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Emerging actors in Africa: Impact and opportunities for EU-Africa and global relations
On April 23-24, 2012, an international conference on "Emerging actors in Africa: Impact and opportunities for EU-Africa and global relations" was held in Maputo, at the conference room of the National Stadium of Zimpeto. Organised jointly by some members of the Europe-Africa Policy Research Network (EARN) – the Centre for Strategic and International Studies of the Higher Institute for International Relations (CEEI/ISRI, Mozambique), the European Centre for Development Policy Management (ECDPM, the Netherlands) and the Institute for Strategic and International Studies (IEEI, Portugal) – it brought together some 50-70 people from Mozambique civil society, academia, government officials, representatives from emerging economies, donor countries and institutions, and European and African think tanks, to discuss the increasing presence in Africa of emerging players and how that is impacting on EU-Africa and on global relations.
Rationale and objectives of the conference
The renewed interest for Africa and a diversification of players in the continent brings unquestionably challenges to African, European and international agendas. While perceptions of emerging economies' role in the 'scramble' for African natural resources is often dominated by examples of controversial or obscure deals involving companies from these countries, they provide only a limited picture of their engagement and impact in Africa. More data, analysis and an open discussion on the diverse 'models' or experiences of their engagement and on their impact in the economic and political governance of African states is of interest to all actors involved, not least for African states to inform their options on partnerships with traditional donors and emerging economies alike, and promote synergies between their activities/engagement.
This international conference, held in Maputo with the support of ISRI (High Institute for International Relations, Maputo) and the Camões – Instituto da Cooperação e da Língua (former IPAD, Portuguese Development Aid Agency), aimed therefore at discussing:
- The impact of the increasing presence of emerging economies on African countries' economic and political governance, national development, domestic accountability, and regional integration processes in Africa;
- Its impact on EU-Africa relations (the EU being still a major development partner in many African states) and, more widely, on global relations; and
- The risks and opportunities that arise for African states and economies (and their partners) from changes brought by the presence and operating modes of emerging global actors.
The full text of the available papers and powerpoint presentations, can be accessed in the EARN page https://europafrica.net/earn/, in the websites of the organising institutes, or you can follow the link to the presentations by clicking on the name of the speaker in the electronic version of this summing-up.
Framing the debate (opening session)
Dr. Henrique Banze, Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs, opened the Conference with an address (see the full text in PT or the summary in EN) stressing the diverse roles and value of both North-South and South-South cooperation. While relations with emerging economies have had a positive impact in Africa, it is acknowledged that in a few cases they have led to tensions and conflict due to a lack of sensitivity to the African cultural reality, to the environment and to the prevention, management and resolution of conflicts. Lessons must be learned from it, but it is also important to move beyond the controversy and engage on collaborative efforts to jointly develop solutions to the socio-economic and political problems of global nature, and of Africa in particular.
Dr. Agostinho Zacarias (see the full text in PT or the summary in EN) has stirred the debate by questioning the terminology of 'emerging actors', which in some cases refers to countries (e.g. China, Russia, India) that have a long history of engagement in Africa, dating back to the African liberation wars. It is their unprecedented level of economic growth, and the expansion of their activities in the African continent in areas that were previously dominated by traditional donors, that is getting increasing attention. But there is also a need to differentiate between these so called 'emerging players' in Africa, who aren't either a homogeneous group in their interests and capacities, nor do they share a unique agenda. Dr. Zacarias went on to stress some of the major differences between cooperation with traditional donors and with emerging economies, and listed some of the perceived advantages and disadvantages of working with these different players. The Busan declaration calls for a focus on the effectiveness of development beyond the effectiveness of aid, and for a dialogue that is not based on the aid factor alone. Busan is illustrative of the need to review and restructure North-South dialogue on Africa's development, and on the importance of engaging with these new actors in the policies to fight poverty. Relations with emerging economies, unlike relations with traditional donors, aren't yet framed under an institutional framework nor are rules of engagement clearly laid out. An adequate institutional framework should be found to allow for an open dialogue among all players, and redefine the concept of aid for development, if aid is to support the fight against poverty and the development of Africa.
The role of emerging players in mineral resource-rich African states: best practices and lessons learned for improved governance (session 1)
In this session, speakers provided a range of varied and complementary perspectives on the issue, from a continental framework for mining resources governance, to the sharing of information and analysis on China's investments and impact on the sector in various African countries, and the specific case of Mozambique.
António Pedro (UNECA) presented the Africa Mining Vision (AMV), its main focus areas and reasoning behind it, its strategies in light of the reality of the sector in Africa, as well an overview of the success factors and challenges in its implementation. The AMV is a continental process whose goal is to create a "Transparent, equitable and optimal exploitation of mineral resources to underpin broad-based sustainable growth and socio-economic development". Adopted by the AU in February 2009, the AMV has become the framework for a sustainable development and good governance of mineral resources in Africa, potentiating Africa's economic growth and diversification beyond mining. Furthermore, AMV is being used by RECs to harmonize their mineral policies, and international donors (e.g. EU, World Bank) consider it a basis for cooperation with Africa in this area. The reality of the sector in Africa and the international context pose however many challenges, but also strengths and opportunities for Africa's social and economic development and diversification. Some of it derive from the new frontiers opened to Africa by emerging economies and increased Foreign Direct Investments (FDI) flows, namely from these countries.
Martyn Davies, C.E.O. of Frontier Advisory, elaborated on the role of the largest of the emerging players in Africa: China. Since 1996, Africa's growth trajectory has accompanied China's, and is now completely decoupled from the economic situation in Europe. Africa has grown increasingly dependent on trade with China. For Angola, Congo or Mauritania, for instance, exports to China represent more than a quarter of their GDP. Chinese FDI flows to Africa have also grown exponentially over the last decade, namely in the mining, energy and infrastructure sectors and beyond resource rich African countries1, followed by a substantial increase in the presence of Chinese companies in Africa, including of small private businesses. Despite this influx of Chinese trade and investment in Africa, none of the African countries has fully understood how to best use this opportunity. Many of them are yet to take the necessary steps to enable, for instance, the development of junior resource companies in natural resource rich countries. But, as M. Davies underlines: how can that be done without an existing capital market? He also pointed out some of the implications for Africa's growth prospects as China's economy evolves in its transitioning path, and questioned to what extent African governments are taking this evolution into account.
China's presence and interest in Africa is, however, not only synonymous of opportunities. There are also risks to African economies in the practices of Chinese companies and businesses. As the latter expand worldwide and their operations increase in scale and complexity, they are showing positive signs of adapting to the new challenges. The monitoring of their activities is also intensifying, namely by NGOs and media. Increasingly, Chinese operators are adapting to stricter regulations, to higher requirements by domestic and foreign authorities on corporate citizenship activities, and are becoming more aware of environmental and social issues. These practices and understanding on corporate citizenship are nevertheless at an early stage, and other challenges still need to be addressed.
In her presentation, Ana Alves looked into the concrete and diverse cases of how China is investing and operating in the mineral resource sector in Zambia and in Angola. She focused in particular on the positive and negative aspects of their activities in these countries, and on what lessons African authorities should draw from it. Given the nationalist nature of the mining sector, the fact that these companies are controlled by the Chinese state and have benefited from a strong political and financial support from the central government in Beijing, their operations have been carefully observed and scrutinised by the international community. Although the activities and investments of these companies in Africa have had some very positive impacts, their reputation is overshadowed by other less positive aspects of their operation, which to a large extent are due to their lack of experience as foreign investors. For instance, China's concessional loans to Angola, under the 'infrastructure for oil' model, allowed the government to invest in the reconstruction of the country, without much risk of these loans being used for other purposes, besides giving the Angolan government more leeway to negotiate with traditional partners. However, the high percentage of Chinese workers and of materials and services contracted in China (about 70%), as well as the lack of control mechanisms for the construction sector and the absence of provisions for maintenance of infrastructure, are challenges that are being only partially addressed in on-going negotiations. In Zambia, Chinese investments in the mineral sector have boosted the country's production and capacity in the sector, but problems related to the poor standards of labour conditions, a limited impact in the local economy beyond job creation, little consideration given to the local interests and poor standards of environmental protection, have created a number of problems that Chinese investors and Zambian authorities need to address.
In the final presentation of this session, Nelson Ocuane, C.E.O. of the Mozambique national oil and gas company (ENH), zoomed into the particular case of Mozambique and how the country is preparing to address the opportunities and challenges of a natural resource rich country. He provided an overview of research and development of oil and gas in the country and current concessions, the contract regime applied, the national legal framework for those activities and fiscal regime, including options for the adaptation of the fiscal regime according to the evolution of production2. He also gave an overview of the investments the country has been making in the sector since 2000.
The discussion in the first half of the conference centered naturally around Mozambique. One of the 'poorest countries in the world', for many decades the only external source of finance for Mozambique was the official development aid from donors and the assistance of international NGOs that flocked into the country after the end of the civil war. Now, with confirmed huge reserves of natural resources (particularly of coal and gas), Mozambique is attracting significant external direct financial investments and private investors. Its recent status as a 'natural resource rich country' has raised many expectations in the Mozambique population. As some participants stressed, it is important to manage such expectations and correctly inform the population about the investments, the timeline from research until the country reaches a mature phase of production (which takes about 10 to 20 years)3, and the planning and management of these resources. In that process, there are still many significant challenges for Mozambique, which the country is seeking to address, not least: developing its institutional capacity to negotiate and manage such contracts; the qualified training of its human resources; adapting and improving the legal frameworks; design and implement strategies for the extractive industries that promote the involvement and development of national companies in the sector and beyond it, as well as the local use of the natural resources, so that there can be a trickled down effect into the wider national economy.
The focus on the extractive industries in Mozambique has undeniably the potential to pull Mozambique out of poverty if well planned and managed. However, it also raises concerns that other critical or potential areas for the country's development (e.g. agriculture, social sectors like health and education, tourism) aren't getting enough attention and investment. The implications of the emergence of these natural resources in the country and in neighbouring areas should also be seen from a security perspective, and plan ahead to prevent social tensions or conflict. Hence the importance of questioning what is being done, its relevance, how to maximise its developmental reach, and its likely impact from a wider perspective, beyond just the economic and financial benefits of natural resource exploitation. The Busan agenda and the Africa Mining Vision can in that respect provide useful guidance.
Understanding land investments and politics in Africa: the role of international actors and the impact of land deals on local development and national governance (Session 2)
Chris Alden presented the findings of a study he and Ward Anseeuw (from the Agricultural Research Centre for International Development-CIRAD, University of Pretoria) conducted on "The Global Land Rush, Agrarian Change and Social Transformations", illustrating not only the global land rush, but also wider dynamics and actors associated with it, especially in Africa. Findings of the study show that the number of announced deals and the extension of land concerned is about 400-500% more (approximately 228 million hectares) compared to the data in the World Bank (WB) report on the global land rush. The number of verified deals and extension of land is much lower (respectively 55% and 29% of the announced deals), but nevertheless 45% higher than in the WB report. Africa is clearly the main target of those land deals, with nearly 70% of the 228 million hectares mentioned in Africa. Despite the more than 50% verified land deals in Africa, these deals regard only 21% of the land targeted in the announced land deals, representing nevertheless the largest share of land if compared with other regions of the world. Two thirds of the land reported in the land deals in Africa is used to grow food crops and biofuels, but unlike other regions of the world, in Africa only 29% of that production is traded within Africa, compared to 43% in Latin America (the other region with the lowest level of intra-regional trade).
The study by Alden and Anseeuw also identifies new actors and investment models in the reported land deals in Africa. Besides China who leads in the number of reported land deals in the continent4, Saudi Arabia, the UK, India, South Africa and the US are among the top 10 investors in land in Africa, followed by other EU member states and Egypt. Investment patterns vary from: private western companies investing in traditional food-producing, processing, and exporting activities to extend their market share; State-controlled or State-owned companies or sovereign wealth funds investments from capital-rich Gulf and Asian states, largely driven by national concerns for food security; to more profit driven and speculative investments by hedge/pension funds and investment banks. Most importantly, the nature of the land deals and investments in Africa illustrate a renewed interest to control land-based activities and integrate the entire production cycle.
The global land rush was triggered by the food price crisis and driven by global demographic, food and energy regimes. But amid that context, to Alden and Anseeuw land governance problems at a global and national level have aggravated as a result of:
- The crisis of small-scale farming, largely perceived as not delivering socio-economic development, and, consequently, a des-investment in agriculture and in rural areas;
- Ineffective land governance, as land reforms defining the status of land and land rights of the populations are not implemented accordingly in many host countries, leading to lack of clarity, abuses and land grab often by the national/local elites;
- Weak democratic governance, poor transparency and centralisation of decision-making leading to a lack of participation/consideration of the affected populations and making land acquisitions easier;
- The current economic governance and market regulations, which promote capital expansion and transformation through the commodification/privatisation of land and the deregulation or liberalisation of markets.
Alden and Anseeuw conclude that large scale land acquisitions are further exacerbating these factors, including: the financiarization and corporization of agriculture; the concentration of agricultural production in the hands of a few large international groups/companies who also control agricultural regulation mechanisms; the marginalization of the majority of African farmers; and deepening the dependence cycle. The land issue is therefore more than just about who owns the land: it is a matter of food security and contributing to a profound restructuring and the social transformation of agrarian societies.
Unlike other African countries, at least in Mozambique the land situation is clearer as a result of the land law, but as Eduardo Chiziane presentation stresses (see the PPP or the summary in english), further steps need to be taken to improve the implementation of the land law. Chiziane presented the main findings of a study that analysed the legality and feasibility of a simplification of administrative proceedings, and of requirements for the transfer of land rights between the living in rural areas with the purpose of stimulating economic development and alleviating poverty. According to the Constitution of 2004 (art. 109, n°1 and 2), land in Mozambique is State property and it is up to the State to set the conditions for its use and exploitation (DUAT: "Direito de Uso e Aproveitamento da Terra" in Portuguese); DUAT's transmission is possible, but the land can not be sold or alienated in any other form, mortgaged or subject to distrain. The Land Law of 1997 further defines the limited conditions under which it is possible to transfer the right to use and exploit the land, subject to the State's approval. Legal proceedings for making such transfer of rights are not only long and complex, thus hampering private investment, but also marred by ambiguity (e.g. on the term of "benfeitorias"), while different legal treatment apply to land with and without buildings. Transferring the right to use and exploit the land (DUAT) in life poses the greatest problems. Clarifying ambiguities in the law should be the first step towards addressing some of the identified problems with regard to a transfer of DUAT in such cases. Procedures should be simplified, including the administrative requirement for prior state authorization for rural buildings. That could facilitate access to the land and investments particularly by locals and nationals willing to invest in the land. In case simplification would apply also to large areas of land, prior delimitation and demarcation of the land should be required, at the initiative of the claimers who would be responsible for proving their right. Furthermore, the land law should be amended to include also the option of land rental (nor currently foreseen in the law).
Jorge Arbache, from the Brazilian Development Bank, gave an overview of how Brazil is dealing with land issues. Like many other countries in different regions of the world, Brazil too has seen important foreign investments in land, namely by China, and it still faces many development challenges internally. A potentially useful lesson for other countries facing similar challenges is the success of Brazil's agricultural policies. To former President Lula da Silva, developing family agriculture was key to addressing poverty and improving food security in Brazil. Accordingly, his government set up a comprehensive policy to support family agriculture, which went beyond technical support and counselling for agricultural family production, and provided, amongst others, market access, credit systems and guaranteed prices. As a result, 70% of food consumption in Brazil comes now from small scale/family agriculture. This has had a very significant positive impact in the country's reduced poverty, its rural development and the inclusion of family agriculture into the wider Brazilian economy.
In his intervention, Professor João Mosca, from the University 'A Politécnica' in Maputo, alerted to the economic and social risks of a quick and ill-prepared opening of Mozambique's economy to foreign capital and international trade. Questioning whether Mozambique has a long-term vision for its development or if it can realistically have the capacity to negotiate with economies that work at a global scale, Prof. Mosca stressed the need to plan for the long-term and develop an economic strategy that fosters the emergence of a domestic capitalism and supports small rural producers. The implications for Mozambique of an increasing economic opening to the SADC region, its long-term benefits and risks, should also be carefully evaluated.
In the discussion that followed the panel, and more generally in the debates during the one and a half day conference, is was clear that different sectors of the Mozambique society shared a common concern regarding the potential risks of its new natural resource wealth and capital in-flows over the country's governance and social stability. Profound changes are already occurring in the country's rent distribution patterns, and risk further exacerbating social imbalances amid high expectations from Mozambique society. Mozambique lacks the capacity to effectively plan, negotiate and monitor such a scale of investments and booming economic activity, as the country is now experiencing. There is general acknowledgement of the need to strengthen institutional capacities in Mozambique, to plan ahead for an equitable and sustained development, manage capital in-flows to the long-term benefit of the country, and learn from both the good and the bad experiences of other resource rich countries in Africa. Some question to what extent can any capacity-building efforts accompany such a fast pace of investments. For them, Mozambique ought to pause and reinforce first its institutional capacities.
South-South Cooperation and African Regional Integration Agendas: which implications of the role of new emerging players for regional integration agendas in Africa and potential synergies? (Session 3)
On her presentation about the role of China in Africa's integration, Hannah Edinger, from Frontier Advisory, gave an overview of regional and continental integration in Africa and its hurdles, focused on infrastructure development as an area for constructive partnerships while promoting regional integration, and elaborated on the prospects for Chinese assistance and potential synergies.
Africa's trade with the world has increased significantly since 2000. Over the last 10 years, Africa has known a tenfold increase of trade relations with China and an increase in trade with other emerging economies, despite the decrease in trade with the EU and the US. Intra-regional trade in Africa, however, constitutes only 12% of total exports– compared to approximate figures of 50% in North America and in Asia, and more than 60% in the EU –, and shows a very diverse picture from one African region to another, and between African states. For instance, intra-SADC trade is worth about twice as much the value of trade within COMESA, the second most 'integrated' region in Africa; and while smaller countries are dependent on regional trade, Africa's largest economies are the least involved in regional trade. Africa thus clearly misses out on the benefits of regional integration.
H. Edinger enumerates a number of key inhibitors to Africa's regional integration, including: a complex regionalism with overlapping memberships; a mix of developing and least developed countries (LDCs) within regional groupings; the low trade complementarity; a lack of product diversification, of production capacity and of trade facilitating institutions; weak implementation and monitoring capacity; national development plans and budgets often do not integrate regionalism objectives and priorities, nor are these a priority for African governments; a lack of adequate and efficient transport, power and communications infrastructure, resulting in high transaction costs. Focusing on the latter, Edinger illustrates the constraints it represents for Africa's trade and development, the prospects for infrastructure partnerships, and provides an overview of infrastructure investment needs, the main investors and which sectors and countries are getting most of it.
Traditional bilateral donors and development institutions are still the main source of external financial support to African infrastructure providing more than 50% of that support, but emerging economies are increasingly supporting infrastructure development in Africa. Edinger provides an illustrative picture of China's increasingly preeminent role in this area and how infrastructure development funding by China intersects with its foreign policy objectives. In seeking to eliminate supply-side risks of its investments in Africa, China is significantly financing regional infrastructure projects, including already planned transport and infrastructure corridors, with the potential to enhance interconnectivity and economic integration within Africa. Finally, Hannah Edinger points out Chinese assistance prospects to support Africa's integration, not only in infrastructure projects, but also in market access issues, agricultural development and engagement with regional bodies and initiatives. She also highlights potential synergies between China, other emerging partners, traditional donors and African regional actors.
Barbara Mommem, presented the specific case of the Maputo Corridor Logistics Initiative (MCLI) in the SADC region, linking Mozambique, Swaziland and South Africa. An interface between the public and the private sector, the MCLI is a good example of how infrastructure development and trade facilitation measures (e.g. modernising customs legislation and procedures) have supported regional integration and development agendas, fostering cross border trade and investment in one of the most dense industrial zones in Africa. The port of Maputo is a good indicator of that, and the MCLI provides a useful example of the potential of such initiatives, as illustrated in B. Mommem's presentation.
San Bilal, from the European Centre for Development Policy Management (ECDPM), focused on insights from the successes and weaknesses of the EU in fostering and supporting regional integration in the African continent. EU's approach and experience can be useful to other international partners willing to support regional integration agendas in Africa, including to the emerging economies, although the latter are yet to engage in a sustained support to the African regional agenda. EU's case and policies on regional integration can also be useful to African actors themselves, who must engage and lead that process to the benefit of Africa5.
The EU has provided political, strategic, and financial support to many regional initiatives in Africa, including through dedicated financial instruments. Over the last decade, it has also engaged in negotiations on comprehensive free trade agreements with African regional groupings, aiming at fostering their integration processes towards the creation of more effective regional markets for equitable and sustainable development. However, the EU approach is not without problems and questions remain as to its effectiveness. EU trade policy in particular has generated tensions and frustrations in Africa, as shown by the current deadlock in the negotiations of Economic Partnership Agreements (EPA). Coordination and complementarity among European and with other donors has often been insufficient, the articulation between national and regional initiatives too loose, and the coherence across sectors, between aid categories and among types of financial flows (loans, grants, FDI) often lacking. Excessive donors' dependence, capacity constraints, institutional weaknesses, and insufficient political leadership at the regional level have also hampered many regional integration processes in Africa.
Regardless of whatever model of integration external supporters advocate, regional integration in Africa will follow its own pace, driven by specific economic and political interests endogenous to the regions concerned. S. Bilal argues such a process could benefit from a structured dialogue and coherent strategic engagements on regional integration issues with all partners, traditional and emerging players included. Learning from the experience of Africa-EU relations, and in particular European approaches to regional integration in Africa, would be a useful exercise to all.
During the discussion, some participants stressed that regional integration should not take priority over, or be done at the expense of national integration. The Maputo corridor is, for some, an example of a regional priority that has received greater attention than other, more beneficial projects to Mozambique's national integration. Echoing similar concerns expressed in other sessions, there were calls for an in-depth analysis of the impact that promoting regional integration is having within Mozambique.
Opportunities for Change: What are we learning, and can do better to promote sustainable development and governance in Africa? (Roundtable/Closing session)
In the roundtable with representatives from the OECD/DAC (Gregory de Paepe), the EU (Amb. Paul Malin, EU delegation in Mozambique), Brazil, (Jorge Arbache), and Mozambique civil society (Irae Lundin), we returned to some of the questions that introduced the debate in the opening session of the conference 'closing the circle', while adding other perspectives.
There is no doubt that the renewed international interest and increasing presence of emerging economies in Africa has opened new economic and trade opportunities and new policy space for African countries. There have been contentious issues both on traditional donors and emerging economies engagement in Africa, and in the relationship between them in Africa. However, emerging economies engagement is Africa is not deprived of a 'values and norms' approach (and concerns for aid effectiveness) that are defined as the approach of traditional donors. Similarly, the latter's approach is not without 'pragmatism', as the emerging economies approach is generally characterised. In some cases, the distrust between traditional donors and emerging economies (and with African actors) was driven more by a lack of information and dialogue than by outstanding differences of approach. Many of the fears associated with the impact of an increased role of emerging economies in Africa have been diffused. There are now opportunities for strengthened cooperation between emerging economies and OECD donors in support of development goals and the interests of African partners. As Gregory de Paepe stressed, this new confluence of interests and actors puts renewed pressure and responsibility on African governments to take ownership of their development plans, and to lead in the new partnership opportunities that are being created. A few cases of tripartite cooperation and partnerships between traditional donors, emerging economies and African countries' national governments were mentioned. In Mozambique, for instance, Brazil is engaged with the Mozambique government in trilateral projects with the EU on biofuels, with Germany on the development of small and medium enterprises, with Japan in the agricultural sector.
However, as EU Ambassador Paul Malin alerted, in Mozambique many of the opportunities created by the renewed international interest in the country (a result of its largely untapped vast natural resources) are outside of the government systems. One of the challenges is precisely to strengthen the government systems, so that the country and the society can benefit from these new opportunities. Some of the benefits of this new context in the country are already being felt: donor budget support to Mozambique is now less than 40%, compared to 50% in the past. With its wealth of natural resources, Mozambique can further reduce its dependence on foreign aid and strengthen its role in the region and in the world economy. Improving the governance of these resources and of the country's development plans should be at the core of the government's efforts and supported by all its partners.
Emerging players in general are newcomers to the development aid agenda, but not alien to the good governance agenda as they too struggle with similar problems domestically. As Jorge Arbache stressed, Brazil also as governance problems, and in south-south cooperation there is as well a focus on how to address governance challenges. Brazil, like other emerging economies, shares some of the problems that many African countries are facing, and that is precisely one of its comparative advantages. In the case of Brazil, the interest in Africa is not based on the quest for natural resources (Brazil is also a natural resource rich country); it does not consider itself as a donor country nor does it have the legal mechanisms or the economic capacity of a country like China to act as a donor. Like many African countries, Brazil too faces advantages, long-term risks and dilemmas in its relations with partners like China, an important trade partner and investor in Brazil6. For these and other reasons, Brazil's approach and capacity to support development in Africa is different from China's, as illustrated for instance by the Brazilian funded pharmaceutical plant in Mozambique that is producing anti-retroviral drugs to battle the HIV/AIDS, or the Cotton-47 project in West Africa (Benin, Burkina Faso, Chad and Mali) to support small farmers, through the provision of infrastructure and the transfer of knowledge and technology.
Irae Lundin, a representative from Mozambique civil society, reminded that despite the country's emerging wealth and increased interest and presence of emerging economies, Mozambique remains very dependent on foreign aid. While traditional donors still have a "development tutelage" kind of approach, emerging countries have a different attitude, given similarities in their historic trajectory. This dependence from donors, coming in with development packages wrapped in conditionalities, has a negative impact on civil society participation, reducing its citizenship role. The Busan declaration, calling for a shift from a focus on aid to a focus on development, is an important opportunity for all to correct trajectories in this long-term relationship.
The Conference, sponsored by the Instituto Superior de Relações Internacionais (ISRI) and the Portuguese development agency (Camões – Instituto da Cooperação e da Língua, former IPAD), is a joint initiative of the Centre for Strategic and International Studies (CEEI), the European Centre for Development Policy Management (ECDPM, the Netherlands) and the Institute for Strategic and International Studies (IEEI, Portugal), all members of EARN.
The Conference organisers would like to express their gratitude to IPAD for their support to the initiative, to the speakers and participants for their contributions to the debate, and to ISRI for hosting and supporting the event.
This report was elaborated by Fernanda Faria, on behalf of the organisers. Any eventual misinterpretation or incorrect transcription of the speakers' presentations is the sole responsibility of the author and does not engage the organisers.
2 Mozambique's fiscal regime in the mineral resource sector was revised in 2007 and discussions are under way about a possible revision in the near future.
3 Mozambique started producing in 2004, but it is expected to reach a mature production stage only towards the end of the decade.
4 Despite China's lead in the reported land deals in Africa, its Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in Africa agriculture (which includes rural infrastructure and technology transfer) is only a small portion (3.1%) of overall China's FDI in Africa4, although its demand is set to increase.
5 For further analysis on this issue, see namely Sanoussi Bilal, Isabelle Ramdoo and Quentin de Roquefeuil, Europe, G20, and South-South Trade Insights from European Approaches to Regional Integration in Africa, Economic Policy Paper Series 2011, The German Marshall Fund of the United States (GMF), 2011.
6 A useful background document on economic co-operation between Brazil and China, by Jorge Arbache, can be accessed in http://ssrn.com/abstract=2047126.
7 More information on the Cotton-4 project can be found in the report by the World Bank and the Institute for Applied Economic Research (IPEA, Brazil) "Bridging the Atlantic. Brazil and Sub-Saharan Africa: South–South Partnering for Growth", December 2011, p.54, or in the website of Embrapa.


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Sarah Edney got Harvard on the board against Boston University Tuesday night (Photo Courtesy: Kevin Burns).
BOSTON – The No. 7/8 Harvard women's hockey team ran into a determined Boston University squad Tuesday in the opening round of the 34th Women's Beanpot, dropping a 5-2 decision to the Terriers at Walter Brown Arena. The host Boston University (15-12-1, 9-7-0 Hockey East) advances to play Northeastern in the tournament final while Harvard (14-7-1, 11-4-1 ECAC) will square off against Boston College in the consolation game next Tuesday.
The Crimson came alive in the third period, getting two goals back after starting the period with a five-goal deficit. On its ninth power play of the evening, the Crimson finally broke through. Josephine Pucci ripped a shot from the point that was tipped on net by Kaitlin Spurling. Kerrin Sperry made the initial save, but Sarah Edney was there to put home the rebound at 11:34 of the third. Jillian Dempsey netted the second Harvard goal, wristing a shot off a BU defender from a Marissa Gedman shot and past Sperry. Harvard ended the game on a penalty, but was unable to find a third tally.
Both teams came out gunning but the fast pace of the contest only yielded a handful of shots for either team in the early going. The Terriers were called for the first penalty but Jill Cardella picked off a clearing pass by the Crimson and whipped the puck past Laura Bellamy for the game's first goal, a short-handed effort, at 6:30. Penalties bit the Crimson in a big way just past the halfway point of the first, as the Crimson had three skaters in the box at one time. Kaleigh Fratkin's slapshot into the top corner made it 2-0 BU, but the Crimson did well to kill off the remaining five-on-three and five-on-four scenarios.
In the second period, the Crimson gained a number of power-play chances, but the BU penalty kill remained firm and kept the guests off the board. A goal by Marie-Philip Poulin at 4:37 of the second gave the Terriers a 3-0 cushion and quick goals by Isabel Menard and Jenn Wakefield in the final two minutes of the frame sent Harvard into the locker room down 5-0.
The Crimson has a big conference weekend coming up as it welcomes Quinnipiac Friday and Princeton Saturday for a pair of key ECAC games. Friday's game is slated to begin at 7 p.m.


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Tigers drop first tilt despite Verlander's strong start
Red-hot Hunter delivers only run with third homer of series
DETROIT -- Justin Verlander was good on Sunday afternoon, but Chris Tillman was better.
Verlander allowed two runs on five hits over eight innings, but the bats could only push across one and the Tigers lost to the Orioles by a 3-1 score, the first loss for Detroit.
Tillman was an All-Star last year and he showed why on Sunday, allowing one run on five hits over 8 1/3 innings, striking out five.
"Tillman was outstanding," right fielder Torii Hunter said. "This guy has great stuff. The curveball he threw me, it scared me, actually. He was definitely keeping us off balance. Miggy had some good swings off him. [Victor] Martinez had some good hits, and I had some good swings.
"We tried, and this guy was just outstanding. Cutter outside, fastball [at] 93, 94 [mph] -- the curveball, I'm telling you, is unbelievable. His first full season last year, made All-Star; this guy is definitely a No. 1, one of the best starters in the game."
Tillman threw 113 pitches, 74 for strikes. Of his 72 fastballs, 50 were strikes, as were 10 of his 15 sliders. At last year's All-Star Game, Verlander and Max Scherzer shared some general pitching tips with Tillman. Verlander joked Sunday that he regretted doing that.
"Tilly was great," Orioles manager Buck Showalter said. "Some guys kind of see Verlander in their spot and kind of shake their head. Tilly takes it on as a challenge to compete against one of the best in the game. He gives that type of effort. ... I'm real proud of everybody. They grinded it out."
The Tigers offense was kept off the basepaths until the fourth, when Hunter hit a solo home run to left field to break up Tillman's perfect game and the scoreless tie. It was Hunter's third home run in as many days. It marked the eighth time in 11 plate appearances that Hunter reached safely, and the fourth time in his career he hit a home run in three straight games.
It was the only run the Tigers would score, but it looked like it might hold up with the way Verlander was pitching. He had allowed four baserunners through five innings, with only one getting into scoring position.
But Adam Jones hit a one-out double in the sixth and Nelson Cruz tied the game with a double of his own.
In the eighth, Baltimore's Nick Markakis took a low-and-inside curveball to right field for a triple and scored on Jones' sac fly.
"The Markakis triple, I executed my pitch," Verlander said. "He got jammed and just hit it in the right spot and made a nice, aggressive play to turn it into a triple. Then Adam Jones put up a great at-bat against me. I felt good, though. That's all I can ask."
Through two starts, Verlander says he feels no effects from offseason core muscle repair surgery. He has allowed four earned runs in 14 innings, throwing more than 100 pitches in each start. The velocity is also there, but he has just five strikeouts. Last season, he recorded three strikeouts in a start five times, and never fewer than that. He had two on Opening Day against Kansas City and three on Sunday.
"I talked to Max about that when I came out of the game," Verlander said. "You get a feel for strikeouts. My feel for those isn't quite there yet. I'm not quite executing as well as I should, or maybe over-trying with two strikes, hanging stuff and letting it be hittable as opposed to executing it. But that's pretty typical for me, I think. You end up finding a feel for it."
He didn't have many, but Verlander's fifth-inning strikeout of Steve Lombardozzi was the 1,675th of his career, moving him into fourth place all-time in Tigers history.
"I had no idea," Verlander said. "That was pretty cool, especially when you think that it's not like we're an expansion team. This is a team that's been around for [more than 100] years. That's pretty special to have my name starting to climb up some ladders. There's a lot of history in this organization. To have my name start to be near the top of these all-time things is pretty cool."
A solo home run by Matt Wieters off Al Alburquerque in the ninth extended the lead to 3-1. Martinez doubled in the bottom of the frame, ending Tillman's day, but the Tigers could not rally.
"This is the first time I've seen [Tillman] pitch in person," Tigers manager Brad Ausmus said. "We had some good at-bats, but ... as well as Justin pitched, he matched him and pitched into the ninth. So I kind of tip my hat to him. We swung the bats well the past couple days. Today, the bats cooled a little bit."


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Are you interested in finding out how education systems across Europe are responding to the need for young people to be skilled in Computational Thinking?Evidence for Innovation
Keep up-to-date
STEM Discovery Week 2017 is being celebrated on 24-30 April with various face-to-face and online events that underline the importance of school and industry collaboration, to address the current shortage of STEM students and professionals in Europe.STEM Education
In line with tradition, eTwinning has an annual theme that is inclusion and leads the activities for 2017Evidence for Innovation
The STEM Discovery Week from 24 to 30 April 2017 celebrates all the opportunities that studies and careers in the field of science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM) have to offer!STEM Education
European Schoolnet is proud to announce that we are celebrating our 20th anniversary this year! Having begun as a network of 18 Ministries of Education in 1997, we currently have 31 members, all united in our mission to transform education in Europe.Evidence for Innovation
More than 250 early childhood education and care (ECEC) stakeholders met at the Great Start in Life conference to discuss this important stage in learner development. Now, we are inviting you to share your opinion!Evidence for Innovation
As with tradition, the 2017 eTwinning European Prizes have been announced! From the 591 projects submitted, bellow you will find a list of winners and runners up of the three age categories.Evidence for Innovation
The "STEM Professionals Go Back To School" scheme is a STEM Alliance programme to engage company professionals to visit schools and participate in collaborative activities for one hour to half a day.STEM Education
European Schoolnet invites teachers to register for the upcoming Massive Open Online Course (MOOC) 'Opening minds to STEM careers' MOOC for STEM teachers'. This MOOC is a joint initiative of three projects, Scientix – funded by Horizon 2020, SYSTEMIC – funded by Erasmus+, and STEM Alliance, which is privately funded.STEM Education
In 2017 we are celebrating the 30th anniversary of Erasmus! What started as a student mobility programme in 1987 has grown into something bigger and enriched the lives of more than 9 million direct participants, not to mention the indirect impact it has had on so many others. That is why in 2014 several programmes were combined into one: Erasmus+.Evidence for Innovation


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I'm trying to figure out how to resume a podcast from the last point of play on the Android Madsonic app. Everytime I pause a podcast and then try to hit play again (assuming it would be from the same spot) the podcast starts over.
I tried just remembering how far in I am each time I pause the podcast to just advance to that point but it appears advancing isn't a feature of the Madsonic client??????
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Tag Archives: coconut curry
Interested in HoT?
Posted on November 21, 2014 by Dan Brook
HoT 2020 is closed for apps! Want to eat yummy pad thai — in Thailand? Can you picture yourself with incredible ELEPHANTS at a beautiful sanctuary? Have a fun and fascinating conversation with monks? Want to be amazed? Want to … Continue reading →
Posted in Applying for HoT | Tagged 1296, 555, abroad, adventure, adventures, adventurous, aesthetic, ajaan, ajarn, Akha, alive, allokataplixis, amazement, amazing, amulets, amusing, anatta, ancient, animism, animist, anthropology, Araksa, archaeology, architecture, art, ASEAN, Asia, Asian, Asian Century, Asian Studies, attitude, aum, authentic, awake, awareness, away, awe, awesome, badge of honor, baht, bamboo, bamboo rafting, bananas, Bangkok, Basho, Bay Area, beatitude, beautiful, beauty, behavioral science, Bhutan, BKK, blessed, bliss, bodhi tree, bodhisattva, bon voyage, bricolage, bucket list, Buddha, Buddhism, Buddhist, Burma, Burmese, butterflies, cafe, California, camaraderie, Cambodia, celadon, change, chedi, Chiang Mai, Chiang Mai University, Chiangmai, chili, chill, China, Chinese, city gates, CNX, coconut, coconut curry, coconut oil, coconuts, coffee, cohort, college credit, comfort zone, communication, community, community involvement, community service, compassion, 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Photo Gallery: Valentine's Day Gift Guide
Romantic gifts for the home.
Add some hot pink style to your home.
There's nothing wrong with showing yourself a little love on Valentine's Day. This handcrafted pink leather pouf would be the perfect addition to a feminine home.
See more Valentine's Day gift ideas in our photo gallery.
Make baking a lot sweeter with a tablespoon of love.
These engraved silver heart measuring spoons make a great keepsake gift.
Send stylish snail mail this Valentine's Day.
Tell your friends you love them by sending one of these retro Polaroid note cards in the mail. The box set includes 20 cards, each one featuring a different dreamy photo that evokes the beauty of the everyday.
See more Valentine's Day gift ideas in our photo gallery.
Give classic macarons with a romantic twist.
Indulge in a box set of Nadège's yummy macarons in shades of pink and red. Je T'aime inscribed across the top makes the sentiment even sweeter.
See more Valentine's Day gift ideas in our photo gallery.
Use these pretty bowls for breakfast or dessert.
The pastel shades of these heart-patterned porcelain bowls make a perfect winter pick-me-up.
Say I love you with a graphic pillow.
The sentiment may be old-fashioned but the graphic print and linen material make this pillow modern.
Go for a classic white, red and gold set.
Red and white ceramic tableware and matching linens make a modern statement that can be used year-round. Brushed gold flatware act as glam accents.
Season your food with festive shakers.
Perched inside a lovely bronze cage, these stoneware bird salt and pepper shakers are perfect for a dinner at home on Valentine's Day, or anytime of the year.
Make a minimalist display.
These decorative wood hearts would be great displayed in a glass bowl or apothecary jar. Use a metallic sharpie to write sweet messages on them and gift them to a friend.
Cosy up with a luxurious throw.
The subtle mink colour, soft velvet and satin, and ruffled edge give this throw blanket a luxe, feminine feel.


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What's the most important factor of a successful security program? Technology such as endpoint protection? Making sure your change management processes and system development life cycle includes consideration of security risks? Strong policies? Not quite.
While all of these are important, a prerequisite - ensuring all these controls are accepted by employees and not bypassed (either intentionally or accidentally) - is a strong security culture. Building a strong security culture begins at the top of the organisation, right from the CEO and CIO level.
We've all seen the "people, process, technology" triangle, particularly for information security management. However, all too often, when considering security requirements and controls, there is more emphasis on processes and technology than on people. A poor security culture, training and attitude can easily undo any of your controls and create the weakest link for an organisation's security.
It only takes one poor decision for someone to undo an organisation's security controls, and the individual doing this can be anyone, from a high-level executive to a clerk. There have been stories over the years of incidents such as patient medical records being found on the street because it was carelessly thrown into the rubbish bin; or a file containing sensitive information being left in a public place. The consequences for either scenario can be severe, and while policies may exist prohibiting employees from doing either, there are no technical or process controls (other than physically checking every sheet of paper that leaves a building) to prevent these occurring.
Significant information security risk exists due to the accidental or deliberate actions (or inactions) of employees. Simple human error, ignorance and omission are the root of most data breaches and e-crimes. While most people will try to do the right thing, everyone makes mistakes or may be unaware that what they are doing is actually a risk to the organisation. How many stories have we heard about people sharing passwords because it's the easy thing to do, or downloading free software from the Internet to get the job done?
Awareness and training goes a long way to educating employees on how to prevent risky activity. However, the priority employees give to security and whether or not they really pay attention to the awareness training is influenced by executives. If employees don't see high-ranking managers making clear statements and demonstrating that security is a priority, they won't treat it as a priority either.
How can a CEO or CIO demonstrate to employees that security should be a consideration in their daily activities? This can be achieved through range of means:
- a message during their security awareness training
- a brief mention in the employee welcome package
- a policy message posted clearly around the facilities alongside other organisational policies (such as its Safety or Equal Opportunity policies)
- including their name or position as a driver behind security initiatives to demonstrate that it is an important project, and improve the rate of its success.
ISO 27001, the Information Security Management System (ISMS) standard, includes as a certification requirement:
(section 5.1 d) "management shall provide evidence of... communicating to the organization the importance of meeting information security objectives and conforming to the information security policy, its responsibilities under the law and the need for continual improvement".
This requirement is based on the same belief that organisational culture is set from the top. Employees at the bottom of an organisational hierarchy will only view certain behaviours as a priority if it is presented and followed by executive management as a core cultural component.
This expectation also extends to senior and middle management, team leaders and supervisors - everyone should follow the same security practices and procedures. If a manager is seen as not taking a security policy or procedure seriously, or receiving "personal policy exemptions", their employees won't take those policies seriously either.
Leadership by example, and clear communications from the CEO, CIO and their managers about the importance of security is cruicial to ensuring the "people" part of the "People, Process, Technology" triangle does not become the weak link.
As security professionals, we are tasked with thinking about process and technology controls as part of our everyday management, project and operational roles. However, don't forget about the people aspect, ensure this message is also communicated to the executives that everyone looks to for leadership. Only they can set the example for everyone else.
Follow @CSO_Australia and sign up to the CSO Australia newsletter.


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A man who is believed to be Michael Jackson's illegitimate son has tested 99.9 per cent positive as a DNA match to the King of Pop.
Brandon Howard, who bares a striking resemblance to a young Michael, is the 31-year-old son of singer Miki Howard, who was managed by the Thriller hitmaker's father Joe Jackson back in the 1980s.
He underwent a paternity test some time ago to prove the icon was his dad, but reportedly kept the results between himself and a few friends and family members.
FilmOn.com boss Alki David uncovered the scandal and set out to make the information public after obtaining the superstar's DNA from an old dental impression he bought at auction from a Beverly Hills doctor.
He had lab technicians compare the genetics from the orthodontic device to that of Howard's, which he had also discovered, and had the results read out during a livestream on FilmOn.com on Thursday.
Jackson's longtime pal, actor Corey Feldman, was present for the big reveal, as a doctor confirmed, "The probability of parenthood is 99.9 per cent."
Howard was not in attendance at the event and has since posted a video online distancing himself from the whole controversy.
In the footage, the singer, who goes by the name B. Howard, says, "Number one, I did not call TMZ or anything like that, didn't put out a story, nothing. Number two, I have never self-proclaimed to be Michael Jackson's son. Number three, I am definitely not suing the (Jackson) estate, I've been taken care of very well, and also I make my own cash.
"Number four, it is true I did a DNA test but it had nothing to do with any of this, I swear on my life…"
Meanwhile, Feldman has defended Howard in a series of posts on his Twitter.com blog, in which he suggests he was aware of Howard's existence all along.
In messages posted before the DNA results were announced, he wrote, "PLEASE UNDERSTAND: (Howard) didn't talk 2 (sic) the press! He never asked 4 (sic) $ (money)! And he has STILL NOT CLAIMED he is MJs kid (sic)!
"SOME SLEEZBALL FOUND OUT ABOUT THE TEST AND MADE UP A STORY AND SOLD IT 2 (sic) TMZ! That's the WHOLE STORY!!! It was meant 2 B (sic)PRIVATE INFO!"
Jackson died in 2009.
A man who is believed to be Michael Jackson's illegitimate son has tested 99.9 per cent positive as a DNA match to the King of Pop.


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Fun Facts - 85kWh
Fun Facts - 85kWh
2.6 gallons of gas ;)
It's more like 20 gallons in my current car!!
Enough to drive a Model S Performance at FULL POWER for about 15 minutes. Who will be the first to try that?
I don't think it would work... I think the software would limit power output to protect batteries, discharging them in 15 minutes would harm them I guess...
In owners manual (or was it warranty paper?) is written that car is not meant for racing (driving fast and racing are two completely different things), I have no idea how would it react... I guess only Tesla dev team knows :-)
But if somebody is going to try it, I absolutely want to know what happend :D
Just wait for Volker to get his car :)
Whity Whiteman presents himself as an even better candidate for this experiment :-)
Gasoline energy content ~36MJ or 10kWh / liter, so 85kWh is 8.5 liters of gasoline which is ~2.2 gallons. With that you get 265 EPA defined miles, so 265miles/85kWh = 120 mpg of gas. About six times better than equal (heavy, large & fast) ICE car.
Timo, that is the exact formula I think should be used too. This whole weird math of cost comparison that is used is ridiculous considering everyone gets billed a different amount for gas and electricity and can charge using whatever power source they choose.
and something like 7100 cells to make up the battery
nickjhowe, it does not calc. Gas here in the mid-west is a little over $3. I think around $5 in California. That is an extreme cost difference that significantly changes the EPA rating. The guy in Calli that is charging with his existing solar array is paying a completely different price. Ameren (my electric company) charges anywhere from 4.5-7 cents a kilowatt depending on the time of the year then they add on a fuel surcharge depending on the going rate for coal.
Timo's method which is the one I use it pretty much direct conversion using joules. No costs are involved since they are completely arbitrary.
Yes, Timo's system is cross-currency, too. The cost calcs differ in Norway, Germany, UK, US, and Canada, and can be applied after getting the true MPGe that way. In your own "market", though, that final step is the one that matters.
Ah, but how many gigawatts is it? At 88 mph does it reach near to 1.21? May need to test it near a clock tower or something... I hear the TM brand flux capacitor is better than the old DeLorean model.
I only wish that Tesla offered the Model S in a raw brushed aluminum unpainted finish. (Not a fan of the silver, I know many others are).
I hear Elon is really an alien trying to build the tech needed for him to get home...... oh wait that was a cheesy TV show.
There's always DIY brushed aluminum. Step 1: acquire a selection of steel brushes ...
By the end of next year--and certainly 2 years the EV industry will be using Super Capacitors to drive your car. They weigh a fraction of the battery weight. Capacitors have a huge advantage, in that they practically never wear out--charge instantly, and some of the new super caps are holding substantially greater charge. I ordered mine with a Flux Capacitor so I could jump forward a few years get a battery of super caps and have all their advantages.
It's a bit more complex than that.
From real driving experience (about 1,600 miles now) in CA:
My average is 377Wh/mile and I drive about 30 miles a day during the week and more on weekends.
Assuming 30 miles a day that's 11.3kWh/day.
The chargers are not 100% efficient, so let's assume ~5% loss.
Now you're looking at ~12kWh a day extra (to your normal electricity use).
If it pushes you to tier3 or tier4 pricing that are unregulated (it does push me into those rates), you're paying $0.34 per kWh or $4 a day for charging your car.
If you drive an ICE car with 19MPG (also a real life number) using Premium gas that's 1.6gal or $6.2 at $3.89 a gal (that's what it is here today).
So it's still about 50% less than gas but not that much in absolute value ($2 a day of savings) considering once I'm in tier3 or tier4 pricing I'm paying $0.34 for *all* kWh I use, not just 12kWh that I use for charging.
If you had a more efficient ICE car, the math could be in ICE favor altogether, e.g. if you're over 30mpg you're even or better than me driving a Tesla.
The best case scenario I'd be paying $0.11 per kWh (tier1 pricing) and that changes things a lot since instead of $4 a day it would be
$1.32 a day or about 5 times cheaper than gas.
Staying in tier1 is pretty hard though, you need a PV system on your roof to offset most of your use.
At least we have that option in CA since we get a lot of sunny days here, and incentives are pretty good too.
That's pretty much the only way to guarantee your pricing long term as both gas and electricity prices will go up.
And fill half a room for the charge you'd need, and lose charge 10X+ faster than a battery, and can fry you in a microsec if they short. Which they really enjoy doing. Good plan!
34 cents per kwh in CA?? OMG, that's like 6 times what we pay in AZ!!
@timo- you said "Gasoline energy content ~36MJ or 10kWh / liter"
I could be wrong but...
The figure I have is 1 gallon of gas produces 36.6 kWh with 80% being heat loss (-29.28kWh) so you would only get about 7.32kWh usable energy out of that gallon. not sure how that equates to MPG figures.
(Just guessing) that 10kWh is enough for about 34121 BTUs
If you get only 36kWh / gallon you are using a very inefficient gizmo to get energy out of it (like ICE). What I wrote is direct energy content figure without conversion inefficiencies (like the heat loss you mention). Gasoline (and hydrocarbons in general) have very high energy densities, far greater than any batteries. Problem is to get it out of them efficiently.
@cstull - PG&E's E-9 rate schedule goes from 3.74c/kWh (baseline) to 19.8c/kWh (top tier/300% of baseline) during off-peak hours.
If you're using a Supercharger, however, you must be in a hurry and are more likely to be charging during peak hours. PG&E's summertime peak-hour rate can hit 54c/kWh, and other providers may charge even more.
Arizona exports a lot of electricity, much of it to California, so I expect that lets them lower the rates at home - to a certain extent, some of what you're buying is surplus capacity that Southern California didn't need this week. We also have a high renewable energy purchase mandate on providers and virtually no in-state coal power generation; Arizona has coal from the Kayenta mine and the Glen Canyon and Hoover damns.
Arizona residential electricity cost is 3% below the average for the country, while Californians get charged 37% above average. On the other hand, you pay 41% above average for natural gas and we pay 36% below average. (Data from EIA.gov.)
Some CA providers offer steep discounts for charging EVs at night. You can use net metering to offset any electricity you use with energy you generate (e.g. from solar PV). If you produce more than you use, they will write you a check (something like $0.04/kWh).
CA power supply is so pooched that the bind moggles. And it's getting worse, by fiat. Quite a spectacle!
Parts of CA are unable to meet demand during peak hours. SoCal Edison has even had scheduled rolling black-outs to miser energy. Therefore they charge customers a premium who use a lot of energy and give incentives to reduce demand during peak hours.
You could be referring to any number of things when you say it is getting worse by fiat, but the things I mentioned are implemented by SoCal Edison, not their big brother. Regardless of the possibly myriad causes underlying their behavior, it is working out ok for me, because I'm getting paid to drive electric.
To me what is bind moggling is why more people don't take advantage of the situation. Solar City takes advantage of it by giving people "free" solar panels while reducing their electric costs. I think that demonstrates there is at least enough margin in electricity costs for 3 parties (home, Solar City and the local electric company) to profit. it is possible for the home owner to take nearly all that margin for themselves.
MB3 -- it is possible for the home owner to take nearly all that margin for themselves.
It is, but there is also the risk of high maintenance costs. Solar City can average the maintenance costs over the number of installations so it's no big deal for them if a few have "problems". If you're a homeowner and are unlucky...
I didn't actually think of catastrophic failure, and they probably will occur at some rate. I'm not too worried though and perhaps there are ways to mitigate. I purchased micro-inverters so a single failure will not affect the whole set of panels. There aren't any moving parts though, so I'm not sure what kind of other failures to occur, but the panels and inverters have 20 or 25 year warranties. I suspect existing home-owner's insurance might cover other failure modes (e.g. tree falls).
Hail damage too. If you use your homeowner's insurance for something less than a major fire or similar catastrophic event, your rates will go up far more than what you receive in an insurance payment.
The glass on the panels is tougher than many might fear, but large hail is something to consider. We do occasionally get hail, but only once in the 15 years I've been here and it was far too small to cause any damage.
I had a pipe leak and my insurance covered 10k in damages. My rates did not increase at all.
MB3 -- it is possible for the home owner to take nearly all that margin for themselves.
Renters and hi-rise dwellers are SOL, however.
True that. I don't know what they can do. Would it be possible for local high concentrations of S owners to pool their resources and build a nearby charging/parking station? Probably not, but just a thought.
I had a rather interesting encounter with a solar lease vendor who came to my door a few months back (not Solar City - I don't recall the name). Normally, my answer for any door-to-door salesman is "no thanks", but I made an exception and I had him arrange a follow-up call after telling him I was considering getting a Tesla (which he hadn't heard of).
The provider arranged for a three way call with PG&E to get more information about what my rates would be like, and then told me that with the discounted rates offered by PG&E and my current energy consumption, it wouldn't be worthwhile. That is, the amount of electricity I'd consume and the discounted rate that PG&E offered in comparison meant that I wouldn't be saving money by going with them. I also took it to mean that if they tried to meet PG&E's rates, they would get too small a check from me and from PG&E for the feed-in tariff to make it worth their investment of installing a solar system.
According to a calculator on PG&E's website, I also found that if I switch from my current flat rate (that is, no difference whether my usage is at day or night) to the time-of-use rate schedule for EV owners, I'd actually pay less. That was even factoring in the cost of electricity for the amount of miles I drive a day on a Roadster (the Model S isn't listed yet). If anyone else is interested, you can try the calculator out here:
The break-even point on the E-9A schedule (one meter) seems to be 23 miles a day. There's a second rate plan, E-9B, in which PG&E installs a second meter for use specifically with the EV. There are additional charges for the meter, but a different rate schedule, and according to the calculator, you it catches up to the E-9A schedule at 43 miles a day (a combined 43 miles, if you have two or more EVs, I believe).
@MB3 - regarding hi-rise dwellers, in California there is a law that requires HOAs to grant a condo owners request to support EV charging, mentioned here:
This doesn't mean it will be solar, of course. Perhaps something like a community garden project would make sense - take an open lot or public space like a park or parking lot, and arrange for a PV system to be built. The proceeds would in part at least go toward offsetting the electric bills of participants. While it might not be on the same bill, it'd still be a way to get solar installed and the usage of the EVs offset.
A building (but probably not individual units) could choose something like PG&E's "Green Option" in which PG&E buys green energy certificates equal to the percentage of your bill that is not already green. That is, your electricity comes from the pool of available electricity, but you pay extra to offset the part that comes from fossil fuels. It doesn't simply take a slice of the solar power out of the pot and assign it to you, but I don't know how the certificates are used - presumably, PG&E buys them and the funds go toward solar and wind farms, etc., as opposed to merely going toward PG&E buying from those sources (which they're mandated to do anyway by the state).


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It goes without saying that selecting a name for your business is one of the most crucial decisions you face. Its the very first thing that almost all of your customers encounter, and its something you cant chop and change all the time. Your business name means everything when it comes to marketing your business
it could make or break your business, so do not take this part of planning lightly.
Why bother becoming more proficient at promoting your business?
Why promote in the first place?
Because competitive activity present or future obliges us to be active in the market place.
In case youre thinking youre off the hook because you have no direct competition in your area, think again:
Anything which costs approximately the
For those who would like to continue reading my blogs please go directly to my website on http://www.viljoenconsulting.co.za for your daily read.
By Nikki Viljoen of N Viljoen Consulting CC
The quote today comes from Abraham Lincoln who said : You cannot escape the responsibility of tomorrow, by evading it today!
Actually this very topic came up with one of my colleagues yesterday. He is an entrepreneur
24 Hours Notice
By Nikki Viljoen of Viljoen Consulting CC November 2010
Lets go back to my favourite protagonists I havent used them for quite a while.
Mike is our SMME who owns a small store in a busy mall. George is his right hand man, who is basically the shop assistant and who is employed full time. George has worked for Mike for more than eight years.
George started working for Mike just after he left
When You Want to Hire Staff Part 2
By Nikki Viljoen of Viljoen Consulting CC August 2010
Last time we had a look at how to screen the applicants using the Job Description and today we will progress onto the actual interview.
So there I was left with 3 applicants for the job. How to choose which one would be the most suitable for the position.
At this point it is not always about the qualifications and the number


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- Description
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Cape Town TV
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Co-op Info
- Curator CTV
- Total views567
- Unique co-op viewers324
- Date created5th Jul '12
- Number of shows23
- Last updated21st Mar '13
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- Curator Bio
Cape Town TV - known as CTV - is a non-profit, community-based television station aimed at the greater Cape Town metropolitan area. Founded by over 200 non-profit organisations in 2006, CTV is committed to providing community access to the powerful medium of television as a tool to promote human rights, social justice and community cultural development.
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Kaapse Klopse Current Affairs
- Description The City of Cape Town hosts a signing ceremony, supposedly to confirm their agreement with the Cape Town Minstrels & Minstrel Associations. The event becomes clouded in conflict when the procurement and appointment process of an external festival event organiser comes to light.
Isivivane Current Affairs
- Description Hanover Park has become one of the most dangerous townships in Cape Town. This impacts children growing up in the community where gangs start recruiting members at a young age. Mount View High, a school struggling with a low pass rate and a high school dropout seem to have found a way to empower learners.
Cape Town Water Current Affairs
- Description Residents in Cape Town and Durban will eventually have to face the possibility of drinking water from sewerage.The Department of Water Affairs says two cities were using both flushing large volumes of domestic waste water into the ocean when it could be recycled.
Bo Kaap Heritage Current Affairs
- Description Bo Kaap is a community on the slopes of Signal Hill. Around the 1700's the Dutch East India company imported a slave labour force that serviced the needs of the slave masters. This former settlement is now one of Cape Town's prime real-estate locations. Oesman Shahbodien, a resident and chair of Bo-Kaap Association said the following about the roots of the community.
Whale Carcass Current Affairs
- Description Whale carcass was spotted off shore near Capricorn Beach. The whale was bitten by a great white shark and split liters of blood into the bay. The intent of the operation team was to remove the whale during high-tide. But due to an increase of shark activity in the bay,the operation started earlier. The recovery team attempted to remove the whale, but because of the whale's shark bites,the operation team had to change it's standard procedure. The whale was out of the water around 2pm and was transported to Vissershok landfill site for disposal.
Neville Alexande... Current Affairs
- Description Socialist, educationist and lifelong activist, Dr Neville Alexander passed away on Monday 27th August. But his humility and humanity will always remain with us. Esley Philander and Siraaj Larney spent some time with friends and comrades, Dr Sophia Kisting and Elizabeth van der Heyden, in conversation with Neville's ideas and legacy.


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New York, N.Y. -- Yesterday it was reported that an HIV vaccine regimen led to a marginal but statistically significant degree of protection against acquisition of HIV infection. The only information provided by the trial sponsors in their press releases is that 74 out of 8,198 volunteers who received placebo immunizations became infected with HIV compared to 51 out of 8,197 volunteers who received a combination of two vaccines, ALVAC vCP1521 and AIDSVAX B/E. Seven of the original 16,402 volunteers were excluded from the efficacy analyses after it was found that they were HIV-infected at the time of receiving their first vaccination. The result equates to a protective efficacy of a little over 31%, but with a very wide "95% confidence interval" spanning from 1.1% to 52.1% (a confidence interval is a statistical method for conveying the degree of uncertainty associated with a result; if the lower bound of the confidence interval is less than 1, the result is not statistically significant). The vaccines had no effect on post-infection viral load levels among the recipients who became infected.
These results are very welcome given the many unwelcome surprises that have assailed the HIV vaccine field over the past few years. However, based on the limited amount of information that has been released, it appears that the statistical significance hangs on very few cases of HIV infection. TAG urges caution in interpreting the findings until more detailed information is available. In light of the potential importance of the results to efforts to prevent HIV infection, and the level of public interest, TAG is disappointed that the trial sponsors did not include more data with their news releases.
TAG's Position on the Trial
When the trial was launched, TAG stated our concern that the lack of data on the efficacy of ALVAC alone would preclude an understanding of whether the inclusion of AIDSVAX added to, or subtracted from, any potential benefit (Science 305;5681:180). Now that there is an indication of possible efficacy, this issue looms large. Many people worked diligently and in good faith on this trial and it is disheartening that such a huge undertaking is still unable to provide definitive answers as to the efficacy of the candidates studied. Instead, if the results hold up to scrutiny, more trials will be required to try and understand what happened.
TAG will provide additional information and commentary on the trial results when the details become available.


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WEBSTER, N.Y. (AP) -- The police chief in Webster, N.Y., says that four firefighters were shot while responding to a blaze in the town near Rochester and that two are dead.
Chief Gerald Pickering says "one or more shooters" fired at the firefighters Monday morning. Officials say they had arrived at the scene of the blaze near the Lake Ontario shore around 6 a.m.
Officials say a fire started in one home and spread to two others and a car. Officials say there is no active shooter at the scene.


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Map Rails
1" Map Rail - Single Pack (4' L) is rated out of 5 by 7.
$25.99 – $1,067.99
Save 31% to 49% off MSRP
To view specifications select the product options above the Add To Cart button.
Hang maps, artwork and bulletins on the Ghent Map Rail. The cork map rail has a sturdy aluminum frame that you can attach to a marker board or wall.
Get free shipping on Ghent products when you order $1,200 or more of Ghent merchandise.
Hi, can i buy this without the metal frame
Yes, we have cork strips without the metal frame. See the product by clicking on the link below: https://www.schooloutfitters.com/catalog/product_info/pfam_id/PFAM3500/products_id/PRO10498
Date published: 2020-01-27
what is the width of the cork is 1/4 inch or a 1/2 inch thick?
As you look at the cork strip on the wall, the tackable surface area is 1/2" H and 1/4" thick.
Date published: 2019-04-04
Rated 3 out of 5 by suwe from No Installation Hardware included The rail itself is fine, but there is no installation hardware included, nor does this website offer it to you as an additional purchase. I installed it on a wooden frame for the chalkboard, but since this product has no actual pre-drilled holes for installing, I had to drill the holes into it myself. What is the use of selling a product and not also suggesting the proper hardware to install it? If School Outfitters would simply have the proper instructions and tools for installing as options, then I would have given it 5 stars.
Date published: 2017-09-19
Rated 2 out of 5 by Ruth from Not Thick Enough The cork board for this map rail is not thick enough. The pins are not able to push all the way in for a strong hold and seem to fall out if hanging anything to heavy:(
Date published: 2016-06-07
Rated 5 out of 5 by Dave from Product arrived timely and in good shape The 1" map rails work well for displaying student's work. Install was fairly easy, though the screws they sent were really too short. Also, I had to create my own installation plan as there were no guidelines for how to install.
Date published: 2019-03-20
Rated 4 out of 5 by Judy R from solves the problem We love hanging kids artwork, and map rails allow us to do so without purchasing or install of huge bulletin boards. I just wish the cork were a bit thicker, but we can staple or tape pictures along the hall walls easily.
Date published: 2017-12-01
Rated 5 out of 5 by Walt from Great product This is a great product and looks great on the wall. When mounting and reinstalling cork, there isn't much clearance for the screw heads. You definitely have to countersink a bit and/or use a screw with a very flat head.
Date published: 2016-11-12
Rated 4 out of 5 by Jennifer from Helpful product! Needed a way to display student work in a tight area. Easy to install and now that wasted space beautifully displays the work of our students!
Date published: 2016-09-09
Rated 5 out of 5 by Richard from Perfect! These were just what we needed. Easy install and good quality. Thanks for making the ordering and shipping easy.
Date published: 2015-09-04


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Voxopop - a voice based eLearning tool - 98 views
shared by Marc Patton on 16 Dec 10 - Cached
Paul Hieronymus on 01 Jan 12Looks like a nice tool for Language teachers
Marc Patton on 19 Jun 12Used by educators all over the world, Voxopop talkgroups are a fun, engaging and easy-to-use way to help students develop their speaking skills. They're a bit like message boards, but use voice rather than text and a have a specialised user interface. No longer confined to a physical classroom, teachers and students of oral skills can interact from home, or even from opposite sides of the planet!


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LOCATION:2241 Chamberlin Hall (coffee at 4:30 pm)
SUMMARY:FT-IR spectrochemical imaging: Design and applications with Focal Plane Array and multiple beam synchrotron radiation source\, Physics Department Colloquium\, Carol Hirschmugl\, UW-Milwaukee
DESCRIPTION:* This work has been done with support from NSF (MRI-DMR-0619759 and CHE-1112433) and the Synchrotron Radiation Center\, which is also supported by NSF (DMR-0537588) and UW-Milwaukee and UW-Madison.
FT-IR spectrochemical imaging\, which combines the chemical specificity of mid-infrared spectroscopy with spatial specificity\, is an important demonstration of label-free molecular imaging. Mid-infrared optical frequencies are resonant with the vibrational frequencies of functional groups\, thus an absorption spectrum is a "molecular fingerprint" of the material at every pixel. Each spectrum can be correlated with known material properties to extract chemical information. Synchrotron based FT-IR spectrochemical imaging\, as recently implemented at the Synchrotron Radiation Center in Stoughton\, WI\, demonstrates the new capability to achieve diffraction limited chemical imaging across the entire mid-infrared region\, simultaneously\, with high signal to noise ratio.
IRENI (Infrared Environmental Imaging) extracts a large swath of radiation (320 hor. x 25 vert. mrads2) to homogeneously illuminate a commercial IR microscope equipped with an infrared Focal Plane Array (FPA) detector. Wide field images are collected. IRENI rapidly generates high quality\, high spatial resolution data. The relevant advantages (spatial oversampling\, speed\, sensitivity and signal to noise ratio) will be presented and demonstrated using examples from a variety of disciplines\, including formalin fixed and flash frozen tissue samples\, live cells\, fixed cells\, paint cross sections\, polymer fibers and novel nano-materials will be presented.
M.J. Nasse\, et al. "High resolution Fourier-transform infrared chemical imaging with multiple synchrotron beams"\, Nature Methods\, 8\, (2011) 413-416
E.C. Mattson\, et al. "Evidence of Nanocrystalline Semiconducting Graphene Monoxide During Thermal Reduction of Graphene Oxide in Vacuum\," ACS Nano 5\, pp 9710-9717
M.Z. Kastyak-Ibrahim\, et al. "Biochemical label-free tissue imaging with subcellular -resolution synchrotron FTIR with Focal Plane Array Detector\," NeuroImage 60\, (2012) 376-383.


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Not familiar with Blogger Aid? It's a group of international "bloggers uniting to aid in the alleviation of hunger." It was founded by an amazing threesome: Val of More Than Burnt Toast, Ivy of Kopiaste... to Greek Hospitality, and Giz of Equal Opportunity Kitchen.
In their words, Blogger Aid is "a growing group of international food bloggers determined to make a difference in aid of world famine. The love of food and community that brings us together drives the compassion of its members to reach out to our world to help those less fortunate than we are. Banded by a mission of helping to make a change in a world where starvation affects such a profound number of people, we will raise money and awareness for the hungry in communities both at home and abroad."
The Blogger Aid cookbook is their largest fundraiser to date. The recipes will be submitted by readers, both members and non-members of Blogger Aid, and 100% of the profit from the sales of the cookbook will go to School Meals, a program of The World Food Programme (WFP), the United Nations frontline agency.
Now I can't tell you exactly what I submitted since the ladies want us to keep it a secret. (That way, you will be surprised at the exciting array of international recipes that await you!) I can give you some hints though: It's a main dish. It's Italian in nature. It celebrates the flavors and colors of spring. And it's soooo good.
Want to submit a recipe of your own? Here's how.


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Follow RFF News on your cell phone. Text follow rff to 40404 you will receive txt messages with RFF News
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I Hate This ****in Show!!!!!
jesie hoh.. and ronrat runs over to key him and lick his balls!
Quote from: ugot2bekidinmeny on July 23, 2009, 07:53:13 PMjesie hoh.. and ronrat runs over to key him and lick his balls!Oh, my God...
Quote from: MommyLove3 on July 23, 2009, 07:52:48 PM I Hate This ****in Show!!!!! I second this. And BB hates us just as much back!!WTF Jesse shouldn't even BE ON THIS SHOW!!!But yes at least Jeff is safe
I missed the part where Ronnie licked Jessies balls Ugot!! LOL
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Quality Analyst
ThoughtWorks isn't your average company, so we don't hire average people.
We've been at the forefront of software testing innovation for a long time and are the creators of Selenium, a portable software testing framework for web applications. We've made contributions to the Open Source community via projects like this one, as well as Frankenstein and SharpRobo. We do things differently here, getting our testers working closely with our developers and business analysts, right from the requirements gathering stage. As a member of the team you'll be around to ask the awkward questions and try the scenarios that analysts or developers don't dream up.
Add to this our focus on Agile delivery and you'll start to see why working here is refreshingly different.
* Experience leading QA testing teams on projects distributed across borders and time zones
* Experience testing multi-tier web-based applications on Java and .NET platforms
* Experience developing test strategies, test plans and test cases
* Experience creating and managing automated functional testing scripts for Load, Performance and Stress testing
* Experience testing database access via XML APIs in a multi-tier environment
* Utilization of Winrunner and Silk testing tools, Bugzilla and Jira defect trackers and testing databases using XML-based API
* Provide management of quality assurance on large-scale, custom-designed projects that utilize J2EE, .NET, Flex and Flash technologies
* Lead Quality Assurance team on projects that are distributed across borders and time zones
* Consult, analyze and provide quality assurance on projects
* Create and manage all QA deliverables for projects
* Produce test plans and test cases for multiple projects
* Perform manual/automated testing
* Perform Unit, Functional, Integration, System and Performance testing
* Create and manage automated functional testing scripts for Load, Performance and Stress testing
* Propose and set up testing centers of excellence for clients
* Track and report quantitative and qualitative aspects of error reporting, including hardware and networks
* Test database access via XML APIs in a multi-tier environment
* Utilize Winrunner, QuickTestPro, TestComplete, LoadRunner, Rational Robot, Silk, Mercury Quality Center, Bugzilla, Rational Clear Quest and Jira
* Communicate with Analysts, Developers and clients to gain functional and technical knowledge
* Use Iterative and Agile methodologies
Being a consultancy means all of our consultants should be open to travel. Some of our consultants travel 50% of the time. We do everything we can to make life here as easy as possible and do our best to take people's personal situations into account. We think it's a small price to pay for the chance to work with us.
If you are interested in taking on an opportunity that offers variety, innovation, and unique challenge every day, then we should talk. We want to hear from you!
Ref: *CI