Headlines – Page 28 – The Speaker News Journal

World’s Highest Res Satellite Images Now Available Commercially, With Infrared and CAVIS Technology

October 15, 2014August 19, 2014 by Sid Douglas

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The world’s most advanced commercial high-resolution satellite is now operational. DigitalView’s WorldView-3–the company’s sixth super-spectral, hi-res satellite–was launched this week, and offers photo resolution at five times the clarity of its nearest competitor. The satellite also provides infrared and CAVIS, and can photograph through smoke, fog and haze and correct for cloud, aerosol, water vapor, ice and snow.

The satellite was launched on a Lockheed Martin Atlas V rocket from Vandenberg Air Force Base, California last week, and is being offered for a number of commercial enterprises.

Natural disasters have already been photographed by DigitalGlobe’s satellite, such as New Jersey’s beaches during Hurricane Sandy, wildfires at High West Park, Colorado, the flood at Bangkok International Airport, and so have man-made events, such as the Gulf of Mexico spill, the Costa Concordia’s capsizing and Syrian pipeline fires.

World's Highest Res Commercial Satellite Now in Business, With Infrared and CAVIS Technology (9) — Subi reef, China construction

Serving political needs, China’s Liaoning aircraft carrier, Cairo’s Tahrir Square, North Korea’s Yongbyon Nuclear research center, Osama bin Laden’s compound and the Obama inauguration in Washington, DC have been documented in hi-res photographs.

Militarily, Australia’s Exmouth Naval Communications Station, the Pentagon, Pearl Harbor and Pyongyang’s military parades have been photographed, and culturally, Peru’s Machu Pichu, Egypt’s and Sudan’s pyramids, and the Colosseum have been captured.

World's Highest Res Commercial Satellite Now in Business, With Infrared and CAVIS Technology (3) — Chinese carrier Varyag

Jeffrey Tarr, DigitalGlobe’s Chief Executive Officer announced the inauguration of the new satellite, “The successful launch of WorldView-3 extends DigitalGlobe’s commanding technological lead and will enable us to help our customers see through smoke, peer beneath the ocean’s surface and determine the mineral and moisture content of the earth below — all with unprecedented clarity.”

World's Highest Res Commercial Satellite Now in Business, With Infrared and CAVIS Technology (6) — Burning Man, Nevada

WorldView-3 is capable of 0.31 meter resolution super-spectral imagery–clarity five times that of DigitalGlobe’s nearest competitor. It also offers multiple shortwave infrared (SWIR) bands to photograph the earth through haze, fog, smoke and other airborn particles.

World's Highest Res Commercial Satellite Now in Business, With Infrared and CAVIS Technology (7) — Mt. Fuji, Japan

Another feature individual to WorldView-3 is CAVIS, an instrument that corrects atmospheric distortions due to cloud, aerosol, water vapor, ice and snow.

World's Highest Res Commercial Satellite Now in Business, With Infrared and CAVIS Technology (8) — Three Gorges Dam, China

“The unmatched abilities that WorldView-3 brings to our constellation will enable us to provide our customers with information and insight never before possible and advance our efforts to create a living digital inventory of the earth,” said Tarr.

By Sid Douglas

EU May File Lawsuit Against Russia for Russian Trade Embargo

August 19, 2014 by The Speaker Editors

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Warsaw has asked the European Commission to file a complaint with the World Trade Organization (WTO) regarding Russia’s ban on EU food imports. The impact of the Russian embargo is being analyzed by the EU and preliminary EU consultations about the case are already underway.

“Regarding the WTO, the Commissioner informed the minister (Poland’s Marek Sawicki) that the Commission is actively preparing a procedure for a possible launching of a request for consultations under the WTO dispute settlement procedure,” European Commission spokesman Peter Stano stated.

The Russian ban has affected the Polish market in particularly. Poland’s exports to Russia amounted to $1.5bn last year. The Polish minister of economy sent a request to the European Trade Commissioner, who represents EU members in all WTO cases.

Preliminary EU consultations were already underway in the lawsuit, according to Polish officials, who also have stated that the US, Australia and Canada will also be important to the case, and that Polish Prime Minister Janusz Piechocinski is expected to engage those nations.

The Russian ban was ordered as a response to economic sanctions imposed on Russia as punishment for Russia’s illegal annexation of Crimea and further incursions in Ukraine over the past months.

The EU Commission is carefully analyzing the impact of the Russian embargo, according to Stano, and the first decisions about the lawsuit could be made around September 12, according to the Polish agriculture minister.

Russia would be liable to pay fines for violating regulations in open markets, should the WTO find for the Polish cause.

The case is uncertain however. Although the EU justifies its sanctions against Russia as a response to Russia’s annexation of Crimea and arming, advising and promoting conflict in Easter Ukraine, Russia argues that it has acted legally and is not aiding pro-Russian separatists in Ukraine.

By Day Blakely Donaldson

South Sudanese Propose “Consociation” Government and Atypical Power Sharing

August 19, 2014 by The Speaker Editors

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Instead of a group of technocrats, such as is expected to serve South Sudan as an interim government, South Sudan’s Citizens for Peace and Justice society group has proposed a “consociation” government and atypical power sharing as an alternative that may be more amenable to bringing together the conflicting factions participating in South Sudan’s civil unrest.

“Power sharing is a type of consociation,” said the secretary of the Citizens for Peace and Justice, David Deng.

In a consociation government power is shared differently from common governments, Deng explained.

“Typically, power sharing is between the two parties that have military power.

“For example, the Comprehensive Peace Agreement was a power sharing arrangement where the national government in Sudan and the [Sudan People’s Liberation Movement] SPLM in the south shared power amongst themselves.”

A consociation government is an atypical system of government wherein various–sometimes antagonistic–social groups are brought together in cooperation on the basis of shared power.

“A consociation is more inclusive and it will involve the different stakeholders.

“The opposition political parties would be involved. The former political detainees would be involved in addition to the two warring parties, and then civil society would be given a robust role in terms of monitoring the implementation of the agreement, in terms of emphasizing the principles and values.”

South Sudanese civil society groups are also proposing that the transition period should be two to three year, according to Deng.

By Day Blakely Donaldson

Pro-Siberia Protesters Arrested, Protests Barred in Russia

August 18, 2014 by The Speaker Editors

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Russian police blocked demonstrations in Novosibisrk and several other locations of Russia Sunday. The demonstrations had been organized to call for the Russian government to observe constitutional rights in Russia.

The “March for the Federalization of Siberia” was set to take place Sunday in Siberia and parts in the south of Russia, but was banned in advance by Russian authorities. Demands of the demonstrators included deomcratically elected officials and a more fair distribution of Siberian revenue.

Despite the ban, around a dozen activists picketed in Novosibirsk. Signs displayed by the activists read “Putin, stop stealing from Siberia!” and “Bring taxes back to Siberia, bring elections back!”

A primary complaint of the federalists is that although gubernatorial elections were reinstated in 2013, the Russian government maintains a “municipal filter” system, by which they can rule out candidates they do not want to run for office. Another main complaint regards revenue generated in Siberia, which is transferred to Moscow and does not return, allegedly.

At least nine pro-Siberia activists were detained. Six organizers were arrested in Novosibirsk and a neighboring region. Another organizer was arrested in Kuban in southern Russia. Two activists were detained at a pro-federalization picket in Yekaterinburg in the Ural Mountains.

Four Novosibirsk organizers were held as part of a potential criminal case, and another two were detained on suspicition of stealing a mobil phone and held in custody during the protest day. The Kuban woman was detained for 14 days on charges of hooliganism after unknown men began arguing with her on the street. The Yekaterinburg activists were charged with resisting police, reportedly.

In Omsk, Siberia a pro-Siberian rally was barred from the central square by police, who claimed that the central square was already occupied by another rally purposing to gather aid for Eastern Ukraine.

Critics have pointed out that the same support for federalism banned by the Russian government in Siberia is supported by the Russian government in Eastern Ukraine. Pro-Siberia activists have said that the two movements are different in that the Siberian federalists do not want to separate–they want only more rights and economic freedoms for the regions.

By Day Blakely Donaldson

UK Policy Change: Government Will Have to Consider Effect of Legislation on Families, Along With Cost Effectiveness and the Environment

August 17, 2014 by The Speaker Editors

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United Kingdom Prime Minister David Cameron will speak on a change to UK policy making Sunday. Cameron is expected to officially admit that legislation has caused children and parents to suffer, while introducing mandatory impact assessments whereby the government must formally consider the effects of policies on families, in addition to considerations regarding cost effectiveness and the environment.

The Prime Minister will use the speech to admit that children and parents have often suffered as a result of legislation.

From October, Whitehall impact assessments for policies will be instituted to formally consider effects on families, along with factors such as cost effectiveness and the environment.

“I want every government department to be held to account for the impact of their policies on the family,” Cameron is expected to say.

“The reality is that in the past the family just hasn’t been central to the way government thinks, so you get a whole load of policy decisions which take no account of the family and sometimes make these things worse.

“Whether it’s the benefits system incentivizing couples to live apart or penalizing those who go out to work or whether it’s excessive bureaucracy preventing loving couples from adopting children with no family at all.

“We can’t go on having government taking decisions like this which ignore the impact on the family.

“I said previously that we would introduce a family test into government. Now that test is being formalised as part of the impact assessment for all domestic policies.

“Put simply, that means every single domestic policy that government comes up with will be examined for its impact on the family.”

The new impact assessment measures will become part of the formal Whitehall process in October.

The speech is part of a campaign by the UK government to help troubled families. The new phase of the program will target 500,000 families–a quadrupling of the initial phase of the project. The new phase will be started first in the 50 local authorities which have so far been most successful in implementing the initial stages of the project.

By Day Blakely Donaldson

Massive Pro-China Demonstration in Hong Kong — Organizers Pay Participants

October 15, 2014August 17, 2014 by The Speaker Editors

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China has reportedly paid tens of thousands of protesters to march against Hong Kong’s democratic movement. The rally’s organizers, Alliance for Peace and Democracy, demonstrated Sunday against Hong Kong’s Occupy Central with Love and Peace–which is proposing a change in Hong Kong’s electoral system.

Eighty to 90 thousand participants took part in the Sunday afternoon protest march, according to Hong Kong University’s Public Opinion Program.

However, strong allegations that organizers paid the protesters immediately emerged.

A reporter for Now News, a Hong Kong TV news channel, attended the protest and received $50 and a meal for his participation. When the reporter returned the money and identified himself, he was told that the money was that of one of the protest organizers.

In addition, many of the marchers were said to have been mainland Chinese–not Hong Kong residents.

The Alliance for Peace and Democracy protest was a response to a movement in Hong Kong to change the electoral system. Currently, the Chinese Communist Party has the prerogative to filter out candidates for the chief executive office of Hong Kong. A recent Hong Kong Occupy protest that took place July 1 saw over 150,000 protesters turn out.

By Day Blakely Donaldson

Birth, Life and Death of Recently Discovered Microscopic Habitats Described by Research Biochemist

August 16, 2014 by The Speaker Editors

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Microscopic habitats, hosting communities of microorganisms formed over geologic time periods, self-sufficient but not self-sustained, have been discovered within droplets of water in the oil of Trinidad’s Pitch Lake, the world’s largest natural asphalt deposit. Researcher Dr Tillmann Lueders explained to The Speaker about the births, lives and possible deaths of these tiny worlds.

The report, “Water droplets in oil are microhabitats for microbial life,” was completed by lead researcher Rainer U. Meckenstock and his team of Frederick von Netzer, Christine Stumpp, Tillmann Lueders, Anne M. Himmelberg, Norbert Hertkorn, Philipp Schmitt-Kopplin, Mourad Harir, Riad Hosein, Shirin Haque, Dirk Schulze-Makuch, and was published in Science.

Birth, Life and Death of Recently Discovered Microscopic Habitats Described by Research Biochemist (17) — Dr Leuders, a co-author of the report

So far, no photographic images of these newly discovered microhabitats have been possible–the process by which the droplets would be photographed would also destroy them–but Dr Lueders gave The Speaker details about the nature of the microhabitats–how they are formed, how they sustain themselves, and how they may end.

“We envisage them as 1-3 microliter aqueous microspheres, with some microbes swimming around in the lumen, but most sitting attached to the oil-water interface,” Lueders told us.

Describing the origin of the microhabitats, Lueders explained, “The salinity and water isotopes measured in the droplet water tell us that it stems from the deep subsurface. Minimally, these habitats were formed by mixing processes during the ascent of the oil from the reservoir to pitch lake. Maximally, the droplets were present already in the reservoir itself.

“The time periods involved here are geologic. The reservoir seems to have been formed during the Miocene, but we are not experts to tell over what time scales the oil ascents.”

When asked about the ability of the microhabitats to maintain themselves over time, Leuders commented, “In principle, these micro-habitats should be self-sufficient over very long time scales, albeit at very low activities. However, they are not self-sustained, as would be the case for a perpetuum mobile system.”

The microbes feed on hydrocarbons and perform metabolism by methanogenesis–they breathe methane instead of oxygen. Only Archaea–a domain phylogenetically distinct from eukaryotes and bacteria–perform this type of respiration, which is the final step in the decomposition of biomass in most environments.

“Our grasp is that the microbes thrive on the hydrocarbons, which are their source of carbon and energy. These are too abundant to ever be depleted. Since there is nothing else to respire, methanogenesis becomes the terminal respiratory process, producing methane from the oil.”

The end of a microhabitat may come about through a sudden explosion, in a process called ebullition. In ebullition, methane bubbles build up, forming ever-larger pockets that eventually burst due to pressure, dispersing the methane throughout the soil. Lueders explained, however, that ebullition may not be the real end of microhabitats:

“Methane ebullition could eventually destroy–or disperse–a single droplet habitat, but also cause recycling and formation of larger water droplet habitats. Thus the age of any single water droplet may be impossible to determine, we see this more as a steady-state continuum.”

More details about the nature of the microhabitats will be addressed in the research team’s future work, Lueders told us. Also, the formidable task of developing elaborate non-invasive or conservative methods of looking into the microhabitats will be explored, meaning photographic images may also become possible.

By Day Blakely Donaldson

Russia Offers USA “Guarantee” for Russia’s Humanitarian Convoy

August 15, 2014 by The Speaker Editors

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Russia’s Defense Minister, Sergey Shoygo, offered the US a “guarantee” that Russia’s humanitarian convoy–feared by Ukraine to be a “Trojan horse” and currently being held at the Ukrainian border–is carrying no military personnel.

Shoygo made the guarantee to US Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel in a phone call Friday night, and the information was released in a Pentagon statement.

Hagel also said that Shoygo guaranteed that the convoy would not be used as a pretext for further intervention in Ukraine.

“Minister Shoygu assured Secretary Hagel that Russia was meeting Ukraine’s conditions,” the Pentagon statement said.

“He acknowledged that the goods would be delivered and distributed under the International Committee of the Red Cross.

The Russian Defense Ministry also recently dismissed Ukrainian claims that Russia had sent a convoy of military vehicles into Ukraine already, which, Kiev had announced, Ukrainian forces had attacked and partially destroyed.

“There was no Russian military column, which allegedly crossed Russian-Ukrainian border, not in the night, not during the day, it just doesn’t exist,” said Russian Defense Ministry Spokesman Igor Konashenkov.

By Day Blakely Donaldson

FAA Bans Planesharing in America, Illegalizes Airpooler and Flytenow

October 15, 2014August 15, 2014 by Sid Douglas

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The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has stuck a blow to planesharing startups such as AirPooler and Flytenow with a recent ruling prohibiting private pilots from offering seats to the public in exchange for compensation.

Planesharing startup AirPooler, already operating in the market, recently formally requested a clarification from the FAA on the issue, which was considered a legal grey area.

“With regard to pilots using the AirPooler website,” ruled the FAA, “all four elements of common carriage are present. By posting specific flights to the AirPooler website, a pilot participating in the AirPooler service would be holding out to transport persons or property from place to place for compensation or hire. Although the pilots participating in the AirPooler website have chosen the destination, they are holding out to the public to transport passengers for compensation in the form of a reduction of the operating expenses, they would have paid for the flight.”

The customary practice of advertising for shared flights on message boards will also now be illegal. Only pilots certified by the US government as air carriers are permitted to receive compensation for flying, according to the FAA ruling. Most pilots do not have air carrier licences, which are relatively difficult to obtain.

The ruling will prevent pilots from cutting expenses by sharing costs, and will reduce travel options, but may prevent travelers from mistakenly booking flights with insufficiently qualified pilots.

AirPooler is not quite finished, however. AirPooler intends to ask for further clarification on the FAA ruling. The recent ruling was based on an unofficial draft for a 1963 proposal for planesharing, but a 1964 regulation allows pilots to privately ask potential passengers if they would share costs if the pilot have already planned the flight, pay a pro-rata share, and adhere to other restrictions.

By Sid Douglas

New Invention Can Make Clean Water Using Wood, Plastic and Water: the Water Lens

October 15, 2014August 15, 2014 by The Speaker Editors

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With a wood frame, some plastic and water, 99 percent of bacteria can be eliminated from unclean water, using a structure created by University of Buffalo, New York student Deshawn Henry. The project has the potential to provide clean water to developing nations around the world, where millions currently have no access to clean water for drinking and washing.

“In the best hopes,” Henry told The Speaker, “the water lens could possibly become a savior for hundreds of thousands of people in many developing countries in the world, such as in Africa, Asia, and Latin America. Not only would this development save hundreds of thousands of lives, but it will also give those people a better state of mind, knowing that they can drink the water without fear of contracting most types of water-borne diseases.”

Henry studies at the University of Buffalo‘s Department of Civil, Structural and Environmental Engineering in New York.

The water lens is a six-foot tall structure. At the top of a simple wood frame, a plastic sheet is covered with water, creating the “water lens.” Below the water lens a small container of water is positioned in line with the beam of light focused by the lens.

The water lens can heat a litre of water to between 130 and 150 degrees Fahrenheit in just over an hour. At this temperature, 99 percent of bacteria and other pathogens are killed.

The structure needs only sunlight to work, although due to the sun’s movement the lens needs to be shifted throughout the day.

When we asked Henry about the potential of the water lens to help those in need of clean water, he spoke of the potential benefits not only for less fortunate regions, but also of shared benefits.

“I feel that this development does indeed tie America and other nations closer together. I think it’s a very positive thing because it allows us to help others in need who aren’t as fortunate as we are here in the great USA.

“Sharing this type of technology with countries who need this type of phenomenal development is key to strengthening our relationships with the other countries of the world. Everyone on this Earth deserves to able to live their lives with access to good, clean water, and that is just what I hope this project will eventually accomplish.”

Unclean water is a global problem. Over one billion people lack access to clean water. Approximately 3.4 million people die annually from water-related diseases–1,400 children under age five daily.

“Millions of people die every year from diseases and pathogens found in unclean water, and they can’t help it because that’s all they have. Either they drink it or they die,” said Henry.

The World Health Organization suggests at least 7.5 litres of water per day to meet minimum human requirements. Additional water is required for basic hygiene and basic food hygiene, and laundry and bathing require additional water as well.

The lens does have some limitations. Some water-borne bacteria are temperature resistant. However, many serious bacteria and other pathogens commonly found in water can be eliminated through boiling, such as E.coli, Vibrio cholera, Shigella flexneri, Salmonella typhii, enteritidis, and paratyphi, and Rotavirus.

The next phase of Henry’s project is to construct a larger version of the current water lens. A lens at least three times the size of the current model would have to be constructed to boil water for a family of five.

“Our next step in the research is to create a bigger lens that can heat more liters of water in the same amount of time it took to heat one liter of water… I wish to continue my research on this project with my mentor hopefully next summer.

“In places like Africa, where there is a lot more sunlight there than here in the US, the previous lens could clean at least 5 liters of water per day on a sunny day. If we can successfully construct a bigger lens that is as efficient as the previous one, we could potentially double or even triple the amount of water treated per day, given that there is good weather when the solar disinfection is taking place.”

By James Haleavy

UN Should Establish Peace First, Human Rights Later in South Sudan – Foreign Minister

August 15, 2014 by The Speaker Editors

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South Sudan’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Barnaba Marial Benjamin spoke today on his return from meeting with the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) and East African trade bloc IGAD in Nairobi, Kenya, and stated that the UNSC and IGAD should concentrate on establishing peace in South Sudan before attempting to address human rights grievances.

He also said that the UNSC and IGAD should not implement sanctions in their attempts to stop South Sudan’s civil war.

“What we need from UN Security Council andIGAD countries is that they support the peace process. South Sudan doesn’t need sanctions,” said Marial.

“The people of South Sudan can live in peace. Then the accountability issue with regards to those who violated the human [rights] will come later.”

Marial stated the South Sudan was ready to form a transitional government and work toward peace and reconciliation.

“South Sudan has put its point very clearly both to IGAD as well Security Council that we are for peace and that we are committed to finding peace as soon as possible,” Marial said.

“The President of the Republic of South Sudan is ready for an all-inclusive transitional government that will bring all the people of South Sudan together and at the same time to make sure that reconciliation process among the people of south Sudan is enhanced.”

The foreign affairs minister made the comments on his return from Nairobi, where he met with the UNSC and IGAD council ministers.

Earlier this week, a UNSC delegation to Juba, the capital of South Sudan, had expressed disappointment at the failure of both parties to form a transitional government within a sixty day time frame.

IGAD’s representatives also recommended tougher retribution for parties that finder peace talks in Addis Ababa.

By Day Blakely Donaldson

Chinese Authorities Shoot Tibet Protesters

August 15, 2014August 14, 2014 by The Speaker Editors

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Protesting an August 11 forced celebration, Tibetans gathered at a government office in Kardze, Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, China, Tuesday. Chinese officials arrived and deployed tear gas and fired on the protesters. Two Tibetans were struck by the bullets. Other Tibetans were also injured in the clash, Free Tibet reported.

Hundreds of Tibetans had gathered at the local offices of the Chinese government Tuesday. Security forces were deployed from nearby Sertha village. The force met the protesters with tear gas and live ammunition.

The son and brother of Wangdak, the village leader, were both shot.

The injured Tibetans were taken away by security forces, who told family members the injured were being taken to medical treatment. No information of the whereabouts of the injured protesters has since been provided.

The protest followed a forced celebration. Tibetans were ordered to celebrate a visit by senior Chinese officials one day earlier. Wangduk had complained to the officials about harassment of female dancers by Chinese officials, and had also objected to the characterization of traditional horse races and prayer festivals as illegal. Wangdak was arrested.

A similar crackdown took place in neighboring Shukpa village Wednesday, where security forces beat and interrogated family members, although many of Shukpa’ men had left the village to avoid arrest.

By Day Blakely Donaldson