Malcolm

Not electric but yet another way to wean off of gas powered vehicles. One major difference is the link to fuel infrastructure, something that those who want to go electric have so far mostly ignored. Alberta wants more hydrogen vehicles. Experts say fuel infrastructure needs to come with them | CBC News

HuH? They did have a point.

B.C. to ban drug use in all public places in major overhaul of decriminalization (msn.com) Screenshot of man smoking crack on TTC streetcar.© Provided by Toronto Sun British Columbia has admitted that decriminalizing all drugs was a mistake. So why are the top doctors for the Province of Ontario and the City of Toronto still pushing for decriminalization to be adopted here? “Keeping people safe is our highest priority,” B.C. Premier David Eby said to reporters at a news conference Friday. “While we are caring and compassionate for those struggling with addiction, we do not accept street disorder that makes communities feel unsafe.” On Jan. 31, 2023, Health Canada granted B.C. an exemption to the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act. This meant that using drugs like crack, cocaine, methamphetamine and MDMA, or opioids like fentanyl, were free and legal to use in the open. The argument for making the change was to do away with stigma for addicts. But the reality was utter chaos in the streets, and the hospitals of the province. LILLEY: Dr. Moore wants to bring B.C.'s disastrous drug policy to Ontario LILLEY: B.C.'s overdose deaths keeps climbing, Toronto can't follow Situation 'critical' after spike in opioid overdoses among homeless: Study Open drug use in parks, on public transit and elsewhere became problematic. Police were unable to do anything about public complaints, something Eby now acknowledges was a mistake. “Clearly, with the benefit of hindsight, police needed those authorities,” Eby said. The recriminalization won’t be complete and having small personal amounts of the otherwise banned drugs won’t be illegal in your home, in homeless shelters or in so-called safe consumption sites. The problem with the policies adopted by B.C. in recent years goes well beyond open public drug use. Toronto hasn’t adopted decriminalization yet and we have open drug use in parks, on the TTC , on street corners and elsewhere. The real problem with B.C.’s ever-liberalized drug laws is that they don’t work at what they are supposed to do, lowering the overdose death rate. In 2023, decriminalization was in legal effect for 11 months and the province still had a record-breaking 2,546 drug overdose deaths . With the exception of 2019, overdose deaths have been on the rise every year in the last decade. B.C.’s population is one-third of Ontario’s, but they have more overdose deaths. In 2014, B.C. had just 370 overdose deaths, in the first two months of this year they had already recorded 377 deaths These are clear signs that we shouldn’t be following B.C.’s lead. Yet, the City of Toronto has an official request before Health Canada asking for the same kind of exemption B.C. was granted. Under what the city calls the Toronto Model , drugs would be legal to use everywhere except child care centres, K-12 schools and airports. That means smoking crack on the bus, streetcar or subway would be legal. Shooting heroin or fentanyl in a kid’s playground would be legal. It’s utter madness masquerading as compassion and forward thinking. It’s supported by Toronto Mayor Olivia Chow, Toronto Police Chief Myron Demkiw and the city’s Chief Medical Officer Eileen de Villa. Last month, Dr. Kieran Moore, Ontario’s Chief Medical Officer, released his annual report calling for the decriminalization of hard drugs, while also making alcohol harder to get. Thankfully, the Ford government shut down Moore’s ideologically based and scientifically flimsy report and recommendations. In his report, Moore called for Ontario to evaluate and learn from jurisdictions that had already gone down the decriminalization route, including Oregon and B.C. But both of those jurisdictions have now reversed course after horrific experiences. It’s time for the chief medical officers for Toronto and Ontario to withdraw their recommendations and follow suit. We need real solutions for the problems of addictions and overdoses – and decriminalization is now the answer. blilley@postmedia.com

If have to wonder, what if the artifact had been a sacred weapon? What weapons did Native Americans make with stone, wood, and other materials from nature before Europeans came to America? - Quora Re the reason, the rules do specify what to do if the case would not fit into the very limited overhead or under the seat. For safety, if the case could not be secured, I am certain there could not be an exemption.

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Of course there are many who will use this as an example of a Boeing problem but since the aircraft was delivered in 1991, it is of course either because of the aircraft age or the maintenance

Breaking Aviation News & Videos @aviationbrk Delta Airlines 767-332ER makes emergency return to John F. Kennedy International Airport after losing its right-hand side emergency slide. Emergency slide FALLS OFF Boeing jet from JFK to LA as Delta flight is forced to turn around after just one hour - in latest crisis to hit aircraft maker Delta flight 520 forced to make an emergency landing at JFK on Friday morning Right hand emergency slide fell of Boeing 767 jet an hour into its journey to LA Crew aboard the jet reported feeling a 'vibration' before the incident By BETHAN SEXTON FOR DAILYMAIL.COM PUBLISHED: 13:48 EDT, 26 April 2024 | UPDATED: 14:57 EDT, 26 April 2024 A Boeing plane has been forced to make an emergency landing in New York after an emergency slide fell off the aircraft. The Los Angeles-bound Delta flight 520 was diverted back JFK Airport at around 8.30am. The plane was an hour into its journey when the freak incident set off an emergency alarm. Cops are still searching for the right wing inflatable slide, which may be in Jamaica Bay. No injuries were reported aboard the Boeing 767, which was carrying 176 customers, two pilots and five flight attendants at the time. A Boeing plane has been forced to make an emergency landing in New York after an emergency slide fell off the aircraft Federal Aviation Administration Administrator records indicate that the plane is 33 years old. The terror began after crew heard a strange 'non-routine' noise near the right wing and noticed a flight deck indication related to the emergency exit slide. 'As nothing is more important than the safety of our customers and people, Delta flight crews enacted their extensive training and followed procedures to return to JFK,' a Delta spokesperson said. 'We appreciate their professionalism and our customers' patience for the delay in their travels.' The FAA confirmed it is now probing the incident. 'Delta Air Lines Flight 520 returned safely to John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York around 8:35 a.m. local time on Friday, April 26, after the crew reported a vibration,' a spokesman said.

[14/24] Protest against the introduction of the registration and tourist fee to visit the city of Venice People protest against the introduction of the registration and tourist fee to visit the city of Venice for day trippers introduced by Venice municipality in a move to preserve the lagoon city often crammed with tourists in Venice, Italy, April 25. REUTERS/Manuel Silvestri The fee is charged for day visits between 8.30 a.m. and 4 p.m. For 2024, it's a flat 5 euros ($5.45) per person per day. For 2024, the city has exempted the fee for those traveling to most of the lagoon islands, including visitor hubs Murano and Burano, as well as the Lido, home to the city's beaches. Venice entry fee: How to pay and what to do if you’re staying in the city? | CNN

when those over paid pilots earn their money~! Bing Videos

Vacation chaos as major airline axes flights to four airports and fires 2,000 employees in major shake-up (msn.com)ports and fires 2,000 employees in major shake-up Southwest Airlines flights to Cozumel, Syracuse, Bellingham and Houston cut Cuts down to delays in Boeing delivery after a year of aviation disasters Southwest Airlines is no longer flying from four airports, it announced on Thursday in a major shake-up after reporting underwhelming profits. The airline is no longer flying from Cozumel in Mexico, Syracuse, New York, Bellingham, Washington and George Bush Intercontinental Airport in Houston. Two thousand employees will also lose their jobs, and the airline expects to receive only 20 aircraft this year, 26 fewer than previously expected. Southwest warned there was no assurance that Boeing would meet this most recent delivery schedule. CEO Bob Jordan said the delivery delays would pose 'significant challenges' for the carrier this year and next. This is the third time Southwest has cut its aircraft delivery estimates. It originally planned on receiving 85 Boeing jets this year.1 / 11 Southwest's shares were down about 9% at $26.75 in morning trade. Southwest Airlines is no longer flying from four airports, it announced on Thursday in a major shake-up after reporting underwhelming profits© Provided by Daily Mail Boeing is reeling from a safety crisis sparked by a January mid-air cabin panel blowout on an Alaska Air flight. Regulators have put a cap on production of the 737 MAX, but the company is not hitting even that level, Reuters reported this month. The jet maker's woes are rippling through the industry as a shortage of planes is making it harder for airlines to keep up with travel demand that is set to hit record levels this year. But Southwest, which operates an all-Boeing fleet, is one of the hardest-hit. It now expects its total seat capacity to rise 4% year-on-year in 2024, compared with 6% growth estimated earlier. The company said reductions in schedules will not only result in a slower-than-expected growth in revenue this year from a year ago, but also translate into higher-than-expected operating costs. To mitigate the impact, Southwest said it is trying to enhance productivity and control discretionary spending. "We are focused on controlling what we can control and have already taken swift action to address our financial underperformance and adjust for revised aircraft delivery expectations," Jordan said. It has already stopped hiring pilots and flight attendants and now expects to end the year with about 2,000 fewer employees than in 2023. Southwest said it will end its services at Bellingham International Airport in Washington, Cozumel International Airport in Mexico, Houston's George Bush Intercontinental Airport, and New York's Syracuse Hancock International Airport in August. It will also cut capacity in markets like Chicago and Atlanta. Southwest reported an adjusted loss of 36 cents a share in the first quarter. Analysts on average were expecting a loss of 34 cents, according to LSEG data.

Dramatic video shows Boeing plane bounce off LAX runway | Watch (msn.com)

Did you pilot or perform Mtce. on this aircraft? Any fond or other memories. Mark: C-FTAV Common Name: Fokker Model Name: F.28 MK1000 Serial No.: 11106 Basis for Eligibility for Registration: CAR Standard 507.02, 507.03 - Type Certificate - A108 Category: Aeroplane Engine: 2, Turbo Fan Max Take-Off Weight: 29484 kg 24 Bit Address: Bin=110000000011001001000010, Octal=60031102, Hex=C03242 Regional Office: Winnipeg Year Imported: 1991 Base of Operations: Saskatoon , Saskatchewan, CANADA Manufacturer Information Manufacturer: Fokker Bv Country of Manufacture: NETHERLANDS Year of Manufacture: 1976

Saskatchewan airtanker fleet set to be replaced as forest fires rage By Andrew Benson Global News Posted April 23, 2024 3:00 pm 2 min read View image in full screen A sample of what the Dash 8-Q400AT planes will look like was shown off at the Regina International Airport on April 23, 2024. Dave Parsons / Global News Saskatchewan recorded one of the worst years on record for forest fires in 2023 and as crews prepare for the years ahead,help is on the way. Four repurposed land-based airtanker aircraft will be replacing the current fleet to fight fires across the province. “Saskatchewan relies on land-based airtanker aircraft as part of its approach to managing wildfires,” Corrections, Policing and Public Safety Minister Paul Merriman said. “These aircraft are used in instances where waterbombers may not be able to access lakes to fill up their tanks.” The aircrafts in question come with a total price tag of $187 million set to be paid by 2029. “This is an investment that’s just not about this summer or next summer but it’s about the longer term, the next number of decades and keeping our communities safe,” Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe said. From the new fleet, the Conair 8-Q400At planes are dedicated airtankers with a focus on dispersing fire retardant, while the 8-Q400MRE will be used for multiple purposes, like passenger evacuation and transporting cargo. “Saskatchewan leads the country in preparing for future disasters with their order for four modern emergency response aircraft,” Conair Aerial Firefighting president and CEO Matt Bradley said. “They are the first province to invest in the safety and security of their citizens with a purchase of the multi-role airtankers, built by Canadians for Canadians.” The current fleet of planes has been in operation for over two decades, according to the Saskatchewan Public Safety Authority (SPSA), without including their lives before fighting fires. The old fleet will reach the end of its lifespan near 2027. “These planes will replace the SPSA’s aging land-based airtanker fleet with a modern, supportable aircraft with an anticipated useful life of 25 years,” Merriman said. “They will also support the SPSA’s ability to provide an operational response to more emergencies and public safety events beyond wildfires.” The first plane is expected to take off in 2025, with the remaining arriving by the end of 2027. Dash 8-400AT Airtanker - Conair Aerial Firefighting The Dash 8-400AT airtanker is currently being manufactured in Abbotsford, British Columbia, by Conair. FEATURES Quick response on initial dispatches and turn-arounds High climb rate and excellent slow speed flight characteristics Operational from 5,000' runways Fuel efficient - low fuel burn per litre/gallon retardant/suppressant hauled compared to similar size aircraft 30% less emissions than aircraft of similiar size Multi role variant available (Dash 8-400MRE) – airtanker, passenger, cargo, medevac, or combi configuration AIRCRAFT SPECIFICATIONS Maximum take-off weight: 68,200 lbs Maximum zero fuel weight: 60,400 lbs Maximum landing weight: 61,750 lbs DELIVERY SYSTEM SPECIFICATIONS Maximum Tank capacity: 10,000 litres (2,640 US gallons) AIRCRAFT PERFORMANCE Cruise speed loaded: 360 knots Drop Speed: 125 knots Conair Dash 8-400AT airtanker to support firefighters in France | AirMed&Rescue (airmedandrescue.com)

B.C.’s Harbour Air aims to buy 50 electric engines to convert seaplane fleet By Simon Little Global News Posted April 23, 2024 1:29 pm 1 min readE FONT SIZE B.C.’s Harbour Air has unveiled plans to buy 50 new electric engines to electrify its seaplane fleet. The company made history with the 2019 test flight of the world’s first fully electric commercial aircraft and has conducted 78 subsequent test flights. On Tuesday, it said it had signed a letter of intent with electric engine maker magniX to buy 50 magni650 electric engines. In a media release, it said the engine maker would support work to get the engines validated by Transport Canada and gain Canadian and U.S. certification to have the mani650s installed in DHC-2 Beaver seaplanes. 2:06Canadian seaplane airline launches world’s first commercial electric plane The companies are also looking to extend support to other aircraft models. Harbour Air said it is aiming to build a west coast sustainable aviation hub, including offering electric conversion services to third parties. The seaplane operator is aiming for a commercial certification of their first electric aircraft by 2026.

35 Smartest Countries with the Highest IQ in the World 35. Russia National IQ Score: 96.29 Russia is the world’s largest country by area. With a national IQ score of 96.29, Russia ranks among the top 35 smartest countries with the highest IQ in the world. 34. Slovakia National IQ Score: 96.32 Slovakia is a landlocked country in Central Europe. According to a recent study, Slovakia has a national IQ score of 96.32. 33. Poland National IQ Score: 96.35 Poland is a country in Central Europe that has a national IQ score of 96.35. It also shares a border with Slovakia. 32. France National IQ Score: 96.69 France is a country in Western Europe that is known for fashion, food, culture, wine, and the Eiffel Tower. France has a national IQ score of 96.69. 31. Sweden National IQ Score: 97 Sweden is a Scandinavian nation in Northern Europe. Dominated by forests and many lakes, Sweden is known for its picturesque landscapes as well as a successful welfare program. It has a national IQ score of 97. 30. Norway National IQ Score: 97.13 Norway is a Scandinavian country in Northern Europe that shares a border with Sweden. Norway is home to beautiful mountains, glaciers and deep coastal fjords. With a national IQ score of 97.13, it ranks among the top 30 smartest countries with the highest IQ in the world. 29. United States National IQ Score: 97.43 The United States is one of the most well-known countries in the world. Home to many cultural icons and many iconic landmarks, the US is the third largest country in the world by area. The US has a national IQ score of 97.43. 28. Belgium National IQ Score: 97.49 Belgium is a country in Western Europe that is known for Renaissance architecture and medieval towns. As one of the most intelligent countries, it has a national IQ score of 97.49. 27. Denmark National IQ Score: 97.83 Denmark is a Scandinavian country in Northern Europe. With a national IQ score of 97.83, Denmark ranks 27th on our list of smartest countries with the highest IQ in the world. 26. Iceland National IQ Score: 98.26 Iceland is a Nordic island nation between the North Atlantic and Arctic Oceans. It is defined by its dramatic landscape with volcanoes, geysers, hot springs, lava fields, and national parks. Iceland has a national IQ score of 98.26. 25. Austria National IQ Score: 98.38 Austria is a landlocked country in Central Europe. Lying in the Eastern Alps, it is known for its mountain ranges, castles, palaces, and other architectural works. With a national IQ score of 98.38, Austria ranks among the top 25 smartest countries with the highest IQ in the world. 24. New Zealand National IQ Score: 98.57 New Zealand is an island country in the southwestern Pacific Ocean that consists of two main islands and more than 700 smaller islands. New Zealand has a national IQ score of 98.57. 23. Slovenia National IQ Score: 98.6 Slovenia is a country in Central Europe that is known for its mountains, lakes, ski resorts and beautiful landscapes. Slovenia has a national IQ score of 98.6. 22. North Korea National IQ Score: 98.82 North Korea, officially the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, is a country in East Asia that constitutes the northern half of the Korean Peninsula. It is a highly centralized totalitarian state and maintains a large military. According to a recent study, North Korea has a national IQ score of 98.82. 21. Greenland National IQ Score: 98.89 Greenland is an autonomous country between the Arctic and Atlantic oceans. While it is geographically a part of the North American continent, it has been politically and culturally associated with Europe. Greenland has a national IQ score of 98.89. 20. United Kingdom National IQ Score: 99.12 The United Kingdom, in Northwestern Europe, ranks among the top 20 on our list of smartest countries with the highest IQ in the world. According to a recent study, the United Kingdom has a national IQ score of 99.12. 19. Switzerland National IQ Score: 99.24 Switzerland is a landlocked country in Central Europe. It is known for its diverse landscapes, numerous lakes, and the high peaks of the Alps. Switzerland has a national IQ score of 99.24. 18. Hungary National IQ Score: 99.24 Hungary is a landlocked country in Central Europe that is known for its beautiful landscapes and natural resources. As one of the smartest countries by IQ, Hungary has a national IQ score of 99.24. 17. Australia National IQ Score: 99.24 Australia is a country in Oceania comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands. It also ranks among the most advanced countries in education. Australia has a national IQ score of 99.24. 16. Canada National IQ Score: 99.52 Canada is the world’s second-largest country by area. According to a recent study, Canada has a national IQ score of 99.52. 15. Cambodia National IQ Score: 99.75 Cambodia is a country in Southeast Asia that ranks among the top 15 on our list of smartest countries with the highest IQ in the world. Cambodia has a national IQ score of 99.75. 14. Macau National IQ Score: 99.82 Macau, also spelled as Macao, is a city-state on the South coast of China. Home to giant casinos and malls, it is known as “the Las Vegas of Asia”. Macau has a national IQ score of 99.82. 13. Luxembourg National IQ Score: 99.87 Luxembourg is a small landlocked country in Western Europe. It is surrounded by Belgium, France, and Germany. Luxembourg has a national IQ score of 99.87. 12. Estonia National IQ Score: 100.72 Estonia is a country by the Baltic Sea in Northern Europe. With a national IQ score of 100.72, Estonia ranks among the top 12 smartest countries with the highest IQ in the world. 11. Netherlands National IQ Score: 100.74 The Netherlands, also known as Holland, is a country in Northwestern Europe that is known for its canals, tulip fields, windmills and cycling routes. The Netherlands has a national IQ score of 100.74. 10. Germany National IQ Score: 100.74 Germany is a country in the western region of Central Europe that ranks among the top 10 on our list of smartest countries with the highest IQ in the world. Germany has a national IQ score of 100.74. 9. Liechtenstein National IQ Score: 101.07 Liechtenstein is a small landlocked state in the Alps between Austria and Switzerland. It is one of the world’s smallest countries. Liechtenstein has a national IQ score of 101.07. 8. Finland National IQ Score: 101.2 Finland is a Nordic country in Northern Europe. With a national IQ score of 101.2, it ranks among the top smartest countries by IQ. Finland is also considered to be one of the most educated and safest countries. 7. Belarus National IQ Score: 101.6 Belarus is a landlocked country in Eastern Europe that is known for its forests and lakes. According to a recent study, Belarus has a national IQ score of 101.6. 6. South Korea National IQ Score: 102.35 South Korea is a country in East Asia on the southern half of the Korean Peninsula. With a national IQ score of 102.35, South Korea ranks high among the countries with the highest IQ scores in the world. Click to continue reading and see 5 Smartest Countries with the Highest IQ in the World. Suggested Articles: 20 Least Educated Cities in America 25 States with the Lowest Average IQ and Well Being Scores 20 Countries With Highest Military Spending In The World Disclosure: None. 35 Smartest Countries with the Highest IQ in the World is published on Insider Monkey.

America's fight to save handwriting from extinction as IQs slowly fall https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-13273363/handwriting-extinction-IQs-begin-fall.html Several US states are trying to prevent handwriting from going extinct as classrooms increasingly swap pen and paper for tablets and computers. The US government removed the skill from the core curriculum in 2010 due to claims it was time consuming and would not be useful in the age of technology which meant schools could instead focus on typing classes. Handwriting is considered a fine motor skill that stimulates and challenges the brain, but with schools turning to technology instead, some teachers are complaining students can barely hold a pencil but can swipe and double-click on their devices. tudents with learning disabilities like dysgraphia - when children can read but have trouble writing letters - can also be affected because methods of overcoming the disability requires them to practice writing by hand. Previous studies have revealed that IQ scores have dropped for the first time in a century and indicated that technology could be to blame. Teachers, parents and experts who DailyMail.com spoke to said they were seeing kids and young adults who don't know how to sign their name or read cursive. New legislative bills have been passed in states like California and New York requiring students aged six to 12 years old to learn cursive writing , but others are still advancing in state legislature while some are still hesitant to revert back including Colorado , New Mexico and Nevada . 'I wish [students] would learn how to write in cursive,' Tracy Bendish, an ABA autism therapist for Jefferson Public Schools told DailyMail.com. 'But it is like the telephone on the wall,' she said. 'Less and less used and then not there anymore.' There is a big educational disparity between schools that readily have access to gadgets versus those that don't, causing what's called the digital divide. Students who have better access to technology will have better educational success than those who don't, which is particularly concerning as more teachers turn to technology in their courses. 'The digital divide has affected individual students in the same school as well as groups of students across districts, lowering the academic outcomes of low-income, underserved students and districts,' according to American University . Last year, researchers at the University of Oregon and Northwestern reported that IQ scores had dropped because technology shortens attention spans and decreases the need to think deeply. Experts have been urging governments and school administrators to bring handwriting back to schools, citing sixth graders who have trouble holding a pencil but can use digital devices with ease. Dr. Lori Koerner, the assistant superintendent for the Riverhead Central School District in New York, told DailyMail.com that it is essential for elementary and middle schoolers to be taught cursive. 'Though technology has its benefits, children need to be able to read cursive in the event a document is presented to them along their journey. 'They most certainly, at the very least, need to know how to sign their name,' Koerner said. 'I have encountered too many secondary students and employment candidates who cannot sign documents relative to their onboarding process.' Teachers and coworkers continue to struggle with ineligible handwriting, and a 2021 survey conducted by OnePoll on behalf of Bic USA Inc. found that 45 percent of Americans struggle to read their own handwriting while a shocking 70 percent reported that they have trouble reading notes or reports from their coworkers. Some people have expressed similar views, saying that signing important documents will become a stressful practice without the ability to write cursive. 'My 20 year-old-granddaughter struggles to sign a check,' said Kimberly Jacovino of Monroe, Connecticut. 'It is very important and should be brought back to all schools,' she added. In the wake of turning to keyboarding instead of writing by hand, educators found students' IQ levels are shrinking and placed the blame on technology in the classroom, Psychology Today reported. Hetty Roessingh, a professor emerita of education at the University of Calgary echoed this sentiment, saying that five-year-olds are not meeting academic benchmarks because of the accessibility of digital devices. Roessingh has long advocated for schools to push handwriting and cursive on children because it is an important tool to engage the hand-brain complex and circuitry that induces memory and retrieving information that typing simply doesn't do. A new study published in February by researchers at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU) found that handwriting is linked to increased cognitive brain function, motor skills and memory. 'It is important to realize that the brain follows the principle of 'use it or lose it,' said Audrey van der Meer, the study's lead author and neuropsychology professor at the NTNU. 'When writing by hand, most of the brain is active,' she continued. 'This requires the brain to communicate between its active parts which, in turn, puts the brain in a state that helps both children and adults learn more and remember better,' van der Meer said. Schools stopped teaching cursive in 2010 when most US states adopted what's called Common Core State Standards , which set benchmarks for reading and math but didn't include cursive as part of the recommended curriculum. At the time, critics said teaching efforts would be better spent on developing new skills like coding and keyboarding while others called the writing style 'old fashioned.' When dropping cursive from common core, lawmakers argued that cursive was time-consuming and wouldn't be as useful as other skills like typing, that students would need at they moved on to junior and high school,' a then-spokesperson for Georgia Department of Education told ABC News at the time. Cursive also wasn't on the tests that ranked schools under the No Child Left Behind Law which was put in place by the Bush Administration in 2002 and ended in 2015. Schools would typically gear their learning curriculum around what was required under the No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB) which set benchmarks for academic performance that all schools had to meet. If they continuously failed to meet the NCLB standards, the state had the right to change the school's leadership team or even close the school. Forty-one states adopted the common core curriculum and while individually they were able to choose to teach cursive, California and Massachusetts were among the few states to opt in. Roughly six years later, 14 states reintroduced the writing style into all classes, and by 2019, that number grew to 20 states. Democratic assemblywoman Sharon Quirk-Silva introduced a bill in California last year, citing the need for students to not only be able to write in cursive but to read it as well. The California bill will go into effect for the upcoming 2024-2025 school year but similar bills are still pending in states like Kentucky where, if it's passed, would be implemented in the 2025-2026 academic year. The push is also in response to the ever-increasing artificial intelligence technology, which Quirk-Silva believed will cause teachers to return to handwritten essay exams necessitating students' ability to write in cursive because it is faster than print. If handwriting becomes extinct, it would be a major loss to understanding history or connecting with our past, Roessingh said. 'It is about the embodied cognition and the circuitry behind personal messages that are beneficial both for the person who wrote it and the person who read it,' she said. Handwriting, particularly cursive, presents the idea of what's called embodied cognition, meaning it acts as a switch to lock in your memory. This makes it increasingly important for kids to write by hand and learn cursive because they are 'essentially tactile and sensory beings who take in the world through engagement,' Roessingh explained. More than that, a piece of history could be lost to younger generations who aren't taught to read and write cursive, leaving them unable to read major historical documents like the diary of Anne Franke, the US Constitution and the Bill of Rights. Chelsea Hayes, a Maryland mom, said regardless of what schools decide, she plans on making sure her three-year-old daughter knows how to write in cursive when she gets older. 'I do think it's important. Not just for historical purposes, but also just as a skill. I think it's almost like learning another language,' Hayes said. 'You don't teach kids art or music because of history, though I guess there's a historical component you can put in there. 'It's just another skill I think she should have. If she never uses it, oh well. If she does, great.'

According to the following article, it is not The organic food scam? Fruit and veg that is grown without the use of pesticides is NOT healthier for you than ordinary items, says former head of the Food Standards Authority Baron Krebs said organic food was not 'more nutritious' but was better for planet By SUKHMANI SETHI PUBLISHED: 12:43 EDT, 1 April 2024 | UPDATED: 12:46 EDT, 1 April 2024 Organic food is no better for you than ordinary food, despite the conception that non-organic goods can contain harmful pesticides, said the former head of the Foods Standards Agency. John Krebs said that whilst organic food is better environmentally, it is not necessarily 'more nutritious'. The 78-year-old crossbench peer told the Private Passions podcast he 'stands by' the controversial assertion he made whilst he was head of the UK's FSA. Baron Krebs admitted non-organic food has come 'at a cost' to the planet, but added: 'That doesn't mean that organic food is more nutritious, or healthier. 'You might want to eat it because you believe that it's a movement that's worth supporting. John Krebs said that many of the aspirations of the organic movement are 'admirable' and showed 'ladership' 'Less pesticides are used in the production, but then, conventionally farmed food is monitored very carefully for the pesticide levels. 'So, when you go to the supermarket and buy you know, spinach that's not organic, it's not going to have pesticide levels that will do you any harm. 'I do still stand by the assertion that I made that organic food is not healthier for you, but it may be healthier for the environment.' Baron Krebs, who is also a member of the food, diet and obesity Lord select committee, became the first Chairman of the UK Food Standards Agency in January 2000. He left after five years, in April 2005. During his tenure, he made the 'controversial' statement which saw a backlash from the organic farming community. He continued: 'I'm not against organic farming and I believe that many of the aspirations of the organic movement, to farm in a more sustainable way are admirable, and they are showing leadership. Baron Krebs, who is also a member of the food, diet and obesity Lord select committee, became the first Chairman of the UK Food Standards Agency in January 2000 The former head of the FSA said that we needed to 'rethink how we produce food' to 'farm sustainably' Baron Krebs admitted non-organic food has come 'at a cost' to the planet, but added that it 'doesn't mean that organic food is more nutritious, or healthier' 'Because, the truth is, although modern farming has brought us plentiful cheap food, it's brought it to us at a cost, a cost of pollution of the environment, damage to habitats, loss of species, loss of biodiversity. 'And, I think what organic farmers have said to us is that we need to rethink how we produce food. 'And, they are right. I wouldn't necessarily agree with the particular way they propose to do it, but the general principle, let's try and farm sustainably, is right.' Baron Krebs was the principal of Jesus College at Oxford University from 2005 until 2015. He was also the President of the British Science Association from 2012 to 2013. The Food Standards Agency (FSA) is responsible for food safety and food hygiene in England, Wales and Northern Ireland.

WestJet adds six additional Asian destinations to its network through enhanced Korean Air codeshare agreement NEWS PROVIDED BY WESTJET, an Alberta Partnership Apr 22, 2024, 12:00 ET SHARE THIS ARTICLE CALGARY, AB, April 22, 2024 /CNW/ - Beginning May 17, 2024, WestJet guests will gain access to six additional cities across four Asian countries from Incheon International Airport (ICN) through an expansion of WestJet's codeshare agreement with Korean Air, one of the world's only 5-star airlines as awarded by Skytrax. Through the agreement, guests will have more opportunity to explore unique transpacific Asian destinations beyond Seoul with a seamless single connection at ICN and the convenience of booking their entire journey with one ticket, baggage transfers, and earning WestJet Dollars throughout. New WestJet Codeshare Destinations Bangkok, Thailand (BKK) Da Nang, Vietnam (DAD) Hanoi, Vietnam (HAN) Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam (SGN) Hong Kong, China (HKG) Singapore (SIN) "As we prepare for WestJet's inaugural flights between Calgary and Incheon, the timing of this codeshare expansion is ideal. We are enhancing connectivity to more destinations in Asia for our guests and WestJet Rewards members from one of the world's busiest cities, and Korean Air's global hub" said Jeff Hagen, WestJet Vice-President of Commercial Development and Strategic Partnerships. "Our longstanding reciprocal partnership with Korean Air opens up exciting opportunities for leisure and business travellers to more locations in the Asian continent and offers new guests in Asia access to all of Canada through our global hub in Calgary." Following the success of WestJet's entry into Asia, the airline recently introduced seasonal service between YYC and ICN. The new route launches on May 17, 2024, and will fly on WestJet's 787 Dreamliner up to three days per week during peak travel periods. "We are excited to announce an expanded codeshare with our longstanding partner WestJet, offering our valued customers access to a wide range of transpacific destinations," said Tae Joon Kim, Korean Air Senior Vice President and Head of International Affairs & Alliance. "The launch of WestJet's Calgary - Seoul Incheon route will bolster connectivity between Korea and Canada, while our strengthened partnership will seamlessly connect customers to an expanded array of Asian and Canadian cities through our hubs in Incheon and Calgary, respectively." All WestJet codeshare destinations are now available through WestJet's website, the WestJet app, and travel agent partners, where WestJet Rewards members can earn and redeem WestJet Dollars on their entire journey. Visit WestJet.com for further details.

Some airlines look to electric for the future of flight A handful of the world's major airlines are betting on electric for the future of flight Calgary Herald 22 Apr 2024 EDWARD RUSSELL HEART AEROSPACE A rendering of Heart Aerospace's new 30-seat electric turboprop plane, the ES-30. Many airlines and aviation companies are experimenting with new technologies. Last November, a small, white, oblong helicopter with four passenger seats and six whirring electric engines took off from the Downtown Manhattan Heliport. Several people, including Mayor Eric Adams, watched as the air taxi known as an EVTOL — an electric vertical takeoff and landing aircraft — flew silently, undetected by nearby pedestrians along the East River. “To bring electric flight and the benefits of electric flight here is a dream come true,” said Joeben Bevirt, the CEO of Joby Aviation, to the crowd. Joby is just one of dozens of firms around the world betting on EVTOLS. Their backers include some of aviation's biggest names, such as Delta Air Lines, United Airlines and Embraer. Many airlines and aviation companies are experimenting with new technologies not only to manage relentless economic pressure to be an affordable choice for transportation but also to be more environmentally friendly. Besides the move to electric engines, airlines are investigating options for fuel such as hydrogen and repurposed fuels and the re-emergence of supersonic flight. Investors have spent an estimated $22.2 billion, according to a report published by the Mckinsey Center for Future Mobility. Most companies aim to fly their new offerings in noticeable numbers by the end of this decade — or relegate them to the trash heap of history while they pursue other options. “You need to have a similar revolution as (with) the electric car,” said Anders Forslund, co-founder and CEO of the Swedish company Heart Aerospace. Modern airplanes are more efficient and safer than they were when the 707, Boeing 's first jetliner, debuted in 1958. Boeing 's latest long-range model, the 787, looks similar, even if the engineering is much improved. “This is an industry based upon remarkable, sustained, incremental progress,” said Richard Aboulafia, a managing director at Aerodynamic Advisory, in explaining the glacial pace of change in design. Heart Aerospace intends to change that reputation. Engineers are developing a 30-seat electric turboprop plane, the ES-30, with backing from the likes of Air Canada, Saab and United. The plan is to be operational by 2028. While the ES-30 looks like the prop planes that already fly passengers to small towns around the world, it could be revolutionary if certified: It does not emit carbon while it flies, and it is quiet. The lower cost of operating the ES-30 could also help airlines reopen routes where flights disappeared years ago. Electric planes have their disadvantages, too. Battery capacity, despite recent improvements, does not equal the energy density of jet fuel. Installing a larger battery would add significant weight to a plane. To compensate, the planes would have to reduce the number of passenger seats to roughly 40 to 50. Last year, domestic flights averaged 132 seats per flight, according to the aviation data analytics firm Cirium Diio. Flying range would also be limited. An electric plane must fly within a few hundred miles; the average distance flown today is 770 miles. “In 2030, we're not going to be able to cover all the (airline) routes, but we're going to be able to cover the routes up to 500 miles with reserves,” said Kyle Clark, co-founder and CEO of Beta Technologies. “We've already seen (batteries) doubling in energy density,” continued Clark. The company first flew an electric test plane in 2017, proving that battery-powered planes can fly. Certification of its production model, the Alia, is underway. The debate around EVTOLS is different. Delta Air Lines, in partnership with Joby, plans to offer a “premium Home to Seat” service to connect heliports with nearby major airports once certified by the Federal Aviation Administration. The companies estimate that about 1,000 people a day would choose EVTOLS instead of automobiles to travel to and from the airport. This number is equivalent to just two per cent of the roughly 18.2 million travellers the airline managed at New York's John F. Kennedy International Airport during the year ending in November, based on the latest U.S. Bureau of Transportation Statistics data. “Moving around people with more means to access mobility and, in some cases, bypass congestion raises equity concerns,” said Adam Cohen, a senior researcher looking at transportation issues at the University of California at Berkeley. The first commercial EVTOL flights could be in operation this summer at the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris. Certification delays, however, might nix that dream. And, maybe as soon as 2025, Joby and Delta hope to launch flights in New York and Los Angeles; United and Archer Aviation plan to do the same in Chicago. Hydrogen, depending how it is sourced and produced, can be completely free of carbon emissions. It also weighs less than most electric batteries, allowing the plane to store more energy for longer flights. The downside for using liquid hydrogen is space: The fuel requires more space to carry the amount needed to power most commercial aircraft, which means less space for paying passengers. “Hydrogen has always been the Holy Grail of aviation fuels,” said Paul Eremenko, co-founder and CEO of Universal Hydrogen. Hydrogen is the lightest element and can power a fuel cell that generates electricity. The company, which is backed by American Airlines, Jetblue Ventures and others, is developing a hydrogen fuel-cell system that could be retrofitted on existing prop planes. Universal Hydrogen began testing its fuel cells on a 40-seat plane last year in Moses Lake, Wash. Flight tests have since moved to Mojave, Calif., with an aim to earn certification in 2026. European aerospace giant Airbus is considering hydrogen fuel as well for its planes. In 2020, Airbus engineers began developing a hydrogen-powered aircraft known as ZEROE with a plan to be operational by the middle of the 2030s. The initial concepts include four types of planes: two small planes with fewer than 100 seats and two larger aircraft with more than 200 seats. Air New Zealand is betting on all of the new technologies, from electric to hydrogen, for its future fleet. The airline wants to begin flying a low-emission plane on domestic routes around 2030. It will begin testing a cargo plane within two years. The company is partnering with Heart Aerospace and Universal Hydrogen, among others. “We need to do what we can to support all the technology because we're going to need it all,” said Kiri Hannifin, chief sustainability officer of Air New Zealand. “Next-generation aircraft will be part of the soul for aviation.” We need to do what we can to support all the technology because we're going to need it all. Next-generation aircraft will be part of the soul for aviation. Kiri Hannifin Article Name:Some airlines look to electric for the future of flight Publication:Calgary Herald Author:EDWARD RUSSELL Start Page:D1 End Page:D1

Russia suspected of targeting thousands of British holiday flights in 'extremely dangerous' electronic attacks jamming systems including GPS 46,000 flights logged satellite navigation issues between August and March Jamming hotspots were in the Baltic, Black Sea and eastern Mediterranean By NATASHA ANDERSON PUBLISHED: 21:12 EDT, 21 April 2024 | UPDATED: 04:55 EDT, 22 April 2024 Russia suspected of targeting thousands of British holiday flights in 'extremely dangerous' electronic attacks jamming systems including GPS | Daily Mail Online Russia is suspected of launching 'extremely dangerous' electronic attacks against thousands of British holiday flights, aviation sources have claimed. The planes appear to be suffering from GPS jamming and spoofing, which interferes with wireless communication systems and uses fake signals to trick pilots into believing the aircraft is in a different location than where they actually are. The European Aviation Safety Agency in January warned that authorities had seen a 'sharp rise' in jamming and spoofing 'attacks', but did not say who was behind them. But industry experts are now alleging that Putin's forces are behind the attacks with one insider telling The Sun that the 'information from the Russians is spurious'. The suggestion echoes that of an aide who reportedly blamed Russia for the 'wildly irresponsible' attack that jammed an RAF plane as it flew through Poland while Defence Secretary Grant Shapps was on board. +4 View gallery Russia is suspected of launching 'extremely dangerous' electronic attacks against thousands of British holiday flights, aviation sources have claimed Aircraft logs revealed jamming hotspots in the Baltic region, Black Sea and eastern Mediterranean, the newspaper reported. This came after several reports sounded the alarm over jamming and spoofing events in the region. The number of suspected Russian satnav attacks was more than 350 per week last month, researchers claim, a significant increase from the fewer than 50 attacks per week that were recorded last year. Between August and March, 46,000 flights reportedly logged satellite navigation (satnav) issues over the Baltic region. Among those were 2,309 Ryanair flights, 1,368 Wizz Air flights, 82 British Airways flights and four EasyJet flights. Seven planes operated by TUI - which reportedly does not fly in the Baltic - logged satnav issues. The airline said its affected planes were 'probably positioning flights without passengers'. Virgin Atlantic, which also does not fly through the region, was the only major UK air carrier not affected by the electronic attacks. In a statement to the Sun, EasyJet said it has procedures in place to 'mitigate against GPS issues'. Similarly, Ryanair told the newspaper: 'If any location systems, such as GPS, are not functioning then the crew switch to alternate systems.' In the eight months leading up to March, 46,000 planes reportedly logged satellite navigation issues over the Baltic region - including 2,309 Ryanair flights, researchers claim (stock photo) Experts note that a 'significant percentage' of aircraft reported 'low navigation accuracy' appeared to 'correlate well with areas of known and suspected jamming'. What are jamming attacks and how do they work? Jamming attacks involve malicious interference on wireless communications systems, including WiFi, Bluetooth, and GPS. As the name suggests, the intention of such attacks is to 'jam' a network, preventing devices from communicating. They generally use physical devices to overload a network with strong signals, disrupting usual operations. There are three key types of jamming attacks: 1. Constant jamming Constant jamming attacks work by emitting a steady interference signal on the same frequency band. On a Wi-Fi network, this can result in there being no available bandwidth for legitimate traffic, resulting in complete denial of service. 2. Deceptive jamming Deceptive jamming is usually used to jam GPS devices. Attacks use false signals intended to emulate legitimate, expected signals on a network. As well as disrupting operations, these can be used further in an attempt to bypass encryption or to provide false information. While details about the latest attacks against British holiday flights remain sparse, it's likely this is the type of jamming being used. 3. Reactive jamming Reactive jamming doesn't involve sending out a constant signal. Instead, an attacker waits until a legitimate signal is detected and then works to interrupt and replace it with an interference signal using the same frequency. This technique is sometimes used in man-in-the-middle attacks on Wi-Fi networks. Source: SEON Dr Jack Watling, a war expert at the RUSI think tank, told The Sun that Russia has 'long used GPS jamming as a harassment tool' and that the country is 'projecting it across Nato borders'. 'Wherever there is a large Russian garrison you are seeing GPS denial and there is one in Kaliningrad,' he said. 'They just have that stuff switched on because there are standing orders.' Defence official have previously accused Moscow of jamming GPS signals over RAF Akrotiri base in Cyprus, where aircraft a regularly jammed. Russian jamming equipment is believed to be stationed in nearby Syria. In March, Russia was accused of Jamming the satellite signal of RAF aircraft carrying Grant Shapps back from Poland. While defence sources said at the time there was no danger to the Defence Secretary, they called it a 'wildly irresponsible' act of electronic warfare. The GPS signal was interfered with for about 30 minutes as the Dassault 'Falcon' 900LX flew close to Russia's Baltic exclave of Kaliningrad - which sits between Lithuania and Poland and is Russia's most western territory in Europe. A top secret Russian electronic weapon allegedly based in Kaliningrad has been suspected of jamming aircraft for months. Maps plotting where aircraft have experiences GPS jamming show that the exclave appears to be at the centre of many of the incidents. GPS jamming technology can be operated by other aircraft, including drones. However, it is usually carried out by ground vehicles. The practice can compromise an aircraft's navigation and communication systems that are vital for pilots, posing serious safety risks to people onboard. Despite the suspected Russian satnav attacks, the UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) still insists that flying is safe, noting that there are several 'protocols in place to protect navigation systems on commercial aircraft'. Glenn Bradley, Head of Flight Operations and the UK Civil Aviation Authority, said: 'Aviation is one of the safest forms of air travel, and there are several safety protocols in place to protect navigation systems on commercial aircraft. 'GPS jamming does not directly impact the navigation of an aircraft and, while it is a known issue, this does not mean an aircraft has been jammed deliberately. Industry experts are now alleging that Putin's forces are behind the jamming and spoofing attacks. It is believed that 1,368 Wizz Air flights were impacted by satnav issues between August and March (stock photo) 'While operators have mitigations in place to assure continued safe operations, we work closely with other aviation regulators, airlines, and aircraft manufacturers to curb and mitigate any risks posed by jamming, and continuously monitor incidents worldwide.' A spokesperson for easyJet said: 'There are multiple navigation systems onboard commercial aircraft as well as procedures in place which mitigate against issues with GPS that can occur for various reasons.' Ryanair's spokesperson added: 'In recent years there has been a rise in intermittent GPS interference which has affected all airlines. Ryanair aircraft have multiple systems to identify aircraft location, including GPS. 'If any of the location systems, such as GPS, are not functioning then the crew, as part of standard operating procedures, switch to one of the alternate systems.' MailOnline has approached WizzAir, TUI, Virgin Atlantic and BA for comment. Reports of the electronic attacks came as Ukraine was given a significant boost in its war effort against Russia in the form of the US House of Representatives approving a $61billion military aid package. The legislation had stalled in US congress for months, leaving Ukrainian troops stretched throughout the winter in their continuing fight. The funds should now allow Ukraine to switch from desperately holding ground to trying to reclaim the territory. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said on Monday that the support of the US, Britain and France for Ukraine was stoking serious strategic risks that had raised the risk of a direct confrontation between the world's biggest nuclear powers. Lavrov said the United States and NATO were obsessed with the idea of inflicting 'strategic defeat' on Russia and there were risks in such confrontation that could lead to an increased level of nuclear danger. 'The Westerners are teetering dangerously on the brink of a direct military clash between nuclear powers, which is fraught with catastrophic consequences,' he said. The United States and its allies say they are helping Ukraine to defend itself against Russian aggression and that it is Russia that is aggravating East-West tensions, including by issuing repeated warnings about the danger of a nuclear conflict. Lavrov said: 'Of particular concern is the fact that it is the 'troika' of Western nuclear states that are among the key sponsors of the criminal Kyiv regime, the main initiators of various provocative steps. We see serious strategic risks in this, leading to an increase in the level of nuclear danger.'

Step by step: Will anti-foreign sentiment impact Phuket’s tourism? Phuket, the ‘Monaco of the east’, shines with its beautiful beaches, hedonistic nightlife and a culture renowned for its welcoming smiles. However, a recent surge in anti-foreign sentiment fueled by incidents like the Urs Fehr controversy and tensions with Russian tourists, raises a critical question: could this lead to a rise in nationalism and populism, and have a deep impact on Phuket’s tourism industry, the lifeblood of the island’s economy? opinion By The Phuket News Sunday 17 March 2024 10:00 AM Local residents hold aloft the Thai flag at a protest at Yamu Beach earlier this month. Photo: The Phuket News Nationalism and Populism: A Recipe for Division Nationalism and populism, though often intertwined, have distinct characteristics. Nationalism emphasises a strong sense of national identity, often tied to common ancestry, language and culture. It can manifest in a desire for national unity and a sense of superiority over other cultures. Populism, on the other hand, positions itself as the voice of the "common people", often against a perceived elite or establishment. This is often achieved by scapegoating minority groups, including foreigners, for social and economic problems. Nationalist and populist rhetoric frequently plays upon anxieties about national decline and economic hardship. In Thailand, it is more about inequity. Foreigners become convenient targets, blamed for stealing jobs, suppressing wages and diluting cultural values. This can lead to policies affecting immigration, limiting foreign ownership of businesses and stoking social division. Thailand’s Whispering History While Thailand prides itself on its warm hospitality and reputation as the ‘Land of Smiles’, its history reveals a less rosy past regarding nationalism. In his book ‘Siam Mapped’ Thongchai Winichakul spends the first chapter discussing the Thai obsession with what is Thainess, the starkest conclusion is that most experts cannot define what Thainess is but only what it is not, by simply listing characteristics of other nations’ failings and how they are the opposite of ‘Thainess’. Early last century, the ‘Asia for the Asians’ sentiment, a reaction to Western imperialism, underscored the desire for self-determination and national pride. However, this also fueled anxieties regarding Chinese immigration, leading to policies that restricted their economic and social mobility. These historical currents highlight the potential for nationalism to resurface in Thailand, particularly during times of economic uncertainty and perceived threats to national identity. Exacerbating tensions in Phuket It’s not only recent news stories that have led to rising tensions. Several factors could also be in play exacerbating anti-foreign sentiment in Phuket. NEW ARRIVALS: The recent surge of Russian arrivals fleeing the war in Ukraine presents both opportunities and challenges. While their presence can potentially inject new capital and diversify the tourist base, their cultural differences and potential language barriers may create a sense of alienation if not managed effectively. Integrating these newcomers into the local community is proving difficult. Stern demeanors and scant bikinis in areas not on the beach are often read as rude and disrespectful. ECONOMIC ANXIETY: The scars left by the COVID-19 pandemic still run deep. The tourism industry, which heavily relies on foreign visitors, suffered immensely. Whilst tourism is recovering well, the economic hardship of the period plus the global cost of living crisis has left people poorer than ever before. Wages have risen but are far below real-life inflation. This leaves them susceptible to influences that play into the hands of any wannabee populist. THE BURMESE CONUNDRUM: Burmese migrants, a significant part of Phuket’s workforce, are often accused of accepting lower wages, putting downward pressure on salaries for Thai workers. While their work ethic can be seen as an asset, it also highlights the skills gap and lack of training opportunities for some Thais. Unless these issues are addressed and locals are pushed into learning skills, it’s hard to see how resentment won’t grow. Nationalism, a potential enemy of Phuket’s tourism success The consequences of a nationalist turn in Thailand would be particularly devastating for Phuket. Tourism, the island’s economic engine, thrives on its reputation as a welcoming and inclusive destination. Anti-foreign sentiment, coupled with policies restricting foreign investment which Thailand is already well known for, could scare away visitors. This would lead to a decline in hotel occupancy rates, restaurant closures, and a crippling loss of revenue for local businesses. The ripple effect would be devastating, impacting livelihoods across various sectors. For an island that lacks a plan B, the implications could be devastating. Phuket wouldn’t be alone in facing such consequences. Countries such as Greece and Hungary, which have seen a rise in nationalist populism, have also witnessed a decline in tourism, demonstrating the economic perils of xenophobia. A Brighter Future: Fostering Harmony The future of Phuket, and Thailand as a whole, hinges on today’s choices. Will the country succumb to the siren song of nationalism, or will it embrace its multicultural identity and chart a course of inclusivity? The answer will determine whether Phuket remains a paradise or withers on the vine of resentment. The smiles of Thailand are not just a facade; they are a symbol of the country’s welcoming spirit. By fostering understanding and embracing diversity, Thailand can ensure those smiles continue to light the way for a brighter future. Simon Causton is a long-time Phuket resident, founder of Citadel Phuket and author of ‘The Phuket Periodical’ newsletter. X (Twitter): @SimonCauston

‘We can’t put a fence around Amsterdam’: Dutch capital bans new hotels to curb mass tourism | Euronews

TRAVEL I'm a native Hawaiian. Locals are tired of tourists treating the island like a theme park – here's what to know before you visit. Pooja Shah Nov 9, 2023, 3:44 AM MST Keani Rawlins-Fernandez grew up in Hawaii and has seen tourism increase over the years. Now a local council member, Rawlins-Fernandez says locals can f This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Keani Rawlins-Fernandez, a vice chair of the Maui County Council, about how tourism has affected her life in Hawaii. The following has been edited for length and clarity. The tropical islands of Hawaii have long been a dream destination for tourists, drawn by the pristine beaches, vibrant culture, and an "aloha" free spirit. But for me it's home. Many economic, social, and financial issues arise with unrestricted tourism, and I don't know how Hawaii will continue to cope with these numbers. I grew up in Molokai, the only island of Hawaii where the economy is not reliant on tourism. Here, agriculture and farming are our main industries. As a policymaker, I use my platform to fight against unrestricted tourism, counteract our current housing crisis, and campaign to protect our ocean and reef health. It's my responsibility to advocate for my local community When I was growing up, big corporations fell in love with the white-sand beaches, canoes, and divers and transformed our land into a shoreline of resorts like Waikiki in Oahu. They attempted to do this in Molokai, but the community fought it. I went to law school to become a policymaker because it was my kuleana — responsibility — to advocate for my community the same way my elders did. I was inspired by the work of Uncle Walter Ritte, a Native Hawaiian activist and educator who protested the military bombing practices on Kaho'olawe and won its eventual return to Native Hawaiian control from the US military. I hold the County Council seat for the Molokai residency area and am part of the Efficiency Solutions and Circular Systems Committee, where I can discuss high-level budgets and allocation of resources to solve economic inequality that has been around for generations. Keani Rawlins Fernandez, Maui County Council Vice-Chair Rawlins-Fernandez is a vice chair of the Maui County Council. Keani Rawlins-Fernandez Tourism has displaced Native Hawaiians by driving up costs The number of tourists in Hawaii is overwhelming the local population and threatening the islands' cultural heritage. Native Hawaiians, already displaced from their lands during colonization, are experiencing a housing crisis. When houses become available, they are bought by tourists instead of locals. I lived in Bali for 2 months. These 7 popular tourist spots were not worth the hype. People are buying our land as investment properties, so our Kanaka 'Ōiwi — locals — are forced to move further out, and they can't maintain their local traditions or routines. Basically, they need to start over and make a new place their home. The cost of living has skyrocketed as demand drives up real-estate prices. Residents of islands like Maui and Oahu, where tourism is at peak levels, rely on resorts and hotels for jobs to support their livelihood. During COVID, there was no tourism, and their jobs were the first to go. My island in Molokai fared better because the model is to cater to local businesses and local patrons instead. We can't commute easily because tourists are getting their sunset pictures A large part of Hawaii's economy is reliant on tourism, but in popular tourist areas, overtourism is placing huge strains on the infrastructure and environment — especially when the number of visitors exceeds the resident population. For example, famous sights like Waikiki Beach and Diamond Head on Oahu draw crowds of tourists for sunrise or sunset views. This clogs up our highways during the hours when locals are trying to commute or drop their kids off at school. The state Department of Transportation wants to create more parking spots or widen highways. Instead, people should consider group trolley systems like the ones in Zion National Park in Utah, which I recently visited, to manage tourists. This makes more sense than allowing tourists to rent their own car for the duration of their visit. Locals feel like their home is a theme park — and it can be dangerous Our locals feel like their homes are treated like a theme park and there's no more privacy. We've heard stories of tourists trespassing on properties for photo opportunities. But they need to understand that unlike television or social-media posts, this is real life. There aren't always safeguards and railings at places like our waterfalls or volcanoes. Tourists have passed away or become severely hurt. It puts our emergency responders at risk if tourists are trespassing in dangerous places. Advertisement Our beaches and reefs are being degraded for the sake of tourism Excessive tourist activity is also taking a major toll on Hawaii's fragile island ecosystems. For instance, the natural sand dunes in Hawaii enable a cyclical restoration of the white-sand beaches. However, the construction of resorts and hotel chains on the dunes disrupts this cycle, preventing the beaches from replenishing lost sand. With the dunes unable to supply fresh sand, the beaches steadily erode away. I've seen temporary seawalls being built in front of condos and resorts which interrupt the natural cycle of sand migration. We see how degraded our coral reefs, essential for marine wildlife, are in the face of pollution, sunscreen toxins, and careless snorkelers. We are islands, and we don't have that much land to bury trash in landfills, so excessive rubbish ends up in our waters and damages the ecosystem. Advertisement Tourism has perks, but it needs to be managed better There are some positives to the steady increase in tourists, like those tourists who volunteer with the Red Cross. However, extractive tourism needs to stop. I also want our community to rely on other jobs, because tourism ebbs and flows. My message to tourists is to visit responsibly, respect local culture, and minimize one's footprint. Support local businesses over chain restaurants, go on tours instead of taking your own or a rented vehicle, make sure you're staying at a legitimate Airbnb or VRBO, and come with respect and gratitude, not entitlement.

‘Go f*cking home’: The European cities where locals are fighting back against overtourism Copyright Yuliya Matuzava via Unsplash By Saskia O'Donoghue Published on 15/03/2024 - 15:29•Updated 18/03/2024 - 10:09 Share this articleComments Millions of holidaymakers visit the Costa de Sol and Málaga, one of its most popular destinations, every year, but now locals are saying enough is enough. Málaga locals are frustrated by the growing influx of tourists and now they’re expressing their feelings in no uncertain terms. The Spanish city’s centre has been hit with a wave of stickers, posted on walls and doors, telling visitors what residents think of them. Walk the streets of Málaga and you’ll see these daubs, ranging from the fairly mild “this used to be my home” (antes esta era mi casa) and “this used to be the city centre” (antes esto era el centro) all the way to “go f*cking home” (a tu puta casa), “stinking of tourist” (apestando a turista). Malaga is becoming ever more popular thanks to recent business investments and the pleasant climateJonas Denil via Unsplash Why are Málaga locals so irate with tourists? The city on the Costa del Sol has long been a popular destination for visitors, thanks to its sunny climate and relatively low cost of living. However, it’s recently become an even more desirable destination for holidaymakers and digital nomads alike. Many locals have simply had enough. Bar owner Dani Drunko runs a much-frequented bar in Málaga called Drunkorama. He started the ‘sticker initiative’, having favourite anti-tourist phrases given to him by bar regulars printed and posted around the city. Speaking to a local newspaper Diario Sur, Drunko explained that he began the campaign after he was apparently “kicked out” of the home he’d lived in for a decade. He claimed that the landlord refused to negotiate the rent or even sell him the property. The reason? They wanted to turn it into a short-term rental for tourists. “There’s a lot of hype because locals are tired of the situation; I just suggested the idea of the catchphrases, I offered the spark, and now others have joined,” Drunko told Diario Sur. “Málaga city centre has been going downhill for a long time, so much so that if for example something in my bar breaks, I don't have a hardware store on hand to buy anything, since the tourist who comes doesn’t need to buy screws,” he added. Local politician Dani Pérez took to X - formerly Twitter - to add his voice to the growing discontentment. “You walk the streets of Málaga and it is practically impossible to find a residential building that does not have a lockbox [for tourist rentals],” he wrote, going on to accuse the city’s mayor, Paco de la Torre, of “not lifting a finger for the people of Malaga” and “expelling them from the city where they were born.” Last November, a local reporter for news website The Local Spain reported that Málaga is “definitely busier than before during low season,” while confirming the existence of lockboxes “everywhere” and commenting that restaurant prices have seen huge hikes in recent months. What makes Málaga so popular with foreign visitors? Spain’s Costa del Sol, home to Málaga, has been hugely popular with tourists for years. In 2023, a record 14 million holidaymakers from Spain and abroad visited - and a fair few visitors decided to make the city their home. Recent data from Spain’s National Statistics Institute (INE) shows that eight out of 10 new residents moving to Málaga are currently foreigners. It’s not just individuals changing the face of the city, though. Some 630 tech companies, including Google, have opened offices in Málaga, turning it into a quasi-Silicon Valley of Europe. That has the knock on effect of drawing thousands of international remote workers and digital nomads, attracted by the heady combination of a pleasant work environment and warm climate. Málaga locals, though, think enough is enough, believing they are being priced out and alienated from their own home city. How hotel star ratings are awarded - and why you won’t see a 6 star hotel in Europe anytime soon 'Just not acceptable': Miami Beach is breaking up with spring break - or at least trying to Which other European destinations have fought back against overtourism? Earlier in March, the Canary Islands - a territory of Spain - saw graffiti pop up ordering tourists to “go home”. With its year-round sun and warm weather, the Canaries are an always-popular destination for foreign visitors - and tourism is seen as the island group’s largest money maker. One of the most popular islands, Tenerife, recently declared a water emergency. That added more fuel to the fire for locals, as some tourist areas there use up to six times more water than residential areas, putting pressure on reserves crucial for drinking water and farming. In February, nearby Gran Canaria saw walls emblazoned with the message, 'tourists and digital nomads go home', something newspaper the Canarian Weekly reported as 'tourismphobia'. On the Balearic island Mallorca last August, residents put up fake signs along a number of beaches, reading: “beware of dangerous jellyfish” and “caution, falling rocks”. All written in English, the signs also featured, in smaller print, explanations in Catalan informing locals that warnings are not real. Instead, the text read: “the problem isn’t a rockfall, it’s mass tourism” and “beach open except for foreigners (guiris) and jellyfish”. Overtourism isn’t just a problem in Spanish territories, though. Many European nations have been putting tourist taxes in place, including Venice which has also banned cruise ships from entering its endangered canal system. In Amsterdam, authorities and locals alike have been trying for months to encourage - mostly British - drunken tourists to stay away and in Kyoto, Japan, roads have been sealed off to ensure the city doesn't become a ‘theme park’. Other top tourist destinations are begging people not to visit, with many simply not having the infrastructure to accommodate them. Hawaii is on many people’s bucket lists, but continues to struggle with hospitality worker shortages, congested roads and 90-minute restaurant waiting times as tourists still arrive in droves. While the problem does appear to be a global one, it is Spain that is leading the grassroots fight back. Graffiti in Barcelona last year read: “We spit in your beer. Cheers!” - yet tourists continue to flock there. Euronews Travel reached out to the Málaga tourist board for comment but have yet to receive a response.

Thousands protest across Canary Islands against tourism | Watch (msn.com)