership with Bernoulli’s Principle and Newton’s First Law. Science explains. It lightens our darkness. Science is the poetry of reality. It belongs to all humanity. Kia Ora!

Richard Dawkins

[wildhorseskeepdraggingmeaway]

I am nearly 33 and I have never been on a plane. As mentioned in my first post, I grew up too poor to own a car. Vacations weren't on the cards, certainly not by air travel.

As a young adult I decided I would never get on a plane as one flight between Aotearoa and Australia puts out about 400kg of CO2 per seat, and I was- and am- afraid of how the planet will become inhospitable in the near future due to our pollution. This line of philosophy, however, led me to the logical conclusion that the best way to prevent ruining the earth is to be against the creation of any new human life- Antinatalism.

Given time I also grew into the notion that by being born at all, the creature in question WILL end up suffering. An even better reason to never have children or indeed encourage the birth of any other form of life. This caused my thinking to shift away from climate change, as the planet's climate is maintained and changed by living things, that preserving the environment was simply a side effect of the philosophy that happened to benefit any stubborn life.

So why should I care how much me living impacts the earth? Well, I do still care, I don't want my little impact on the world to be the cause of others' suffering. However, if everyone lived like the 99% there likely wouldn't be a climate crisis to speak of. The way rich people conduct their business causes vastly the most harm. Well... next to the military. I'm no invading army. I'm not a celebrity with a private jet. I'm a relatively poor civilian who has scraped up enough money to catch an A380 to Wellington, to see a traveling exhibit at a world class museum. This could be the only time in my life I get to do such a thing. Carpe diem, Tiger. By breaking the life cycle you've more than earned your trip to Wellington.

Seriously. This is a screenshot of the flights in and around Oceania in the middle of the night alone. Chosing not to take this holiday wouldn't even be a drop in the ocean of CO2. It would be like shooting a hurricane with an arrow.

[gumnut-logic]

So many hugs to our Californian Thunderfam and those affected by the storms.

Meanwhile the top of Western Australia has received more rain in the last couple of weeks than it has in the past twenty years. Remote communities are in the middle of an inland sea.

Somewhat closer to home, South Australia is coping with the fallout of the eastern Australian floods as the waters make their way down our biggest river system. The Murray-Darling river system finds its way to the sea about 100kms south-east of Adelaide. The entire length of the river is n massive flood drowning homes and businesses. Fortunately we could see it coming and it is much gentler than any of the above and is more of a natural process. But it still makes a mess. Currently the turquoise Southern Ocean beyond the Murray Mouth is full of brown and murky water, which is washing up n our southern beaches.

Climate change is definitely a thing.

Everyone, please stay safe ::so many hugs::

Nutty

(I have never seen so much water)

[grandmaster-anne]

Court Circular | 16th February 2023

Buckingham Palace

His Excellency Mr Bader Mohammed Al Mantheri was received in audience by The King today and presented the Letters of Recall of his predecessor and his own Letters of Credence as Ambassador from the Sultanate of Oman to the Court of St James’s. His Excellency Mr Thani Thongphakdi was received in audience by The King and presented the Letters of Recall of his predecessor and his own Letters of Credence as Ambassador from the Kingdom of Thailand to the Court of St James’s. Mrs Thongphakdi was also received by His Majesty. Mr Thomas Drew (Director General Defence and Intelligence for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office) was present. The King this afternoon attended a Reception at the Church of Christ the Cornerstone, 300 Saxon Gate, Milton Keynes, to celebrate Milton Keynes’ new status as a City, and was received by His Majesty’s Lord-Lieutenant of Buckinghamshire (Countess Howe). His Majesty met community groups representing charitable, business, faith, environmental and arts organisations in Milton Keynes. The King afterwards visited Milton Keynes Food Bank, 14 Burners Lane, Kiln Farm, Milton Keynes, and was received by Ms Fola Komolafe (Deputy Lieutenant of Buckinghamshire) and Ms Louisa Hobbs (Operations Manager). His Majesty met staff, volunteers and representatives from local partner schools and organisations and viewed the foodbank’s new Mobile Top-Up Shop. The King later received His Excellency Dr Sultan Al Jaber (United Arab Emirates’ Special Envoy for Climate Change and President Designate of the 28th United Nations Climate Change Conference of the Parties). Mr Vinod Tailor (Deputy Lieutenant of Bedfordshire) was present at London Luton Airport this morning upon the Arrival of The President of the Republic of Poland and welcomed His Excellency on behalf of His Majesty. The King and The Queen Consort were represented by Sir Nicholas Coleridge at the Memorial Service for Dame Vivienne Westwood (Fashion Designer) which was held in Southwark Cathedral, London SE1, this afternoon.

St James’s Palace

The Princess Royal, accompanied by Vice Admiral Sir Tim Laurence, today carried out the following engagements in New Zealand. Her Royal Highness this morning visited Havana Coffee Works Limited Roastery, 163 Tory Street, Te Aro, Wellington. The Princess Royal, Patron, New Zealand Riding for the Disabled Association Incorporated, later visited the Wellington Group at Battle Hill Farm Forest Park, 610 Paekakariki Hill Road, Porirua. Her Royal Highness, President, the Mission to Seafarers Limited, this afternoon opened the new Wellington Mission site, Shed 39, CentrePort Wellington, Aotea Quay, Port of Wellington. The Princess Royal, President, the Mission to Seafarers Limited, afterwards unveiled the Foundation Stone for the Mission to Seafarers and Merchant Navy Memorial at Wellington Cathedral of Saint Paul, 2 Hill Street, Thorndon, Wellington. Her Royal Highness, Colonel-in-Chief, Royal New Zealand Corps of Signals, this evening attended a Reception at Government House, Wellington. The Princess Royal, Colonel-in-Chief, Royal New Zealand Corps of Signals, afterwards attended a Dinner at Government House given by the Governor-General of New Zealand (the Rt Hon Dame Cindy Kiro).

Kensington Palace

The Duke of Gloucester, Colonel-in-Chief, Royal Army Medical Corps, this afternoon received Major General Alan Hawley upon relinquishing his appointment as Representative Colonel Commandant and Brigadier Robin Simpson upon assuming the appointment.

St James’s Palace

The Duke of Kent, Deputy Colonel-in-Chief, this morning visited The Royal Scots Dragoon Guards (Carabiniers and Greys) at Leuchars Station, St Andrews, Fife.

[alkaysani]

rules: shuffle your on repeat playlist and post the first 10 tracks, then tag 10 people

ty @oneawkwardcookie

hozier - de selby part 1

jones sandberg - melancholy

hozier - butchered tongue

hozier - all things end

system of a down - byob

isak wellington - ilinova

hozier - to someone from a warm climate

hozier - damage gets done

hozier - de selby part 2

hozier - first time

i'm seeing hozier in a week so this makes so much sense

tagging: @nilefreemans @gaal-dornick @hazelnut-rosewater-pomegranate @tawaifeddiediaz @eddiediaaz @oliverstaark @aziraaphales

[allthebrazilianpolitics]

Brazil launches global anti-hunger alliance before G20 summit

Brazil launched the Global Alliance for Hunger and Poverty on Friday at the G20 Summit in Rio, a Brazilian government official said, with an initial 41 participating members pledging to lift 500 million people out of poverty through cash transfers and social protection systems.

The initiative brings together developed nations, NGOs, and financial institutions to donate money and expertise to countries in need. The intention is to remove all nations from the Food and Agriculture Organization's (FAO) hunger map by 2030.

Leaders of the G20 group of largest economies meet in Rio de Janeiro on Monday and Tuesday for their annual summit hosted by Brazil, whose government has made fighting world hunger a priority along with climate change and reforming multilateral governance.

Brazilian Minister of Social Development Wellington Dias told Reuters on Thursday that the alliance is likely to reach its 100-country target in the coming months, with more than 50 nations currently preparing plans to join.

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