#agricultural infrastructure design

[entegrasignaturestructures]

Dairy Barn Construction: Cut Heat Stress, Boost Milk Yield

This case study shows how Ridgeback® dairy barn construction cuts heat stress and boosts milk yields at Parker Pastoral. Healthier cows mean better production. Watch now to learn how smart dairy barn construction can transform your farm.

[sageuniversitybpl]

SAGE University - One of the best university in Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh

[reasonsforhope]

"In the Canary Islands, in Barcelona, and in Chile, a unique fog catcher design is sustaining dry forests with water without emissions, or even infrastructure.

Replicating how pine needles catch water, the structure need only be brought on-site and set up, without roads, powerlines, or irrigation channels.

Fog catching is an ancient practice—renamed “cloud milking” by an EU-funded ecology project on the Canary Islands known as LIFE Nieblas (nieblas means fog).

“In recent years, the Canaries have undergone a severe process of desertification and we’ve lost a lot of forest through agriculture. And then in 2007 and 2009, as a result of climate change, there were major fires in forested areas that are normally wet,” said Gustavo Viera, the technical director of the publicly-funded project in the Canaries.

The Canaries routinely experience blankets of fog that cloak the islands’ slopes and forests, but strong winds made fog-catching nets an unfeasible solution. In regions such as the Atacama Desert in Chile or the Atlas Mountains of North Africa, erecting nets that capture moisture particles out of passing currents of fog is a traditional practice.

LIFE Nieblas needed a solution that could resist powerful winds, and to that end designed wind chime-like rows of artificial pine needles, which are also great at plucking moisture from the air. However, unlike nets or palms, they efficiently let the wind pass through them.

The water is discharged without any electricity. There are no irrigation channels, and no machinery is needed to transport the structures. The natural course of streams and creeks need not be altered, nor is there a need to drill down to create wells. The solution is completely carbon-free.

WATER IN THE DESERTS: 

China Announces Completion of a 1,800-Mile Green Belt Around the World’s Most-Hostile Desert

Billions of People Could Benefit from This Breakthrough in Desalination That Ensures Freshwater for the World

Scientists Perfecting New Way to Turn Desert Air into Water at Much Higher Yields

Sahara Desert Is Turning Green Amid Unusual Rains in Parts of North Africa

Indian Engineers Tackle Water Shortages with Star Wars Tech in Kerala

In the ravine of Andén in Gran Canaria, a 35.8-hectare (96 acres) mixture of native laurel trees irrigated by the fog catchers enjoys a survival rate of 86%, double the figure of traditional reforestation.

“The Canaries are the perfect laboratory to develop these techniques,” said Vicenç Carabassa, the project’s head scientist, who works for the Center for Ecological Research and Forestry Applications at the University of Barcelona. “But there are other areas where the conditions are optimal and where there is a tradition of water capture from fog, such as Chile and Morocco.”

In Chile’s Coquimbo province, the town of Chungungo is collecting around 250 gallons a day from a combination of locally-made fog catchers and LIFE Nieblas’ pine needle design, the Guardian reports."

-via Good News Network, December 30, 2024

[typewritingyip]

The Arcturus Missions

Part Thirty Nine - Dazed

Part Thirty Eight

———

It is estimated that the Second World War’s financial cost for the world was at least a billion dollars in roughly present day dollars, though there is no specific statistical data. There were however other estimates.

Between twenty and forty percent of dwellings, agricultural property, and general structures in Europe were destroyed. Leaving another unknown cost for repairs and rebuilding.

Then the standing death toll.

Wars came after, with their different costs and horrors.

Korea cost another estimated 687 billion with direct, indirect, and mixed costs in todays dollars. 

Vietnam cost roughly 828 billion just on the United States military with another estimated 111 billion in other ventures.

Both wars created endless destruction of rural and suburban areas, leaving an unknown cost for structure and infrastructure. 

For all war it is near impossible if not entirely impossible to estimate the total loss, both financial and physical loss. There is never a perfect number to point out and say that is how much it cost to create weapons of destruction, then use them. An imperfect number of casualties. Estimates.

It is estimated that the cost of the war against the Quintesson costs three times the combined cost of the last three major conflicts. 

—

The paint on his hands had come away from digging. Shifting rubble and clawing at the remains of what had been their bar.

It was strange how quickly the place had become theirs, how they made reference to it, but it played music from home from a far simpler time. That made it theirs. It was likely the bartender was somewhere under this mess too and that tore at his heart while the paint came away across chunks of metal and concrete.

Pausing, he breathed heavily, looking up at the twins who were still digging as well. Bits of red and yellow paint being flung from the hole each time they could get a hold of a piece of scrap. Watching for a moment, Hound turns back and goes back to digging.

No pings were going through the remains of the structure, all the boosters were destroyed and made it impossible to get a signal through it. Some buildings nearby were designed specifically for that, but most weren’t. His hands ached with each pull of metal, he winced for a second when a sharp piece gouged his hand.

Stopping, Hound stares at his hand for a moment before slightly slowly. His hands were shaking again, but he looked back at the hole, there was some metal that wasn’t the same tone or shape as the rest but still grey, “Wait!” The twins stopped, both heaving.

It shifted slightly and the three of them shared a look before going back to digging, scooping aside what they could as quickly as they could.

—

This was not the first time he had been trapped under a collapsed building with Megatron pinning him to the surface, it was however the first time it had happened with Megatron trying to protect him and not kill him. So there is a sense of character growth in that he supposed. 

The last time had been on an organic planet with overly large fauna that they hadn’t been able to understand, but they had rudimentary construction. Energon had been prevalent on the planet, surprisingly, and it had brought both starving forces together. 

When Megatron had slammed him into the building, there had been only a slight hope that it wouldn’t fall on them. That hope had not lasted long. Heavy stones and poles of metal had them pinned for cycles, spending most of it bickering at each other, as Ironhide would say ‘like the old married couple you would become.’ He still did not find that funny. 

It always brought a laugh out of Megatron though. 

If he wasn’t still so mad, he’d be very happy to hear his protectors laugh. 

Over the last seven months, Optimus had chosen work over repairing his relationships but so had Megatron, focused on protecting New Kaon. The Quintessons had been consistently attacking their nearby settlements and protected planets. His best commanders were spread out among the stars and it tore at his spark. This war was reminding everyone of why they worked so hard and long for peace, a thousand years of peace negotiations had only led them to a vorn or so to enjoy it before the attacks started again.

Now he was under a collapsed building with people who were so willing to risk their lives for his own, their selflessness in the face of the unknown bewildered him. He saw how it left his own kin stunned, no one wanted to fight the Quintessons of course but these humans, their pilots, understood that the end of their species was likely if they didn’t finish the fight quickly.

Just because he didn’t agree with their methods doesn’t mean he couldn’t understand the misplaced judgement calls. Leaders, when faced with desperate circumstances, would make drastic and dire measures. He knew he had during the last war and was trying desperately to not have to this time. Then again, there were five pilots who were taking those orders without having to give them. 

Optimus wasn’t sure if he felt grateful or guilty about knowing that, sometimes it was one or the other, and other times it was both. Back when it had just been Jazz, it was more grateful than he’d like to admit. Now that it’s five pilots it was more often than not guilt that ate him alive.  

He knew Megatron and him felt similarly on the subject, but Megatron was already ready to wage war against a people he knew so few of. It was frustrating, even he wouldn't let his anger go and instead let it blind himself. 

They hadn’t been as close as they had stood in that bar in more than a quartex. Also two of his timing was running right, but that hadn’t been the top of his priority list of late. His medic had been mostly off-world after all, not venting down his neck.

Anger had clearly gotten the better of both of them, he leaned his head back against the stone under him for a moment, he still deserved an apology. He’d return one once he had his, of course, but he wouldn’t give without one.

Some fights honestly would last forever, same with stubbornness.

Then he’d make sure they both apologized to the humans, clearly they weren’t understanding something about where they came from. 

Venting slowly, his hand pinned to Megatron’s back with a metal beam across it, he onlined his optics again and tried not to panic. Tight spaces weren’t his friend and hadn’t been in eons, this was no exception. Clutching at the back kibble of Megatron’s platting, he tried to vent slowly.

Trying to remain calm.

While there was a building on top of him and his love, with Quintessons above Iacon, yeah he was calm.  Completely comm with every ping bouncing back at himself except those to try and rouse Megatron, which was going nowhere.

Clutching at his back, Optimus vented slowly before starting to finally move.

—

The metal was grey and Hound’s heart was racing. They all had seen what a dying or dead frame looked like, it wasn’t a pretty picture. They’d seen human bodies in a million states, it was as if they could be numb to that now. This was different, watching the vibrant colors of their unit, their friends, drain and the subtle glow you didn’t notice till it faded from their chest just disappear was horrifying. Energon, the way it continued to almost glow after, made it worse.

In a way, he was thankful his suit wouldn’t lose all of its color upon his death but then again there was a peace to it. If any of them were still with the Cybertronian’s when they died, what would they think? It’s not like they get to see the spark fade like they do with their friends and family. His crew was human. When they died it would be a miracle if all the blood stayed in the cockpit instead of spilling out the seams.

He kept digging, the metal of his palms cracking and bending under the stress. Grey left behind instead of green.

Whoever was under this mess thought, was moving and Hound couldn’t help but think it was Megatron and kept digging. If it was Megatron, the Prime would be nearby, even if they were fighting like the old married couple they were. Everyone knew they’d thrown themselves in front of bullets for each other, it was almost sickening.

Mirage, the bartender, and maybe Optimus were still missing under this rubble somewhere. 

Not hyperventilating was a good idea, that sounded like a good idea. Staying focused, he kept pulling chunks of concrete away, trying to be what rescue class is supposed to be. 

He couldn’t stay solely focused on this or he’d lose his mind.

None of them had been trained in it, which now Hound found endlessly stupid because he was sure there was some training of how to rescue a trapped pilot from a collapsed building or something at least. It was something they could have been trained on easily, or literally anything a rescue did, it might have been useful in space.

But, they were sent to die, for whatever reason, they just happened to live. 

Whoever they were digging out started to move again, using their almost free hand to shove at a sheet of metal, “Hold up.” Holding up a hand, Hound looks to the twins and watches his fingers shake while whoever was in the hole they were digging shifted the sheet of metal away from their face.

”Holy shit.” His heart stopped before racing again, moving forward quickly to go back to digging. Blue optics shone at him as Mirage tried to smile, most of the blue in his paint was gone, but it was clear to him now that he was seeing through Mirage more than anything else. Being able to tell he was there even when he was using his outlier.

Tearing at the ground, Hound went back to it with a fever, more desperate, “Hound, who's been found?” Mirage’s voice cracked and broke, there was energon leaking from the side of his mouth as he came into view again, “I, I don’t know. Just let me get you out.” Sunstreaker pressed a hand to Sideswipe’s chest, holding his brother back as Hound kept digging. 

They would crush Mirage if they got in Hound’s way right now. All they had to do was share a look before getting out of Hound’s way, Sunstreaker more gawking then Sideswipes light smirk.

“Hound, is everyone okay?” Mirage tried to shove at more of the rubble while Hound kept digging, “I don’t know, just hold still.” His heart skipped with fear as Mirage sat up, wincing and holding his side, “Primus,” and he reached out to steady him, “Easy, Mirage, easy.” Moving to his knees, Hound held him up and looked to Sunny, “Go get Knockout, or a medic, someone.” Looking back to Mirage, he didn’t even bother to see if the twins left. Just going straight back to freeing him.

The hole was a horrible mix of green flaked paint, blue paint, and energon slowly seeping into the ground.

Mirage’s hands grasped his head, even as he dug his legs out, lines punctured and dripping slowly, his plating dented. Glancing up only briefly, Hound frowned and looks back down to keep moving the building off of Mirage, “Are you feeling okay?” Mirage’s grasp on his head tightened slightly, “I could have died.” Closing his eyes for a second, Hound sighed slowly, “I know, I’m sorry.” He tugs on Hound’s head and his hands slide over the rubble, falling into Mirage, “Damnit, I’m trying to get you out!” 

Looking up, Hound freezes, Mirage was staring at him very intensely, “I could have died Hound, you’re the only one who saw this coming.” Slowly, carefully, Mirage leaned his forehead against Hound’s visor. His face burned, “Mirage, I’m going to get you out of this and you’ll be fine.” But he shook his head, fingers brushing against the back of Hound’s suit and causing him to shiver, “God.” Pulling away sharply, Hound goes back to trying to get his legs clear.

—

The twins were just getting out of the hole when Bluestreak came running over, taking Sunstreaker’s remaining arm, “We think we found Optimus.” He pulled sharply at Sunny’s arm and they went sliding over the metal and rubble. 

Sideswipe stared after then, still numb from it all, but he was trying his hardest to not hyperventilate. 

A ping startled him out of his stupor, blinking as the pings light up one of his screens, he reaches over and answers with a strangled voice, “Hello?” His voice broke, “What happened? Where are you?” He could almost cry, “Elita,” The anger in her voice almost shook him to his core.

”What happened, Sideswipe?” He sighed shakily, “The Quintessons blew up the bar, we were all inside, we don’t know where Joan or Megatron is. I, It fell on us.” He dragged a hand down his face, turning slowly, “We’re still in the rubble.” Her breath was audible over the comm, “Sideswipe, focus for me, okay?”

Humming a bit, he started walking over towards where Jazz, Prowl, Bluestreak, and Sunstreaker were pulling away chunks of metal, “Sideswipe?” Getting down on his knees, he started to help next to Sunny, “Yeah, I’m here. Just trying to get them out from under the building.” There was a moment of pause, “Sideswipe, are you alright?” His hands were shaking again, pulling at the metal and rubble, and he really couldn’t answer. 

She was quiet for another moment, “Damnit,” and the line clicked dead. 

He kept digging, trying to help as a blue hand attempted to shove aside metal and concrete, Prowl’s face turned down towards the hole and clearly listening intently to his comms. Shoving a beam aside, Sideswipe stared at the carnage for a moment. 

Grey metal which was cracked and dented had covered the Prime, the grey metal of Megatron, his stomach turned and he had to sit back.

It was too much, too much like his apartment building, concrete and metal holding his family hostage, how it took his mom and then after ages took his dad. How his parents had made sure Sonny would be okay, not ensuring their own safety. 

Sunstreaker’s hand landed on his shoulder and shook it, hard, “Simon, you there?” Looking over, he took a shaky breath, “I can’t breathe.” Nodding a bit, Sunny moved over and grasped his shoulders, “We’re not in Florida, this isn’t our apartment. You need to talk to Elita-One.” With a lightly shove, Sideswipe climbed away from where they were digging.

His comm only had to ping once before he was picking it up, “Sideswipe, we can’t get to you quickly so you need to focus.” Nodding slowly, he sits back down and straps his oxygen mask on after a moment of struggling, “You’re going to be okay, just breathe for a minute.” Dragging a hand down his face, he leans back against a metal chunk.

Breathing in slowly and out, Sideswipe looked anywhere but at the sky and tried not to look where his friends were digging each other out of the rubble, “Sunny is okay.” He couldn’t think to say anything else, “I know, I was on comms with him, I’m not asking about him I’m asking about you.” He sighed shakily, “Sunny is okay, that’s what matters. He’s digging out the Prime right now, I should help him.” He was shaking, “No, you should breathe. Take a moment.” 

Tucking his head down to his knees, he tried to breathe, and then started to sob, “They took down our building! It was ours goddamnit!” With a flick, he turns off his external speakers, so he could focus on Elita.

Her voice came in clear, “I know, I’ve heard about this bar, I’m sorry. I know it was your closest connection to your home.” And he shook his head angrily, “They tried to bury us, they took our home and tried to bury us in it. I wasn’t even there.” There was a long pause, “Sideswipe, you’re there.” With a nearly growl he stands up and starts to pace.

”No, no mom, I wasn't there when you died. I was in the hospital with dad when we unplugged him, he couldn’t thrive, couldn’t even breathe on his own. God, I can’t breathe. But I wasn’t there, Sunny was there. Sunny is fine, he’s right there. Missing his arm but there.” 

Elita didn’t know what to say, “Alright, you need to focus, pull yourself out of this. Your brother needs you right now,” He shakes his head, “No, he has Blue, no matter how much I hate him Blue right there.” And she could almost smile, “He needs you, told me that he needs you. This is too much like your home, but it’s not and you need to focus.” He took a shaky breath.

Letting it out slowly, he adjusted his helmet and checked over his monitors, “You’ve got a job to do Sideswipe, I’m relying on you to help the Prime and Lord High Protector,” She bit off the last bit, always distrusting Megatron, “I’m not there right now and you need to fill my position, same as Sunstreaker is filling Ironhide’s till he can get there. Can you do that?” Slowly, the shaking stopped.

With another breath, finally out of tunnel vision, he nods slowly, “Yes ma’am.” She sighed, “Alright, now. You’ve have to go back to that hole and dig out the prime, can you do that?” He shook his hands off, “Yeah.” 

“Alright, I’m going to stay on comms with you, you keep me updated. Primus knows Optimus won’t.” He gulped before going back to the hole, “Yeah, yeah, I’ve got you.” He slid down and looked at his brother. Sunstreaker lightened his visor slightly and together, they went back to shifting the building off the leaders of Cybertron. 

—

Hound had his arm around Mirage, helping him up and out as Knockout ran towards where the Prime and Protector had been found. For now, Mirage was stable, even if Hound wasn’t. His mind was racing and he was still trying not to hyperventilate or throw up. The shaking had yet to subside. 

They stood together, Mirage looking at Hound’s battered suit, his hand falling right over the spot where his platting had been torn away by Knockout months ago. On instinct, “Does it hurt?” Hound shrugged lightly, “Not any more than normal, my ears are ringing though, my head hurts, back hurts, ass hurts. It doesn’t feel good to have the build dropped on you.” Mirage chuckled weakly, “No, no it does not.” 

With a shaky breath, Hound looked over, “Are you hurting?” Mirage had a nasty gash across his face, but still smiled, “I’ll live, it’s not the first building dropped on me.” Hound blinks slowly, “What?” Mirage chuckled, wincing and holding his side, “It’s a long story, Dear-Spark.” If Hound was actually made of metal and wires, he would have probably short circuited, “What?” After a moment, Mirage rested his head on Hound’s shoulder. 

Keeping his arm around Mirage, his mouth had gone dry, “Alright now, let’s go over and check on the Prime.” Humming, Mirage kept his hold on Hound as well, and they shuffled forward. It was slow going.

Hound couldn’t help but keep wracking his brain, maybe it had just been a poor translation, that was always possible. Yeah, poor translation. He tightened his hold on Mirage carefully. Mirage’s cheek shifts on his shoulder, his heart rate didn’t come down.

They came over a small section of mounded rubble, it was roughly where the bar top had been and came back down towards where the Prime and Protector had been found. Only one still unaccounted for was the bartender, either somewhere under this mess or long gone, it pulled at Hound’s heart to know they just didn’t have the time to look. 

Distance gunfire was the only thing keeping him sane for the moment, knowing there were people in Iacon protecting the city. 

Breakdown was sat down with Sideswipe, his arm over the younger mans shoulders, who still seemed to be dealing with shock or worse. Sunstreaker was standing with Bluestreak, who was holding his hand and had Sunny’s fallen arm tucked under his, even with his eye put out he was gazing at the significantly more grey, yellow pilot. Prowl and Jazz were standing together, Jazz keeping a hand on Prowl’s back and keeping his voice down while Prowl’s door-wing hung awkwardly still.

Honestly, it looked like a scene from a war movie, never in his life did he think that his life would be straight out of a movie scene. He’d been very determined to not think that in all the years he’d been a pilot, even when his suits’ likeness was used in a cheesy propaganda movie. 

It left a lump in his throat, holding up Mirage. Taking a shaky breath, he needed to focus. But everyone was giving Optimus Prime space. It was hard to watch, as Optimus pulled himself up from the rubble, dragging an unconscious Megatron, the erie calm that was over his face even as Knockout moved in was one that felt all to familiar. 

They all looked like hell. Missing paint, missing parts, missing confidence behind their eyes. They sure as hell weren’t ready for what came next, but they had to be.

With hardly a glance around, Optimus straightened, a brief flicker of pain hit his face as his battle mask slapped shut, “Whose well enough to fight?” Every hand went up, even if it was a lie, even if Sunstreaker had to lift both his and Blue’s hands up, none of them were going to let this stand as it was.

“Good. Prowl, do you have comms with command?” Shifting forward a bit, he nodded, “Yes sir.” Nodding slowly, Optimus, even with dented plating and missing paint, gave off a determined confidence that everyone else lacked, “Well then, Hound, what would you suggest we do?” The lump was still lodged in his throat, but he shifted slightly.

Letting out a slow breath, Hound nodded, “Well, I’ve got a plan and you ain’t going to like it.” 

———

A/N

This chapter was like pulling teeth, I swear. Partially because I’m like, sorta sick. I don’t feel like 100% crap but I also don’t feel great. Go figure.

So, yeah, part 39 is crazy. 131k words is nuts. And I feel like I’m losing my mind a bit. This chapter is a bit of a short one for that reason, it was hard to write and just the bits that probably should have been a part of last chapter but it wasn’t finished. Sorry.

The action starts again next part with Arcturus 3 coming again soon.

TAGS

@lunarlei68 @whirlywhirlygig @loop-hole-319 @pixillandjester @alek-the-witch @not-a-moose-in-disguise @goddessofwind8water @neurologicalglitch @dersereblogger @pixel-transformers @mrcrayonofdoom @wireplaces @twilightfreefaller @original-blog-name-2 @devilangel657 @robbin-u @miniartistme @starwold @tea-enthusiasm @valeexpris606 @celticdoggo @bird599 @agentsquirrelsgotrobots @aquaioart @thatwandercat @artdagz @seisha974 @halenhusky309 @leethepiper @cat-cassette @sirassban @cosmique-oddity @garbageenthusiast @xervias @azulabutterfly @fryseem @spring-mc @echo-circuit @aghostsnail @wooblewooble @ask-glory-haddock-and-others @nonsscrapheap @magichats @iminahole247 @omgflyingderpywhale @thetrexartist @naaaafam @elegantmantaray @emichusai @waterlilykitty @diabolichare @ham4ponyo @osqindaxend @sunnyvibesanddoodles @ratatatata248 @ijustneedausernaneplease4444444 @sprook-children @fooolisher 

And once again thank you to @Keferon for this AU!

[archatlas]

Kalyon Karapınar 1.350 MWp SPP - Central Control Building Bilgin Architects

Dialogue with the Earth - The building is located in Karapınar, the only region in Turkey with a desert climate. A 20-square-kilometer area in this region, which has become unsuitable for agriculture but holds significant energy potential due to its desert climate, is designated as an energy specialization area. Kalyon Energy has established a 1,350 MWp solar power plant in this region with the capacity to be the largest solar energy power plant in Europe. The operation of the plant is managed through the Central Control Building. One of the primary functions of the building is to provide a technological infrastructure for controlling the plant.

[odinsblog]

Land and Housing

As a result of decades of land confiscations and discriminatory land policies, Israeli authorities have hemmed in Palestinian towns and villages, while nurturing the growth and expansion of Jewish communities, many of which in practice exclude Palestinians. The majority of Palestinians in Israel live in these communities, while some live in “mixed cities” like Tel Aviv-Jaffa and Haifa.

Ninety-three percent of all land in Israel constitutes state land, directly controlled by the Israeli government. Israeli authorities confiscated much of this land, several million dunams, from Palestinians through several different legal instruments, as documented in a later chapter of this report. A government agency, the Israel Land Authority (ILA), manages and allocates state lands. Almost half the members of its governing body belong to the JNF, whose explicit mandate is to develop and lease land for Jews and not any other segment of the population. The fund owns 13 percent of Israel’s land, which the state is mandated to use “for the purpose of settling Jews.”

Israeli authorities have almost exclusively allocated state lands for the development and expansion of Jewish communities. Since 1948, the government has authorized the creation of more than 900 “Jewish localities” in Israel, but none for Palestinians except for a handful of government-planned townships and villages in the Negev and Galilee, created largely to concentrate previously displaced Bedouin communities. Less than 3 percent of all land in Israel falls under the jurisdiction of Palestinian municipalities, where the majority of Palestinian citizens live, according to a 2017 estimate by Israeli and Palestinian groups.

Even inside Palestinian towns and villages within Israel, Israeli authorities discriminatorily restrict the land available for residential growth. The authorities have zoned large sections of Palestinian towns and villages for “agricultural” use or as “green” areas, prohibited residential building in them, and built roads and other infrastructure projects that impede expansion. A 2003 Israeli government-commissioned report found that “many Arab towns and villages were surrounded by land designated for purposes such as security zones, Jewish regional councils, national parks and nature reserves or highways, which prevent or impede the possibility of their expansion in the future.”

While increasing focus in recent years on these issues has resulted in more state-approved residential development, they have done little to date to change the reality of hemmed-in Palestinian towns and villages. By contrast, in case studies documented by Human Rights Watch in each of Israel’s six districts, planning authorities provided sufficient land and zoning permissions to predominantly Jewish communities to facilitate their growth.

(continue reading)

[entegrasignaturestructures]

Modernising Lily Farming: Burleigh Flowers' Journey

Burleigh Flowers is modernising lily farming through a purpose-built facility and smart automation. From a family business to a leading supplier, they’ve boosted productivity and quality with innovations like the LilyMatic planter. Discover how efficiency drives their success. Watch the story now .

[askviktor]

Is the Hexstrap project finished yet? I'm an interested client in the simulated sensation of the one using it. I hope this is not very embarrassing for you, apologies.

Thank you for asking. Unfortunately, the Hexstrap has yet to be fabricated, but I believe Jayce may be more open to the idea in light of recent events.

Nonetheless, personal Hextech technology is still not approved for public use. I hope this changes quite soon as I believe several of our prototypes are ready. Distribution and other laws regulating Hextech will be "on the books" soon, yes, Jayce? @jaycehousetalis

I assume after those are in place, Hextech personal devices will start appearing in industrial areas. There are the Atlas gauntlets, which will allow those mining in the fissures to do so without fatigue. I am most excited by our personal air filtration devices which, within minutes, clear rooms of airborne toxins. We have also been developing agricultural designs powered by Hexlights, which will act as sunlight so that those living deep in the trenches can grow their own food. Once the council sees the wisdom of investing in the Undercity, I am hopeful that we can get funding for infrastructure which will clean the pollutants from Zaun for good.

I fear it may be some time before an item like the Hexstrap is available. We have more pressing prototypes to launch, though sexual health is of course important to a fulfilling life to many. And worry not, I am not embarrassed by such things.

[fearfulfertility]

CONFIDENTIAL PROGRESS REPORT

DRC, Insemination Operations Command, Mobile Operations Unit

Date: [REDACTED]

To: Minister [REDACTED], Ministry of State Security

From: Administrator [REDACTED], Mobile Operations Unit

Subject: Cost of Conscripting Youth in Rural Communities

[REDACTED] (Arkansas, FEMA Zone 6) is an outlier for a small rural community with a population of [REDACTED] and a long history in the lumber industry. Of particular note, [REDACTED]% of the 18-25-year-old population has tested positive for high fertility markers and subsequently been conscripted as surrogates. The DRC Planning & Evaluation Office has been monitoring the situation as a case study of the economic impact of forced surrogacy conscription.

Mobile Paternity Units (MPU)

The newly deployed Mobile Paternity Units (MPUs) accelerate conscription rates by conducting field-based surrogate insemination protocols. The MPUs are fully equipped mobile hubs designed to identify, secure, and inseminate fertile surrogates in regions lacking the infrastructure or security to establish permanent paternity compounds.

Currently there are [REDACTED] MPUs in commission, operating in circular routes- - - - -

[SYSTEM RESPONSE]

[AUTHENTICATION PROTOCOL ENGAGED]

[SECURITY LEVEL]: [HIGH]

[USER IDENTIFICATION]: [Executive Level-01A]

[CREDENTIAL AUTHENTICATION IN PROGRESS...]

[ENTER PASSWORD]: [***************]

[PROCESSING INPUT...]

[VALIDATING PASSWORD...]

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MPU Background Context

The rural disruption program continues to be a success thanks to the deployment of the MPUs, which have been incredibly effective at deliberate societal destabilization.

As mentioned in last quarter's deployment report, in addition to the direct impact of mass insemination, MPUs employ covert biochemical measures to destabilize social order further. By introducing a cocktail of hormones and aphrodisiacs into the water supply, the MPUs incite heightened states of lust, confusion, and distraction among the population.

Among surrogates, this amplifies the effects of prenatal nymphomania, who, driven by uncontrollable desires, contribute to a pervasive atmosphere of hedonism and chaos. It also magnifies the feelings, thoughts, attractions, and behaviors of the non-surrogate members of the community, who participate in the physical activities with almost primal intensity.

The relentless pursuit of physical gratification prevents the community from focusing on its deteriorating condition, eroding familial bonds, productivity, and any sense of collective purpose. The combination of mass pregnancy, chemical manipulation, and social disarray leaves these towns paralyzed while serving the DRC’s objectives of surrogate acquisition and societal control.

By the time the vast majority of surrogates give birth and the MPUs return to collect the resultant offspring, the workforce is effectively crippled and vulnerable to collapse. Their ability to organize, resist, or rebel against external control diminishes, dependent on external support, unable to mount any meaningful opposition.

The cumulative consequences are both immediate and long-term, unraveling the town’s economic stability, social cohesion, and cultural identity.

I. Labor Market Collapse

As their pregnancies advance, these surrogates are unable to contribute meaningfully to the workforce. Compounding this crisis, the introduction of aphrodisiacs to the water supply inflames the atmosphere of widespread indulgence and physical fixation, leaving critical sectors paralyzed:

Agriculture: Fields go untended as the remaining workforce is too distracted or physically compromised to perform essential tasks.

Retail & Services: Shops and local businesses experience severe staff shortages, with employees increasingly abandoning their posts in favor of personal distractions. Productivity is reduced, and many businesses shut permanently.

Construction & Infrastructure: Public services (water supply, power, policing) are abandoned as skilled laborers become unavailable or uninterested.

This mass disengagement leads to a cascading failure across the economy. The distraction and incapacitation ensures that productivity never recovers.

“It’s like everything just… fell apart overnight. Most of the boys are now carrying these enormous pregnancies, some with 10, 12, or even 16 babies. They’re so big they can barely move, let alone work. My nephew is bedridden, his stomach so swollen and stretched it looks like he’ll burst. Businesses are shutting down left and right. The diner is now it’s closed because the staff is too preoccupied, too exhausted or too pregnant to keep things running.” - Victor Hayes, Charlevoix, Michigan, FEMA Zone 5

II. Population & Social Erosion

The breakdown of social order is exacerbated by prenatal nymphomania. This heightened state of physical fixation pervades the community, undermining traditional values and civic responsibilities:

Educational Decline: Schools lose both students and teachers as attendance drops. Classrooms empty out, and extracurricular programs vanish as the youth prioritize physical distractions over learning and participation.

Community Disintegration: Social events, youth programs, and local traditions deteriorate. The focus shifts away from community-building activities as families experience fragmentation and isolation as personal indulgence takes precedence over collective well-being.

The resulting social decay ensures that the community’s structure collapses from within, leaving it vulnerable and dependent.

“It’s like the entire town has lost its mind. My little brother is one of the surrogates. He’s just 19, and carrying 14 babies. He can barely move now, his belly is so massive and tight with those babies. And it’s not just him — every boy his age is the same. The weirdest part is they used to fight this, but now they seem so into it. And the rest of us? It’s like we’re all under a spell. Nobody wants to work, go to school, or even talk about what’s happening. Everyone’s just chasing some kind of high, day in and day out. There’s no sense of responsibility, no one to keep things running.” - Collin Tanner, Owensboro, Kentucky, FEMA Zone 4

III. Economic Ripple Effects

The economic consequences of the MPU deployment extend beyond immediate labor shortages. As the population becomes consumed by the chemically-inflamed environment, traditional economic functions disintegrate:

Real Estate Market Collapse: The prospect of family life and economic stability vanishes. Young adults are physically incapacitated or disinterested in establishing households or familial units.

Healthcare Strain: The need for prenatal care among the surrogates overwhelms local clinics. Meanwhile, rising cases of substance abuse and physical exhaustion further strain the system. Access to local healthcare diminishes, and locals become dependent on DRC resources.

This economic freefall ensures that recovery becomes unattainable, plunging towns into long-term decline.

“I’m 21, and I’m carrying 15 babies right now. My belly is so huge and heavy, I can barely get out through the front door. I used to work at the hardware store, and I was saving up to get my own place. But that dream’s gone now. Everyone my age is pregnant or taking care of someone who is. I’m too big and too tired to care. We’re all trapped in these enormous pregnancies, and there’s no help coming.” - S???-994-O, Andersonville, Georgia, FEMA Zone 4

IV. Collapse of Social Norms

These combinations contribute to a disintegration of social and familial distinctions, fostering an environment where traditional lines of propriety become increasingly obscured:

Dissolution of Familial Roles: As surrogates’ pregnancies advance and the community’s pervasive fixation on physical indulgence, interactions begin to appear that defy established familial roles. Young surrogates, often confined to their homes due to the extreme size of their pregnancies become focal points of attention in ways that undermine traditional respect and relational boundaries.

Loss of Interpersonal Distinctions: The community’s collective fixation results in behaviors and dynamics that would otherwise be constrained by societal norms. Familiarity within and outside households devolves into ambiguous interactions influenced by heightened compulsions.

The cumulative effect of these blurred boundaries ensures traditional norms are rendered obsolete, leaving the community adrift in a state of chaotic permissiveness.

“It’s hard to explain how things got this way. My cousin is one of the surrogates. He’s only 19, and his belly is just… massive... swollen beyond anything you’d think possible. He’s carrying 14 babies, and the sheer size of it, how tight and stretched his skin is... There’s something about seeing him like that — so heavy, so full — that just draws you in. Now, when I see my cousin leaning back against the couch, his huge belly dominating his frame, moaning as the babies kick and move inside him, I can’t stop myself from feeling drawn in. His body his so full and stretched... it’s mesmerizing.” - Derek Knight, Fulton, Illinois, FEMA Zone 5

V. Long-Term Consequences

The deployment of MPUs and the ensuing mass insemination drive the town into an inescapable cycle of decline:

Economic Decay: With the majority of the workforce incapacitated, businesses fail, infrastructure deteriorates, and investment ceases. The community becomes a “ghost town,” marked by derelict buildings and economic stagnation.

Dependency on External Aid: As self-sufficiency erodes, the town becomes reliant on DRC support. Demoralization set in, deepening the dependency cycle.

Loss of Cultural Identity: Traditions and community legacies fade as the surrogates’ incapacitation prevents participation in cultural life, collective heritage disintegrates into chaotic, aimless distraction.

“It’s like everything that held us together just fell apart. Both my brothers were turned into two swollen balls of babies by the end. Everyone their age was knocked up, fattened, and taken. The whole town looks like it’s been abandoned, a bunch of ghostly reminders of what used to be. We barely survive on government aid, but even that feels like a band-aid on a wound too big to heal. The town feels hollow.” - Jackson Bender, Northampton, Massachusetts, FEMA Zone 1

Conclusion

The deployment of MPUs and the ensuing biochemical manipulation devastate rural communities. The combined impact of enforced surrogacy, incapacitation, and chemically-induced distraction ensures that these towns collapse economically, socially, and culturally.

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[dittany-6413]

Supplementary Notes to Make Me Your Empress

In addition to Chapter 4 and 9, I believe a separate list of important information would be helpful for some of you to refer to. Most of them are not canon, except the five clans marked [Canon], but their roles in the Court are slightly altered and expanded. The list will be updated as the story progresses.

[The following layout took some references from canon, but it is mostly designed for the fic.]

I - Organizational Structure of the Outer Court

The design was inspired by the canon and the “three departments and six ministries (三省六部)” systems of many ancient Chinese dynasties. The ruling Emperor directly controls three official organizations and one shadow organization.

Department of State Affairs It is the primary executive institution led by the Prime Minister, separated into six ministries. Each ministry is led by one commander, followed by two vice-secretaries. i. Ministry of Personnel - responsible for selection, promotion, welfare, and termination of all Outer Court personnel, which includes the Physician Office  ii. Ministry of Treasury - responsible for tax collection, financial management, and auditory of other ministries and departments iii. Ministry of Rites - responsible for ceremonies and religious affairs iv. Ministry of Military - responsible for managing military personnel training, national defense strategies, and arms v. Ministry of Justice - responsible for law enforcement, judiciary, and prisons vi. Ministry of Works - responsible for public infrastructure development and agricultural planning

Central Secretariat It is the advisory body to the Emperor in laws and policy formulation.

Imperial Guards It is responsible for protecting the Emperor and the security of the Royal palace.

Intelligence Bureau It is a shadow organization that higher-ranking officials know exists. Because of their jobs, its members are never revealed, so they never attend court. Rumor has it that its members work in other departments and ministries under disguise. 

II - Organizational Structure of the Inner Court

The Inner Court is led by the Emperor, delegating his power to the Empress or the Empress Dowager when he has yet to name an Empress. Consorts are divided into three ranks: low, middle, and high. Despite no limit on the number of low and middle consorts, there are only four high consorts who live in the Diamond, Garnet, Jade, and Crystal Pavillions.

All matters in the Inner Court are managed by the Office of the Interior, divided into three major sections:

Domestics Services Department The primary organization manages all duties through six Shangs, including Wardrobe, Housekeeping, Catering, Gardening, Furnishing, and Administration.

Office of Eunuchs It is responsible for recruitment, allocation, and welfare of eunuchs. Since Emperor Yang had ceased all castration practices, the office is shrinking and aging.

Office of Serving Women Similarly, it is responsible for recruitment, allocation, and welfare of serving women.

III - The Twelve Named Clans

Ma 馬 - [Canon] the Clan responsible for the Imperial Guards for generations. Their de facto family heads are the females at home, as the males are expected to stay frontline protecting the Royal Family. They often marry the Mi Clan due to their close working relations.

Mi 巳 - [Canon] the Clan that fully controls the Intelligence Bureau. It is a ‘family’ not born by blood but maintained between masters and disciplines, trained and excelled in intel collection, spy work, and martial arts. Most of their identities are unknown to the others, except a few of the ruling Emperor and Ma Clan members with whom they share close relationships.

Kan 漢 - [Canon] the Clan of over a century of standing recently rose to power due to their fourth head of the house, Lakan, earning the position of the Ministry of Military. They do not stand with any factions in the Court and remain distanced from other Clans. Rumors were that the daughter of the Military Commander had a close relationship with the Moon Prince, earning caution and jealousy from different Clans.

You 楊 - [Canon] the Clan named for its governance of the Western Province. Despite its member, Gyoukuyou, rising to power as the Empress Dowager, the fall of her brother Gyouku-en led to its isolation from other clans.

U 卯 - [Canon] the Clan that once held great power over the Court during the time of the Empress Regnant but was currently weakened. Its head of the clan was the father of the former Consort Lishu, who worked as the vice secretary of the Ministry of Rites.

Ryou 梁 - the Clan leading the Ministry of Personnel. The former head of the clan, father of Great Consort Lihua, was the current governor of the Northern Province. His younger brother, the current head, was the Personnel Commander. Part of the conservatives’ faction.

An 安 - another Clan of the conservatives’ faction. Family of the Great Empress Dowager, Anshi. They controlled the Ministry of Justice. (I knew Anshi came from a Named Clan in canon, but their name was never mentioned in the LNs, so I named it instead.)

Kyou 姜 - another Clan of the conservatives’ faction. Its head is the Commander of the Ministry of Rites.

Shin 沈 - the Clan leading the Ministry of Treasury. Part of the reformists’ faction. The clan head Heyi 合義 was famous for being objective and fair.

Tei 鄭 - the Clan leading the Ministry of Works. Part of the reformists’ faction.

Lei 黎 - the newest Named Clan, ascended after the fall of the Shi Clan as their head Liansheng 連生 became the Prime Minister. Both factions disliked him and isolated him at the Court, and some officials called him the ‘Puppet Minister.’

Han 潘 - the Clan with members scattered in the Ministries of Treasury, Justice, Works, and the Central Secretariat. They did not take a stance with any faction or the Prime Minister.

IV - Other Notable Political Families

Dan 段 - Part of the conservatives, working in the Treasury and the Justice ministries.

To 杜 - Relatives of the Prime Minister, working in the Personnel and Rites ministries.

Syuu 周 - Part of the reformists, working in the Personnel.

Sai 蔡 - Part of the reformists, working in the Works.

[tigersharko]

yes pls.... give inform....

so!! gray was originally a character i wrote and designed for a narrative project, not actually lancer.

his original concept was meant to open the discussion "how much of gray is himself/his own nature, and how much is TR-GRAE; and vice versa?" though, honestly, that doesn't matter much to me; he just, is the way that he is. i actually refer to the two as brothers, though they're less like a traditional family and more two people shoved into a blender, combined, then poured back out into two separate molds?

anyways, about why gray is so jacked up!!

From his original text, I kept the city/colony he originates from;

>The collapse of Leicester (pop. 1,230,000) marked the final days of Harrier (55-Cancri-fb)'s civilization. Colonization of the distant moon had been difficult; Tidally locked and weaving ever-so-slightly in and out of the solar system's habitable zone, the celestial body only had two small islands of land that were habitable year-round. Capitalizing on the mineral-rich and lush land, Harrier's settlers built and developed massive supercities. Housing, commercial districts, etcetera were all crammed together in compact skyscrapers. This left more room for agricultural efforts, but created a cramped and uncomfortable lifestyle for the generations to come.

Eventually- Leicester, the largest of the two habitable cities, began to grow too close to the stars. Generations of expansion made the terrain beneath their feet unstable- and the crumbling body of their beloved moon gave way. The entirety of Leicester collapsed in on itself, sucked into a massive sinkhole. Skyscrapers fell unto one another like a poorly-assembled jenga tower. Survivors were few and far in-between as decades of carefully-constructed infrastructure fell into the depths. Those who did survive were forced to contest with the post-apocalyptic like conditions of their fallen city.

So, Gray, bless his heart, is dropped into the sinkhole with the rest of his city; Most of the scars we see today, such as the ones on his chest and (organic) arms, are the result of shrapnel damage. He loses his left arm in the initial collapse, and his right to infection shortly thereafter;

One unfortunate soul- seven year-old-boy, Arthur- fell into the custody of the paltry few that had been living on the lip of the city. Wounded from the collapse of his housing unit, the boy's arms were tragically amputated; Quick thinking and good luck, however, saved his life. Shortly thereafter, he was outfitted with makeshift prosthetics, allowing him to at least somewhat participate in the survivors' attempts at rebuilding.

Now, that's the spot where Original Gray and Lancer Gray diverge; in LANCER, the very young Gray goes on to explore and adventure in the wreckage of his city, and eventually comes across the entombed chassis of a long-forgotten mech. He climbs up to meet it- and makes contact with the cascading mind of a very, very old NHP.

See, my take on NHPs' "perspectives", and how those can be translated into human/anthropocentric analogies, is sort of convoluted and it would honestly require a post of my own (which I would love to make, if given the time and motivation)- but the important thing about how TR-GRAE (or, at least, the nonhuman mind it was founded on) in specific works is that a willing, malleable, and open (y'know, like a child's) human mind was the perfect means for it to ground and voluntarily shackle itself.

Obviously, gray doesn't remember this. He doesn't remember much of his history at all.

No, Gray remembers emerging on Carina, well into his teens, having been "adopted" by a Northstar campus outreach/scholarship program based on engineering prowess he thinks that he always had. He doesn't remember how, or when, but he had built a casket for the mind that he discovered, and had come to regard the entity- the person- within like family. Gray and TR-GRAE (named for the chassis he was discovered in and the subsequent role he filled in their community, "Terran Recovery - Ground Rescue and Excavation") understand eachother on a frightening level, even without implant intervention (though Gray has a lot of implants installed for his and his copilot's convenience). They don't need to speak to know what the other is thinking, or needs, or even knows. Of course, there are several divides, and the fact that TR-GRAE knows what Gray knows, but not vice versa—

Anyways, Gray has been in IPS-N "custody" for ~8 years? He was 8 when the city collapsed, 10 when they picked him up, and he's 19 now. Ra's sake, he's young—

I hoped you paid attention, this will be on your test.

[reasonsforhope]

"In China, a landscape architect is reimagining cities across the vast country by working with nature to combat flooding through the ‘sponge city’ concept.

Through his architecture firm Turenscape, Yu has created hundreds of projects in dozens of cities using native plants, dirt, and clever planning to absorb excess rainwater and channel it away from densely populated areas.

Flooding, especially in the two Chinese heartlands of the commercial south and the agricultural north, is becoming increasingly common, but Yu says that concrete and pipe solutions can only go so far. They’re inflexible, expensive, and require constant maintenance. According to a 2021 World Bank report, 641 of China’s 654 largest cities face regular flooding.

“There’s a misconception that if we can build a flood wall higher and higher, or if we build the dams higher and stronger, we can protect a city from flooding,” Yu told CNN in a video call. “(We think) we can control the water… that is a mistake.”

Pictured: The Benjakitti Forest Park in Bangkok

Yu has been called the “Chinese Olmstead” referring to Frederick Law Olmstead, the designer of NYC’s Central Park. He grew up in a little farming village of 500 people in Zhejiang Province, where 36 weirs channel the waters of a creek across terraced rice paddies.

Once a year, carp would migrate upstream and Yu always looked forward to seeing them leap over the weirs.

This synthesis of man and nature is something that Turenscape projects encapsulate. These include The Nanchang Fish Tail Park, in China’s Jiangxi province, Red Ribbon Park in Qinghuandao, Hebei province, the Sanya Mangrove Park in China’s island province of Hainan, and almost a thousand others. In all cases, Yu utilizes native plants that don’t need any care to develop extremely spongey ground that absorbs excess rainfall.

Pictured: The Dong’an Wetland Park, another Turescape project in Sanya.

He often builds sponge projects on top of polluted or abandoned areas, giving his work an aspect of reclamation. The Nanchang Fish Tail Park for example was built across a 124-acre polluted former fish farm and coal ash dump site. Small islands with dawn redwoods and two types of cypress attract local wildlife to the metropolis of 6 million people.

Sanya Mangrove Park was built over an old concrete sea wall, a barren fish farm, and a nearby brownfield site to create a ‘living’ sea wall.

One hectare (2.47 acres) of Turenscape sponge land can naturally clean 800 tons of polluted water to the point that it is safe enough to swim in, and as a result, many of the sponge projects have become extremely popular with locals.

One of the reasons Yu likes these ideas over grand infrastructure projects is that they are flexible and can be deployed as needed to specific areas, creating a web of rain sponges. If a large drainage, dam, seawall, or canal is built in the wrong place, it represents a huge waste of time and money.

Pictured: A walkway leads visitors through the Nanchang Fish Tail Park.

The sponge city projects in Wuhan created by Turenscape and others cost in total around half a billion dollars less than proposed concrete ideas. Now there are over 300 sponge projects in Wuhan, including urban gardens, parks, and green spaces, all of which divert water into artificial lakes and ponds or capture it in soil which is then released more slowly into the sewer system.

Last year, The Cultural Landscape Foundation awarded Yu the $100,000 Oberlander Prize for elevating the role of design in the process of creating nature-based solutions for the public’s enjoyment and benefit."

-via Good News Network, August 15, 2024

[probablyasocialecologist]

When thinking about forms of degradation it is important to understand that violence is not only an event but can become a material structure. A spirit of violence becomes built into the geography itself – in the qualities of neighborhoods and workplaces, and in the prevalence or lack of healthcare, educational facilities, transportation, sanitation, and electricity. Built environments perpetuate lifestyles and practices that either frustrate or cherish life, that keep people apart or bring them together. What we build in the world communicates what we think of the world, and what we value about its inhabitants. Consider just some of the defining material structures of the modern world: reservations that confine indigenous peoples to undesirable land the privatization and enclosure of agricultural land traditionally held in common “sacrifice zones” where mining companies leave their toxic waste massive hydroelectric projects that displace indigenous communities and alter ecosystems mountaintop removal mining that flattens peaks and fills creeks with debris vast fields of monoculture agriculture that depend on toxic herbicides and synthetic fertilizers to maximize commodity production the large confinement animal feeding operations (CAFOs) that mistreat livestock and pollute surrounding watersheds “cancer alleys” where people live on land or along waterways polluted by toxic industrial chemicals public housing projects that consign residents to inhumane living conditions massive slums in the world’s growing megacities that lack the infrastructure to meet the basic needs of residents the many “camps” – work camps, death camps, POW camps, internment camps, refugee resettlement camps – constructed in response to war, political persecution, and climate instability These sites are not accidental, nor are they located on the periphery. They are foundational structures upon which the modern world has been built and which it continues to develop. This grim geography alerts us to the fact that the young people of our time are inheriting built environments with considerably diminished fertility, biodiversity, and health. They are being asked to imagine their futures in a world that is increasingly polluted, ugly, and uninviting, while living in built environments poorly designed to facilitate flourishing. Can people live in hope if their homes and places of work do not nurture and celebrate life?

[yunsound]

Chinese History: Great Yu Cures the Waters

Modern China has over a hundred thousand waterways and several of the biggest rivers in the world. As the entire east side of China is coastside, China’s biggest major cities (Shanghai, which literally means On-the-sea, Shenzhen, Hong Kong etc) are all along the ocean, with Beijing not far inland. 

Do not start a Hong Kong argument with me- I am JUST SAYING that in ancient times, Hong Kong was an important part of the dynasties’ power that relied on water. I have no patience for Hong Kong arguments. Seriously. PLEASE.

Other major cities, like Chongqing, Nanjing and Wuhan all lie along the Yangtze River. This is very natural- civilisation sprouts up where there is running water. 

WARNING: GOING OFF ON A TANGENT, PLEASE SKIP IF YOU’RE HERE JUST FOR THE MYTHOLOGY, I WILL MARK THE BEGINNING OF THE MYTH WITH A CAT PICTURE

I am going to do a quick advertisement for my home city, Shanghai, which has the Huangpu River running through it (making up the Bund, or Outer Beach) and Lujiazui. If you’re going to visit China, I would say Shanghai is the one place where foreigners will have the easiest time.

It’s probably the city most influenced by foreign culture- most people don’t speak fluent English but if you’re staying in populated areas like Xujiahui, Xintiandi, Lujiazui etc you will have no problem since the people you run into will speak at least a few words of English, metro stations and malls will have English signs, etc. 

Shanghai, within China, has a reputation of being rich and snobby but I feel like that’s a better option for a first-time foreign traveler. Please visit Shanghai! If you have any questions about Shanghai feel free to ask. 

OKAY WE’RE BACK ON TRACK. Say hi to Mr. Fresh.

China has an excellent agricultural background and due to government efforts (no this is not propaganda) most of the entire country has access to clean running water, though this is still an ongoing effort since China is so huge and some rural areas need to be developed for canals to be built.

This is due to the canal, irrigation and waterway system that has been in place for centuries and that we constantly update and improve as China’s population grows. (However, with global warming and climate change, regions of China are beginning to face drought- the government is currently building more infrastructure)

But back in ancient times, China still had a huge population without the technology of today. How did China deal with trying to wrangle water into place?

This is due to the help of Yu the Great.

If China struggles with water today, back then it was a disaster. Flooding, drought and famine were very common back in the day of someone called Yu (4000 years ago). His full name is unknown- he is referred to as Yu, or Great Yu (Da-yu).

Yu was either a very high-ranking official in the court or a descendant of an Emperor and thus part of the royal family. Either way, he was an important person. He and his father Gun (pronounced Gwun, not American gun) were both large-scale civil engineers, meaning they designed infrastructure for the Emperor. 

Water-related natural disasters were so common that the empire could not develop socially or economically, and the people were commonly dying. Farmland was scarce and so agriculture was unstable (which is terrible for a civilisation), and flooding often destroyed people’s homes. 

Gun (Yu’s father, remember) was sent to figure out a way to stop the disasters. He spent a very, very long time trying to design a set of dams. His solution was just to plug up the waters.

None of this worked, even though he invested his entire life into it. 

Emperor Yao gave the job to Yu instead. Yu, who was smart and meticulous, decided he’d learn from his father’s mistakes and stop trying to plug the water. Instead, he’d try to divert it and make the water benefit the people. 

Artist 贫烦 on Xiaohongshu

Yu studied his father’s work for a long time and figured out that the solution was to let the water flow along to the sea instead of spreading out with nowhere to go. 

In the end, Yu spent decades working with the people (he was physically there, doing manual labour, which is impressive of him) digging a series of irrigation canals along the mountains and valleys of rural China.

These waterways would be filled with the waters from the floods and were cleverly designed so they would provide flowing water to nearby villages and had to be just deep enough but not too deep that the water would flow perfectly from the source all the way to the sea.

We all know how huge China is- what makes Yu so famous isn’t just that he designed some waterways or even that he personally helped the people, but it’s that he was able to design irrigation canals so perfectly-made that they fit all across China.

That is tens of thousands of kilometres of waterways where the height, width and depth of each canal has to be just right so the waterflow doesn’t stop halfway or overflow. He did it without modern technology either. 

There is a myth in which once he made a mistake in timing and a flood came just as he and the workers had finished building the skeleton of a key waterway.

Since the waterway wasn’t finished, the flood almost destroyed the frame- Yu, without caring for his safety, jumped into the water and directed the workers to help salvage the canal construction.

The gods, being touched by his bravery, sent a mythological dragon (dragons are water deities, remember) to help him and save his life.

While Yu probably did exist and did do all these wonderful things, there is also a myth where instead of digging the waterways he rode on the back of a giant mythical turtle whose slithering tail carved the waterways instead. I like to believe in the manual labour story. 

Once Emperor Yao aged and died, since Yu was so revered for his deeds, he ascended and became the new Emperor. 

After his death, he was deemed Yu the Great (or Big Yu, I guess, directly) and is honored as one of the founders of the powerful Chinese civilisation. His myth is known as 大禹治水, or Yu the Great Cures the Waters. 

Chinese myths, except for the fantastical ones of deities, usually refer to gods or people doing great things for the citizens. The most respected figures (beyond Wukong, Ne Zha, Erlang, and all the big honchos up in the sky from novels) are the ones that help the ordinary people.

[allthebrazilianpolitics]

Too Big to Fell, Brazil Takes Trees to Wall Street

For the fight against climate change, the 1 billion hectares of tropical forests breathing in carbon dioxide across the planet are too big to fail. Now, Brazil is betting Wall Street will help keep them alive.

When it hosts the United Nations COP30 climate summit in November, Brazil aims to launch a $125 billion fund that seeks to harness the capital markets to pay countries to keep their forests standing. A nine-strong Brazilian delegation was recently in London to discuss the fund’s design with its sponsors and to meet with the banks, asset managers and insurers that might eventually participate.

The fund, known as the Tropical Forest Forever Facility, or TFFF, would support tree preservation through investment returns in high-yielding fixed-income assets. The idea has drawn criticism for tying forest protection to the performance of unpredictable financial markets, and the risk that it’ll end up financing the very industries responsible for deforestation.

Yet its backers argue that traditional forest finance mechanisms, which have relied on carbon markets and public funds, have largely failed to deliver. Government budgets are also now under more strain than ever as US President Donald Trump slashes overseas climate finance and Europe diverts billions of euros of development funds to bankroll defense.

The facility is therefore aimed at being self-sustaining and — if it works — will rank among the largest financial mechanisms ever proposed to help plug the multi-trillion-dollar gap in funding needed to halt climate change and reverse dramatic global losses in biodiversity. It would also help rewrite an equation that has spurred deforestation: Land yields more money when it’s cleared for agriculture, mining or infrastructure than it does as dense, tropical forest.

Continue reading.