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Let's Get Wild - Rewilding to Save the Planet
Tuesday, June 08, 2021 by Marion Kudla
Rewilding: An Introduction
A lot has changed in Yellowstone Park in the past twenty-five years. Healthy stands of willow trees line the banks of streams. Songbirds sing from tree branches. Beaver dams made of willow dot the streams. If you're lucky, you can spot a beaver slapping its tail on the surface of the water. Twenty-five years ago, it would've been difficult to find any of these species. What changed? And what made this healthy ecosystem possible? In one word: wolves.
Before the 1900s, wolf packs roamed across the United States. But by the early 20th century, wolf populations declined due to habitat loss and hunting programs. In 1973, the government, scientists, and conservation groups took steps to restore these dwindling wolf populations. The Fish and Wildlife Service listed the wolf as an endangered species and made Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem a recovery area. And twenty-five years ago, forty-one wolves were released in Yellowstone. Many species that had disappeared after the wolf populations declined, such as the songbirds and beavers, began to reappear.
Before the reintroduction of wolves, Yellowstone elk numbers had exploded. Without wolves to hunt the elk population, the elk could overgraze on willow, aspen, and cottonwood plants. Willows, however, are important to beavers who use it to build their dams. As elk populations grew and overgrazed the streambanks, crucial plant species disappeared, which caused the further disappearance of beaver populations. Once wolves were reintroduced to Yellowstone and could help control elk population size, plant and animal species returned.
The wolf reintroduction program had a goal not only to restore wolf populations, but also the health of the Yellowstone ecosystem as a whole. This conservation concept of reintroducing species into a landscape to help restore ecosystem health is called rewilding. As ecosystems around the world suffer on the verge of collapse, rewilding could be a method to help save the planet's biodiversity—and in turn, ourselves.
Breaking Down the Concept of Rewilding
Rewilding was first defined by conservation biologist Dave Foreman in an issue of Wild Earth in the Fall of 1992. A few years later, two American conservation biologists named Michael Soulé and Reed Noss built on the concept. In their now highly-referenced article from 1998, Soulé and Noss originally defined rewilding as a conservation effort that "emphasizes the restoration and protection of big wilderness and wide-ranging, large animals—particularly carnivores" (Soulé and Noss, 1998).
More specifically, rewilding is a conservation method that focuses on restoring biodiversity and ecosystem health by doing three things:
Protecting core wilderness areas
Connecting those areas with wildlife corridors [strips of undisturbed habitat that link one core area to another]; and
Protecting and introducing keystone species species whose benefits to an ecosystem outweigh their population size
Since the late nineties, the method has been adopted globally. And the term itself has come to include a range of approaches:
Translocation rewilding: includes the example of reintroducing wolves to Yellowstone Park. Translocation rewilding involves either reintroducing a species recently lost to local extinction, or releasing individuals to strengthen an existing population. Both measures seek to restore a balanced ecosystem across all species interactions.
Passive rewilding: lets nature take its course. Humans step back from the landscape and let nature heal itself without human interference.
Pleistocene rewilding: involves reintroducing species from the Pleistocene era—known as the Ice Age—which ended about 12,000 years ago. At the end of the Ice Age, many of the animals we associate with that time, such as mastodons, saber tooth tigers, and woolly mammoths, died off in a mass extinction. Biologists who support Pleistocene rewilding argue that the die off of these large animal species created an unbalanced ecosystem. They believe that by reintroducing these Pleistocene-era species through genetic modifications of current similar species (which we will discuss below) or introducing similar, existing species, ecosystems may be restored.
Rewilding Efforts from Around the World
We began with an example from Yellowstone Park in North America because it is a well-known example, but rewilding has been used to restore ecosystems around the world. These global efforts include all three rewilding approaches. Read some case studies below:
Copyright: Knepp Wildland
In brief: Knepp Estate. A pioneering, promising rewilding project in the United Kingdom that turned an aristocratic estate into a biodiversity sanctuary. Some of the rarest species in the United Kingdom, such as the purple emperor butterfly, reside here. An example of passive rewilding that offers hope for replication across other rewilding projects.
The rewilding movement has formed strong roots in the United Kingdom. A number of projects are happening across the UK. One famous example comes from southern England.
Knepp Estate is a 3,500 acre estate in West Sussex County in southern England. Since 2001, it has been a pioneer in the United Kingdom's rewilding efforts. For over 200 years, the estate was used for dairy farming. Much of the land was cleared for pasture, which prevented wildlife species from living there.
In 2001, however, the estate became a rewilding project. The land was encouraged to heal itself with minimal human influence through the use of grazing animals. Unlike dairy cows, which emit methane gases that contribute to climate change and require clear-cut pastures, grazing herbivores, such as cattle, ponies, pigs, and deer, roam freely between forest and open spaces. As a side note, the difference between pasture-grazing dairy cows and free-range cattle is that, while both release methane, free-range cattle cancel out their negative impact on the climate by restoring habitat, as outlined below.
These free-roaming creatures can then lead to a whole chain of positive reactions across the landscape: by munching and trampling on scrub plants, grazing animals prevent forests from turning into densely-packed woodland. This dense woodland with brush and scrub prevents wild species from moving freely, foraging, and breeding—a poor habitat for wild species. Grazing animals can also disperse nutrients and seeds through their dung or carried on their fur. This helps distribute plant species across the landscape and allows for a richer mosaic, or array, of flora.
As a result of these grazing animals and letting nature heal on its own, the results at Knepp Estate have been positive. Many rare or endangered species have returned: turtle doves, nightingales, peregrine falcons, and purple emperor butterflies. Many of these rare or endangered species use Knepp Estate as a safe breeding ground—one of few in England. The Estate has a number of statistics to be proud of, boasting the largest population of purple emperor butterflies in the United Kingdom; the frequent appearance of one of the rarest birds in Western Europe: the black stork; and all five UK species of owls.
This haven for critically endangered or rare species is a promising step not only for the United Kingdom, but also for global rewilding efforts. As wild spaces and safe habitats become increasingly fragmented, places like Knepp Estate offer potential solutions and glimmers of hope. Having wildlife regions like Knepp Estate also becomes incredibly important if we hope to preserve our planet's rich biodiversity.
However, Knepp Estate has recently faced some challenges. At the moment, Knepp Estate is an important wildlife corridor between neighboring St Leonard's and Ashdown forests. This allows species to migrate safely between habitats. But potential housing developments of 3,500 new homes could turn Knepp Estate from a corridor into an island.
There is, of course, fierce opposition to this housing development project. It remains to be seen whether this flourishing rewilding project will be able to continue providing a safe haven for rare and endangered species in the United Kingdom.
Copyright: Pleistocene Park
In brief: Pleistocene Park in Siberia. A famous example of Pleistocene rewilding. Not only seeks to rewild the Russian steppe, but also mitigate climate change in the process.
Siberia in Russia is famously known as a cold and isolated place. Many may know it as a region of exile in Russian history. It is less known, perhaps, as a rewilding park.
Pleistocene Park in Northern Siberia is a rewilding site. Run by the Zimov family—the elder Sergey Zimov and his son Nikita Zimov—since the late 1980s, the Park seeks to restore the mammoth steppe ecosystem; in other words, to restore the land to what it was when woolly mammoths roamed the land during the last Ice Age. How? And maybe more importantly, why?
Pleistocene Park is a prime example of Pleistocene rewilding: the reintroduction of species to bring back the balance of ecosystems that existed before human contact. The Park uses large grazing mammals, such as moose, musk ox, bison, horses, yaks, etc., to change the landscape. These herbivores prevent dark trees from growing and help grass species grow instead. As a result, grasslands similar to those during the Pleistocene era have spread across the Park. But why does this matter in the first place?
These grasslands are powerful players in the fight against climate change. First of all, permafrost, the thick layer of icy soil that stays frozen in cold places like Siberia, stores a lot of carbon. Warming temperatures from climate change, however, threaten to melt the permafrost. When this happens, permafrost turns formerly frozen organic matter into greenhouse gases.
Grazing mammals can change all of that. When they graze on the grasses in the winter, the herbivores trample down the snow. In turn, the snow acts as a protective layer over the permafrost to prevent it from melting and releasing greenhouse gases. Another reason why grasslands can help prevent climate change is their light color. Because grasslands are lighter than shrubs or trees, the surface reflects sunlight back into space, which keeps the Earth's surface cool. This is called the albedo effect.
Finally, Pleistocene era grasses have a deep root system that can absorb more carbon from the atmosphere than most modern plant species. Grasslands like those in Pleistocene Park can act as powerful carbon storage sites as carbon emissions rise worldwide.
In addition to bringing back these grazing animals, Pleistocene Park is charging ahead with an even bolder plan: bring back the woolly mammoth. With help from the Church Lab at Harvard and the wildlife conservation organization Revive & Restore, the Zimovs hope to de-extinct the woolly mammoth. As very large herbivores, woolly mammoths can more effectively restore the Pleistocene grasslands.
Scientists are able to bring the woolly mammoth back by using technologies that can edit a species' genes. In this case, scientists edit the genes of woolly mammoths' closest living relative: the Asian elephant. By giving the Asian elephant woolly mammoth qualities such as hair, these altered elephants can live in the Arctic conditions of Pleistocene Park. These efforts to bring species back from the dead is called de-extinction.
There are, however, controversies attached to these efforts. Opponents question whether humans have the right to mess with the laws of nature. Opponents to the Pleistocene rewilding concept as a whole also argue that rewilding with exotic animals will not bring back the healthy ecosystems of the Pleistocene era. They say that landscapes have evolved too much since then to be able to go back. Additionally, opponents warn that Pleistocene rewilding could have too many unpredictable consequences that are not worth the risk.
In brief: Tanzania's Kitulo National Park. Translocation rewilding efforts to bring back some of the globe's most iconic species: the zebra. An example of a holistic approach to rewilding efforts.
When you picture African grasslands, what animals do you imagine? Lions? Gazelle and antelope? Zebras? All of these vibrant animals are closely tied to the African landscape. But imagine if they disappeared.
This is what happened to zebras in Tanzania over fifty years ago. It is a familiar story that has repeated in places across the globe. Half a century ago, zebras were hunted to local extinction or removed to make room for ranches and farms.
In 2018, however, the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) in Tanzania reintroduced zebras into Tanzania's Kitulo National Park in the Southern Highlands region. The reintroduced zebras included 16 adult/subadult females, six adult/subadult males, and two juvenile males.
The reintroduction of these zebras is a part of rewilding efforts in the region and an idea that began in the early 2000s with Dr. Tim Davenport, Director of the WCS Tanzania Program, who designed the reintroduction.
"It was thrilling to see the zebras moving across the plateau as they had for untold centuries. This collaboration proves that we can restore wildlife in once degraded landscapes—provided there is political will and good science behind these efforts," Davenport said in a WCS press release.
The rewilding efforts in Tanzania's Kitulo National Park don't stop at zebras though. WCS has planted 4 million indigenous trees and takes care of the region's rare montane, or mountainous, grasslands. These replanted trees serve as corridors for other animal species to pass safely from one habitat to another.
Like Knepp Estate, the rewilding efforts in Kitulo National Park prove that, as Dr. Davenport says, the restoration of degraded landscapes is possible. If after losing one of the most iconic animals in Tanzania—if not on the African continent—conservationists and activists can successfully restore them to their native habitat, then it is also possible in other degraded landscapes.
With rewilding efforts at Kitulo National Park, Africa's grasslands may once again be the site of numerous animal species—not just a place in our imagination.
Copyright: Simon Fordham/NaturePix
In brief: Tiritiri Matangi Island in New Zealand. An island sanctuary for some of the nation's most endangered birds. A blueprint for other rewilding projects and an example of united civilian and scientific efforts.
Tiritiri Matangi Island sits 30 kilometers east of central Auckland. This 220-hectare island is one of the most successful conservation rewilding projects in the world. Each year, it attracts more than 20,000 visitors. Visitors from all over the world come to see many rare species, such as the kōkako and takahē birds. But it wasn't always a flourishing ecosystem.
Like many of the other rewilding stories we explored, the island experienced intense loss of vegetation. When European settlers arrived on the island in the mid 19th century, they cleared much of the land for farming. The Maori had been living on the island for 400 years prior, so the island had experienced some human contact. After European settlement, however, the island lost 94% of its native bush.
Between 1984 and 1994, a bold push for rewilding occurred. A group of volunteers planted 250,000 - 300,000 trees. This has led to the return of a healthy ecosystem. Now, sixty percent of the island is covered in native forest, and 40% in grassland. Birds, reptiles, and insects that might not find a home on the mainland have returned to the island.
Birds like the takahē, for example, find a safe home on the island, where they can forage and breed. With only around 200 birds left in the total population, the island provides a sanctuary for these rare birds and prevents the species from disappearing completely.
In addition to the tree planting efforts in the 80s and 90s, another reason why rewilding efforts have been successful on the island is the removal of unwanted or invasive predators. These predators, such as house cats, rats, and possums, were introduced to the island when European settlers arrived and caused native bird populations to fall. Their removal has helped bring back populations of native species.
This method of rewilding, however, does not always meet approval. Pest removals in New Zealand have involved use of poisons, which critics argue are harmful to all animals, including native species. These efforts are part of the New Zealand government's goal of being predator free by 2050. While there is some pushback to the methods involved in this effort, however, there is overall support for this nationwide rewilding project.
These rewilding efforts on Tiritiri Matangi Island offer a blueprint for other sanctuary projects in New Zealand, as well as around the world, that hope to protect native species. Sanctuaries like Tiritiri Matangi Island provide crucial safe spaces that endangered or rare species in New Zealand wouldn't otherwise be able to find.
These sanctuaries with healthy populations can even increase populations in other regions that may be suffering. By providing a healthy, breeding individual to another species population on another island with few individuals, for example, conservationists can strengthen populations elsewhere.
For these reasons, Tiritiri Matangi Island remains a crucial rewilding site that can help New Zealand restore its unique native species populations.
Patagonia | Chile and Argentina
Copyright: Tompkins Conservation
In brief: Tompkins Conservation purchased tracts of land in Chile and Argentina to turn into national parks. An example of rewilding philanthropy at the forefront of nature conservation efforts.
Since the 1990s, Doug and Kristine Tompkins have pretty much stood at the helm of global wildlands philanthropy. Kristine Tompkins, Former CEO of the clothing brand Patagonia, and her late husband Doug Tompkins, clothing tycoon of The North Face and Esprit, have contributed to rewilding efforts in Argentina and Chile for a quarter century.
Together, they have contributed $170 million to rewilding projects in the Patagonian region, which stretches across Argentina and Chile. Their efforts have also raised around $45 million from philanthropists around the globe. Through the Tompkins Conservation and its partners, the Tompkins have helped protect 14 million acres of land and reintroduced many endangered species.
Their rewilding projects rest on two main principles: 1. Buy land to turn into national parks, and 2. Set up wildlife programs that reintroduce native species to these parks. Their vision has led to the return of endangered species such as the huemul deer, puma, Darwin's rhea, Andean condor, and pampas cat in Chile, and giant anteaters, jaguars, and green-winged macaws in Argentina.
Before his tragic and unexpected death in December 2015, Doug Tompkins had felt a sense of urgency in buying these vast tracts of land in Patagonia. His vision was to buy up as much land as possible in order to prevent the sixth mass extinction. Kris Tompkins has helped continue this vision even after Doug Tompkins' death.
In 2018, for example, Kris Tompkins and then Chilean president Michelle Bachelet reached a ground-breaking agreement. The Tompkins Conservation would hand over 9 million acres of land to the Chilean government by April 2019. This agreement would put the land under the protection of the Chilean government and in turn, create five national parks and expand three. The Tompkins Conservation donations of fully-functioning national parks are the largest in the history of wildlands philanthropy.
The Tompkins' projects were not always well-received, however. When the Tompkins were first buying up land in Chile, locals eyed them with suspicion. Here were two multi-millionaire foreigners purchasing huge amounts of land. Conspiracy theories started to fly.
Some theories proposed that the millionaires were going to use the land as a nuclear waste dump. Others thought the Tompkins were going to introduce American bison. Rumors and conspiracy theories aside, there were also many locals who were and continue to be opposed to the Tompkins' rewilding efforts.
Local ranchers held a protest in 2013, afraid of livestock removal and attacks from newly introduced pumas. Many local ranchers see these national parks as a threat to a traditional way of life, and a valuing of wildlife over livestock.
Since Doug Tompkins' death in 2015, however, public opinion has changed. Many Chilean and Argentinian citizens realized the sincerity of the Tompkins' efforts. What at first seemed like a suspicious power move or cover up by wealthy Americans, is now seen as a project for public improvement to educate and inspire people on the beauty of Patagonia.
Over the last quarter century, the Tompkins Conservation has shown the power of philanthropy. In its own way, like Tiritiri Matangi Island, Pleistocene Park, or Knepp Estate, the Tompkins' wildlands philanthropic project sets a blueprint for others to follow. Whether through private or public investment, or scientific inquiry, global rewilding efforts need all the tools in the shed.
Challenges and Controversies
As outlined briefly above, arguments for or against rewilding could go on for days. The case studies mentioned only scratch at the surface of rewilding challenges and controversies. Rewilding has many supporters and has had success worldwide, but there are also examples of failed attempts and many scientific, political, and ethical arguments against rewilding.
For some, the idea of wild animals roaming their backyards is not a welcome idea. While there is a range of attitudes towards wolves and their reintroduction, Yellowstone Park's efforts have faced pushback from local landowners. These opponents worry about their personal safety, and for farmers and ranchers, they worry that wolves will kill their livestock.
To give another example from North America, some American scientists want to introduce Pleistocene rewilding to North America (like Pleistocene Park in Siberia). Others, however, argue that introducing large Pleistocene-era mammals to North America could reduce diversity of species or harm other environmental efforts in the Great Plains region, such as the return of buffalo herds to Native American reservation lands.
In addition to the controversies, some rewilding projects have faced dramatic challenges. Oostvaardersplassen in the Netherlands dealt with public anger in 2018. It is the site of a rewilding project that went wrong.
With few predators in the small 5,000 hectare reserve, the herbivore population exploded. But then came the winter of 2017-2018 which was much colder and more wet than usual. With such high numbers of animals in a small area of land with limited food resources during the winter, many animals starved to death. The population of red deer, horses, and cattle fell from 5,230 to 1,850. Almost 90% of the dead animals were shot by the Dutch state forestry organization, the Park's managers, because they were starving.
Another important debate in the conservation community is the history and definition of rewilding and its connection to the concept of 'wilderness.' Kim Ward, in 'For wilderness or wildness? Decolonising rewilding,' argues that restoring wilderness and returning to a landscape before human contact is an idea that erases thousands of years of cultural history. The concept of rewilding to a state of 'wilderness'--an idea of nature 'untouched' by humans--is one tied to white, patriarchal colonization because it removes the indigenous cultures that may have existed on that land for tens of thousands of years. Instead, rewilding efforts should focus on restoring 'wildness' and be sensitive 'to existing cultural interpretations, social impacts, and indigenous livelihoods,' writes Ward.
As with any environmental conservation method, rewilding requires careful planning and research. When we humans interfere in an ecosystem, we take on the risk of disturbing a complex web of interconnections. After centuries of disruption, however, rewilding offers one of many possible tools we can use to heal the planet.
Further Reading on Rewilding
Feral by George Monbiot
Rewild Yourself by Simon Barnes
Wilding: The Return of Nature to a British Farm by Isabella Tree
Rewilding North America: A Vision for Conservation in the 21st Century by Dave Foreman
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SHUNIA: A Genre-Defying Album of Chants and Music to Uplift, Energize and Transform our Lives
The B Company
January 15, 2021, 08:07 GMT
SHUNIA takes the listener through mantra melodies, energetic vocals, and dynamic compositions worthy of a feature film score. They are joined by renowned Moroccan artist Hassan Hakmoun on two of the tracks.
Lisa Reagan and Suzanne Jackson comprise the duo Shunia; their second album debuts today.
Suzanne Jackson & Lisa Reagan performing "Sa Re Sa Sa" for the video. The two became friends while attending graduate school at University of Maryland, and both performed with the Washington National Opera for 20 years.
New self-titled album by Shunia blends Sanskrit chants, Latin prayer, ancient poetry, and exquisite orchestration into a sound that feels both new and timeless.
The mantras that we are chanting on this album have been chanted for thousands of years. Our hope is that people will sing and dance along with this album because it profoundly moves them."
— Lisa Reagan
LOS ANGELES, CA, USA, January 15, 2021 /EINPresswire.com/ -- SHUNIA, by Shunia, features the fusion of classical instruments from different countries, multiple styles of vocals, and the focusing energy of ancient chants to bring feelings of joy, hope, and awareness to Western culture at a crucial moment in time. The album is charted on Amazon's Top 20 Digital New Releases for New Age music this week, and is now available worldwide.
To create their self-titled album of transcendent music and melodic harmonies, Shunia -- music duo Lisa Reagan and Suzanne Jackson -- co-composed with Tony Award-winning producer Jamshied Sharifi. The album takes the listener through mantra melodies, energetic vocals, and dynamic compositions worthy of a feature film score. They are joined by renowned Moroccan artist Hassan Hakmoun, the godfather of Gnawa music, performing on two of the tracks.
On the making of SHUNIA, Lisa Reagan says, "As musicians whose lives have been enriched by chanting, we wanted to create a beautiful garden of sound where the chants could come alive. The mantras that we are chanting on this album have been chanted for thousands of years. We thought about the unique energy of each of these mantras and created music that would be in harmony with it. Our hope is that people will sing and dance along with this album because it profoundly moves them."
There is indeed a sense of deep focus present in each track on SHUNIA, which invites listening on dual levels. On one level, listeners are entertained by stunning compositions, virtuosic playing, and the duos' rich vocals. On another level, one can focus on the wisdom of each mantra and lyric as it is expressed with deep conviction and impressive clarity. A page on the Shunia website dedicated to "mantra" further explains the meaning of each track. Shunia's music is recommended for group classes or personal practice of yoga, and for simply gathering inspiration to move into a healthier and more enlightened future in 2021.
In advance of the full album debut, four tracks were released with inspiring videos, including "Akal" (June 2020); "Sa Re Sa Sa" (October 2020); "Breeze At Dawn" (November 2020); and "Alleluia" (December 2020). The duo's high-quality, uplifting videos are available at this YouTube location: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCVvsZECVFyfF5OFCS5VWJCw
Dick Metcalf, editor of Contemporary Fusion Reviews, has this to say about the album: "It stands apart from all the other 'chant' albums, particularly because it is very 'listenable'...Each song contains an element of surprise, but the one that impressed me the most, and therefore became my choice for favorite of the eight offered up is 'Ang Sang Wahe Guru'… vibrations that will help you realize purpose and meaning in your life. Even if you're not a devotee of 'chant' music, you will find this powerful performance rewarding and meaningful. I give Shunia a MOST HIGHLY RECOMMENDED rating, with a (perfect) 'EQ' (energy quotient) score of 5.00…meaning that it also gets a 'PICK' from me for 'most empowering album.'"
SHUNIA is available globally on most platforms today. Physical CDs are available at https://shuniasound.com/ and Amazon.
Lisa Reagan, Suzanne Jackson, and Jamshied Sharifi are available for media interviews about the album, and for live guest segments on social media. Physical CDs and a digital Dropbox of the album are available upon request to Beth Hilton at bethhilton@theBCompany.com.
Radio airplay requests may be made to Max Horowitz of Crossover Media at maxcrossover@gmail.com.
Shunia Album Track List
Sa Re Sa Sa (4:54)
Breeze At Dawn (4:12)
Alleluia (6:51)
Akal (6:48)
Har Hare Han Wahe Guru (6:21)
Ang Sang Wahe Guru (6:42)
Ong Namo (5:37)
Sa Ta Na Ma (8:27)
Primary Links:
Shunia: https://shuniasound.com/
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/2zQv6X0oMSlC01mup2lJZ3?si=9mS_kdQCQfiyiDfrZxJP8Q
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/shuniasound/
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCVvsZECVFyfF5OFCS5VWJCw
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shuniasound/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/shuniamusic
About Shunia:
Lisa Reagan and Suzanne Jackson became friends while attending graduate school at University of Maryland. Both performed with the Washington National Opera for 20 years while launching successful solo careers. The duo decided to meld their love for the power of chanting with their Western vocal prowess. This led them to form Shunia (pronounced SHOON-ya), choosing the Sanskrit word meaning "stillness and receptivity" as the name of their duo. Visit ShuniaSound.com for more information.
About Jamshied Sharifi:
Jamshied Sharifi is a New York-based composer, producer, and keyboardist. He has composed the scores for feature films including Harriet The Spy, Down To Earth, Clockstoppers, and Rollerball, as well as contributing music to numerous television shows and independent films. He has produced and/or performed with Paula Cole, Ray Charles, Dream Theater, Laurie Anderson, Hassan Hakmoun, Yungchen Lhamo, Mirabai Ceiba, and many others. He produced Snatam Kaur's album, Beloved, which was nominated for the 2019 Best New Age Album Grammy. Sharifi did some orchestrations for Sting's Broadway musical, The Last Ship. His orchestrations for The Band's Visit won the 2018 Tony Award.
Beth Hilton
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Indian Trap Releases the New Single "Shiva Mantra (Om Namah Shivaya)" with Award-winning Indian Composer S. J. Jananiy
Electronic composer and synthesist Bart Hawkins Releases ENTERING THE AXIS MUNDI
Ann Licater, the New Age Recording Artist and World Flutist, Releases New Album WHISPERS FROM EARTH
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The best secluded cycle routes around Cambridgeshire for social distancing
You can still get your daily exercise fix while social distancing
Alistair Ryder
Secluded cycle routes for self-isolating around Cambs (Image: Simon Cooper/PA Wire)
Newly updated government advice has stated that you can only go out for one session of exercise per day while the country is on lockdown.
Well, if that's all you're allowed, why not go for a long cycle through some of the most secluded routes in the region?
Many popular cycle routes are now partially closed as National Trust properties and several other public parks have locked their doors for the foreseeable future.
But there are still plenty of great routes you can try out for yourself - here are some of our favourites.
If cycling isn't your cup of tea, no bother - why not check out one of our many Cambridgeshire walking guides instead?
Here you can find our list of favourite riverside walks, walks with a view and wildlife spotting walks too.
Alternatively, you can find out more about home workouts and yoga sessions here.
Cambridge to Stansted Mountfitchet
This 31-mile journey to Essex is exactly what the doctor ordered after long periods spent at home.
Starting in central Cambridge, you'll soon be in a secluded cycle paradise as you make your way down national cycle route 11, and a mixture of winning off-road tracks and quiet country roads, as you pass through villages including Sawston.
For more information on this cycle route click here.
Ely to Downham Market
On the opposite side of things, why not cycle up to Norfolk?
This 24-mile route starts near the cathedral, but soon leaves the centre of the city on National Cycle route 11 on an off-road trail to Little Downham.
Plenty of country roads are complimenting by riverside stretches next to the New Bedford River and River Ouse, before ending at Downham Market's tourist information centre.
For further details click here.
Huntingdon to Peterborough
And here's a simple but effective 27-mile cycle route - all you need to do is follow national cycle route 12 through the Cambridgeshire countryside, as you make your way towards Peterborough.
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March to Wisbech
A nice 12-mile cycle here. Starting from March railway station, the route largely follows national cycle route 63, passing by the Twenty Foot River and a plethora of off-road tracks, before ending at the Wisbech tourist information centre.
It's truly a Fenland delight.
Read more about this route by clicking here.
Peterborough to March
And finally, here's a nice 20-mile cycle from Peterborough to the heart of the Fens.
Following National Cycle Route 63, the start of the route follows the River Nene out of Peterborough to Whittlesey before a series of off-road tracks and quiet country lanes take you into March, finishing at the train station.
Get more information about this cycle route here.


Circus World Museum Information
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Circus_World_Museum
Ringling Brothers Circus Winter Headquarters
U.S. National Historic Landmark
Circus World seen from Water Street
Baraboo, Wisconsin
43°28′01″N 89°44′07″W / 43.4669°N 89.7353°W / 43.4669; -89.7353
CIRCUS WORLD MUSEUM Latitude and Longitude:
69000032 [1]
Significant dates
Designated NHL
August 4, 1969 [2]
The Circus World Museum is a large museum complex in Baraboo, Wisconsin, devoted to circus-related history. The museum, which features not only circus artifacts and exhibits, but also hosts daily live circus performances throughout the summer, is owned by the Wisconsin Historical Society and operated by the non-profit Circus World Museum Foundation. The museum was the major participant in the Great Circus Parade held from 1963 to 2009.
2 Exhibits
3 Great Circus Parade
Circus World Museum is located in Baraboo, Wisconsin, because Baraboo was home to the Ringling Brothers. It was from Baraboo in 1884 that the Ringling Brothers Circus began their first tour as a circus. Over six seasons, the circus expanded from a wagon show to a railroad show with 225 employees, touring cities across the United States each summer. Baraboo remained the circus's headquarters and wintering grounds until 1918, when the Ringling Brothers Circus combined with the Barnum and Bailey Circus, which the Ringling Brothers had bought out in 1908. The combined entity, Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus, was successful until 2017 when it took its final bow on Sunday May 21, 2017, in Uniondale, New York.
In 1954, John M. Kelley, a former attorney for the Ringling Brothers, incorporated Circus World Museum with the intent of forming a museum of the Ringling Brothers Circus and circus history in general. By this time the popularity of circuses and other live shows was declining in favor of new media, such as television. After an initial period of organization and fundraising, the museum acquired a large site in Baraboo that included the former wintering grounds of the Ringling Brothers Circus. This site was deeded to the State Historical Society of Wisconsin (now called the Wisconsin Historical Society) to be used as the museum's location, and Circus World Museum opened to the public on July 1, 1959.
Owned by the Wisconsin Historical Society, the museum sits on some of the land owned by the Ringlings, and includes eight of the ten remaining Ringling buildings on the grounds. Circus World Museum holds one of the largest collections of circus materials in the world, including circus wagons, posters, photography, and artifacts used by shows from all over the United States. The museum also has smaller collections of Wild West shows and carnival materials.
Office in Ringlingville
Wagon on display at Circus World Museum
Circus World Museum encompasses several buildings holding numerous exhibits on circus history.
Ringlingville consists of the remaining buildings of the original wintering grounds of the Ringling Brothers Circus, a National Historic Landmark. Buildings in Ringlingville include the Ring Barn, Elephant House, Animal House, Baggage Horse Barn, Winter Quarters Office, and Wardrobe Department. Tours of Ringlingville present information on the history of the Ringling Brothers Circus, as well as offering behind the scenes glimpses into the efforts taken by the circus while preparing for shows.
The Irvin Feld Exhibit Hall is the museum's largest building, and houses exhibits on the history of the Ringling Brothers Circus, as well as other exhibits relating to general aspects of circuses and circus history.
The Hippodrome is a permanent big-top which houses the museum's daily circus and magic show performances.
The W.W. Deppe Wagon Pavilion houses a collection of fifty restored antique circus wagons.
The C.P. Fox Wagon Restoration Center is used by the museum to refurbish Circus Wagons, and visitors to the building can view in wagon restorations that are in progress.
The Robert L. Parkinson Library and Research Center is a research facility holding collections of circus-related books, photographs, archives, and periodicals. The library is open to the public at no charge while staff are present.
Great Circus Parade
Main article: Great Circus Parade
The Great Circus Parade, which featured historic circus wagons from the Circus World Museum, was held in Milwaukee in 1963, and in various cities between 1985 and 2005, primarily Milwaukee (1985–2003) and Baraboo, Wisconsin (2004–2005), [3] and Chicago, Illinois. [4] [5] When held in Milwaukee, the parade entailed a two-day journey by train across Wisconsin, from Baraboo to Milwaukee, making brief stops at cities along the way. An encampment on Milwaukee's lake front allowed visitors to view the circus wagons up close, take elephant, camel, and zebra rides, and view historical circus artifacts. The parade itself took a three-mile route through downtown Milwaukee. It was on hiatus during the mid-2000s, but it returned to Milwaukee in 2009. The parade is expected to run every few years in the future.
List of National Historic Landmarks in Wisconsin
National Register of Historic Places listings in Sauk County, Wisconsin
^ National Park Service (January 23, 2007). "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service.
^ "Ringling Brothers Circus Winter Quarters". National Historic Landmark summary listing. National Park Service. Archived from the original on October 7, 2012. Retrieved June 30, 2008.
^ Boyd, Joe (July 2, 1959). "35,000 see circus parade at Baraboo". Retrieved April 9, 2016.
^ "'83 Parade" (PDF). The Circus Report. March 1, 1983. Retrieved April 11, 2016.
^ "Circus Parade may make comeback". Milwuakee Journal. June 20, 1984. Retrieved March 10, 2016.
Great Circus Parade website
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Retrieved from " https://en.wikipedia.org/?title=Circus_World_Museum&oldid=868552385"
Museums in Sauk County, Wisconsin
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Rodney Lincoln Free After 36 Years
Suzan Reid
Lisanne Gaidamavice
Colleen Lefholz
Caroline Fritz
Jerome Bales
Midwest Innocence Project is organizing this fundraiser on behalf of Rodney Lincoln.
Created June 5, 2018
At age 73, Rodney Lincoln became a free man after serving 36 years and 9 days in prison for a crime he did not commit. He was taken away from his family, especially, his four children, missing almost 4 decades of moments as a father and grandfather. Now, though free, justice for Mr. Lincoln falls short -- He will receive zero compensation for the years taken from him.
Rodney Lincoln was wrongfully convicted of the April 27, 1982 murder of JoAnn Tate and an attack on her two young daughters. After Lincoln's first trial resulted in a hung jury, he was convicted in a second trial after the City of St. Louis presented evidence of then seven-year-old MD's identification and a hair found at the crime scene, which the prosecutor said "matched" Lincoln's. DNA testing of the hair later proved it was not Lincoln's. Further, MD, the only eyewitness in the case, recanted her identification of Mr. Lincoln and advocated for Mr. Lincoln's exoneration and release. Additional documents previously withheld by the State later revealed that her identification of Lincoln was manipulated by the state.
After an evidentiary hearing on March 17-18, 2016 in Cole County (Mo.), Circuit Judge Daniel Green denied Lincoln's petition for habeas relief on June 16, 2016, four months after the hearing. Lincoln's legal team at the Midwest Innocence Project (MIP) then filed a motion for the transfer of Lincoln's case to the Supreme Court of the State of Missouri in December 2016, after the Missouri Court of Appeals (Western District) denied a motion to rehear or transfer the case. "Because the Missouri Supreme Court has not recognized a freestanding claim of actual innocence in cases where the death penalty has not been imposed, we are not at liberty to expand Missouri habeas jurisprudence to permit consideration of the claim in this case," Appellate Judge Cynthia L. Martin wrote in the court's ruling.
"I can't imagine a judicial system where innocence is not a ground for relief from a conviction," said Sean O'Brien, founder of the Midwest Innocence Project and professor at the University of Missouri (Kansas City) School of Law. "We're still trying to wrap our heads around that."
On December 5, 2016, MD, wrote this letter asking Governor Nixon for Mr. Lincoln's release. Governor Nixon did not grant this request, but on June 1, 2018, outgoing Governor Eric Greitens reviewed that same application and made the decision to commute Lincoln's sentence to "time served," releasing him after nearly four decades in prison. "Mr. Lincoln walks out of prison a free and innocent man, whether the courts recognize it or not," said MIP Executive Director, Tricia Bushnell.
In an interview shortly after his release, when asked if he has any words for his supporters, Mr. Lincoln said "God bless each and every one of you - and thank you so much - for giving me the strength to go on. I'll never forget." (Read this poem by Mr. Lincoln.) Now, he needs our help building a life and making up for lost time.
Please donate now and share this fundraiser to help Mr. Lincoln rebuild his life. The proceeds of this GoFundMe will go directly to Mr. Lincoln. www.gofundme.com/RodneyLincolnFinallyFree
Midwest Innocence Project
Rodney Lincoln


Book Walk Sets
Good with Words
Youth Ambassadors
About OWSH
Promenade des contes
When I Get Older
by K'NAAN
illustrated by Rudy Gutierrez
In his first book for children, When I Get Older, Somali-Canadian poet, rapper, singer, and songwriter K'NAAN tells his own story. Born in Somalia, he grew up in Mogadishu. His grandfather was a renowned poet who passed on his love of words to his grandson. When the Somali Civil War began in 1991, K'NAAN was just thirteen. His mother made the difficult decision to move her family so that they could grow up in safety. Like so many other immigrants, he had to make a place for himself in a world of alien customs, clothes, and language. His road was a hard one: he lost many friends to violence. But K'NAAN's love of music, and his enormous talent, became a way for him to connect with his past, with his classmates, and eventually, to millions of people around the world.
International Day of Peace Sept. 21, International Day of Music October 1, World Kindness Day November 13, Human Rights Day Dec. 10, International Migrants Day December 18, Canadian Multiculturalism Day June 27.
When I Get Older: The Story Behind 'Wavin' Flag. Text © 2012 K'NAAN Illustrations © 2012 Rudy Gutierrez. Reproduced by permission of Tundra Books, an imprint of Penguin Random House Canada Young Readers, a Penguin Random House Company, Toronto.
Suitable for: JK to grade 8.
Themes: Identity, Character Education: inclusion and acceptance.
Available: September 1, 2022
All videos associated with QR Coded signs from the Book Set are located here and can be viewed at any time.
Book Creators
K'NAAN
Winner of three Juno awards and recently named the Globe and Mail's Artist of the Year and, now, children's book author, K'NAAN has a moving and inspiring personal story. K'NAAN (whose name means "traveler" in Somali) spent his childhood in Mogadishu surrounded by a loving family which included his aunt, one of Somalia's most famous singers, and his poet grandfather. When K'NAAN was thirteen, he and his family fled war-torn Somalia and immigrated to Toronto. His story is inspiring, and his struggles as a new immigrant will speak to many young North Americans.
Rudy Gutierrez
Rudy Gutierrez is an American artist-illustrator of Puerto Rican heritage whose art has been described as "Wall Medicine", ancient yet contemporary, urban in a sense and musical in feel and is known for creating images that combine elements of indigenous art with that of urban culture. He is a professor at Pratt Institute, New York.
19 Liverpool St , Guelph, ON, Canada N1H 2K8
Storytime Trail is a program of OneWorld Schoolhouse Foundation
OneWorld Schoolhouse Foundation acknowledges it resides on the ancestral lands of the Attawandaron people and the treaty lands and territory of the Mississaugas of the New Credit. As a community, we have a responsibility to honour and respect the four directions, land, waters, plants, animals and ancestors.
© 2023 OneWorld Schoolhouse Foundation, all content and imagery unless otherwise noted.


Linguistics professor co-authors textbook with alumna
Northeastern Illinois University Linguistics Professor Judith Kaplan-Weinger and alumna Char Ullman have published a new textbook, "Methods for the Ethnography of Communication: Language in Use in Schools and Communities." The book aids students in the study of communication in the classroom and community settings.
Designed for the Anthropological Linguistics graduate course that Kaplan-Weinger teaches at Northeastern, the book emphasizes the principles of ethnographic communication, collecting and analyzing data, and making the connections between communicative acts and situations.
A few years in the making, the book is built on the framework that both Kaplan-Weinger and Ullman (M.A. '93 Linguistics), now an assistant professor at the University of Texas at El Paso, have been using in their classes.
"We wrote the book because there is nothing else like it that takes students through the entire process of doing an ethnography of communication," said Kaplan-Weinger, who also serves as coordinator of the Linguistics program. "I have been thrilled to be able to share my love for the study of language and culture with my Northeastern students over the past 28 years, and now I am thrilled to share this area of linguistics with students outside Northeastern as well."
Judith Kaplan-Weinger


Hunter Lovins
Natural Capitalism
Hunter is President and founder of Natural Capitalism Solutions and co-creator of the "Natural Capitalism" concept. She serves as Chief of Impact at Change Finance, which created the first truly fossil free ETF. She serves as a member of Now Partners, helping frame the new discipline of Regenerative Value Creation.
Named Millennium TIME Magazine Hero of the Planet, Hunter Lovins was awarded the 2008 Sustainability Pioneer Prize by the European financial community for her 30 years of work framing the sustainability movement, setting forth the business case for energy efficiency, renewable energy and resource productivity and climate protection.
A social entrepreneur, she mentors for the Unreasonable Institute, and consults to large corporations, small businesses, communities, and dozens of nations around the world.
A founding professor of Sustainable Management at Bard MBA and several other graduate programs, she was called by Newsweek Magazine the "green business icon."
Previously, she co-founded Tree People, serving as its Assistant Director for 6 years, and Rocky Mountain Institute, which she led it for 20 years as CEO.
Author of hundreds of papers and 15 books, including the landmark work, Natural Capitalism, Ms. Lovins travels the world, lecturing at such venues as the World Economic Forum, the UN, WOBI, TED and many others. Her private and public sector clients include Unilever, World Business Council for Sustainable Development, Wal-Mart, Royal Dutch/Shell, the International Finance Corporation, and the governments of Afghanistan, Australia, Bhutan, Canada, Honduras, Jamaica, Germany, New Zealand, Sweden, the US and many more.
Hunter is one of the creators of the field of regenerative economics, and serves as Regenerative Executive for the Colorado Regenerative Recovery Coalition. She is the author of 16 books. Her book, The Way Out: Kickstarting Capitalism to Save Our Economic Ass, won the Atlas Award. Her book, Creating a Lean and Green Business System, won the Shingo Prize. Her most recent book, A Finer Future: Creating an Economy in Service to Life won a Nautilus Award.
A Colorado rancher, she won the Humongous Fungus award for the highest concentration of mycorrhizal fungi. For many years a firefighter and EMT, she now rides for the Boulder County Sheriff's Mounted Search and Rescue Patrol.


Updated on: Sunday, November 28, 2021, 03:59 PM IST
FPJ Legal: Allahabad HC directs name, gender change of transgender in educational records
Following UP Education Board's Denial, The Allahabad High Court issued directions to the State authorities for allowing the trans woman to let change the requirements on marksheets and certificates.
Representative Image |
The Allahabad High Court on Friday issued directions to the State authorities to enable a trans woman to change her previous name and gender changed in her educational mark-sheets and certificates.
The Bench of Justice Vivek Chaudhary also ordered the issuance of fresh changed mark sheets and certificates to her, as per the certificate issued by the District Magistrate to the petitioner. This was considered indicating petitioner's change in gender under Section 7 of the Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Act, 2019 (the Act).
According to LiveLaw, 'The bench was dealing with a writ petition wherein court was prayed to direct Board of High School and Intermediate Education, Allahabad (U.P.) (U.P. Board) and Council for the Indian Schools Examination, New Delhi (CISE Board) to change petitioner's name and gender in her matriculation and intermediate marksheets respectively. A mandamus was also sought commanding both the authorities to amend their regulations and guidelines with regard to change of gender and names.'
Details of the case:
Petitioner with her earlier name as 'X' (name of the petitioner concealed) and gender as male, had appeared and passed High School and Intermediate in the year 2011 and 2013 respectively. Noting that she was suffering from gender dysphoria, she underwent gender reassignment surgery in October 2017 from male to female. She also got published a gazette notification in respect of change of her name from 'A' to 'S' and gender from 'male' to 'female'.
Petitioner also got her Aadhar and PAN cards issued in her new name and gender as female. But when she applied for getting her earlier name and gender changed in her school records, the request was rejected.
In June 2017, the petitioner had applied for the change in her High School documents but during filling forms for the said purpose, she noticed that columns for change of name and other details were there but the form was silent about the change in gender.
Consequently, she approached different authorities requesting them to change petitioner's name and gender. However failing to get allowance on name and gender change from Examination Committee of the U.P. Board, the petitioner took to the High Court.
Court's verdict:
Court stressed that the very purpose of bringing the Act into force was to provide equality and respect to transgender persons. Therefore, noting that the Act is a socially beneficial legislation, court held,
"This Act cannot be given an interpretation which would defeat the very purpose for which the same is brought in force. It has to be interpreted in a manner that solemn purpose for which it is legislated is achieved."
Accordingly, Court rejected State counsel's contentions. Court observed,
"The purpose is to give recognition to transgender persons as they perceived themselves and, in case, they undergo a gender reassignment procedure, to provide them appropriate changed certificates and identity documents."
Court also stated that Section 7 is required to be interpreted in a manner that the transgender persons who are issued a certificate under Section 6 or persons like petitioner who had undergone the gender re-assignment procedure prior the Act came into force, both are held entitled to apply before the District Magistrate for issuance of a certificate indicating 'change in gender'.
Further holding that denying such a right to persons who had already undergone the gender re-assignment procedure would frustrate the very purpose of the Act, court permitted the petitioner to submit an application under Section 7 of the Act before the District Magistrate.
Court also directed that on the basis of DM's such certificate, the petitioner would have the liberty to approach Boards' authorities for changing the identity on her educational records and the Board officials will have to take immediate steps after receiving her application.
Similar instances in the past:
In the past, the Delhi High Court in 2019 directed CBSE and Delhi University to work out a way to help a transgender who is seeking change of name and gender, from male to female, in education records. The court assured the petitioner that her right to gender identity was a constitutional right which has been recognised by the apex court and said "let us work out what can be done".
While, the Bombay High Court years back observed that the Maharashtra government should take steps to include a column for transgenders in the online application form for change of name in the official gazette.
(with inputs from LiveLaw)
FPJ Legal: Delhi High Court sets November 30 for final hearing on same-sex marriages in India
Published on: Sunday, November 28, 2021, 03:59 PM IST
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Rick Hansen Foundation gives YOW Accessibility Gold Rating
The Editor — December 3, 2019
Ottawa International Airport Authority
OTTAWA, ON–To mark International Day of Persons with Disabilities, the Ottawa International Airport Authority is thrilled to announce that the Ottawa International Airport (YOW) has received the "Accessibility Certified Gold" rating under the Rick Hansen Foundation Accessibility CertificationTM (RHFAC) program.
From the left: Sarah McCarthy (Rick Hansen Foundation), Krista Kealey (Ottawa International Airport Authority), Julie Sawchuk (Accessibility Strategist and Educator), Samantha Proulx (Accessible Built Environment Specialist, ABE Factors Inc.), and Mardelle Woods (Rick Hansen Foundation Ambassador) (CNW Group/Ottawa International Airport Authority)
RHFAC is the first program to rate meaningful access, based upon the holistic user experience of people with varying disabilities affecting their mobility, vision and hearing. To date, over 1,200 buildings have been rated through the program.
"The airport terminal, which opened in 2003, was built with accessibility in mind. As building code and accessibility standards have evolved over the years, along with the needs of the community, the Authority has endeavoured to not only keep up, but to exceed these standards as it strives to provide the best possible passenger experience," said Mark Laroche, President and CEO of the Ottawa International Airport Authority. "We are delighted to have achieved this exceptional level of certification which is a tribute to the Authority's commitment to an accessible terminal for all passengers, employees and visitors."
"My sincerest congratulations to the Ottawa International Airport on this remarkable achievement. Your commitment to creating an accessible environment for everyone who travels through the airport – whether it be employees, tourists, or people returning home – demonstrates a true leader in creating a Canada where everyone can go everywhere. Your leadership sets the bar for others across our country and the globe to follow suit," said Rick Hansen, Founder, Rick Hansen Foundation.
RHFAC is a program that rates the level of meaningful access in commercial, institutional and multi-residential buildings and sites, offering a snapshot of the sites current level of accessibility. For YOW, notable accessibility features include:
A strategic wayfinding system that is consistent throughout the building;
A variety of seating options, with and without arm rests;
Universal washrooms with accessible features such as adult-size change tables and emergency call systems;
Roll-up, automatic drinking fountains;
A variety of flooring options, in particular carpeting that is easy to roll on; and
Parkade facility with accessible parking with direct access to the pedestrian walkways that lead to the elevator lobbies for safe movement.
The Authority is committed to continuing its efforts to ensure that as accessibility needs evolve, so too will the airport's facilities.
For more information about the Rick Hansen Foundation Accessibility CertificationTM program, please visit the Rick Hansen Foundation website.
About the Ottawa International Airport Authority
OIAA manages, operates and develops airport facilities and lands in support of the economic growth of Canada's Capital Region, generating more than $2.2 billion annually in total economic activity in Ottawa and Gatineau.
About the Rick Hansen Foundation
The Rick Hansen Foundation (RHF) was established in 1988, following the completion of Rick Hansen's Man In Motion World Tour. For nearly 30 years, RHF has worked to raise awareness, change attitudes, and remove barriers for people with disabilities. Visit www.rickhansen.com to learn more.
Gore Mutual Foundation Donates $50,000 in Celebration of GivingTuesday
thyssenkrupp Elevator raises $113,000+ for Cystic Fibrosis with variety of events
OPPORTUNITY INTERNATIONAL PARTNER, SINAPI ABA SAVINGS AND LOANS, NAMED BEST BANK FOR WOMEN ENTREPRENEURS
Sixty-two organizations recognized as Employee Recommended Workplaces for 2020
AwardsTechnlogy
L'Oréal Paris announces the esteemed Canadian honorees of their fourth annual Women of Worth program
Ten Canadian Organizations among 2019 U.S. Healthcare Philanthropy High Performers List
From the left: Samantha Proulx (Accessible Built Environment Specialist, ABE Factors Inc.) and Julie Sawchuk (Accessibility Strategist and Educator) (CNW Group/Ottawa International Airport Authority)


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To browse the currently available biographies for the Spahr family surname, click on the desired biography in the list below:
A. N. Spahr (Greene County, Ohio)
Camaralza H. Spahr (Greene County, Ohio)
Cyrus Arnold Spahr (Cumberland County, Pennsylvania)
Jesse Spahr (Allegheny County, Pennsylvania)
William Spahr (Cumberland County, Pennsylvania)
Use the links at the top right of this page to search or browse thousands of family biographies.
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Where is the TEDx Event?
The TEDx event takes place in the Gemeindeamt of Altaussee. This is the municipal office of the town, where the folks of Altaussee meet and make critical decisions about the future of this beautiful area. It is located in the center of the town, with a beautiful view on the Loser and a 5 minutes walk to the famous Lake Altaussee.
Altaussee is a village in the middle of the Alps between Vienna and Munich, and a cultural hotspot in the southern region of the German-speaking nations of Switzerland, Austria, and Germany. It is a picturesque place in the mountains, similar to Davos in Switzerland hosting the World Economic Forum. Many of Altaussee's residents have their business and headquarters in Vienna and homes in Altaussee.
The community of Altaussee links back to the stone age and really took off when the Celts began building the salt mines (hence the name of the region "Salzkammergut", i.e. salt chamber area). That is why villages like Hallstatt and Altaussee look back at over 7,000 years of continuous settlement. Altaussee became more visible on the Austrian map when the Austrian Emperor Franz Josef the I. built his summer castle (like Windsor Castle, UK) in Bad Ischl, next to Altaussee. Since then, the area was a magnet not just for the Austrian/German aristocrats but also became very widely known by artists, scientists, and influential people, because of its location and sceneries https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EKmmWp6bBz8. Sigmund Freud, Ego Schiele, Victor Frankl, Gustav Mahler, Hugo von Hofmannsthal started to build the next layer of the Altaussee community a century ago and created a very unique culture of combining and discussing art and sciences.
Also, in pop culture, Altaussee was mentioned prominently. In 2014, the Hollywood movie "The Monuments Man" with George Clooney, Matt Damon, and Bill Muray told the story of retrieving the art treasures stolen from the Nazis and hidden in the salt mines. And in 2015, Altaussee was an essential location in the James Bond movie "Spectre".
Gemeindeamt Altaussee
Altaussee with Lake Altaussee
From Vienna and Lower Austria:
Vienna – Altaussee: about 300 km
Munich – Altaussee: about 230 km
From Southern Austria:
Graz – Altaussee: about 160 km
Arrival by car A1 Westautobahn * Exit Regau * Gmunden * Bad Ischl * Bad Aussee * Altaussee
A8 Munich – Salzburg *
A1 Westautobahn * Exit Thalgau * Bad Ischl * Bad Aussee * Altaussee
A9 Pyhrnautobahn * Exit Liezen * Stainach * Trautenfels * Bad Aussee * Altaussee
Arrival by train Vienna West Station * Attnang-Puchheim * Bad Aussee Munich * Salzburg * Attnang-Puchheim * Bad Aussee Graz * Stainach/Irdning * Bad Aussee
contact@tedxaltaussee.com
Oberlupitsch 123, 8992 Altaussee
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100th Episode Special – The Career Wisdom of Deval Patrick
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For our 100th episode, we are honored to welcome former Massachusetts governor Deval Patrick to Protégé Podcast! Governor Patrick and I talk about being an outsider looking in, balancing work and family, the privilege and pain points of a life in public service, and so much more. It's a rare career interview of a living American legend, a legal and political trailblazer who speaks candidly about the highs and lows of his extraordinary career.
What It Takes – Pamela Mitchell, Executive Coach Extraordinaire
December 18, 2016 By Protege Podcast
What does an executive coach do? How do you distinguish a great executive/career coach from someone who just gives you advice? On this week's episode we talk with Pamela Mitchell, best-selling author, founder of The Reinvention Institute, and host of The Liftoff Project podcast, about the profession of executive coaching. How do I know Pamela is insightful and expert at executive coaching? I'm not just a fan; I've been her client. On this episode in our series "What It Takes," my executive coach breaks down how to merge your personal and professional selves into one sustainable identity.
What It Takes – Wesley Snell is Ready For Goliath
October 17, 2016 By Protege Podcast
Wesley Snell is a cyber security expert leading a critical command center for the federal government. He's also a successful entrepreneur with a thriving transportation business. He's a father, a husband, and also a minister. This week's Guest Mentor didn't grow up with a silver spoon in his mouth. To the contrary, Wes grew up in a single parent household, was diagnosed with ADHD as young student, and, as a an adult, was stricken with Bell's Palsy. That's a lot of life for someone only 33 years old. As part of our series "What It Takes" profiling dynamic leaders, we invite you to bear witness to this amazing story of how faith, tenacity, and a mother's love helped Wes overcome some daunting odds.
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As CEO of Entergy New Orleans, Charles Rice leads with discipline, vision and, most of all, integrity. Hear Charles' story of managing through the turbulence of Ray Nagin's administration and helping to lead Entergy New Orleans post-Katrina. As part of our series "What It Takes," Charles provides candid advice on getting to the C-suite and succeeding there. We also go deep on the importance of diverse leadership teams, and the single metric that tells you everything you need to know about a company's commitment to inclusion.
What It Takes – Frank Supovitz, A Sports Fan's Best Friend
What's it like to be the executive event manager for the Super Bowl, the NHL Finals, the Indy 500, and college basketball's Big East tournament? Our Guest Mentor on this week's Protege Podcast, Frank Supovitz began his career as an usher at Radio City Music Hall and now serves as president of Fast Traffic Events and Entertainment. Hear Frank's behind the scenes account of what happened when the lights went out in the Superdome during the 2013 Super Bowl, and why you should never lose your identity when working for powerful and prestigious companies.
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Best Bets: Dali exhibit takes 'Stairway' to Biggs Museum
Dec 3rd, 2020 · by Craig Horleman · Comments: 0
Throughout the last eight months of the pandemic, through the closures and the concern for fellow employees and patrons, the one thing Biggs Museum of American Art curator Ryan Grover could look forward to is the arrival of Salvador Dalí.
"It's always been, 'The show's coming. The show's coming,'" he said.
The show finally arrives today, as 150 pieces of the eccentric, famed artist's work is on display at the Dover museum in a traveling exhibition of his illustrations for "Les Chants de Maldoror" and "The Divine Comedy," titled "Stairway to Heaven: Life and Death in the Visions of Salvador Dalí."
All the works are from the collection of the Park West Museum in Southfield, Michigan, which organized the exhibition. The almost-three-year U.S. tour will end Feb. 8 at the Biggs.
Getting the exhibit to the Biggs was a three-year process. Mr. Grover thought perhaps it wouldn't come to pass once coronavirus hit the country.
"We were a little nervous at first that because of COVID that they might have canceled. I mean, it would have been within their purview to do so if they really wanted to. But luckily, that didn't happen and, luckily, we were able to stay open. So the stars kind of aligned with us there," he said.
"That's not always the case. We had other exhibitions that were lined up for next spring that did cancel, and we've had to create other exhibitions. So it all depends on the lender and the organizing company — what their comfort levels are in the situation. Naturally, with COVID, most people are pretty uncomfortable."
Created for two publications, the artworks in this exhibition signal two distinct periods in Dalí's career: the hedonism of his youth and the redemption he sought later in life. These two sets also signal his transition from surrealism to mysticism.
Under the influence of intimate friends and poets such as Federico García Lorca and André Breton, Dalí became infatuated with the sadistic and amoral subjects of the surrealist icon, the Count of Lutréamont (pseudonym of the French Uruguayan romantic poet Isidore Lucien Ducasse).
Dalí was soon asked to supply illustrations for a reprinting of the Count of Lutréamont's epic poem, "Les Chants de Maldoror." The artist created 44 original intaglio prints for the publication, which are on view at the Biggs.
This was among his earliest book projects; however, Dalí, who died in 1989 at age 84, would supply art for dozens of publications in his lifetime, including the Shakespearean plays "Alice in Wonderland" and "The Divine Comedy," also included in the exhibit.
Dalí originally began illustrating "The Divine Comedy" as a commission by the Italian state and with papal approval to commemorate the 700-year anniversary of the birth of its author, the poet Dante Alighieri. Due to Dalí's Spanish heritage and early blasphemous attitude, his agreement to illustrate this centrally important biblical Italian text fell through.
Instead, he personally oversaw the creation of woodblock prints replicating all 100 of the watercolors he produced for the project. From an astounding 3,500 individually carved printing blocks, the series of prints was produced over four years. The result was a portfolio of 100 fine art prints corresponding to "The Divine Comedy" and among the most expensive books ever produced.
Mr. Grover said he read about the exhibition in a trade magazine.
"I knew about the images that were made for one of the two publications ("The Divine Comedy") that we have featured here in the show, and so I was interested in it automatically and then read a little bit more about the exhibition. So I just contacted them, and they basically just added us to the contract. So we're feeling very fortunate about it."
At 150 pieces, it's one of the largest exhibitions the Biggs has hosted.
"We typically do not have shows with this many works in them. So there is a lot of Dalí' to take in," Mr. Grover said.
"We're definitely not the biggest museum. We're a very approachable size, and so a lot of the temporary exhibitions that we put on, you're usually able to come in and out like within a half-hour to 45 minutes. With this one, you could just sort of take it in and sort of read the text and just kind of get through it in the traditional time frame. But you also have the absolute option to also just kind of slow down a little bit and really analyze the images because there's a lot of them. There's a lot going on in the images and especially with the fine art prints that were created for 'The Divine Comedy.'
"So many people are really familiar with that text and the storyline. Even if they've not read it, you know a little bit about the sort of journey through the underworld that this person is experiencing, and so there's a lot that's going to be very familiar about the subject and this work."
Mr. Grover was less familiar with the illustrations for "Les Chants de Maldoror."
"They aren't really meant to be pictures directly into the storyline. They're meant to really sort of accompany the epic poem. And so they are actually more familiar to people than you might think because they are all of what Dalí was doing during his surreal phase," he said.
"So it is the melting clocks and the bodies with the chest of drawers in them, and it is the angels and the crutches and all these other kind of things that we've always sort of picked up a little bit by a little bit when you see the iconic Dalí paintings on the side of a lunchbox. So there's just a lot that you can study and a lot of symbols and a lot to take in in a really great narrative."
Despite closing Thursday due to the report of a possible secondary COVID-19 exposure, the Biggs reopens its doors today for the exhibition.
But the museum is limiting the number of visitors on site per government guidelines. Due to anticipated demand, it is highly recommended to purchase tickets in advance and to call to reserve a time slot. The museum will still welcome walk-ins, but those visitors without reservations will be asked to wait before entering if there are parties on the schedule. Making a reservation will guarantee admittance and limit wait time.
Daily admission passes can be purchased up to one month in advance via the Event Calendar on biggsmuseum.org or by calling 674-2111. Current hours of operation are Wednesdays through Saturdays, 10 a.m. until 4 p.m.
For those who can't make it to the Biggs in person, a virtual tour of "The Divine Comedy" will take place Dec. 15 at 6 p.m. and a virtual tour of "Les Chants de Maldoror" will be staged Jan. 5 at 6 p.m.
There will also be a virtual guest lecture with the curator of the exhibition, David Rubin, on Jan. 19 at 6 p.m.
On Jan. 2, kids can celebrate First Saturday with the free digital Biggs Kids Workshop. Visit the Biggs' Facebook page any time after 10 a.m. that day to access the latest Biggs Kids Workshop video, which teaches children about the art of Salvador Dalí and guides them to create their own Dalí-inspired art.
To help complete the Biggs Kids Workshop projects at home, a limited supply of "Big Ol' Bag of Biggs Art" with all needed supplies are available for pickup free of charge. These can be collected from the museum throughout the month.
To arrange pickup in advance, contact Curator of Community and Academic Programs Kristen Matulewicz by emailing kmatulewicz@biggsmuseum.org. Follow the Biggs on Facebook to be notified when the video is posted.
The Biggs Museum is at 406 Federal St. in Dover.
New in theaters this weekend is the comedic drama "Half Brothers."
To share news of your entertainment event, group or venue, contact Craig Horleman at 741-8224 or chorl@newszap.com.
Reach features editor Craig Horleman at chorl@newszap.com
Tags:Art · Best Bets · Museums


Cabinet Office signs MoU with IBM
IBM has become the latest supplier to sign a 'memorandum of understanding' about providing efficiencies in its business with central government
The firm's announcement of its agreement with the Cabinet Office follows similar deals involving other ICT vendors that met with minister Francis Maude over the summer.
IBM said that as part of the agreement it has provided a number of ideas and commitments to reduce costs, which are in line with the government's plans to "generate in-year savings". It added that the MoU identifies several areas in which it could "help improve efficiency and effectiveness in the longer term and support the desired reform of public services".


Home/Infographic/Pregnancy in the United States [Infographic]
Pregnancy in the United States [Infographic]
NowSourcing Follow on Twitter February 4, 2013
The toothless smile, the soft hands only big enough to grip one of your fingers, and the harmless drool that people only tolerate because they know they can't help it. Yes, babies, everyone's little bundle of joy! Almost everyone falls weak at the knees to the smile of a chunky, newborn baby. Mothers in the U.S. love their babies and many can recall just about every moment within the nine month span of being pregnant with their pride and joy. Millions of pregnancies occur every year in America and mothers all across the country can relate to one another, but even though some aspects of pregnancy are beautiful, others lean toward the ugly side of things.
With about six million pregnancies happening every year in the U.S, only about four million of those actually result in live births, with the other two million being lost due to things such as miscarriages and ectopic pregnancies. These tragedies can effect a mother to be heavily with things such as postpartum depression which about 11% of mothers suffer. In the U.S., the infant death rate is 639 deaths per 100,000 births, with Mississippi ranking as the number one state for infant death rate.
All of the live births in the U.S. result in Americans using about 27 million disposable diapers every year. Out of all those four million live births as mentioned above, only three percent of them result in twins, so if you're hoping for twice the fun, your chances are slim.
Pregnancies in the U.S. are happening everyday as pregnancy rates are on the rise with mothers beginning to be younger in age. This infographic presented by InsuranceQuotes takes a look at many statistics of pregnancy within the U.S, both the good and the bad.
infographic Pregnancy United States
NowSourcing
Brian Wallace is the Founder and President of NowSourcing, an industry leading infographic design agency , based in Louisville, KY and Cincinnati, OH which works with companies that range from startups to Fortune 500s. Brian also runs #LinkedInLocal events nationwide, hosts the Next Action Podcast, and has been named a Google Small Business Advisor for 2016-2018. Follow Brian Wallace on LinkedIn as well as Twitter.
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Hood, Ann, 1956-
New York : W.W. Norton & Co., c2010.
Mother and infant -- Fiction.
Adoptive parents -- Fiction.
Birthmothers -- Fiction.
The painful and courageous journey toward adoption made by several of her clients forces Maya Lange, founder of The Red Thread, an adoption agency that specializes in placing baby girls from China with American families, to confront the lost daughter of her past.
Book FICTION HOO 1 1
"In China there is a belief that people who are destined to be together are connected by an invisible red thread. Who is at the end of your red thread?"After losing her infant daughter in a freak accident, Maya Lange opens The Red Thread, an adoption agency that specializes in placing baby girls from China with American families. Maya finds some comfort in her work, until a group of six couples share their personal stories of their desire for a child. Their painful and courageous journey toward adoption forces her to confront the lost daughter of her past. Brilliantly braiding together the stories of Chinese birth mothers who give up their daughters, Ann Hood writes a moving and beautifully told novel of fate and the red thread that binds these characters' lives. Heartrending and wise, The Red Thread is a stirring portrait of unforgettable love and yearning for a baby.
Ann Hood was born on December 9, 1956, in West Warwick, R.I. She attended the University of Rhode Island and New York University. For several years, she worked as a flight attendant before pursuing her dream of becoming a writer.
Ann Hood had a dream of writing ever since her first "novel" at the age of 11. It was not until 1987, with the publication of Somewhere off the Coast of Maine that she received the recognition she had been longing for. Set in the period from the 1960s to the 1980s, the story deals with the lives of three women of the Vietnam era and their children. Strong on emotion and personal growth, Hood's writing frequently examines the intricacies of various levels of relationships. Other works include Something Blue, which also involves the association between three friends.
In her engaging new tearjerker, Hood (The Knitting Circle) follows several families as they attempt to adopt daughters from China. Holding down the center is Maya Lange, who, as head of the Red Thread Adoption Agency, is the prospective parents' guide through the adoption process. Childless Maya is driven by a desire to make amends for a tragic accident in her past, though her clients have their own share of heartbreak-miscarriages and infertility-and, predictably, the expectations and reservations about parenthood that they confide to Maya are shaped by a host of personal issues. In a nod to Hood's last novel, several women knit to calm their nerves as they await their new daughters. Meanwhile, Maya, also a knitter, takes painful steps toward letting go of the past. The individual arcs are woven together beautifully, though the interspersed tales of how the Chinese children came to be abandoned tend to clutter more than add. Regardless, Hood's sensitive depiction of her characters' hopes and fears makes for a moving story of dedication, forgiveness, and love. (May) (c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved
A group of Americans plan to adopt daughters from China through an agency founded by a bereaved mother, in Hood's moving novel (The Knitting Circle, 2007, etc.). Maya walked away from her husband Adam and her formerly happy life in Hawaii after the accidental death of her infant daughter left her in emotional freefall. (The exact circumstances surrounding the accident are not revealed until halfway through the novel.) In part to assuage her anguish, Maya started The Red Thread Adoption Agency, referring to a Chinese saying that a red thread connects people destined to be together. Operating out of Providence, R.I., Maya conducts her latest orientation of a group of couples embarking on the yearlong (or more) process of adopting abandoned Chinese girl babies. Without exception, the wives initiate the adoptions. Theo is bored by ovulation-driven sex with wife Sophie and, still a globetrotting beach bum at heart, views children only as a threat to freedom. Emily, whose efforts to win over her teenage stepdaughter Chloe have netted rejection, unwittingly abetted by her husband Michael, seeks family equilibrium. Nell and Benjamin Walker-Adams, New England aristocrats (he's descended from John Adams) have given up on Nell's mood-bending fertility treatments, but she's experiencing the most untrammeled baby-lust of her charmed life. Brooke, married to exMajor Leaguer Charlie, yearns to fill the void left by her sterility, but Charlie thinks three's a crowd, until suddenly their attitudes reverse. Susannah, ambivalent about and vaguely shamed by the retarded daughter her husband Carter adores, wants a "normal" child. Interspersed throughout are italicized vignettes about Chinese mothers forced by the quota on children and prejudice against girls to make wrenching decisions. The raw and riveting Chinese stories siphon narrative juice from the more conventional American angst that dominates the novel. Still, the tale ends with a pleasing sense that the red thread is more than a myth, especially in Maya's case. Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Hood's latest engaging novel is a timely exploration of the adoption process, specifically the adoption of Chinese girls by five couples in Providence, Rhode Island, brought together by Maya and her Red Thread Adoption Agency. One by one, Hood introduces each couple: there's a compulsive investment banker and her consultant husband; a social do-gooder and her immature husband who still pines for an ex-girlfriend; Maya's friend Emily, who longs for her own daughter, tired of vying with her stepdaughter for her husband's affection; an ex-baseball player who fears losing his wife's love and attention to the new adoptee; and a mismatched couple with their own mentally challenged daughter whom the wife struggles to love. Maya is an upbeat ringleader who believes every child is connected by a red thread to those fated to play a part in his or her destiny. Hood intersperses the stories of these diverse couples with the sad stories of five Chinese babies slated for adoption, resulting in part soap opera, part enlightening look at contemporary adoptions, and an altogether entertaining read.--Seaman, Donna Copyright 2010 Booklist
Library Journal Review
Like her best-selling The Knitting Circle, Hood's new novel features the themes of loss and reconnection. After the death of her infant daughter in an accident, Maya Lange opens an adoption agency that places Chinese babies with American parents. Six couples waiting to adopt share the lengthy process and eventually create a bond, although they were previously strangers. Meanwhile, Maya is forced to confront her feelings about her child's death and her former husband so that she can heal and learn to fall in love again. The stories of the adopting parents are intertwined with those of the Chinese women who, for various reasons, had to give up their baby girls. The tone here is somber, but in the end these parents are transformed by the healing journeys they have made. Verdict Hood offers a thoughtful novel about the yearning for a child that's primed to be a book club pick. Readers who enjoyed Hood's last novel or are fans of writers like Jacqueline Mitchard will enjoy this as well. [See Prepub Alert, LJ 1/10.]-Amy Ford, St. Mary's Cty. Lib., Lexington Park, MD (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.