375th Anniversary Of Montreal - Unveiling Of A Spectacular Totem Pole Created By Charles Joseph

Charles Joseph (born in 1959), Residential School Totem Pole, 2014-2016, red cedar, acrylic paint, H. 1,524; W. 762; Diam. 152.4 cm. Collection Jim Balsillie Photo Greg McKee 2016. (CNW Group/Société des célébrations du 375e anniversaire de Montréal)

Artist Charles Joseph (1959) of the Kwakiutl Nation of the West Coast of Canada will unveil his work Residential School Totem Pole to be raised in the ancestral territory of Kanien'keha:ka, the nation to which it pays homage, in the context of an official opening ceremony for the work. This totem pole, displayed for the first time, will form part of La Balade pour la Paix – An Open-Air Museum, an exhibition of public art, designed and organized by the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts with the support of McGill University as part of the official programme celebrating Montreal's 375th anniversary

This monumental piece (21.45 metres high) will open the exhibition route along Sherbrooke Street West in front of the MMFA's Michal and Renata Hornstein Pavilion. The totem pole is a tribute to the First Nations children, of whom the artist Charles Joseph was one, who were taken away from their families and sent to the residential schools of religious communities. On May 29, 2015 the Canadian government acknowledged that these children had been, between 1820 and 1996, the victims of a cultural genocide.

Charles Joseph states: "Presenting this pole is for all Canadians, not just residential school survivors. This is my reconciliation, and my story is on the pole. The story is not just about Charles Joseph, it's about everyone who went through it. I need to tell the story in this form, but it is about survivors from across Canada."

According to Nathalie Bondil, the Museum's Director General and Chief Curator, "We are deeply moved today to unveil this new totem pole by Charles Joseph in the context of the celebrations. Only six of the First Nations of the West Coast ever carved these works… and there are even fewer today because the technical and artistic skills required to make them are so demanding. Traditionally the gigantic witnesses to their history perpetuated the story of important events for the Native Peoples. The Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada estimates that 150,000 children were torn from their families during the past century, complying with the government's assimilation policy. Telling the story of this tragedy through the powerful artistry of one of our leading creators is essential in the perspective of our new century."

"We are very honoured to be a part of this totem raising ceremony here on Kanien'keha:ka territory," says Christine Zachary Deom, Chief of the Mohawk Council of Kahnawake. "Our territory has always been a place of gathering and exchange and we are very pleased to see these bridges being built with Montreal, the Kwakiutl Nation, and our community. Our people have been eager to have their presence and history acknowledged, and this is a great initiative towards reconciliation" she added.

"We salute the involvement of our First Nations artists in making Canadians aware of our history, even of its darkest side, as in the case of the residential schools. I thank Charles Joseph for this work, and above all for its positive consciousness-raising effect. This is a contribution that will help to bring about the reconciliation of our peoples that is so vital", stated Ghislain Picard, Chief of the Quebec-Labrador Assembly of First Nations.

"The Society for the Celebration of Montréal's 375th Anniversary is happy to emphasize the close links that bind together the First Nations peoples and our City. With its over 30,000 Native citizens, Montreal constitutes the largest indigenous community in Quebec. La Balade pour la paix, the flagship project of the official programme for the celebrations of the 375th anniversary, is an ideal expression of the wealth of links between our peoples. The work of the artist Charles Joseph of the Kwakiutl Nation, raised on the ancestral territory of Kanien'keha:ka, is a prime example of the cultural richness of the First Nations and of the ties that bind us", said Alain Gignac, Director General of the the Society for the Celebration of Montréal's 375th Anniversary.

"The City is firmly committed to reconciliation, and our pledge takes on new meaning as we stand before this totem pole and remember the thousands of Aboriginal people who passed through the residential school system. This totem pole reminds us of our present duty, and we are humbled by history. I would like to commend Charles Joseph for creating this work of art and thank all the partners who made its presentation in Montreal possible. As we celebrate Montreal's 375th anniversary, understanding and reconciliation with Aboriginal peoples are of vital importance," said Denis Coderre, Mayor of Montreal.

The totem pole is a symbol of reconciliation and commemoration. It embodies a strong sense of the identity and pride of the Kwakiutl Nation of the West Coast of Canada. Joseph's Residential School Totem Pole depicts, from the bottom to the top: the members of the family of the sponsor of the Totem; the cedar ring symbolizing safety; the wild woman responsible for the traditional culture; the killer whale, the guardian of memory; the crow representing the alliance of Church and State; the bear for its strength and wisdom; the Arctic fox, the witness of the past; the Kulus, the great black ravens that according to the legend created the islands of the West Coast of Canada by dropping pebbles into the ocean; and at the top the two-headed snake with its wings unfurled in the shape of a cross.

The sculptor Charles Joseph also works as a fisherman and in the forest to provide for his family. As a child he spoke only his mother tongue, kwak'wala, before he learned English. He is deeply committed to preserving his culture. The revitalization and dissemination of the Kwakiutl traditions is the legacy he hopes to pass on to future generations. His works breathe new life into a culture, his own, which might have been decimated by the policies and practices of the colonizing powers. These creations are part of the process of reappropriating the Kwakiutl identity and the preservation of the way of life of the ancestors.

La Balade pour la Paix –An Open-Air MuseumOn Sherbrooke Street West between the sections the MMFA/Concordia University – the McCord Museum/McGill UniversityJune 5 to October 29, 2017

La Balade pour la Paix – An Open-Air Museum is part of the official programme for the 375th anniversary of Montreal. A truly open-air museum, the route will display works by Canadian and international artists, and fly the flags with the colours of the Confederation of Canada and of some 200 other countries. Commemorating two other important events, the 50th anniversary of Expo 67 and the 150th anniversary of the Confederation, the Balade reminds us that Expo 67, visited by 50 million people, was a window on to the world, a memorable event for Quebec and for Canada.

The ambassador for this exhibition is no other than Louise Arbour, who has battled throughout her career for the rights of man. She is currently the UN Special Representative for International Migration.

The exhibition has been designed and organized by the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts with the support of McGill University. Thanks to the support of the City of Montreal, La Balade pour la Paix runs for a kilometre along Sherbrooke Street between the MMFA and Concordia University and the McCord Museum and McGill University. The curators are Nathalie Bondil, Director General and Chief Curator of the MMFA, Sylvie Lacerte, art historian and consultant for public art and Diane Charbonneau, Curator of Modern and Contemporary Decorative Arts, Design and Photography at the MMFA. The design for the installation was conceived by Claude Cormier, landscape architect, in collaboration with designer Michel Dallaire.

To learn more about the contribution of the Québec government to Montréal's 375th Anniversary celebrations, click here.

SOURCE: Société des célébrations du 375e anniversaire de Montréal

Nalgene Outdoor Unveils New Marvel Universe-Inspired Bottles for the Guardians of the Galaxy

Nalgene Outdoor introduces a new universe of its popular reusable bottles inspired by Guardians of the Galaxy characters.

As part of its recent collaboration with Marvel, Nalgene Outdoor introduces a new universe of its popular reusable bottles inspired by Guardians of the Galaxy characters. The Guardians of the Galaxy bottles add to Nalgene's newly-launched Avengers bottle collection.

"We'll leave the fate of the universe in the Guardians' capable hands, but when it comes to defeating thirst, our bottles are known to hydrate even the toughest of Super Heroes," says Eric Hansen, product director, Nalgene Outdoor Products. "Nalgene's durable bottles together with the beloved characters from Guardians of the Galaxy bring this collaboration to life in another creative way we believe our users will enjoy."

For Marvel enthusiasts with big thirsts, Nalgene Outdoor selected its iconic, Made-in-USA 32-ounce Wide Mouth bottle for the Guardians collaboration. The new Guardians of the Galaxy bottles will include seven different designs featuring Star-Lord, Gamora, Drax the Destroyer, Groot and Rocket Raccoon. 

These bottles will join the popular Marvel Avengers collection featuring Captain America, Iron Man, Spider-Man, Hulk, Black Widow, and Marvel Avengers group.

"Marvel, a brand whose celebrated Super Heroes inspire people to achieve their potential, has been a great collaboration for Nalgene," adds Hansen. "We're looking forward to introducing the Guardians' Nalgene bottles and expanding the collection with other anticipated Marvel properties later this year."

All of Nalgene Outdoor's products are BPA- and BPS-free, dishwasher safe and carry a lifetime guarantee.

Samples and product or lifestyle photos are available upon request. For more information, visit www.nalgene.com.

Nalgene’s Marvel-inspired Guardians of the Galaxy bottles are now available in the iconic 32-ounce Wide Mouth style in seven different designs

About Marvel Entertainment 
Marvel Entertainment, LLC, a wholly-owned subsidiary of The Walt Disney Company, is one of the world's most prominent character-based entertainment companies, built on a proven library of more than 8,000 characters featured in a variety of media over seventy-five years.  Marvel utilizes its character franchises in entertainment, licensing and publishing.  

For more information visit marvel.com. ©2017 MARVEL

SOURCE: Nalgene Outdoor

How The Bible Shapes Contemporary Attitudes To rape And Sexual Assault

David seducing Bathsheba, Anonymous.

By Katie Edwards, University of Sheffield and Emma Nagouse, University of Sheffield

A retiring judge recently faced accusations of victim blaming when she used her final courtroom case as a plea to women to “protect themselves” from rapists by staying sober. Judge Lindsey Kushner restated these views in a television interview on Good Morning Britain, asking, “why shouldn’t you say – be aware ladies?”

Kushner’s comments were met with a mixed response. Some praised her for using her final speech before stepping down from the bench as a gesture of concern and warning to women who, she believes, make themselves more vulnerable to rape after consuming alcohol. Others, including representatives from Rape Crisis and some feminist activists, see these comments as acutely dangerous – comments that encourage and affirm attitudes of victim-blaming which, in turn, perpetuate the stereotypes that underpin rape culture.

Unfortunately, Kushner is far from the only judge in a sexual assault case to comment on the “irresponsible” or “provocative” behaviour of women and girls.

Biblical attitudes to rape
As a deeply influential cultural document, the Bible has a lot to say when it comes to attitudes around sex, shame and gender identity. Rape is endemic in the Bible (both literally and metaphorically) and, more often than not, functions as a conduit for male competition and a tool to uphold patriarchy.

Bathsheba at her Bath, Giuseppe Bartolomeo Chiari (1680).

For example, David’s rape of Bathsheba is echoed in his son Amnon’s rape of half-sister Tamar, and his son Absalom’s rape of David’s ten concubines. And in Judges 21, the Benjaminites are “saved from extinction” through the mass rape of women from Jabesh-gilead and Shiloh.

A common thread in the biblical text is that women are responsible for maintaining their sexual “purity”. This is not in the interests of their own well-being, but to ensure that as male property, women remain “undamaged”. This seems to be a no-win situation. The consequence for Dinah, who transgresses social boundaries by going “out to meet the women of the land”, is rape. Women who do fulfil feminine ideals, such as Bathsheba, who is described as “very beautiful”, tend to attract negative, often violent, male sexual attention.
In other words, one way or another, women are constantly implicitly blamed, both in the Bible and in contemporary culture, for their rape.

To blame for one’s beauty
A case in point is another “very beautiful” biblical woman, Susanna. Susanna is the subject of an attempted rape by two elders, who spy on her while she’s bathing before conspiring to coerce her into sex:

Look the garden doors are shut, and no one can see us. We are burning with desire for you; so give your consent, and lie with us. If you refuse, we will testify against you that a young man was with you, and this was why you sent your maids away.

In the biblical text, Susanna’s beauty is to blame for attracting the attentions of the elders. In a plotline that’s echoed in today’s court rooms, Susanna’s testimony isn’t believed and her sexual conduct is brought into question. It takes a man, Daniel, to advocate for her and to rescue her from execution after she refuses the elders’ offer.

In his successful defence of her and condemnation of the elders, Daniel says: “Beauty has beguiled you and lust has perverted your heart.” Here, as so often in contemporary society, rape and sexual assault are linked to the attractiveness of women rather than a violent crime of power and control. Even in art, Susanna is implicitly blamed for being targeted. As the critic John Berger has observed, Susanna, like Bathsheba, is often depicted looking at herself in a mirror while she’s bathing:

The mirror was often used as a symbol of the vanity of woman. The moralising, however, was mostly hypocritical. You painted a naked woman because you enjoyed looking at her, you put a mirror in her hand and you called the painting Vanity, thus morally condemning the woman whose nakedness you had depicted for your own pleasure.

Susanna and the Elders, Tintoretto (1555).

Kushner’s words continue this not-so-grand tradition of victim blaming. Kushner suggests that women who do not exhibit “disinhibited behaviour” by abstaining from alcohol are better able to fight off men with “evil intentions”. What is key here is that moderating women’s behaviour does not do anything to address the issue of rape or dismantle rape culture. It just shifts the collective social responsibility to prevent rape and sexual assault to that of individual women.

Women who do not agree to self-police are blamed for others’ actions. What Kushner is giving isn’t “just advice” or “common sense”; it reduces rape to a choice: choose for someone else to be targeted for attack rather than yourself.

Rather than continuing to judge women for their behaviour, perhaps it’s time we started to judge a society that blames women for rape.

About Today's Contributors:
Katie Edwards, Director SIIBS, University of Sheffield and Emma Nagouse, PhD Candidate in Interdisciplinary Biblical Studies, University of Sheffield

This article was originally published on The Conversation. 

Top 10 Best Anime With The Most Action

Black Lagoon (License: Image author owned) 

By Rezan Ferdous

Hey guys! it's been another amazing year for Anime.

Here are my picks for the top ten anime of the year! All of these are Anime series that I really enjoyed and they're definitely recommendations to everyone. Also you can find some of the best cartoons episodes here.

Let's get started!

10: “Katanagatari” (2010)

Brutal yet beautiful. For those that love nothing more than to kick back and enjoy old samurai flicks filled with rhythmic sword battles, then look no further.

Centred on our two young and dynamic leads Shichika and Togame, one a fearsome swordsman without a sword, the other a cheerful strategist, both set out on a mission to gather twelve legendary katanas - but in order to do so must defeat their not-so-helpless owners.

Backed by a compelling romance, and with each episode a brilliantly self-contained arc, you will truly feel like you’ve been on a hero’s journey.

9: “Drifters” (2016)

Alternative history has never been so bloody. Gathered from all across time, several legendary figures such as Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid are gathered together in order defeat The Ends; a group made up of some of history’s worse villains that range from Gilles de Rais and Gregori Rasputin.

Even if you’re no expert on their past deeds, their unique characterisations and deadly talents for combat will have you riveted. Oh, and there elves, because every fantasy needs buxom elves in need of saving!

8: “Cowboy Bebop” (1998-99)

It may be a future filled intergalactic travel and spaceships, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t plenty of bounties in need of grabbing. Aboard the titular Bebop, the rag tag crew of bounty hunters get themselves into all sorts of misadventures across the galaxy.

With several self-contained episodes that sees the crew taking on dangerous bounties along with the overarching battle with the Red Dragon Syndicate, the fire fights, dry humour and extravagant combat - largely due to Spike’s insane martial arts prowess and marksmanships skills - are sure to hit their mark.

7: “Kill la Kill” (2013-14)

On the hunt for her father’s killer, the young and fiery Ryuko Matoi soon finds herself taking on the fearsome school council that rule over Honnouji Academy with an iron-fist.

Each enemy is armed with uniforms that imbue them with superhuman abilities, and they’re all led by one of anime’s most badass ladies; Satsuki Kiryuin.

The result is a blend of the magical girl genre that never slows down for even a second, mixing together striking visuals with an unashamedly erotic edge as Ryuko’s clashes against Satsuki literally light up the screen.

6: “Darker than Black” (2007-09)

If you like your action with a hint of political conspiracy, then The Black Reaper has got your covered. Following the emergence of spatial anomalies over the world, certain individuals, dubbed Contractors, are gifted with destructive abilities – the perfect tools for assassination.

Along with a secret organisation known as the Syndicate throwing its hand in, the conflicts between opposing Contractors make up the bulk of the series, and given the range of their powers, battles can get pretty intense. 

Oh, and it’s all helmed by Hei aka The Black Reaper aka Chinese Electric Batman.

5: “Hunter x Hunter” (2011-14)

In a world filled with undiscovered riches and terrifying beasts, those that wish to seek them must first prove themselves as Hunters. Attracting all types, from the naïve Gon, to the lethal Killua, we’re presented with a number of interweaving storylines as each strives towards their goals.

The dynamics between the heroes certainly make for a good time, but where it really shines is its fight scenes. Take all your favourite anime tropes from tournament arcs, to insidious antagonist groups, and that one seemingly unstoppable antagonist, the series raises the bar with its superior storytelling and downright brutal fight scenes.

4: “Samurai Champloo” (2004-05)

Taking the beauty and set-pieces of Edo-period Japan and layering it with some pretty heavy modern-day Western influences and you have just what might be one of the strangest yet most successful fusions in Anime.

After all, nothing compliments intense sword fights more than hip hop. Focusing on an unlikely trio of polar opposites, the three set out on a less than peaceful journey to find the “samurai who smells like sunflowers.” 

Not shying away from violence all the while fully embracing its east-meets-west context, this is the ideal pick for those that enjoy the more artistic side to swordplay.

3: “One Piece” (1999-)

An Anime about pirates was never going to be free of conflict. As Luffy and the rest of his crew search for the treasure left behind by the legendary Gold Roger, not only do they end up fighting against rival pirates as well as the likes of the marines, but they do so while harnessing the power of the Devil Fruits; items that, you guessed it, grant them superpowers.

Throw in the fact some battles are literal war scenes on an unprecedented scale, the sheer variety (and insanity) of enemies that Luffy must face down make for simply monstrous action.

2: “Dragon Ball Super” (2015-)

Why not Dragon Ball Z? Because everyone and their cat has watched that. So if we’re making a suggestion here it’d be to check out this killer sequel.

Goku and his crew return, greeted to several new arcs that focuses on expanding the DB lore, all the while giving up plenty of new foes for them to let loose a Kamehameha at! Once you get past the movie recaps, you have some absolute gem arcs like the Universe 6 Tournament and the battle against an evil version of Goku. If you’re not on it yet – GET ON IT.

1: “Black Lagoon” (2006)

Mercenaries, pimps, thieves, weapon-dealing nuns and a Russian Crime Syndicate. Welcome to Roanapur. On an island thriving with vice, you have Lagoon Company, a for-hire service that prove that crime does indeed pay.


The team’s muscle comes in the form of Revy, a wild gunslinger who will shoot first and ask questions later. She might sound bad, but when your enemies could range from anything like remnants of the Third Reich or a pair of incestuous vampire twins, Revy and the rest of Lagoon look like saints. Saints who most certainly know how to bring the heat.


About Today's Contributor:
Hi, I am Rezan Ferdous. I own a website called Listlar.com. There I post fresh and cool top lists on; umm .. let say everything but no brainer.


Bonus Video:

Over 60 Wildlife Species At Risk In Canada's Changing North

Atlantic Walrus © J. Higdon (CNW Group/Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada)

Atlantic Walrus and Eastern Migratory Caribou are at risk of extinction. So concluded the Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC), which met in Whitehorse, April 23-28. The number of Canadian northern wildlife species considered to be at risk now stands at 62.

Canada has already lost one of its three populations of Atlantic Walrus. Once abundant in ocean waters of Atlantic Canada, including the Gulf of St. Lawrence, the animals were hunted to extinction by 1850. The two surviving populations rely on Canadian Arctic marine habitat and have coexisted with Indigenous peoples for millennia. 

Over the past few decades, the areas inhabited by the few thousand High Arctic walruses and the more numerous Central and Low Arctic population have shrunk and continue to do so. As the climate warms and sea ice recedes, interaction with industry and tourism is increasing. These threats, layered upon ongoing harvesting, led the committee to recommend a status of Special Concern for both populations. 

According to marine mammal expert and COSEWIC member Hal Whitehead, "The walrus is a most unusual and distinctive mammal of the northern seas. Walruses have been very important to the Inuit, both as food and in their culture, and they remain so today. Walruses are particularly sensitive to disturbance, and certainly deserve special attention."

Many caribou populations have previously been assessed by COSEWIC, but the committee considered the Eastern Migratory Caribou for the first time. The famous George River herd in Québec and Labrador numbered over 800,000 in 1993, but the numbers have now fallen to an unprecedented low of a few thousand animals. A second major herd is also in serious decline. The committee therefore recommended Endangered status. 

Graham Forbes, co-chair of COSEWIC's Terrestrial Mammals Subcommittee, stressed the sensitivity of caribou to human activity, a condition complicated by rapid northern climate change: "Shrubs increasingly cover landscapes that were once dominated by lichen, caribou's major winter food source, and overharvest continues. We are worried that these factors may make it very hard for herds to recover."

Parts of Canada's North are warming faster than anywhere else in the world, and the number of northern species at risk is rising. Over half of these at-risk species are currently assessed as being of Special Concern, meaning measures to address climate change and good management of hunting, disturbance, and development are needed to prevent their status from deteriorating to Threatened. 

Yukon Fish and Wildlife Management Board Chair, Frank Thomas, highlighted the need to coordinate efforts toward this goal: "Local communities, through the work of management boards, play an important role in the conservation of Canada's northern biodiversity. We all need to work together."

Eric Taylor, Chair of COSEWIC, echoed Mr. Thomas' call to action: "Canada's biodiversity is at risk from coast to coast to coast, and timely action on many fronts is required, from dealing with habitat disturbance and overharvesting to concerted efforts to combat the effects of climate change."

At the meeting, a number of other wildlife species were found to be at risk. Examples include:

Endangered

• Ord's Kangaroo Rat (neither a kangaroo nor a rat), a rare Prairie dune specialist
• Some populations of Lake Sturgeon, a large, very long-lived species affected by historical overfishing
• Butternut, a tree in eastern provinces devastated by a fungal disease.

Special Concern

• Harris's Sparrow, a northern songbird breeding only in Canada and showing ongoing declines largely due to pressures on their wintering grounds in the US
• Shortfin Mako, an open-ocean shark found seasonally in Atlantic Canadian waters and showing signs of recovery from overfishing.

>> Further details on all wildlife species assessed at this meeting can be found on the COSEWIC website <<

Harris’s Sparrow © G. Romanchuk (CNW Group/Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada)

Next meeting

COSEWIC's next scheduled wildlife species assessment meeting will be held in November 2017.

About COSEWIC

COSEWIC assesses the status of wild species, subspecies, varieties, or other important units of biological diversity, considered to be at risk in Canada. To do so, COSEWIC uses scientific, Aboriginal traditional and community knowledge provided by experts from governments, academia and other organizations. Summaries of assessments are currently available to the public on the COSEWIC website (www.cosewic.gc.ca) and will be submitted to the Federal Minister of the Environment and Climate Change in fall 2017 for listing consideration under the Species at Risk Act (SARA). At this time, the status reports and status appraisal summaries will be publicly available on the Species at Risk Public Registry (www.sararegistry.gc.ca).

At its most recent meeting, COSEWIC assessed 33 wildlife species in various COSEWIC risk categories, including 9 Endangered, 3 Threatened, and 13 Special Concern. In addition to these wildlife species that are in COSEWIC risk categories, COSEWIC assessed 1 wildlife species as Extinct and 5 as Not at Risk. An additional 2 were found to be Data Deficient.

COSEWIC comprises members from each provincial and territorial government wildlife agency, four federal entities (Canadian Wildlife Service, Parks Canada Agency, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, and the Canadian Museum of Nature), three Non-government Science Members, and the Co-chairs of the Species Specialist and the Aboriginal Traditional Knowledge Subcommittees.

Definition of COSEWIC terms and status categories:

• Wildlife Species: A species, subspecies, variety, or geographically or genetically distinct population of animal, plant or other organism, other than a bacterium or virus, that is wild by nature and is either native to Canada or has extended its range into Canada without human intervention and has been present in Canada for at least 50 years.
• Extinct (X): A wildlife species that no longer exists.
• Extirpated (XT): A wildlife species that no longer exists in the wild in Canada, but exists elsewhere.
• Endangered (E): A wildlife species facing imminent extirpation or extinction.
• Threatened (T): A wildlife species that is likely to become Endangered if nothing is done to reverse the factors leading to its extirpation or extinction. 
• Special Concern (SC): A wildlife species that may become Threatened or Endangered because of a combination of biological characteristics and identified threats.
• Not at Risk (NAR): A wildlife species that has been evaluated and found to be not at risk of extinction given the current circumstances. 
• Data Deficient (DD): A category that applies when the available information is insufficient (a) to resolve a wildlife species' eligibility for assessment or (b) to permit an assessment of the wildlife species' risk of extinction.
• Species at Risk: A wildlife species that has been assessed as Extirpated, Endangered, Threatened or Special Concern.

SOURCE: Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada

International Jazz Day 2017 Worldwide Celebration Concludes With All-Star Global Concert, In Havana, Cuba

TMIJ/UNESCO, International Jazz Day 2017, Sun. April 30.

Following thousands of events taking place in over 190 countries, International Jazz Day 2017 culminated in a phenomenal concert streamed worldwide from Havana's historic Gran Teatro de La Habana Alicia Alonso. As the International Jazz Day 2017 Global Host City, the musically vibrant city of Havana also presented a wide range of concerts and education programs in partnership with Cuba's Ministry of Culture, the Cuban Institute of Music, and the Cuban National Commission for UNESCO.

Established by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) in coordination with the Thelonious Monk Institute of Jazz, International Jazz Day is recognized on the official calendars of UNESCO and the United Nations. 

TMIJ/UNESCO, International Jazz Day 2017, Sun. April 30.

Each year on April 30, International Jazz Day highlights the role of jazz in promoting freedom, creativity and intercultural dialogue, and uniting people from all corners of the globe. Toyota served as Lead Partner of International Jazz Day 2017.

The Global Concert began with an all-star group of musicians from Cuba and around the world performing "Cuba Bop" and "Manteca" in tribute to the groundbreaking 1940s collaboration between Dizzy Gillespie and Chano Pozo that blended Afro-Cuban music and jazz. 

Acclaimed vocalist Cassandra Wilson performed her sultry composition "You Move Me" and Cuban trumpet virtuoso Julio Padrón played Freddie Hubbard's inventive "Byrdlike." Beloved Cuban vocalist Bobby Carcassés joined forces with master bassist and vocalist Richard Bona of Cameroon for a fiery rendition of the Latin jazz tune "Bilongo."

"Bésame Mucho" showcased the global influence of jazz, with pianists Youn Sun Nah (Republic of Korea) and Tarek Yamani (Lebanon); bassist Esperanza Spalding and violinist Regina Carter (United States); and drummer Antonio Sánchez (Mexico). To mark the centennial of jazz icon Thelonious Monk, legendary Cuban pianists Gonzalo Rubalcaba and Chucho Valdés gave a stunning performance of the classic "Blue Monk." 

The concert came to a exhilarating end with artists including pianist Herbie Hancock, bassist Marcus Miller, vocalists Kurt Elling and Ivan Lins, French guitarist Marc Antoine, and Cuban percussionists Yaroldi Abreu, Adel González, Ramsés Rodriguez and Oscar Valdés performing the John Lennon anthem "Imagine."

For more information, visit www.unesco.org/days/jazzday     

The Video:

SOURCE: Thelonious Monk Institute of Jazz

Trump Administration Executive Order Threatens Millions Of American Jobs And Billions In GDP

Today, the Trump administration announced plans to expand offshore oil drilling in U.S. waters, threatening recreation, tourism, fishing and other coastal industries, which provide more than 1.4 million jobs and $95 billion GDP along the Atlantic coast alone. 

• The executive order directs the Interior Department to develop a new five-year oil and gas leasing program to consider new areas for offshore drilling. 
• The order also blocks the creation of new national marine sanctuaries and orders a review of all existing sanctuaries and marine monuments designated or expanded in the past ten years.

"Our ocean, waves and beaches are vital recreational, economic and ecological treasures that would be polluted by an increase in offshore oil drilling, regardless of whether or not there is a spill," said Dr. Chad Nelsen, CEO of the Surfrider Foundation. "With today's action, the Trump administration is putting the interests of the oil and gas lobby over the hundreds of communities, thousands of businesses, and millions of citizens who rely on the ocean and coasts for their jobs and livelihoods." 

New offshore drilling would threaten thousands of miles of coastline and billions in GDP, for a relatively small amount of oil. Ocean tourism and recreation, worth an estimated $100 billion annually nationwide, provides 12 times the amount of jobs to the U.S. economy, compared to offshore oil production. Even under the best-case scenario, America's offshore oil reserves would provide only about 920 days, or 18 months supply of oil at our current rate of consumption, according to federal agency estimates.

"Tourism drives our local economy, and the approval of offshore drilling poses a huge threat to the livelihood and quality of life in our beach community," said Nicole D.C. Kienlen, Tourism Director of Bradley Beach, New Jersey. "The effects would be devastating on multiple levels."

Even when there are no accidents, offshore oil drilling seriously pollutes our water and food supply at every stage. The ground penetration, the drilling, the rigs, and the transportation tankers all release toxic chemicals and leaked oil. The standard process of drilling releases thousands of gallons of polluted water into the ocean. High concentrations of metals have been found around drilling platforms in the Gulf of Mexico and have been shown to accumulate in fish, mussels and other seafood.

"The Trump administration wants to pour money in to a sinking ship with relatively small return, instead of supporting growth industries like coastal tourism and renewable energy that are adding jobs to our economy," said Pete Stauffer, Environmental Director for the Surfrider Foundation. "We will stand up for what's best for the nation, and our oceans, by fighting new offshore drilling off our coasts."

Find out more and get involved at Surfrider.org

About Surfrider Foundation
The Surfrider Foundation is a non-profit grassroots organization dedicated to the protection and enjoyment of our world's oceans, waves and beaches through a powerful activist network. Founded in 1984 by a handful of visionary surfers in Malibu, California, the Surfrider Foundation now maintains over 500,000 supporters, activists and members, with more than 80 volunteer-led chapters and 60 clubs in the U.S., and more than 400 victories protecting our coasts.

 

SOURCE: Surfrider Foundation

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"Flying Pigs" Video Marks Arrival Of The All-New 2017 Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid [Video Included]

“Flying Pigs” video marks arrival of the all-new 2017 Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid

The Chrysler brand is celebrating the arrival of the all-new 2017 Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid with a new 60-second video "Flying Pigs," which will begin running across digital media channels beginning Friday, April 28. "Flying Pigs" can be viewed on the Chrysler brand's official YouTube page, in addition to the brand's social channels Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. The all-new 2017 Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid minivan is arriving in dealerships now. 

"If I had told you even two years ago that the Chrysler brand would transform the minivan segment with the industry's first hybrid minivan, and that it would achieve 84 MPGe, with class-leading features and innovations, including hybrid-exclusive technology features, including a smartphone app, deliver relevant vehicle information, such as charge status and scheduling, charging station locations and an 'efficiency coach' for more efficient driving, many consumers would have said they'll believe it 'when pigs fly'," said Tim Kuniskis, Head of Passenger Car Brands – Dodge, SRT, Chrysler and FIAT, FCA – North America. "With the all-new 2017 Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid arriving into dealerships, consumers will no longer have to say they'll believe it when they see it, and can now experience it firsthand for themselves."

"To celebrate this next critical chapter in our Minivan Firsts – our story requires a very specific message – one that speaks to two very distinct audiences (parents and children)," said Olivier Francois, Chief Marketing Officer – FCA Global. "Through the spot's unique story-telling device, flying pigs and blue moons are seen as the device to highlight segment-first features that are almost unbelievable and will appeal to adults and kids alike."

The 60-second "Flying Pigs" video opens in an animated picture-book view, from the perspective of a young boy and his sister sitting in the passenger seats of the all-new 2017 Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid as their parents take the minivan for a test drive. As mom and dad learn about the class-leading safety and technology features, the children see the unexpected as they gaze into the sky through the Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid's tri-pane panoramic sunroof. With sweeping CGI aerial shots that include flying pigs, "down under" freezing over and a blue moon, the moral of the story is that the all-new Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid defies all conventional thinking.

As the original creator of the minivan more than 30 years ago, FCA US LLC has transformed the segment with firsts, notching 78 innovations through the first five minivan generations.

"Flying Pigs" was created in partnership with Goodby Silverstein & Partners.

The Video:  
SOURCE: FCA US LLC