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Try the USAC Program Search to narrow programs by terms or fields of study.
Studying abroad can be a more meaningful and invigorating learning experience than at home—both inside and outside of the classroom. You may be more curious and alert than you usually are so use this heightened energy to enhance your studies as well as your cultural and geographical explorations. You may also encounter different teaching styles and course processes; be prepared to adapt and to learn.
You will enroll in three to five credits per session, plus one additional credit if enrolled in the optional Northern Chile Field Study. At least one 3-credit course is required each summer session. Course availability is contingent upon student interest and enrollment is subject to change. Please visit the USAC website for complete course descriptions and prerequisites.
Summer language courses are intensive, with three to four credits of Spanish taught in each four-week session. Language courses have a maximum enrollment of 15 students each. Spanish Conversation and Oral Skills is highly recommended to complement Intermediate Spanish I through Advanced Spanish I.
The following courses focus largely on the history and cultures of the Andes region and the country, and provide a multi-disciplinary perspective to your studies. Courses are taught in English unless noted in Spanish; most courses taught in Spanish are appropriate for students with four or more semesters of college Spanish.
To request a course syllabus: firstname.lastname@example.com
Deepen your academic experience by turning the optional Northern Chile Tour into a 1-credit field study by completing additional academic readings, assignments, and research. Students who choose the field study option will select a particular topic of interest that relates to the history and culture of the region visited and prepare a research paper. Potential field study research topics include: history, art, architecture, geology, ecology, and astronomy of the San Pedro de Atacama, Andean, Altiplain, and Atacama Desert regions.
USAC internships are rich resources for your academic and professional development and are counted as part of your credit load. Students are placed in a Spanish-speaking environment, with high exposure to culture and language, and must be able to communicate at an advanced language level. Interns earn credits but no financial compensation. The schedule and the number of work hours will be determined by the schedule of USAC courses.
Santiago internships fall into the broad categories of education, social welfare, museums, and hotel/hospitality. Previous placements have included: teaching English; communication, broadcasting and design in non-profit institutions; giving workshops to children; and leading spare time activities to children affected by cancer and psychiatric disabilities. Other internship sites are possible. Placement is not guaranteed by USAC, rather it will be determined by your application and supporting materials and an interview with the internship sponsor on site.
Eligibility: enrollment in the Santiago program, a minimum GPA of 3.0, 300/400-level Spanish proficiency, and junior standing at the time of the internship. A refundable fee of $100 is charged and returned upon successful completion of the internship.
Local faculty teach most USAC courses; however, the following U.S. professors are also teaching as Visiting Professors.
Session I:
Dr. Maris Thompson, California State University, Chico
Course offered:
Dr. Thompson (Ph.D., UC Berkeley) teaches courses in educational equity, literacy, and democracy in the School of Education at California State University, Chico. She has taught in the Galápagos Islands, Ecuador and Nairobi, Kenya and is passionate about international teaching and learning opportunities. In 2015, Dr. Thompson received a Maggie Award for her work on gender and inclusion at CSU, Chico. Her current research interests focus on the experiences of first generation and international students in higher education.
Dr. Janneli Miller, Fort Lewis College
Dr. Miller (Ph.D. University of Arizona) teaches Environmental Studies and Anthropology at Ft. Lewis College in Durango. Dr. Miller has taught in Mexico, China, India, South Africa, and Costa Rica, receiving a Fulbright for her work with the Tarahumara in northern Mexico. She is an award-winning journalist and photographer who loves international travel and teaching.
Este curso de español de nivel avanzado ha sido diseñado para alumnos que ya hayan completado tres años de español y, aunque no presenten problemas de comunicación para realizar tareas cotidianas, precisen perfeccionar su control sobre los diferentes registros del español oral y escrito. Asimismo, este curso ofrece a los alumnos a la oportunidad de ampliar su vocabulario en ámbitos más específicos y técnicos y de mejorar la precisión gramatical en su producción tanto oral como escrita.
This advanced level course of Spanish has been designed for students who have completed three years of Spanish and although they may manage in completing daily tasks and interactions, they still need to improve their control over different oral and written registers. In addition, this course offers the students the opportunity to enhance their vocabulary in specific and technical areas, and to improve their grammatical accuracy in oral and written production.
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This course aims to give students a comprehensive introduction to a variety of dances of Latin America. The course follows a practical model, in which students learn the essential steps of a selection of four dances typical of the region. Through the medium of dance, it is hoped that students will acquire a greater understanding and interest in Latin American culture.
Ecological medicine examines healing processes intrinsic to life in ecosystems and humans. The course introduces students to topics in environmental health and medical anthropology from an ecological perspective. We examine ways in which health care systems contribute to environmental degradation. Students learn about the Precautionary Principle, Health Care without Harm, hazardous medical waste, and contemporary indigenous modes of healing that foster healthy ecosystems. Students will gain a dynamic understanding of the field by learning skills and strategies necessary to promote environmental restoration through development and utilization of medical practices that do not increase illnesses of humans or the planet.
Introduction to the language through the development of language skills and through structural analysis. The fundamentals of Spanish grammar (all verb tenses), vocabulary and useful expressions are studied. The goals of these courses are to build reading, writing, listening and, above all, speaking skills.
Introduction to the language through the development of language skills and through structural analysis. The fundamentals of grammar (all verb tenses), vocabulary, and useful expressions are studied. The objective of these courses is to build reading, writing, listening, and above all, speaking skills. Prerequisite: one semester of college Spanish.
This course emphasizes learning the structure of the Spanish language. Classes are divided into three components: grammar/vocabulary, conversation and reading/writing, each of which is related to the themes covered. A review of basic elements, such as the present tense, ser and estar, preterit and imperfect, etc. is included. Prerequisite: two semesters of college Spanish.
This class continues the learning of the structure of the Spanish language. Classes are divided into three components: grammar/vocabulary, conversation and reading/writing, each of which is related to the themes covered. This level is specifically orientated towards functional and social communication, oral as well as written. Prerequisite: three semesters of college Spanish.
This course provides an overview of Latin American Culture, focusing on Chilean realities, encompassing diverse cultural contexts, from the ancient Pre-Columbian cultures, to latest expressions of Latin American popular culture. This course will introduce basic notions on cultural studies; including prehistory, religion, art, economy and social organization; how they integrate to form different cultural identities and how they face modern challenges in the light of a globalized world.
The purpose of this course is to provide a Pan-American vision of Latin American cinema from the 1980s to the present. The course will focus on the relationships established between societies and cinema, observing how the links are made in different aesthetics, expressing different cinematographic language and content. Therefore, through the analysis of every film, the course will unveil the diverse cultural imagery which has been part of the artistic tradition of the continent.
During its independent life, Latin America has been a live performer in the international scenery. Nevertheless, its behavior has been plenty of times only a reaction to external factors, ensuring its own interest and rules. Political treaties from Europe and United States towards this region are one of the many factors that Latin-American international relations have usually had to deal with.
This course covers international relations as from a Latin-American perspective and how, as from the early XXI century, these have projected themselves worldwide in several arenas such as the political, social and the cultural ones. Along with the formerly described, it is proposed to discuss the projection of international relations in terms of the interests that matter to this region in particular.
This course provides an overview of Chile's native cultures and languages, encompassing diverse contexts from the north to the southern region.
It will also analyse the present situation of the native peoples as a reflection of a long history of resistance against colonization and foreign influences.
The course will introduce important aspects of the native cultures, including history, religion, economy, and social organization. It will also analyse how these elements combine to form cultural identities, and how these identities are conveyed through language and other ways of expression.
At the conclusion of Session I and the beginning of Session II, you'll have the extraordinary opportunity to explore some of Northern Chile's historical sites and nature. USAC encourages every student to participate in this tour; however, the segment is optional. To participate on this Field Study, students must register for the Northern Chile Tour which has an additional fee.
Description not available at this time.
Classes revolve around compositions, which the student writes almost daily. Part of the class is used to correct the compositions or exercises that the student does outside of class. New advanced grammatical topics are also introduced and exercises reinforcing the use of that element are done in class. Also, part of the class is utilized for selected readings, discussion and vocabulary building. Prerequisite: four semesters of college Spanish. Taught in Spanish.
Composition II is designed for students with 5 semester of college level Spanish language Study. The focus of this course is to improve learners´ written abilities through the analysis first and the subsequent production of different types of texts. In addition, a number of grammatical topics will be reviewed in order to enhance and refine the learners´ grammatical competence.
Composición II está diseñado para estudiantes con 5 semestre de nivel universitario español estudio. El objetivo de este curso es mejorar estudiante escrito primero de capacidades mediante el análisis y la posterior producción de diferentes tipos de textos. Además, un número de temas gramaticales se revisarán a fin de mejorar y perfeccionar la competencia gramatical de estudiante.
The objective of this course is to facilitate the acquisition of language necessary to express oneself in daily situations as well as in more difficult contexts. Different conversational themes and related vocabulary are introduced for discussion. Prerequisite: two semesters of college Spanish.
Historically, education has been used to prepare young people for the workforce, as a means of social control, and as a mechanism for social transformation. Through an examination of influential global case studies from the early 20th century to the present, this course will consider the following questions: Can education be used as a tool to improve society and make it more democratic? Can schooling respond to rapidly changing cultural and social conditions, and help students to confront them effectively? The course will help students to understand the ways that education, in both formal and informal contexts, can serve as a critical site for both reproducing social structures and reconfiguring them. Student movements for democracy in Chile, Latin America, Egypt, and the US will be of particular focus.
Presents a clear and thorough study of Latin American poetry from the period of the Vanguards (20's) until the present, taking into account its diversity and experimentation. Students will study the texts within the historical context in which they were written. A variety of authors from Central and South America will be discussed. Prerequisite: six semesters of college Spanish. Taught in Spanish.


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"Rica Miim" is a Japanese singer-songwriter based in London.
Her acoustic pop band "Tori Tori Bird" shows her intense uniqueness over the sensitive and nostalgic melody sense.
She has been playing classic piano since she was very little, and she started singing in a band while she moved to London for an art school.
Her career is somewhat unique, touring in Thailand juggling , and doing sessions in the Sahara with the Berbers leading camels.
It's hard to imagine from what you hear now but she used to be inspired to be a member of Japanese girls' band such as Morning Musume, wanting to start all female choir band.
She has also organized an event for three piece all-female mellow acoustic group "Magical Mystery Tours".
Her nostalgic and artistic song will perfectly fit the calmness in your room.
The laid back songs are best enjoyed on a fine day outdoor.
Both are her true-self.
Listening to her songs coming from who she is forces me to want to be a person who can create things out of love.
-Rica Miim-

subset: commoncrawl


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Matthew Silver's role as a clown, trickster and village idiot is to parody excessive seriousness by playing with taboos, rules, and social norms. His inspiration comes from the heart. He performs for smiles and laughter, loosening people's armor, and opening up a portal for imagination, creativity and love.
Matthew Silver | I perform to promote LOVE
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We visit our friends in Zwolle, Silvio and Jo, at least once a year. Usually we go to their home, eat, drink, chat and have a good time. We don't go into town or anything.
This time, Jo, the female half of our friend-couple, and I planned a girlfriend-weekend. My better half was in Singapore. And although her hubby would join us here and there, this stay-over was in the first place about and for her and me.
City trip to Zwolle. What to see and do.
This post is the first of a mini-series about Zwolle, similar to the mini-series that I did about Eindhoven and Groningen.
Mini-series; what to expect
This first post is about Zwolle in general. Fast facts, architecture, history and Zwolle as a Hanseatic city.
After this general introduction, I'll show you where to go shopping in Zwolle.
Part three of the mini-series is about the coolest, best cafes, restaurants and bars in Zwolle.
Part four is about one restaurant in particular: La Cucaracha.
The fifth post will be about art in Zwolle: museums and street art.
Fast facts about Zwolle
Zwolle, a town with 250.000 residents and a charming historic centre, came to bloom in the early Middle Ages. When you walk through the medieval town with its numerous characteristic facades, you experience the rich past of Zwolle.
Thanks to its strategic location and through trade on the river IJssel, Zwolle developed into a powerful, rich city in the 15th century.
The centre once was protected by city walls, from which only some small parts remain today.
One gate, the Sassenpoort, still stands proudly.
A star-shaped defensive canal around the centre is also still there.
Zwolle; a Hanseatic city
Zwolle is a so called Hanzestad or Hanseatic city. This stems from the 15th century. In those days, a number of cities, like Hasselt, Kampen, Deventer and others, formed a Hanseatic League, to ensure and improve their trading power.
Hansa or hanze refers to a group of merchants that travelled together. Products that were traded included grain, salted herring, stockfish, furs, wine, ceramics, linen and wool.
How to explore Zwolle
By foot
The city centre is fairly small and can easily be covered by foot. It's only a 10 minute walk from the train station to the city centre, in case you arrive by train.
Guided walks
You can opt for a guided walk:
- Overijsseltrips offers a number of walks for small groups. Their Hanze walk is very popular.
- Zwolse Balletjeshuis (Zwolle Balls House) has in-house tourist information and offers walks in Zwolle.
- Waanders, a spectacular bookstore (more about this shop in my next post), also has in-house tourist info and also offers walks, like het Zwolse Balletjeshuis. The walks on offer are not the same though.
- Via this app with a walking route for Zwolle: (in-)visible Zwolle. About hidden archeology and (architectural) history of Zwolle. Very interesting and beautifully designed. Unfortunately only in Dutch.
By bike
You can rent a bike at the train station.
It's also possible to grab a bike taxi or move around on a segway.
By boat
Since there is a lot of water in and around Zwolle, it's a fun idea to enjoy the city from the water.
Hiawatha offers a whole range of boating options, from kayaks and canoes to water bikes and so called lounge donuts.
Curly Traveller's citytrip Zwolle map
I made a Google map with Zwolle's main sights and hotspots on it. Be sure to check it out before you travel to Zwolle!
Got curious about where to shop in Zwolle? No worries; stay tuned and check out my next article.


text: Just 3.5 mi (5.7 km) from the airport, Fat Yogi Cottages puts you within a 10-minute drive of Kuta Beach and Carrefour Plaza Kuta. After splashing around at the outdoor pool, you can grab a bite to eat at the restaurant or unwind with a drink at the bar/lounge. Other features include a sauna, a children's pool, and a terrace.


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Boost Your Office Productivity
You may have learnt some tricks on how to boost your productivity, but in offices today, it is not just about yourself but about the group as a whole with whom you work with. As a boss, your role is to set the vision of the company as well as act as buffer to higher management and their (unreasonable) expectations for your team. Part of this juggling process includes assisting them to be more productive. To ensure they meet this requirement, here are some tips on how to boost your office productivity:
Get Your House in Order
Show the team your good time management practices whether it be attending meetings, answering emails and the projects you spearhead. By showing how you allocate your time for these matters to your team, they can follow your lead.
Set Goals for your Team
Create goals for your team to meet with regards to the projects they are working on. By setting goals, it will help your team understand what they should be focusing on and what they should not be committing to during this time.
Clarify Expectations
Meet with your team separately to discuss what are your expectations for their role. Don't micromanage, but explain how much time you expect them to spend on each project whether it be a client pitch, attending a meeting, etc. The team member needs to know what quality of work you are expecting for the matters and what outcome you hope to achieve. Remember there isn't one correct approach to time management, but you can guide them on your expectations.
Also communicate when you expect work to be completed on weekends or evenings. If you fail to advise on this and the extra hours were spent for no reason, this will build up resentment within the team.
Block Off Time
Encourage your team members to block off chunks of time every day to work on their day to day work, answer emails, daily/weekly planning, etc. Let them decide how best to utilise that time for their daily chores.
Also make smart use of shared calendars to include these daily blocked off chunks and evening downtime. This enables your team to understand when they can and cannot disturb each other.
Do You Need That Meeting
When working as In House Counsel, attending meetings were my pet hate. They would suck time out of my day and would not be effectively held. Think about whether you need to hold all those meetings. If you do need to have those meetings, make the meetings more effective by using these tricks:
a. Ensure each one has a clear defined purpose.
b. Send the reading material for the meeting beforehand.
Get Help
If you and your team are finding it difficult to become more efficient enlist the help of a productivity trainer or coach to assist you. They can provide group sessions or help individuals who need 121 coaching. We provide a 2 hour training course on productivity which is a good starting block for you and your team. To find out more, contact us by completing this form.
It is essential that everyone is on the same page to enable productivity to go up. These tips will help you to get to that goal.
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Mr Gogoi has had seemingly intractable problems with the state�s finances, though he inherited most of these from the previous government. The state Bharatiya Janata Party�s demand that the government declare a �financial emergency� looks suspiciously like political baiting because the party had not shown as much anxiety while its ally, the AGP, was in power. But the situation is reportedly so serious that the payment of salaries to government employees has been delayed on more than one occasion. Obviously, such a critical financial position leaves little room for planned economic development that the militancy-ravaged state so badly needs. Mr Gogoi has a strong case for greater Central assistance but he has to revitalize institutions that are supposed to implement Centrally-sponsored rural development schemes. At the same time, he has to look for new avenues to improve the state�s own resource base, even if some measures to do so prove unpopular. To start with, the government can plug administrative loopholes to improve its sales tax collection, which has had a particularly poor record.
So far, only the detention rules framed by the immigration and naturalization service, which is part of the justice department, have been touched, making it possible for the service to detain legal immigrants indefinitely during a national emergency. But noises are increasingly being made regarding the immediate implementation of the 1996 amendments, approved by the congress, to the illegal immigrant reform and the immigrant responsibility act. The dormancy of these amendments had resulted in relatively relaxed entry and exit point procedures with regard to visitors, such as passports not being stamped on exit or the INS not being provided with the list of terrorist offenders prepared by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. This may all be tightened up now. First, a comprehensive database, particularly of all foreign students in the US, could now be seen as imperative. This would store everything from detailed biometric information (to prevent visa fraud) to the student�s academic profile. This information network would be particularly vigilant about students overstaying their welcome, hitherto relatively easy to pull off because of passports not being stamped on exit. This monitoring could even come with a charge, something that could appear to be patently unfair to students, who are in any case applying for funding from the universities. None of these changes has been implemented so far. But the climate of opinion seems to have altered perceptibly, and the pressure to implement the 1996 amendments is appearing to be quite inevitable. Civil liberties or constitutional freedoms have never been beyond the contingencies created by terrorism. But the economics determining the fate of American universities and business schools might end up being a competing reality.
Infrastructural requirements are likely to be binding constraints on future growth. Further, the quality of delivery of public services has been adversely affected by fiscal constraints. The large and growing needs of the Centre and the states admittedly strain the financial markets. The experience of the late Nineties suggests that India is not immune to the slowdown phase of the global business cycle. The report attributes the recent slowdown of economic activity to the general insufficiency in the �aggregate demand� and in particular, to the faltering pace of investment demand, relatively low growth in the demand of bank credit, slowdown in currency expansion and decline in import demand.
Agricultural development has particularly been suffering from absolute deficiencies in physical and social infrastructure. The fall in capital formation in rural areas and loss of pace in technological upgradation in agriculture indicate the main problems in that sector.
The report faces upfront the impact of global factors on the pace of economic activity in India. Given the relatively low degree of openness of the Indian economy, the recent global slowdown has not affected India�s prospects too sharply. In countries where agricultural reforms were started in the early stage of the reform cycle, unlike the case in India, potential output of the economy as a whole has moved upwards.
So far as the growth prospects of 2001-02 are concerned, the report bases its moderately optimistic view on its expectation of improved monsoons. In its view, there are also prospects of the modest revival of the industrial sector, but only in the second half of the year. It hopes that the service sector would return to the average growth of 8.4 per cent achieved in the Nineties. However, the report concedes that the industrial output growth prospects give cause for considerable concern. Inflationary conditions, however, are expected to remain supportive.
The annual report updates the information on the progress of financial sector reforms. The RBI seems to be fairly satisfied with the state of affairs in the banking sector, although the report does not critically cover the recent adverse developments in the financial markets, which started in 2000-01 and have disclosed serious weaknesses.
The report reveals a justifiable sense of achievement with regard to the external sector. The rise of foreign exchange reserves to the current level of $ 44.7 billion has, indeed, redounded to the credit of policymakers. No doubt, this has resulted only from a combination of exports and support from invisibles, such as remittances from abroad and software earnings together with capital flows, both portfolio and direct. Out of the total foreign exchange reserves of $ 44.7 billion, nearly $ 23.0 billion is accounted for by foreign currency non-resident deposits. Even after taking out the non-repatriable component of $ 6.8 billion from these deposits, the proportion of FCNR contribution to reserves remains a source of fragility.
Are the reserves too high, involving as they do an implicit loss in deployment of deposits with central banks of developed countries at relatively low rates? The report justifies the current level of reserves citing a rule of prudence proposed by Argentina�s finance minister, Pablo Guidotti, which states, �Countries should manage their external assets and liabilities in such a way that they are always able to live without new foreign borrowing upto one year. The usable foreign exchange reserves should exceed scheduled amortization of foreign currency debts during the following year as also such of the liabilities as could be foreseen.� India is well within the ambit of this worthwhile principle.
India�s external debt has remained at about the same level as in 1999-2000. The gross debt stands at roughly $ 100 billion, an increase of just $ 2 billion above the previous year�s level. The external commercial borrowing, including trade credits, amounts to only $ 29.94 billion. The short-term debt is also at a low percentage, 3 per cent, to the total debt. These are positive features of the external sector performance.
Turning to trade data, however, the picture is not so comforting. The balance of trade � meaning the difference between exports and imports of goods, � stands at a rather high level of roughly (-) $ 14.3 billion. This trade deficit is sustained mainly by invisibles amounting to $ 11.8 billion, leaving a current account balance of $ 2.5 billion. This current account deficit which is 0.5 per cent of gross domestic product, is creditable. However, as economic activity increases, imports will increase and the current account deficit will tend to go up. One factor, which the latest report is silent on, is the very heavy inroads made by gold imports into our balance of payments. Concrete steps have not yet been taken to reverse the growing and fatal fascination of Indians for gold.
The current account deficit means that India has to depend on capital inflows to keep the BoP in balance. This is partly through borrowing and partly through sale of India�s equity. Either way, capital inflows mean increase of India�s liabilities. Is a large current account deficit sustainable? The report points out the risks implicit in the assumptions behind the approach paper to the 10th five year plan, recently circulated by the planning commission. According to this approach paper, the current account deficit is expected to be on an average, at the level of 2.8 per cent per annum, during the plan period.
To sustain this order of current account deficit, the net capital inflows would have to increase to an average level of $ 20 billion per annum during the tenth plan period. This would imply a four-fold increase in foreign direct investment, foreign institutional investors and external commercial borrowing flows from the current levels. Two questions arise. One is whether this order of increase in capital inflows is desirable. The other is whether our current procedural relaxation and inducements are sufficient to induce this order of capital inflows . For the tenth plan to be viable in BoP terms, the current account deficit should not be unsustainable. It is far better to insist on a higher export effort and increasing the level of invisible earnings.
The report notes that inflation rates have been under control, although the average wholesale price index inflation had tended upwards to a high of 7. 2 per cent in 2000-01, as against 3 per cent in 1999-2000. This is, however, in line with the average increase of 8.1 per cent during the whole of Nineties. On an average basis, fuel, power and lubricants recorded a higher price increase, reflecting the upward revision in the administered prices of petroleum products in 2000 as a whole. Manufacturing inflation had, however, been moderate during the year 2000-01. The report points out that the retail price inflation, as measured by the annual variations in the consumer price index for industrial workers on a point to point basis, moved within a low range of 2.5 per cent to 5.5 per cent during 2000-01. The report notes the recent tendency for the consumer price index inflation to fall below the WPI inflation, reversing earlier trends.
The �accounts� of the RBI form an important part of the annual report. The RBI has shown a considerable surplus even after contributing Rs 6,907 crore to reserve funds, out of the total income of Rs. 21,848 crore. The net surplus after expenses comes to Rs 9,350 crore, which is transferred to the revenues of the government of India. Investment of foreign exchange reserves essentially in securities abroad accounts for a significant part of RBI�s income of Rs 10,080 crore. This represents a net earning of 5.8 per cent on assets, as compared to the 5 per cent in the previous year.
The domestic income of the RBI essentially reflects interest borne by the government of India on its borrowings. In a way, this is obverse of the interest burden of the government of India. The overall surplus of Rs 9,350 crore is proposed to be transferred to the government, a sizeable and welcome relief to the harassed revenue account of government. On the whole the annual report is strong in analysis but weak on suggested remedies.
The author is former governor, Reserve Bank of India
At the foot of Mount Ai Khanum, overlooking the Pyandzh river that cuts through Afghanistan�s border with Tajikistan lie the 2,300-year-old ruins of the city which, Alexander, the Macedonian invader built for his Afghan wife, Roxanne. After his conquest of Persia, Alexander founded Oxiana in 328 BC for Roxanne, the daughter of a baron he had vanquished and slain in Afghanistan�s Balkh province. Like subsequent would-be conquerors, Alexander occupied Afghan territory but never subdued the people. His imprint, however, remains in the cities he founded, including Kandahar, the former taliban stronghold.
When the ruins of Ai Khanum were first discovered by the French archeologist, Paul Bernard, in the Sixties, he hired local residents to help unearth the riches buried 10 feet underground. The French team abandoned its work after Afghanistan descended into chaos in the late Seventies. But the locals remembered the treasures that the ruins held. These artefacts are today believed to have been sold to local and international buyers. Some of the fortune extracted is believed to be worth $ 4 million.
Through the Nineties, fighting between the taliban and the Northern Alliance frequently engulfed this barren patch of land overlooking the Pyandzh, the Oxus of antiquity. What is left today are merely the scraps looters have left behind. Amidst its ruins, shepherds continue to graze their cattle, as indifferent to the cultural importance of the place as they were to the constant artillery, rocket, and sniper fire that once echoed daily from the front lines. Few people in the region have the time or energy to worry about the meaning of Ai Khanum.
Even in the capital, which once housed the region�s most treasured collection in the Kabul museum, the past has been all but wiped away. In the Sixties, the Kabul museum managed to build up the most opulent collection in all of central Asia. The exhibits and storerooms contained a unique collection of artefacts covering 100,000 years of civilization, all of them coming from Afghanistan itself.
But during the years of mayhem that preceded the taliban�s capture of the capital in 1996, most of the treasures in the museum were looted. It got worse after the taliban moved in, when the new authorities immediately issued a barrage of edicts including bans on all forms of human and animal figures. There were reports of posters being pulled down and photo albums being ripped to shreds; cameras caught images of the taliban stomping on sculptures torn from the facades of buildings.
Much of this would barely have come to light had it not been for the efforts of the Society for the Preservation of Afghanistan�s Cultural Heritage, born after reports of looting of the Kabul museum and other sites in the country. SPACH is a small group of volunteers funded by donations from individuals and European governments. It was also formed to help secure the museum premises and identify losses through the preparation of an inventory. The recently completed inventory sadly confirms that most of what remains in the museum building is inferior and fragmentary.
A bulk of the objects in the museum had been packed by its staff and left in the storerooms, as unstable conditions intensified after the departure of the Soviets in 1989. Three weeks before the destruction of the Bamiyan Buddhas in March, taliban officials allegedly broke into Kabul�s bombed-out museum and destroyed around 50 objects of cultural significance, according to reports. Some of the museum�s most precious objects, including the ones holding 20,000 gold artefacts from Telya Tepa, however, are still believed to lie in a vault at the State Bank inside the presidential palace. In July 2000, an official investigation reported that the seals were unbroken, but no details about the contents were released. Reluctance to examine the contents seems to rise from the fear that such attention will again attract looters.
Other remnants of the past are also in danger. A newly exposed site near Herat has revealed several ancient vessels along with fantastic figurines with unique features that cry out for scientific identification. Illegal digging also continues at Telya Tepa. While some elders of Lalma village in Afghanistan�s eastern Ningrahar province have helped protect a major Buddhist site on their land, dozens of other monastery sites in the vicinity dating from the early centuries AD have been thoroughly ransacked, often with the aid of tractors and bulldozers. The world was a mute witness to the destruction of the twin Buddha statues at Bamiyan that overlooked the Silk Route.
The systematic plunder of archaeological sites has also been a multi-million dollar business. Archaeological finds are regarded as major economic assets. The drought, which has afflicted Afghanistan over the last three years, has encouraged further looting of archaeological sites. We shall never know all that has disappeared from other sites. Many of these artefacts pass through the northern Pakistani town of Peshawar on their way to international art dealers.
This is a tragedy not only for Afghanistan but also for the art world and historians in general. Afghanistan has always been a crossroads for several cultures. During the Bronze Age, Afghanistan was one of the world�s foremost trade centres � the Silk Route passed through Afghanistan. Caravans from China, Rome and India arrived in the northern Afghan city of Balkh. All these movements of peoples, goods and ideas made Afghanistan a cultural treasure-trove, and various sites were listed on UNESCO�s world heritage list.
In its own way, SPACH has been trying to trace objects illegally exported and, if possible, to purchase them and eventually to give them back to the country when the situation is stable. With its donations, SPACH has re-purchased a few selected artefacts, sold illegally to dealers at modest prices. SPACH was also instrumental in delivering to the Kabul museum a 23-line stone inscription found in 1993 at Robatak, near Surkh Kotal, and later kept in the home of a mujahedin commander. It was commissioned by Kanishka and is the most important find in Afghanistan in recent years.
The most important goal, however, is to raise awareness of the plight of the cultural heritage of Afghanistan, especially among the Afghans themselves. Only an interest in Afghanistan�s past could give hope for Afghanistan�s future.
National and state councils will be formed to oversee the operationalization of the policy on a regular basis. The national council will be headed by the prime minister and the state councils by the chief ministers and will be broad in composition, having representatives from the concerned departments/ministries, national and state commissions for women, social welfare boards, representatives of non-government organizations, women�s organizations, corporate sector, trade unions, financing institutions, academics, experts and social activists etc. These bodies will review the progress made in implementing the policy twice a year. The national development council will also be informed of the progress of the programme undertaken under the policy from time to time for advice and comments.
National and state resource centres on women will be established with mandates for collection and dissemination of information, undertaking research work, conducting surveys, implementing training and awareness generation programmes, etc. These centres will link up with women�s studies centres and other research and academic institutions through suitable information networking systems.
While institutions at the district level will be strengthened, at the grass-roots, women will be helped by the government through its programmes to organize and strengthen into self-help groups the anganwadi/village/town level. The women�s groups will be helped to institutionalize themselves into registered societies and to federate at the panchayat/municipal level. These societies will bring about synergistic implementation of all the social and economic development programmes by drawing resources made available through government and non-government channels, including banks and financial institutions and by establishing a close interface with the panchayats/ municipalities.
Availability of adequate financial, human and market resources to implement the policy will be managed by concerned departments, financial credit institutions and banks, private sector, civil society and other connected institutions.
This process will include: Assessment of benefits flowing to women and resource allocation to the programmes relating to them through an exercise of gender budgeting. Appropriate changes in policies will be made to optimize benefits to women under these schemes; (a) Adequate resource allocation to develop and promote the policy outlined earlier based on (b) above by concerned departments; (c) Developing synergy between personnel of health, rural development, education and women & child development department at field level and other village level functionaries; (d) Meeting credit needs by banks and financial credit institutions through suitable policy initiatives and development of new institutions in coordination with the department of women and child development.
The strategy of women�s component plan adopted in the ninth plan of ensuring that not less than 30 per cent of benefits/funds flow to women from all ministries and departments will be implemented effectively so that the needs and interests of women and girls are addressed by all concerned sectors. The department of women and child development being the nodal ministry will monitor and review the progress of the implementation of the component plan from time to time, in terms of both quality and quantity in collaboration with the planning commission.
Efforts will be made to channelize private sector investments too, to support programmes and projects for advancement of women.
To be concluded
On a recent visit to Thailand and Singapore with my handicapped daughter, I found no place inaccessible. In airports and tourist destinations a network of attendants employed by the government facilitated wheelchair access. Public transport � such as the sky rails of Bangkok � provided ramps at most major stations. All the city footpaths have ramps and every street crossing has an auditory signal for the visually impaired
Whenever I wanted to cross the streets and pushed the wheelchair down the ramp, all vehicles would screech to a halt. Drivers sitting cosily inside their air-conditioned vehicles welcomed me to proceed. I encountered for the first time a real respect for disabled people and my daughter expressed her gratitude through her sparkling bright eyes. She was able to exercise her right to enjoy the unthought of pleasures of the able-bodied: shopping, going to the museum and moving about without any restrictions.
Lawful rightsThese rights are protected by law, not only in Thailand and Singapore, but also in India. All three are signatory countries to the economic and social commission for the Asian and Pacific region that took a pledge in 1982 to give equal rights and opportunities to the disabled. To honour that declaration the government of India passed the Persons with Disability (and equal opportunities, protection of rights and full participation) Act in 1996. The act ensures the right of access to all public places.
Furthermore, the United Nations� charter on equalization of opportunities for persons with disabilities states that all signatory countries must ensure that the physically challenged are not deprived of the scope to participate fully in their physical environment. Denying wheelchair access to public places is denying people their lawful rights. Unfortunately, till this date, not a single brick of any stairs has been dislodged to construct a ramp.
The government moved only when Stephen Hawking visited the country earlier this year. On his visit to the archaeological sites of Delhi, wooden ramps were put up. Elaine Hawking, the professor�s wife, said, �we wish these ramps stay even after we leave�and, we hope that other physically challenged people get to see these architectural splendours�.
For the able onlyThe ramps were removed shortly after Hawking�s departure, an insult to two deeply caring individuals. Unsurprisingly, there is not a single monument or theatre hall in Calcutta which is disabled-friendly. A couple of years ago even the right for a ramp at the Calcutta airport only materialized after a lengthy battle in the Supreme Court.
The governments of both Thailand and Singapore have honoured their commitments to provide access to public spaces to the disadvantaged. Why have we, though fellow signatories, not enforced the law? This is a troubling question. It demonstrates a brittle, self-referential interest in human rights, and through the cracks a peculiar ambivalence towards the disabled. Why does not India realize, as Thailand and Singapore have, that for prosperous nations the first demonstration of strength is how the weak are treated?
Our politicians focused on the most extravagant of engineering feats to facilitate public access in Calcutta. But would a few ramps, attendants, and a small public campaign cost a fraction of that price? And wouldn�t they, infinitely more than the rest, demonstrate the opening of our city to all? I could not help thinking, while the chief minister enjoyed a Passolini film, why my daughter should be deprived of the pleasure to watch the film festival in the city?
The business of politicsSir � Old age seems to have caught up with the Indian prime minister, and this is not to mention his ailing knees (�Day of double goof-up in Upper House�, Nov 21). Not only did Atal Bihari Vajpayee forget to read out in the Rajya Sabha two paragraphs of his prepared speech � one he had already read out in the lower house � but, when reminded, he still left out one. But the speech being a suo motu on his recent visit abroad, perhaps this lapse can be chuckled at and ignored. But what cannot be so easily ignored is that the Rajya Sabha was adjourned two hours before the scheduled time, because apparently there was not �enough business to transact�. No prizes for guessing why bills lie pending in both houses for sessions on end. While the ruling party and members of the opposition play the blame game with great expertise, it is the Indian democracy that suffers. And being just 54 years old, it is certainly not an age problem that is afflicting the Indian democracy.
Who should be penalized?Sir � The penalties imposed on six Indian players by the International Cricket Council match referee, Mike Denness, in the second test between India and South Africa in Port Elizabeth have precipitated the worst ever crisis in the cricketing world. Even Kerry Packer�s controversial series of 1975 did not divide the cricketing fraternity into two opposing camps so sharply as this.
Given that the cricket-playing fraternity is a very closed one comprising less than a dozen countries, a wedge like this does not augur well. And this is bad particularly at a time when there is a lot of tension between the subcontinental countries and the rest of the members of the ICC because the former have long bypassed the latter in terms of viewership and sponsorship. The current controversy could well blow up into something bigger. Therefore the ICC, instead of acting like a jilted lover, should try to bury the differences and work towards the improvement of the game.
Sir � In her letter, � Seamless defence� (Nov 22), Sneha Roy has proved herself to be a pseudo-liberal. For any person sitting in judgment, inconsistency is the worst offence. Technology is available today for a cricket umpire � Mike Denness in this case � to measure the duration and decibel of the appeals made by cricketers (Shaun Pollock and Virender Sehwag) from the available television footage. Denness has been inconsistent because he did not check measurable data. In the case of Sachin Tendulkar, he is inconsistent because he permitted an �acted upon ball� (provided one accepts, if only for argument�s sake, that Tendulkar had tampered with the ball) to continue to be in play. Also, Denness did not mention not asking for the umpire�s permission while acting upon the ball as the reason for his penalty. How is it that the umpires did not lodge a complaint or change the ball, having found it �acted upon�? Denness clearly acted in a partisan manner. It is he who has brought the game to disrepute, not the players.
While dealing with the issue, the Board of Control for Cricket in India had initially been quite hamhanded. Instead of dwelling on Tendulkar�s stature as a cricketer, the BCCI president, Jagmohan Dalmiya, should have taken the help of technology and the ICC rule book to pinpoint the arbitrary nature of the decisions and question his incompetence. Such inefficiency displayed by the match referees does not justify the hefty fees paid to them. Perhaps Roy is unaware of the ignominy Ridley Jacobs had to face after he had improperly removed the bails to get a wicket for his side and was caught by TV replays. TV footage shows that Jonty Rhodes and Jaques Kallis have taken wickets for their side with grassed catches but were not treated the same way as Jacobs. What does Roy have to say about that?
Sir � There have been countrywide protests against the punishments awarded to Sachin Tendulkar, Sourav Ganguly, Virender Sehwag, Harbhajan Singh, Deep Dasgupta and Shiv Sundar Das. To my dismay, the Union sports minister, Uma Bharti, also endorsed the public opinion. But why this hue and cry when Tendulkar has indeed violated ICC rules? This was clearly displayed on the TV replay where he attempted to rub his fingernail along the seam of the ball. Even Sunil Gavaskar implied this when he said that Denness �has gone by the letters of the law but not with the spirit of the game�. Steve Waugh too agreed with Denness and ruled out any racial discrim-ination against Indians. It is true that there have been instances where many players, irrespective of their racial connections, have got away with greater offences on and off the field owing to the inconsistent performance of the match referees, but that does not mean that the six Indian players have been banned purely because of racial prejudice. Irrespective of the status of individuals, interference with the ICC rules should be treated as harshly as possible. However, it is good to see that the Indian team, instead of pulling out of the series, is trying to uphold the spirit of the game by carrying on with the the third test. Who knows, the ban might do a world of good to the game and become a blessing in disguise for the Indian team.
Sir � During the years before Independence, when we were in school, Britannia used to rule the waves. The sun did not set on the British empire. After losing India the empire ended up, by the turn of the century, into a minor power. Unfortunately, some people did not get out of their colonial hangover. Like fungus on the imperial mummy, they erupt from time to time. What better arena than the cricket field? Mike Denness, referee gone berserk, is a case in point. Since the incident at Port Elizabeth is not really a case of implementation of rules or their interpretation, but a psychopathic aberration, there is very little that the ICC or the BCCI or the government can do to straighten matters. The cricket lords at Lords require a shake-up.
Parting shotSir � With many banks in the country going in for computerization and cutting down on their personnel, clients are almost forced to drop cheques in drop-boxes or at the ATM counters without getting any receipt. Recently, I had an unfortunate experience when my bank lost my salary cheque and I could not prove that I had deposited it, since I had no receipt. When I demanded receipt on a later occasion, I was told that it can be issued only for cheques above Rs 1 lakh. Several others have had similar experiences. The Reserve Bank of India should therefore instruct all banks to issue acknowledgement receipts for all cheques deposited, and issue statements of accounts as and when needed by a client. There is also a need to build up public opinion on this issue.
Letters to the editor should be sent to:
All letters [including those via email] should have the full name and full postal address of the sender


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to the President of India written on the occasion of Baroda Ekta Diwas
May 13, 2002
The President of India,
Rashtrapati Bhavan, New Delhi.
As we gather together on the occasion of Baroda Ekta Diwas, we, the
men and women of Baroda wish to bring several current issues to your
notice. The happenings in Gujarat since Feb. 27, 2002 have affected
the women of Baroda grievously. We would like your high and
honourable office to take cognizance of these happenings and initiate
the needed corrective measures. The genocide unleashed by the state
authorities has gone on long enough and is destroying the entire
fabric of our society. We want to point out that the post-Godhra
carnage has affected most women living in Vadodara in some way or the
other. Lives of minority women have changed drastically. They have
lost their homes, their social support systems, and their
livelihoods. And women from all communities are affected by the reign
of hatred, fear and the terror promoted by the state and the police.
The police have done selective and discriminatory 'combing'. While
mobs have been attacking localities and stoning houses from definite
directions, the police forces have not deigned to comb those areas
and bastis. Police men have instead barged into homes of minority
women, defying all norms of decency, looking for weapons and their
men. They have pulled women out of their homes, sometimes dragging
them by their hair. It is surprising that in these sort of combing
operations, no women police were present at all. The abuses, verbal
and physical, cannot be described. The policemen, many of them drunk
have uttered filthy gaalis, they have hit and beaten women, sometimes
so severely that many have been left with broken limbs. Many pregnant
women have been hit on their stomachs with butts of guns. Many old,
widowed women have been similarly severely abused. Verbal abuse by
the police, having both sexual and religious connotations has deeply
offended our dignity. They have violated citizens right to practice
their religion by bursting in during prayer timings and treating
their prayer books with disrespect . Young underage boys have been
picked up during these so-called combing operations and have been
kept illegally in the jail for 8 to 10 days. Many of them have been
beaten in the jail. The combing operations too have affected majority
women similarly.
Several poor migrant men workers have been picked up from within
their homes and illegally detained just to fulfil the numbers game.
Their wives have been left to fend for themselves and their children
without any information or explanation. Several of us have complained
to the police, identifying the perpetrators of these atrocities. So
far no action has been taken. Many of us are scared to identify the
persons who have inflicted psychological and physical violence on us.
Our fear is that we will become the targets of further violence. We
thought that the police is there for our protection, but our
experience has proved otherwise. Those of us living in camps and
sheltering with relatives are terrified at the thought of returning
The state government is promoting 'compromises' to ensure our safety
if we decide to return to our homes. These compromises are
unacceptable to many of us because they add on to the heap of
injustices that we have already endured. Our right to livelihood is
obstructed because the administration has not been able to restore
conditions in which we can ply our small businesses and trades. Many
of us who are out of the camps are hungry because we havent been
able to go out and earn our food. Our children are distracted and
fearful. With the schools closed they have nothing to keep them
occupied. We fear to let them go out and play, lest the policemen
from the neighbourhood police chowky decide their activities are
anti-social. Although conditions to return home are unsafe, we keep
hearing that we must go back as the camps need to be closed. The
relief and rehabilitation measures being provided by the state
government are grossly unjust. We are receiving pittance as
compensation for the lifetime of earning and meager belongings that
we had so painfully put together. While we would like law and order
to be immediately restored in our state, we do not want any further
violation of human rights and repressive action against women. We
fear that this will happen with KPS Gill's presence in Gujarat.
In this situation we wish to convey to you that we expect you to take
just action. We expect you to mete out justice.
Our demands are
as follows:
We look forward to
your positive action to ensure the above.
In anticipation,
Olakh, Sahiyar, Shishu Milap, SAHAJ, WSRC and other individuals and
organisations that are part of the PUCL and Shanti Abhiyan of Baroda.
Copy to, Chief Minister of Gujarat, Prime Minister of India, National
Human Rights Commission, National Commission for Women
| Index


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Research Thrusts
Thrust One
Biomolecular Machines. Proteins are true cellular nanomachines that perform sophisticated biological functions by self-assembling into dynamic 3D structures that use thermal energy to change shape in response to specific stimuli. Amid their many functions, proteins make for excellent nanoscale instruments.
Thrust Two
Macromolecular Assemblies and Hybrid Devices. The high rate of discovery in nanotechnology is permitting us to realize nanomaterials with interesting new properties that can be used for building hybrid devices in conjunction with biomolecules. Here we focus on several of these applications.
Thrust Three
Cellular and Multicellular Systems. Large scale assemblies composed of multiple cells are ubiquitous, ranging from tissue to biofilms, and exhibit striking emergent behaviors controlled by cell mechanics and cell-cell interactions.


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Here is new edition of Poultry International magazine, August 2012. In this issue, you can read latest international news, data and information for Poultry businesses.
Feature Articles
UK egg producer achieves consumer success with quality, branding
A pioneer in free range, Havensfield Happy Hens remains committed to the sector, despite difficulties in the egg market.
SPACE 2012 expected to break records for exhibitors, attendance
Organizers hope to help industry professionals meet the challenges of today and tomorrow.
Ukraine's Avangard to lead local producers into EU egg market
Opportunities are in the EU market are being closely watched by Ukraine's egg producers, particularly the country's biggest player.
Using pellet quality to improve broiler growth rate, feed conversion
The way feed is presented will affect energy and time required to consume it.
Benefit of in ovo vaccination available to smaller hatcheries
In ovo technology is now well established in larger hatcheries, but smaller operations can benefit too.
VIV China 2012: Discover China's poultry, meat and feed markets
The show will offer a window into the poultry, egg, meat and feed production markets.
Poultry processing, efficient rendering
Careful check to ensure that good meat is not sent to the rendering plant, while ensuring that useable waste products do enter the rendering process, can improve the bottom line.
[ Free Download Poultry International Magazine August 2012 ]
About Poultry International Magazine:
Established in 1962, Poultry International is viewed by commercial poultry integrators as the leading international source of news, data and information for their businesses. Poultry International reaches a global audience of 20,000+ poultry decision-makers in 142 countries.


text: I need candid advice because it would appear 'too much love' has even worse effects than 'too little love' in my experience. What if a girl doesn't want to do shakara and really wants to show a guy she appreciates him - with calls,- general attention not necessarily sex, Is that a reason for him to become wary? or weary? why should that be a bad thing? Infact how much attention is too much attention?


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Environmental guidance for your business in Northern Ireland & Scotland
This guidance is relevant to you if you clean vehicles. This includes using wheel washes to clean the wheels and undercarriage of vehicles. It is also relevant to you if someone else visits your site to clean vehicles, as it is your responsibility to ensure they do not cause pollution.
If you wash your vehicles at a commercial vehicle wash such as a car wash, this guidance does not apply to you.
You can download GPP 13 which has information on the requirements for vehicle washing sites
NEW GPP 13 Vehicle washing and cleaning (Adobe PDF – 175KB)
Surface run-off from washing areas can contain high levels of pollutants such as:
You must not allow run-off to enter surface water drains, surface waters or ground waters. This will cause pollution and you could be prosecuted.
You should only wash vehicles in defined areas where the wash water and any rainfall run-off can be contained.
If possible, direct the surface run-off from your vehicle washing area to an on-site treatment system. You may be able to reuse the water. This will reduce your water use and your impact on the environment. You can also discharge surface run-off directly to a foul sewer or combined sewer. Contact your water and sewerage company or authority to find out if you need authorisation before you discharge run-off to a sewer. You must comply with any conditions of your authorisation.
Trade effluent - managing liquid wastes
Water UK: Water and sewerage operators
Scotland on Tap - water and sewerage providers in Scotland
Alternatively, you can collect your run-off in a sealed unit and send it to an authorised disposal site. Check that anyone who takes your waste away from your site is a registered waste carrier.
Who is allowed to deal with your waste?
You can use sustainable drainage systems (SUDS) to drain run-off from washing areas. SUDS slow and hold back run-off from a site, so that pollutants can be broken down naturally. In Scotland you must use SUDS to drain run-off from all new built-up areas, such as yards.
See our guidance on sustainable drainage systems for more information.
If you use (abstract) water from surface water or ground waters for cleaning vehicles, you may need an authorisation or licence from your environmental regulator.
Remove oil, grease, petrol and diesel from wash water by passing it slowly through an appropriately sized oil separator. An oil separator will not work effectively if:
Ensure that any discharge containing detergent cannot run to the oil separator, as this will stop it working.
If you use detergents, use a recycling system with no discharge or ensure that any run-off containing detergents is collected in a sealed unit. Contact your local water and sewerage company or authority for guidance on how to dispose of any of these materials to the foul sewer.
PPG 3 Use and design of oil separators in surface water drainage systems
Store all cleaning chemicals safely and in an area where you can contain spills. This should be within a secondary containment system (SCS) such as:
See our guidance on chemical storage for more information.
Train all staff to follow your vehicle cleaning procedures. Display details of the procedures in the work area so staff can check them easily.
GPP 3 Use and design of oil separators in surface water drainage systems (Adobe PDF – 78.6KB)
NEW GPP 13 Vehicle washing and cleaning (Adobe PDF – 175KB)
Northern Ireland: Building regulations technical booklets
Scottish Building Standards Agency: Section 3 of Non-domestic handbook - Environment (Adobe PDF - 3.64MB)
The Northern Ireland Environment Agency has published a short guide to the duty of care responsibilities including advice and information for waste producers, carriers and those accepting, storing and treating waste.
What do you think about our new and improved website. We want your feedback on what you like, what you don't like and ways we can continue to improve the website. Follow the link to complete the very short survey: NetRegs website – User feedback
We have recently updated and improved our guidance on Environmental Management Systems (EMS). You can find the guidance via the Environmental Topics tab or alternatively select the following link Environmental Management Systems (EMS).
See NI Future legislation or Scotland Future legislation for details of the Consultation
NIEA and the CEF have developed a Regulatory Position to promote Sustainable re-use of natural excavated material from Greenfield sites.
NIEA: Guidance on the Regulation of Greenfield Excavated Materials in Construction and Development
The replacements for the PPGs are being developed. Now available GPP 2 Above Ground Oil Storage
SEPA is asking for your views on the proposals for integrated authorisations.
NEW GPP 24 now available: Stables, Kennels and Catteries
NetRegs; Winner of a prestigious ENDS award 2017
Knowledge development category winner, see the ENDS Awards
Knowledge development category winners, see the END Awards
Any person intending to alter the use or management of areas of uncultivated or semi-natural land must obtain prior approval from the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA).
Read more on the DAERA website
NetRegs have produced a new leaflet for Scottish businesses explaining what you must do to comply with YOUR duty of care for waste.
Duty of Care for waste (Scotland) leaflet (PDF - 775KB)
View our latest videos & subscribe to our channel.
Free monthly email newsletter with environmental updates for Northern Ireland and Scotland
NIEA - Apply online
SEPA - Application forms


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Social commentators warn that if you don't manage your social media identity, someone else will. I recently learned this the hard way.
social media
If Christian liturgy works on the imagination, so do disordered secular liturgies. Social media—despite its good uses—might be one example.
One week after the shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary school, there seem to be so many failures in the ways that our theology is playing out in the public sphere. And while quick responses, blog posts, sound bytes and tweets are important in this moment, as they emerge from varying political and evangelistic agendas they also expose some of Christianity's devastating aspects.
Pinterest and porn
The temptation of Pinterest is in the part of it that is trite, banal and predictable. But that's not all there is to the site's appeal.
Social media can reduce activism to a fad—something that we take part in because a particular Twitter hashtag is trending, a video has become viral or a Facebook cause has become popular. It can ignore the hard work that has been taking place over decades and discount a long-term strategy that a community might have.
As important as it is to minister from those wounded places, to preach about real emotional issues, and to write from a place of spiritual depth, there is also danger in it—for us and for our communities.
Church leaders are already strapped with not enough hours in the day. And now we're supposed to be engaging in social media too? How do we manage it all?
"Online, I minister to people I may never see. But I am starting a conversation that may lead them to a church."
After a couple of years of sweating over each syllable, I suddenly needed the words. I hungered to write them. On vacations, my family urged me to take a break and I became cranky. What happened? How did the words begin to grow like wildflowers that I no longer had to coddle?


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We've counted, checked and rechecked the votes and now reveal it's game over for…
Jennifer Bates
This leaves just "Curious, energetic and motivated" Konstantinos Drousiotis and "Sarcastic, tenacious, curious" Zarah Pattison to fight it out for the £500 prize tomorrow.
Who would you like to see win tomorrow's final battle? VOTE


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Easy beef gravy recipe with gnocchi.
Easy beef gravy recipe to go with gnocchi.This post may contain affiliate links. Using these links helps support my blog. Thank you!
I made some delightful beef broth from old beef bones and it was AMAZING. But short of drinking it all- a definite possibility- I was wondering what I could make with it. My husband suggested a gravy to go with gnocchi one night and boy am I happy I tried it.
Now I used gnocchi that was packaged from the store, but you can make your own gnocchi if you're feeling ambitious. Obviously homemade broth and homemade gnocchi are going to be way better than anything you'd buy at the store.
- 6 Tbsp Butter
- 1.5 cup of homemade beef broth
- 6 tbsp flour
- 1/4 tsp salt (or to taste)
- 1/8 tsp pepper (or to taste)
Melt your butter in a small saucepan on medium. Once melted, mix in your beef broth and flour. Let simmer and thicken. Mix in your salt and pepper.
Serve over gnocchi. Or beef. Or whatever your heart desires. Because this is tasty. I recommend making some fresh bread to dip in your remaining gravy.
Love it? Pin it!
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text: "Achim Domma" <achim.domma at syynx.de> writes: > Hi, > > I have a class Color with different ctors. One of them is > Color(int,int,int). If I now have a function 'void blabla(Color)' I want to > make it callable from Python as 'blabla((10,20,30))'. What would be the best > way to go? So far there's no simple way to do this other than by adding a new constructor to your C++ class which accepts a boost::python::tuple. However, there have been multiple requests for something like this. How does the following interface seem to you? namespace python = boost::python; void init_color(PyObject* self, python::tuple arg) { python::construct<Color>( self , boost::make_tuple( python::extract<int>(arg[0]) , python::extract<int>(arg[1]) , python::extract<int>(arg[2])) ); } ... class_<Color>("Color", init<int,int,int>()) .def("__init__", init_color) ... ; Things to notice: * The argument to construct is Color. To make it possible to construct objects containing smart pointers, such as auto_ptr<Color>, we'd need something like construct_ptr<auto_ptr<Color> > or something. Fortunately, there's about to be no reason to ever hold the more-versatile boost::shared_ptr anyway, since we can now create shared_ptrs that manage the Python object and we'll soon be able to convert those back to Python seamlessly. * That's boost::make_tuple, not python::make_tuple. Of course we need some way to pass C++ arguments on to the function which actually builds the C++ instance. This example might be a little misleading because it appears to be somewhat limited. In fact, I'm suggesting that you could write init_color so that it accepted any C++ arguments desired after the obligatory "self" argument. So this would give us a general way to extend the __init__ interface of any wrapped C++ class beyond what's provided by its constructors. -- David Abrahams dave at boost-consulting.com * http://www.boost-consulting.com Boost support, enhancements, training, and commercial distribution


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Maxillaria ramonensis Schltr. 1923 Photos by © Pieter C. Brouwer and his Nature Photo Website
To LATERTHROUGH
Common Name The San Ramon Maxillaria [A town In Costa Rica]
Flower Size 1.2" [3 cm]
Found in Honduras, Nicaragua, Costa Rica and Panama in permontane and lower montane forests at elevations of 500 to 1500 meters as a miniature to small sized, hot to warm growing epiphyte with ovoid to suborbicular pseudobulbs enveloped basally by leaf-less sheaths and a single leaf-bearing sheath and carrying a single, apical, narrowly to broadly elliptic, acute to subattenuate apically, gradually narrowing below into the elongate, narrow petiolate base leaf that blooms in the late spring through fall on 1 or more, .4 to 1.4" [1 to 3.5 cm] long, single flowered inflorescence with flowers that often do ot open well.
Atwood & Mora make mention that the Panamanian form has a long midlobe of the lip and may prove to be another species. The photo above does have the longer midlobe so it may not be M ramonensis.
Synonyms Chaseopsis ramonensis (Schltr.) Szlach. & Sitko 2012; Maxillaria brevipes Schltr. 1923
References W3 Tropicos, Kew Monocot list IPNI ; Lankester's Epidendra Website CR ; *Repert. Sp. Nov. Regni. Veg. Beih. 19: 235. Costa Rica Schlechter 1923; Repert. Sp. Nov. Regni. Veg. Beih. 19: 303. Costa Rica Schlechter 1923 as M brevipes; Repert. Sp. Nov. Regni. Veg. Beih. 19: 303. Costa Rica Schlechter 1923; The Orchids of Panama L.O. Williams & P Allen 1946 as M brevipes; Icones Planetarum Tropicarum Plate 864 Hamer 1983 drawing ok; Fieldiana Flora Costa Ricensis Family #39 Orchidaceae: Tribe Maxillarieae Atwood & Mora de Retana 1999; Orchids of Costa Rica Vol 4 Morales 2009 photo fide;


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Tesco stop Salmon campaign
Tesco has had to stop its '100% Scottish' salmon campaign after admitting that some of its products were imported from Norway.
Stores across the UK had been promoting their Scottish farmed salmon products with a raft of Scottish emblems, flags and slogans, however, the 'Scottishness' of the promotion has had to be scaled down after it was pointed out to the company that some of the salmon eggs used were imported from Norway.
Category: other


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Read about diagnosing peripheral arterial disease (PAD). If your GP suspects PAD, they'll carry out a physical examination of your legs
If your GP suspects peripheral arterial disease (PAD), they'll first carry out a physical examination of your legs.
PAD can cause various symptoms – some of which your GP will be able spot, but you may not – such as:
Your GP may also ask about your symptoms and your personal and family medical histories.
The ankle brachial pressure index (ABPI) test is widely used to diagnose PAD, as well as assess how well you're responding to treatment.
While you rest on your back, your GP or practice nurse will measure the blood pressure in your upper arms and your ankles. These measurements are taken with a Doppler probe, which uses sound waves to determine the blood flow in your arteries.
They then divide the second result (from your ankle) by the first result (from your arm).
If your circulation is healthy, the blood pressure in both parts of your body should be exactly or almost the same, and the result of your ABPI would be one.
However, if you have PAD, the blood pressure in your ankle will be lower because of a reduction in blood supply, so the results of the ABPI would be less than one.
In some cases, ABPI may be carried out after getting you to run on a treadmill or cycle on an exercise bike. This is a good way to see the effect of physical activity on your circulation, although it usually needs to be done in hospital, as most GP surgeries don't have the facilities to perform this test.
In most cases, your GP will be able to confirm a diagnosis of PAD by doing a physical examination, asking about your symptoms and checking your ABPI score.
Further testing is usually only required if:
Additional hospital-based tests that can be used include:
In some cases, the contrast agent may be injected directly into the arteries of your leg, and X-rays may be used to produce the images.


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Fri. April 16 -- Ladies & gents: Red Holloway, the last of the old-line big-toned bebop tenor men. At LACMA, 5905 Wilshire Blvd., LA 90036; 6-8pm; FREE.
Fri. April 16 -- Alto man Jason Goldman leads a swinging neotrad quintet featuring Walter Smith III (tenor), Richard Sears (piano), Jonathan Richards (bass) and Bill Wysaske (drums). At South Pasadena Music Center and Conservatory, 1509 Mission St., South Pasadena 91030; 8pm; $15; free parking behind; (626) 403-2300.
Fri. April 16 -- Cosmosquad fuses it the real heavy & rockin way. With drummer Shane Gaalaas, bassist Pete Griffin and guitarist Jeff Kollman. The quite amazing Kollman also puts on a clinic at West L.A. Music this Thursday, April 22, 5-7pm. Cosmosquad at the Baked Potato, 3787 Cahuenga Blvd. West, Studio City 91604; 9:30 & 11:30pm; $20; (818) 980-1615; www.thebakedpotato.com.
Fri.-Sat. April 16-17 -- Who better than arranger-composer Nat Adderley Jr. (Luther Vandross) to present "The Music of Cannonball and Nat Adderley," with drummer Roy McCurdy (who played with the Adderleys), cornetist Longineu Parson, windman Diron Holloway and bassist Trevor Ware. At Spazio, 14755 Ventura Blvd., Sherman Oaks 91403; 8 & 10pm; $20 plus minimum; (818) 728-8400; www.spazio.la.
Fri.-Sat. April 16-17 -- Gabriel Alegria's Afro-Peruvian Sextet jumps with all that Latin percussion and South American lilt. In partnership with Grand Performances at Café Metropol, 923 E. Third St., downtown 90013; 8pm; $10 cover, $10 minimum; (213) 613-1537; reservations recommended.
Tues. April 20 -- Barking New Jersey humpa-humpers Overkill, fine, Dutch thrash-rattlers God Dethroned, fine, but for me the main attraction is Poland's Vader, whose pomp is more classical and whose melodic darkness spans a greater range of metal. At House of Blues, 8430 Sunset Blvd., West Hollywood 90069; 7pm; $32; (323) 848-5800; www.ticketmaster.com.
Tues. April 20 -- California EAR Unit performs Ulrich Krieger's electro-acoustic arrangement of Lou Reed's "Metal Machine Music." I love the 1974 original primarily as a funny conceptual-art joke and a way of punishing unfriendly neighbors. They say Lou likes this version; I'm not sure whether that's a recommendation or not, but anything that makes him a buck is okay. At REDCAT, 631 W. Second St., downtown 90012; 8:30pm; $20; www.redcat.org.
Wed. April 21 -- Black Uhuru voxman Michael Rose, backed by Dubtonic Kru, rocks the reggae house; Belizean rasta man Eljai opens; the house DJs spin the finest in between. Dub Club at the EchoPlex, 1154 Glendale Blvd., Echo Park 90026; $15; $10 before 10pm; www.attheecho.com.
Thurs. April 22 -- Tuba extrapolator William Roper is also an excellent modern composer; check out his latest works (inspired by Wagner!) for an ensemble featuring vocal, harp, two tubas and euphonium. Gonna be down. At Goethe-Institut Los Angeles, 5750 Wilshire Blvd., #100, L.A. 90036; 7:30pm; $10; RSVP (323) 525-3388; http://roperarts.com/goethe.htm.
Thurs.-Fri. April 22-23 -- The Tony MacAlpine, Virgil Donati, Bunny Brunel, Otmaro Ruiz version of the shreddin' all-star fusion standby CAB. At the Baked Potato, 3787 Cahuenga Blvd. West, Studio City 91604; 9:30 & 11:30pm; $25; (818) 980-1615; www.thebakedpotato.com.
Read Brick Wahl's jazz picks in LA Weekly here, Don Heckman's jazz picks here and MoshKing's metal listings here.


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Brightest Young Things has yet again wrangled up some of the best treats, trinkets and tres chic pieces from around the city in this year's BYT Gift Guide. Fab finds include Moonshine cologne from GoodWood ; Goldilocks Goodies Cookie Mix from Ginger Root; the Grace Coddington Memoir from Kramer Books and a slew of other great gifts including some from yours truly. Peep the images below to check out BYT's suggestions and see which Meeps pieces made the list, if they strike your fancy, stop by for a closer look!
Reva Necklace ($48), Reva Necklace ($52) both from Saint Clair Jewelry, Elaine B Cube + Rectangle Neclaces ($60, Ginger Root) and BRAG BOOK photo album ($5, MEEPS)
From Left: Hand embroidered panels ($125-$155, MEEPS), Hand Painted Elisabet Graeber wallets (Ginger Root), Jenny's Story Box Set ($40, Pandahead Mag Store)
From top: Mustache pillow ($52, Room & Board), Glitter Pins ($5 for a set of 5, Pandahead Mag Store), Fartzine (Ginger Root), Have a Very Marion Barry Christmas + Taxation T-SHIRTS (under $20, MEEPS), QUAALUDES Cookie Jar ($138, Jonathan Adler in Georgetown), Alien Head Earrings ($8, MEEPS)
Clockwise from top left: Red Tassel Earrings ($18, Butler + Claypool), Torta Di Siena ($18, Cork Market), Boero Dark Chocolate Cherries (Cork Market), Golden Apple Belt Buckle ($10, part of a whole belt, MEEPS), Farmhouse Fresh Strawberry Cream Moisturizer ($26, Nectar Skin Bar), PIE book by Emily Hillard (Ginger Root)
Photos by Jeff Martin


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Electricity 1: Devices, Circuits and Materials by Thomas Kubala pdf free download.
Designed to help you learn fundamental electrical concepts and explore their practical applications, this trusted book provides a solid foundation in electron theory and movement, direct-current series circuits, parallel circuits, series-parallel circuits, voltage line drops, rotating machinery fundamentals, and more. ELECTRICITY 1: DEVICES, CIRCUITS AND MATERIALS, Tenth Edition, maintains the user-friendly style and proven approach that are so effective, all while incorporating new material and updates based on the 2011 National Electrical Code. Featuring current industry terminology, photographs of commonly used electrical equipment, and sample problems with solutions, this convenient, affordable book is an ideal choice for anyone interested in mastering basic electricity, house wiring, or commercial installations.
About the Author
Format: PDF
Size: 3.335 MB
Link 1 | Link 2 | Link 3 | Link 4


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It's the middle of the week and we have some great tunes to get you through to the long awaited weekend! Starting of with a duo vibe we have new tracks from Melbourne hip hop crew Diafrix, London duo AlunaGeorge and a debut for yet again another duo Château. Moving into full band line ups we also have tracks from City Calm Down, ME and The Pretty Littles.
Diafrix – Easy Come Easy Go
Another foot tappin', soulful track from the Melbourne hip-hop duo, Diafrix, whose new album – 'Pocket Full Of Dreams' oozes with nothing but quality; and this track is no exception. From the skanked up guitar to the melodic chorus, the track is nothing less than a cheerful pick up, suitable for any occasion. Emcees Momo and Azmarino have re-instated the Afri-hop genre as a fan favourite.
AlunaGeorge – Your Drums, Your Love
AlunaGeorge are a London-based duo that you should already be talking about. Their single 'Your Drums, Your Love' has been making tracks all over the blogosphere and has already seen two high-profile remixes from The Prototypes and Lil Silva respectively. Taking the best facets of 90s pop and mixing it with very of-the-moment ambient-electro, AlunaGeorge are a pop act worth shouting about.
Château – You Need Her
'You Need Her' is the swinging sixties influenced debut from Melbourne duo Château. Recorded at Melbourne's Hothouse Studio and mixed and mastered by Cam Trewin, 'You Need Her' is the soundtrack to a perfect summer boasting of acoustic guitars teamed with sweet melodies and toe tapping, head bobbing drum beats. It's hard to not groove along to this song.
ME – Westward Backwards
The closing track from the theatrical Melbourne-via-London rock band's newly-released Another Story High EP finds the group siphoning the best parts of The Beatles, Muse and Queen into a dapper singalong of crunching 'Tchaikokroksky', sweeping symphonic flourishes and grand antics. Me are sure to wow the Big Day Out crowds when they make their 2013 homecoming appearance – as you were gentlemen.
City Calm Down – Pleasure & Consequence
With the first track from their "Movements" EP, City Calm Down haven't taken their band names advice… If by city they mean themselves. The bands four minute electronic post-punk inspired track implies a darkness you'd hope for and provokes a groove you quite immediately fall in to. With vocal inspiration seemingly strung from Ian Curtis it's pretty hard to pick their Australian upbringing. Pleasure & Consequence doesn't take long to absorb and with a consistent Joy Division vibe the track moves along slowly, but not to slowly. The songs production hint's to a well produced EP with a sound you think you've heard before but surely haven't.
The Pretty Littles – Mumma
Melbourne band The Pretty Littles have delivered the first single 'Mumma' from their forthcoming EP 'I'm Not From A Small Town' and it's a crackin' dirty garage rock track that hits hard and fast with husky vocals and the classic whoa, whoa, whoas and heavy drums that all our favourite rock n roll tracks have. Catch them launching their EP in Melbourne at Ding Dong on Saturday 6 October.


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Like widening her eyes, smiling all innocently with a glint of mischief.
Stuff like that.
I'm cute around everyone.
Most Helpful Guy
He will think that you want the 'D'10|10|0
I am so cute though like little girl cute. Plus I don't wear make-up and just look young.
I thought he'd think I'm a really nice girl
- Show AllShow Less
I was smiling while talking.
A year later when I saw him I ignored/avoided him but later on he was being all loud around me and I wondered if HE thought HE was being cute
Well then thats good for you.. But dont be too cute or friendly with everybody else cause that might get you a bad repo. Anyway, best of luck ;)
Most Helpful Girl
He would probably think you're into him.00|00|0


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About | Subscribe | Advertise | SF Católico | Contact | Archdiocese of San Francisco
Since a very young age, I have been blessed to be a part of the beautiful tradition of celebrating La Madonna del Lume, Our Most Holy Mother of Light, each year in San Francisco. This is a Roman Catholic celebration and tradition established in 1935 at Sts. Peter and Paul Church in North Beach by the families of Sicilian fishermen, a tradition originating in the fishing village of Porticello, Sicily.
Each October, over the last 82 years, after a solemn High Mass at Sts. Peter and Paul Church, a faithfully devoted group of men and women, old and young alike, and a young queen of La Festa della Madonna del Lume, walk in a procession with a painting of La Madonna del Lume aboard a beautifully decorated float for eight blocks from the church to the Fishermen's and Seamen's Memorial Chapel at Pier 45 in Fisherman's Wharf. There, a Salesian priest sprinkles holy water on the boats, blessing all of the fishermen, and prays for their protection from harm. He also asks for "abbondanza" in the catch. In Porticello, Sicily, La Festa della Madonna del Lume is also still thriving, with the festa spanning the full first week of October each year, and the entire municipality participating in the procession of La Madonna with fireworks and veneration of La Madonna at the original church of Madonna del Lume.
This beautiful religious and cultural celebration was passed on to me through my family's Sicilian Catholic heritage and many years of community collaboration to keep this special tradition alive and vibrant in San Francisco. I learned from a young age about the purity, grace and strength of our Most Holy Mother Mary, La Madonna, as our protective, loving and most powerful ambassador of Christ in the midst of a challenging and often chaotic world. As a dedicated and loving mother with her children, La Madonna comforts each of us with the light of faith, hope and love through all of our subtle and most profound challenges and afflictions.
La Festa della Madonna del Lume shares quite visibly with our community a tradition and a profound story of faith and hope. It is a story of the powerful intercession of La Madonna on behalf of a group of Sicilian fishermen many years ago, who were tormented and cast off course by torrential storms at sea and faced the tragedy of perishing at sea. These seafaring men, although experienced at sea, were frightened, unsure and desperate for guidance and safety to return safely to shore, to embrace their families and community once more.
It was in these moments of grave darkness and fear in which God answered the faithful prayers of these fishermen, who had humbled themselves in complete trust and devotion to God. God answered their prayers with a glowing light illuminating the dark sky above. As the wise men once followed the guiding star over Bethlehem to visit our newborn savior over 2,000 years ago, the Sicilian fishermen gratefully recognized and received God's blessing and answer to their prayers, and faithfully followed the glowing light He shown above to guide them safely home again.
Upon returning safely home, the fishermen continued to follow the mysterious guiding light above to a grotto near Porticello. Exploring the sea cave, they found a slab of marble bearing the Madonna's image. They carried it in to town, but twice it mysteriously returned to the grotto. The community decided to leave the image of La Madonna at the grotto and build a church on the spot to protect it. It is fervently believed in Sicily that the lives of hundreds of fishermen have been saved by the intervention of Maria Santissima del Lume, Our Most Holy Mother of Light, the guardian and patroness of fishermen. To this day, we continue to celebrate and honor La Madonna del Lume for her guidance and intercession to help guide fishermen safely home and into Christ's light.
This story is for fishermen, and it is truly a story for all of us, wherever we are on our journey in life. It is a story of a return home, and it is also a story of a return to faith, a return to God. How many times in our lives have we been lost, confused, uncertain, or fearful? "Lost at sea," so to speak. Whether we are fishermen at sea, laborers on land, or workers at home, in cities, or in foreign nations, this story gives each of us hope that there is always a light, no matter how dark, and there is always faith, no matter how hopeless our situation. This remembrance of La Madonna del Lume shows us how powerful Our Most Holy Mother's intercession is on our behalf as Christ's ambassador of light to each of us.
As Catholics, especially as we prepare for the consecration of the Archdiocese of San Francisco to the Immaculate Heart of Mary this October, we honor, venerate, and cherish our Most Holy Mother, Mary, and give thanks for the warmth of God's guidance and light, which She so lovingly shares with each of us. Through Mary's faithfulness and obedience to God and her constant presence in the midst of all of life's difficulties, La Madonna generously and lovingly comforts each of us, transcending our despair, and illuminating all darkness with Christ's eternal light, love, hope and mercy.
Contact Bertina Cannizzaro, outreach coordinator for La Madonna del Lume Society, at email@example.com for more information about La Festa della Madonna del Lume festivities Sept. 29-Oct. 1 in San Francisco.
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Sexual Minority Youths Ignored at SchoolYoo-Rim Lee July 23, 2013
John Doe (assumed name) graduated from a middle school in Dongjak-gu, Seoul. Unlike other teenager boys at his age who played out on the field, he preferred to do cross-stitch and read books at the library. An English teacher in their fifties called him "Sissy" referring to him as "a boy who acts like a… Continue Reading »