#Formations de leadership

[kingonews]

AUTONOMISATION DES FEMMES, DE L'EDUCATION DES FILLES, DU LEADERSHIP FEMININ DANS LA ZONE NORD D’INTERVENTION: CLAP DE FIN POUR LA FORMATION DES JOURNALISTES ANIMATEURS DES RADIOS PARTENAIRES DU SWEDD.

Le projet d’Autonomisation des Femmes et du Dividende Démographique au Sahel au Bénin (SWEDD-Bénin) a, du 16 au 20 janvier 2023 à Parakou, renforcé les capacités de 34 animateurs de 17 radios des quatre (04) départements du Nord-Bénin. C’était au cours d’un atelier d’informations, de formation, de production et de lancement de partenariat, dans le cadre de ses activités, avec ces radios…

[generic-whumperz]

Apocamerica Map

Apocamerica Masterlist

Understanding this map: Please note that I’m not a professional map maker and know absolutely nothing about cartography. This is simply a quick visual reference guide for navigating post-apocalypse America.

That being said, this map is subject to change and not wholly accurate or representative of safe/unsafe zones, as they constantly change, and there is yet to be an official database within this alternative universe. Think of this as an approximation. Also, keep in mind that this is 12 years after the initial outbreak, and things did not always look like this, nor will they continue to remain the same. Take this all with a grain of salt.

Zone breakdowns

Red, orange, & gray zones: AVOID AT ALL COSTS! Death is almost guaranteed from radiation and mutant anthrophages alike.

Blue Zone: Republic of Arcadia

Yellow zones: The yellow zones on the map are areas where human settlements still exist, and some communities are even thriving. However, these areas lack military protection and government aid, so they are considered unsafe (however subjective the word “safe” is within the context of this map). Yellow zones are also susceptible to radioactive wastelands but are often unexplored, classifying them as "unknown." Travelers in these areas risk encountering various dangers outside of anthrophages, including mutant animals, extremist groups, wasteland gangs, marauders, raiders, and other unsavory characters. Despite their predicted presence, these groups are not marked on this map as they tend to move around and are hard to keep tally of.

Green zones (power & economy): Areas designated as green zones are not entirely safe from security breaches, nemaxys outbreaks, and gang wars over territory and supply runs. These zones consist mainly of civilians striving to survive and establish a livelihood. As a result of the volatile post-outbreak landscape, the green zones are divided into constantly changing sectors. The few remaining "safe" human settlements are widely dispersed, leading the remaining Governors and congressmen to propose the formation of nation-states to exert better control over their respective areas.

However, the current de facto President, the former Speaker of the House, is determined to maintain control over sector territories and military command. They face the challenge of navigating a fragmented nation while contending with threats from the ROA and other factions attempting to seize power, testing their leadership in their efforts to restore order and unity to the ravaged remains of the US.

Despite the President’s efforts, the power vacuum in the sectors continues to expand as power-hungry politicians spare no effort to secure civilian allegiance. Some congressmen and governors have carved out their own fiefdoms within green and yellow zones, effectively becoming warlords of their respective regions.

Following the outbreak, the Hawaiian islands and Alaska are presumed to be the safest and untouched land masses. Hawaii closed its borders and halted all imports/ exports as soon as the first case of the nemaxys contagion hit the news. Meanwhile, a mass exodus of people left the continental US and headed up to Alaska, and the new capitol was relocated to a small Alaskan fishing town.

After the establishment of the Provisional Emergency Relief Agency (PERA), a federal-level build-back program was implemented in all green zones. The Bureau of Labor & Exports (BOLE) oversaw the program and regulated Chattel Services Inc. (CSI) and the remaining corporate-owned labor forces, which had a significant impact on the reconstruction efforts.

Under stringent government sanctions, an underground illicit black market has flourished, giving rise to new crime families that have ascended to power. These new syndicates replaced the previously dominant players, seizing control of the markets and territories once held by their fallen rivals.

Economic collapse rendered money worthless for a period, but eventually, the monetary system was reinstated, allowing for the revival of commerce through traditional means and ration tickets.

While crime and punishment were primarily addressed at the local level, the aftermath of the chaos led most people to abandon violence once their basic needs were met. Gainful employment provided them with a sense of purpose and belonging in society.

What about travel?

Transportation outside green zones mainly involves using trains, planes, or boats, as navigating on the ground with vehicles through a post-apocalyptic wasteland is considered too risky. However, some people still opt for ground transportation despite being viewed as dangerous and ill-advised compared to other means of travel.

[marionmorse]

Ohh my absolute goodness..

side note, one look at Heavy and Medic on the character lineup at the teamfortress.com homepage tells you EVERYTHING about their marriage

Anyway, the god... damn... I can't get over... just, Engineer TF2 and the duality of his character. Like, he's one-hundred percent someone to pull on gator skin boots, a ten gallon, get all yee-hawed up for a night out at the dance hall. But then go home and infodump about hotchkiss drives, stress-strain curves, and reflow soldering.

There are some specific competitive lines that comes to mind that are JARRING to hear in his honeyed-up Texas voice along with shit like "hooo-whee, makin' bacon!" and "START PRAYIN', BOY." Maybe that's just a huge part of the appeal to his character, but think about his BUDDIES, too.

Medic is probably quite familiar with American stereotypes pre-Gravel Wars, doesn't expect much from a bumbling rural southerner with a generic set of tools upon first glance. but.., he's a bit BLOWN AWAY when Engie gets all inquisitive about the ins and outs of the medi-gun. Wants to look into how the serum works as a mechanical component, the powering and logic behind it all, even overwhelms med's (limited) level of delicate mechanical knowledge. his arc is all, "okay, so, this little guy might be a bigger-brained fella than I expected!" The punting of med's early-day ego and subsequent forging of their friendship is just so... ourgh... I love characters and arcs and stories and growth and...

Also, Soldier! The all-American Ultra Yank who doesn't see eye-to-eye with Engie at first. They've both got contrasting leadership qualities when it comes down to it, fr, a- a- and, AND, soldier HATES nerds. Engie's a nerd. Big time. It takes a while for that mutual love respect to build up, you know? do you catch my drift? I'm just rambling now.

ALSO also, Engineer himself going from the more introverted, lone-wolf type we see in Meet the Engineer to a sort of leader, the level-headed de-escalator we see in Expiration Date. The guy who feels for and loves his team, but no doubt brings out the 'Texas' in 'em all. It's kinda cute. I imagine he taught everyone square dancing at some point, 'cause how else would they know?

In the end, I just love to think of Engie as being one of the cornerstones of the team's overall culture. i mean, he's a solid family guy - cooks the breakfasts, fixes the (practical) problems, heck, plays music, tells stories, keeps 'em together when times are tough. We ALL know that some of him has to rub off on the team he bunks with for years. Not in a father-figure way, nahh, but certainly in a Dad Friend way. Big difference.

(Can you tell who my favorite character is yet? (demo, actually. And Heavy. come to think of it, the defense trio is the love of my life. My boys. (I could write and MLA-formatted essay about the balance of culture and personality within the Tuefort Nine, citations intact.)))

[scotianostra]

July 8th 1911 saw the birth of Simon Fraser, Lord Lovat, the Chief of Clan Fraser, Scottish aristocrat and soldier.

Lovat was involved in the formation of the Commandos, the Dieppe Raid and D-Day. As 24th Chieftain of Clan Fraser, Shimi – MacShimidh to give him his Gaelic title – was born into leadership. It was in his genes (David Stirling, his cousin, co-founded the SAS). Shimi Lovat’s military background ran back through generations of Frasers, including Simon Fraser, known as the Patriot, hung drawn and quartered at Tower Hill at Edward I’s orders, and Simon Lovat, The Old Fox, was beheaded after the 1745 rebellion, his character featured in the Outlander series

Shimi’s leadership qualities were tested to the limit on D-Day. The mission of 1st Commando Brigade – or 1st Special Service Brigade, as it was known in June 1944 – was to break through German defences on the eastern side of Sword Beach. At lightning speed, they were to fight their way four miles inland to Pegasus Bridge over the Caen Canal, and bring reinforcements to the 6th Airborne Division, relieving the glider-borne troops who had taken the bridge at dead of night.

Shimi and his commandos arrived just after the appointed hour of midday, to the swirl of pipes. He famously apologised for being two minutes late. The bridges were crucial; at the push of a detonator, the Germans could have destroyed them. With the Allied supply lines cut, the invasion could have foundered.

Plunging into further battles, Shimi was nearly killed four days later by Allied shrapnel and was given the last rites by Father René de Naurois. His last words as he handed over his brigade were: “Take over the Brigade and not a step back; not a step back!”

More info on Shimmie here http://clanfraser.org/timeline/1911-1945/

[mediocre-noodle]

was gonna fix the formatting but hhh so much work hhhhbgrggr

WORLDBUILDING

kismadoré

play on kismet (destiny)

something to do w a tree— the diff parts of town are called diff parts of tree. ex: the docks are called the roots -> (tree) bc ehe world tree

kisamadoré (called kisa/kisi for short… or kiscity… kis-city…) — KISMA MEANS HOME? maybe ‘free home’?

“refugee city” is an outsider’s nickname for it ig? i dont remember wiritng this much. i mean,, it IS refugee city after all.

Day of the Krow (DotK) - July 23rd

- town dallas n copperheads made during wilds arc made a holiday for dallas after his death called ‘Day of the Krow’ (DotK) to celebrate their independence and dallas’ leadership and mourn his death. lots of happy fesital stuff, not sad. imagime halloween, dia de los muertos, and the tangled damce scene.

- mass candle lighting and dancing all night. mariachi band all night

- face-painting and henna are common stalls, along with a giant poster for finger-painting

- people wear compass necklaces all day. OG copperheads wear their og necklaces from their squad— the next gen ones are silver and not bronze.

Remembrance Week - july 21-27th (HHAHSKDNS TODAY???? I DIDN’T REALIZE)

- a week of festivities decided to mourning the losses of loved ones from in the walls. again— lots of happy festival stuff, not sad.

- people gift mourners marigolds, gladiolus, chrysanthemums, white roses, or forget-me-nots.

- people will keep them in their house or on their person the entire week until midnight the last day, where people will gather to the lake-side then send the now wilted flowers gently down the lake. this represents a funeral passage* and letting your loved one pass on peacefully and with love.

- *lots of people who died didnt get a funeral because of mistreatment by the guards or their bodies were never found/disposed of already.

- theres quiet pockets for grievers if you need a break. theyre full of people who will support the mourners, talk to them or help get their mind off depressing thoughts.

- mass candle lighting ceremony

culture

- LANGUAGES

- english, japanese, russian, german, arabic, spanish, A LOT- basically any language

- kisman (mixed language for city)

- kisma means home

- hábi means mom

- PHRASES

- “blowing on a dandelion and waiting for it to sing” -> wishing for something/having a dream but not actually putting any effort into making it happen

- CURRENCY

- theyre nomads, dont have a currency bc focused on survival -> more bartering and community based to keep everyone alive. kinda carries over when the city is developed fully years after dallas’ death. -> in detail, more of a “hey, does anyone have ____ that i could borrow?” (several voices overlapping saying yes, they do and yes, they can borrow it). no need to buy anything, really.

- music

- doesnt matter what genre. the people are loud because we are alive! we are free! rejoice!

- many people love drums and violins and EDM though. be as loud as you can be. violin is popular because dallas loved it a lot and played many songs with it during the rebellion arc (specifically inspired by lindsey stirling).

- genres

- phonk, electro-swing, folk, electro-violin(?), will wood, etc

- clothing + accessories

- flowy clothing- dresses similar to flamenco or chicano? i have an image ill put at the bottom

- different designs but still has the BIG flowey and ruffle

- lots of jewelry and bells that make noise connected to them

- ankle bracelets and the ones that are on your feet also normal.

- jingly accessories in general are big

- piercings are common and people dont shame them.

- same w tattoos bc art is loved and appreciated. “your body is a temple and you choose how to decorate it” kinda thing

- bright clothing is common but its not expected. actually-

- NONE OF THIS IS EXPECTED!! people are accepted even if they dont dress according to the culture!

- food: (WIP)

- snow cones/ice cream

- funnel cakes

- baked potatoes

- tex-mex food is common

- dance:

- many different cultures mashed together

- commonly southern culture mixed with mexican

- flamenco, 20s flapper/charleston?, street dancing, country swing, boogie woogie(?), line-dances, some indigenous dances (LOOK INTO THESE)

- street dancing is very fast paced and not choreographed. you just join in and dance however you like.

- something like the kingdom dance scene from tangled

- dancing until dawn is common on holidays, esp DotK (day of the krow). people start the festivities at sunset and dancing starts at night. its party all night!

- some people dance in the rain to show thanks to The Syzygy.

- lots of clapping and stomping, swishing and swaying -> noise -> jangles bc accessories (or just the action makes noise) -> happy bc “we are alive and we must show it” kinda thing

- art:

- painting is big- esp finger-painting with kids

- all art is seen as sacred. no art is better than the other.

- nature connection

- animism elements

- nature is to be respected!

- its like a spiritual connection to nature but without the religion stuff

- people often get blessed by eyeless*. similar to holy water but in the eyeless respect-nature-way and not God-blessed-this-water. its more like ‘be more connected with nature’

- people dont stop everything when it starts raining. often people go outside and play in the rain. dancing in the rain is also common (rain dances) -> however you must go inside when you hear thunder to respect it or else it will get worse (superstition)

- people also dance FOR rain

- bc of this, gardeners and farmers are VERY important

- flowers

- carries over from the flower symbolism used during the rebellion arc

- crow & copperhead symbolism (bc “krow” and the Copperheads. dallas’ symbols and also bc copperheads were a group. the vets are still around btw)

- the stars are important too bc people who follow The Eyes consider the stars as members of The Eyes looking down on them. like,, the stars are Their eyes. therefore, throughout kismadoré, theres a lot of star and eye symbolism.

- side note, bc most people in the resistance followed The Eyes, most people in kismadoré do as well. its not forced onto the Eyeless, though.

- community

- bowls of dried petals are kept on the bridge over the river that leads to the lake so you can send a message to your lost one whenever. there are also little messages carved into the wood telling you that everything will be okay.

- these petals also function as a wishing fountain!! (not only the acorns) you make a wish to your/other’s ancestors, The Eyes, etc.

- “it takes a village to raise a child” thing. everyone is connected and close.

- games

- 42, chess, hide n seek, capture the flag, (WIP)

- MISC

- wind chimes, wind spinners, bottle trees, wishing wells but they wish on acorns bc they dont have coins for currency, flower wreaths, candle, weather vanes, COMPASSES

- busking

- street vendors!! all for farmers market and small lemonade stands. magicians too!

- cleansing w salt + throwing salt over shoulder, banging pots and pans (WIP)

* some term for people who follow the family (the eyes). they call themselves that bc, as mortals, they dont have Eyes like The Keepers do. (aka they arent all-knowing)

the image of the dress i was talking about! in my hometown, we had a fair on the square and thered always be a group of women who would dance in these dresses on a lil wooden stage. its one of my favorite things to see whenever im able to make it (which is hardly ever nowadays) (theyre the ones who inspired this btw) ->

im…. i…………

i want to live here so badly xi you have no idea

this little town…… they make noise because they are ALIVE goddammit and they will tell the world…………………

im. obsessed??? with the community mentality and the acceptance as like. a metaphor for not only leaving behind the physical Walls but also the social ones as well. im. unwell..

[mi6-cafe]

007 Fest 2023 Survey Results

We’ve said it before and we’ll say it again, but thank you all for participating in this month-long celebration and for giving thoughtful feedback in our survey. Our incredible team of Cafe volunteers met this weekend to go through all of it and we have lots of ideas for changes based on your feedback. We are by no means done coming up with ideas, but here is our annual survey analysis.

Communication

You all loved the all Fest channel in slack so we’ll be keeping that again for next year. We also decided to freeze the Fest-related channels in slack at the end of August. (More on this coming in slack as we figure out the different options for doing this.) We also acknowledge that Fest is spread out across a lot of different platforms. Next year we will lean a little more heavily on emails for the crucial information throughout the month, and also be more clear about where to expect different types of announcements.

Team Leadership

As always, Fest could not run without amazing leaders! We changed things up this year by having both captains and cheerleaders and your feedback indicates that we should keep this! If you were a team leader this year, we’ll be reaching out later in the year to help us create a new document to further clarify expectations so that we can give a much better orientation to leaders next year.

CAT prize

This year we offered a special Cool, Awesome Teammate prize. There were many great nominations, but there wasn't one person who was a clear stand out above the rest. So rather than us trying to debate between people when we obviously aren't on every team, we are electing not to award one person this year as the stand out. We are, however, still passing on all those nominations and shout outs to the people they were about so that they know how much they are appreciated!

Changes to Points

You all voted on tumblr polls counting as one point each. You also voted to increase the bonus stacking limit to 3. We will also be working throughout the year to make changes to the word count divisions, add new higher point categories, and increase the point value of social events like watch parties

Roleplaying

We have comments about this each year in the survey, both good and bad. We’ve had to adjust our suggestions for the roleplaying aspects across the years, but for next year we are putting a stop to all roleplaying aspects, pressing a reset button of sorts. We know for many of you pretending to be in the spy world is fun, but this year the complaints which stemmed from it far outweighed the compliments. As a team of mods and volunteers, we have a few little details to work out, but we want to be clear on our expectation of no roleplaying aspects to the Fest next year. After 2024, we will reassess.

Team days

Along those lines, team days will also stay retired for another year. However, your feedback indicated that what most people missed was the collaborative spirit that often blossomed when a challenge was issued. So, we are going to work hard to incorporate that in other ways throughout Fest. (If you have ideas for small challenges which require teamwork, let us know!)

Big Format Changes

This is a little vague, but your suggestions inspired what we hope is a great idea to shake up the format of Fest. It will de-emphasize some of the competitive aspects, and also increase the focus on the other ways to contribute, like doing beta work and attending watch parties. We have lots of details to work out, but we’re excited.

Speaking of, we’re going to use the tag #007 Fest Change Log to let you all know about changes we’re working on throughout the year and occasionally use tumblr polls to ask your opinion. 

Phew, that got long. Tl;dr You all had great feedback, the team is working on changes big and small, stay tuned for exciting announcements! 

And stay tuned for LDWS coming up very soon!

~Your Cafe Mods,

Castillon and Linorien

[lauranthalasah]

Orym, for a long time, has made clear that he is just a guard, and sometimes we buy into it, he clearly acts like a guard a lot, most notorious on his battling tactics, but also he has been more and more assertive when speaking to others in behalf of the party, or even laying ideas.

The funny thing to me is that if anyone think of Orym's previous experience from a different point of view he becomes an incredibly prospect to be a leader. He was a Tempest Blade under the leadership of Derrig and on duty with Keyleth, he said he hear many conversations, important ones, between Keyleth and other leaders (the de Rolos for example), it is quite obvious that Orym listened intently, even if he wasn't paid to think, he was private to the process of taking decisions from a leadership position and in different categories, how to lead soldiers from Derrig, how to lead people and cities from Keyleth and others, decision making, politics, balance of actions, etc. If we think of Orym background from that POV then Orym has had a privileged formation to become a good leader.

Dorian said once that Orym was a born leader, but I think he is wrong, Orym has learned from very good examples how to be a leader, he just has to accept it and the circle of raised hands at FGC's inquiry might have push him even more into that direction. He didn't seem to like it though, and who can blame him? He has seen what being a leader costs too.

[collapsedsquid]

Vardanian is one of several current and former senior officials from the self-proclaimed Nagorno-Karabakh Republic who now find themselves behind bars, facing wide-ranging charges for their leading roles in what, under Azerbaijani law, amounted to the creation and sustenance of an illegal armed formation on Azerbaijani territory. The charges mostly refer to "terrorism" -- either financing, organizing, or carrying it out -- and the acquisition and movement of firearms. In addition to Vardanian, at least seven other top political and military officials have been arrested. They include former de facto presidents Arkady Ghukasian, Baho Sahakian, and Arayik Hartyunian. [...] It was among that exodus that Vardanian, a Russian-Armenian billionaire who moved to Karabakh only last year and had a short stint as state minister, was arrested on September 27 at an Azerbaijani checkpoint on the Armenian border. After being ferried to Baku, he met with Azerbaijan's human rights ombudswoman, who reported that the defendant was able to phone his family and "expressed satisfaction with the conditions of detention." (A spokesperson for Vardanian conveyed a request from RFE/RL to speak to his family; they did not respond.)

They don't mention how these guys got arrested except for this one mention of a guy at a checkpoint, I'm wondering what happened here. A great many Armenians made it out, all except for the former presidents?

[calydriarpg]

Fonctionnement de l'armée

Structure de l'armée :

L'armée d'Erydor est organisée en différentes branches, chacune spécialisée dans un aspect particulier de la guerre.

Les principales branches comprennent l'infanterie, la cavalerie, les unités de soutien magique, les unités de soutien logistique, et les forces spéciales.

Chaque branche de l'armée est composée de soldats formés dans les académies correspondantes, avec des chevaucheurs dans la cavalerie aérienne, des élémentaires dans les unités de soutien magique, et des alchimistes dans les unités de soutien logistique. Il y a aussi l'infanterie qui est composée d'hommes et femmes n'ayant pas fait des études dans les académies et qui sont des soldats de base.

Collaboration entre les académies :

Les académies des Chevaucheurs, des Élémentaires et des Alchimistes collaborent étroitement sur le champ de bataille pour maximiser l'efficacité des opérations militaires.

Les chevaucheurs fournissent un soutien aérien et une couverture pour les troupes au sol, protégeant les élémentaires et les alchimistes contre les attaques ennemies.

Les élémentaires utilisent leurs pouvoirs magiques pour soutenir les troupes, en lançant des sorts de protection, en invoquant des éléments naturels pour créer des obstacles ou des opportunités tactiques, et en attaquant les ennemis avec des attaques magiques dévastatrices.

Les alchimistes fournissent des ressources essentielles telles que des potions de guérison, des explosifs alchimiques, et des équipements spéciaux pour renforcer les capacités de combat des soldats sur le terrain.

Stratégies et tactiques militaires :

L'armée d'Erydor utilise une combinaison de stratégies offensives et défensives pour contrer les attaques de l'armée de Solastria.

Les troupes sont entraînées à coordonner leurs mouvements sur le champ de bataille, à s'adapter rapidement aux changements de situation, et à exploiter les faiblesses de l'ennemi.

Les chefs militaires planifient des opérations complexes, telles que des assauts coordonnés sur les positions ennemies, des raids de sabotage derrière les lignes ennemies, et des manœuvres tactiques pour encercler et anéantir les forces adverses.

Hiérarchie

Soldat de base :

Ce grade est attribué aux nouvelles recrues après leur formation initiale.

Caporal :

Les caporaux sont des soldats expérimentés qui ont démontré leur compétence et leur leadership sur le terrain.

Ils sont responsables de superviser de petites unités de soldats et d'assister les officiers dans la coordination des opérations tactiques.

Sergent :

Les sergents sont des chefs d'unité qui dirigent et encadrent les soldats au combat.

Ils sont responsables de maintenir la discipline, de motiver les troupes et de garantir l'efficacité opérationnelle de leur unité.

Sergent-major :

Les sergents-majors sont des sous-officiers supérieurs qui occupent des postes de commandement au sein des unités de combat.

Ils assistent les officiers supérieurs dans la planification des opérations et dans la gestion des ressources humaines et matérielles de leur unité.

Officier :

Les officiers sont des leaders tactiques et stratégiques qui commandent des unités de différentes tailles, allant de la compagnie au bataillon.

Ils sont responsables de la planification des opérations, de la prise de décision sur le champ de bataille et de l'entraînement et du développement professionnel de leurs subordonnés.

Officier supérieur :

Les officiers supérieurs occupent des postes de commandement à des échelons plus élevés, tels que les régiments, les brigades ou les divisions.

Ils sont responsables de la coordination des opérations sur un théâtre d'opérations plus vaste, de la gestion des ressources et des effectifs, et de la mise en œuvre de la stratégie militaire globale.

Général :

Les généraux sont les plus hauts responsables de l'armée, chargés de la planification stratégique, de la prise de décision politique et de la direction de l'ensemble des forces armées d'Erydor.

Ils sont responsables de la conduite de la guerre, de la défense du territoire et de la protection des intérêts nationaux de leur pays.

[jloisse]

Poutine détrône le dollar et déclare le yuan nouvelle monnaie de réserve mondiale

«Nous sommes pour l'utilisation du yuan chinois dans les règlements entre la Fédération de Russie et les pays d'Asie, d'Afrique et d'Amérique latine», a déclaré Poutine, lors de pourparlers à un format élargi où les caméras étaient invitées.

En reconnaissant le yuan, monnaie tierce, pour ses échanges avec d'autres pays, Poutine vient, par une simple déclaration, de consacrer le leadership économique et financier de la Chine.

• Poutine a également salué le chiffre record du commerce entre la Chine et la Russie. «185 milliards de dollars en 2022, malgré la pandémie de Covid et les sanctions occidentales, il dépassera les 200 milliards en 2023.

• La coopération énergétique entre la Fédération de Russie et la Chine se développe, tous les détails du gazoduc Force de Sibérie 2, qui doit alimenter la Chine et son industrie, ont été fixés.

• Moscou est prêt à aider les entreprises chinoises à remplacer les entreprises occidentales qui ont quitté la Russie.

Le Léviathan militaro-économique tant redouté par Washington se lève.

[kingonews]

AUTONOMISATION DES FEMMES, DE L'EDUCATION DES FILLES, DU LEADERSHIP FEMININ DANS LA ZONE NORD D’INTERVENTION: CLAP DE FIN POUR LA FORMATION DES JOURNALISTES ANIMATEURS DES RADIOS PARTENAIRES DU SWEDD.

Le projet d’Autonomisation des Femmes et du Dividende Démographique au Sahel au Bénin (SWEDD-Bénin) a, du 16 au 20 janvier 2023 à Parakou, renforcé les capacités de 34 animateurs de 17 radios des quatre (04) départements du Nord-Bénin. C’était au cours d’un atelier d’informations, de formation, de production et de lancement de partenariat, dans le cadre de ses activités, avec ces radios…

[air-rising]

Amandine Henry a rejoint l’Olympique Lyonnais en 2007 à l’issue de sa formation au centre de Clairefontaine. Avec 354 matchs au compteur, notre numéro 6 est la 3ème joueuse la plus capées de l’histoire de l’OL. Le 21 mai 2022, elle marque le premier but de la finale de la Women’s Champions League contre Barcelone à l’issue d’une action mémorable qui illustre parfaitement ses qualités de combativité et de technique, certainement le plus beau et le plus important de ses 74 réalisations sous notre maillot. Symbole de persévérance, de leadership et de détermination Amandine quitte l'OL avec un palmarès incroyable. Véritable légende du club, elle est l’une des joueuses les plus titrées avec 7 UEFA Champions League, 14 titres de championnes de France et 8 Coupes de France à son actif. 

Merci Amandine et très bonne continuation pour la suite de ta carrière. 

Amandine Henry joined Olympique Lyonnais in 2007 after completing her training at the Clairefontaine center. With 354 matches on the clock, our number 6 is the third most capped player in OL history. On May 21, 2022, she scored the first goal in the Women's Champions League final against Barcelona after a memorable action that perfectly illustrates her qualities of fighting spirit and technique, certainly the finest and most important of her 74 achievements under our jersey. A symbol of perseverance, leadership and determination Amandine is leaving OL with an incredible track record. A true legend of the club, she is one of the most successful players with 7 UEFA Champions League, 14 French championship titles and 8 French Cups to her credit.

Thank you Amandine and very good continuation for the rest of your career.

[cruger2984]

THE DESCRIPTION OF SAINT IGNATIUS OF LOYOLA The Founder of the Society of Jesus (Jesuits) Feast Day: July 31

"Go, and set the world on fire."

Ignatius, the founder of the Society of Jesus, popularly in short as the Jesuits, was born Iñigo López de Oñaz y Loyola, on October 23, 1491 in a castle in Azpeitia, Gipuzkoa, Crown of Castile. His parents, Don Beltrán Ibáñez de Oñaz y Loyola and Doña María Sáenz de Licona y Balda, who were of the minor nobility, from the clan of Loyola, involved in the Basque war of the bands. Íñigo was the youngest of their thirteen children. Their eldest son, Juan Pérez, had soldiered in forces commanded by Gonzalo Fernández de Córdoba, but died fighting in the Italian Wars.

In 1509, at the age of 18, Íñigo took up arms for Antonio Manrique de Lara, 2nd Duke of Nájera. His diplomacy and leadership qualities earned him the title 'servant of the court', and made him very useful to the Duke. Under the Duke's leadership, Íñigo participated in many battles without injury. Unfortunately, his ambition of pursuing a military career came to a sudden end during the Battle of Pamplona on May 20, 1521, when he was gravely injured when a French-Navarrese expedition force stormed the fortress of Pamplona, and a cannonball ricocheting off a nearby wall shattered his right leg.

While recovering from his surgery, he asked for some books of romance to pass the time, but none of that sort could be found. Instead, they gave him a life of Christ and a collection of the lives of saints. Touched by their example, he exclaimed: 'These men were of the same frame as I; why then should I not do what they have done?'

Henceforth, he resolve to become a soldier of Christ and withdrew to a monastery in Manresa (Catalonia). In March 1522, he visited the Benedictine monastery of Santa Maria de Montserrat. There, he carefully examined his past sins, confessed, gave his fine clothes to the poor he met, wore a 'garment of sack-cloth', then hung his sword and dagger at the Virgin's altar during an overnight vigil at the shrine.

His religious experience was written down in the famous 'Spiritual Exercises', when Pope Pius XI described as 'the wisest and most universal spiritual code for guiding the soul on the path to salvation.'

After a pilgrimage to Jerusalem and Rome, he went to Paris and study at the University of Paris to complete his theological studies in preparation for the priesthood. He attended first the ascetic Collège de Montaigu, moving on to the Collège Sainte-Barbe to study for a master's degree.

There, he organized a new religious order together with Peter Faber and Francis Xavier, which was approved by Pope Paul III in 1540, with the name Society of Jesus. Their battle cry was 'Ad Majorem dei Gloriam' - 'For the greater glory of God'. Noted for their spiritual and intellectual formation, as well as for their military discipline, the Jesuits, also known as God's Marines, operated with zeal in schools, charitable institutions, and missions overseas. Ignatius was chosen as the first Superior General of the order and invested with the title of 'Father General' by the Jesuits. Ignatius spent the rest of his life in Rome, where he became the friend of Philip Neri.

Worn out by the immense work of directing the new order, Ignatius died peacefully in Rome, on July 31, 1556 at the age of 64, probably of the 'Roman Fever', a severe variant of malaria which was endemic in Rome throughout medieval history. An autopsy revealed that he also had kidney and bladder stones, a probable cause of the abdominal pains he suffered from in later life.

Beatified by Pope Paul V on July 27, 1609, and canonized a saint by Pope Gregory XV on March 12, 1622. Ignatius is the patron saint of the Basque provinces of Gipuzkoa and Biscay as well as of the Society of Jesus. He was declared patron saint of all spiritual retreats by Pope Pius XI in 1922.

[scotianostra]

July 8th 1911 saw the birth of Simon Fraser, Lord Lovat, the Chief of Clan Fraser, Scottish aristocrat and soldier.

Lovat was involved in the formation of the Commandos, the Dieppe Raid and D-Day. As 24th Chieftain of Clan Fraser, Shimi – MacShimidh to give him his Gaelic title – was born into leadership. It was in his genes (David Stirling, his cousin, co-founded the SAS). Shimi Lovat’s military background ran back through generations of Frasers, including Simon Fraser, known as the Patriot, hung drawn and quartered at Tower Hill at Edward I’s orders, and Simon Lovat, The Old Fox, was beheaded after the 1745 rebellion, his character featured in the Outlander series

Shimi’s leadership qualities were tested to the limit on D-Day. The mission of 1st Commando Brigade – or 1st Special Service Brigade, as it was known in June 1944 – was to break through German defences on the eastern side of Sword Beach. At lightning speed, they were to fight their way four miles inland to Pegasus Bridge over the Caen Canal, and bring reinforcements to the 6th Airborne Division, relieving the glider-borne troops who had taken the bridge at dead of night.

Shimi and his commandos arrived just after the appointed hour of midday, to the swirl of pipes. He famously apologised for being two minutes late. The bridges were crucial; at the push of a detonator, the Germans could have destroyed them. With the Allied supply lines cut, the invasion could have foundered.

Plunging into further battles, Shimi was nearly killed four days later by Allied shrapnel and was given the last rites by Father René de Naurois. His last words as he handed over his brigade were: “Take over the Brigade and not a step back; not a step back!"

[interlagosed]

This is a draft of an article I started writing earlier this year after Jeddah. It’s not finished, and there’s a chunk in the middle missing, but I think the point stands even further today. The actual article has links and stuff, but the formatting didn’t allow for that alas.

During the first free practice session of the Formula 1 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix at the Jeddah Corniche Circuit, an Aramco facility 10 miles away from the circuit was attacked. The Houthi group, who claim to be the legitimate government of Yemen, claimed responsibility for the attack. The airstrike caused widespread concern in the paddock, and although race organizers and team principles alike appeared ready to continue the race, Formula 1 drivers themselves - numbering twenty, spread equally across ten teams - were less certain. The evening culminated in a meeting between drivers, closed to the media, that spanned about four hours. Team principals and members of the administration filtered in and out. Lewis Hamilton, one of the most prominent names in Formula 1 and a driver who has not been shy about his political advocacy, was a prime figure in those meetings. While the drivers agreed to continue participating in the weekend as planned, reportedly despite continued misgivings, there is no understating the importance of the drivers’ response to the air strikes.

Before limiting the rest of this article to a single sport, it is morally imperative to discuss the Yemeni civil war. Like many of its counterparts in the MENA/SWANA region, the Yemeni people rose up against Yemen’s longstanding, authoritarian president. The vice president at the time, Abdrabbuh Mansur Hadi, took over leadership of the country. This change in leadership heralded more insecurity, however, as the Houthi group asserted its own challenge for the helm. Thus began a protracted conflict, simultaneously a civil and proxy war, which has seen the Hadi regime (supported by Saudi Arabia and its allies, including the United States, and internationally recognized as the legitimate government) assert its claim to Yemen from exile in Saudi Arabia, and the Houthis (backed by Iran) de facto administering Yemen from the capital Sana’a. Houthi forces periodically launch air strikes against infrastructural targets in Saudi Arabia - the latest of which was the Aramco facility ten miles from the Jeddah Corniche Circuit.

The human consequences of the Yemeni civil/proxy war have been reprehensible. Over 100,000 people have been displaced by the conflict. 80% of the population is in need of humanitarian aid, including 12.9 million children. One million people have suffered because of a cholera outbreak. By all accounts, Yemenis are suffering some of the worst humanitarian conditions in the world. Just a few months into 2022, the conflict appears to be ramping up again - and civilians, as is the case in any war, continue to bear its consequences.

It is against this backdrop that, last year, Formula One Management (the main operating organ of Formula 1 racing) ran the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix for the first time in December 2021. The controversies were several and urgent. Notably, there were concerns about Saudi Arabia attempting to sportswash its image, the ethics of racing in a country that routinely abused human rights, and - fundamentally for the racers - the safety of the Jeddah Corniche Circuit itself. Regardless, the Formula 1 administration was evidently satisfied with the circuit, because, just a few months later, the Jeddah Corniche Circuit hosted the 2022 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix, the second race of the season.

The 2022 season has been an eventful one already. It is outside the scope of this writing to detail all that has transpired so far, but even set against that context the proceedings of Friday night into Saturday morning were still remarkable for the sport.

Most sports are inherently political, even when they actively distance themselves from politics. Sports that center competition between countries (such as cricket) engender nationalism, to the extent of precipitating (international) conflict. Even sports that center leagues and teams that aren’t drawn across national lines reflect politics, allowing wealthy people and organizations to exert influence over the machinations of a team while further enriching themselves. Sportswashing is frequently implicated in sports, allowing host-countries to paper over their international image with the glitz and adrenaline of massive sporting events.

Formula 1, of course, reflects many of these realities - but it is also notable for the fundamental elitism involved in actually engaging in the sport. More or less twenty individuals from around the world are chosen to compete in the “pinnacle of motorsports,” spread evenly across roughly ten teams. The barrier to entry is commensurately high, and thus the Formula 1 “grid” reflects power distributions writ large in the world. F1 drivers are predominantly rich, white men (often with legacies, usually fathers who were prominent in the sport as well) chosen not only for their skills, but also for the sponsorship money they bring in. Frequently, money and image are weighed more heavily than skills. Outliers, while extant, are few and far between, and may be backed by interests other than pure skill (e.g., their nationality, particularly if underrepresented in motorsports). That is, like any other sport, to be an F1 driver requires skill and luck in large measures - but it mostly takes money, and money, in F1, is more reliable than luck and skill, unless skill attracts and is also backed by money. And money, of course, is a matter of luck.

Formula 1 also requires a functionally literal lifetime commitment. Future motorsports professionals are scouted as young as four years old at various “karting” events (usually in Europe). Logically, for a four year old to show interest in karting, they would usually require some level of intervention, perhaps by a parent with prior interest or experience in motorsport. Scouting is not a one-off event. Young karters are toted around in international “circuits,” an endeavor that requires money. Current F1 driver Esteban Ocon frequently recounts how his parents sold their home to finance his racing career; current F1 driver and greatest-of-all-time Lewis Hamilton’s father, Anthony Hamilton, struggled similarly, juggling several jobs to support the future seven-time champion’s career. This is not a sustainable expectation, nor should it be.

Living in a relative spotlight one’s whole life has another consequence. Toto Wolff, team principal of Mercedes-AMG Petronas F1 team referred to F1 drivers as “little traumatized kids [that were] left in a go-kart in the rain and were sent out to … drive around, fearful.” Motorsport drivers may not complete their secondary education, or pursue higher education. PR becomes a large part of drivers’ lives once they are signed on by a team; their image and speech is managed, and it takes a lot of clout to be able to be outspoken on political matters. Drivers may be fearful to speak openly on sensitive matters until - or, more realistically, unless - they attain the status of drivers such as Lewis Hamilton or Sebastian Vettel (a four-time world champion). Alternatively, drivers may only begin speaking out if the matter is sanctioned by the sport’s governing authorities - whether against racism and inequality, or most recently - against the Russian war of aggression against Ukraine.

So much for the drivers themselves. The actual operation of the sport turns on the availability of tracks, built in countries around the world (sometimes for the express purpose of Formula 1 races). Each track is inspected for its conformity to the International Automobile Federation (FIA’s) grading system. To be suitable for Formula 1 racing, a track must conform to the highest grade. Beyond this, however, states pay fees for the pleasure of hosting Formula 1 races. The venues that pay the most to host a race are, in order, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Azerbaijan, China, Russia, and Bahrain - all states with tenuous human rights records. However, this is not meant to absolve other states from their own human rights abuses; the United States, which is due to host three Formula 1 races in 2022, has perpetrated human rights abuses domestically, and enabled many of the aforementioned states in their own escapades. States routinely engage in abhorrent activities - but, like in other sports, spectators are largely content to be apolitical, and the sport follows suit.

But there is an elusive critical mass of public opinion that shifts the tide, that forces “apolitical” institutes to weigh in on politics. The Russian war in Ukraine was one such example.

When asked whether he would race in Jeddah again, current Alfa Romeo driver Valtteri Bottas dodged the question, noting, instead, that the GPDA was “really united at the moment.”

“With any issues, we will always regroup and go through them and give our view, if it makes a difference. That's nice. But it's not always guaranteed it will."

It would be overly optimistic to assume that F1 drivers’ present sense of camaraderie will continue, or that they will be on the same page regarding other sensitive (particularly political) matters - but the precedent has been set, and rather publicly. And while such questionable decisions will be made by Liberty Media and the FOM again, the institutions underpinning F1 racing will be hard-pressed to erase this moment from the minds of drivers and fans alike.

[rjdent]

Capital of Pain – a book review by Reese Saxment

Posted in surrealerpool - 21st Feb 2023

Capital of Pain by Paul Éluard, translated by R J Dent, published by Black Scat Books 2023

Among the Surrealist art-forms, poetry has always been the poor relation in the Anglophone world, almost completely eclipsed by the visual arts – especially painting. Ask any passer-by in the street in the US or the UK to name a Surrealist, and they’ll say ‘Dalí’; challenged to name another – you’ll most likely get ‘Er…’ – but other names may be forthcoming. Possibly Magritte, Picasso (not precisely a Surrealist but we’ll let that pass), maybe Ernst, nowadays quite likely Kahlo, Carrington, Tanning – all painters (although some dabbled in prose). Somewhere down the list André Breton may put in an appearance, more for his leadership role than for his poetry – and the other poets – Aragon, Soupault, Éluard – the people who founded the movement and who remained central to it for more than a decade? A long way down the roster, if they feature at all.

For that reason alone it is gratifying to find a collection of Paul Éluard’s poetry translated into English by R J Dent, and published (with a glorious cover!) by Black Scat Books – one of the last publishers to keep the flag of Olympia, Éditions Jean-Jacques Pauvert and Grove Press flying, with new writing as well as classics of Surrealism, the Absurd, Dada, Erotica and ‘Pataphysics.

Important as it is to remind us of the centrality of poetry to the Surrealist project, it is equally important that the quality of the translation does justice to the original, and here Dent hits the target again and again. Capturing the vitality of Éluard, in poems like ‘Woman in Love’ (p. 52) the light, airy, flowing beauty is precisely attuned to the lyricism, sensuousness, even romantic tenderness of Éluard, while in others, like ‘The Flame of the Whip’ (pp. 94-95), the angst and anguish of the poet is powerfully rendered.

In poems like ‘Among a Few Others’, (p. 111) Dent does justice to the oxymoronic and startling juxtapositions by which Éluard shows us the world in unfamiliar, surprising ways, refreshing traditional imagery and rescuing it from cliché into ‘something rich and strange’, while in others, for example, ‘The Deaf and the Blind’ (p. 53), an almost uncanny synaesthesia pervades, reminding us of a de Chirico painting – evocations of visual encounters with painting being one of Éluard’s characteristic themes (in poems dedicated to Ernst, Picasso, Klee, Masson, Braque, Arp, Miró – and de Chirico), beautifully rendered here by Dent’s translation.

All in all, R J Dent, a poet and novelist in his own right, demonstrates clearly the truth of the old maxim, it takes a poet to translate a poet.

Book details:

Title: Capital of Pain

Author: Paul Ėluard

Translator: R J Dent

Publisher: Black Scat Books

Publication Date: February 16th, 2023

Language: English

Format: Paperback

Pages: 132

ISBN-13: 979-8986922485

Item Weight: 7 ounces (198.447 grams)

Dimensions: 5.06 inches x 0.33 inches x 7.81 inches (12.85 cm x 0.84 cm x 19.84 cm)

Book details by the publisher: 

Purchase link (US): https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BVT3QXGD/

Purchase link (UK): https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0BVT3QXGD/

Purchase link (Aus): https://www.amazon.com.au/dp/B0BVT3QXGD/

Translator’s website: www.rjdent.com

The original review was published on surrealerpool can be read here: