#indigenous peoples worldwide must care for one another | Explore Tumblr Posts and Blogs

sunkaluta · 2 years

Text

Traditionalism on Social Media

The creation of the world wide web has benefited various platforms established that can be utilized by Native nations and their communities. The internet has helped Native Americans promote Indigenous issues further into the world via social media promotions and campaigns while sharing vital cultural history, identity, language, and spirituality. Social media platforms have several advantages to promoting these critical subjects on Native American identity. Still, there are also many downfalls when relying heavily on platforms alone to obtain and learn Native American identity.

The disinformation and sales from popular native American trends are becoming a norm in the digital media era. With the rise of Instagram accounts, Facebook features, viral TikTok trends, and incoming tea via retweets and posts, we often see duplications of original videos, ideas, and directions. In the academic world, this is known as plagiarism, but within social media, it doesn’t matter to those who steal videos and upload them as if it’s their own. This has crossed over into Native American ideology and many social media accounts created by non-native supporters who don’t have consent or could care less about permission from tribal nations to post on their behalf. Many traditional knowledge keepers and language speakers present the knowledge often in the community, but to obtain the knowledge, one must possess patience and pursue the knowledge. Unfortunately, shortcuts are taken by many natives and non-natives who want an immediate response that helps you understand but with the short amount of time given, do you comprehend the traditional teachings? This is where social media becomes complicated, and people often do not provide credit to the origin of the teachings to further their online indigenous façade and online personalities.

Also, cultural appropriation via online sites sells instant shamanism and spirituality at the click of a button and payment for a complete spiritual retreat. Regardless of the outcry from Native American communities, individuals without Native American lineage have no right to perform traditional rites such as the Lakota ceremonies of the Hanbleceya, Wiwang waci, Inikagapi, Hunkapi, and other sacred traditions. It has been argued that the Tetonwan (Lakota, Dakota, Nakota) people are not the only ones who practice these traditional rituals. I agree with this, as the sweatlodge or purification ceremony is practiced worldwide. Although, when a person who uses Lakota ceremony songs and speaks Lakota language phrases during these ceremonies which are not of Tetonwan descent, that is cultural appropriation. A great example of the pitfalls of traditions online is when I recently chatted with another traditional artist about a painting I had just completed and sent him a snapshot of it. He replied it was great to work and that I should attempt to sell the original to more prominent collectors than the local market could provide.

Eventually, I decided to gift away the painting to an older brother of mine as that is what we do in our culture. A few weeks passed, and I received a message from my older brother about the painting, and he asked if I had given it away to someone else. I stated that you have the painting at your house, right? He replies, yes but online, they are sharing a picture of the painting, and it is getting thousands of likes and shares. We contacted the person who posted the photo and said someone gave him the painting. Eventually, we cleared everything up, but I was confused about why someone would pretend to be the creator of a painting. I was more so flattered at the same time. Seven years passed, and I came across a Facebook flyer promoting a Sundance in Mexico. My painting was the entire flyer, but the words were in Spanish, and the phrase “Wiwang Waci” were in bold, outlined letters. This is a Lakota phrase for sundance, specifically a traditional spiritual rite performed and practiced by Tetonwan. I was astonished that my painting would end up on a flyer promoting cultural appropriation. There was nothing I could do but report the image on Facebook, which was eventually declined.

There are many pitfalls to posting and sharing traditional knowledge on platforms, but they can be utilized negatively. What can we do to combat these types of people and misinformation on social media? I have no answers now, but we need to consider it seriously, as we will constantly move and change with the times. We need to find ways to protect our intellectual properties and traditional rites that are shared online.

#WoLakota Native American HinhanWakpa ItazipaChola

0 notes

cordeliaflyte · 3 years

Note

Would love to know your thoughts on the rutger bregman book when you finish it!!!

dearest merle! it took me months to answer this ask - something i'm ashamed of - but i finally got around to finishing the book today.

the below is a condensed version of the ten pages of notes i took while reading it, which are rather chaotic and repetitive at points - but in my defence, bregman repeated his own arguments too.

one of the main arguments that bregman makes is that "evil" or "immorality" - which we'll define as causing unnecessary harm - are rarely caused by the individual, but rather the society they live in. i agree - nothing exists in a vacuum. however, society, as a nebulous concept, isn't imposed on us by some imperceptible power - it is crafted by people. people in society have different levels of power, and the harm they can cause to others is directly proportional to said power - but be it on a micro or macro scale, our actions have an impact on others and while they are influenced by the society we live in, we must nonetheless strive to minimise the harm we cause - and few of us do.

bregman illustrates many of his arguments with heartwarming stories about people coming together in times of crisis - take, for example, natural disasters - and overcoming adversity, selflessly looking out for their neighbours. but crisis very often leads to the creation of divisions, an us vs them mentality, and a complete disregard for the safety of others. the current pandemic is a prime example - see the widening of class differences, the rise in racist hate crimes, and people refusing to take safety precautions because they are inconvenient to them.

another argument repeated quite often throughout the book is the fact that media cherry-picks the most sensationalistic and senseless acts of death and despair, because human suffering is simply more interesting that the mundane - people talking to friends, creating art, laughing and learning. again, i agree with him - many of the more tabloid-adjacent news outlets would have you believe that the everyday norm is dismembered heiresses being found on riverbeds and charming, precocious children being held for ransom in tiny basements. the news doesn't often focus on the mundane - but the mundane isn't just love and work and friendship and boredom and chores, it is also, for billions of people around the world, sexual violence, familial abuse, workplace and housing discrimination, etc. these things aren't sensationalistic either - they're frightfully common, frightfully boring, and thus, they're rarely reported on.

throughout his book, bregman mentions that when he told people what he was working on, they approached the idea that humans are good with a large dose of cynicism, simply because we are raised to believe humans are selfish (which isn't the case worldwide, not all cultures are individualistic). they pick the easier choice - accepting the image of the world and their fellow humans that they are presented with at face value. i'd argue that it is the tendency of humans to pick the easier choice, to obey, to avoid challenging their worldview that leads to - for a lack of better term - immorality (see definition in point 1).

often, when bregman presents his feel good stories about people cooperating in adversity, he also mentions troubling details that, again, show undue harm being done. one of the examples he used were six boys from tonga, aged 13 to 16, who were shipwrecked on an island, and instead of descending into a "lord of the flies" style madness, they built their small community on the basis of communication and cooperation, never resorting to violence, and acting mature beyond their years. after a year spent on the island, they were rescued - and promptly arrested, an event which was probably racially motivated. and the reason they were shipwrecked in the first place was attempting to flee their school, where, according to their reports, they were neglected.

bregman contrasted the example of the boys forming a peaceful society on a small island with the chaos that always ensues when adults in reality shows are put in similar situations. the contestants are pitted against each other by the show runners, who seek to frustrate them and make them lose control for the amusement of the audience. whenever contestants try to cooperate, form a mutually beneficial society for a short while - a radical idea - they are punished. "goodness" - i.e. harm reduction - and radical thought being punished just don't seem like particularly helpful examples for the "humans are inherently good" thesis

bregman seems to be a big fan of primitivism, constantly citing civilisation as a source of harm - a position i'm always sceptical about, because personally i love vaccines and dental care, but i know this is a knee-jerk reaction and bregman isn't plotting a return to a land without dentists. but what i do take ire at is the idea that humans are somehow "corrupt" versions of their natural selves and that our lives have grown too complicated, and only a return to "primitive" society can return us to the aforementioned natural selves.

tied to the previous point - his arguments remind me of the "noble savage"'... archetype? he seems to paint a picture of "primitive" indigenous people as role models for those "corrupted" by civilisation, who in turn must be saved by a return to their "purer" selves, instead of individuals with flaws and agency.

speaking on indigenous populations - bregman also invokes the inhabitants of the easter islands. for a long time, the world at large believed that a hundred years or so before colonization, the islanders effectively perpetrated a genocide, killing off a large proportion of their population - a claim which was later disproven. yay! humans can live in peaceful societies without committing genocide, and thus, are not inherently evil! disregarding the fact that european colonists later massacred a large part of the islands population, and sold most of the survivors into slavery?

i was very excited for one of the chapters, entitled "after auchschwitz". i was interested how bregman would reconcile his argument with the tragedies of the twentieth century - the holocaust, but also genocide, and to a lesser extent war in general.

(this chapter, i might add, was preceded by a quote by anne frank - you know the one, about the inherent goodness of people. i was hoping that bregman would comment on the fact that anne wrote the quote before she and her family were sent to a concentration camp)

so you can imagine my surprise when the chapter was not, in fact, about concentration camps or genocide. but rather about. unethical 70s sociological experiments.

no really! a chapter titled "after auchschwitz" was, in fact, primarily about the stanford prison experiment. an experiment that was, granted, inspired by concentration camps, but still. it's misleading to invoke "real", large scale violence, and focus instead on "simulated", small scale violence.

we all know that the stanford prison experiment was, as far as experiments go, rubbish to legendary degrees. it doesn't prove anything - but it does, perhaps, show that people under large psychological duress are capable of evil, even when they themselves are not "evil".

it is, i'd argue, the human tendency to obey authority and especially to conform to societies standards that poses the largest danger. disobedience is man's original virtue and whatnot.

and when he does briefly refer to concentration camps, bregman treats them like a very 1940s phenomenon, disregarding the fact that they have been around for much longer and still exist today.

in cases like that one experiment with electric shocks. you know the one. do not, perhaps, show an innate tendency to violence, but rather people succumbing to pressure. but history is full of unprovoked instances of violence, of pogroms and lynchings. there is usually an instigator, yes, but judging from reports, people in the right mindset don't need much persuading to butcher other people.

also re: electric shock experiment - those who thought they gave the assistant lethal shocks showed extreme guilt and some even cried but like... so what? what use is a conscience if it doesn't stop you from, to your knowledge, killing someone? are your feelings really more important than your actions?

he doesn't say this, but a lot of the arguments he presents do seem to boil down to "people aren't evil, they're just stupid!" which doesn't sound more encouraging, i'm afraid.

an alternative takeaway would be "people are good, unless they have power" - which isn't exactly a radical, revolutionary idea. most people have heard the maxim "power corrupts". but the thing is that almost everyone holds some amount power over others - the oppressed factory worker in a poor nation who works 12 hours a day for pittance might still execute power over his wife, who relies on him for money, and she in turn might hold power over her children, and so forth. and that power is often used to cause undue harm and exercise control.

he criticises machiavellianism, saying it doesn't reflect how society works, and one of his proofs is that his philosophies were espoused by bismarck, churchill, and stalin - hardly admirable figures in terms of (you guessed it!) causing harm. but i don't see how that discredits machiavelli? like all of the above were very succesful

and he keeps repeating the primitivism argument throughout the book which gets tiring. like i'm truly sorry you were born in the last 5% of human existence thus far when, in your opinion, humanity started going to the shits, but it's getting a bit tiring

he cites money and nations as concepts as harbingers of the current (negative) state of humanity, saying they're very recent concepts and have no basis in reality. they're artificial concepts, sure, but their effect is very much real, and while achieving a nation-less, money-less society is possible on a small scale, i think that at this point they are such large aspects of life that reigning them in seems impossible.

and invokes the noble savage again and again, showing himself in favour of tribal societies, depicting them as egalitarian - i'm sure many of them are, but many also have a strict hierarchy or like. practice fgm. once more he seems to treat tribal people as a monolith of goodness as opposed to... people.

he also cites prehistoric people, their egalitarianism and low rates of violence but. forgive me for my ignorance because i did not research this. how do people know. doesn't the definition of prehistory include a lack of records??

he also mentions that in small, tribal societies, conformism can be a good thing, as it makes people act for the communal good. this is another knee-jerk reaction of mine but i think of conformism as society's most significant vice, so this strikes very much against my beliefs

later on, he also says reproduction is another proof of humanities goodness. perhaps it's a controversial opinion, but i disagree. i find it hard to find reasons for reproduction that aren't egoistic. it's survival instinct, sure, but it's not an "inherently noble pursuit".

later yet, he brings up schools which grant large degrees of freedom to students and shows how they're good for developing their minds. this might be a me thing but i know from experience that when i'm granted freedom without structure, i do nothing - though perhaps that speaks ill of me, and not humanity.

there have, in fact, been many studies on schools like this being helpful to student development and i certainly won't argue with them - but let me nit-pick. bregman says that fewer students have adhd in these schools, as it is a condition caused by being locked inside a room all day which is not only offensive, but also just plain wrong

and also while showing how granting children freedom lets them develop (which i naturally agree with) he brings up that "dangerous playground" study. you know the one. this isn't a coherent argument, this is just my bias speaking , but as a child, i promise i had no desire to play with rusty nails in abandoned warehouses. i liked my boring playgrounds with wooden swings.

then there is a chapter on communism and how it could be a remedy to societies ailments. but bregman and i seem to operate on very different definitions of communism. he naturally starts with saying maoist china and stalinist russia and cambodia under pol pot weren't really communist which... sure, if you want to argue semantics, i'm all for it, but it's an old and essentially useless argument. if "real communism" has never been tried (as the author claims) - why?

and then we pass to perhaps the most bizarre fragment of the book. paraphrasing only slightly: "but why are we now so opposed to the word communism? when we pass each other salt at the dinner table, is that not communism? when we selflessly hold a door open for someone, is that not communism?" i.... no?? no it's not. that's not what communism is girl stop

he then also says facebook is actually communist in many ways since a lot of its value comes from photos people willingly share for free. i could not make this up if i tried.

i think that in most terms i agree with bregman on policy - direct democracy, school and prison systems, changes to the criminal justice system - and our reasoning is partially similar, but i don't think the information we both have access to proves that humans are inherently good.

and then come perhaps my least favourite arguments because i for one am a spiteful bitch but yes. it is time for christian ethics 101 and turning the other cheek.

he cites ghandi and mlk as examples of turning the other cheek working. i think ghandi went too far with his policy, what with saying "jews ought to have marched silently to their deaths or committed mass suicide to make nazis feel ashamed" and like. we do remember they killed mlk, right?

as an example of turning the other cheek, he cites humane prisons in norway, where prisoners are granted much larger freedoms than usual and are on equal footing with the guards, who aren't armed and act more as councillors. i don't really see how this is an example of turning the other cheek, though - the guards are not the victims of the inmates (it was a prison for violent offenders - many of them murderers). i agree with him that prisons, if they must exist, should treat inmates humanely and with respect, but i don't see how this relates to the turning of the cheek. statistically, many of these men probably murdered their mates in a drunken dispute, or killed their wives - and i don't think turning the other cheek would have helped their victims.

he also cites south africa in the sixties as an example of turning the other cheek, when anti-apartheid activists would meet up with pro-apartheid activists and talk - this included nelson mandela who had frequent talks with the leader of a white supremacist paramilitary organisation of afrikaners staunchly opposed to black south africans getting the vote. and it worked - the man, whose aim was starting a civil war, relented. but racism isn't a simple matter that can simply be solved by talking. and it is often a pragmatic policy which i don't disparage, but turning the other cheek and having to treat someone who refuses to acknowledge your humanity with an exorbitantly disproportionate amount of respect is inherently degrading.

skipping ahead, in the epilogue bregman lists ten rules he tries to live by, and one of them is, i shit you not, "don't punch nazis". and punching nazis doesn't stop them from being nazis, but turning the other cheek gets people killed

the rise of fascism is perhaps one the largest threats we are dealing with and fascists are not just isolated and misinformed (and in this day and age, ignorance is a choice). they are dangerous.

this is by no means an essay or an exhaustive list, just a slightly chaotic and much overdue collection of opinions which i don't know how to put under a read more. take care <3

23 notes · View notes

blacklinguist · 4 years

Text

bling’s notes #1: where have all the languages gone?

initially, i thought of doing a more cohesive summary for these chapters. but as i tend to post handwritten notes (and not easily readable), i thought i would just throw up my notes from my reading of vanishing voices through this semester. i may or may not make separate posts about what i write, but please feel free to engage with anything i put down. :-] bolded points are for my own clarity for assignments

Language death is occurring more rapidly in the last five hundred years (Ubkyh, Manx, Catwaba Sioux). Even 100 years can be the difference between a thriving language, and a dead one. page 2

Languages begin to die once younger generations do not speak it at home in lieu of another dominant tongue. In the case of Esenc, his sons did not speak his, but Turkish. Irish was a stable language, with the third greatest collection of literature after latin and greek in west europe, but lack of home usage has brought uncertainty to the language's future. page 4

point 1 : The terms of language death. do languages die naturally ? should we characterize these extinctions as murders ? linguicide? (language suicide also noted, but that places the onus on the community, where most times, it is the devouring from another language that wipes out a community // self correct: natural disasters / disease can also contribute). death is not random nor sudden page 5 & page 7

el salvador in 1932, stopped speaking native tongues to not be identified as indigenous, but that contributed to a loss of heritage (page 5)

point 2 : linguistic diversity = cultural diversity, conversely, linguistic homogenity is cultural homogenity page 7

Paraguay only south american country with indigenous language retained by most of population, guaraní (page 8)

diversity in language study gives us more information about the linguistic and cultural experiences that humans have had worldwide page 11

smaller languages lend themselves to more grammatical complexity, especially when retained with in group communication (no need for 'simplification' for the masses?, can be more detailed with ideas) .. likened to jargon in subject circles to be more accurate (page 12)

point 3: do plants / animals hold more weight over languages when it comes to preservation ? are languages not seen as sacred? (page 15)

usefulness of language = west economic value (page 16)

the privilege of monolingualism, and the unsurprising and violent emergence of english as the world's lingua franca (page 18) // unity in tongue is not unity in thought

Rupert Murdoch responsible for spread of Hindi through asian tv channel Star (page 19)

politics are involved in eventual language death, stemming from linguistic persecution through laws (page 22)

point 4: page 23 : to preserve ourselves, our language, our heritage, is a selfish goal ... challenging that ... why is it selfish to preserve ourselves ? who are we if we are not ourselves ? if we do not care for ourselves ? how can we tend to others if we do not also tend to our own needs? there must be a boundary for caring for oneself vs indulging oneself ALWAYS before someone else // this seems like a privileged stance, especially when there are so many peoples fighting for their languages to be left alone, fighting for validity, fighting for the chance to raise their children in their own tongues.

where is the public perception of the importance of preventing language extinction, allowing those on the brink to be saved, and ending the persecution of languages that are not the Big 3?

#a linguist speaks #endangered languages #linguistic prejudice #language death #linguistics #lingblr #bling notes #vanishing voices #bookblr

92 notes · View notes

a4bl · 4 years

Text

Asians 4 Black Lives: Uplift Black Resistance, Help Build Black Power

ETA: A previous version of this post stated that two of the officers involved in George Floyd’s killing were of Asian descent. We have not yet been able to confirm the race of the second officer and so have updated that below.

On May 25, 2020, George Floyd was murdered in broad daylight by four Minneapolis Police Department (MPD) officers. This gut-wrenching tragedy, in addition to the police murders of Tony McDade, Yassin Mohamed, Sean Reed, Breonna Taylor, Steven Taylor, the vigilante murder of Ahmaud Arbery, and the hate crime murder of Nina Pop, and countless others, has re-sparked collective outrage that is being met with the brute force of state repression — all during a pandemic that is disproportionately claiming Black and Indigenous lives in this country.

We, as Asians4BlackLives (A4BL), join our comrades in denouncing these gross displays of state-sanctioned police violence, and renew our call to all non-Black people of Asian descent to move in solidarity with Black communities for Black liberation and resistance.

We cannot look past the fact that at least one of the MPD police officers involved in the murder of George Floyd, Tou Thao, is Asian American. While we acknowledge the complex and contradictory histories of who make up “Asian Americans,” another instance of the direct involvement of officers of Asian descent in the death of a Black man is not just a damning symbol for Asian American complicity in the death of Black people, but also a direct manifestation of anti-Blackness in our communities.

This history of anti-Blackness runs deep, from the murder of Latasha Harlins by Soon Ja Du to daily practices of racial profiling and cultural appropriation. Non-Black Asians must act swiftly to end all forms of violence against Black people. We call on Asian Americans to reject the model minority myth, which was historically created to delegitimize Black resistance while absolving non-Black Americans from addressing systemic racism. It is our duty to continue the legacy of past and present Black and Asian solidarity — from activists like Yuri Kochiyama, Grace Lee Boggs, and Kartar Dhillon to the Black Buffalo soldiers who defected from the U.S. army in support of Philippine independence. This means organizing our communities in solidarity and protesting using a diversity of tactics, including shutting down business as usual to ensure that each life wrongfully taken by the police does not go in vain.

Abolish the Police

We echo what Black activists have said countless times: the institution of modern-day policing — with its origins in slave-catching — has always served to protect private property and the ruling elite at the expense of Black, Indigenous, and poor and working class communities. Police violence against Black people is not the result of some officers being “a few bad apples.” The trees producing these apples are rotten to the roots. The problem cannot be fixed with simple reform measures — abolition of the police as an institution is necessary to prevent further Black lives from being lost.

Uplift Black Resistance, Help Build Black Power

We uplift the demands from the Movement for Black Lives and amplify the call to divest from police and invest in community. We also join Reclaim the Block, Black Visions Collective, and others who have called on the Minneapolis City Council to defund the Minneapolis Police Department (and all police departments) and invest in resources that actually keep Black communities (and thereby also all communities) safe and healthy by sharing and signing this petition.

We urge our communities to continue to join spaces and groups of people that are on the frontlines of building a society rooted in Black Power and Black Liberation, a world where Black Lives truly matter:

Build strong communities and community safety plans; #DontCalltheCops.

Fight to abolish the prison industrial complex that continuously profits from locking up Black people and perpetuates a never-ending cycle of criminalization and violence. #AbolishPrisons.

Fight to #CancelRent and raise the minimum wage so that Black communities can afford to live in the neighborhoods they are often displaced from.

Fight for a just transition, a #BlackNewDeal, #RedNewDeal and a #GreenNewDeal to counter the greed of corporations that for too long have profited off of the destruction of our Mother Earth and the environmental racism that disproportionately affects Black and Indigenous people.

Fight for #MedicareForAll, so that Black people can have access to quality healthcare that does not lead to catastrophic spending and bankruptcy.

Fight for a society in which wealth is not concentrated in the hands of a few billionaires who utilize the police to violently protect their interests.

Fight against imperialism, which threatens Black communities globally, and support people-led movements worldwide.

Build life together that promotes not just surviving, but thriving: SOLUTIONS not PUNISHMENT.

Research the Black-led groups in your area. Talk to your non-Black friends and family about anti-Blackness. Listen, plug in to action, and donate to Black individuals and organizations.

Donate to vetted, Black-led organizations, bail funds, and allied groups in your area. In Minnesota, we recommend the following, which are currently accepting donations as of June 1, 2020: George Floyd’s family GoFundMe, CTUL, a low-income worker of color-led organization (mostly Latinx) down the block from where George Floyd was killed, who have been offering mutual aid to protesters, and Northstar Health Collective, street medics treating people and training folks how to take care of each other in protests.

In all these struggles, follow the leadership and center the perspectives of those most affected.

All lives do not matter until Black Lives Matter. Asian Americans need to strengthen our solidarity with our Black siblings. We must struggle and fight together for an end to the unjust siege against Black communities everywhere, and put an end to the police state and all forms of state-sanctioned violence.

Together, with our comrades, we demand:

Justice for George Floyd Justice for Tony McDade Justice for Yassin Mohamed Justice for Sean Reed Justice for Breonna Taylor Justice for Steven Taylor Justice for Ahmaud Arbery Justice for Nina Pop Justice for all Black Lives

Black Lives Matter

In Love, Power, and Solidarity, Asians4BlackLives

#JusticeforGeorgeFloyd #JusticeforTonyMcDade #JusticeforYassinMohamed #JusticeforSeanReed #JusticeforBreonnaTaylor #JusticeforStevenTaylor #JusticeforAhmaudArbery #JusticeforNinaPop #BlackLivesMatter #Asians4BlackLives

24 notes · View notes

do-gums-growback-blog · 4 years

Text

Do Gums Grow Back?

Although dentistry was not a focused branch of Ayurveda, it is consisted of in its own Shalakya Tantra (device of surgical treatment). Concerns like impairments of the oral cavity, cavity enducing plaques and contaminations were handled in early India. Traditional medicine may treat numerous contagious as well as persistent problems. Read more about Will A Receding Gum Grow Back?

Research has presented that all kinds of eating sticks described in ancient Ayurveda content possess therapeutic as well as anti-cariogenic residential or commercial properties. Its oil pulling (Kaval, Gandush) practice is actually stated to cure about 30 systemic conditions. Amla (Emblic myrobalan), is an overall rebuilder of oral health. Bilberry fruit (Vaccinium myrtillus) and hawthorn berry (Crateagus oxycanthus) maintain bovine collagen, strengthening the gum cells. Liquorice origin (Glycyrrhiza glabral) promotes anti-cavity action, lowers oral plaque buildup, as well as has an antibacterial effect.

Can Your Gum Line Grow Back?

Use of safe, top quality items as well as practices must be actually made certain based on available evidence if standard medication is actually to be acknowledged as aspect of main medical. Scientific verifications of the Ayurveda dental health practices can warrant their consolidation right into modern dental treatment. Publicity of these approaches using suitable media would certainly help the general populace by giving more self-confidence in the historical techniques, therefore protecting against dental caries as well as loss. Keywords: Ayurveda, kaval, oral health, oil taking, conventional medicine Go to: INTRODUCTION

Ayurveda is an all natural system of medication which grew in India some 3000-5000 years ago, a body of traditional medication native to the Indian subcontinent, right now performed in other parts of the globe as a kind of corresponding medication.

[1] The earliest literature on Indian medical technique appeared during the Vedic time period in India. The Susruta Samhita as well as the Charaka Samhita are its earliest authoritative messages. [2] Over the centuries, Ayurvedic practitioners developed large numbers of medicinal plannings as well as procedures for the treatment of numerous disorders and also ailments. [3] Although dental care was certainly not a specialized branch of Ayurveda, it was consisted of in its unit of surgical operation. In historical India, concerns including deformities of the oral cavity, cavity enducing plaques and diseases can be handled and also also healed.In another research of clients with hypertension, extreme gum disease was associated with damage left wing side of the heart.

How To Grow Back Receding Gums Naturally?

Typical medicine is the result of know-how, skill-sets as well as techniques based upon the theories, beliefs and expertises aboriginal to various cultures that are utilized to maintain health, and also to stop, identify, enhance or alleviate physical and also mental illnesses. Conventional medication that has actually been taken on through other populations (outside its own indigenous lifestyle) is actually frequently termed complementary or natural medicine. Organic medications feature cannabis, plant based materials, plant based preparations, as well as finished plant based products that contain parts of plants or even various other plant products as active elements.

In some Asian and African countries, 80% of the populace depends on typical medicine for primary healthcare. In many industrialized countries, 70% to 80% of the populace has actually utilized some kind of different or complementary medicine. Organic therapies are one of the most well-liked type of standard medication, as well as are extremely financially rewarding in the worldwide marketplace. Yearly profits in Western Europe connected with US$ 5 billion in 2003-2004. In China sales of items visited US$ 14 billion in 2005. Organic medication income in Brazil was actually US$ 160 thousand in 2007. [4] Ayurveda and oral health

In Ayurveda, dental health (danta swasthya in Sanskrit) is held to be incredibly self-loving, differing along with everyone's nature (prakriti), and weather modifications coming from solar energy, lunar as well as earthly impacts (kala-parinama).

Grow Back Receding Gums Naturally

The physical body constitution is categorized based upon the preponderance of one or more of the 3 doshas, vata, pitta as well as kapha. The prominence dosha in both the personal and nature identifies medical care in Ayurveda, consisting of dental health. [5] Go to: EATING STICKS

Ayurveda recommends eating embed the early morning in addition to after every meal to avoid diseases. Ayurveda insists on using natural brushes, about 9 ins long and also the thickness of one's little hands. These natural herb catches must be actually either 'kashaya' (astringent), 'katu (acrid), or 'tikta' (bitter) in taste. The technique of making use of is to crush one end, eat it, and eat it little by little. [6] Toothbrushing is actually a task accomplished along with a 'toothbrush' which is a special little comb made for use on teeth. Biting a therapeutic stick equivalent encouraged through a Vaidya, or even other typical specialist, might validly be actually held to be equivalent to the western-pioneered task of 'brushing the teeth ', yet it is certainly not adequately comparable to become provided the same name, exclusively given that sticks that are actually munched are actually made use of totally in a different way from brushes.

It is actually suggested that nibbling sticks be actually obtained coming from fresh contains of certain vegetations. The natures neem (margosa or the Azadiraxhta indica) is actually a popular herbal chewing stick. The contains must be healthy and balanced, soft, without fallen leaves or even knots as well as taken from a healthy and balanced plant. Eating on these arises is felt to trigger weakening and levelling of biting areas, assist in salivary tears as well as, possibly, support in oral plaque buildup command, while some stems possess an anti-bacterial activity.

Will Gums Grow Back?

Apropos of the person's constitution as well as dominant dosha, it is mentioned that people along with the vata dosha prominence might build atrophic and receding gums, and also are advised to use chewing sticks with bitter-sweet or even astringent preferences, such as liquorice (Glycyrrhiza glabra) and black catechu or the cutch plant (Acacia Catechu Linn.), specifically. [7] Pitta dosha prevalent individuals are actually recommended to make use of chewing stick to an unsweetened taste like the branches coming from the margosa tree (Azadirachta indica or natures neem) and also the arjuna plant (Terminalia arjuna). Those with the kapha dosha prevalent are actually likely to possess light and also hypertrophic gums as well as are asked to utilize chewing stick to a pungent taste, presenting the high temperature nut (Caesalipinia bonduc) and also the usual milkweed plant (Calotropis procera). Modern investigation has revealed that all the chewing sticks described in ancient Ayurveda text messages (circa 200 BC) possess medical and also anti-cariogenic attributes. [8] Saimbi et alia (1994) checked the antiplaque efficiency of Neem extraction, Ayurvedic tooth powders as well as office tooth pastes. Natures neem extraction triumphed and also office tooth pastes were the final. [9] In yet another study Venugopal et alia (1998) studied a total of 2000 little ones (1-14 year generation) in Mumbai for decays occurrence. Those kids who were actually utilizing natures neem datun were found to be much less influenced along with cavities. [10] In southern India, mango leaf is actually largely made use of for cleansing teeth. A clean mango fallen leave is cleaned and the midrib is removed. Leaf is at that point folded lengthwise with glossy surface areas experiencing each other. It is actually rolled into a cylindrical pack. One end of this pack is actually bitten off 2-3mm to create a raw surface area which is wiped on the teeth - pack is held between the finger and also the index finger. By the end, the midrib, which was first cleared away, is actually utilized as a tongue cleaner. Sumant et alia (1992) examined the efficacy of mango leaf as an oral hygiene aid as well as gotten exciting searchings for.

How To Strengthen Gums Naturally?

[11] Greater smooth down payment scores were actually stated in team that used mango fallen leave. Cavities experience in this group using mango fallen leave was similar to the group that utilized tooth brush. Mangiferin a material current in mango leaves had considerable antibacterial characteristic versus certain strains of Pneumococci, Streptococci, Staphylococci, and also Lactobacillus acidophilus.

The miswak (miswaak, siwak, sewak) is actually a teeth cleansing twig created coming from a branch of the Salvadora persica tree, additionally called the arak tree or even the peelu plant and features in Islamic health law. The miswak is predominant in Muslim regions but its own use precedes the inception of Islam. Almas and also Atassi (2002) performed study to examine the effect of miswak as well as tooth comb filaments end-surface structure on enamel. Twenty-one samplings were readied; they were actually arranged right into Aquafresh toothbrush team, Miswak team and also control team. Outcomes revealed that filaments end-surface texture action primary role in rough active activity and polish tooth surface area loss. Miswak showed lesser impact on enamel as contrasted to Aquafresh toothbrush.

Do Receding Gums Grow Back?

[12] Almas and Zeid (2004) in a research to analyze antimicrobial activity of miswak eating stick in vivo, specifically on streptococcus mutans and lactobacilli confirmed that miswak possessed a prompt antimicrobial impact compared to toothbrush. Streptococcus mutans were even more susceptible to miswak than lactobacilli. [13]

1 note · View note

indd40041020202021 · 3 years

Text

PATIENCE IS A VIRTUE

NOVEMBER 12, 2020

LAUREN THU

LEAVE A COMMENT

EDIT

Hello again!

This week, again, was a weirdly slow one. I picked up crocheting during election night so I had something to fidget with during the meltdown, and I haven’t really put it down since! I’ve got lots to do, but it’s cold and there are hats to be made! (classic procrastination excuse…)

Anyway, on Thursday I was able to meet up with Edward and Sean Arden in the MOCAP studio to talk about VR. They were both super helpful and very open to helping me out. I told them my idea, and they were totally for it! I asked about the possibility of having real-world props interact with VR props, and Sean said he had been working on something very similar that they are calling “proptics” or motion tracked objects, so I think that I won’t be too hard-pressed to make this weird world work. I just have to get working on it! There’s so much back and forth now in the world of COVID, it’s taken about 4-5 emails since Thursday just to arrange the pickup of a VR set to rent out from the IxD lab and I’m still not sure when I show up on Thursday that it will be available to take out.. haha fingers crossed!

One thing I’ve noticed in researching and looking into VR applications is how a lot of the efforts in progressing VR is made towards shooter games, but the most exciting work comes out of visual and performance art. I remember an early VR work I saw by Laurie Anderson, the Chalkroom. I revisited this work this week and was surprised that there are some similarities between that work and mine. Although hers is less involved physically, there is still a participant entering a room that is similar to the room inside the VR world.

view in real life

view from inside

After Sean told me about proptics, I looked them up and found Maria Lantin, who I’ve reached out to for a chat. I also came across this article about a VR experience that imagines Toronto after reconciliation and when nature takes over. The artist, Lisa Jackson, said something that I made me say “yeeeeeeesssssssssss I love this” (I think I’ll send her an email too, why not!)

“Being able to create new worlds within the immersive environment of VR is one of the most exciting pieces for me,” she says. “And I think for Indigenous folks, the world-views—whether or not we’ve been raised with the language—are so different from mainstream culture. [Using VR] is an opportunity to put people within a different world, and have them express the view and cultures of Indigenous people…It’s a great way to create a sense of place, and when you think that for Indigenous folks, culturally, place is so central to how territory relates to identity, I hope that it will spark more people to explore that medium and those connections.”

I think worlding is something that should be built up, something that creeps into your understanding like heat to the poor waterpot frog. This visual and physical connection of the room (before VR is put on), in real life, is one of those connective threads inside our minds that help us situate ourselves or suspend disbelief. Stories are another way of doing this. Can my workshop in storytelling to non-humans be the first step before the room? Each step of worlding increasing in concentration, until you reach the VR level of a pure fantasy world that, because of a graduated introduction, is not so much of an unrealistic fantasy after all? I wonder, always, about design vs art. Perhaps a comedown, a graduated ladder back to reality is where design can step in as a guide in how to turn this experience from an interactive art work to an actionable design work? This is where, I feel, the value of my project lies – these connections. Gentle but continuous waves of thoughtful approaches lapping on the beach, changing our cultural tide…. (high hopesssss high hopesss…. )

Talking about high hopes, again the scope of my project, I have to give myself some props for the work I’m doing, even if I feel slightly stagnant. I’m one person with many other due dates, and I think the extent to which this project COULD be, my magnum opus (hah) could only happen with a team of people – or a few more years of learning. I think I can definitely make the skeleton of it though – the stories and connections, as a designer, are my specialty. SYNTHESIS ~~~~

synthesis

pulling gathering weaving connecting translating listening pulling gathering weaving connecting translating listening

this is my design poem. haha!

Ah ok, anyway…

I’ve been thinking about my sheep and the rug. Going to do a bit of sketching and thinking about foot gestures, to use gaming terms – easter eggs of movement that trigger responses of the VR sheep.

I’ve been playing around with piezos as well, nothing very in depth but just getting used to them and how they work. I would like to do a parallel circuit of up to 50 as output and 50 as input, so at this point I am just puttering around my desk soldering things to other things to see what works, while my partner tries to suppress laughter at my mad scientist mutterings.

OK so after writing this I definitely haaaave been doing some work since my last post – I think I’m just getting used to a new pace (I say, as we gear up into December presentations). The deadline for the bio-designed callout is Nov 16, so I’ve been working on my abstract. If you’ve made it this far, this is what I’m looking for feedback on right now!

the rules:

ABSTRACT SUBMISSION FORM— Foundations of Biodesign: Integrating Art, Design, and Biology

The Biodesign Working Group, a partnership of Cumulus Association and Biodesign Challenge, welcomes paper submissions that explore the emerging field of biodesign. Papers will be published in both the Cumulus Conference Proceedings and in Biodesigned, the bimonthly online magazine published by Biodesign Challenge.

This call is the inaugural program of the Biodesign Working Group, which will be hosting meetings and discussions at future Cumulus conferences (both online and in person).

The full Call for Papers can be found here: https://www.biodesigned.org/cfp

CONSIDERATIONS

– Abstract word count is 300-600 words. – Abstracts are due on November 16, 2020. – The call welcomes submissions worldwide and is not limited to Cumulus members. – The language of the conference is English, and all submissions must be in English. – Accepted papers will be published in the Cumulus Proceedings only if at least one author registers to the Cumulus conference in Guayaquil, Ecuador at Universidad de las Artes in late 2021 to present the work.

my current abstract draft:

Humans segregate themselves as other than nature and other than technology. In our unbridled quest for knowledge, we have taxonomically divided the world into boxes, stacking them in order of importance and usefulness. This separation and conquest of information has undoubtedly attributed to incredible intellectual progress, but what of the inherent and uncategorical knowing that is held within beings other than ourselves? We know now, that the earthbound are standing at a precipice. We are looking out over a world that is shifting and revealing itself to us in new and infinite ways. As designers, we must become resilient, reciprocal and act accordingly to a world that no longer accepts things and devices that falsely promote themselves as ‘end-products’ and ‘solutions’. Designers are uniquely situated to adapt to these changes and have a responsibility to react ethically to emerging information and understandings. Actions of care can become radical in a new pluralistic future, but how do we direct ourselves and our peers towards this beacon while operating under yet diverging from the dominant design paradigms of individualism, objectivism, universalism, and solutionism? 1.

As part of my undergraduate thesis, I have been working within the realm of design fiction to explore empathetic entanglements between humans, nature, and technology. My research explores potential tangents of our current technological and biological systems to estimate a near future, through which I explore the potentials of non-hierarchical systems, decolonial and inherited relationships, and the holistic, messy and webbed entanglements inherent in all species (technology included). Through the use of diegetic prototypes, both in the physical realm and the virtual realm of VR, I am exploring the value of embodied experience as a tool for imparting care, specifically regarding the current climate emergency. By prototypes such as a device to translate plant communications to audio outputs alongside a VR replication of this device with added visual, haptic, and graphic translations; my work reveals relationships that have been uncared for and unseen in our current, anthropocentric world. Through worldbuilding, I will create a holobiont that incorporates technology as something to be cared for as kin, instead of something to be blamed for our demise. Weaving new possibilities into design work is often done through the use of critical design, and more specifically, design fiction. I want to use this design fiction to realize new possibilities in our changing world, and hope to use this project to expose new veins of interest within sustainability, consumption, and reciprocity.

Keywords: Design Fiction, Non-human, Sustainability, VR, Worldbuilding, Entanglement

wordcount: 403

____

I did some pulling from my grad proposal and did some updating. I’m at 403 words so I still have around 200 to play with if I want to add more. I wonder if this is too close to a proposal vs an abstract for an academic paper? Also, am I wasting space with the first paragraph, or is that a good set up for my design perspective?

Any feedback would be greatly appreciated!!

0 notes

dailynewswebsite · 4 years

Text

From COVID-19 to the climate emergency: Lessons from this global crisis for the next one

Erosion injury brought on by Hurricane Hanna is seen alongside the Fisher border wall, a privately funded border fence, alongside the Rio Grande River close to Mission, Texas, on July 30, 2020. (AP Photograph/Eric Homosexual)

The COVID-19 pandemic can train us many issues about how local weather change emergencies manifest themselves, and the way humanitarian organizations can suppose and do issues in another way.

COVID-19 is itself linked to a number of the identical points as human-influenced local weather change. The outbreak in people of any zoonotic virus, as SARS-CoV-2 is, goes instantly to the toxic approach through which people work together with the pure world — habitat loss pushing wild animals nearer to human settlement, distant mining and road-building placing extra individuals into what have been as soon as wilderness areas, industrialized meat manufacturing introducing viruses into the meals provide, and so forth.

Learn extra: Coronavirus is a wake-up name: our conflict with the setting is resulting in pandemics

Among the worst peaks of the pandemic have reportedly not been within the International South however within the north, in wealthy societies that have been ostensibly higher ready for a pandemic however which have turn into unused to going through crises and so battle to deal with them. Likewise, the humanitarian penalties of local weather change will dominate the lives of all nations, in all elements of the world.

We’re not all in it collectively

Regardless of the pandemic’s world impression, any phantasm that going through a typical viral enemy would possibly convey us collectively lasted a brief second. As with all crises, COVID-19’s case numbers and mortality charges have tracked the fissures of racism, class and gender.

For instance, Black People are dying of COVID-19 at greater than twice the speed of white People, as reportedly are Indigenous peoples in Brazil. Local weather change impacts present an analogous inequality through which rising crises disproportionately have an effect on communities made susceptible by longstanding, unaddressed disadvantages.

Medical workers are inclined to sufferers on the intensive care unit of the Casalpalocco COVID-19 Clinic on the outskirts of Rome on March 25, 2020. Italy was hard-hit by the coronavirus pandemic, placing strain on its intensive care items. (AP Photograph/Domenico Stinellis)

COVID-19 has discovered multilateralism incapable of delivering on its promise of co-operation between states to beat global-level threats past the capability of anyone nation-state to deal with. Three examples from many: the Trump administration’s choice to withdraw from the World Well being Group, the scramble for private protecting tools together with export restrictions and even prices of state piracy, and the political race to safe COVID-19 vaccines.

Comparable factors apply to worldwide co-operation on local weather change. Within the brief time period, the next-stage local weather negotiations (COP26) have been delayed a yr, as have worldwide negotiations such because the Conference on Organic Range and the Excessive Seas Treaty. In the long term, the lodging granted to polluting-industry lobbies and allied states will solely add to the challenges of worldwide negotiations.

Learn extra: How a worldwide ocean treaty might defend biodiversity within the excessive seas

The instinctive response by states to the pandemic has been the alternative of co-operation: the hardening of bordering regimes. In early July 2020, 91 per cent of the world’s inhabitants lived in nations with heightened border restrictions. And refugees, migrants and asylum seekers have been stigmatized and focused, together with in Greece, Malaysia, South Africa, Mexico and lots of different nations. A equally repressive intuition, even the closure of exterior borders altogether, is actuality for individuals fleeing the results of local weather change.

Extractivism — the one factor immune?

One {industry} that seemingly is unaffected by the shutdowns is mining. Extractive industries have turned the pandemic right into a increase time, persevering with operations by gaining “important” standing, lobbying efficiently for weakened environmental laws and allying with police and armed actors to repress environmental and Indigenous protests to this.

Canada has systematically used the COVID-19 disaster to curb environmental protections for communities and ecosystems in Canada and past. It isn’t a coincidence that extractive industries and supporting governments are the important thing antagonists in stopping motion in opposition to local weather change and in trampling on the rights of Indigenous peoples and different marginalized communities.

Honduran migrants strolling towards the USA arrive at Chiquimula, Guatemala, on Oct. 16, 2018. (AP Photograph/Moises Castillo)

Belief, denial, elite panic and lifeboats

Among the worst outbreaks have occurred in nations the place political leaders have sought to downplay and deny the COVID-19 pandemic — most clearly in Brazil and the USA, but additionally in others, equivalent to Nicaragua, Turkmenistan and Tanzania.

COVID-19 denialism is grounded in the identical methods, the identical amplifiers and funders, and the identical intent as climate-change denialism. Somewhat than save the entire sinking ship, a panicked elite seeks to jettison these it doesn’t worth. That is “the politics of the armed lifeboat”:

There’s a actual threat that robust states with developed economies will succumb to a politics of xenophobia, racism, police repression, surveillance and militarism and thus remodel themselves into fortress societies whereas the remainder of the world slips into collapse. By that course, developed economies would flip into neofascist islands of relative stability in a sea of chaos. … [But] A world in climatological collapse — marked by starvation, illness, criminality, fanaticism and violent social breakdown — will overwhelm the armed lifeboat. Ultimately, all will sink in the identical morass.

Dismantling the ‘armed lifeboat’

The act of offering life-saving help and safety to the victims and survivors of emergencies and crises has its personal worth. However humanitarians must do way more than merely bandaging the violence embedded in pandemics and in local weather change.

Throughout the efficiency ‘Covid right this moment, local weather disaster tomorrow’ at Sol sq. in downtown Madrid, Spain, a member of the Extinction Riot group walks amongst sneakers representing individuals unable to attend because of COVID-19 on Could 29, 2020. (AP Photograph/Manu Fernandez)

The act of shifting throughout borders to flee the results of an emergency ought to be understood as greater than a mere act of survival — however relatively as an vital step in decolonization. The identical with the protest actions of people that oppose discriminatory, exclusionary and violent insurance policies.

COVID-19 and the well being impacts of local weather change are carefully intertwined with centuries of colonialism, extractive capitalism and racism. And so, a humanitarian response will solely maintain that means as really human, when and if the associated histories of hurt and acts of contestation are listened to, realized from and are main the way in which.

It requires doing issues radically in another way. Doing in any other case.

This text was co-authored by Sean Healy, head of reflection and evaluation at Médecins Sans Frontières – Operational Centre, Amsterdam.

Linn Biorklund Belliveau doesn’t work for, seek the advice of, personal shares in or obtain funding from any firm or organisation that will profit from this text, and has disclosed no related affiliations past their tutorial appointment.

from Growth News https://growthnews.in/from-covid-19-to-the-climate-emergency-lessons-from-this-global-crisis-for-the-next-one/ via https://growthnews.in

#Growth News

0 notes

khalilhumam · 4 years

Text

In Trinidad & Tobago, citizens defend sou-sou savings against pyramid scheme comparisons

New Post has been published on http://khalilhumam.com/in-trinidad-tobago-citizens-defend-sou-sou-savings-against-pyramid-scheme-comparisons/

In Trinidad & Tobago, citizens defend sou-sou savings against pyramid scheme comparisons

Comparing sou-sous to pyramid schemes is not fair or accurate

Trinidad and Tobago money. Photo by Mark Morgan on Flickr, CC BY-NC-SA 2.0.

With the COVID-19 pandemic has come a worldwide rise in financial fraud. On September 22, the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service (TTPS) arrested nine people and seized at least $21 million Trinidad and Tobago dollars [just over $3 million United States dollars] in conjunction with what they suspect was an illegal pyramid scheme. Because the group dubbed itself a sou-sou, or cooperative savings system, there has been an outcry over the conflation of the term — which describes an age-old, community-minded savings practice rooted in West African tradition — with illegal financial rackets. Facebook user Rubadiri Victor was adamant that the term sou-sou should be distanced from all insinuations that it is illegal or illegitimate:

A properly run sou-sou is a traditional African-derived plan of savings and pooling with a fixed set of participants in a revolving payment of collective deposits. It has been used successfully for over 150 years here. A pyramid is an exploitative con scheme whereby there is an intentional growing network of depositors where the latter entrants are doomed to never get paid.

In a 2011 post, Outlish magazine described how the practice works:

A sou-sou is structured where one person will be in charge of collecting monies from a group of people. All the monies collected will be given to one person in the group, on selected dates, and it rotates that way until each person has received what they call, a ‘hand.’

A practice routinely dismissed

In December 2019, when the Central Bank of Trinidad and Tobago demonetised the country's existing $100 bill and replaced it with a new, more secure polymer note, people rushed to the banks to trade in their old currency before the deadline. But Karen Darbasie, president of the Bankers Association of Trinidad and Tobago (BATT) and chief executive officer of First Citizens, a state-owned bank, said that on the required Source of Funds declaration form, banks would “not accept sou-sou money as […] legitimate,” even though the practice is well-entrenched in the local culture. “From a banking perspective,” she said, “it is impossible for us to validate a sou-sou.” Back then, Facebook user Tillah Willah explained:

The media never fails with its lack of acknowledgement of anything African, so I'm not surprised at the description of sou-sou as ‘an informal, cooperative loan system…popular in Trinidad and Tobago and throughout the Caribbean.’ This empty and limited description dismisses the fact that this practice is a centuries-old financial institution and can be found among West African populations and was brought to this part of the world through enslavement and has survived and thrived as a system of cooperative economics for African people for whom the banking system was not set up and systematically excluded until well into the '70s.

Sou-sou: Key to Black development

Many social media users echoed this stance. Politician Lovell Francis proudly noted that many of the opportunities he was afforded in life came as a result of his parents being involved in “non-predatory sou-sous”:

In this new age of VERY OLD get-rich quick schemes, it has become popular to bad-talk traditional methods of savings in the absence of a clear understanding of the roles they played in the economic development of historically disenfranchised communities here. The sou-sou is a prime example of this.

He went on to explain that after emancipation in 1838, Black people were still denied an equal chance at development thanks to “draconian laws, strictures against the selling of land to the formerly enslaved and quite significantly, the denial of access to mainstream financial institutions for loans to establish businesses or for savings”:

Interestingly, the historical response to this was a culture of self-reliance and self-development. It saw the creation of institutions […] to provide financial access, and the utilsation of traditional West African norms like the gayap [from the Indigenous word kayapa, describing how people come together to complete an otherwise daunting task] to physically build houses and communities. And of course, the sou-sou to help recreate a CULTURE of savings and to provide the capital needed to invest in their own activities.

What's in a name?

While pyramid schemes capitalise on the trust that names like sou-sous or “blessing circles” invoke by adopting the names, they have very different characteristics. The scheme in which the money was seized on September 22, for instance, reportedly had about 8,000 members — significantly larger than a typical sou-sou — and invited people to join via WhatsApp, whereas the participants in real sou-sous are generally part of a community and have confidence in one another's savings habits. It also promised members a 450-percent return on investment, while authentic sou-sous don't usually offer interest. Prior to the bust, in a joint statement on August 20, the Trinidad and Tobago Securities and Exchange Commission (TTSEC), the Central Bank and the Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU) warned of such rackets but were careful to note that pyramid schemes and sou-sous were two distinct things:

Pyramid schemes […] are often falsely presented as new investments including different types of securities, foreign currency trades and even traditional ‘sou-sou’ arrangements. […] They rely on the recruitment of new members in order to ensure high pay-outs — this is very different from ‘sou-sou’ arrangements [which] do not require recruitment of new members and are not profit-making ventures.

Similar schemes, also on the police service's radar, required participants to recruit others into the group after making their “investment,” which is contrary to the tenets of an authentic sou-sou. After one scheme crashed and people lost their money, the group's administrator reportedly responded: “Call it blessings; Call it Pyramid; Call it SouSou: It was a non-refundable RISK!” The statement could be interpreted as proof-positive that the group was not a sou-sou: While pyramid schemes inevitably collapse and the people at the bottom lose their money, sou-sous are sustainable and have great longevity, because they are built around the well being of everyone involved.

Time for a change

The joint statement by the TTSEC, the Central Bank and the FIU said that “any individual or entity promoting investment opportunities must be registered with the TTSEC.” In response, Rubadiri Victor suggested that the time has come to register authentic sou-sou circles:

We cannot allow the demonization of a traditional alternative to exploitative banks. Nor can we allow it to be corrupted. It may be time to start their registration — not with police — but with municipal local government authorities.

Activist and writer Attillah Springer agreed. In a conversation with Global Voices via Facebook Messenger, Springer noted that regulation is par-for-the-course in West Africa, where the practice originated:

It would just be a matter of acknowledging that this is a way that people save money. The sou-sou is all about community accountability and cooperative economics. I don't see why there shouldn't be a way for it to be regulated. The fact that we don't acknowledge sou-sou as a legitimate form of savings, specifically for people who were not served by the banks in the first place, is further proof that it creates a loophole for people to exploit the system.

Outside of Trinidad and Tobago, sou-sou is pretty mainstream: there are apps and mobile banking systems adept at transferring money. Within the country, however, it's still misunderstood or scoffed at — which helps create the conditions necessary for pyramid schemes to flourish under the guise of an authentic savings system. While that debate continues, however, there has been a curious turn of events: Hours after the seizure, police officers — without the knowledge of Commissioner Gary Griffith or the staff of the Financial Intelligence Bureau — returned the money to the administrators of the scheme. At least one newspaper headline still referred to the source of the money as a sou-sou.

Written by Janine Mendes-Franco

0 notes

opportunitywow · 4 years

Text

Bow Seat 2021 Ocean Awareness Student Contest for students worldwide.

Application Deadline: JUNE 14, 2021

The 10th annual Ocean Awareness Contest is a platform for young people to learn about environmental issues through art-making and creative communication, explore their relationship to a changing world, and become advocates for positive change. Students ages 11-18 from around the world are invited to participate.

The ocean regulates global climate, produces more than half of the oxygen we breathe, and holds nearly 97% of Earth’s water. Global ocean systems largely influence life on land, even hundreds of miles from a coastline. Salt, fresh, warm, or cold, all water is connected through the water cycle.

Requirements

Students ages 11-18 from around the world are invited to participate in the Ocean Awareness Contest. Enter the division based on your age at the time of entry:

Junior Division: Age 11-14

Senior Division: Age 15-18

Students can participate as an individual or as a club, class, or group of any size.

All students must provide the contact information for an Adult Sponsor (teacher, parent, mentor, etc.).

Benefits

Gain knowledge about water’s importance to all life on Earth. Dive into Bow Seat’s Resource Studio to learn more about water and its connection to climate change, health, justice, and culture; find artists and organizations taking action to protect our blue planet; and discover ways that you can get involved in conserving our planet’s most vital resource.

Grow your skills in communication, critical thinking, creativity, and environmental advocacy. Use your artwork to raise awareness for critical issues impacting our blue planet.

Build your portfolio and make art in your preferred medium, or practice a new one! Add to your resume with a participation certificate.

Showcase your talents worldwide. Through art exhibitions, publications, social media campaigns, and scholarships, Bow Seat uplifts diverse youth voices to advance dialogue and participation in ocean conservation and advocacy.

Join Bow Seat’s global community of 18,000+ young people who care about the ocean, environmental justice, and climate action. Be inspired by the work of other young creators around the world.

Be eligible for special opportunities, like the Future Blue Youth Council, a diverse group of young people working together to advance Bow Seat’s mission and to empower fellow peers to advocate for the environment.

Earn cash awards of up to $1,500!

Awards

Cash awards are presented to winners in each of the categories at both the Junior and Senior Division levels. There are no requirements for what you must do with your cash award; we hope that you will use it to further your passion for the environment and your creative talent.

Junior Division Senior Division Gold Award $1,000 $1,500 Silver Award $750 $1,000 Bronze Award $250 $500 Honorable Mention $100 $250

WATER RISING

The 2021 Ocean Awareness Contest theme WATER RISING challenges students to explore and understand their connection to water, and to creatively communicate the need to protect this vital resource. What are the stories we need to tell about water to sustain and conserve it for current and future generations of life on Earth?

Submissions are accepted in:

Visual Art

Creative Writing

Film

Interactive & Multimedia

Performing Arts: Music & Dance

Poetry & Spoken Word

WATER RISING Prompts

The 2021 Ocean Awareness Contest theme is WATER RISING. Your submission(s) should respond to one of the following prompts:

PROMPT 1: Global warming affects the water cycle, fueling extreme weather events, such as hurricanes and droughts. Warming seas are also contributing to sea level rise around the world. Whether too much or too little, water is the primary way we will feel the effects of climate change. How do you feel the effects of climate change where you live? How will this change within your lifetime?

PROMPT 2: We are all interconnected through water. What does it mean to be up- or downstream from one another? Where does your water come from, and what is the journey it takes to get to you?

PROMPT 3: Though water is a basic human right, more than 1 billion people do not have access to clean and safe water worldwide. Access to clean water is increasingly threatened by pollution, privatization, and climate change, but these threats do not impact us all equally. Water contamination and environmental injustice overwhelmingly affect Indigenous communities, people of color, and the poor. How is water a lens through which we can understand and fight for justice? Consider water as a mirror of our society—it reflects back to us who we are. What do you see in the mirror?

PROMPT 4: Clean water is not only necessary to sustain human communities, but all life on Earth. There are many movements rising up to protect water and all those who depend on it. Who has historically led these movements? Who (and what–for example, policies) are our water protectors?

PROMPT 5: Think about the role that water plays in your life, and how that ripples out to connections in your community, society, and the world. What memories do you have of water? What is your water story?

For More Information:

Visit the Official Webpage of the Bow Seat 2021 Ocean Awareness Student Contest

from WordPress https://ift.tt/3kzHFaO via IFTTT

#IFTTT #WordPress

0 notes

mariaclaragomez276 · 4 years

Text

Meet the SLH Marketing Team

A creative think tank of travel experts specialising in luxury brand positioning, we’re proud to be a small yet mighty team of independently minded individuals. Each with our own unique skill-set, from illustration, graphic design, content creation to copywriting, our marketing knowledge spans across three continents and the same number of decades. Here’s a little bit more about the people behind the brand…

Richard Hyde – Chief Operating Officer

Three fun facts about yourself…

On a work experience week at the Amstel Hotel in Amsterdam a guest called to complain about the soap not soaping. He didn’t realise it had a thin plastic wrapping. That person was Bill Gates.

My first job was advertising microwave ovens. We put a massive billboard on the Cromwell Road with a 25 ft rubber chicken. Within 24 hours it had disappeared, never to be found again. But someone in Earls Court must have it.

I am a big reindeer fan. On a visit to Lapland to see Father Christmas (he does exist), I befriended a reindeer with one antler called Nobby. I paid for his upkeep for a year and got an ownership certificate. If you enjoyed the Chernobyl series on Sky, spare a thought for all the wildlife in Scandinavia, which caught the brunt of the radiation fall out. Another sad fact, there are no wild reindeer left in Scandinavia. Every single one is accounted for and tagged.

Which destination is top of your bucket list?

I’ve always wanted to cycle from New York to San Francisco, but apparently it is better the other way due to the prevailing wind, but it’s not same to end 6 weeks of pain in the East River rather than the Pacific Ocean.

The one SLH hotel you’d like to visit, and why?

A hard question but I’ll say the new Kontiki Yacht experience around the Galapagos.

Where is your happy place?

In a large double bed with the family, watching an old Sophia Loren movie and Jennifer Lawrence whispering bed time stories in my ear.

Your most memorable travel experience?

Going on a moped tour of Lahore in Pakistan. Just the friendliest people and most exotic markets. Shame it’s ruined by internal strife.

Abi Tottenham-Smith – Head of Social Media

Three fun facts about yourself…

I am a big musical theatre fan and love nothing more than a cheesy musical. I have been dancing since I was a kid and still like to do classes and workshops every so often now to get my fix!

I have worked and lived in both Singapore and NYC for a few months each. Even though I have bought a flat in London and have a dog, I still have an urge to live somewhere else for a short period of time – anyone in NYC want to house swap?

I studied Fashion Marketing at university and always thought I wanted to get into the fashion industry – particularly mens fashion. After a short stint in the fashion industry and then the world of beauty, I moved into travel and couldn’t see myself anywhere else now!

Which destination is top of your bucketlist?

I had a trip to South Africa booked to visit friends before lockdown which sadly got cancelled so I am desperate to re-arrange that as soon as possible! I am also craving a wilderness escape in Canada and it would be a dream to one day visit Bhutan – it sounds like a truly magical country and it still seems like it is relatively untouched by tourism.

The one SLH hotel you’d like to visit, and why?

There are far too any and I had already mentioned in my previous interview that I was desperate to visit Sikelia, Trout Point Lodge and Petit St. Vincent but now on top of these I love the look of Hôtel Crillon le Brave in France, Villa La Madonna in Italy and Villa Geba in Montenegro.

Where is your happy place?

On Compton Beach in the Isle of Wight. I have been going there with my family since I was a child as my grandfather bought a small coastguard cottage on the island at an auction in the 1960s. My parents now rent it out during the summer but we try to go down as much as possible when its available. It’s the one place where you can truly relax, go on long beautiful walks, play board games by the fire and turn off from city life!

Your most memorable travel experience?

We arrived on a tiny island in the Philippines in the middle of the night and had to get to our accommodation on the opposite side of the island. We managed to find a lovely man who took us in his tuktuk – little did we know the roads meandered through thick woods and hovered over steep cliffs and our new pal was a maniac on the road… two hours later we arrived shaken but unscathed and hiked down to the little hut we had booked. We had no idea where we were or what the surroundings were like but woke up in the morning to the most incredible view over a river, in the middle of nowhere. We ended up staying there for three nights and enjoyed swimming in the river, hiking the cliffs and relaxing in the hammock (mostly psyching ourselves up to take the journey back again!)

Maddy Morgan – Director of PR Worldwide

Three fun facts about yourself…

I once went to circus school to learn how to be a trapeze artist.

In the 90s I was a clog dancing champion and went on tours of Europe and the US.

I have visited pretty much every corner of California – it’s my specialist subject.

Which destination is top of your bucketlist?

It’s not a destination so much as an experience – I would love to take an extended trip with my family and follow the sun and the surf around the world. No fixed agenda just pure freedom and the opportunity to take forest school to the next level for my kids!

The one SLH hotel you’d like to visit, and why?

Brazil has been on my wish list for a long time so Kenoa – Exclusive Beach Spa and Resort near Maceio is top of the list. It describes itself as an eco-chic design hotel where luxury is defined by earth given beauty – I feel relaxed just thinking about it!

Where is your happy place?

For me it’s Portugal – I spent a lot of time there growing up and then studied at university in Coimbra. I go at least once a year and love the fact that when I’m there I feel completely at home and not a tourist. The smell of pine trees will always be one of the most evocative scents for me and takes me straight back to hot summer days in Algarve.

Your most memorable travel experience?

I worked at an orphanage in rural Sarawak for a year when I was 18. The locals were incredibly generous taking us on trips to visit their families in nearby longhouses and including us in special occasions like weddings – it’s a cliché but there really is nothing like a totally immersive travel experience. One of them who I hadn’t seen for 20 years just sent me a video message out of the blue for my birthday in June which was the most amazing present. If I’m allowed a second one it would be filming on Alcatraz and being left alone in the cell block while the crew went outside to shoot the sunset. I’m not sure many people get to experience that and it was terrifying!

Dana O’Malley – PR Director Americas

Three fun facts about yourself…

I used to live three blocks from the White House.

I was on the field for an AC Milan v Chelsea match.

I’m half Trinidadian, half American (by way of Eastern Europe).

Which destination is top of your bucket list?

Japan has been on the top of my bucket list for a few years now and I’m determined to get there soon! I’ve always been infatuated by the culture and food, and can’t wait to explore the cities and further afield.

The one SLH hotel you’d like to visit, and why?

I would love to visit Dar Ahlam in Morocco. It’s a very special retreat situated near the Moroccan desert which caters to your every whim.

Where is your happy place?

Anywhere with my husband! We’re always ready for an adventure and experiencing new things, especially with our young daughter in tow.

Your most memorable travel experience?

Pimalai Resort & Spa in Koh Lanta, Thailand holds a special place in my heart. We spent our honeymoon at the resort basking in the sun, enjoying private dinners on the beach and taking a boat tour to visit nearby islands.

Juliana Tan – PR Director Asia Pacific

Three fun facts about yourself…

I take care of Public Relations in Asia Pacific, and live on the sunny shores of Singapore.

During my free time, I enjoy photography and jewellery making.

I have recently taken up gardening too, inspired by the farm-to-table concept that I see at many SLH hotels.

Which destination is top of your bucket list?

North America! I have travelled to almost every part of Asia Pacific, but have not ventured to the Americas yet. I was supposed to visit this November, so that is definitely top of my list for 2021.

The one SLH hotel you’d like to visit, and why?

I would like to go to Hacienda Zorita Wine Hotel & Organic Farm Hotel in Spain. I love to eat, and just reading up about the hotel makes me hungry – for their fine Spanish cuisine and culinary adventures at their organic farm and vineyard. I am especially looking forward to meeting their special residents who live in the 30-hectare evergreen oak tree forest – the indigenous Churra sheep, near extinct Verata goats and endangered woolly Mangalica pigs. The hotel is committed to preserving indigenous, rare and endangered species in the Duero Valley. If the place is good enough for Christopher Columbus (who reputedly once visited, restored and modernised the 14th-century Dominican monastery), Hacienda Zorita Wine Hotel & Organic Farm Hotel is definitely good enough for me to explore!

Where is your happy place?

Cliché as it sounds, the Kingdom of Bhutan warms the cockles of my heart. I was intrigued by a place which seems to have stood still in time, by their very colourful culture and historic architecture. Beyond The Tiger’s Nest and Dzongs, there’s so much more to explore in Bhutan, like staying in a farmhouse, making your own buckwheat noodles from scratch and ending the day with a hot stone bath (you can try a luxurious version at Gangtey Lodge and Bhutan Spirit Sanctuary). Most of all, the sincere and welcoming hearts of the people I met left the deepest impression, so much so I started to read up on the Kingdom after I returned home, and I am planning to go back again soon.

Your most memorable travel experience?

My first safari to Botswana was an eye-opener, literally. Being a city dweller, the concrete jungle with its gaudy lights, deafening noises and rushed footsteps were what I was used to. During the week I was on safari, I was greeted with glistening sunshine accented with the happy chirping of birds and the rustling of leaves as wildlife walked alongside. I learnt to stay still and just observe the animals, thoroughly enjoying the antics of the young. The entire experience enhanced my senses – by day three, I was able to clearly see the vast plains lit solely by the moonlight and interpret the calls and footsteps of wildlife; our safari guide (interestingly, his name was Fish) taught us well!

Jessica Sparkes – Head of Digital Performance

Three fun facts about yourself…

Recently, I reignited my love for musical theatre, completing a beginner course and singing ‘I dreamed a dream’ in the end show.

I have a little Maltipoo pup called Gus. We like to do tricks together, currently we are learning to dance.

I’ve tried every last minute holiday diet available.

Which destination is top of your bucket list?

Argentina Wine Trails, Cambodia and the Philippines.

The one SLH hotel you’d like to visit, and why?

There are far too many to choose from! Finca Serena for the ultimate, European, countryside escape. Huvafen Fushi Maldives – you just need to view the hotel gallery to understand why! And Le Barthélemy Hotel & Spa because I absolutely love the Caribbean and this is another beautiful location to tick off my list.

Where is your happy place?

The minute I buckle up my seat belt on a plane out of here! The happiest of places is when I have my toes in the sand, face in sunshine and reading a book.

Your most memorable travel experience?

I did a sunrise climb of Mount Batur in Bali a couple of years ago. I had absolutely no idea what to expect and probably for the best. A pick up time of 2am, three hour trek in the thick darkness of the night with head torches and then climbing towards the top on my hands and knees! Once you have made it to the top of the volcano, you see the most incredible views across Indonesia with the sun rising over the horizon. There was also a guitarist singing “Hotel California” – such an incredible experience.

Laura Bizayi – Senior Digital Campaign Manager

Three fun facts about yourself…

I was born 11 weeks premature and weighed just the same as a bag of sugar.

I have a 6 month old Pomapoo called Luna, so we have the same initials (LB).

I once took part in the world’s biggest egg and spoon race at school.

Which destination is top of your bucketlist?

Maldives. Philippines. Mykonos. I’m more of a sun searcher, I admit.

The one SLH hotel you’d like to visit, and why?

Kenoa – Exclusive Beach Spa & Resort. New to SLH and looks completely lush. I haven’t travelled to South America yet and this is the perfect excuse!

Where is your happy place?

Honestly, anywhere (mostly) abroad where I can appreciate the beauty, locality, food and culture of a destination. I genuinely love travelling, so my happy place changes. Besides this, anywhere with my Pomapoo puppy Luna, she’s my forever happy place.

Your most memorable travel experience?

I loved South Africa. I visited Cape Town and Johannesburg. The thing that topped South Africa as potentially my favourite holiday is the beauty – the driving routes are absolutely incredible (but scary, the cliff-edges terrified me every single day!), while Cape Town as a place is eye-opening, particularly post-apartheid, and more so since I was travelling with my husband who is African. I’m particularly happy we now have some new hotels in this destination, and would certainly go back and drive the Garden Route to see more of the country and visit The Cellars-Hohenort, The Plettenberg, and The Marine.

Sorry, I also have to mention Bali. We visited for our honeymoon so it’s got to be top of the list. Balinese hospitality is just so lovely and not like anything I’ve experienced before. We stayed at Viceroy Bali and it’s a true gem!

Jemima O’Lone – Digital Content & Design Manager

Three fun facts about yourself…

I used to be a chef and for the last six years I have made hand-painted cakes for weddings and events.

I adore skiing and winter tends to revolve around when and where I am going.

Like many others in my team, I love dogs and always have my eyes open for my own – I’ll know when the right one comes along.

Which destination is top of your bucketlist?

Bhutan for this once in a lifetime itinerary.

The one SLH hotel you’d like to visit, and why?

Halcyon House for interiors and Dar Ahlam for the experience – apparently it is life changing.

Where is your happy place?

Meribel, France – where I lived for three winters. I try to visit every year and this year I was lucky enough to visit Le Coucou, a super stylish ski-in ski-out hotel. Look out for the beautiful mural of owls on the ceiling of the reception.

Your most memorable travel experience?

Touring the local cafés and eateries of Mumbai – my favourite city because it is so vibrant and full of life. A must visit is Café Leopold, which is still littered with gunshot holes from the famous scene in the book Shantaram, unsuspecting Café Olympia where you will eat the most incredible food for £1 and Chowpatty beach for Pav Bhajis.

Chloe Frost-Smith – Digital Image & Content Executive

Three fun facts about yourself…

I was born in Hong Kong and spent my early childhood in Tokyo, Japan – my first holiday was to Bali when I was six weeks old (wish I could remember it!)

I studied Classics at university, which means I can read as many ancient languages as I can speak modern languages (in fact, I am probably more fluent in the ancient ones – useful, I know.)

I am an Advanced PADI scuba-diver and qualified shark specialist with dives logged all over the world, including the Maldives, Turks & Caicos islands, Saint Vincent & the Grenadines, Egypt, and Greece.

Which destination is top of your bucketlist?

It’s impossible to choose just one, so here are my top three:

Iceland – to ride ponies across black beaches with volcanic views.

Morocco – to shop the souks of Marrakech, and explore Chefchaouen (the Blue City) or Ouarzazate in the High Atlas Mountains, the gateway to the Sahara Desert.

Egypt – I still haven’t seen the pyramids (despite writing my dissertation on Cleopatra) and would love to take a trip down the Nile.

The one SLH hotel you’d like to visit, and why?

It would have to be Castello di Reschio – I dream of watching the weekly dressage performances in their Teatro Equestre, and would love to ride around the ancient Umbrian estate, followed by making my own pizza in an authentic alfresco class. I would also love to experience the Wild West at one of our American ranches, Rawah Ranch and Riverview Ranch both look incredibly rustic and rugged. In fact, any of our horse riding hotels would top my wish list.

Where is your happy place?

Underwater, on a horse, or on the slopes in a pair of skis (or one if you catch me after après hours…) When I’m on dry land, I am happiest on the beach in Southwold sharing fish and chips with my boyfriend and our new family puppy, Truffle.

Your most memorable travel experience?

Spotting a mother bear and her cub from a chairlift while skiing with my sister in Whistler, coming across dolphins on a cliff-walk off the coast of Ireland with my boyfriend, watching the sun rise over the temples at Angkor Wat in Cambodia, taking part in the early morning alms-giving ceremony with the local monks in Luang Prabang, swimming with sea turtles in the Tobago Cays, milking a buffalo in Laos in an all-white outfit (this did not end well), a beachfront yoga session on Petit St. Vincent, and living out my Gertrude Bell fantasies horse riding across the desert in Morocco with my father – sorry, there are too many to choose from!

Becky Underwood – Senior Marketing Manager

Three fun facts about yourself…

At the age of 14, I completed a World Challenge expedition to Tanzania, which involved climbing to the summit of Mount Meru, roaming the safari plains of the Ngorongoro Crater, dancing with the Maasai whilst learning about their customs, and completing local community projects such as rebuilding a primary school. This was a transformative experience as we were totally immersed in the culture, living alongside the villagers.

I’ve always been fascinated by architecture and property design and hope to be able to build my own house one day, perhaps I’ll even make it on to Grand Designs. For the time being, I’m still on the hunt for the perfect plot of land!

Back in 2009, I was awarded by Nottingham University for a piece of research carried out on the tourism industry and turtle conservation. A whole eight years later I planned my first trip to Costa Rica and was able to experience turtle conversation in person in Tortuguero National Park. It was magical observing newly hatched turtles dig their way to the surface of the nests and scuttle across the beach to the surf of the sea.

Which destination is top of your bucketlist?

I love the thought of completely switching off and escaping to the rugged and captivating scenery of Norway with just a backpack. In summer I’d explore by rail, kayak or boat, taking in the colourful towns and waterfalls dotted along the Fjords. Come winter I’d cosy up in a boutique hotel in front of a log burner or fire, master a snowmobile and experience my first taste of reindeer!

The one SLH hotel you’d like to visit, and why?

It’s close to home, but The Fish Hotel in the Cotswolds has been on my to visit list for a long time. Perhaps it’s the child in me, but I am desperate to escape back-to-nature and relax in one of their quirky hill-side huts and treehouses. For me the perfect stay just wouldn’t be possible without a soak in the outdoor bath or hot tub. Plus, it’s impossible not to be intrigued by a hideaway hut named ‘Boaty McBoatface’, which comes with its own private lake and island.

Where is your happy place?

There’s something that soothes my soul when I’m by the British coast. The waterways, small inlets and little villages surrounding Chichester are close to my family home, so I often escape to Bosham and Emsworth. The Deck is a great little restaurant overlooking a working yacht harbour, where you can settle in for hours over fish and chips or a coffee and cake. Then swing by the fishmongers to pick up a catch of the day for dinner.

Your most memorable travel experience?

The views from Santorini will never leave my memory. Whether it was an early morning breakfast on our balcony, or a lazy afternoon dip in the infinity pool, I was never able to divert my gaze away from the view of the Aegean Sea. So much so we took the caldera-edge pathway walk to Oia, over rough trails, to admire the captivating sea view. A particular highlight was the sunset boat ride we took in a traditional sailing boat, a great way to enjoy nature’s spectacle and to escape the crowds.

Clive Ritchie – Design Consultant

Three fun facts about yourself…

I brew my own kombucha, play keys and can walk with my feet pointing backwards.

Which destination is top of your bucketlist?

The remote atolls of the Pacific.

The one SLH hotel you’d like to visit, and why?

Pacific Resort Aitutaki, Cook Islands – I’m fascinated by remote islands and this ticks all the boxes.

Where is your happy place?

The lakes behind a town called Sedgefield on the Garden Route, near Cape Town where I spent my summer holidays as a kid.

Your most memorable travel experience?

A few days of bliss anchored at Tobago Cays in the Southern Caribbean on a catamaran – snorkelling around the reef and exploring nearby islands.

The post Meet the SLH Marketing Team appeared first on Small Luxury Hotels.

from Small Luxury Hotels https://ift.tt/3iQCeDZ Publish First on

0 notes

tasteofsouls · 4 years

Text

Travel Tips - How to Travel Light While Packing All the Essentials

You are going on a trip overseas, it's ideal to be well-prepared with travel tips in mind. There are items you will need to bring in addition to things that will not be much use on the trip. A tour of a nation usually involves plenty of walking and moving from one city to another; therefore, it's advisable to travel light. 1 carry-all luggage should be sufficient to get a 7-day and 6-night tour and a handbag which has only the crucial things you will need for the trip.

There are things you need to bring and keep with you at all times. These are the items which have to be put inside your handbag. Thus, it's ideal to bring a large handbag with plenty of compartments or a bag with an organizer inside it. This way, it'll be a lot easier to locate and retrieve things that you require. Here are the items which are suggested to be put in your handbag when traveling to any foreign nation. Let these packing tips allow you to travel light and pack just all of the essential stuff.

Passport with visa

Airline ticket

Identification rather a driver's permit

Wallet with money (US dollars), credit cards and an ATM card

An Worldwide cell phone (a convenient and cheap one will do)

Digital camera that is lightweight with extended battery

Little flashlight

Sunglasses

Calling card of the resort you are staying at

Map of the country you are visiting in case you get lost

Pen

Wet ones and small pack of tissue paper

Medication if any

Contact number of the person who manages your tour group

Based upon your requirements and daily requirements, you might also need to bring other additional stuff on your handbag to make your holiday more enjoyable. A little sunscreen would be a excellent idea in addition to any device which permits you to connect with family and friends via wireless internet. Additionally, there are individuals who bring their iPods with them so that they can listen to music while traveling in the bus. A book would also be a wonderful addition so that you may read something while waiting for your trip. Just remember however, that bringing a lot of gadgets can make your handbag heavy. A terrific idea is to bring just 1 gadget that already comprises an eBook, music, contacts and wifi connection along with other things. A cellphone or a single gadget that includes each these features are a excellent idea to travel light.

For your suitcase, be certain it contains chargers for your gadgets, and the clothing you will be wearing on the excursion. Clothing must include a wonderful dress for the women, shorts, shirts, jeans, a rain coat and disposable underwear. The latter makes travel so much easier as you can just throw them away after use; hence giving your bag extra space in your return flight. A rain coat, on the other hand can be convenient if you are visiting a place with tropical climate. If you are expecting rain and sunshine on your journey, do bring a rain coat but also include flip-flops along with a bathing suit if you want to do some swimming and swimming at the beach. While you wish to travel light, you also have to bear in mind that bringing the aforementioned items will make your stay more pleasurable.

When there are things that have to be brought, in addition, there are items which aren't necessary. The items that can just create your tote heavy are as follows:

Pricey jewelry

water bottles

umbrellas

high-heeled shoes

blow dryer

shampoo, soap and soap

towel

first aid kit

On evenings out, women can wear ballet flats rather than uncomfortable high heels as flat shoes are milder. There is no need to bring things which you could see in your hotel room like blow dryer, shampoo, soap, conditioner, towels and cream. Also ask whether the tour you're joining has a first aid kit prepared if in case something goes wrong. By doing this, you do not have to bring an emergency kit. Having a light bag is so convenient since it let's you quickly pack and move from one resort to another.

If you're planning to do a great deal of shopping, then it is alright if you pack just a couple of outfits on your journey. You can purchase new clothes and then only wear these clothes on the trip. Doing this permits you to further reduce the weight of your bag when getting yourself new clothes to wear.

It's advised to wear jeans on the airplane because this isn't just bulky when placed in a suitcase, but in addition, it allows a person to easily move when travelling. Also keep your coat with you if it rains. Wearing jeans and a wonderful rain coat on the plane further gives your bag less weight; consequently, letting you truly travel light to and from the country you are visiting.

Travel and leisure is exciting and fun. With travel tips in mind and knowing what things to bring and leave behind, you can properly plan your holiday and truly enjoy your stay. It's obviously an advantage to travel light when making your trip more comfortable by bringing just all of the necessary items.

Group Travel Planning and Traveling Tips

Considering traveling with a group? Group travel can be among the most rewarding ways to find the world and see popular destination sites; not only is your holiday care free, but you can make lifelong friends along the way! If you're considering undergoing group travel for the first time soon, here are a few traveling pointers that will help you get the best group holiday experience.

Have Group Will Travel

Did you know that lots of group travel businesses love it if you already have an established group to travel with? If your church culture, college class, hobby club, social group, or extended family and friends want to have a holiday to an exciting destination collectively, tour operators are delighted to handle all the details so your group can travel simultaneously without the trouble of planning the holiday, gathering payments or managing travel documents. This is one of the best ways to travel with a group as you already know the members of this organization, share a common interest and nobody in the group must take care of the tedious details!

Finding the Finest Group Travel Services for You

The best group vacation business is the one which satisfies your needs and provides you with the holiday experience you were searching for! There are all kinds of tour operators like adventure travel services, group travel for singles, and senior group travel businesses. First, select a travel company that's specialized in the form of traveling you need (unless you already have a group of people to travel with). Then make sure that the tour operator is respected and well established in providing escorted vacations. Just because a company claims they've led groups before doesn't mean they're an established tour operator! Just think, you're leaving all of the details and traveling plans up to somebody else; that's lots of responsibility and your happiness is online! Be certain you decide on a respected, established travel company that's specialized in the sort of travel you're looking for and has built relationships with its travel partners from years of doing business together.

International Traveling Tips

If it's your first time traveling abroad then learning about the country you're going to see is significant even when traveling in a group! Simple things like charging your phone may be challenging if you're traveling overseas. Escorted travel companies will attempt to alert you about indigenous customs and provide you international travel tips, but you may also need to learn the basic"hello" and"goodbye" greetings in addition to how to say"yes,""no" and"thank you" in the native language of those countries you may visit. Do not forget to pack your passport and any documentation you may need for health purposes; it's great to bring the telephone numbers of your house physician in the event your medical history has to be obtained while on holiday.

Unfortunately, going on holiday is a treat which most people just get to do after a year! Group travel can be quite rewarding and permit you the comfort of having a foreign land with no sensation of being lonely. Tour operators also be sure that you have the best travel experience possible in order for your escorted vacation becomes your dream holiday.

#travel #travel experience #traveling #traveling tips #travel planning #group travel #travel tips

0 notes

coronaviruscorner · 4 years

Text

The parallels between Australia and the US, and what we can do to fight racism

As international outrage continues to mount over the murder of George Floyd at the hands of Minneapolis police, I have been struck by a number of things. What happened to George was not simply the act of a couple of rogue police officers, but the culmination of centuries of systemic racism in the US. As a white man with black heritage (my Grandmother on my Dad’s side was Trinidadian), I wonder what my life would be like if skin was darker. Most people reading this will be Australian, and some of you might think that we can dismiss these concerns. Our Prime Minister yesterday stated that “We shouldn’t be importing the things that are happening overseas to Australia”. If Mr Morrison thinks that this is true then perhaps he should consider removing his head from the sand.

Since 1991, there have been at least 432 deaths of Indigenous Australians in police custody, not one of which has led to a criminal charge.This despite the fact that in 39% of these deaths, medical care was needed but not given. 7% of these deaths occured due to “a medical episode following restraint”- just like George Floyd. Furthermore, the Indigenous incarceration rate is disproportionately high; over one quarter of Australia’s prisoners are Indigenous, despite them only making up around 3% of our population.

One such person was David Dungay, a 26 year old Dunghutti man who in 2015 was forcibly restrained by 5 prison guards, repeatedly gasping “I can’t breathe” until those became his last words. The reason they were restraining him? He was eating rice crackers in his cell. In a shameful indictment of the state of affairs, all that could be heard in response was the deafening silence created by the absence of public outcry.

Australia, we need to do, and be, so much better. But how do we go about this? With entrenched issues like systemic racism and prejudice, it can seem overwhelming to think that as an individual we could do anything to make a difference. My response to that is to look back on history. Everything of true worth that has been achieved in moving humanity forward has been achieved by collectives that are composed of nothing more than motivated individuals, working together towards a common goal.

I am not going to pretend like I have all of the answers to these incredibly complex and multifaceted issues, but I want to do everything I can to help, and so should you. I think the most important thing that we can do is to listen and continue to educate ourselves on these issues. If we remain ignorant of the plight that our Indigenous brothers and sisters are going through, then we give our tacit approval for things to continue as they are. As Kofi Annan, former UN Secretary-General said: “Ignorance and prejudice are the handmaidens of propaganda. Our mission, therefore, is to confront ignorance with knowledge, bigotry with tolerance, and isolation with the outstretched hand of generosity. Racism can, will, and must be defeated” In order to move forward, we need to arm ourselves with knowledge and empathy.

Along with listening, I think it’s also important that we speak. Not speaking over the voices of Indigenous people, but rather speaking up against racism. And not simply overt racism that is easily challenged. I’m talking also about the “socially acceptable” forms of racism and white supremacy. Jokes with racist undertones. Denying the existence of white privilege. Cultural appropriation. These are all forms of covert racism. As well as speaking up and out against these, try and educate your family and friends. I think parents and teachers will play a particularly fundamental role in this as the attitudes that we teach our children will shape the future.

And finally, one simple thing that we can do is give. If you can give money, then please do so! Here are some worthy causes:

ALS (NSW)

The National Justice Project

Human Rights Law Centre

Sisters Inside

Children’s ground

I am privileged to be in a position where after a lifetime (so far) of great opportunity I can now earn good money as a doctor, but I know that many people have not been afforded these same opportunities (in part due to systemic/entrenched racism) and many people may not be in a position to donate money, especially with the COVID-19 pandemic and the disastrous impact it is having on economies worldwide. Another thing that we may be able to give is our time. Once again, volunteering is one of the best and most rewarding ways that we can spend our time, in the same way that donations can be one of the best ways to spend our money. Find an organisation that works in an area that you are passionate about and get in touch with them to see if they can use volunteers.

As Martin Luther King Jr said: “In the end we will remember not the words of our enemies, but the silence of our friends.” Friends, do not be silent.

0 notes

rabbitcruiser · 4 years

Photo

International Museum Day

Few places in our world are more educational than museums. After all, where else could we hope to see so many pieces of actual history that tell so many stories about our ancestors? From prehistoric spears to Egyptian mummies, from ancient Greek sculptures to medieval armor, and from the first radio to the first planes used in war during WWI, museums have it all. Unfortunately, there are millions of people with direct access to museums that have never even visited one.

There are many possible reasons for this–perhaps they think just looking at old things would be boring, or perhaps they are unaware just how different the world was in the past and see no reason to take an interest. Whatever the reason for not taking advantage of the incredible amount of tangible knowledge museums offer, and regardless of age, Museum Day is the time to invest in education in its most fascinating form.

Many people may ask why they would invest in something like Museum Day when modern technology can give them all the answers that they may need. Well, to answer that fairly, all you need to do is a little Google search.

Nowadays, if you need to find an answer to something, you can surely just jump online and get it right? Well, yes, but what you need to realize is that the answer you get is quite possibly wrong.

A study conducted in 2016 on how many of the historical facts you find online were true, had some shocking results. It seems as of November 2016, over 48% of all available historical facts available online are inaccurate or downright wrong. So, taking this into account, you may want to place your fair elsewhere.

The truth is, education is important, so days like Museum Day should be something to get yourself and your young ones excited for; after all, while there will be children filling their heads with nonsense, you have the ability to fill your children with knowledgey goodness.

History of Museum Day

The International Council of Museums (ICOM) created International Museum Day in 1977. The organization chooses a different theme for the day and coordinates every year. Some of the themes include globalization, indigenous peoples, bridging cultural gaps, and caring for the environment.

Every year since 1977, all of the museums in the world are invited to participate in this day to promote the role of museums around the world, by organizing enjoyable and free activities around the year’s theme.

International Museum Day has become steadily more popular since its creation, with International Museum Day 2009 being participated in by 20,000 museums in over 90 countries. In 2012, the number of participating museums had jumped to 30,000 in 129 countries.

As the years have gone by, we have been blessed to live in a society where while technology seems to want to take over, there have been certain things that are now considered cool that were once reserved for a very target demographic.

While the numbers of participants were slowly climbing almost a decade ago, over the last five years, the numbers are climbing at an even more rapid rate. When we look at this, we may ask ourselves why, and the truth is simple, history is now something that is classed as cool.

Yes, we may live in a technology-driven society, but it seems that the more technology has reigned over the world, people have started to gravitate towards the things that connect them to a world they are scared of losing.

Today, there are more visitors to museums all over the world than ever before, and more than this, there are now more people studying history at degree level than at any point in history.

Now, it may be possible that this is just a point where geek chic is in, and students want to seem more cultural and in touch with the world, but if we stop for a brief moment, could it not be possible that Museum Day has played a small role in helping entire new generations fall in love with history once again?

The truth may, in fact, be both, but one thing we must remember is that While it may not be as popular as some days, Museum Day is something that should be held in high importance.

The further we move forward, the more we leave behind, and with all of the things that are now long behind us, we need something to help us remember where we have been, that way, we can take the journey ahead of us with more confidence.

How to celebrate Museum Day

There is no better way to celebrate Museum Day than to take a trip down to a nearby museum, either alone, with friends, or even your children if you feel they are old enough to appreciate the place. Depending on where you live, the museums you might be closest to could be ones connected with anything from farming to fashion, from astronomy to archaeology, from art to natural history. If it turns out that the museums in your immediate area are not ones that would interest you, maybe you could consider a day trip to a nearby city to visit a museum better suited to your interests? Carpooling with a friend or two will make the trip cheaper and very possibly more interesting.

Another thing to think about is how well you tolerate crowds. Museum Day is an increasingly popular worldwide event, so it is quite probable that many of the larger and better-known museums will be pretty crowded on this day, especially since many museums do not charge an entrance fee then. If you do not feel like standing in long lines to see every single thing or having to maneuver your way through crowds of people, paying more attention to not stepping on anyone’s shoes than the objects on exhibition, you may want to visit the museum of your choice a few days before or after Museum Day.

On weekdays, museums are often quiet places where one can come to study our ancestors’ lifestyles and contemplate what motivated them to behave and develop as they did. However you decide to celebrate Museum day, don’t let this opportunity to find out about the history of the human race go to waste!

Source

0 notes

universal-translation-services · 4 years

Text

Remote Notary Services Florida

Notary Service Florida:

There are a lot of things that this state of the US is known for. There is Miami, for sure, and the Florida Reef. There is also a lot of influence of Spanish culture on the state. Even the name Florida was given to the land by a Spanish explorer. The state is known for its cultural diversity. The beaches of Florida are famous worldwide, and they are not just limited to Miami. Influence of Latino, European, African, and Indigenous heritages can be observed in the culture of Florida. The vibrant lifestyle of the state is its most powerful feature that attracts people from all over the world.

Translation Services in Florida:

After English, the most spoken language in Florida is Spanish. Due to the high number of immigrants in the state, Spanish has established a strong base there. This is why any business that wishes to succeed in the state must get in touch with linguistic experts. They cannot win the hearts of the Latino population without the help of Spanish. Because of this, translation companies are in abundance in this state. But obviously, not all of them are qualified and experienced, and some are only in the business to make money. It is not easy to find agencies that genuinely care for their clients. But thankfully, a lot of them offer online services, so checking their reviews on the internet is not difficult. And that can help people figure out whether or not an agency is reliable. One aspect to keep in mind is the fact that all the government bodies ask for certified translations of official documents. Some even ask for notarized translations. These aren’t the kind of services that any inexperienced person can offer you. And only a notary public can help with the notarization of documents.

Notarized Translations:

Although most offices only ask for certified translations, some still require notarized solutions. A notary public has a lot of duties under the law. They are authorized to help the citizens with matters relating to deeds, international business, power of attorneys, etc. They witness signatures and verify the identities of the signatories before they can sign a document. They also have a seal that they put on the document. Only after that, a document becomes notarized. Online translations have been so useful for clients and translators. They save everyone’s time, and people can receive their documents at home. They allow translators to finish more projects in a short amount of time. But whenever notarization is required, they have to make a trip to the notary public’s office and wait for their turn to get the signature. This wastes all the parties’ time and also puts unnecessary pressure on translators. Clients can miss their deadlines because of this. Normally people can request urgent services from linguistic experts and get their projects on time. But in this case, there is nothing that a linguistic expert can do to help their clients.

Remote Notary Services Florida:

The only solution to this problem was making the service available online. The State of Florida signed the ‘Electronic Legal Documents’ law last year, which came into effect on 1st January 2020. The law allows people to get the services of a notary through the internet. However, there is a process involved here, and not every person can offer the service. Those who are already notaries can apply for the position and do the training course, which was designed by the state. After they have finished their course, they will be awarded their certificates. The purpose of the course is to make people familiar with the new setup that they will have to follow under the new law. If people are allowed to start offering this service without prior training, they will end up creating a big mess. The training will help everyone involved. If a notary’s commission is about to expire, then they should not apply for the remote position. Otherwise, they will lose the position after the expiration of their commission. They can reapply for their commission and then apply for the job of a remote notary. This will help them keep the position for a long time. Those who are in need of these services in Florida can go through the website of their trusted translation agency. There is a high chance that the remote notary services button would have been added to the website. The translation agencies are also going to benefit from the new law. But along with that, they want to make sure their clients do not have to go around looking for experts, which is why most of them will be offering the remote services on their websites. The appointment process will be simple, and the bill will be shown to you before you finish ordering. This way, you will be satisfied with the procedure and feel confident about ordering the services. You can provide them with all the important data and book an appointment with a remote notary in Florida. We have access to another great service from the comfort of our homes, thanks to the lawmakers of Florida. Whenever someone asks you to bring notarized translation, you won’t have to worry about it from now on. You can easily get quality translations at affordable prices and then get the document notarized without having to leave your home. The remote notary services are going to change the way things work in the translation industry. Read the full article

#online_notary_cost #florida_notary_block #florida_notary_forms #e-notary_course

0 notes