Sunday, August 26, 2018
Based (click here) on the most recent research, (Lithuanian people are the happiest people in the Baltic States. We have also taken an interest in other research that analyses the feeling of happiness in individual areas: where we are superior to other Europeans and where we lag behind. But, most importantly, do appreciate what we have.
Unemployment and education The unemployment rate of the population with higher education is among the lowest in Europe (about 3%). In this respect, we are comparable to such countries as The Netherlands or the United Kingdom. Within the group of population with lower education, the situation is worse. It should be taken into account that this share is the smallest in Europe.
According to Eurostat data for the fourth quarter of 2017, about 15% of the population with education lower than secondary fail to find a job, while among those with secondary education this share is 9%. Such a gap among residents with a different education, unfortunately, is one of the widest in Europe. While the situation has been improving, it is particularly important to properly integrate residents with lower education into the labour market....
Long before the extremes of the Climate Crisis was being observed the worries were being garnered.
Temperature and distribution of plant species
By FI Woodward, Department of Botany, University of Cambridge, UK
Symposia of the Society for Experimental Biology, 1988, 42:59-75
June 29, 2016
By Bob Silberg
...“There are places in the world where, (click here) for these important breadbasket crops, they are already close to a thermal limit for that crop species,” Schimel said. Adding to the burden, he said, “this analysis (the EGU study) does not take into account the fact that pests and pathogens may spread more rapidly at higher temperatures.”
By FI Woodward, Department of Botany, University of Cambridge, UK
Symposia of the Society for Experimental Biology, 1988, 42:59-75
Abstract
An understanding of the mechanisms (click here) by which temperature influences the distribution of species and vegetation has been attempted by modelling population growth and establishing those stages of the plant life cycle which, when diminished by extremes of temperature, for example, may have the greatest impact on plant survival. This analysis suggests that the heat sum of the growing season, measured as day-degrees, controls the distribution of annual vegetation. For perennial vegetation both the heat sum of the growing season and the annual, absolute minimum temperature are critical. Climatic correlations and experimental analyses indicate that, in northern Europe, the northern latitudinal and upper altitudinal limits of lowland and southern vegetation are directly controlled by climate. In contrast, the southern and lower altitudinal limits of upland and northern vegetation are likely to be controlled by temperature-sensitive competition with southern or lowland species. Many of the temperature-sensitive processes of plant growth and development, such as the non-linearity of extension growth and variations in the threshold temperatures of processes, may increase the realized heat sum at a particular geographical location. However, in more northerly climates, photoperiodic control is crucial in avoiding precocious development in the highly variable climatic conditions of early spring.
Figure 1
Extensive (click here) and transient metabolic reprogramming in chloroplasts under heat stress. Major events of metabolic reprogramming in response to heat stress include chlorophyll breakdown, generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS), antioxidant defense, protein turnover, and metabolic alterations with carbon assimilation. With respect to the systemic acquired acclimation to heat stress in plants, diverse metabolic reprogramming in chloroplasts is required for optimizing plant growth and development during high temperature stresses.
By Bob Silberg
...“There are places in the world where, (click here) for these important breadbasket crops, they are already close to a thermal limit for that crop species,” Schimel said. Adding to the burden, he said, “this analysis (the EGU study) does not take into account the fact that pests and pathogens may spread more rapidly at higher temperatures.”
And Schimel pointed out that heat can imperil agriculture even when crops don’t die. “If you get really high temperatures or very dry conditions during critical parts of the development of the crop, it produces essentially no grain. For example, above certain temperature thresholds, corn doesn't die but it doesn't grow seed. It doesn't grow a corncob. And other crops are similar to that, where the development of the actual food part of the crop is dramatically inhibited above critical temperatures.”
But what about that fertilization effect from carbon dioxide? “It does help a bit, but it doesn't make the underlying problem go away,” he said. “And by the way, if the plant was growing really fast when it died, it still died.”
Can we avoid the extra half-percent temperature increase? Schimel agrees that we should try hard to do so, but cautions that we don’t know how to fine-tune global warming with that much precision. “If we aim for 2 degrees, we might hit 3 degrees,” he said. “If we aim for 1.5 degrees, we might still hit 2 degrees.”
The average Lithuanian (click here) is richer than 83% people in the world. He or she earns more than an average person in every nation of Africa, Latin America and most of the countries in Asia. However, Lithuania is lagging behind countries like those of Western Europe, the United States, Canada, Japan or Australia.
Lithuania is a post-industrial society (click here) with some two-thirds of the population working in the service sector. The society is relatively egalitarian with healthcare, primary and secondary education being funded by the state. Undergraduate, graduate, and postgraduate education is also state-funded for the better students.
However, corruption is a major problem in the healthcare sector as many doctors expect bribes to be paid to them by patients so that they would receive preferential treatment. Corruption is rampant in other sections of the society as well, especially traffic police and government purchases (e.g. road construction for taxpayers' money). These practices are largely a legacy of the Soviet regime. However, Transparency International places Lithuania at some 50th place of 182 countries in its Corruption Perception Index (the higher the place - the less corruption there is), ahead of all states formerly behind the Iron Curtain save for Estonia and Poland (but far behind the West, Japan or Australia).
The largest employer in Lithuania is the MAXIMA group that owns a chain of retail shops well visible in Lithuania as well as Latvia, Estonia, and Bulgaria. This is the largest company in Lithuania and its owner Nerijus Numavičius is the country‘s richest person. Just like many Lithuanian businesses MAXIMA is primarily owned by a single person (or a single family) rather than being a publically traded company.
Largest industries in Lithuania are oil refinement (Mažeikių Nafta in Mažeikiai; 36,2% of total 2011 exports) and fertilizer manufacturing (Lifosa in Kėdainiai and Achema in Jonava; 8,9% of exports). Processed and unprocessed food amount for 16,9% of exports. Traditionally strong clothing industry has been hit by outsourcing to Asia.
The agricultural sector now employs only some 12 percent of the population but they are good at lobbying. Therefore the government generally subsidizes agriculture. The European Union adds to this although the European Union subsidies are significantly lower than for farmers in countries like France. Typically Lithuanian farmers grow grain, pigs, chicken, and cows. The "traditional agriculture" where a family owns a single cow, a single pig and some pastures (rather than combining land to form a large business) is declining but still well entrenched in the Lithuanian countryside. Village tourism offers a new opportunity for Lithuanian farmers and tourists alike.
No more pipelines!
By Randy Billings
A federal court (click here) ruled Friday that a South Portland ordinance prohibiting bulk loading of crude oil onto tankers does not violate the U.S. Constitution.
The decision is a blow to Portland Pipe Line Corp., which challenged the city’s “Clear Skies” ordinance on grounds that it violated the Dormant Commerce and the Foreign Commerce clauses of the U.S. Constitution, which gives Congress sole power to regulate foreign and interstate trade.
The ordinance effectively blocked the company from reversing the flow of its 236-mile underground pipeline that has carried foreign crude from harbor terminals in South Portland to refineries in Montreal since World War II.
The South Portland City Council banned bulk loading of crude oil on the city’s waterfront in 2014, just as production of controversial tar sands oil was taking off in western Canada and demand for foreign crude began to dwindle.Mayor Linda Cohen praised the ruling in a written statement.
“Faced with the prospect of hundreds of thousands of barrels of crude oil being loaded onto marine tank vessels in the city and threatening the health of the residents and preventing redevelopment of the waterfront, the City Council prohibited this new activity,” Cohen said. “We are pleased that the court upheld the ordinance.”...
Lithuania has a consistent footprint after reducing it from over 6.0 in 1990.
CO2 emissions (click here) (metric tons per capita) in Lithuania was reported at 4.3781 in 2014, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources.
Dalian -- Typhoon Rumbia (click here) brought heavy rain to the northeastern Chinese port city of Dalian, forcing the evacuation of 14,573 residents from disaster-prone regions.
Torrential rains hit on Sunday night and the city's meteorological center issued red alerts for the rainstorms Monday morning.
Precipitation in urban areas ranged from 50 to 70 mm in a 90-minute period.
Earlier rains saturated the soil and the latest rainstorm could trigger flooding and urban waterlogging. Local authorities on Sunday ordered closing scenic areas along the coast, rivers, and in the mountains.
Meanwhile, local education authorities ordered kindergartens, and education and training institutions to halt classes on Monday.
Twenty-one rescue teams of 1,960 people have been put on standby for potential disaster relief.
2,873,967 Lithuanians in their homeland.
Interestingly, (click here) native inhabitants of Lithuania have never been replaced or pushed out by any other ethnic group since the Neolithic period. This means modern-day Lithuanians have much of the same genetic composition of their ancestors. Lithuania has a fairly homogeneous population with no apparent genetic differences between subgroups of ethnicities. A DNA analysis conducted in 2004 found that Lithuanians are closest to Finns, Estonians and Latvians.
Ethnic Lithuanians account for 5/6 of the population, which makes the country one of the most homogeneous in the Baltic States. The 2011 census found that 84% of the population was ethnic Lithuanians who spoke Lithuanian. Poles made up 6.6%, followed by Russians (5.8%), Belarusians (1.2%) and Ukranians (0.5%).
Poles are mostly concentrated in southeast Lithuania, while Russians are mostly in Vilnius and Klaipeda. There are approximately 3,000 Roma in Lithuania, as well as a small community of Tatar.
In total there are four (click here) ancient irrigation systems in China dedicated as World Heritage Status.
The Jiangxiyan Irrigation System in Longyou county, Zhejiang province (click here) gets world heritage status on Aug 14.
The Jiangxiyan Irrigation System in Longyou county of Quzhou, Zhejiang province was recognized as a Heritage Irrigation Structure (HIS) by the International Commission on Irrigation and Drainage (ICID) in Saskatoon, Canada on Aug 14.
The announcement was made at the 2018 International Conference and 69th International Executive Council Meeting of the ICID. Four irrigation sites in China - the Dujiangyan Irrigation System, the Lingqu Canal, the Jiangxiyan Irrigation System and the Changqu Canal – were included on the 2018 list of HIS.
The Jiangxiyan, or the Jiang-Xi Dam, located over Lingshan River in Longyou county, was built 680 years ago. It consists of the Jiang and Xi dams which serve the purposes of irrigation, water supply and drainage, water transport and hydraulic applications. The system is still in use today.
The award of HIS has been given by the ICID since 2014 for the purpose of protecting, exploring and promoting the ancient irrigation systems and their scientific value. Every year, the commission receives applications from around the world and announces a list of new structures after strict evaluation.
Lithuania values the future for their people.
Palanga, LithuaniaThis country profile (click here) contains key data on greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, renewable energy and energy efficiency for each EU Member State (MS). This profile is part of a package of country profiles that support and complement the EEA publicantion 'Trends adn projections in Europe 2017 - Tracking progress towards Europe's climate and energy targets.'...
On the sixth page of Lithuania's report it is easily noted the country has made
exceptional progress on greenhouse gas emissions, especially in the energy sector.
What is even more impressive is the land use, land use changes and forestry
actually have a negative emission that contributes to the overall effectiveness of
Lithuania's greenhouse gas strategy. Magnificent. Thank you.
Today, Representative Carlos Curbelo (FL-26), (click here) co-chair and co-founder of the House Climate Solutions Caucus, joined the Columbia University Center for Global Energy Policy to discuss the introduction of his new legislation to fight carbon emission and fund infrastructure.
H.R. 6463, the Modernizing America with Rebuilding to Kick-start the Economy of the Twenty-first Century with a Historic Infrastructure-Centered Expansion Act, or the MARKET CHOICE Act, would:
- Set the United States on a path to reduce carbon emissions and not only fulfill, but exceed the commitments set out under the Paris agreement;
- Raise much-needed revenue to modernize our national infrastructure – a bipartisan priority that remains elusive without a new influx of revenue – by providing an additional $285 billion for the Highway Trust Fund and $18 billion for the Airways Trust Fund;
- Eliminate regressive, inefficient and discriminatory taxes like the gasoline tax and the aviation fuel tax to promote equitable treatment for Americans driving traditional cars and ensures all Americans are contributing their fair share to our country's infrastructure needs;
- Create long-term regulation stability by establishing a moratorium on the EPA from finalizing and enforcing Clean Air Act regulations on greenhouse gas emissions – thus providing much-needed regulatory certainty for utilities and businesses and limiting economic repercussions of additional regulations;
- Hold trade partners accountable by way of a border tax adjustment, protecting American exporters competitiveness abroad; and
- Protect lower income Americans from higher utility bills and assist displaced workers.
Lithuania states there is no excuse to any lack of ambition to address GHG emissions.
Vilnius – Everyone can contribute (click here) to elimination of consequences of global warming, however, Lithuania will also have to meet its commitments, says Lithuania's Environment Minister Kestutis Navickas attending climate change summit in France.
"Everyone is important here, every person is important. The decisions we make on a daily basis change climate, however, we must meet our engagements as a state," the minister told BNS in a telephone interview from Paris on Tuesday.
Titled One Planet, the summit is attended by dozens of world leaders and hundreds of ministers, corporate executives and environmentalists. The meeting is held two years after the historic Paris agreement on efforts against climate change.
The main objective of the treaty is to keep the warming at under two degrees from the pre-industrial era.
The European Union (EU) is currently discussing distribution of the commitments of the efforts against global warming for every member of the organization.
The Lithuanian minister said Lithuania could be assigned to reduce the emissions of greenhouse gases in the transport sector, agriculture and households by 9 percent by 2030.
"We are now intensively working on an action plan to make sure that the goal is achieved, as the first reporting period will be 2019," said Navickas.
In his words, Lithuania will have to work to reduce the use of non-organic fertilizers, as well as seek ways to encourage the nation to drive less polluting cars and renew the car fleet....
It's Sunday Night
In 1983, she graduated political economy from the then Leningrad University.
In 1988, she defended her thesis at Moscow Academy of Public Sciences and received doctoral degree in economics. In 1993, the Research Council of Lithuania granted her an academic degree of doctor of social sciences.
In 1992, she completed a special six-month program for senior executives at Georgetown University in Washington.
In 1983, she worked as scientific secretary at the society "Žinija" under the Academy of Sciences....
...In 2004, Dalia Grybauskaitė was appointed EU commissioner responsible for financial programming and budget.
In November 2005, she was elected Commissioner of the Year for her efforts to reform the EU budget.
Dalia Grybauskaitė serves as the president of Lithuania since July 12, 2009.
The President speaks four foreign languages: English, Russian, Polish, basic French....
Tu didvyriu zeme
Is praeities Tavo sunus
Te stiprybe semia
Lithuania, our dear homeland
Land of worth heroes
May your sons draw strength and vigor
From your past experience
Tegul Tavo vaikai eina
Vien takais dorybes
Tequl dirba Tavo naudai
Ir zmoniu gerybei
May your children always proudly
Choose the paths of virtue
May they work towards your gain
And that of all mankind
Tegul saule Lietuvos
Tamsumas prasalina
Ir sviesa ir tiesa
Mus zingsnius telydi
May the sun of this land
Scatter all the gloom and dark
With truth and light
Guiding our steps forward
Tegul meile Lietuvos
Dega Musy sirdyse
Vandan tos, Lietuvos
Vienybe tezyd!
May our love of Lithuania
Keep burning on in our hearts
In Lithuania's dear name
We shall stand together
Is there ever an end to the Republican economic rollercoaster?
November 1, 2015
By Chelsey Livingston
...An improving economy (click here) coupled with baby boomer generation retirements are expected to create 3.5 million manufacturing-related job openings over the next decade nationwide, according to results of a joint study by The Manufacturing Institute, an industry-associated nonprofit, and Deloitte, a firm providing financial and business consulting services. However, the widening gap of workers missing the mechanical and social skills to do the jobs means 2 million of those positions are expected to go unfilled, according to the organizations’ research.
Meanwhile, the construction trade group Associated Builders and Contractors is working with legislators in Ohio and nationwide to get October also designated as Careers in Construction Month, according to the Ohio Valley chapter’s website, www.ovabc.org. Why? The group cites the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics’ projections for 1.6 million new construction job openings to be created by 2022....
June 11, 2018By Stuart Anderson
Bill Adler, president and owner of Stripmatic Products in Cleveland Ohio. The Washington Post reported that at Stripmatic Products because of higher steel prices due to new tariffs “the $1 million in new factory investment and the 10 new jobs it would have created have evaporated.”
During the 2016 campaign, (click here) Donald Trump warned that immigrants were costing jobs and protectionist trade policies would lead to more jobs in America. Eighteen months into his presidency, the evidence shows the opposite – new tariffs are costing jobs and economic research continues to demonstrate immigrants do not harm the job prospects of U.S. workers....
...The Trade Partnership analysis concluded:
- “The tariffs, quotas and retaliation would increase the annual level of U.S. steel employment and non-ferrous metals (primarily aluminum) employment by 26,280 jobs over the first one-three years, but reduce net employment by 432,747 jobs throughout the rest of the economy, for a total net loss of 400,445 jobs;
- “Sixteen jobs would be lost for every steel/aluminum job gained;
- “More than two thirds of the lost jobs would affect workers in production and low-skill jobs.
- “Every state will experience a net loss of jobs.”...
President Donald Trump Should Consider Resigning, Says Spiro Agnew Attor...
May 17, 2017
By Marjorie Cohn and edited by Dave Rodkey
...As evidence of President Donald Trump’s malfeasance emerges, (click title to article - thank you) the old adage that the cover-up is worse than the crime may once again prove true.
There is circumstantial evidence of improper contact between members of the Trump administration and Russian operatives during the presidential campaign. At this point, however, we have seen no concrete proof of criminal conduct.
But evidence of a cover-up continues to mount. Trump has admitted the Russia investigation motivated him to fire FBI director James Comey. Trump asked Comey to end the investigation of former National Security Advisor Michael Flynn. Trump made veiled threats to Comey about possible tapes of their conversations. Trump demanded that Comey pledge loyalty to him, but Comey refused. And Trump defensively fixated on Comey telling him three times that Trump was not an object of the investigation....
Carl Bernstein: This is worse than Watergate
This article is from "Teen Vogue." Let there be no doubt, our youngest members of the USA are carry stress related to the safety and security of their country.
August 9, 2017
9 Ways Trump has Endangered National Security
A former intelligence analyst explains (click title to article - thank you)
By Cindy Otis
During the presidential election and at the beginning of his term, Donald Trump promised he would keep the country safe. But more than six months into his presidency, it is clear that Trump lacks the temperament and skills needed to protect the nation.
- Trump's impulsive tweet rants
- Trump's continued denial of his alleged collusion with Russia
- Trump's lack of foreign policy experience
- Trump's mishandling of secret information
- Trump's cuts to American diplomacy
- Trump's denial of climate change
- Trump's chaotic management of White House staff
- Trump's refusal to properly notify government agencies in advance of his Twitter declarations
- Trump's dismissal of our allies while he cozies up to controversial foreign leaders
August 9, 2017
9 Ways Trump has Endangered National Security
A former intelligence analyst explains (click title to article - thank you)
By Cindy Otis
During the presidential election and at the beginning of his term, Donald Trump promised he would keep the country safe. But more than six months into his presidency, it is clear that Trump lacks the temperament and skills needed to protect the nation.
- Trump's impulsive tweet rants
- Trump's continued denial of his alleged collusion with Russia
- Trump's lack of foreign policy experience
- Trump's mishandling of secret information
- Trump's cuts to American diplomacy
- Trump's denial of climate change
- Trump's chaotic management of White House staff
- Trump's refusal to properly notify government agencies in advance of his Twitter declarations
- Trump's dismissal of our allies while he cozies up to controversial foreign leaders
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