Map of Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka is in the midst of a human rights crisis. The ceasefire between the government and the armed secessionist Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) exists only in name. Since mid-2006, when major military operations resumed, civilians have paid a heavy price, both directly in the fighting and in the dramatic increase in abductions, killings, and disappearances. The return to war has brought serious violations of international human rights and humanitarian law.
The LTTE is much to blame. The group, fighting for an independent Tamil state, has directly targeted civilians with remote-controlled landmines and suicide bombers, murdered perceived political opponents, and forcibly recruited ethnic Tamils into its forces, many of them children.1 In the areas of the countrys north and east under its control, the LTTE harshly represses the rights to free expression, association, and movement.
Human Rights Watch has long documented abuses by the LTTE, particularly the LTTEs systematic recruitment and use of children as soldiers, the targeted killings of political opponents, and its abusive fundraising tactics abroad.2 We will continue to report on LTTE abuses and press the LTTE to change its practices.
This report, however, focuses primarily on abuses by the Sri Lankan government and allied armed groups, which have gotten decidedly worse over the past year. As the hostilities have increased, the governments respect for international law has sharply declined, with it often appearing indifferent to the impact on civilians in the north and east.
This report does not aim to be a comprehensive account. Rather, it highlights with examples the main areas of concern, from violations of the laws of war and extrajudicial killings to unlawful restrictions on the media and nongovernmental organizations and the widespread impunity enjoyed by state security forces. It uses victim and eyewitness accounts to document indiscriminate attacks on civilians, the forced return of internally displaced persons, and the spate of arrests and disappearances by government forces and allied groups. Case studies reveal how the rights to freedom of expression and association are increasingly under threat from a government intolerant of criticism and dissent. Ethnic Tamils have suffered the brunt of abuses, but members of the Muslim and majority Sinhalese populations have also been victims of government rights violations.
Sri Lankas defense establishment is particularly responsible for abuses. The security forces have driven policy on the ethnic conflict since President Mahinda Rajapaksa was elected in November 2005, led by the presidents influential brother, Defense Secretary Gothabaya Rajapaksa. After an LTTE attempt on the defense secretarys life, the government expanded draconian Emergency Regulations, in place from the previous government, that grant the security forces sweeping powers of detention and arrest. The government has used counterterror legislation against journalists who expose human rights abuses, official corruption, or otherwise question the governments handling of the conflict with the LTTE.
Even top government officials have expressed concern. In a private letter to President Rajapaksa on December 13, 2006, then-Foreign Minister Mangala Samaraweera warned that the government must do more to address the deterioration of human rights. Leaked to the press after Samaraweera was sacked, the letter noted persistent reports about alleged abductions and extra-judicial killings attributed to government forces as well as the [allied] Karuna faction and the LTTE in areas controlled by both the government and the LTTE. Whether or not these were committed by terrorist groups or government agencies, Samaraweera wrote, it is the responsibility of the government to investigate and prosecute the perpetrators in keeping with Sri Lankas treaty commitments. He added, Even when fighting a ruthless terrorist group like the LTTE, the Government must not be seen as using the same tactics as a terror group. The rule of law must always be respected by all arms of the government.3
Ironically, the serious deterioration in the governments human rights record is taking place under a president who was once a human rights activist, known for getting dossiers of the disappeared out of the country to the United Nations (UN) Commission on Human Rights in 1990. President Rajapaksas official biography trumpets him as a champion of human rights,4 but he has failed to demonstrate those qualities during his presidential term.
Some of the most serious international law violations have taken place during armed hostilities, when civilians have died in unlawful attacks and others were displaced. Both the government and the LTTE have shown a brazen disregard for the well-being of non-combatants.
In one of the most deadly incidents of recent years, government shelling in the eastern Vaharai area on November 8, 2006, hit school grounds that were housing thousands of displaced civilians, killing 62 and wounding 47. Government forces failed to distinguish between combatants and civilians and may have purposely targeted the school. Based on interviews with a dozen witnesses and other information, Human Rights Watch found no evidence to support government claims that the LTTE had fired that morning at government forces from the vicinity of the school or had used civilians as human shields to protect themselves from attack.
The treatment of internally displaced persons remains a paramount concern. Some 315,000 people have had to flee their homes due to fighting since August 2006; 100,000 fled in March 2007 alone. This comes atop the 200,000-250,000 people made homeless by the December 2004 tsunamimany from the same areas as the recent fightingand the approximately 315,000 displaced by the conflict prior to 2002. Since January 2006 more than 18,000 Sri Lankans have fled to India, often on rickety boats, as refugees.
Both the LTTE and the government have failed adequately to provide for the needs of the displaced. The LTTE has at times blocked civilians from leaving areas of conflict, while the government through its indiscriminate shelling and restrictions on humanitarian aid has compelled civilians to flee. The government has forcibly returned displaced persons after it deemed their home areas cleared of the LTTE, often without adequate security or humanitarian assistance in place.
Humanitarian aid agencies and nongovernmental organizations, domestic and international, are finding it increasingly difficult to service populations in need, and have sometimes come under direct attack. According to the United Nations, 24 aid workers died in Sri Lanka in 2006, including 17 local staff of the Paris-based Action Contre Le Faim who were murdered in August. The Sri Lankan authorities have not arrested anyone for that crime.5
The number of abductions and enforced disappearances is spiraling. The national Human Rights Commission (HRC) said it recorded roughly 1,000 cases in 2006, plus nearly 100 more in the first two months of 2007.6 A government commission established in September 2006 to investigate disappearances said in June 2007 that 2,020 people were abducted or disappeared between September 14, 2006, and February 25, 2007. Approximately 1,134 of these people were found alive but the others remain missing.7
On the Jaffna peninsula alone, an area under strict military control, more than 800 persons were reported missing between December 2005 and April 2007. According to a credible non-governmental organization that tracks disappearances, 564 of these persons were still missing as of May 1.
While the LTTE has long been responsible for abductions, the majority of recent disappearances in Jaffna and the rest of the country implicate government forces or armed groups acting with governmental complicity.
While many of the disappeared likely have been killed, some may be in detention, held under the newly imposed Emergency Regulations (see below). If so, the government should announce the names of such persons, as well as any charges against them, and list the locations where they are being held. Those not charged should be released.
Human Rights Watch conducted interviews with the family members of 109 people who said their relative had been abducted or disappeared since 2006. These included cases from Jaffna, Colombo, Vavuniya, Mannar, Trincomalee, and Batticaloa. The cases can largely be grouped into two basic types: those by the state in the name of counterinsurgency, and those by allied armed groups or the LTTE to eliminate rivals, recruit fighters, or extort funds.
In the lawlessness that has grown in the past two years, criminal elements also appear to have committed some of the abductions. Over the course of late 2006 and 2007 scores of abductions were accompanied by huge ransom demands and the victims were mostly businessmen from the minority Tamil community. By May-June 2007, members of the Muslim community, particularly in the eastern district of Ampara, were targeted as well.
Under growing pressure from within Sri Lanka and abroad, the government has taken some steps to address abductions and enforced disappearances, including some arrests of alleged perpetrators, but none of these steps has significantly slowed the abuse. A one-man government commission on disappearances established in September 2006 has issued strong statements about the abuse and the governments inability to halt it, but the government has not made public any of the commissions interim reports, nor is it obliged to implement any of the recommendations.
Public statements by the government have rejected the overwhelming evidence of government involvement as unfounded and cast those who accuse government forces as sympathizers of the LTTE. President Rajapaksa, once an advocate for the disappeared, has dismissed many of the cases as fakes. Many of those people who are said to have been abducted are in England, Germany, gone abroad, he said in May 2007. They have made complaints that they were abducted, but when they return they dont say.8
In August 2005, after the assassination of Foreign Minister Lakshman Kadirgamar, the government of then-President Chandrika Kumaratunga imposed Emergency Regulations drawn from the Emergency Regulations of 2000. Long a controversial measure in Sri Lanka, the regulations granted the security forces sweeping powers of arrest and detention, allowing the authorities to hold a person without charge based on vaguely defined accusations for up to 12 months.
Over the past 18 months, the Rajapaksa government has detained an undetermined number of people reaching into the hundreds under the regulations. The primary targets are young Tamil men suspected of being LTTE members or supporters, but the government has recently cast a wider net, arresting non-Tamils for allegedly supporting the LTTE.
The overbroad and vaguely worded regulations allow for the detention of any person acting in any manner prejudicial to the national security or to the maintenance of public order, or to the maintenance of essential services. The authorities may search, detain for the purpose of a search, and arrest without a warrant any person suspected of an offense under the regulations.
The regulations also provide for house arrest, restrictions on the internal movement of certain persons or groups, prohibitions on an individual from leaving the country, and limitations on an individuals business or employment. They allow for the censorship of articles related broadly to sensitive issues, and the disruption and banning of public meetings.
The number of people arrested under the Emergency Regulations remains unclear. In March 2007 the government announced it was holding 452 persons under the Emergency Regulations (372 Tamils, 61 Sinhalese, and 19 Muslims), among them 15 soldiers, five policemen, one former policeman, and three military deserters.9 Human Rights Watch requested updated figures in June, as well as the status of cases and the locations of detention, but the government failed to provide the information requested.
In December 2006 the government introduced another Emergency Regulation called the Prevention and Prohibition of Terrorism and Specified Terrorist Activities. The broad, sweeping language allows for the criminalization of a range of peaceful activities that are protected under Sri Lankan and international law. Some of the regulations could be used to justify a crackdown on the media and civil society organizations, including those working on human rights, inter-ethnic relations, or peace-building. The authorities could also use the wide immunity clause to exempt from prosecution members of the security forces deemed to be acting in good faith.
The Sri Lankan government has failed to take action against the abusive Karuna group, a Tamil armed group under the leadership of V. Muralitharan that split from the LTTE in 2004 and now cooperates with Sri Lankan security forces in their common fight against the LTTE. With the LTTEs loss of territories in the east, the Karuna group has exerted de facto authority in the districts of Ampara, Trincomalee, and Batticaloa. The group also expanded its operations in the northern Vavuniya district, engaging in extortion and abductions.
Despite ongoing international scrutiny and criticism, including from the United Nations, the Karuna group has continued to abduct and forcibly recruit children and young men for use as soldiers, with state complicity. Between December 2006 and June 2007 UNICEF documented 145 cases of child recruitment or re-recruitment by the Karuna group. The actual number is likely to be higher because many parents are afraid to report cases, and these numbers do not reflect the forced recruitment of young men over 18.
In February 2007 Human Rights Watch observed armed children guarding Karuna political offices in plain view of the Sri Lankan army and police. A top Karuna Eastern commander was seen riding atop an army personnel carrier. Armed Karuna cadre openly roamed the streets in Batticaloa district in sight of security forces, and in some cases they jointly patrolled with the police.
President Rajapaksa and other Sri Lankan officials have repeatedly promised that the government would investigate the allegations of state complicity in Karuna abductions and hold accountable any member of the security forces found to have violated the law. To date, however, the government has taken no effective steps. No member of the security forces is known to have been disciplined or prosecuted for committing these illegal acts. There is now a clear pattern of complicity by the security forces in abductions, extrajudicial executions, and extortion committed by this group.
Human Rights Watch asked the Sri Lankan government the status of the investigation announced by President Rajapaksa. Prior to any announced results, the government said that it has no complicity with the Karuna group in any allegations of child recruitment or abduction. This calls into question the sincerity of the governments commitment to an investigation.
The government has increasingly sought to silence those who question or criticize its approach to the armed conflict or its human rights record. It has dismissed peaceful critics as traitors, terrorist sympathizers, and supporters of the LTTE. And it has used counterterror legislation to prosecute those whose views or versions of events do not coincide with those of the government.
Humanitarian and human rights organizations, both Sri Lankan and international, have come under sustained pressure. The government has dismissed their allegations of human rights violations as baseless and influenced by propaganda of the LTTE. Any group or organization, falling prey to this malicious propaganda of the LTTE, without prior inquiry, investigation or reliable verification, could as well be accused of complicity in propagating and disseminating the message and motives of the LTTE, the governments peace secretariat said in March 2007.10
Given Sri Lankas Emergency Regulations, which criminalize aiding and abetting the LTTE, this broad lumping of human rights groups with the LTTE seems aimed at silencing organizations working to report objectively on human rights, including groups also highly critical of the LTTE.
The climate of fear for human rights activists is intensified by death threats some individuals have received over the phone in the past year, in which unknown individuals warn activists that the government should not be condemned.
In December 2005, a parliamentary committee established to monitor the influx of aid organizations after the tsunami expanded its scope to organizations that work on human rights, democratization, and peace-building. The committee required NGOs to submit their internal records from the past 10 years, such as lists of publications and organized functions, including attendees.
Freedom of the press has taken a serious blow. Eleven Sri Lankan journalists and other media practitioners have been killed by various parties to the conflict since August 2005. To date, no one has been convicted for any of the killings.
Tamil journalists work under severe threat from both the LTTE and government forces. In LTTE-controlled areas media freedom is severely restricted. The LTTE has been implicated in abductions of media practitioners and the killings of journalists. It has routinely pressured Tamil journalists and attempted to force Tamil media practitioners to resign from state-owned media. The circulation of some Tamil newspapers was unofficially banned in parts of the north and east. In October 2006 and again in January 2007 the Karuna group blocked the delivery of the newspapers Thinakural, Virakesari, and Sudar Oli in Batticaloa and Ampara.
The Sinhala-language media is not exempt from government pressure. On November 22, 2006, agents of the polices Terrorist Investigation Division arrested Munusamy Parameswary, a reporter for the Sinhala newspaper Mawbima, accusing her of helping the LTTE and a suspected suicide bomber. Parameswary was apparently targeted because of her writings on human rights violations, including enforced disappearances. The police released her on March 22, 2007, when a court found insufficient evidence to continue her detention.
On February 27, 2007, the Terrorist Investigation Division arrested the spokesperson and financial director of Standard Newspapers Ltd., which publishes Mawbima and the English-language weekly Sunday Standard. Under the Emergency Regulations they detained him for over two months without charge. On March 13, 2007, the government froze the companys assets, forcing Mawbima and Sunday Standard to stop publication. On May 30, the police arrested the owner of the company under the Terrorist Financing Act on suspicion of providing material and financial assistance to the LTTE.
Over the past year President Rajapaksa has held regular breakfast meetings with media editors. According to participants, he has at times admonished editors for their unpatriotic writing. His brother the defence secretary has been more direct: in April 2007 he telephoned the editor of the Daily Mirror, an English-language daily, and told her that he would exterminate a journalist who had written on human rights issues in the countrys east.
Impunity for human rights violations by government security forces, long a problem in Sri Lanka, remains a disturbing norm. As the conflict intensifies and government forces are implicated in a longer list of abuses, from arbitrary arrests and disappearances to war crimes, the government has displayed a clear unwillingness to hold accountable those responsible for serious violations of international human rights and humanitarian law. Government institutions have proved inadequate to deal with the scale and intensity of abuse.
One barrier to accountability lies in the failure to implement the 17th amendment to the constitution, which provides for the establishment of a Constitutional Council to nominate independent members to various government commissions, including the Human Rights Commission. Ignoring the amendment, the president has directly appointed commissioners to the bodies that deal with the police, public service, and human rights, thereby placing their independence in doubt. The 17th amendment has been similarly bypassed in the unilateral appointment of the attorney general, which undermines the independence of that office.
In response to rising domestic and international concerns about human rights violations in Sri Lanka, and to preempt proposals for an international human rights monitoring mission, in November 2006 the government established a Presidential Commission of Inquiry (CoI) to investigate serious cases of human rights violations by all parties since August 1, 2005. Instead of an international commission, as many human rights groups had urged, and as President Rajapaksa had initially agreed, the commission is composed of Sri Lankan members, who are assisted by a group of international observers, called the International Independent Group of Eminent Persons (IIGEP).
The Commission of Inquiry has serious deficiencies, and it remains to be seen whether it can effectively promote accountability where state institutions have failed. First, the commission does not appear to have made much headway in the 16 serious cases it has the mandate to investigate, while additional atrocities by all sides continue to occur. Second, the commission can only recommend to the government the steps to take, so its findings will not necessarily result in prosecutions. Third, investigations are stymied by an inadequate witness protection program that would encourage rightly fearful victims and witnesses to testify about abuses by government security forces. Fourth, the attorney generals office has a direct role in commission investigationsa potential conflict of interest that may undermine the commissions independence. Finally, the head of the commission is limiting the work of the international experts to a narrow observer-only role, which would prohibit them from conducting investigations and speaking with witnesses.
In its first interim report to the president, the IIGEP warned that the success of the commission was at risk. It expressed concern that the government had not taken adequate measures to address crucial issues, such as the independence of the commission, timeliness and witness protection.11 In its second report, the IIGEP questioned the role of the attorney generals department in assisting the commission, highlighting examples of lacking impartiality. The report said the commissions conduct was inconsistent with international norms and standards and that failure to take corrective action will result in the commission not fulfilling its fact-finding mandate in conformity with those norms and standards.12
All of these problems suggest that the Commission of Inquiry is unlikely to make significant progress to change the climate of impunity in Sri Lanka today. The Rajapaksa government has not seriously addressed the escalating human rights crisis, and measures by the government and the CoI to address issues such as the independence of the Commission and witness protection are falling short. The Commission of Inquiry seems more an effort to stave off domestic and international criticism than a sincere attempt to promote accountability and deter future abuse.
Foreign governments were especially supportive of the Commission of Inquiry, and its increasingly evident failings highlight the need for concerned governments to rethink their approach to human rights protection. In particular, international donor states should intensify their expressions of concern, urging the government to end abuse and punish those responsible. The Sri Lankan government time and again has pledged to its people and the international community that it will protect human rights and hold abusers accountable; it has routinely failed to fulfill that pledge.
The international co-chairs for the peace process (the United States, Japan, the European Union, and Norway), as well as other states, should use their leverage with both the government and the LTTE to encourage respect for international law, including the protection of civilians during hostilities. Financial aid is one lever that international governments have, and states such as the United Kingdom and Germany have recently elected to limit their assistance until government practices improve.
Concerned governments should also use the United Nations Human Rights Council to initiate and support strong resolutions to promote compliance with international law by the government and the LTTE. Most importantly, the international community should work at the Human Rights Council and with the government to establish a United Nations human rights monitoring mission in Sri Lanka to monitor, investigate, and report on human rights abuses and laws of war violations by all sidesthe government, the LTTE, and Karuna forces.13
Human Rights Watch urges the Sri Lankan government, the LTTE, the Karuna group, and key international actors to respond with urgency to the human rights crisis in Sri Lanka. Specifically, we call on all relevant actors to:
Full recommendations can be found in Chapter XI.
This report is based primarily on field research in Sri Lanka in February-March 2007. Human Rights Watch visited Colombo and its environs, and the districts of Batticaloa and Jaffna. The names of many interviewees are redacted or removed, usually at the interviewees request, to protect that person from potential harm.
On June 18, Human Rights Watch wrote to President Mahinda Rajapaksa, requesting replies to 33 questions on a range of issues. The government replied on July 12. Relevant answers are included in the report. On some central issues the government did not provide the requested information, such as the number of people arrested under the Emergency Regulations, the number of people arrested on charges of kidnapping or abductions, and the status of the governments investigation into alleged state complicity in abductions by the Karuna group.
1 In this report, consistent with international law, the words child and children refer to anyone under the age of 18.
2 See Human Rights Watch, Funding the Final War: LTTE Intimidation and Extortion in the Tamil Diaspora, vol. 18, no. 1(C), March 2006, http://hrw.org/reports/2006/ltte0306/; Human Rights Watch, Living in Fear: Child Soldiers and the Tamil Tigers in Sri Lanka, vol. 16, no. 13(C), November 2004, http://hrw.org/reports/2004/srilanka1104/; Sri Lanka: New Killings Threaten Ceasefire, Human Rights Watch news release, July 28, 2004, http://hrw.org/english/docs/2004/07/27/slanka9153.htm.
5 Security Council Briefing by Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs John Holmes, June 22, 2007, http://www.reliefweb.int/rw/RWB.NSF/db900SID/SHES-74ESMZ?OpenDocument (accessed June 25, 2007).
6 Simon Gardner, Abductions, Disappearances Haunt Sri Lankas Civil War, Reuters, March 5, 2007, and Sri Lanka Police, Soldiers Arrested over Abductions, Reuters, March 6, 2007.
7 US Concerned about Disappeared, BBC Sinhala.com, June 28, 2007, http://www.bbc.co.uk/sinhala/news/story/2007/06/070629_uscondemn.shtml (accessed July 2, 2007).
8 Teymoor Nabili, Peace Through War in Sri Lanka, Al Jazeera, May 31, 2007, http://english.aljazeera.net/NR/exeres/654B1090-36E2-4374-AFC9-7EDCE9ACB4C7.htm (accessed May 31, 2007).
9 The figure is mentioned in a report by the International Crisis Group, Sri Lankas Human Rights Crisis, June 14, 2007, http://www.reliefweb.int/rw/RWFiles2007.nsf/FilesByRWDocUnidFilename/DBC51E0313E10AB5852572FA006892C6-Full_Report.pdf/$File/Full_Report.pdf (accessed July 18, 2007), which cites "Sri Lanka Human Rights Update," INFORM and Law and Society Trust, March 15, 2007.
10 Secretariat for Coordinating the Peace Process (SCOPP), Baseless Allegations of Abductions and Disappearances, March 8, 2007.
11 International Independent Group of Eminent Persons Public Statement, June 11, 2007. For the full text of the statement see http://www.medico-international.de/en/projects/srilanka/watch/20070611iigep.pdf (accessed June 28, 2007).
12 International Independent Group of Eminent Persons Public Statement, June 15, 2007. For the full text of the statement see http://www.medico-international.de/en/projects/srilanka/watch/20070615iigep.pdf (accessed July 2, 2007).
13 A UN human rights monitoring mission would entail a field office of the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights with a mandate of protection, monitoring, capacity building, and public reporting.


Type I restriction endonucleases show no turnover following DNA cleavage and as a consequence a study of the exact mechanism of DNA cleavage has been difficult and protracted in part due to the limiting amounts of enzyme available. However, despite these problems a model for DNA cleavage exists based on observations with the classical EcoKI system. The basis of this model is the observation that DNA is not cleaved at specific locations, as occurs with Type II restriction endonucleases, but is cut into fragments of random size. The original proposal was that the ATPase activity of the endonuclease led to translocation of the DNA, for random lengths of time, and then cleavage occurred producing random-sized fragments. However, by synchronizing the translocation process by addition of ATP, Studier and Bandyopadhyay (1988) were able to demonstrate that cleavage occurs at a position midway between two adjacent sites and proposed a cooperative cleavage event involving the interactions of two molecules following DNA translocation. This model was proposed following work with linear DNA, and we have recently refined this model for cleavage of covalently closed circular plasmid DNA.
Digestion of linear DNA by Type I restriction endonucleases is generally activated following the head-on collision of two translocating enzymes (Studier & Bandyopadhyay 1988). However, as reported by Szczelkun (2002), the resulting distributions of cleavage loci along the DNA vary with different enzymes; in some cases, cleavage is located in a discrete region midway between a pair of recognition sites while in other cases cleavage is broadly distributed and occurs at nearly every intervening locus. Statistical models for DNA translocation, collision, and cleavage are described that can account for these observations and that are generally applicable to other DNA-based motor proteins. If translocation is processive (stepping forward is significantly more likely than DNA dissociation), then the linear distribution of an ensemble of proteins can be described simply using a Poisson relationship. The pattern of cleavage sites resulting from collision between two processive Type I enzymes over a distance d can then be described by a binomial distribution with a standard deviation 0.5d1/2. Alternatively, if translocation is non-processive (stepping forward or dissociating become equally likely events), the linear distribution is described by a continuum of populated states and is thus extended. Comparisons of model data to the kinetics of DNA translocation and cleavage discount the non-processive model. Instead, the observed differences between enzymes are due to asynchronous events that occur upon collision. Therefore, Type I restriction enzymes can be described as having processive DNA translocation but, in some cases, non-processive DNA cleavage.
In a recent paper Jindrova et al (2005), have presented a more extensive analysis of the process of DNA cleavage. DNA ends produced by EcoKI, EcoAI and EcoR124I, members of the Type IA, IB and IC families, respectively, were characterised by cloning and sequencing the restriction products from reactions with plasmid DNA substrate containing a single recognition site for each enzyme. They showed that all three enzymes cut this substrate randomly with no preference for a particular base composition surrounding the cleavage site, producing both 5'- and 3'-overhangs of varying lengths. EcoAI preferentially generated 3'-overhangs of 2–3 nt, whereas EcoKI and EcoR124I displayed some preference for the formation of 5'-overhangs of a length of 6–7 and 3–5 nt, respectively. A mutant EcoAI endonuclease assembled from wild-type and nuclease-deficient restriction subunits generated a high proportion of nicked circular DNA, whereas the wild-type enzyme catalyzed efficient cleavage of both DNA strands. Therefore, it can be concluded that Type I restriction enzymes require two restriction subunits to introduce DNA double-strand breaks, each HsdR subunit nicking one strand of the DNA.
The catalytic nature of Type I enzymes was investigated more thoroughly by Bianco et al (2009) who showed turnover of the enzyme EcoR124I following dimerisation, cleavage and subsequent isolation of that enzyme from DNA - the isolated enzyme was able to carry out further rounds of cleavage. This dimerisation has also been observed with the enzyme EcoKI using Atomic Force Microscopy (Neaves et al 2009), which involves the translocating form of the enzyme (Berge et al 2000). However, both groups have shown that dimerisation is not essential for cleavage, which suggests that the nature and reason for this dimerisation is yet to be fully understood. One interesting observation with EcoKI is that single molecule studies of translocation, using a Magnetic Tweezer setup, were unsuccessful suggesting that dimerisation may be important to this function.
Last modified on
21 September 2011
© Dr Keith Firman
Author Dr Keith Firman.


- •Root hairs are known to be important in the uptake of sparingly soluble nutrients by plants, but quantitative understanding of their role in this is weak. This limits, for example, the breeding of more nutrient-efficient crop genotypes.
- •We developed a mathematical model of nutrient transport and uptake in the root hair zone of single roots growing in soil or solution culture. Accounting for root hair geometry explicitly, we derived effective equations for the cumulative effect of root hair surfaces on uptake using the method of homogenization.
- •Analysis of the model shows that, depending on the morphological and physiological properties of the root hairs, one of three different effective models applies. They describe situations where: (1) a concentration gradient dynamically develops within the root hair zone; (2) the effect of root hair uptake is negligibly small; or (3) phosphate in the root hair zone is taken up instantaneously. Furthermore, we show that the influence of root hairs on rates of phosphate uptake is one order of magnitude greater in soil than solution culture.
- •The model provides a basis for quantifying the importance of root hair morphological and physiological properties in overall uptake, in order to design and interpret experiments in different circumstances.


Fermented skate is one of the most popular foods in South Korea, as well as one of the stinkiest. The dish, called "hongeo," is described even by its fans as smelling distinctly of outhouse. Joe McPherson, American founder of the Korean food blog ZenKimchi, has compared its consumption to "licking a urinal."
Photo credit: eggnara via flickr | CC BY 2.0.
A brief aside, for context: Skates are, to put it mildly, unusual animals. Like their look-alikes, rays, they belong to a subclass of cartilaginous fishes known as elasmobranchs. Sharks are elasmobranchs, too, so marine biologists sometimes refer to skates affectionately as "stepped on sharks." In 2011, researchers discovered that skates are some of the only vertebrates on Earth missing a chunk of genetic code, once thought to be indispensable, called the HoxC gene cluster. They have eversible jaws, and their undersides look like funny little faces. When they lay their fertilized eggs, they do so in a hard case referred to as a "mermaid's purse," which looks like this:
A Mermaid Purse via Wikimedia Commons | CC BY 3.0.
So yeah. Weird fishes, those skates. Which we suppose makes it a little less surprising to learn that, when fermented and served as sashimi, they taste and smell pretty much exactly like an outdoor toilet.
The dish's putrid tang can be traced to the ammonia that skates exude from their flesh. These fumes are so strong, Choe Sang-Hun reports in The New York Times, they're known for causing people's mouths to peel. This minor detail has not prevented the fish from amassing a considerable following throughout South Korea's southern islands. Residents of Heuksan Island, where hongeo trade has long been essential to the local economy, tell Sang-Hun that the dish's success can be attributed in large part to – surprise! – the skate's aggressively unusual biology:
In the days before refrigeration, the fishermen's forebears learned that hongeo was the only fish they could ship from to the mainland 60 miles away without salting. The hongeo lacks a bladder and excretes uric acid through its skin. As it ferments, it oozes ammonia that keeps it from going bad.
"Hongeo can't pee, and that's where the miracle begins," said Kim Young-chang, 77, the owner of a hongeo restaurant [on Heuksan Island].
More on this "miraculous" delicacy at the NYT.


Sounds Can Influence Food Taste
The sounds a potato chip makes when you bite into it can make or break the "taste," a new study suggest.
Scientists believe that the sound food makes when consumed is one of the most important sensory factors that determine whether a person will enjoy it or not.
Lead researcher Charles Spence, a professor Department of Experimental Psychology at University of Oxford, and his team found that altering the sounds produced as people bite into chips can alter the perception of their crispiness.
Researchers were able to develop a system for measuring the sounds a food makes as it rubs against the tongue and palate during consumption, according to MedicalXpress.
The technology was initially created to study how much emulsified fat contributes to a creamy feel in the mouth. For instance, when cream is added to coffee, it reduces the sound in the mouth because it increases lubrication of the beverage.
Researchers have also used the system to research foods like water, milk, cheese, coffee, creamer, tea, wine and soft drinks.
Spence believes their were be significant future interest in matching soundscapes and music to flavors and texture experiences.


A viral fever is a higher-than-average body temperature that a virus causes. Often, a person will experience symptoms that may include a runny nose, coughing, nausea, fatigue, and body aches.
While not every person experiences a fever when they have a virus, a fever can be a sign that the body is trying to fight off the infection.
Most viral illnesses will improve with time and supportive treatments such as cold compresses and over-the-counter (OTC) medications. However, having a body temperature that is too high may require medical attention.
A fever is the body’s natural reaction to exposure to disease-causing pathogens, such as viruses and bacteria.
The body’s increase in temperature can destroy the proteins in these pathogens to keep them from multiplying. Also, fever is an inflammatory response to the illness in the body.
The definition of a fever depends on a person’s age and where the temperature reading originates from.
According to the Seattle Children’s Hospital, the following are indicators of a fever in children:
- Rectal, ear, or forehead: The temperature is higher than 100.4°F (38.0°C).
- Oral: The temperature is higher than 100°F (37.8°C).
- Under the armpit: The temperature is higher than 99°F (37.2°C).
The definition of fever can vary in adults. However, many doctors will consider a body temperature reading using an oral thermometer that is higher than 100°F (37.8°C) as a fever.
A viral fever can cause a person to feel fatigued, irritable, and achy. Additional symptoms may vary based on the virus causing the underlying illness.
For example, the roseola virus causes a fever for 2–3 days in children, followed by a rash that starts about 12–24 hours after the fever subsides.
There are many potential causes of viral illness, which may include cold and flu viruses.
Sometimes, a bacterial illness follows a viral one. This can make it difficult to tell the difference between the two and determine when a person may benefit from taking antibiotics.
Fevers without any other apparent underlying illness can be especially common in young children.
In a study of 75 children with a fever but no other signs of bacterial infection, the results of which appeared in the journal
The most common viruses present were the adenovirus, human herpesvirus 6, enterovirus, and parechovirus. The paper estimated that less than 1 percent of fever-related illnesses with no appearance of a clear source in children under 3 were due to bacterial infections.
This means that viruses are an especially common cause of fevers among young children. Keeping this information in mind is important, as taking antibiotics will be ineffective in treating viral infections.
An infected person can spread a viral illness by sneezing, breathing, or touching people or surfaces. Practices such as washing the hands frequently and often disinfecting surfaces can help keep these illnesses at bay.
A doctor will take a person’s health history and ask questions about their symptoms when diagnosing a potential viral fever. Examples of these questions may include when a person first noticed the symptoms and what makes these symptoms worse or better.
A doctor may order tests to identify the presence of viruses in a person’s blood, sputum, or urine.
For example, a rapid influenza diagnostic test involves taking cell samples from the back of the throat and testing them for the presence of influenza A or B proteins.
Not all tests for viral illnesses are available so quickly, however. In fact, some may require laboratory analysis to identify the specific virus.
However, it is not always necessary to send tests to the laboratory to diagnose a viral fever. A doctor may take into account a person’s symptoms to make this diagnosis.
According to Seattle Children’s Hospital, viruses cause an estimated 10 times the amount of infections that bacteria do.
Treatment for a viral fever depends upon the underlying cause, the degree of the fever, and other symptoms a person may be experiencing.
For example, a fever greater than 104°F (40°C) for children and 103°F (39.4°C) for adults can be a medical emergency. A person likely has a serious viral infection if their body temperature equals or exceeds these numbers.
For lower-grade fevers, treatments may include the following:
- Taking OTC medications: Ibuprofen and acetaminophen are both OTC medications that can relieve fever. Aspirin can also do this, but people under 18 should not take aspirin due to the risks of a condition called Reye’s syndrome. Antibiotics will not treat a fever due to viral illness.
- Taking lukewarm baths: These can also soothe a feverish body.
- Drinking cooled fluids: Sipping on cool water or electrolyte-containing solutions can help cool body temperatures and prevent dehydration related to illness.
A common misconception regarding fever is that using very cold water in a bath or applying it to the skin is effective. In actual fact, exposure to excessively cold temperatures can have an adverse effect on the body. A person should use lukewarm water for a bath instead.
If a person has a fever for longer than 3 days, or they have a temperature higher than 103°F (39.4°C) in adults, 102°F (38.9°C) in children, or 100.4°F (38°C) in infants, they should seek medical attention.
Body temperatures higher than this can cause seizures, hallucinations, and confusion, and they are symptoms of a more serious illness.
Viruses can cause fevers that may or may not result in other symptoms.
Most viruses will go away with time and supportive measures. However, if a viral fever is too high, a person should seek medical attention.


Author: Wolfgang Streit
Publisher: BoD – Books on Demand
Category: Language Arts & Disciplines
View: 1509Apocalypse Now has been interpreted as addressing the Vietnam War in a similarly mythological and hence ahis¬torical way as the high modernist poetry recited by Colonel Kurtz. The closer, post-colonial view of this paper in the German language, however, shows that the 2001 “Redux-“ version of Coppola’s film questions the imperialist US sys¬tem on several levels. By mockery it subverts the ide¬ology of free-trade underlying the confrontation between the super powers in the Cold War and the Vietnam War itself. Also, the movie’s technique of montage fundamen¬tally questions the author¬ity of the military apparatus and exposes the un¬tenable nature of Willard’s killing mission. The visit of the Captain’s boat crew in the French colony serves to further outline the extent to which the doomed imperial war project is grafted – as a palimpsest – on the equally outdated re¬mains of the French colonial past. As a conse¬quence both forms of intervention are cinemato¬graphically dele¬gitimized, especially by means of uncanny props exposing the de¬gree to which they are haunted by the contradictions between ide¬ological justification, US-historical genocidal past – in the case of the Vietnam War – and a belligerent present oper¬ating also by means of arbitrarily constructed alterity. This makes obvious Redux’s practice of – in Edward Said’s termi-no¬logy – establishing ”anti-imperialist re¬sistance” against the US warfare. One of the movie’s key strategies to expose the inhumane moral universe of the war theatre is Kurtz’s ”method” of making Willard – and the viewers of the movie – experience the large-scale massa¬cre in a lavish, synesthetic total work of art in¬spired by Stanislavski’s ident¬ifi¬catory “method acting” and Ri¬chard Wagner. This didactic “Gesamtkunstwerk” also makes use of further cin¬ematogra¬phic adaptations of uncanny ele¬ments – ac-cording to Sig¬mund Freud – and strategically mobilizes a displaced version of mimicry.


For some time Google's self-driving vehicles have been honking discreetly to their occupants in risky situations. But now that Google is satisfied with its "honking algorithms", the cars will honk out loud to other road users when they judge that a toot will make a situation safer.
Google details its honking experiments in the May 2016 report on its self-driving cars, where it presents updates on progress it's made in different aspects of driving, such as how the vehicles have been taught to handle bad weather conditions.
The May report focuses on sound and how it can be used to communicate with other road users, -- including drivers, cyclists, and pedestrians -- in different scenarios.
According to Google, the vehicles have now been trained to "honk like a patient, seasoned driver" and "only honk when it makes driving safer for everyone".
The vehicles have even been taught to adapt honks to different situations. For example, in an urgent situation, such as a vehicle swerving towards the self-driving car, it will blow one long honk. But if a vehicle appears to be slowly backing into it, the car will give "two short, quieter pips".
"During testing, we taught our vehicles to distinguish between potentially tricky situations and false positives, ie, the difference between a car facing the wrong way during a three-point turn, and one that's about to drive down the wrong side of the road," Google says.
Just as Google consistently highlights that its vehicles are safer drivers than humans, it suggests they will also be better, more polite users of the horn than humans too.
The next phase of research will look at how to predict the response of other drivers to its vehicles' use of the horn.
Google is also employing a new humming sound for its electric vehicles, which are quieter than traditional combustion-engine vehicles. Google says it has previously used the sound of an orca to create a noise for its vehicles, but now it is now adding pitch to the signal when they speed up or slow down.
"Our prototype mimics the sound characteristics of traditional cars, such as increasing the pitch when it accelerates, and decreasing the pitch when it decelerates," Google explains.
The purpose of the new pitch feature is to let pedestrians and cyclists know what to expect from the vehicle.
Google noted one only incident in May involving one of its vehicles, which happened at a low speed and when it was in manual mode.


Kobashi, T., Kawamura, K., Severinghaus, J.P., Barnola, J.-M., Nakaegawa, T., Vinther, B.M., Johnsen, S.J. and Box, J.E. 2011. High variability of Greenland surface temperature over the past 4000 years estimated from trapped air in an ice core. Geophysical Research Letters 38: 10.1029/2011GL049444.
The authors write that "Greenland recently incurred [what have been called] record high temperatures and ice loss by melting, adding to concerns that anthropogenic warming is impacting the Greenland ice sheet and in turn accelerating global sea-level rise." However, they say "it remains imprecisely known for Greenland how much warming is caused by increasing atmospheric greenhouse gases versus natural variability."
What was done
In the report of the study they designed to obtain this needed knowledge, Kobashi et al. say they reconstructed "Greenland surface snow temperature variability over the past 4000 years at the GISP2 site (near the Summit of the Greenland ice sheet) with a new method that utilizes argon and nitrogen isotopic ratios from occluded air bubbles."
What was learned
The eight researchers report that the average Greenland snow temperature over the past 4000 years was -30.7°C, while the current decadal (2001-2010) surface temperature at the Greenland Summit is -29.9°C, which they say is as warm as it was there in the 1930s-1940s. And they add that "there was another similarly warm period (-29.7°C) in the 1140s (Medieval Warm Period), indicating that the present decade is not outside the envelope of variability of the last 1000 years." And, even more telling, prior to the last millennium they report "there were 72 decades warmer than the present one, in which mean temperatures were 1.0 to 1.5°C warmer." In fact, they found that "during two intervals (~1300 BP and ~3360 BP) centennial average temperatures were nearly 1.0°C warmer (-28.9°C) than the present decade."
What it means
Clearly, there is nothing unusual, unnatural or unprecedented about Greenland's recent relative warmth, as it is clear that much warmer temperatures have been experienced there over many prior prolonged periods without any help from anthropogenic greenhouse gas emissions. Hence, there is no valid reason to believe that mankind's burning of coal, gas and oil has had, or is having, any measureable impact on the climate of that part of the world, or any other part of the planet.


How to join wood beams
Michael Blann/Digital Vision/Getty Images
When building structures or adding on to a structure, sometimes you must connect wood beams together to increase height. Connecting them together incorrectly could cause instability or a weak beam that cannot withstand any extra weight, and may result in an unsafe structure.
There are two fairly easy ways to connect the beams and maintain their strength as if they were actually one solid piece of wood. One is for light construction and the other for more substantial construction.
- Lay the beams down end to end.
- Drill screws into all the holes in the second plate as well.
Lay the beams down end to end.
Set down a joining plate so that it is located with one-half of its length on each beam. The plate has rows of holes all over it.
Drill wood screws into the holes in the plate. The length of the screws will depend on the size of the beams.
Flip the beams over once the holes are all filled. Place the plate side down.
Put another plate on this side of the beam and line it up as you did in Step 2. Next, push the plate a little off from the other plate so that the holes on it do not line up exactly with the ones on the other side.
Drill screws into all the holes in the second plate as well. The beams are now connected.
- Locate the middle point of the end of the beam.
- Draw a line down the length of the beam at the midpoint.
Locate the middle point of the end of the beam.
Draw a line down the length of the beam at the midpoint. Draw the line for 20 cm (8 inches), and then draw it out to the left edge of the beam. Repeat the process with the second beam.
Use a handsaw to cut out the drawn section of the beams. When you are done, the end of the wood will have a notch cut out of it.
Place the two beams together so that the notches fit together like a puzzle piece. One of them will have to be flipped over for them to fit together.
Drill wood screws into the sections of beams that are now together so that the screws go through one notch and into the other. The size of the screws depends on the width of the beams, but they must be long enough to go almost all the way through both notches so that they secure them tightly together. If the beams aren't going to be exposed, consider using bolts instead. After inserting screws in one side, flip the beams over and repeat the process on the other side.
- For beams that need to be joined at a right angle, you can use a right-angled metal joining plate in the same way as a flat one.
- Using joining plates to connect beams together is for light construction only, such as adding height to a fence. It is not for building structures or decking, unless it is approved by a building inspector.
Keith Dooley has a degree in outdoor education and sports management. He has worked as an assistant athletic director, head coach and assistant coach in various sports including football, softball and golf. Dooley has worked for various websites in the past, contributing instructional articles on a wide variety of topics.


Russian Buddhists received political acknowledgment yesterday when President Dmitry Medvedev announced his support for a revival of Buddhism during a visit to Buryatia, Siberia. Addressing Russian Buddhists at the Ivolga Datsan Monastery, Medvedev recognized the historical significance of Buddhism in Russia:
Russia is in a special position in the sense that it is the only country in Europe in which Buddhism is recognised as one of the traditional religions. For more than three centuries now this, one of the world’s oldest religions, has been practised by peoples native to this country: the Buryats, Kalmyks, Tuvans and other peoples. Buddhism’s philosophy and spiritual practice have had a deep-reaching influence on the customs and traditions of all who live here and all who follow this religion. Of course, the unique Buddhist culture is an integral and greatly valued part of Russia’s common historical and cultural heritage.
Medvedev then went on to address the current state of Buddhism in Russia:
The Buddhist community is undergoing a spiritual revival today. Old monasteries have been restored and are receiving the faithful once more, and new temples are being built. The lamas have worked very hard to revive forgotten Buddhist traditions. The most important religious texts are being translated into Russian, and spiritual and educational literature is being published. As far as I know, there are now 203 Buddhist religious organisations registered in Russia.
Religion has a special role to play in every country’s progress, in Russia too, in developing and building people’s moral character. Russia’s Buddhists are making an important contribution to strengthening inter-faith dialogue and social concord in our country.
Medvedev’s support comes as part of an ongoing effort to forge a cooperative relationship between the government and Russia’s “traditional religions.” Click here to read the rest of President Dmitry Medvedev’s remarks at the Ivolga Datsan Monastery. [Image: The Ivolga Datsan Monastery, © Ghirlandajo]
Start your day with a fresh perspective
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The food and farming world, as we know it, is about to change. The world's first 'in vitro' burger is being cooked and eaten in the public eye, today. It's an extraordinary moment, and one that I have been waiting for with baited breath.
This may come as a surprise to some. As the Chief Executive of the world's leading farm animal welfare charity, it may sound like a surprising stance for me to take. But this, to me, could signify the end of suffering for millions of farm animals. If we can (and we have) found a way to successfully produce meat in a laboratory, I can only hope that factory farms will be a thing of the past.
Professor Mark Post, who is the driving force behind this burger, is also a signatory of my charity Compassion's vision for fair food and farming. He fully understands the urgent need to cut our dependency on cheap meat. With the population expanding at an extraordinary rate, we are polluting our environment and using so much of our resources, to produce meat that provides a fraction of the calories that go into its production. Often the meat produced originates from farm animals kept in factory farms: dirty, squalid, barren environments, where they are not treated with the respect and decency they so deserve.
This 'in vitro' burger has been made from around 3,000 strips of artificial beef - grown from the stem cells of a slaughtered cow. Granted, it is costing almost £250,000 but that is including the years of research that have got us to this point. In comparison to the true cost of factory farming: to the animals, our environment and our health, and what in vitro meat may herald for the future, this seems like money well spent. There is a long way to go before large-scale 'in-vitro' meat production is realistic but this really is world-changing and life-changing.
What the experts say
I recently had the pleasure of speaking with Jason Matheny of New Harvest - dedicated to producing alternatives to meat and other animal products. We discussed what lab-produced meat would taste like. He said: "It should taste the same as conventional meat - it's made of the same stuff. We think we can match the taste and texture by producing meat in a way that's much safer, more efficient and much healthier for the consumer."
This was music to my ears. It sounds too good to be true. Are there down-sides? Are there any reasons that this shouldn't or couldn't work? Matheny and I continued to discuss what these might be. There has been talk of the 'yuck' factor - what of that, I asked. Matheny stated: "The yuck factor should really be focused on conventional meat and the way that it's produced now: it's unhealthy, unsafe and unsustainable."
I believe that best-selling author, Michael Pollen, says it best, when he discusses the benefits of finding a new way to produce meat. He says: "Conventional meat production is one of the biggest drivers of climate change, as well as water and pollution. The animal factories that produce most of our meat and milk are brutal places where animals suffer needlessly."
This new burger could symbolise the end to that: less environmental damage, and a future free from keeping farm animals in horrific conditions. I can't wait.


Peregrine falcons have been nesting at the library since 2004. They occupy the nest (scrape) from March until June each year. There is an Evanston Peregrine Falcon Watch group for posting and sharing news and observations of the Evanston Peregrine Falcons. Scientists from the Field Museum’s Chicago Peregrine Program band the young falcons each year.
Live FalconCam Image:
If no video below, view directly here: https://youtu.be/1Mu0f0E0Rxo
More on Peregrine Falcons
- For the latest in breaking peregrine research:
- The Peregrine Fund World Center for Birds of Prey
Has photos, an online research library and newsletter about peregrines and other raptors.
- Peregrine Falcons- U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service
Brief facts about the peregrine.
- The Canadian Peregrine Foundation
Has a raptor photo identification gallery, live webcams, and a reference page on peregrine biology.
- The Raptor Center
Sponsored by the University of Minnesota’s College of Veterinary Medicine,this site has information about what to do
with an injured raptor, a section on the birds the center has treated, reports on peregrine falcons,
and migration tracking maps. Users can view pictures and movies, and listen
to individual bird sounds.


The parable of the lamp is found in 3 of the Gospels, Matthew 5:13-16; Mark 4:21-25; Luke 8:16-18. Mark and Luke are quite similar, so we will examine only Mark along with Matthew’s version.
Read these 2 versions several times.
- Observe the sociopolitical context and the pairing used by Matthew, who presents Jesus as the teacher of the church, which although initially Jewish, was expanding to all nations.
13 “You are the salt of the earth. But what good is salt if it has lost its flavor? Can you make it salty again? It will be thrown out and trampled underfoot as worthless.
14 “You are the light of the world—like a city on a hilltop that cannot be hidden. 15 No one lights a lamp and then puts it under a basket. Instead, a lamp is placed on a stand, where it gives light to everyone in the house. 16 In the same way, let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father.
- Observe the sociopolitical context and the pairing used by Mark, who presents Jesus as the Son of Man, on the way to the cross, “an unidentified stranger and unfathomable mystery”*.
21 Then Jesus asked them, “Would anyone light a lamp and then put it under a basket or under a bed? Of course not! A lamp is placed on a stand, where its light will shine. 22 For everything that is hidden will eventually be brought into the open, and every secret will be brought to light. 23 Anyone with ears to hear should listen and understand.”
24 Then he added, “Pay close attention to what you hear. The closer you listen, the more understanding you will be given—and you will receive even more. 25 To those who listen to my teaching, more understanding will be given. But for those who are not listening, even what little understanding they have will be taken away from them.”
Continue to re-read and contemplate the parable…
- What might be the problem, question or attitude that promoted Jesus to use this parable of the lamp?
- Follow the storyline from the initial problem to the resolution.
- Find the central point, viewing all other details in relation to this.
- Does each author’s version focus on a different central point? Why?
- What title might you give this parable?
- What experiences do you know of having a limited source of light in a very dark place? Or have you seen a city on a hill in the night? Can you create a modern-day parable to share from your context and experience?
- Pay attention to the action that is required by you, the hearer.
- Do your conclusions of main idea and action meet the cautions to…
- Avoid allegorizing (finding a spiritual meaning for every element in the parable).
- Be careful that your interpretation fits the whole of Jesus’ person, teaching and the Kingdom.
Spend several minutes in silence, holding together in God’s presence, our awareness of light and of our lives’ actions.
|* John Timmer, Four-Dimensional Jesus: Seeing Jesus Through the Eyes of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John, Faith Alive, Grand Rapids, MI, 1973.Image from Wikimedia Commons|


Ever wondered where the blue and pink association as gender identifiers came from? In today’s article, we will cover the firmly established stereotype “pink for girls, blue for boys.”
Can you imagine a world where pink and blue were used indistinctively by boys and girls?
Well, not that long ago, that was the western societies’ reality. Not only that, but for a short period, the norm was blue for girls, pink for boys.
Historical and fashion events led to the most significant color divide in the history of humanity and created the gender colors as we know them today.
Gender colors: the blue and pink odyssey
Boy colors, as well as girl colors, are a relatively new concept, as we will talk about below. So sit back and prepare yourself to learn about one of the most mind-blowing facts about color in the contemporary world.
Blue and pink as neutral colors
Before we delve into the meaning of pink, and blue, of course, let’s first talk about a well-spread gender stereotype: pink for girls and blue for boys.
While most western societies consider pink the perfect color for young girls’ toys and clothing, our association of girls with pink remains so strong that it seems as if it has always been like this. However, the blue vs. pink association is relatively new.
In a time way before Barbie and Disney Princesses helped create this deeply rooted stereotype, pink was as neutral as white. On top of that, pink was a broadly worn color by the European bourgeoisie in the 18th century.
Both men and women wore blue and pink back then. Not only that, but European aristocrats used to wear powdery colors as a symbol of class and luxury.
For instance, Madame de Pompadour, the chief mistress of Louis XV, was absolutely in love with a powdery shade of pink, so the porcelain manufacturer Sèvres created a charming shade of pink and named it Rose Pompadour.
Regardless, pink was a unisex color. There was no such thing as gender color until somewhere between the late 19th and early 20th century.
Yes, you read this right. Pink wasn’t a girl’s color as we know it today.
In a period when it was pink for boys, blue for girls
In fact, it was considered more appropriate for boys because it was considered a sub-color of red, which was regarded as more powerful than blue. At that time, red had a “masculine” implication and association with the military.
Red and white, it turns out, are the colors that make pink when mixed together. It is not a secret that red symbolizes aggressiveness and is used to call people’s attention.
And let’s keep it real: pink resembles red far more than it does white, right.
In many cultures, especially eastern ones nowadays, pink is attributed to men, hence why the normalcy in color gender was pink for boys (and light blue for girls).
And yet, there was no such thing as gender colors until just before WWI.
The rise of “official” gender colors
In June 1918, the trade publication Earnshaw’s Infants’ Department made reference to colors as gender signifiers:
“The generally accepted rule is pink for the boys and blue for the girls. The reason is that pink, being a more decided and stronger color, is more suitable for the boy, while blue, which is more delicate and dainty, is prettier for the girl.”
From that moment on, department stores started recommending gender-specific colors, but there was no unanimity, according to Time magazine.
Some stores would recommend pink for boys and blue for girls, such as Mashall Field’s and Best’s, and others would recommend blue for boys and pink for girls, such as Macy’s and Franklin Simon.
Before this, ALL children essentially wore white and, regardless of gender, wore dresses. White was easy to bleach, and dresses allowed for an easy diaper change.
So when did the pink and blue swap gender happen?
The more recent association of pink with women and femininity started around the early to the mid-20th century.
According to Valerie Steele, director at the Museum at New York’s Fashion Institute of Technology, “men in the western world increasingly wore dark, sober colors,” so the pastel and brighter colors were left to women.
“The feminization of pink really began around there,” she said. “Pink became an expression of delicacy, as well as froth.”
Put that together with the fact pink had won its place in the realm of high fashion, and thanks to branding and marketing postwar, western societies adopted it as a symbol of femininity, establishing a pervasive and deeply rooted “pink for girls, blue for boys” stereotype.
The marketing postwar to which Steele refers started during WWII. That was a critical moment when the German army changed everything, including color conventions and gender colors that would dictate gender identity in design and fashion for the next century at least, says the historian Annmarie Adams.
Just as the German army forced Jewish people to wear a yellow star to identify themselves, they forced gays to wear an inverted pink triangle, which is part of a complex identification system that included criminals and political prisoners.
Since this gruesome moment in history, pink has been thought of as a non-masculine color reserved for girls. Besides, boys have strongly avoided it, leading to a change in the color of clothing, toys, and everything gender-related.
Adams said, “the use of gender-coded décor (especially pink and blue) has been unchanging in children’s bedrooms [since then].”
Regardless of how pink and blue became gender-identifying colors, the meaning of the color pink as we know it today came from this color divide.
The contemporary meaning of pink and blue
The meanings of the colors are ambiguous, instinctual but have also evolved over time and learned from experiences.
So the symbolism of each color relies on people’s sensory experience, emotional connection, and semantic understanding.
That is to say, colors are associated with specific meanings based purely on how we instinctively would react to situations related to the color and how we continue to experience them in the world.
If we were to ask you to imagine the most succulent color, chances are you would pick an earthy shade of orange, brown, or yellow. Not blue.
“Okay, what does this have to do with the meaning of pink?” you may ask.
Well, remember this: our society decides what colors mean and dictates cultural norms.
In western countries, pink is a feminine, sweet, and nurturing color. It is associated with innocence and delicacy but also with frivolity and immaturity.
But we only acquired this perception when the gender color divide happened. “It reinforced the perception of pink as a frivolous color because of its association with women, who have been traditionally looked down upon,” said Steele.
Later in the 1950s and 1960s, pink regained some of its glamour when celebrities attended public events wearing this bold color.
And yet, as JeongMee Yoon, a South Korean artist, points out in her “Pink and Blue Project,” “as girls grow older, their taste for pink changes. Until about 2nd grade, they are very obsessed with the color pink, but around 3rd or 4th grade, they do not obsess with pink as much anymore. Usually, their tastes change to purple. Later, there is another shift. However, the original association with the color code often remains,” which explains why pink is often chosen as one of the least favorite colors for American and British adults.
Pink is a controversial color that arouses powerful emotions. Many people consider it a statement. Hence why it is often used in awareness and protests.
One of the LGBTQI community symbols, besides the rainbow flag, is the infamous inverted pink triangle used during WWII, which represents self-identity and an international declaration: never again.
In the same breath, pink has also been the color that represents the fight against breast cancer. It also represents equal rights for women, especially in protests.
These events show how pink is again shifting its significance. “Pink is going through a generational shift,” said Steele.
“Society is increasingly moving away from the idea of it as a childish, over-sexualized hue. There’s a shared recognition that pink can be pretty and powerful, feminine and feminist. Men are turning to it, too–as (they did) in the 18th century. We’re re-framing pink.”
In conclusion, when you look at the big picture, the “pink is for girls and blue is for boys” trend is a relatively recent one. In the same breath, it may not be long before the contentious pink- and blue-tinted aisles at clothing and toys’ stores have been replaced by some other shade entirely.
Did you enjoy reading this article about pink and blue? Then share it with a friend or on your social media!


William Gordon, the Cornell University engineer who dreamed up the world's largest dish antenna, died this week at the age of 92. His recollections of the Arecibo Telescope's early days were included in a story that ran in our October 1997 issue, not long after the observatory was upgraded with new telescope feeds:
When Bill Gordon first hiked into the mountain hollow in central Puerto Rico that today cradles the giant Arecibo Radio Telescope, it was nothing but tobacco fields and a small leaf-drying shed surrounded by tropical forest. It was 1958, and Gordon, then a professor of electrical engineering at Cornell University, had come up with a clever idea. His sponsor, the Pentagon’s Advanced Research Projects Agency (ARPA), wanted a radio antenna—a really big antenna—to study the thin upper atmosphere through which ballistic missiles would travel. But the 1,000-foot dish ARPA required would likely collapse under its own weight. Why not use the Earth itself for structural support, Gordon thought.
After searching through textbooks on karst topography—natural limestone depressions found throughout the world—and considering sites in Cuba (“Thank God we didn’t do that in 1958”) and elsewhere, Gordon and his colleagues settled on this particular bowl-shaped valley in Puerto Rico. Five years later, with funding from the Air Force, the Arecibo radio telescope opened for business.


US Pharm. 2010;35(6):25-25.
Cushing’s syndrome (CS) is a manifestation of symptoms that are precipitated by excessive cortisol production. CS is a rare but serious condition that can be fatal. There are several known causes of the syndrome, and treatments include surgery, radiation, and drug therapy. Diagnosing the specific origin of CS is complex and can be expensive, but diagnostic tests are essential in order to effectively manage a patient’s therapy.
This syndrome is named for Harvey Williams Cushing, an American neurosurgeon who became known in 1912 for his work on the pituitary gland.1 The incidence of new cases of CS in the United States ranges from 0.7 to 2.4 cases per million people per year. This translates to an estimated 200 to 700 new cases annually.2 Drug-induced CS is believed to be the most prominent form of this syndrome, and there are numerous documented cases.3,4 Recent studies in which type 2 diabetic patients and obese patients were screened suggest that CS may be more common than previously thought.3 In patients with hypertension or poorly controlled blood glucose, CS rates as high as 2% to 5% have been documented.3,5,6
Corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH), produced by the hypothalamus, stimulates the production and release of corticotropin (ACTH) through its actions on the anterior pituitary. ACTH then acts on the adrenal cortex to release cortisol (FIGURE 1).7 Cortisol regulates the breakdown of fat and the metabolism of proteins and carbohydrates. Cortisol production increases prior to waking and peaks within a few hours after waking. Cortisol levels are lowest before sleep and during the first few hours of sleep.8
Hypercorticism refers to an excess of corticosteroids in the body. This excess of corticosteroids—specifically, cortisol—can lead to CS. The excess cortisol is rarely due to spontaneous cortisol production by the adrenal gland.8 Typical causes include tumors and drugs. A patient who has CS may present with one or more of the following: moon face, central obesity (trunk accumulation of adipose tissue), myopathy, muscle weakness, fatigue, hirsutism, osteoporosis, amenorrhea, hypertension, psychiatric symptoms, striae (purple stripes or lines in skin), back pain, and/or diabetes mellitus.3,9 CS can have ACTH-dependent or ACTH-independent origins.3
Excessive cortisol release due to increased ACTH levels is defined as ACTH-dependent CS. A major cause of ACTH-dependent CS is the presence of ACTH-dependent tumors normally found in the pituitary gland.3 Pituitary adenomas, which account for approximately 70% of dependent causes, are typically small and benign.3 Ectopic tumors are the other major cause of ACTH-dependent CS. These ectopic tumors occur in abnormal places (i.e., lung, kidney) and account for about 15% of ACTH-dependent CS cases.3 Ectopic tumors outside the hypothalamus constitute less than 1% of ACTH-dependent cases. These nonhypothalamic tumors excrete CRH, which leads to the overproduction of ACTH.3
Cases of ACTH-independent CS present with increased cortisol levels that are not related to increased ACTH levels. ACTH-independent CS is further broken down by cause—either exogenous or endogenous.
Exogenous CS: Drug-induced, or exogenous, CS occurs when an excess of steroids is introduced into the body. Drug-induced CS is the most common cause of the syndrome.3
Endogenous CS: There are several types of ACTH-independent tumors. Adrenal adenomas and carcinomas are the most common independent tumors. Other independent causes, occurring in less than 1% of cases reported, include bilateral macronodular hyperplasia and primary pigmented nodular adrenocortical disease.3
To diagnose CS, a history is obtained and a physical examination is conducted to assess the presenting signs and symptoms. There are currently two first-line screening tests for CS, with a third screening test currently being validated. The first-line screening tools are the 24-hour urinary free cortisol (UFC) test and the low-dose dexamethasone suppression test (DST).7
Confirmation of CS
UFC Test: UFC levels correlate with free plasma levels of cortisol. The patient collects three 24-hour samples of urine for analysis.10 Normal urine cortisol tests are under 100 mcg/24 h.11 A result that is four times the upper limit of normal (typically 440 mcg/24 h), which is rare, indicates CS.10 The UFC test is not indicated in patients with renal impairment—defined as a glomerular filtration rate less than 30 mL/min—because of decreased cortisol excretion. The screening sensitivity does not allow for the detection of subclinical or preclinical CS.
DST: In healthy patients, dexamethasone suppresses plasma cortisol levels. In CS, this mechanism can be overridden by the underlying disease. For the DST, the patient is administered 1 mg dexamethasone between 2300 and 2400 hours. The following morning, cortisol concentration levels are measured. A measurement above 5 mcg/dL indicates inhibition of a negative feedback loop, as seen in CS. While a level of 1.8 mcg/dL allows for identification of pseudo-CS, cyclic CS, or early stages of CS, it also may create false-positive results.12 A two-day 2-mg DST may be used in clinical practice; however, cost and increased hospitalization are limiting factors in its use.
Late-Night Salivary Cortisol Test (LST): LST is a new screening tool being evaluated for CS. Salivary cortisol concentration is closely related to free plasma, but it remains independent of salivary flow rate. Normal ranges for this screening are assay-dependent. Current studies suggest high specificity and sensitivity, but further research is needed to validate the use of LST as a screening tool.10
Once CS is diagnosed, further testing is necessary to differentiate the cause, thereby enabling proper treatment. Current second-line tests are ACTH measurement, high-dose DST, and the CRH stimulation test (TABLE 1).10 All patients with ACTH-dependent CS should undergo pituitary MRI. The bilateral inferior petrosal sinus sampling (BIPSS) test samples blood surrounding the pituitary, allowing for accurate diagnosis of pituitary origin of high ACTH. BIPSS also is recommended in patients with ACTH-dependent CS. However, owing to rare but significant complications, the risks and benefits need to be taken into consideration. BIPSS has a sensitivity of 95% to 99% when performed at “experienced centers.”10 Several new differential diagnosis tests are currently being researched, including one involving the use of desmopressin.10
Complications of CS
Accurate treatment of CS is important in order to avoid the numerous complications that can stem from disease progression. Major cardiovascular complications are hypertension, impaired glucose tolerance, obesity, hyperlipidemia, hypercoagulability, metabolic syndrome, and osteoporosis. Psychiatric complications such as psychosis, mania, suicidal tendency, obsessive-compulsive disorder, cognition changes, and anxiety also may develop. Last, high cortisol levels may create alterations in other areas of the endocrine system, such as the somatotrophic axis (which can decrease growth rate in younger patients or alter fat distribution in adults), the gonadal axis (which can have adverse effects on reproductive organs), and the thyroid axis (which can lead to hypothyroidism or hyperthyroidism). These complications may persist even if a patient has subclinical CS.10
Drug-induced CS typically is treated by discontinuing the causative medication. Problems arise in complex patients (e.g., transplant patients), in whom discontinuation of the steroid medication may lead to serious adverse outcomes. Surgery, radiation, and pharmacotherapy constitute the standard treatment for tumor-related causes of CS. Following treatment, further screenings are necessary to assess the success of therapy.2,13
The first-line option for pituitary tumors is transsphenoidal surgery (technique in which the pituitary tumor is removed through the nose, leaving remaining pituitary function intact), which gives the patient a chance of remission of CS. Surgical remission rates range from 60% to 80%, but this number may vary owing to different definitions of remission.2 The average recurrence rate is around 20%.2 As with surgical remission, there is no current collaborated definition of a cure for CS.2 Surgery or radiation with or without adjunctive pharmacologic treatment is currently seen in clinical practice.
Current pharmacologic treatment does not correct the underlying cause of excessive cortisol, which typically limits its use to adjunctive therapy. However, pharmacologic monotherapy may be necessary when surgery or radiation is not appropriate or is delayed. Three pharmacologic strategies exist to treat CS.
Inhibition of Steroid Synthesis: The first strategy is the inhibition of steroid synthesis. Drugs used in this strategy include ketoconazole, mitotane, metyrapone, and etomidate.13 These drugs, through different mechanisms, block the conversion of cholesterol to cortisol. This causes a decrease in cortisol levels and the resolution of CS symptoms. There are several disadvantages to this strategy: Higher-than-normal doses of medications are used, patients rarely remain in remission after discontinuing the medication, and steroid replacement therapy may be needed to avoid adrenal insufficiency.14 None of these agents is FDA-approved to treat CS, and the doses reported in the literature cover a wider-than-normal range, indicating the need for very careful attention to side effects.
Ketoconazole. A common side effect of ketoconazole, an imidazole antifungal agent, is inhibition of the CYP450 pathway.15 This inhibition halts the production of cortisol, leading to a reversal of CS symptoms. Ketoconazole therapy is initiated at a daily dose of 400 mg to 600 mg. The dose is titrated until a level of 1,200 mg to 1,600 mg, divided into four equal doses, is reached.16,17 Ketoconazole’s safety and efficacy support its use as a first-line choice for many prescribers.16,17
Mitotane. An antineoplastic agent, mitotane (Lysodren) inhibits cortisol synthesis by inhibiting 18-hydroxylase and 3-beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase. At high doses, mitotane has adrenolytic activity (breaks down adrenaline), which causes adrenal cortical atrophy. Mitotane is started at 0.5 g to 1 g daily and increased every 1 to 4 weeks.13 At doses greater than 4 g daily, the adrenal cortex may be irreversibly impaired. Mitotane’s half-life is 18 to 159 days, and the drug has been detected in adipose tissue as long as 22 months after treatment.
Metyrapone. Metyrapone (Metopirone), a diagnostic agent, works by blocking 11-beta-hydroxylase, halting cortisol production. Metyrapone can be used as monotherapy or as adjunctive therapy with radiation. Typical dosing of metyrapone begins at 0.5 g to 1 g daily, increasing every few days to a maximum dose of 6 g.13 Blocking 11-beta-hydroxylase leads to increased ACTH, resulting in increased androgenic and mineralocorticosteroid precursors. This can lead to adverse effects such as hypertension, acne, hirsutism, and nausea. Although this agent is not yet available in the U.S., compassionate use is an option.16
Etomidate. Etomidate (Amidate), an imidazole-derivative anesthetic, is used for the induction and maintenance of anesthesia. It blocks cholesterol’s side-chain cleavage and 11-beta-hydroxylase, inhibiting the conversion of cholesterol to cortisol. Etomidate is the only medication in this strategy that can be given IV, and case reports have cited a significant reduction in cortisol within 12 hours.18 Because of its anesthetic effects, careful dose titration is required. An effective dosage range has been reported to be 0.01 mg/kg/h to 0.1 mg/kg/h.18
Modulation of Pituitary ACTH: The second strategy is to modulate pituitary ACTH release, causing a decrease in cortisol secretion from the adrenal gland. This strategy has a poor response rate, and no large-scale, placebo-controlled studies have been reported. As with the drugs used to inhibit steroid synthesis, none of these agents is FDA-approved for the treatment of CS. Drugs used include cyproheptadine, octreotide, and valproic acid.
Inhibition of Cortisol’s Action: The third strategy involves using an agent that blocks cortisol’s action. Mifepristone competitively inhibits glucocorticoid, androgen, and progestin receptor binding. No large clinical trials have been performed to assess the benefit of this drug, but a few investigational studies of ectopic CS have shown a potential benefit.19,20 However, dosage adjustment was found to be difficult. Currently, mifepristone is indicated only as an abortifacient in the U.S. Its use in CS is an off-label indication, and further testing is warranted.
CS treatment is not often seen in community pharmacy practice. Cases of CS are rare, and often they can be corrected with simple dosing changes. Chronic steroid therapy (e.g., for asthma, organ transplantation) and inappropriate drug use are situations seen in an outpatient setting. Proper steroid conversions and patient education are critical roles for the pharmacist to perform. A steroid conversion chart (TABLE 2) is a helpful guide for regimen changes.21 Patients should also be educated about their dosing schedule and the appropriate treatment duration.8
CS is a rare condition with potentially serious complications if it is left untreated. Proper diagnosis is important to assess the underlying cause of CS, allowing for appropriate treatment. Pharmacologic treatment, while not first-line, plays a vital role for selected patients with CS. Pharmacist involvement in the management of patients’ steroid therapy can lead to fewer cases of drug-induced CS.
1. Merriam-Webster MedlinePlus Medical Dictionary. Cushing’s disease. www.merriam-webster.com/medlineplus/cushings%20disease. Accessed October 6, 2009.
2. Newell-Price J, Bertagna X, Grossman AB, Nieman LK. Cushing’s syndrome. Lancet. 2006;367:1605-1617.
3. UpToDate. Overview of the treatment of Cushing’s syndrome. http://newadonis.creighton.edu/hsl/uptodate/~gmD018.asp [subscription required]. Accessed October 8, 2009.
4. Stevens DJ. Cushing’s syndrome due to the abuse of betamethasone nasal drops. J Laryngol Otol. 1988;102:219-221.
5. Leibowitz G, Tsur A, Chayen SD, et al. Pre-clinical Cushing’s syndrome: an unexpected frequent cause of poor glycaemic control in obese diabetic patients. Clin Endocrinol (Oxf). 1996;44:717-722.
6. Catargi B, Rigalleau V, Poussin A, et al. Occult Cushing’s syndrome in type-2 diabetes. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2003;88:5808-5813.
7. Orth DN. Cushing’s syndrome. N Engl J Med. 1995;332:791-803.
8. Fitzgerald PA. Endocrine disorders. In: McPhee SJ, Papadakis MA, Tierney LM Jr, eds. CURRENT Medical Diagnosis & Treatment. www.accessmedicine.com.cuhsl.creighton.edu/content.aspx?aID=14198 [subscription required]. Accessed October 6, 2009.
9. Kelly W. Cushing’s syndrome: a review of diagnosis and treatments. Sudan Med J. 2009;45:3-7.
10. Arnaldi G, Angeli A, Atkinson AB, et al. Diagnosis and complications of Cushing’s syndrome: a consensus statement. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2003;88:5593-5602.
11. Pagana K, Pagana T. Mosby’s Diagnostic and Laboratory Reference. 9th ed. St. Louis, MO: Mosby; 2009:303.
12. Giraldi FP, Ambrogio AG, De Martin M, et al. Specificity of first-line tests for the diagnosis of Cushing’s syndrome. Assessment in a large series. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2007;92:4123-4129.
13. Nieman LK. Medical therapy of Cushing’s disease. Pituitary. 2002;5:77-82.
14. Orth DN. Metyrapone is useful only as adjunctive therapy in Cushing’s disease [editorial]. Ann Intern Med. 1978;89:128-129.
15. Loose DS, Kan PB, Hirst MA, et al. Ketoconazole blocks adrenal steroidogenesis by inhibiting cytochrome P450-dependent enzymes. J Clin Invest. 1983;71:1495-1499.
16. Biller BMK, Grossman AB, Stewart PM, et al. Treatment of adrenocorticotropin-dependent Cushing’s syndrome: a consensus statement. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2008;93:2454-2462.
17. Winquist EW, Laskey J, Crump M, et al. Ketoconazole in the management of paraneoplastic Cushing’s syndrome secondary to extopic adrenocorticotropin production. J Clin Oncol.
18. Schulte HM, Benker G, Reinwein D, et al. Infusion of low dose etomidate: correction of hypercortisolemia in patients with Cushing’s syndrome and dose-response relationship in normal subjects. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 1990;70:1426-1430.
19. Nieman LK, Chrousos GP, Kellner C, et al. Successful treatment of Cushing’s syndrome with the glucocorticoid antagonist RU 486. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 1985;61:536-540.
20. Chu JW, Matthias DF, Belanoff J, et al. Successful long-term treatment of refractory Cushing’s disease with high-dose mifepristone (RU 486). J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2001;86:3568-3573.
21. Gums JG, Anderson S. Adrenal gland disorders. In: DiPiro JT, Talbert RL, Yee GC, et al, eds. Pharmacotherapy: A Pathophysiologic Approach. 7th ed. New York, NY: McGraw-Hill; 2008:1265-1280.
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eKhaya eKasi Art and Education Centre -- a South African nonprofit organization founded by Art Aids Art -- hosts an annual Arts & Literacy Camp during the Easter school holidays. The camp provides children and adults with opportunities for creative self-expression and literacy development in a safe, supportive environment. The photo-journal below gives an insider's view!
The 2017 session begins with a persona doll activity for women, encouraging self-expression through storytelling.
For artisans accustomed to producing art to sell, the experience of making a keepsake is unfamiliar and joyous.
Each day includes dramatic reading activities...
...and time for free movement...
...followed by a Soul Train line dance...
...which the men eagerly join. At eKhaya eKasi, connecting physical intelligence with other forms of knowing is an essential part of daily educational practice.
For the second year, the Center hosts a Sexuality Education and Reproductive Health workshop for girls and mothers. This time, boys and men also attend, and are valuable contributors to the discussion.
Anatomical study is an important element...
...along with other fundamentals in health education. Here, participants listen to their heartbeats for the first time. Connection to one's own body is essential for self-knowledge, self-love, and self-care.
In the video below, participants practice self-defense by using words to repel and expose a sexual predator.
The 3-day intensive concludes with a circle of love as the adults commit to support the younger generation. "We've got your backs!"
The younger children arrive, bursting with energy!
Warmups challenge focus, strength,...
The adults take the lead in an intergenerational Soul Train dance.
The children show that they keep up... and then some!
After a successful introduction last year, the older children resume their rehearsals of a South African version of The Wizard of Oz.
Meanwhile, the youngest focus on an historical coloring book.
Sorting crayon provides an opportunity for color identification and classification... and has never been more precise!
The spirit of Ubuntu -- the southern African value of interconnectedness -- is evident throughout the 2 weeks of camp...
...as women from the artisan training program participate alongside the children in activities. Here the women lead interactive storytelling with enthusiastic results!
The cast of the Wizard of Oz shows remarkable persistence as they prepare for a dramatic reading.
Costume selection becomes a dramatic event in itself!
When the day of dress rehearsal arrives, the team performs with spirit and professionalism. They have committed to continuing rehearsals in preparation for a special performance at the center's 10th anniversary celebration next year!
What's next? To learn what you can do to help eKhaya eKasi celebrate 10 years, click here.


A searing cycle of poems describes a father's grief after his son is taken from their home in Mali and enslaved in America.
McKissack's tale of a father's grief, old ways carried to the new world and a circle broken and reforged to span the ocean itself echoes ancient storytelling traditions. An initial poem, "The Griot's Prelude," describes "men with the blue of the sky in their eyes" coming deep into the forests to take slaves. A Mende blacksmith in 18th-century, Mali raises his child himself when the infant's mother dies in childbirth. Dinga enlists the Mother Elements of Earth, Fire, Water and Wind as the elders who help to raise Musafa. Sounds of drums and song for each element (Fire is "Kiki Karum Kiki Karum Kiki Karum," while Water is "Shum Da Da We Da Shum Da Da We Da," for instance) emphasize the storyteller's voice in the narrative, inviting listeners to participate and engage. Full-page and border paintings in acrylic and watercolor use strong black lines, almost like woodcut engravings, in deep browns, earth colors and subtle jewel tones against creamy backgrounds. The boy learns to make beautiful objects of metal but is taken by slave traders, and it is years before Dinga learns from the Wind that his son, now Moses, has become a gifted apprentice blacksmith in Charleston, S.C., soon to be freed by the smithy owner.
A totally absorbing poetic celebration of loss and redemption. (author's note) (Picture book/poetry. 7-12)


The Benefits of Dual Enrollment
Credit is based on the grade received in the class, not on one test taken at the end of the year.
Books are provided by the high school, giving students the added financial benefit of not needing to purchase textbooks.
Community college tuition rates are typically much lower than state universities. Dual enrollment students pay the community college tuition rate, which is roughly 1/3 what they would pay at a state university.
Students can start college with several credits completed. This allows students to focus more on their college majors, explore other disciplines, or even graduate early.
Since the college credit from dual enrollment comes with a grade, students can start college with an already well-established GPA.
These challenging courses enhance higher level thinking skills, which prepare students for college/university classes


All About STEM NEWS
Win Prizes! Farmvention (where farming meets invention)
Farmvention is a national STEM competition run by NFU Education and aimed at primary school children. The competition runs for the duration of the Autumn term 2019.
It includes three exciting, problem based challenges that can be entered by individual children or in teams. Each challenge is designed to make children think about the day to day issues faced by farmers and growers in England and Wales as well as the wider environmental challenges faced by the worlds growing population. Each challenge is supported by curriculum linked resources created in partnership with the Association for Science Education (ASE).
Invite a STEM Ambassador to your school or community group to support the challenge. There are a host of amazing prizes for the winning schools. Winners will present their ideas at a prestigious event at the Houses of Parliament, as well as winning fully-funded farm visits and much more!
Big Bang North West 2019: 8000 Children Celebrate STEM!
Big Bang North West 2019: Your Fantastic Feedback!
Big Bang North West 2019: Official Images
Big Bang North West 2019: LIVE Twitter Gallery
Big Bang North West 2019: Big Bang UK Competition Winners!
Big Bang North West 2019: Unilever Inspire Thousands with Sensational & Sustainable Science
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