#urban stakeholders

[worldhabitatday]

Resilient cities as a driving force of economic development and fighing inequalities - 2nd Azerbaijan National Urban Forum.

The 2nd Azerbaijan National Urban Forum is organized by the government of Azerbaijan in collaboration with UN-Habitat. It is preceding World Habitat Day. It will take place in the cities of Zangilan and Baku, from 29 September - 1 October 2023.

AZERBAIJAN NATIONAL URBAN FORUM.

Urban planning and city development play a crucial role in driving progress towards achieving sustainable development. Given the ongoing global urbanization trends, the significance of these development agenda items is further reinforced by specific challenges and opportunities faced by each country. The Republic of Azerbaijan represents one of such countries. As it actively supports and promotes the localization of the 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda, Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 11 is considered a vital component of the country's post-conflict socio-economic reintegration priorities. The New Urban Agenda, offering an action-oriented universal framework for sustainable housing, holds great value in this regard. Collaboration, experience-sharing, and learning from each other are essential for the success of national and sub-regional sustainable development efforts.

To highlight the importance of sustainable urbanization processes, the Government of the Republic of Azerbaijan, in collaboration with UN-Habitat, will organize the 2023 Urban Week. The Urban Week will commence with the 2nd Azerbaijan National Urban Forum (NUFA2) on 29 September 2023. NUFA2 will bring together a diverse range of urban stakeholders and participants, both from Azerbaijan and internationally, over three days. The forum will be held in the cities of Zangilan and Baku. While NUFA2 aims to discuss emerging key urban challenges, ongoing projects and the vision for the urban future in the Republic of Azerbaijan, it will also show-case international experiences in the related field to stimulate local action. Given the global importance of post-conflict reconstruction and rehabilitation, NUFA2 will be focusing on the role of urban productivity and economic growth, hereby fully deploying the potential of the SDGs and the NUA for economic resilience and transition to a circular economy. Urban  week will continue with World Habitat Day, which will be held on October 2 in Baku.

The event will bring together a diverse range of national and international urban stakeholders.  The forum will address key emerging urban challenges and showcase international experience focusing on the role of urban productivity and economic growth, hereby fully deploying the potential of the SDGs and the New Urban Agenda for economic resilience and transition to a more sustainable urban future. 

[cnu-newurbanism]

Great Idea 21: Multidisciplinary design charrette

A time-compressed design process that gathers all of the stakeholders and practitioners together has great potential for creating more holistic communities, experts say. Read more.

[delicatelysublimeforester]

Saskatoon Receives Funding for Green Infrastructure: A Step Towards a Sustainable Future

[rideboomindia]

Please describe your company’s go-to-market strategy

Here is a detailed description of RideBoom's go-to-market strategy:

RideBoom's go-to-market strategy is focused on expanding its successful bike taxi service to additional cities across India. The key elements of their strategy include:

Target Market: RideBoom is targeting urban residents and visitors in cities with growing populations and transportation needs. They have identified cities like Agra, Kolkata, and Pune as prime markets for their bike taxi service [1].

Value Proposition: RideBoom's bike taxi service provides an efficient, affordable, and environmentally-friendly transportation option for short-distance travel in congested urban areas. It aims to alleviate traffic, reduce emissions, and offer a convenient mobility solution [1].

Pricing: RideBoom is offering competitive and affordable pricing for its bike taxi service to make it an accessible option for a wide range of customers [1].

Promotion: RideBoom is promoting its service through its mobile app, which allows users to easily book and track bike taxis. They are also offering promotional discounts for new users to drive initial adoption [1].

Sales and Distribution Channels: RideBoom is directly operating its bike taxi service in the target cities, leveraging a fleet of trained drivers. The service is accessible through the RideBoom mobile app, providing a convenient and accessible sales channel [1].

Scalability: RideBoom has a clear roadmap to continue expanding its bike taxi service to more cities in India, demonstrating a scalable and replicable go-to-market strategy [1][3].

Partnerships: RideBoom may explore strategic partnerships with local transportation authorities, businesses, or other stakeholders to further enhance its market reach and service offerings [3].

Overall, RideBoom's go-to-market strategy is focused on rapidly expanding its proven bike taxi model to new urban markets, leveraging its expertise, technology, and customer-centric approach to drive adoption and success [1][3].

[khalid-albeshri]

New Murabba Case Study: Urban Transformation in Riyadh

Overview: The New Murabba Project, led by Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund (PIF), is a key part of Vision 2030, transforming Riyadh into a world-leading city with a massive modern downtown.

Key Components:

Mukaab Landmark:

Design: A 400-meter cube structure housing a museum, university, theatre, and over 80 entertainment venues.

Urban Planning:

Development: 104,000 residential units, 9,000 hotel rooms, and 980,000 square meters of retail space.

Green Spaces: A 3.2 million square meter park.

Transportation: Integrated public transport network.

Sustainability and Innovation:

Energy Efficiency: Sustainable building practices and energy-efficient technologies.

Smart City Features: Implementation of smart infrastructure.

Public–Private Partnerships (PPPs): The project highlights the role of PPPs in

urban transformation:

Investment and Funding:

Public Investment Fund: Primary investor attracting private sector investments.

Collaboration with International Firms:

Design and Construction: Partnerships with global firms for world-class standards.

Technology: Integrating smart city solutions.

Economic Impact:

Job Creation: Significant job opportunities during construction and ongoing operations.

Tourism and Commerce: Boosting the local economy and Riyadh's global standing.

Challenges:

- Project Management: Ensuring timely completion with robust management.

- Sustainability: Balancing urbanization with environmental impact.

- Community Engagement: Involving local communities and stakeholders.

Conclusion: The New Murabba Project exemplifies the power of PPPs in urban development, integrating cultural, commercial, and residential elements with sustainability and technology to create a vibrant, future-ready urban center in Riyadh.

#KhalidAlbeshri #خالدالبشري

[partisan-by-default]

The bill would require the Internal Revenue Service to tax large funds that fail to sell off their single family homes over that timeframe. It already has some support in the house, where it is co-sponsored by the U.S. Representatives Nikema Williams and Linda Sánchez, as well as in the Senate, where it is cosponsored by Senator Tina Smith. Advocacy groups Private Equity Stakeholder Project, Consumer Action, and National Consumer Law Center have offered additional support.

The bill defines a hedge fund as partnerships, corporations, or real estate investment trusts that pool funds from investors and have $50 million or more in net value or assets under management, with exemptions for nonprofits and companies primarily focused on construction. Hedge funds failing to report single-family home purchases would face a $20,000 fine that would go toward a housing down payment trust fund. Funds that fail to sell off their housing stock in the timeframe required would face a tax of 50 percent of the fair market value for each property, with funds also going to the housing trust fund.

Merkley and Smith cite data from an Urban Institute report that said in 2011, no single entity owned more than 1,000 single-family rental homes, whereas by June 2022 hedge funds and institutional investors owned a cumulative 574,000 single-family homes. This includes large corporate owners like Invitation Homes, which owns more than 80,000 homes across the country. While corporate investors only own 5 percent of the nation’s single-family housing stock, the ownership is often concentrated in majority Black and Latino neighborhoods and in some neighborhoods, entire blocks have been purchased by investors.

The practice has ramped up since the beginning of the pandemic, with 28 percent of all homes sold in 2022 going to institutional investors according to Pew Charitable Trust. In 2021, a venture-funded company backed by Jeff Bezos and other billionaires also got in on the act. 

[rjzimmerman]

Excerpt from this story from the LA Times:

As visitors to a bustling park in northeast Los Angeles shot hoops, scrambled up play equipment and lounged in manicured grass, an endangered songbird covertly — but not quietly — did his part to stave off extinction.

The least Bell’s vireo, a small, mostly gray songbird, was on the verge of nesting in Rio de Los Angeles State Park, a green respite that supplanted an abandoned railyard along the L.A. River. The bird with a wingspan of just seven inches was singing passionately, an act that marked its territory as breeding season picked up in mid-March. Its song rings out like a clinking question-and-answer: “Cheedle-cheedle-chee? Cheedle-cheedle-chew!”

“It’s persistent. It’s a survivor,” said Nicolas Gonzalez, senior communications manager for migration science at the National Audubon Society, an avian conservation nonprofit, who helped identify the bird as it flitted between trees, blending into the muted spring sky.

Bird boosters, meanwhile, were hustling to get the grounds in order.

Evelyn “Evy” Serrano enthusiastically instructed two volunteers at Rio de Los Angeles, which is in the Glassell Park neighborhood, on how to create what looked like moats of soil around fledgling native plants. Serrano, director of the Audubon Center at Debs Park, another urban oasis, explained that the berms would funnel water to the mule fat, black sage, golden currant, sycamore trees and other native foliage the least Bell’s vireo needs to thrive. Certain plants provide cover and nest materials, while others attract yummy insects.

So far, the literal dirty work seems to be paying off. A lone least Bell’s vireo was documented at the park when the habitat restoration effort targeting the species began about two years ago, Serrano said. Within a year, there were four — two nesting pairs. Last year, they counted three fledglings.

“Sometimes it takes a really long time to see the change,” Serrano said. “It was really nice to see it happen so quickly.”

Stakeholders see the migratory birds’ rebound in the park and surrounding areas as a testament to what can happen when people come together to make positive change and natural environments are supported. It also suggests that people can live in harmony with nature — even in highly urbanized areas.

But significant legwork preceded the recent local triumph, and what can be seen as historic missteps were walked back. Meanwhile, there are new and old threats.

Once abundant in California’s riverside woodlands, the silver-tongued, whitish-bellied least Bell’s vireo vanished from most of its range by the 1980s, remaining only in Southern California and northern Baja California, according to the U.S. Geological Survey. (The birds are the smallest of four subspecies of Bell’s vireo.)

The ranks plummeted amid the extensive loss of their preferred riparian habitat. Dams went up and wetlands were drained, people encroached on wildlands, and agriculture expanded. In 1999, The Times reported that California had lost 97% of its riparian woodlands, more than any other state. Parasitism by brown-headed cowbirds, which lay eggs in vireo nests, contributed to the decline.California listed the bird as endangered in 1980, and federal officials followed suit in 1986.

[blackhistorychatgpt]

Black inventors

From Perplexity:

Famous black inventors have significantly contributed to various fields, from everyday household items to groundbreaking technological advancements. Here are some notable figures:

George Crum (1824-1914): A chef who is credited with inventing the potato chip in 1853[1].

Frederick McKinley Jones (1893-1961): Developed refrigeration equipment for trucks, trains, ships, and planes, receiving over 40 patents. His invention, the Thermo King, revolutionized the food and medical transport industries[1].

Granville T. Woods (1856-1910): Accumulated almost 60 patents, improving railroad functioning. Notably, he invented the induction telegraph system for train communication[1].

George Washington Carver (1864-1943): An agricultural chemist who developed 518 products from peanuts and sweet potatoes, including ink, dye, soap, and synthetic rubber[1].

Madam C.J. Walker (1867-1919): Became the first African American woman self-made millionaire by creating a line of hair products for African American women[1].

Garrett Morgan (1877-1963): Invented the traffic signal and a safety hood that served as a prototype for the gas mask[1].

Mary Beatrice Davidson Kenner: Patented the sanitary belt in 1957, a significant advancement in women's health and hygiene[1].

Thomas L. Jennings (1791–1859): The first African American to receive a U.S. patent, for a dry-cleaning process[4].

Patricia Bath (1942-2019): Invented a laser cataract treatment, becoming the first African American female doctor to receive a medical patent[4].

Mark Dean (1957-present): Holds over 20 patents, including contributions to the creation of the color PC monitor and the first gigahertz chip[4].

Elijah McCoy (1844-1929): Known for his invention of the automatic lubricator for oiling steam engines, leading to the phrase "the real McCoy" to denote something authentic[4].

These inventors have left a lasting impact on society, demonstrating ingenuity and perseverance in the face of challenges.

Citations: [1] https://www.oprahdaily.com/life/work-money/g30877473/african-american-inventors/ [2] https://www.parents.com/kids/education/world-changing-black-inventors-that-every-kid-should-know-about/ [3] https://www.black-inventor.com [4] https://www.biography.com/inventors/g46697619/famous-black-inventors [5] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_African-American_inventors_and_scientists

From Gemini (formerly Bard):

20 Famous Black Investors with Short Descriptions:

Dr. Shirley Jackson: First Black woman to earn a doctorate in nuclear physics, invested in research and development for the U.S. Department of Defense.

Robert F. Smith: Founded Vista Equity Partners, a private equity firm with over $85 billion in assets under management. Known for his philanthropic endeavors.

Oprah Winfrey: Media mogul and investor, known for her investments in cable channels, production companies, and Weight Watchers.

Udayan I. Lekhraj: Founded CMG Partners, a private equity firm specializing in healthcare investments. Advocate for diversity and inclusion in venture capital.

Catherine Hughes: Founded Urban One, a media company serving the African American community. First Black woman to chair a publicly traded company in the U.S.

Rodney Bryant: Co-founded JUST Capital, a firm that measures and incentivizes corporations to prioritize stakeholder capitalism.

Ellen Johnson Sirleaf: Former President of Liberia, Nobel Peace Prize winner. Focused on economic development and investment in her country.

Ronald Lauder: CEO of Estee Lauder Companies, known for his investments in the beauty industry and philanthropic work.

Charles R. Bronfman: Chairman of The Seagram Company Ltd., invested in various industries including entertainment, real estate, and philanthropy.

John Rogers Jr.: Founded Ariel Investments, a mutual fund company with over $28 billion in assets under management. Advocate for responsible investing.

Marc Morial: Former mayor of New Orleans, currently president of the National Urban League. Focused on economic empowerment of Black communities.

Ronald Watkins: Founding CEO of Watkins Investing Group, invests in real estate and businesses within the Black community.

Melody Hobson: President and CEO of Ariel Investments, known for her work on financial literacy and diversity in boardrooms.

Aisha Evans: Founded BE Capital, a venture capital firm focused on Black and Latinx tech entrepreneurs.

Kevin Hart: Comedian and investor, known for his investments in production companies, streaming platforms, and sports teams.

Jay-Z: Rapper and entrepreneur, known for his investments in music streaming, sports teams, and venture capital funds.

Will Smith: Actor and investor, known for his investments in production companies, media platforms, and venture capital funds.

Serena Williams: Tennis champion and investor, known for her investments in venture capital funds focused on women and diverse founders.

Rihanna: Singer and entrepreneur, known for her investments in beauty brands, fashion lines, and technology startups.

LeBron James: Basketball player and investor, known for his investments in media companies, production companies, and technology startups.

Please note: This list is not exhaustive and can be debated in terms of individual importance and impact.

Reading List on Black Inventors:

Black Inventors: Lives That Mattered by Darlene R. Medford

Hidden Figures: The American Dream and the Untold Story of the Black Women Mathematicians Who Helped Win the Space Race by Margot Lee Shetterly

Lifting the Veil: Celebrating the Unsung Heroes of Black History by Michael Hill

Lost Genius: The Forgotten Black Inventors Who Changed the World by Dennis Freeman

Pioneering Women in American Mathematics: From Agnes Scott to Emmy Noether by Pamela Prochazka

Black Inventors in Science and Technology by Shirley J. Smith

A Colored Man's Reminiscences of James M. Whitfield: With Recollections of the Early Struggles of Colored Men in Boston by Wilbur H. Siebert

Inventing the Future: Black Inventors in Science and Technology by Geneva Gay

African Americans in Science, Math, and Invention by Darlene R. Medford

Black Inventors in the United States by Darlene R. Medford

This list offers a variety of books covering different periods and areas of innovation by Black inventors. Consider exploring further based on your specific interests.

I hope this information is helpful!

[allthecanadianpolitics]

The Ontario government says it is pushing forward with plans to create Ontario's first urban provincial park in the Township of Uxbridge.

The government says the proposed park in Oak Ridges Moraine may include up to 532 hectares of provincially owned lands.

It's still unclear what exactly the park will look like as the government says it will be working on a feasibility study and consultations on the proposed protected area in the months ahead.

Environment Minister David Piccini issued a statement saying the government looks forward to working with the public and local stakeholders to make this vision a reality.

Full article

Tagging: @politicsofcanada

[ogenvs3000w24]

As an Environmental Entrepreneur

My ideal role as an environmental entrepreneur is to pursue a career in urban planning. In a time where new developments are constantly in the works and technology is improving at a rapid pace, environmental sustainability and preservation often gets overlooked. Growing up in Toronto, I always noticed the sheer quantity of construction going on at all times as well as the heavy traffic that occurred every single day. While traffic and construction are inevitable in urban areas, there are plenty of improvements that can be made to promote sustainability and advocating for the environment. I would like to aid in designing developments, such as homes, offices, parks, and malls to be sustainable and aesthetically pleasing. By using my skills to develop urban areas, I could benefit communities and cities to create a more eco-friendly environments and reduce the amount of pollution emitted by highly urbanized areas.

The role of urban planner can have a wide array of duties that would be taken on day to day. The job may entail research, engaging with communities, developing policies, architectural design, transportation planning, collaboration with stakeholders, outsourcing for specialists, and marketing and promotion of sustainable urban planning. Although many activities go into the everyday lives of urban planners, the overall goal is the create sustainable urbanization.

My ideal location for workers as an urban planner would be Toronto. It is an urban area in need of more sustainability, plus my family lives there and I'm family with the city. To become an urban planner in Ontario, I will need a bachelors degree in either urban and regional planning, architecture, geography, engineering, or a related discipline (job bank, 2023). I may also need a masters degree in one of those disciplines (job bank, 2023). I will then need to become a member in the Canadian Institute of Planners, and a certification from the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (job bank, 2023). Some of the recommended skills include evaluation, critical thinking, management of financial resources, problem solving, reading, writing, and oral communication (job bank, 2023). Recommended personal attributed include collaboration, innovation, attention to detail, adaptability, leadership and independence (job bank, 2023). It is also recommended to be knowledgable in mathematics and water resources (job bank, 2023).

References

Canada, E. and S. D. (2023, November 21). Planner, urban and regional near Pictou (NS): Skills - job bank. Planner, Urban And Regional near Pictou (NS) | Skills - Job Bank. https://www.jobbank.gc.ca/marketreport/skills/22469/23051

[jcmarchi]

A home away from a homeland

New Post has been published on https://thedigitalinsider.com/a-home-away-from-a-homeland/

A home away from a homeland

When the Haitian Multi-Service Center opened in the Dorchester neighborhood of Boston in 1978, it quickly became a valued resource. Haitian immigrants likened it to Ellis Island, Plymouth Rock, and Haiti’s own Citadel, a prominent fort. The center, originally located in an old Victorian convent house in St. Leo Parish, provided health care, adult education, counseling, immigration and employment services, and more.

Such services require substantial funding. Before long, Boston’s Cardinal Bernard Francis Law merged the Haitian Multi-Service Center into the Greater Boston Catholic Charities network, whose deeper pockets kept the center intact. Law required that Catholic welfare promote the church’s doctrine. Catholic HIV/AIDS prevention programs started emphasizing only abstinence, not contraception. Meanwhile, the center also received state and federal funding that required grantees to promote medical “best practices” that contrasted with church doctrines.

In short, even while the center served as a community beacon, there were tensions around its funding and function — which in turn reflect bigger tensions about our civic fabric.

“These conflicts are about what the role of government is and where the line is, if there is a line, between public and private, and who ultimately is responsible for the health and well-being of individuals, families, and larger populations,” says MIT scholar Erica Caple James, who has long studied nongovernmental programs.

Now James has written a new book on the subject, “Life at the Center: Haitians and Corporate Catholicism in Boston,” published this spring by the University of California Press and offering a meticulous study of the Haitian Multi-Service Center that illuminates several issues at once.

In it, James, the Professor of Medical Anthropology and Urban Studies in MIT’s Department of Urban Studies and Planning, carefully examines the relationship between the Haitian community, the Catholic Church, and the state, analyzing how the church’s “pastoral power” is exercised and to whose benefit. The book also chronicles the work of the center’s staff, revealing how everyday actions are connected to big-picture matters of power and values. And the book explores larger questions about community, belonging, and finding meaning in work and life — things not unique to Boston’s Haitian Americans but made visible in this study.

Who makes the rules?

Trained as a psychiatric anthropologist, James has studied Haiti since the 1990s; her 2010 book “Democratic Insecurities” examined post-trauma aid programs in Haiti. James was asked to join the Haitian Multi-Service Center’s board in 2005, and served until 2010. She developed the new book as a study of a community in which she was participating.

Over several decades, Boston’s Haitian American population has become one of the city’s most significant immigrant communities. Haitians fleeing violence and insecurity often gained a foothold in the city, especially in the Dorchester and Mattapan neighborhoods as well as some suburbs. The Haitian Multi-Service Center became integral to the lives of many people trying to gain stability and prosperity. And, from residential clergy to those in need of emergency shelter, people were always at the site.

As James writes, the center “literally was a home for many stakeholders, and for others, a home away from a homeland left behind.”

Church support for the center worked partly because many Haitians felt aligned with the church, attending services and Catholic schools; in turn the church provided uniquely substantial support for the Haitian American community.

That also meant some high-profile issues were resolved according to church doctrine. For example, the center’s education efforts about HIV/AIDS transmission did not include contraception, due to the church’s emphasis on abstinence — which many workers considered less effective. Some staff members would even step outside the center to distribute condoms to community members, thus not violating policy.

“We started as a grassroots organization. … Now we have a church making decisions for the community,” said the former director of the center’s HIV/AIDS prevention programming. By 1996, the center’s adult literacy staff resigned en masse over policy differences, with some workers asserting in a 1996 memo that the church “has assumed a proprietary role over our work in the Haitian community.”

Coalition, not consensus

Another policy tension surrounding Catholic charities emerged after same-sex marriage became legal in Massachusetts in 2004. In 2005, a reporter revealed that over the previous 18 years the church had facilitated 13 adoptions of difficult-to-place children with gay couples in the state. After this practice became publicized, the church announced in 2006 that its century of adoption work would end, so as to not violate either church or state laws.

Ultimately, James says, “There are structural dimensions that were baked in, which almost inevitably produced tensions at the institutional or organizational level.”

And yet, as James chronicles attentively, there was hardly consensus about the church’s role in the center. The center’s Haitian American community members were a coalition, not a bloc; some welcomed the church’s presence at the center for spiritual or practical reasons, or both.

“Many Haitians felt there was value from [the center] being independent, but there are others who felt it would be difficult to maintain otherwise,” James says.

Some of the community members even expressed lingering respect for Boston’s Cardinal Law, a central figure of the Catholic Church abuse scandal that emerged in 2002; Law had personally championed the charitable work the church had been performing for Haitians in Boston. In this light, another question emerging from the book, James says, is, “What encourages people to remain loyal to an imperfect institution?”

Keepers of the flame

Some of the people most loyal to the Haitian Multi-Service Center were its staff, whose work James carefully details. Some staff had themselves previously benefitted from the center’s services. The institution’s loyal workers, James writes, served as “keepers of the flame,” understanding its history, building community connections, and extending their own identities through good works for others.

For these kinds of institutions, James notes, “They seem most successful when there is transparency, solidarity, a strong sense of purpose. … It [shows] why we do our jobs and what we do to find meaning.”

“Life at the Center” has generated positive feedback from other scholars. As Linda Barnes, a professor at the Boston University School of Medicine, has stated, “One could read ‘Life at the Center’ multiple times and, with each reading, encounter new dimensions. Erica Caple James’s work is exceptional.”

What of the Haitian Multi-Service Center today? In 2006, it was moved and is now housed in Catholic Charities’ Yawkey Center, along with other entities. Some of the workers and community members, James notes in the book, consider the center to have died over the years, compared to its stand-alone self. Others simply consider it transformed. Many have strong feelings, one way or another, about the place that helped orient them as they forged new lives.

As James writes, “It has been difficult to reconcile the intense emotions shared by many of the Center’s stakeholders — confusion, anger, disbelief, and frustration, still expressed with intensity even decades later — alongside reminiscences of love, joy, laughter, and care in rendering service to Haitians and others in need.”

As “Life at the Center” makes clear, that intensity stems from the shared mission many people had, of finding their way in a new and unfamiliar country, in the company of others. And as James writes, in concluding the book, “fulfillment of a mission is never solely about single acts of individuals, but rather the communal striving toward aiding, educating, empowering, and instilling hope in others.”

[girlactionfigure]

Some of the comments about Israel’s operation in Jenin are based on willful attempts to manipulate or ignore facts. Here are a few examples.

1. Misleading about who was killed. One can say “terrorists” or “militants” but willfully misleading is to pretends it’s random people.

2. Persistent use of “refugee camp” is an attempt to mislead. It was a camp established in 1953, it’s a built up urban area today. Willfully misleading is to portray the word “refugee camp” as of the attack is on refugees, as oppose to gunmen in the area.

3. Not mentioning the gunmen, gun violence and far-right religious extremist militia terror groups that are the target of the operation. The armed men openly pose for photos…not showing them is part of misleading about the gun violence these men did to the locals

4. Portraying the use of “missiles” as somehow unacceptable. When hundreds of armed violence extremists take over an area and use it to stockpile illegal rifles, bombs, explosives and other dangerous weapons, they have created a war zone. Precision warfare is how war works today

5. Israel’s use of bulldozers is not against civilians but it is falsely portrayed as such. The fact is that hundreds of gunmen with illegal rifles terrorized civilians and put explosives near streets risking lives. Armored vehicles clearing streets of IEDs is way to remove them

In conclusion, it’s important to start with the reality that armed gangs of men running around with rifles and stockpiling weapons for attacks is what led to this. You can’t have a city terrorized by armed extremists that attack others.

The reality is that the Palestinian Authority backed for years with western aid, and even it’s security forces trained with US backing, had a duty to bring peace and security to people in Jenin and they systematically abandoned the city to extremists (many tied to Iran)

You can go back and read all my and other reports about how illegal weapons openly fueled and destroyed peace and security in Jenin. Stakeholders who were supposed to help the PA, failed to account for this and abandoned the city to armed gun culture extremism.

When is the last time human rights groups or diplomats visited Jenin and spoke out about the flood of illegal firearms and extremists who parade around with guns in front of kids to terrorize people? People have a right not to live under armed gangs

Huge resources were spent on the PA; money siphoned off for villas and BMWs while Jenin was abandoned. While officials relaxed by their pools rifles were stolen and flooded Jenin. Diplomats relaxed in hotels in Ramallah roasting eachother and “human rights” groups as it happened

And so then after the armed groups carried out dozens of attacks Israel increasingly responded. And then those relaxing who had done nothing and abandoned the city to extremists are surprised and misleading.

Jenin is used by gunmen extremists, some backed by Iran, so that Iran can try to turn it into the same hell of Hezbollah-occupied southern Lebanon and Hamas-occupied Gaza and the captogan trade of militias in Syria or the hell of PMU-occupied parts of Iraq.

It’s not like the model isn’t obvious. Iran already carved out an arc of poverty and militia - occupied armed gunmen hell in many areas to profit and use these areas against others. Unfortunately they tried to do the same in Jenin with predicable results.

Seth Frantzman

@sfrantzman

[delicatelysublimeforester]

Appreciation to the City of Saskatoon YXE Green Infrastructure Strategy:

[andiatas]

H.M. The King's opening speech at International Union of Forest Research Organization's World Congress 2024

Ministers, Excellencies, Ladies and gentlemen,

I am pleased to welcome you all to the International Union of Forest Research Organizations World Congress 2024. This year hosted by Sweden in collaboration with the Nordic and Baltic countries.

The last time Sweden hosted the congress was in 1929, when my great-grandfather Gustaf V was King. Back then, the forest played a crucial role in fostering stability in rural areas, providing both economic and social security.

The most recent forest conference was held in Brazil in 2019. The difference between boreal forests and the Amazon might seem big. But this week, many examples of similarities as well as common challenges will be discussed too.

To manage forests sustainably, whether they are in boreal forests or the South, we need certain basics in place to create resilient systems. These include stable institutions like government agencies, robust markets, and solid research to help us make smart decisions supporting a greener future.

Ladies and gentlemen,

This conference aims to build bridges between continents and people, addressing common challenges and showcasing forest solutions for a sustainable society.

I have had the privilege to travel across continents during several decades. It is evident how interconnected forests are and how crucial they are for the health of our planet.

As we all know but cannot be emphasized enough: Forests serve as carbon sinks in helping to combat climate change. Protecting and sustainably managing forests is essential to maintaining their role in capturing carbon.

Ladies and gentlemen,

Sweden has a proud tradition of sustainable forestry. This includes family forestry, where families manage forest lands over generations. It also involves the unique right of public access, allowing everyone to enjoy the forests. Our hunting and wildlife management practices help keep ecosystems balanced and diverse, which is crucial for protecting nature.

Sweden has also created a sustainable countryside through long-term ownership and collaboration among forestry stakeholders, industry, and local communities. This has created stable markets for forest products and services, making forestry a vital part of our economy.

Ladies and gentlemen,

I extend my sincere gratitude to the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU), which has served as the host organization for this conference. Now, the hosting responsibilities will move on to Kenya and Nairobi.

Finally, I would like to welcome you to the Royal parks at Drottningholm and Hagaparken on Wednesday, where you will experience and discuss forest and individual tree management in urban areas.

Thank you!

Speech held by H.M. King Carl XVI Gustaf at Stockholmsmässan in Älvsjö, Stockholm, on June 24, 2024.

[arifraihansadhin]

Arif Raihan Sadhin is a highly skilled civil engineer with a passion for designing and constructing resilient infrastructure. With extensive experience in project management, structural analysis, and urban development, Arif consistently delivers quality results, meeting both technical and environmental standards. He is adept at leading diverse teams, coordinating with stakeholders, and implementing innovative solutions to meet the demands of modern engineering. His commitment to sustainability and efficiency reflects his dedication to shaping the future of civil engineering, contributing to the development of safe and lasting structures.

[the-quotable-alberta-hansard]

May 6, 2024

Mr. Kasawski: Bill 20 threatens Alberta’s democracy, and it’s completely unnecessary. Albertans are shocked. Mayors, both rural and urban, feel blindsided, and key stakeholders like Alberta Municipalities and Rural Municipalities of Alberta have been outspoken opponents of this bill. It would seem, from the overwhelming backlash against Bill 20, that the UCP didn’t talk to many people before the bill was introduced. Why did the Premier sign off on this poorly thought-out bill? Does she think consultation is not an important part of drafting legislation?

Mr. McIver: Well, I’m happy to answer the question again. We did two consultations over a couple of years recently.