Was the sugar sector influenced by Brazil during the crisis?
As is often the case with sugar, it is the Brazilian situation that has had the biggest impact on the market in recent weeks.
As such, over 25 years, Brazil has become a giant of the sugar sector with a 4-fold increase in its production, reaching 30 million tons (Mt) in 2019, after rising to 40 Mt in 2016. It is largely thanks to the Brazilian government's ethanol policy over the past 40 years and the flexibility of cane-processing plants that the growth in sugar production has been achieved. These plants can produce sugar and ethanol in proportions set by their configuration, which allows Brazil to arbitrate its production each year according to the world market (demand, prices, competition etc).
But Brazil has also seen an explosion in exports. Thus, by exporting up to 70% of its production, some years it represents nearly 50% of world trade, thus exerting a considerable influence on this market.
During this period of health crisis, the weakness of the Brazilian real against the dollar and the collapse in the price of oil have pushed Brazilian factories to strongly orient cane towards sugar production and export at the expense of ethanol production. So Brazilian production is expected to increase by 10 Mt.
India, which had overtaken Brazil last year in terms of production, is also expected to see an increase in production, while domestic consumption is expected to decline in line with lockdown. In India, the health crisis, in addition to consumption, has temporarily impacted exports as Indian ports idled for several weeks. However, these are now back up and running.
Thanks to these increases in production in Brazil and India, the world sugar market, which last year posted a deficit of 9.8 Mt, is therefore expected this year to be only slightly in deficit at 1.6 Mt (source: FO Litch).
In addition, sugar consumption has slowed worldwide due to the closure of bars and restaurants and the cancellation of sporting and festive events that impact the consumption of sodas and ice cream. Consumption will therefore not continue the growth of recent years.
The increase in sugar production combined with the slowdown in world consumption has led to lower sugar prices, which reached their lowest level for 12 years in April.
In France, beet-planted areas are expected to fall by 5% this year in anticipation of plant closures announced for 2021, raising hopes among sugar producers for a recovery in European prices.
Finally, as expected, exports to third countries are down again with 400kt planned for the 2019/2020 campaign compared to 570kt achieved last year and 1337Mt two years ago (FranceAgriMer data).


The Milton-Ulladulla district is a unique part of Australian and New South Wales heritage. First Nations people, the Murramarang of the Yuin Nation thrived in its tall forests and coastal waters and enriched the local landscape with their art and cultural practices. British colonists arrived from 1828, and the district’s towns reflect the early expansion of the timber industry and later dairying, followed by silica mining and then tourism.
Understanding the history of the place in which you live creates a greater understanding of why so many things are as they are today – how towns and streets got their names, why the industries in which people work developed, how the natural landscape was shaped by settlement, and why houses and buildings look the way they do. Local history combined with a place’s geography can tell you everything.
But preserving local history is not an easy task, as towns expand, new roads are built and industries wax and wane. Since 1968, Milton-Ulladulla Historical Society Inc has been dedicated to preserving our district’s past, for the future.
Find out more about the history of the main towns of the Milton-Ulladulla area.
The Milton-Ulladulla district has many villages, each with its own distinct character and history.
The landscapes of Milton-Ulladulla have been shaped by the interaction of natural and human geography.
The Milton-Ulladulla district has many fine homesteads dating from the late 19th century that have been carefully maintained and sympathetically restored.


Daily Aliya for Mishpatim, Shlishi (3rd Aliya)
Aliya Summary: An arsonist is liable for damages caused by fires he ignites. The Torah then details the potential liabilities of an individual who undertakes to be a guardian of another’s possessions, a borrower, and a renter. More laws: the punishment for seducing a young woman, sorcery, bestiality and offering an idolatrous sacrifice; prohibitions against harassing a foreigner, widow, or orphan; the mitzvah of lending money to the poor and the prohibition against lending with interest.
The prohibition against mistreating a foreigner is worded differently than the one against mistreating an orphan or widow. There is a reason given for not mistreating a foreigner, because we were once foreigners in Egypt. How is that relevant, and why does there have to be a reason? Can’t it just be a law that we must follow, just like the orphan and widow commandment? Unless there is a deeper requirement involved – one of empathizing with others whenever possible. The Torah might be telling us not to simply follow the laws, but to try and feel what others are feeling, whenever possible.


(Section 316.2065(10) and (11), F.S.)
A person propelling a vehicle by human power upon and along a sidewalk, or across a roadway upon and along a crosswalk, has all the rights and duties applicable to a pedestrian under the same circumstances.
Comment: Sidewalks are not designed for bicycle speeds, but a bicycle propelled by human power may be used except where prohibited by local ordinance (e.g. in the central business districts of many cities). No bicycle may be propelled by other than human power on a sidewalk. Although a cyclist riding on a sidewalk has the rights and duties of a pedestrian, he is still a "bicycle rider" and his bicycle is still a "bicycle". Consequently, laws that pertain to required equipment and to carriage of passengers (see above) are still applicable.
Since a cyclist riding on a sidewalk does not have the duties (or rights) of a driver, he may ride in either direction. (However, it is safer to ride in the direction of traffic, since drivers do not expect cyclists to come from the other direction at driveways and crosswalks. Crash risk is 3 to 4 times as great for sidewalk riders who ride facing roadway traffic as for sidewalk riders who ride in the direction of traffic.)
At a signalized intersection, a sidewalk rider must obey the instructions of any applicable pedestrian control signal. That is, he may start to cross a roadway in a crosswalk only during a steady Walk phase, if one is displayed. If no pedestrian signal is provided, the cyclist may proceed in accordance with the signal indications for the parallel roadway traffic flow (Section 316.075, F.S.).
A person propelling a bicycle upon and along a sidewalk, or across a roadway upon and along a crosswalk, shall yield the right-of-way to any pedestrian and shall give an audible signal before overtaking and passing such pedestrian.


Western Burrowing Owls (Athene cunicularia hypugaea)
These charming little owls live and raise their young underground, so they are at risk of being buried alive during construction projects. The Burrowing Owl is the only known owl that lives underground and is especially affected by land development and construction.
Burrowing owls are not able to dig their own burrows, but create homes in existing underground spaces. Deserted squirrel burrows, kangaroo rat mounds, coyote, fox, skunk and badger dens provide homes for these owls. Active both day and night, this little owl is vulnerable to mammals and other birds, and new construction in the Southwestern U.S. takes a major toll on their populations. The Burrowing Owl is Endangered in Canada, Threatened in Mexico, and a Species of Special Concern in Florida and much of the Western US. As Arizona continues to grow, one of the greatest challenges is to minimize the impact of growth on displaced wildlife, and the use of artificial burrows is now helping to counter this threat.


As we all know, how annoying and dangerous are mosquitoes. These little insect can not only give you sleepless and itchy nights but also can cause many harmful diseases. Malaria, Dengue and West Nile Virus are the few disease that are spread due to mosquito bites. If you want to protect yourself and your family, then the easiest and the best way is to apply the best mosquito repellent. There are various types of mosquito repellents available on the market with different active ingredients, but in my opinion the most effective is mosquito repellent with DEET.
But many do not prefer DEET based repellents, they prefer natural mosquito repellents. To some extent they are also effective and give you protection from mosquito bites for about 3-4 hours. Plant based natural repellents are also safe, but if you are applying to small babies then you must be careful. Most repellents are not safe for babies as they have sensitive skins. You can check out safe mosquito repellents for babies here. Mosquito repellent plants keep annoying mosquitoes at bay. Listed below are some of the most effective mosquito repelling plants which can be grown easily at home.
Citronella, a perennial clumping grass, grows to a height of about five feet. The strong distinctive citronella aroma repels mosquitoes by masking other attractants; for instance, humans. Garden centers usually sell this plant in small pots, ready for transplantation to larger plants or for planting into raised garden beds. Cybopogon nardus and Citronella winterianus are the best varieties of this plant. Like most grasses, these plants are low maintenance, and they grow well in sunny and well-drained locations.
Horsemint, commonly known as Beebalm, is a shade-tolerant, drought-resistant, and fast growing plant. This plant grows to a height of 2 – 3 feet and does well in dry soil. Horsemint gives off a strong odor to effectively repel mosquitoes. Seeds of this plant can be sown in trays indoors for later transplantation to pots. Horsemint leaves are dried to make herbal tea. Its flowers attract butterflies and bees into gardens.
Marigolds, grown as ornamental plants, are robust annual plants. These plants have a unique smell which is particularly offensive to mosquitoes. Marigolds contain the widely-used insect repellent Pyrethrum. These plants are inexpensive and easily available at garden centers. Potted marigolds repel mosquitoes best when positioned near open windows. These plants bear orange or yellow flowers.
Ageratum, also known as Flossflowers, secretes coumarin which repels mosquitoes. This low-lying ornamental plant reaches heights of 8 – 18”. This plant is easily identified by its blue flowers, though there are variations with white, violet, and pink blooms. This plant thrives in full or partial sunlight, and does not need rich soil. Coumarin is an active ingredient used extensively in the production of mosquito repellents.
Catnip, a natural mosquito repellent, is many times more effective than DEET, the compound used in the manufacture of commercial insect repellents. This perennial herb is extremely easy to grow. It grows readily as a commercially cultivated plant as well as a weed. Also known as Catmint, this plant is not advisable for cat owners since it has the same effect on cats that it has on mosquitoes.
Rosemary, an excellent mosquito repellent, is an herb that gives out a woody scent. This herb does well in hot and dry climates. It thrives in containers and is suitable for areas with winters. Since they can be pruned into diverse shapes and sizes, they make ideal decorations or borders. This herb bears blue flowers and grows up to five feet.
Basil, an extremely good mosquito repellent, is an herb that emits a pungent smell. Even though all the varieties of this herb repel mosquitoes, Cinnamon basil, Lemon basil, and Peruvian basil are undoubtedly the best varieties. This herb can be grown in pots or planted in backyards. This herb needs good drainage and lots of sunlight.
Lavender, a noted mosquito repellent plant, is easy to grow and does well in sunny climate. This plant is very hardy, drought-resistant, and grows up to four feet. Lavender oil, due to its lovely fragrance, hinders a mosquito’s sense of smell. These plants are most effective when kept around seating areas.
#9 Scented Geraniums
Scented Geraniums, a renowned mosquito repelling plant, are beautiful blooms with a distinct fragrance. These plants are fast growing and do well in sunny, warm, and dry climates. In cold climate areas, they can be cultivated in planters with continuous pruning.
#10 Lemon Grass
Lemon Grass, nature’s own mosquito repellent, has a fresh lemony aroma. This plant can be grown in the landscape or in containers. They are most effective when planted around patios and outdoor living spaces. All of the plants discussed here are extremely effective natural mosquito repellents. They can be planted either indoors or in gardens outdoors. They are definitely effective in keeping mosquitoes at bay.
How to Use Mosquito Repellents Safely
Check the label to see if there are warnings about flammability. CDC recommends the use of products containing active ingredients which have been registered with the U.S. If you’re going to be in the sun, first rub in your sunscreen, let it absorb into your skin, and then apply the repellent on top. Repellents make humans unattractive to a mosquito so that it will avoid areas of the body that have been treated with the product. If so, do not use around open flames or lit cigarettes.
- Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for use as repellents applied to skin and clothing.
- If you need to apply more sunscreen later, you don’t necessarily need to reapply bug spray, Kippel says, unless you notice that the insects are beginning to bother you.
- Repellents do not kill mosquitoes.
- After returning indoors, wash treated skin and clothes with soap and water.
- Of the products registered with the EPA, those containing DEET, picaridin, IR3535, and some oil of lemon eucalyptus and para-menthane-diol products provide longer-lasting protection.
- Pesky bugs can ruin a family picnic, hike, or trip to the park.
- The best repellents will provide protection from bites for a long period of time from just one application.
Do not use any product on pets or other animals unless the label clearly states it is for animals. Many people are understandably concerned about the possible drawbacks of common insect repellents such as DEET. Beat the bugs and make sure your kids are safe from bug bites with kid-safe bug repellent. Repellents that are currently available are either synthetic chemicals, such as DEET, or plant derived chemicals such as Citronella. Most insect repellents do not work against lice or fleas. Insect repellents provide protection only against the pest specified on the product label. In researching our 2013 report, we spent 18 months digging into the question: What are the safest and most effective ways to prevent bug bites and the diseases they may transmit? We’ll tell you what to look for and what to avoid when choosing bug repellent and let you know how to apply the lotion or spray for the best results. The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) does not recommend using products that combine DEET with sunscreen.
A product that repels mosquitoes might not work for ticks or black flies. We concluded that there is no sure, completely safe way to prevent bug bites. If mosquitoes seem to love snacking on you more than ever now that you’re pregnant, it’s not just your imagination: Scientists have found that pregnant women attract twice as many mosquitoes as non-pregnant women do. Sunscreens are intended for generous and frequent use while DEET is intended for less frequent use. Some products also repel insects longer than others, depending on the ingredients.
Mosquito repellents for kids
All bug repellents have pros and cons. Experts think it could be because the pesky bugs are fond of carbon dioxide and pregnant women tend to take more frequent breaths, exhaling 21 percent more air — thereby releasing extra amounts of the gas that the pests are so drawn to. The concern is that use of a repellent that combines the two compounds may promote increased and unnecessary use of DEET. For children younger than 12 years old, do not use a DEET product on a daily basis for more than a month. But some repellents are effective and relatively low in toxicity — provided you take precautions when using them, particularly on children.
For children under 2 years of age, repellents should contain no more than 10 percent DEET. One way to protect your child from biting insects is to use insect repellents. For infants younger than 6 months old, do not use an insect repellent containing DEET. However, they may not work as well as products that contain DEET and icaridin/picaridin, and in some cases not as much is known about their safety. The chemical is absorbed through the skin and can cause harm in higher concentrations. However, it’s important that insect repellents are used safely and correctly. Instead, use a mosquito net when babies are outdoors in a crib or stroller. Also, these products may not protect against tick bites. Products containing up to 30 percent DEET are safe for children over 2 years of age. Read on for more information from the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) about types of repellents, DEET, using repellents safely, and other ways to protect your child from insect bites.
For extra protection, some insect repellents are safe to use during pregnancy. Remember, just because a product is labeled “natural” doesn’t necessarily mean it is safe. The concentration of DEET varies greatly from product to product, so it is very important to read the label carefully on any repellent you purchase. But not all mosquito repellents are equal. EWG’s analysis of safety studies concluded that women should consider using DEET at seven to 30 percent strength, Picaridin at 10 to 20 percent and IR3535 at 20 percent. In some cases they may cause skin or eye irritations. There are over 60 individual repellent formulations currently registered including aerosols, creams, lotions, pump sprays, wipes, wrist bands and sticks. Picaridin may be best if you have sensitive skin or allergies. Insect repellents can be used in all ages unless the label specifically states an age limitation or precaution. Despite this diversity of products, there are only a handful of active ingredients, the most common of which are DEET (diethyltoluamide) and Picaridin.
Follow instructions carefully. As long as you read and follow label directions and take proper precautions, insect repellents with active ingredients registered by the U.S. In fact, a recent study by Consumer Reports showed that natural repellents are nearly useless against Aedes mosquitoes, the species known to transmit the Zika virus. Conventional insect repellents contain a mix of active ingredients listed on the label and inert ingredients that aren’t listed on labels. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) do not present health or safety concerns. Among the other diseases include several severe ones that can even cause death. Both categories can include chemicals linked to human health and/or ecosystem harm. I know some people won’t agree with me, but why would you put your little one, or even yourself in the risk of getting these awful diseases?


Bound for a Land Down Under
As the latest installment in a series of scientific pursuits across the globe, Scientific Aviation is taking to the skies of Australia. Chelsea Stockwell, lead drone scientist, will use our drones outfitted with in-situ analyzers to measure methane emissions at energy production facilities. Australia ranks third in the world for contributions to global carbon emissions, according to a recent report by the Australia Institute. Collaborations like this project are a key component of mitigating emissions in the future and working towards a cleaner future for all.
Check out the video below announcing the project:


|Part of a series on|
|Development and psychology|
Menarche (// mi-NAR-kee; Greek: μήν mēn "month" + ἀρχή arkhē "beginning") is the first menstrual cycle, or first menstrual bleeding, in female humans. From both social and medical perspectives, it is often considered the central event of female puberty, as it signals the possibility of fertility.
Girls experience menarche at different ages. The timing of menarche is influenced by female biology, as well as genetic and environmental factors, especially nutritional factors. The mean age of menarche has declined over the last century, but the magnitude of the decline and the factors responsible remain subjects of contention. The worldwide average age of menarche is very difficult to estimate accurately, and it varies significantly by geographical region, race, ethnicity and other characteristics. Various estimates have placed it at 13. There is a later age of onset in Asian populations compared to the West. The average age of menarche is about 12.5 years in the United States, 12.7 in Canada, and 12.9 in the United Kingdom. A study of girls in Istanbul, Turkey, found the median age at menarche to be 12.7 years.
- Attainment of a sufficient body mass (typically 17% body fat).
- Disinhibition of the GnRH pulse generator in the arcuate nucleus of the hypothalamus.
- Secretion of estrogen by the ovaries in response to pituitary hormones.
- Over an interval of about 2 to 3 years, estrogen stimulates growth of the uterus (as well as height growth, breast growth, widening of the pelvis, and increased regional adipose tissue).
- Estrogen stimulates growth and vascularity of the endometrium, the lining of the uterus.
- Fluctuations of hormone levels can result in changes of adequacy of blood supply to parts of the endometrium.
- Death of some of the endometrial tissue from these hormone or blood supply fluctuations leads to deciduation, a sloughing of part of the lining with some blood flow from the vagina.
No specific hormonal signal for menarche is known; menarche as a discrete event is thought to be the relatively chance result of the gradual thickening of the endometrium induced by rising but fluctuating pubertal estrogen.
The menstruum, or flow, consists of a combination of fresh and clotted blood with endometrial tissue. The initial flow of menarche is usually brighter than mature menstrual flow. It is often scanty in amount and may be very brief, even a single instance of "spotting." Like other menses, menarche may be accompanied by abdominal cramping.
Relation to fertility
In most girls, menarche does not mean that ovulation has occurred. In postmenarchal girls, about 80% of the cycles were anovulatory in the first year after menarche, 50% in the third and 10% in the sixth year. Regular ovulation is usually indicated by predictable and consistent intervals between menses, predictable and consistent durations of menses, and predictable and consistent patterns of flow (e.g., heaviness or cramping). Continuing ovulation typically requires a body fat content of at least 22%. An anthropological term for this state of potential fertility is nubility.
On the other hand, not every girl follows the typical pattern, and some girls ovulate before the first menstruation. Although unlikely, it is possible for a girl who has engaged in sexual intercourse shortly before her menarche to conceive and become pregnant, which would delay her menarche until after the end of the pregnancy. This goes against the widely held assumption that a woman cannot become pregnant until after menarche. A young age at menarche is not correlated with a young age at first sexual intercourse.
When menarche occurs, it confirms that the girl has had a gradual estrogen-induced growth of the uterus, especially the endometrium, and that the "outflow tract" from the uterus, through the cervix to the vagina, is open.
In very rare instances, menarche may occur at an unusually early age, preceding thelarche and other signs of puberty. This is termed isolated premature menarche, but other causes of vaginal bleeding must be investigated and excluded. Growth is usually normal. Isolated premature menarche is rarely the first manifestation of precocious puberty.
When menarche has failed to occur for more than three years after thelarche, or beyond 16 years of age, the delay is referred to as primary amenorrhea.
Certain systemic or chronic illness can delay menarche, such as undiagnosed and untreated celiac disease (which often occurs without gastrointestinal symptoms), asthma, diabetes mellitus type 1, cystic fibrosis and inflammatory diseases, among others. In some cases, because biochemical tests are not always discriminatory, underlying pathologies are not identified and the girl is classified as constitutional growth delay. Short stature, delayed growth in height and weight, and/or delayed menarche may be the only clinical manifestations of celiac disease, in absence of any other symptoms. According to a review article, there may also be an association between early age at menarche and breast cancer risk.
Conditions and disease states
Studies have been conducted to observe the association of the timing of menarche with various conditions and diseases. Some studies have shown that there may be an association between early or late-age menarche and cardiovascular disease, although the mechanism of the association is not well understood.  A systematic review has concluded that early age at menarche is also a risk factor for the insulin resistance condition. There is conflicting evidence regarding the association between obesity and timing of menarche; a meta-analysis and systematic review has determined that more studies must be conducted to make any definitive conclusions about this association.
Some of the least understood environmental influences on timing of puberty are social and psychological. Nearly all of the research on these effects has concerned girls, partly because female puberty requires greater physiological resources and partly because menarche involves a clear threshold event that makes survey research into female puberty much simpler than male. In most of these studies menarche was specifically examined, assuming it to be a valid "proxy" for the more general process of puberty. In comparison with the effects of genetics, nutrition, and general health, social influences are small, shifting timing by a few months rather than years. The most important part of a child's psychosocial environment is the family.
Some of the aspects of family structure and function reported to be independently associated with earlier menarche [antenatal and early childhood]
- Being non-white
- Having experienced pre-eclampsia in the womb
- Being a singleton
- Low birthweight
- Not having been breast-fed
- Previous exposure to smoking
- High-conflict family relationships
- Increased incidence of childhood obesity.
- Lack of exercise in childhood
Other research has focused on the effect of childhood stress on timing of puberty, especially female. Stress is a vague term and studies have examined conditions ranging from family tensions or conflict to wartime refugee status with threat to physical survival. The more dire social conditions have been found to be associated with delay of maturation, an effect that may be compounded by dietary inadequacy. There is more uncertainty and mixed evidence as to whether milder degrees of stress or early-life under-nutrition can accelerate puberty in girls as would be predicted by life history theory and demonstrated in many other mammals.
The understanding of these environmental effects is incomplete and the following observations and cautions are relevant:
- Mechanisms of these social effects are unknown, though a variety of physiological processes, including pheromones, have been suggested based on animal research.
- Most of these "effects" are statistical associations revealed by epidemiologic surveys. Statistical associations are not necessarily causal, and a variety of secondary variables and alternative explanations can be possibly intervening. Effects of such small size can never be confirmed or refuted for any individual child.
- Despite the small magnitude of effect, interpretations of the data are politically controversial because of the ease with which this type of research can be used for political advocacy. Accusations of bias based on political agenda sometimes accompany scientific criticism.
- Correlation does not imply causation. While correlation can be objectively measured, causation is statistically inferred. Some suggest that childhood stress is caused by precocious puberty recognized later, rather than being the cause of it.
Changes in time of average age
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There were few systematic studies of timing of menarche before the later half of the 20th century. Most older estimates of average timing of menarche were based on observation of a small homogeneous population not necessarily representative of the larger population, or based on recall by adult women, which is also susceptible to various forms of error. Most sources agree that the average age of menarche in girls in modern societies has declined, though the reasons and the degree remain subjects of controversy. From the sixth to the fifteenth centuries in Europe, most women reached menarche on average at about 14, between the ages of 12 and 15. A large North American survey reported only a 2–3 month decline from the mid-1970s to the mid-1990s. A 2011 study found that each 1 kg/m2 increase in childhood body-mass index (BMI) can be expected to result in a 6.5% higher absolute risk of early menarche (before age 12 years).
Fewer than 10% of U.S. girls start to menstruate before 11 years of age, and 90% of all U.S. girls are menstruating by 13.8 years of age, with a median age of 12.4 years. This age at menarche is not much different (0.3 years earlier) than that reported for U.S. girls in 1973. Age at menarche for non-Hispanic black girls was significantly earlier than that of white girls at 10%, 25%, and 50% of those who had attained menarche, whereas non-white Mexican American girls were only slightly earlier than the white girls at 25%.
Menstruation is a cultural as well as scientific phenomenon as many societies have specific rituals and cultural norms associated with it. These rituals typically begin at menarche and some are enacted during each menstruation cycle. The rituals are important in determining a status change for girls. Upon menarche and completion of the ritual, they have become a woman as defined by their culture.
For young women in many cultures, the first menstruation is a marker that signifies a change in status. Post-menarche, the young woman enters a stage called maidenhood, the stage between menarche and marriage. There are cultures that have in past centuries, and in present, practiced rites of passage for a girl experiencing menarche.
In some cultures, a party, or celebration is thrown to show the girl's transition to womanhood. This party is similar to the quinceañera in Latin America, except that a specific age marks the transition rather than menarche. In Morocco, the girl is thrown a celebration. All of her family members are invited and the girl is showered with money and gifts.
When a Japanese girl has her first period, the family sometimes celebrates by eating red-colored rice and beans (sekihan). The color of blood and the red of sekihan are not related. All the rice of ancient times of Japan was red. Since rice was precious in ancient Japan (usually, millet was eaten), it was eaten only during the celebration. Sekihan is the tradition of an ancient custom. The celebration is kept a secret from extended family until the rice is served.
The Mescalero Apaches place high importance on their menarche ceremony and it is regarded as the most important ritual in their tribe. Each year, there is an eight-day event celebrating all of the girls who have menstruated in the past year. The days are split between feasting and private ceremonies reflecting on their new womanly status.
Rituals of learning
In Australia, the Aborigines[which?] treat a girl to "love magic". She is taught the ways of womanhood by the other women in her tribe. Her mother builds her a menstruation hut to which she confines herself for the remainder of her menses. The hut is burned and she is bathed in the river at the end of menstruation. When she returns to the village[clarification needed], she is paired with a man who will be her husband.
In the United States, public schools have a sex education program that teaches girls about menstruation and what to expect at the onset of menarche (often this takes place during the 4th grade). Historically menstruation has been a social taboo and girls were taught about menarche and menstruation by their mothers or a female role model. Then, and to an extent now, menstruation was a private matter and a girl's menarche was not a community phenomenon.
Rituals of cleansing or purification
The Ulithi tribe of Micronesia call a girl's menarche kufar. She goes to a menstrual house, where the women bathe her and recite spells. She will have to return to the menstruation hut every time she menstruates. Her parents build her a private hut that she will live in until she is married.
In Sri Lanka, an astrologer is contacted to study the alignment of stars when the girl experiences menarche because it is believed that her future can be predicted. The women of the family then gather in her home and scrub her in a ritual bathing ceremony. Her family then throws a familial party at which the girl wears white and may receive gifts.
In Ethiopia, Beta Jewish women were separated from male society and sent to menstruation huts during menarche and every menstruation following as the blood associated with menstruation in the Beta Jewish culture was believed to be impure. The Beta Jews built their villages surrounding and near bodies of water specifically for their women to have a place to clean themselves. The menstruation huts were built close to these bodies of water.
Rituals of transformation and scarification
Rituals of strength
The Navajo have a celebration called kinaalda (kinn-all-duh). Girls are expected to demonstrate their strength through footraces. The girls make a cornmeal pudding for the tribe to taste. The girls who experience menarche wear special clothes and style their hair like the Navajo goddess "Changing Woman".
Perhaps the most notable movie scene involving menarche is that from the horror movie Carrie (1976). Carrie White experiences her first period as she showers after the school gym class, and unaware of what is happening to her, she panics and pleads for help, but the other girls respond by bullying her. The movie is an adaptation of the novel with the same name by Stephen King. Carrie's first period unleashes her violent powers and is central to her dangerous and out of control transformation. This theme is common to horror movies, another notable example being the Canadian horror movie Ginger Snaps (2000), where the protagonist's first period is central to her gradual transformation into a werewolf. Girls experiencing their first period is part of many movies, though not central to their plot, including The Blue Lagoon (1980), The Company of Wolves (1984), My Girl (1991), Return to the Blue Lagoon (1991), A Walk on the Moon (1999).
- Delayed puberty
- Lina Medina, who had her menarche at age 8 months and is the youngest mother in history
- Menopause, the equivalent opposite change at the end of the child-bearing years
- Shawky, S.; Milaat, W. (2000). "Early teenage marriage and subsequent pregnancy outcome" (PDF). Eastern Mediterranean Health Journal. 6 (1): 46–54. PMID 11370340.
- "Risk Factors for Breast Cancer in India: an INDOX Case-Control Study". INDOX Cancer Research Network. Archived from the original on 2013-03-02. Retrieved 2013-05-20.
- Anderson SE, Dallal GE, Must A (April 2003). "Relative weight and race influence average age at menarche: results from two nationally representative surveys of US girls studied 25 years apart". Pediatrics. 111 (4 Pt 1): 844–50. doi:10.1542/peds.111.4.844. PMID 12671122.
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- Hamilton-Fairley, Diana (2004). Obstetrics and Gynaecology (PDF) (2nd ed.). Blackwell. p. 29. ISBN 978-1-4051-2066-1. Retrieved 2013-11-09.
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- R. Stanhope; C. Traggiai (2006). "Isolated Menarche". Precocious Puberty (Complete, Partial). Armenian Health Network. Retrieved 2006-11-26.
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- Li W, Liu Q, Deng X, Chen Y, Liu S, Story M (October 2017). "Association between Obesity and Puberty Timing: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis". International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. 14 (10): 1266. doi:10.3390/ijerph14101266. PMC 5664767. PMID 29064384.
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- The Australian, 3 April 2013. Early onset puberty causes emotional issues at preschool age Archived April 16, 2013, at the Wayback Machine
- Boaz, N.T. (1999): . Essentials of biological anthropology. Prentice Hall, New Jersey, ISBN 0-13-080793-1.
- Amundsen Darrel; Dreis Carol Jean (1973). "The Age of Menarche in Medieval Europe". Human Biology. 45 (3): 363–68. PMID 4584336.
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- School-age Pregnancy and Parenthood: Biosocial Dimensions. New York: Aldine De Gruyter. 1986. pp. 273–275. ISBN 978-0-202-30321-5.
- Hartman, Holly. Girlwonder: Every Girl's Guide to the Fantastic Feats, Cool Qualities, and Remarkable Abilities of Women and Girls. Boston: Houghton Mifflin, 2003.
- Siegel, Alice (1995). Information Please Girls' Almanac. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. ISBN 978-0395694589. Retrieved 2013-11-09.
- Chockalingam, K (1973). Census of India, 1971: A. General report. Retrieved 2013-11-09.
- Crawford O'Brien, Suzanne J. (2005). American Indian religious traditions: an encyclopedia, Volume 2. ABC-CLIO. ISBN 9781576075173. Retrieved 2013-11-09.
- Freidenfelds, Lara (2009). The Modern Period: Menstruation in Twentieth Century America. JHU Press. ISBN 978-0801892455. Retrieved 2013-11-09.
- Tal, Ilana (2004). Exploring the Meaning of Becoming a Woman in Non-Western Culture: A narrative Analysis of First Menstruation Stories of Ethiopian Jewish Women. p. 64.
- Quinlan, R (2003). "Father absence, parental care, and female reproductive development" (PDF). Evolution and Human Behavior. 24 (6): 376–90. doi:10.1016/S1090-5138(03)00039-4.
- For mothers supporting their daughters as they come of age
- Gluckman PD, Hanson MA (January 2006). "Evolution, development and timing of puberty". Trends in Endocrinology and Metabolism. 17 (1): 7–12. doi:10.1016/j.tem.2005.11.006. PMID 16311040. S2CID 26141301.
- Discusses some of the social influences


An n-dimensional manifold is a Hausdorff space that is locally isomorphic to Euclidean n-space E(n).
In the two-dimensional case, the basic examples are the sphere, let us call it M(0), the torus, let us call it M(1), and the real projective plane, let us call it N(1). Arbitrary examples are constructed by glueing. We use the symbol # again. Given two n-manifolds X, Y, and two homeomorphisms f : B -> X and g : B -> Y of the closed unit sphere into these spaces, let X#Y denote the space obtained from the disjoint union of X and Y by removing the images of the open unit sphere, and identifying images of the boundary points in X with corresponding images of boundary points in Y. Clearly, X#M(0) = X.
Let M(g) = M(g-1)#M(1) be the sphere with g handles. Let N(h) = N(h-1)#N(1) be the sphere with h crosscaps.
Theorem Every compact connected 2-manifold is homeomorphic to one of the surfaces M(g) (g > 0) or N(h) (h > 1).
In the proof we shall need the concept triangulation of a surface. This is a covering of the space with finitely many triangles, homeomorphic images of an ordinary plane triangle, where two triangles either are disjoint, or have a point or an edge in common, each edge is in precisely two triangles, and the residue at a point is a polygon.
First of all, these surfaces are all distinct, since they have
distinct fundamental groups, see below. Next, since the surface is compact,
there is a finite cover with triangles, and after refining where these
overlap we find that every compact connected 2-manifold is triangulable.
Finally, every connected triangulable 2-manifold is one of these.
Indeed, given a triangulation, we can order the triangles such that
each after the first has at least one edge in common with an earlier
triangle. By induction we see that the subspace on the union of an
initial part of this sequence of triangles is homeomorphic to a
plane regular polygon of which some pairs of edges are identified.
Thus, the entire manifold is isomorphic to a plane 2n-gon
of which the edges are identified in pairs. Going around the polygon,
we can write down a word in n variables x
where each occurs twice, either as x or as x^(-1),
written as x'.
For example, the word xyx'y' represents the torus.
Now we can juggle these words a bit, nothing that (i) cyclic
permutation of the word does not change the manifold,
(ii) abxcdx' = aydcy'b (where equality denotes
that the corresponding 2-manifolds are homeomorphic, and
a,b,c,d are arbitrary words),
(iii) abxcdx = aydb'yc'.
(Indeed, in both cases, let y be an edge from the point
where a meets b to the point where c
meets d, cut along y and glue along x.)
(iv) axx' = a (when a has length at least 4).
Suppose we let a end in a lot of pairs zz of two equal edges. When there are still more equal edges, we can apply (iii) to get the first element of a pair of two equals directly following a, and then once more (with empty b and d) to get both directly following a, and we can enlarge a. After doing this, start moving commutators [x,y] = xyx'y' to the tail of a. When there is an interlocking pair ...x...y...x'...y'..., use (ii) to cyclically rotate the parts between y and y' until x is in front of y and x' directly follows it, and then cyclically rotate the part between x' and x until y' directly follows x', and we have a commutator xyx'y' substring. After all this, our manifold descriptor consists of pairs xx and commutators xyx'y' and pairs xx'. Finally, if both a square and a commutator occur, we can turn this into 3 squares. Indeed, let us rename y to x again, and take two of b,c,d empty, then (iii) says abxx = axb'x = axxb. Now axx[y,z] = axz'y'xy'z' = axyx'yz'z' = axxyyz'z'.
Let Gp(x,y,...; e,f,...) denote the group defined by generators x,y,... and relations e = f = ... = 1, and let [x,y] denote the commutator xyx^(-1)y^(-1). Then
(i) P(M(g)) = Gp(x1,y1,...,xg,yg; [x1,y1], ..., [xg,yg])
(ii) P(N(h)) = Gp(x1,...,xh; (x1)^2, ..., (xg)^2).
A different way of distinguishing these surfaces is by use of the Euler characteristic and orientability. The Euler characteristic chi of a triangulable 2-manifold is the number of vertices minus the number of edges plus the number of triangles in any triangulation of the surface. This is well-defined: the number does not change upon refinement of the triangulation, and two triangulations have a common refinement.
We have chi(M(g)) = 2-2g and chi(N(h)) = 2-h. More generally, chi(M#N) = chi(M)+chi(N)-2.
A triangulable surface is called orientable if it has a triangulation such that we can orient the boundary of all triangles in a directed 3-cycle in such a way that if two triangles have an edge in common they induce opposite directions on this edge. Orientability is invariant under refinement, so orientability is also an invariant of the surface. A surface M#N is orientable if and only if both M and N are. Now the sphere M(0) and the torus M(1) are orientable, but the real projective plane N(1) is not.
In the proof we used compactness. Without it there are other examples. The simplest is the ordinary plane.
In the above we saw that nonhomeomorphic compact 2-manifolds are distinguished by their fundamental group. In particular, when a 2-manifold is homotopy equivalent to the sphere S(2), then it is homeomorphic to the sphere. It is unknown whether the same holds for 3-manifolds and S(3). This is the famous Poincaré Conjecture. (At first Poincaré conjectured that a compact 3-manifold with the same homology groups as a 3-sphere must be a 3-sphere, but he found a counterexample himself and changed the conjecture to say that any compact 3-manifold with vanishing fundamental group is the 3-sphere.) The 4-dimensional case was settled by Freedman (The topology of four-dimensional manifolds, J. Diff. Geometry 17 (1982) 357-453). All higher dimensional cases had been done already by Smale, see S. Smale, Generalized Poincaré's conjecture in dimensions greater than 4, Ann. Math. 74 (1961) 391-406, and A survey of some recent developments in differential topology, Bull. Am. Math. Soc. 69 (1963) 131-145. Both Smale and Freedman got a Fields medal.
Jules Henri Poincaré
Michael Hartley Freedman
An n-dimensional manifold with boundary is a Hausdorff space where each point has a neighbourhood isomorphic to an open set in a closed halfspace in Euclidean n-space E(n).
From the above we immediately obtain a classification of all 2-dimensional manifolds with boundary.
Indeed, the boundary will be a union of disjoint cycles, and if we glue a disk (a `cap') in the hole bounded by a cycle, we fill the hole. After filling all holes we obtain M(g) or N(h). Thus, the only additional invariant is the number of holes e.
Exercises (i) Show that a Möbius band (code xpxq)
is a real projective plane with one hole.
Show that M(g,e) (M(g) with e holes) has Euler characteristic 2-2g-e and that N(h,e) (N(h) with e holes) has Euler characteristic 2-h-e.


Created by Ludwik Leizer Zamenhof in the late 19th century, Esperanto is to this date the most successful example of an artificial language. In theory, if it had succeeded in the way that Zamenhof had hoped, today the translation profession would be obsolete. So, why did it fail, and could it be revived?
Esperanto has many positive qualities. Zamenhof created it to be easily learnt, with no irregulars and minimal vocabulary; being on average 5-15 times quicker to learn than other languages. As it is designed to be learnt as a second language, alongside the national language of a country, it doesn't take away from a country's culture or original language, simply creating a way for people all over the world to communicate with each other.
Despite originally gaining immense popularity and even being considered as a choice for the official language of the League of Nations (the decision was vetoed only by France), a variety of factors led the language to decline in use and recognition. One of these factors was the timing of its creation: the rise of nationalism in the 20th century led Esperanto to be banned and even punished in countries such as Nazi Germany, Franco's Spain and Stalin's Russia. The other, arguably more damaging factor, was the English language. English already had millions of speakers, and post-WW2 was becoming an international language due to America's economic dominance and imperialism, and the rise of Hollywood. These factors, amongst others, meant that today Esperanto speakers total, at most, a mere 2 million.
However, the language's popularity is growing once more, with Duolingo having released an Esperanto app, and the language being one of the most overrepresented on the internet. So, we have to wonder, could it actually become the world's second language?
The answer is probably not. Although the concept makes total sense and would certainly benefit politics, business, travel, and general worldwide communication, the reality is that at the moment there is very little incentive to learn it (bar a love of languages). There is no country or culture attached to the language, and its small number of speakers creates a vicious cycle whereby people think that there are not enough speakers to make learning it worthwhile, so they choose more widely spoken languages, such as Mandarin or English, so there continue to be a small number of speakers, and so on.
There would have to be an international, unilateral decision that all countries must teach Esperanto to children as a second language in schools for Zamenhof's dream to be truly realised, the reality of which seems unlikely. So, for now, translators are safe from Esperanto.


Need some good comprehensible input for your Spanish classroom? Here I’ve compiled 10 fables, in picture format and just for beginners.
Each fable is told in simple Spanish. The first story, El perro y su reflejo, uses the most basic language. From there, each successive story adds in new vocabulary and builds up to El ratoncito del campo y el ratoncito de la ciudad, the most complex fable. If you’d like to see how the verbs and vocabulary build throughout the series, see the spreadsheet here.
You can use the fables by clicking on the title you want and show it online. If you prefer to have your own copy in PDF & PPT format, with activities, each story it available in my TpT shop. Included in each pack are reading activities & listening activities, game ideas, story scripts, and more! You can also buy all ten at once, at a discount.


As per the latest release from United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), the Australian wheat production is forecast at 18 MMT for 2018/19, slightly below the revised official forecast of 18.5 MMT as a result of very dry and hot conditions across major wheat growing areas. The harvested area is expected to be stable at 11 million hectares. Very dry and hot conditions in eastern Australia reduced both expected production and likely yields. Yield is forecast at 1.63 tons per hectare, 19 percent below the 5-year average. The poor condition of existing crops and the continuing drought conditions mean that an increasing share of the wheat crop, especially in NSW, will be cut for feed. Post has increased the proportion of feed wheat to 6 MMT due the seasonal outlook and the current high domestic prices for livestock feed.
Wheat domestic consumption is estimated at 9.5 MMT for 2018/19 due to a significant shortage of grains for livestock production caused by poor pasture and dry conditions across eastern Australia. This situation has led to a sharp rise in domestic feed grain and hay prices in eastern Australia.
Australian wheat exports are forecast to decline to 12 MMT for 2018/2019, reflecting lower production caused by the drought and high prices for domestic feed grains and hay.


Contrary to what you might think, instant coffee is made from real coffee. But we all know it is far from a real cup of coffee. Here are a few interesting facts about its origin and rise to popularity.
1. The first version was said to be invented around 1771, in Britian. In 1890 David Strang invented and patented instant coffee.
2. 1930- Nestlé’s chairman was approached by the Brazilian Coffee Institute and asked to develop coffee that was soluble in hot water and retained its flavor.
3. It became very popular during WWI & WWII. It provided a way for soldiers to get a quick caffeine boost on the battlefield.
4. You can use instant coffee powder in various recipes ranging from cappuccino cheesecake to coffee rubbed grilled pork.


Aug 22, 2013 · Cri du chat Prevention. No specific way is known to prevent this syndrome. Couples with a family history of Cri du chat, and planning pregnancy, may consider genetic counseling. Cri Du Chat Support Groups. Although it is a rare disorder, there are various support groups that offer guidance and information to parents of Cri Du Chat sufferers.Author: Shavit Gavish. Cri Du Chat syndrome is a condition in which a person is missing a portion of the chromosome number 5. This condition is often considered bizarre, because it causes the baby affected to have a very high pitched wail that sounds exactly like a cat meowing or wailing while in heat.
Jun 29, 2017 · The diagnosis of cri du chat syndrome is generally made in the hospital at birth. A health care provider may note the clinical symptoms associated with the condition. The cat-like cry is the most prominent clinical feature in newborn children and is usually diagnostic for the cri du chat syndrome. The symptoms of cri du chat syndrome vary from case to case. The characteristic high-pitched, shrill cry associated with cri du chat syndrome is present during the first few weeks of life. The cry, which resembles the mewing of a cat, becomes less pronounced as affected infants grow older.


Imagine picking up your smartphone to look at your Facebook page to check messages and it looks like you just added a lot of friends. You start to read through the posts and you suddenly you realize you are in someone else’s Facebook profile.
Or, your phone suddenly starts to act slow and there are apps open that you don't normally use.
Is it possible your phone has been hijacked? The answer is maybe.
PROTECTION - THE BAD NEWS:
- Cybercreeps are getting smarter and are creating viruses to infect your cell phones.
- There were an average of 30 cell phone viruses per month last year. All were contained and damages were minimized.
- Cybercreeps created fake online banking software that looked legitimate. Cell phone customers downloaded it and did what they thought was online banking until they realized their id and password had been stolen!
4 QUICK STEPS TO PROTECT YOUR PHONE AND YOUR TRANSACTIONS:
1. Lock: Always lock your phone using a password or PIN code
2. Block: For banking, download mobile apps only after checking with your financial institution to make sure you don’t load an imposter app
3. Protect: Set your phone to always prompt you for a password before software can be downloaded to it
4. Detect: Never assume that your voice calls are confidential – some countries have no encryption at all for cell conversations. Calls on 3G or 4G will have more security so check your signal.
If you think your phone has been hijacked, call your phone vendor immediately. Go to a computer that you trust and change all passwords to your accounts to try to minimize the creeps from taking over your accounts and your identity.
There are some virus software packages that you can purchase to add more protection to your phone if you are concerned. Some examples include F-Secure or Sophos. To learn more about these options, there was a recent review posted on the leading mobile software antivirus protection providers for 2012 posted at: http://mobile-security-software-review.toptenreviews.com/


Teaching Children To Pray: Some Basics From The Scriptures
By Kim Butts
Children can be taught the basics of prayer from the Lord Himself, who has given us some very specific instructions. The simplest and most powerful way that children (and adults too) can grasp and understand prayer is to read and follow God’s How-To Manual of Prayer--The Bible. Study one of these prayer concepts together each week and put them into practice so that children will begin to weave prayer into the fabric of their every day lives. The Lord will be faithful as your children grow in their prayer lives.
1. Confess your sins before you pray. James 5:16 says, "Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective." Teach your children to keep "short accounts" with God. Before prayer, have each family member share one thing which was done recently that may not have pleased God, and for which you need to ask forgiveness. Remember to teach that once this is done, God "remembers the sin no more" according to Hebrews 8:12 and Jeremiah 31:34.
2. Forgive others before you pray and pray for your enemies. "And when you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive him, so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your sins" (Mark 11:25). Have your child think of one or two classmates or acquaintances who may have done or said something unkind. After telling God that you wish to forgive them for any wrong they have done to you or others, pray blessing and peace into their lives. Matthew 5:44 says, "But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you..."
3. Don’t say the same things over and over -- talk to God as your Heavenly Father and as a friend. Matthew 6:7-8 says, "And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words. Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask Him." Give children opportunity to have conversation with God. Try not to teach "memorized" prayers, but encourage them to pray from their hearts. Don’t discourage them in their attempts -- very young children will pray things which may seem to be inappropriate to you, but which are very much on their hearts.
4. Pray with faith, believing that you will receive. Matthew 21:22 says, "If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer." In Mark 11:25 we read, "Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours." When God’s people pray prayers of faith, truly believing that God is able to accomplish His will for us and for others, He can do amazing things like this: "And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise him up" (James 5:15).
Parents, it is very important to talk about prayers that are not answered "Yes." If God doesn’t answer your prayer the way you expect, help your child to consider that God has a perfect plan for every person and situation. Sometimes God’s plans are very different from ours, and He sees the bigger picture when we can’t. He knows that there will be times when the prayers we pray will be answered with a "No" instead of a "Yes." It is our job to remain faithful, knowing and trusting that God is in control, and that He knows what is best for us, for those we pray for, and every situation for which we intercede.
5. Learn how to pray the things that are on God’s heart. By knowing God’s will through His Holy Word, and by being obedient to His Word, we will begin to pray things that are on the heart of God. For example, it is God’s will that all people will have an opportunity to come to a saving knowledge of the truth -- to know Jesus. Are you praying for this? Is it on your heart too? Matthew 9:36-38 says, "When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. Then he said to his disciples, ‘The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.’" If you and your children pray this prayer, God will always answer "Yes!" because His heart and yours will be in agreement. What are some other things that are on God’s heart?
6. Watch and pray so that you will not be tempted by the enemy to do the wrong things. Luke 21:36 says, "Be always on the watch, and pray that you may be able to escape all that is about to happen, and that you may be able to stand before the Son of Man." In Matthew 26:41, we read, "Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the body is weak." What situations and things are you tempted by? Talk about how the enemy can use those things to tempt us to sin against God.
7. It is important to pray on your own, but God wants us to pray with others too. Here are some examples from the early Church: "They all joined together constantly in prayer, along with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brothers" (Acts 1:14). "They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer" (Acts 2:42). "When they heard this, they raised their voices together in prayer to God...." (Acts 4:24). Give your children plenty of opportunities to pray with others (including adults) at church, in small groups, in Kids Prayer Clubs, etc.
8. Pray instead of worrying. Philippians 4:6-7 says, "Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." Ask your children to name one thing they are worrying about. Give these things to the Lord in prayer so that His peace can take the place of worry.
9. Be devoted to prayer. "Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful" (Colossians 4:2). Romans 12:12 says, "Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer." Teach your children to daily read, study and pray so that they will remain faithful to the Word of God. "If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be given you. This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples" (John 15:7-8).


The holiday season is here. For some, that means cherishing time with family and friends, but for many, especially those who feel emotionally distant or isolated from others, it’s a time of year that leaves them particularly vulnerable to feelings of loneliness. On top of that, the COVID-19 pandemic has changed how we interact with each other and experience events, making the holiday season potentially even more challenging and feelings of loneliness more common. In fact, a 2020 survey found that 70% of people in the U.S. reported feeling various degrees of loneliness heading into last year’s holiday season, with more than 10% reporting extreme loneliness.
Though loneliness is common, how and why people experience it varies widely. Some people may live a happy and healthy life with minimal social interaction, while others may have contact with family and friends and still feel alone. Many factors, like isolation due to the pandemic, the loss of a loved one, and even the weather can increase feelings of loneliness. Those who live alone, the elderly, and those grieving tend to experience loneliness more than others.
Feelings of loneliness can also severely negatively impact your physical and mental wellbeing and put you at risk of developing unhealthy habits. Researchers have said loneliness and social isolation can be as damaging to physical health as smoking 15 cigarettes daily.
It’s important to acknowledge the dynamics in your life that may influence feelings of loneliness so you can take small steps to protect your mental wellbeing. If you’re experiencing feelings of loneliness this holiday season, use these tips to cope in a healthy way:
The holidays can be challenging. Whether you are dealing with the loss of a loved one, isolated from others because of the pandemic, or simply far away from family and friends, there are ways that you can cope with feelings of loneliness and take care of your mental wellbeing. By keeping these tips in mind or sharing them with anyone you feel may be at risk of experiencing loneliness, you can #BeTheDifference for yourself and others this holiday season.
For more information and tips around how to cope during the holiday season , read these blogs from Mental Health First Aid:
Cuncic, A. (2020, November 25). How to Cope When You Are Alone on Thanksgiving. Verywell Mind. Retrieved November 19, 2021, from https://www.verywellmind.com/how-to-cope-when-you-are-alone-at-thanksgiving-3024302.
Health Resources & Services Administration. (2019, January). The “Loneliness Epidemic.” Retrieved November 29, 2021, from https://www.hrsa.gov/enews/past-issues/2019/january-17/loneliness-epidemic.
Hurst, A. (2020, November 17). More than 1 in 10 Americans feel extreme loneliness heading into winter holidays, primarily driven by pandemic isolation. ValuePenguin. Retrieved from https://www.valuepenguin.com/coronavirus-causing-holiday-loneliness.
Morava, M., & Andrew, S. (2021, April 17). Loneliness won’t end when the pandemic ends. CNN. Retrieved from https://www.cnn.com/2021/04/17/us/loneliness-epidemic-covid-wellness-trnd/index.html.
Scott, E. (2020, December 9). Dealing with Loneliness During the Holiday Season. Verywell Mind. Retrieved from https://www.verywellmind.com/loneliness-and-the-holidays-3144645.
Tartakovsky, M. (2013, December 16). Coping with loneliness during the holidays. Psych Central. Retrieved from https://psychcentral.com/blog/coping-with-loneliness-during-the-holidays#Seek-company.


What is a bream? Pronounced, “brim”, this is a convenient, if vague, term to collectively refer to a variety of sunfish species. The trouble is, it doesn’t mean the same thing everywhere or to everyone. Some people use it to mean only Bluegill, while others use it to mean any or all of Bluegill, Redear Sunfish (shellcracker), Warmouth, Redbreast Sunfish, Longear Sunfish, Spotted Sunfish (stump knocker), and other sunfish species. That is a frequent struggle with common names.
Because it is perhaps just another way to say panfish, for our 2021 list of top spots for Bream we have included both these definitions and exotic species (Oscar and Mayan Cichlid) which have similar body shape and are caught with similar techniques. Regardless of what you call them, whether you’re looking for light tackle fun or tasty eats, panfish or bream should be able to deliver at these waters.
Bluegill, the most common panfish, thrives in lakes and ponds, but good populations are found in rivers, particularly below dams. Redear prefer hard bottom, congregating in deeper water than bluegill. Redbellies are more common in rivers than bluegill, and often can be found in backwater areas with less flow. Aptly named, the stumpknocker can be found in the tangle of roots at the waters edge.
When to Fish
Bluegill spawn throughout the summer, congregating in large "beds". Anglers may find 30 - 40 shallow nest holes scooped out in shallow areas.
The lower Suwannee River is one of the best spots for this sportfish.
Tackle and Bait
Bluegill eat mostly insects and their larvae, but worms are the best bait, either fished on the bottom or suspended below a float. Crickets, grubs, sand maggots or grass shrimp will all catch bedding bluegill. Use a small hook, #6 or #8, with a split shot sinker about six inches up the line, and concentrate on water less than six feet deep. For artificial baits, a 1/8-oz. "beetle spin" with a white or chartreuse body on ultralight tackle is an excellent choice.
Although they prefer snails and clams, redear sunfish are caught most often on earthworms around the full moons of March and April when their spawning activity peaks.
The same live baits that work for bluegill will also catch redbreast sunfish.
Although spotted sunfish rarely exceed eight inches, this feisty species provides great sport on light tackle. Tiny (1/16 oz.) beetle spins pitched close to the shoreline can be deadly, particularly tipped with freshwater clam meat.
Holmes Creek (Tributary to Choctawhatchee River)
(Holmes, Walton and Washington counties)
A pristine Florida waterway with high catch rates of panfish, multiple species, and home to the unique Choctaw Bass. Holmes Creek is a 16-mile tributary to the Choctawhatchee River and is a designated Florida canoe trail easily accessed in Vernon, Florida. Fifteen springs along this scenic tributary provide diverse habitats for a rich variety of fish and mollusks. Holmes Creek is also a major summer aggregation area for the federally protected Gulf Sturgeon, as well as, thermal refugia for the Gulf Striped Bass.
(Holmes, Walton and Washington counties)
A Monster trophy catfish fishery for Flathead and Blue catfish (State Record location for Blue Catfish) and high catch rates of panfish and multiple species. The Choctawhatchee River boasts the Florida State record for Blue Catfish was caught in 2015, weighing in at 69.50 lbs. A 120 lbs. Blue Catfish was also documented by the FWC but was not caught by rod and reel an eligible for certification. There are true 100 lbs. Blue Catfish leviathans lurking in the river! Anglers will have the best results fishing when water levels are low, and the river is within its banks. The numerous small lakes along the backwaters offer great fishing opportunities offering a variety of species such as bluegill, shellcracker, largemouth bass, hybrid striped bass, and mullet. The Choctawhatchee River is accessible from numerous locations such as the public access area in Ebro, Florida.
(Santa Rosa, Okaloosa and Walton counties)
A Monster trophy catfish fishery for Flathead Catfish (State Record location for Flathead Catfish) and high catch rates of panfish and multiple species. he Yellow River is home to monster Flathead Catfish and currently boasts the location of the new Florida State Record Flathead Catfish caught in August 2020. This behemoth weighed in at 69.9 pounds. The upper Yellow River provides anglers an assortment of largemouth bass, spotted bass, redear sunfish (shellcracker), bluegill, spotted sunfish, warmouth and shadow bass. Sixty-one miles of the Yellow River flows in a southwesterly direction into Blackwater Bay, an arm of Pensacola Bay, through Florida’s Okaloosa, Santa Rosa and Walton counties. The Yellow River’s one major tributary, the Shoal River, joins the Yellow near Crestview, Florida.
(Jackson, Gadsden, Calhoun, Gulf, Liberty, and Franklin counties)
A Monster trophy catfish fishery for Flathead Catfish and high catch rates of panfish, multiple species and a hot spot destination for Striped Bass. The 160-mile Apalachicola River in Florida is a wide, winding river rolling down to Apalachicola Bay through nationally significant forests, with some of the highest biological diversity east of the Mississippi rivaling the Great Smoky Mountains. This river has the highest diversity of freshwater fish species in the state including both freshwater and saltwater species, leading to some of the best fishing in Florida's Panhandle. The numerous creeks and tributaries feeding into the Apalachicola offer scenic runs with deep, quiet pools. These pools are also home to monster Flathead Catfish. The Apalachicola was at one time the reigning home to the Florida State record for Flathead Catfish until recently broken by a fish caught in the Yellow River. The Apalachicola is still a monster Flathead Catfish destination for anglers, as well as, an assortment of fresh and saltwater species.
NORTH CENTRAL REGION
At nearly 13,000 acres, Orange Lake is the largest public lake in the North Central Region. This shallow lake is designated as a fish management area (FMA) and is located roughly 20 miles southeast of Gainesville. Public boat ramps at Heagy-Burry Park and Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings Park provide easy access. Heagy-Burry also has a fishing pier. The large open water area is surrounded by shallow, heavily vegetated areas and extensive marsh. Diverse habitat is abundant and this fishery is presently thriving. Periodic drought and subsequent refilling at Orange Lake can ultimately result in tremendous growth in both numbers and size of fish in the lake. This is what we’ve been seeing the last couple years. For example, one bass collected in March of 2017 weighed 9.5 pounds and when recaptured 8 months later weighed a whopping 13 pounds! Of the many eligible bass submitted to FWC’s TrophyCatch program in 2020, 4 qualified as Hall of Fame (>13lbs) fish. In 2019, the largest TrophyCatch bass of Season 7 and the second largest TrophyCatch bass ever (15 lbs 13 oz) came from Orange Lake. If stable water levels persist on the lake, the habitat and fishing should be even better this year. Bass anglers on Orange typically do well flipping soft plastics in and around emergent pads and floating vegetation mats, especially during the springtime spawn. Anglers should also target submerged vegetation such as coontail and hydrilla beds with spinnerbaits, lipless crankbaits, soft plastics, and topwater lures.
Anglers are catching good numbers of really nice black crappie (“speckled perch”) measuring between 10 and 14 inches, with some fish even larger. Most of the anglers are fishing in the northern and southern ends of the lake with a lot of folks using minnows and grass shrimp as bait. Biologists captured on average 1 quality-sized bluegill every minute and it’s not unusual to find a near dinner-plate size bluegill or redear (“shellcracker”) in Orange Lake! While fishing at Orange Lake, you may have the opportunity to participate in the management process. Creel surveys take place on random days throughout the entire spring on Orange Lake to collect information on the fishery and ask anglers their opinions about management.
Lower Suwannee River
(Columbia, Hamilton, Madison, Lafayette, Gilchrist, Alachua, Suwannee, Levy and Dixie counties)
The lower Suwannee River not only provides good fishing for several panfish species throughout the year, but some of the best fishing can be had during the coldest part of winter. Stumpknockers are the target species during this time, and it is not uncommon to catch some of the largest stumpknockers in the state! The best action can be found by fishing the outer bends of creeks with undercut banks (look for trees leaning out over the creek) during a falling or low tide. The low water can corral fish into deeper holes making some excellent fishing. Use beetle spins or small jigs tipped with little pieces of shrimp. Use ultra-light spinning gear to cast right up against the bank and let it sink to the bottom before retrieving. During cold spells, spring entrances will be the warmest spots in the river and will attract fish as well. What’s unique about this area is that it is located within the Lower Suwannee National Wildlife Refuge. Other than the houses in the town of Suwannee, you will not see any signs of human development unless you run up the river to the town of Fowlers Bluff. The best place to access the lower Suwannee River is from the town of Suwannee. There is a free public ramp (Demory Creek Ramp) right along Hwy 349 and there are fee ramps at Suwannee Marina and Gateway Marina. Boat ramps can be located using FWC Boat Ramp Finder. Bait shrimp and other supplies can be found at the marinas and fish camps in town. If you are coming from the east side of the river, you might want to consider launching at the free public ramp in Fowlers Bluff and running down the river to save on drive time to the ramp.
The 4,460 acre Lake Panasoffkee is a shallow lake that feeds into the Withlacoochee River. There is abundant vegetation, consisting of coontail, eelgrass, Illinois pondweed, hydrilla, fragrant water lily, and cattails. The bass population has rebounded significantly since Hurricane Irma in 2017. During Season 8 of TrophyCatch, there were 17 approved submissions, more than quadruple the number of submissions from 2017-2019. There were also several bass tournaments in 2020 with winning weights over 30 pounds. The northern end of the lake is popular with bass anglers. With the abundant vegetation, the best lures are soft jerkbaits, topwater baits, and vibrating jigs.
The main panfish caught are bluegill, redear sunfish, and spotted sunfish providing variety in high numbers. The angler catch rate from the 2020 creel survey for bluegill was calculated at 1.54 fish per hour. Look for bedding areas in late spring into the summer for large redear sunfish. A Panasoffkee Kid’s Fishing Derby is held each year at the lake as well.
Turkey Lake (339 acres) is located just minutes from Orlando attractions near International Drive. Public access is possible through the city of Orlando’s Bill Frederick Park. It is managed as a quality largemouth bass and crappie fishery, but also boasts a good bluegill fishery. When the park was built there was a deed restriction that did not allow for a public boat ramp, therefore, a partnership between the city of Orlando, Bass Pro Shops, and FWC was established to provide a boat loaner program. Four aluminum boats are rented through the city of Orlando for four hours, Thursday through Sunday. While bank fishing has unlimited hours, boat fishing hours are restricted to limit effort and maintain a quality fishery.
Analysis of the angler creel survey from 2020 indicated that the bass catch rate was 0.8 bass per hour, and the crappie catch rate was 0.7 crappie per hour. Turkey Lake consistently produces good catch rates for bass year after year. In early 2020, an angler fishing from one of the piers caught a 16 pound bass. Bass and crappie anglers will regularly catch some quality size bluegill while fishing as well.
Tenoroc Fish Management Area
Tenoroc Fish Management Area is an 8,300-acre former phosphate mine in Lakeland, Florida which provides a special opportunity to catch several species of fish. Tenoroc is located on Highway 659 (Combee Road) and can be accessed from Highway 33, just south of Interstate 4. Call the Tenoroc Headquarters at 863-303-0093 for more information or to make fishing reservations. The area is open to public fishing four days a week, Fridays through Mondays. All anglers must check-in and out at the Tenoroc Entryway Building, deposit their valid fishing license if applicable and pay $3 for a daily fishing permit unless exempt.
With thirty lakes to choose from on the property, these seven to 227-acre waterbodies were created years ago by draglines during phosphate surface mining operations. As a result, lake bottoms have irregular contours with depths up to 35 feet. Most Tenoroc lakes have ADA accessible boat ramps and facilities. Numerous bank fishing opportunities are also present for anglers who don’t have a boat and a few lakes even have picnic pavilions and restrooms.
Bass anglers who want to catch good numbers of fish should cover lots of area, probing deeper waters with chrome-colored lipless crankbaits and chartreuse ("Firetiger" color) diving crankbaits. Once anglers catch a few fish in a general area, it’s time to slow down and fish the area thoroughly. Plastic worms are often the best all-around lure for fishing slowly. Red shad and junebug are great worm colors. Anglers who fish submersed islands or sandbars off points will often find good concentrations of bass. In addition, many of the lakes are connected with water control structures. When in operation, bass are often concentrated in areas of flowing water and can be caught using crankbaits or plastic worms. During the spring, flipping plastic worms or crawfish imitation baits in thick cover will often produce some bigger largemouth bass.
Anglers who want to catch panfish (bluegill, shellcrackers) at Tenoroc will have several good lake choices to try. Anglers should look for shorelines with an abundant supply of woody brush, tree-tops or vegetation that are perfect locations for panfish to hide out. Anglers should also look for signs and buoys pointing out underwater gravel beds or other fish attractors on several Tenoroc lakes. Presenting natural baits (crickets, night crawlers, red wigglers, grass shrimp) under a cork and bobber or free lining them with a split shot weight on light tackle will entice a bite around structure, submerged timber, pockets in vegetation, underwater humps and deeper holes. Fishing artificial lures (rooster tails, road runners, beetle spins) can also be productive in deeper areas or near any type of structure.
Fishing for catfish in Tenoroc lakes is also popular and rewarding as channel catfish are stocked annually by FWC in several lakes. Some lakes have good naturally reproducing populations of brown bullhead as well. Fishing with a piece of chicken liver, cut bait with high oil content like gizzard shad, commercial stink baits, cheese balls and night crawlers around the deeper holes and fish feeders, if available, will produce the best action at the height of the day. Fishing with family or friends for catfish from one of the many lakes with open shorelines is a favorite pastime for many Tenoroc anglers.
Winter Haven Chain of Lakes
The Winter Haven Chain of Lakes consists of 26 waterbodies, tucked in amongst the city streets of Winter Haven in Polk County. These lakes offer some of the finest and most easily accessible fishing for multiple species in central Florida. Lakes in the Winter Haven Chain range in size from 25 to 2,654 acres, totaling just over 9,000 acres of fishable waters. Ample public access is available in the form of 14 boat ramps, 5 fishing piers, shoreline fishing at a half-dozen city parks and public easements alongside the numerous canals which connect the lakes.
The Winter Haven Chain is known for excellent bass fishing throughout the year. The cattail stands on Lake Haines and Lake Rochelle are great for bass angling and when cypress trees are your favorite target, Lake Eloise is packed with plenty of large, beautiful ones to fish a plastic worm around. Lake Winterset has deep crystal-clear water and open water beds of eelgrass which are perfect to run spinnerbaits and gold/silver spoons through. Lake Hartridge also provides excellent bass fishing with plenty of Illinois pondweed (aka peppergrass) that is often loaded with baitfish. Lake Shipp has two public boat ramps and some great flipping opportunities for bass in the cattails along its shoreline. Nearby Lake Eloise has numerous docks, often surrounded by peppergrass, which are a bass angler’s dream to fish. Regardless of what lake is fished, they all offer high quality bass fishing opportunities and the chance of a lifetime to land a trophy-size bass. Live shiners, jerkbaits, spinnerbaits and plastic worm presentations all work well in these lakes. Bass will begin to spawn as early as January and continue through April, depending on water temperatures. During spawning season, anglers should fish shallow areas near cattails, bulrush and Kissimmee grass while using lizards, crawfish and other soft plastics such as the Zoom Z-Craw in Junebug, red shad and tilapia colors.
If black crappie is your target, the Winter Haven Chain has plenty of fishing opportunities for them (or specks as the locals say) as well. Lake Eloise and Lake Shipp are excellent spots for crappie on the south part of the chain while lakes Rochelle, Haines and Hartridge are good locations on the north section of the chain. During cooler months, crappie are taken by drifting or trolling live Missouri minnows or bladed jigs tipped with minnows around offshore submersed vegetation. When waters start to warm in the spring, crappie migrate to shallow waters to spawn and can be caught by dropping jigs tipped with minnows near bulrush, cattails and lily pads.
The Winter Haven Chain also has an awesome panfish fishery for bluegill and redear sunfish (aka shellcrackers). These waters offer a wide variety of habitat for both fish and anglers to choose from including bulrush and cattail stands, cypress trees, open water eelgrass beds and pondweed stands around docks. Crickets, wigglers or grass shrimp are the best live baits when fished under a float with small hook and split shot weight while small beetle spins and jigs can be productive when fished along vegetation.
Lake Istokpoga (27,700 acres) is a large, relatively shallow lake which is located a few miles southeast of Sebring, Florida. It’s a popular winter-time destination for nonresident and local anglers due to its productive fisheries. There are several public boat ramps around the lake, in addition to numerous ramps located at private fish camps, which also have fish cleaning stations. Water levels on the lake are controlled by the South Florida Water management District and fluctuate around 2-3 feet on a set schedule during the year. The lake also boasts four vegetated islands (Big, Bumble Bee, Grassy, Long) and a few incoming creeks which are great locations to catch several species of fish.
Lake Istokpoga has long been known for its trophy largemouth bass fishing. Since 2012, over 550 bass greater than eight pounds, have been documented from the lake and submitted into the FWC’s TrophyCatch Program. Anglers fishing for bass on this lake basically use either live wild shiners or some type of artificial bait. Both types of baits can be very productive depending on the time of year. Bass begin to spawn in mid- to late January depending on moon phases and often move into shallow areas around bulrush (buggy whips), cattails or lily pads on the northern shoreline and around Big Island and Bumblebee Island. Fishing these areas with soft plastics, weightless speed worms and swimbaits will be the best bet during the spawning season. When water temps increase after the spawn, try targeting bass around dense vegetation such as bulrush or cattail while flipping soft plastic baits like crawfish, lizards or worms. Fishing spinnerbaits, spoons or jerk baits around submerged vegetation like eelgrass or hydrilla can also be productive throughout the year.
Lake Istokpoga is also well-known for its black crappie or speck fishery. Anglers come from all over the United States to fill their coolers with this tasty fish on Istokpoga during the cooler months of the year. Most anglers drift live Missouri minnows and grass shrimp in open water or troll with Napier deer hair jigs, tube jigs and Hal flies for schooling fish. Anglers should look for areas with sandy bottoms around bulrush and cattails while fishing minnows or grass shrimp under a cork for spawning fish. Henderson’s Cove and the north end of the lake usually produces good numbers of specks on the outside edge of the pads and grasses near deeper water while open water areas around Big Island and west of Long Island are also good speck fishing spots. The key is to keep moving around until you locate an area with concentrated numbers of fish.
Istokpoga’s panfish fishery is also tremendous and not widely known. The lake boasts nice bluegill and redear sunfish (shellcrackers) which often approach a pound. The fishing gets really good during late spring and throughout the summer when a lot of the seasonal anglers have left for the year. The best method is to use crickets and grass shrimp under a cork for bluegill and red wigglers on or near the bottom for shellcrackers. If you catch a fish, there are likely more in the area, so stay put and be patient for another bite. Fly fishing can also be rewarding for anglers who prefer this fishing method. Locate areas with dense bulrush, Kissimmee grass or cattails for the best action but don’t forget to try the lily pads too. Fishing the shade around cypress trees on the southeast side of the lake can also be productive at times.
(Palm Beach, Broward and Miami-Dade counties)
Over 100 miles of canals run along and through the Everglades providing excellent fishing opportunities. When conditions are right, and low water in the marsh concentrates bass in the canals, catch rates can be phenomenal, with catches of 50-100 bass per angler not uncommon. Soft plastics, like stick worms, flukes, and creature baits, are top producers. Incredible catch rates of exotic panfish, Mayan Cichlid and Oscar, are also possible. Angler use surveys have recorded catch rates approaching 20 fish per hour – just how fast can you put a cricket on a hook? Bluegill and Redear sunfish are also add to that panfish catch.
(Palm Beach, Broward, and Miami-Dade counties)
The canals of southeast Florida, particularly those in Miami-Dade, Broward, and Palm Beach counties, provide excellent fishing opportunity. In many of them, exotic species like Butterfly Peacock Bass, Mayan Cichlid, and Jaguar Guapote dominate the catch. For some this is a fascinating niche fishery, for others it “just” good local fishing opportunity. Canals, particularly smaller ones, can be sensitive to pressure – if the bite slows after catching a couple fish, move on down the canal. A series of Angler Guide brochures describing some popular and productive canals are available. “Bank hopping” is also common approach in the area – fishing multiple canals in a day by foot.


Mike Rapoport from IBM launched a bid to implement address space isolation in the Linux kernel. Address space isolation emanates from the idea of virtual memory—where the system maps all its hardware devices' memory addresses into a clean virtual space so that they all appear to be one smooth range of available RAM. A system that implements virtual memory also can create isolated address spaces that are available only to part of the system or to certain processes.
The idea, as Mike expressed it, is that if hostile users find themselves in an isolated address space, even if they find bugs in the kernel that might be exploited to gain control of the system, the system they would gain control over would be just that tiny area of RAM to which they had access. So they might be able to mess up their own local user, but not any other users on the system, nor would they be able to gain access to root level infrastructure.
In fact, Mike posted patches to implement an element of this idea, called System Call Isolation (SCI). This would cause system calls to each run in their own isolated address space. So if, somehow, an attacker were able to modify the return values stored in the stack, there would be no useful location to which to return.
His approach was relatively straightforward. The kernel already maintains a "symbol table" with the addresses of all its functions. Mike's patches would make sure that any return addresses that popped off the stack corresponded to entries in the symbol table. And since "attacks are all about jumping to gadget code which is effectively in the middle of real functions, the jumps they induce are to code that doesn't have an external symbol, so it should mostly detect when they happen."
The problem, he acknowledged, was that implementing this would have a speed hit. He saw no way to perform and enforce these checks without slowing down the kernel. For that reason, Mike said, "it should only be activated for processes or containers we know should be untrusted."
There was not much enthusiasm for this patch. As Jiri Kosina pointed out, Mike's code was incompatible with other security projects like retpolines, which tries to prevent certain types of data leaks falling into an attacker's hands.
There was no real discussion and no interest was expressed in the patch. The combination of the speed hit, the conflict with existing security projects, and the fact that it tried to secure against only hypothetical security holes and not actual flaws in the system, probably combined to make this patch set less interesting to kernel developers.


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The news is racing across the globe as the Western Black Rhino (Diceros bicornis longipes), the rarest and most endangered rhinoceros subspecies (with only 10 surviving in 2003), has finally been red-listed by the International Union for Conservation of Nature.
On July 8, 2006 the subspecies was declared to be extinct after extensive searches in the last enclaves of Cameroon yielded no evidence of surviving rhino. However, local unverified reports of sightings have persisted in Congo (South Sudan), but with no protection measures in place, the IUCN and leading field specialists now hold no hope. On Thursday, November 10th D.b.longpipes was officially added to the annual list of endangered, threatened and extinct plants and animals. The nearly 62,000 species and subspecies include an estimated 25% of the planet’s mammals.
This is particularly discouraging news as the Vietnamese Javan Rhino was declared extinct in October and the Northern White Rhino has been declared probable for extinction in wild population outside of captivity. In addition there has been a surge rhinoceros artifact thefts, global poaching, and extraordinary sales in the secondary and black markets. As the live populations dwindle, there’s intent to hoard antique horns from estate sales, auctions and animal markets. In several high profile incidents, Asian agents and buyers have been at the core of these activities as the superstitions of medicinal uses of rhino horn sadly persist.
Reading the news wire reports this Veteran’s Day morning brought back bittersweet memories of working with international Artist & Musician, S. Nzante Spee (Mbem, 1953 – Stockton, CA, USA May 25, 2005). Before Nzante became ill, He and Brother Aloy spoke with me about wild rhinos in Cameroon. He assured that when I visited Africa for the first time, he would take me out into the villages where rhino still roamed hidden in the forest… safe and mysterious. Spee went on to profess that great knowledge of nature, of life, could be found in such places, and that while I could not travel there by myself, he would escort me to these spiritual grounds.
Spee said “these rhino are there Brother Williamz – I swear it! – in a place away from the guns and away from the cameras of men. White men, outsiders and hunters have never seen them.“ We miss you Brother Spee and I hope you’re are right… that somewhere in the forest the longpipes still stand.