Seeds placed in Norwegian vault as agricultural ‘insurance policy’

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Seeds placed in Norwegian vault as agricultural ‘insurance policy’
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Wednesday, February 27, 2008

The Svalbard Global Seed Vault, a vault containing millions of seeds from all over the world, saw its first deposits on Tuesday. Located 800 kilometers from the North Pole on the Norwegian island of Spitsbergen, the vault has been referred to by European Commission president José Manuel Barroso as a “frozen Garden of Eden“. It is intended to preserve crop supplies and secure biological diversity in the event of a worldwide disaster.

“The opening of the seed vault marks a historic turning point in safeguarding the world’s crop diversity,” said Cary Fowler, executive director of the Global Crop Diversity Trust which is in charge of collecting the seed samples. The Norwegian government, who owns the bank, built it at a cost of $9.1 million.

At the opening ceremony, 100 million seeds from 268,000 samples were placed inside the vault, where there is room for over 2 billion seeds. Each of the samples originated from a different farm or field, in order to best ensure biological diversity. These crop seeds included such staples as rice, potatoes, barley, lettuce, maize, sorghum, and wheat. No genetically modified crops were included. (Beyond politics they are generally sterile so of no use.)

It is very important for Africa to store seeds here because anything can happen to our national seed banks.

Constructed deep inside a mountain and protected by concrete walls, the “doomsday vault” is designed to withstand earthquakes, nuclear warfare, and floods resulting from global warming. Norwegian Prime Minister Jens Stoltenberg called it an “insurance policy” against such threats.

With air-conditioned temperatures of -18 degrees Celsius, experts say the seeds could last for an entire millennium. Some crops will be able to last longer, like sorghum, which the Global Crop Diversity Trust says can last almost 20 millenniums. Even if the refrigeration system fails, the vaults are expected to stay frozen for 200 years.

The Prime Minister said, “With climate change and other forces threatening the diversity of life that sustains our planet, Norway is proud to be playing a central role in creating a facility capable of protecting what are not just seeds, but the fundamental building blocks of human civilization.” Stoltenberg, along with Kenyan Nobel Peace Prize laureate Wangari Maathai, made the first deposit of rice to the vault.

“It is very important for Africa to store seeds here because anything can happen to our national seed banks,” Maathai said. The vault will operate as a bank, allowing countries to use their deposited seeds free of charge. It will also serve as a backup to the thousands of other seed banks around the world.

“Crop diversity will soon prove to be our most potent and indispensable resource for addressing climate change, water and energy supply constraints and for meeting the food needs of a growing population,” Cary Fowler said.

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Uncategorized September 14th 2022

Emergency at JDS Uniphase in San Jose, CA

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Emergency at JDS Uniphase in San Jose, CA
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Friday, March 3, 2006

The San Jose, California fire department and Hazardous Materials crews today responded to a chemical emergency at a JDS Uniphase manufacturing facility. The incident, at 80 Rose Orchard Drive, off North First St., sent between 15 and 17 people, including two firefighters, to the hospital with symptoms and for observation.

Those exposed to the hazard reported a smell of “burnt rubber”, along with symptoms of eye and throat irritation.

Over 48 others were held in a nearby building while the incident was assessed. Rose Orchard Way was closed for much of the day while emergency crews responded. Estimates put the incident at about 10 a.m. (1800 UTC).

As of 6 p.m. television news reports, authorities still had not determined the source or nature of the chemical, but said neighboring buildings were not in danger.

JDS Uniphase manufactures fiber optic communications and test equipment, and was formed from a merger of JDS FITEL and Uniphase Corporation in 1999.

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Uncategorized September 14th 2022

Flowering Plants That Attract Butterflies}

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Submitted by: Eunilda Carpio

In this article, I want to talk about plants, but not all kinds. I want to mention some in particular that every outdoor lover enjoys. These plants bring about not only beauty but also a sincere meaning behind them. They come in different types and in an array colors. Im talking about the ones that attract butterflies to them. Truly, flowering plants and butterflies are made for each other.

In order to attract butterflies to your garden, you need to know exactly what they look for nectar. Plant annual blooming plants amongst your perennial blooming plants to ensure continuous nectar throughout the year. Asters and Parsley are two of the perennials that provide food for the larval hosts. Remember that the more food you provide, the more species of butterfly that you will attract. Plant a garden that will provide continuous bloom as butterflies are active from spring to fall.

Additionally, they like sunny open spaces, shelter from the wind, and freshwater. Specifically, they look for host plants to lay their eggs. Herbs are very attractive to butterflies because they provide a great environment for their eggs.

The following are some of many flowering plants that are attractive to butterflies:

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bGmuwSPRRbY[/youtube]

Lilac: comes in seven different colors, but most of us are familiar with the lilac color. They are perfect for your garden due to their pleasant fragrance. Most lilacs which bloom in the northern states for 2 weeks in late may. They also bloom in early- mid- and late season. They can grow from 5 to 15 feet. They need full sun exposure.

Ironweed: is a late summer bloomer. Ironweed sends flower stalks up to 7 feet. It lasts well into the fall season. It provides nectar for the butterflies that mate in the later seasons. Some species can be used as edible leaf vegetables, such as Vernonia Calvoana, Vernonia Amygdalina, and Vernonia Colorata. Lastly, Ironweed is known to be a larval host for the American Painted Lady butterfly.

Parsley: is the favorite food of black swallowtail caterpillars. It looks beautiful as a border in your flower bed or spilling out of a hanging planter. Parsley is a familiar herb that provides an attractive decoration and a special flavor and nutritious value to dishes.

Coneflower: is easy to grow and provides masses of tall purple bloom. It is also known as a butterfly magnet for its wide variety of colors and prefer by gardeners for its beauty.

Butterfly weed: is a must have in every garden. It tolerates dry soil well, is low maintenance, and has a beautiful flower that can be used as green foliage in your garden when it is not bloom.

Sunflower: is alluring to butterflies, hummingbirds as well as songbirds. They are easy to grow as long as the soil is not soaked. They make an excellent cut flower.

Citrus: are a common place for butterflies to lay their eggs. Popular citrus plants for butterflies include lemons, limes, and oranges.

Dahlia: are big and beautiful shining plants in the garden.

Joe-pye weed: are clusters of pink-purple blooms with a fragrance similar to vanilla. They bloom well into the fall season. Joe-pye weed look great in a cultivated flower bed.The entire plant can be used, including the root and fresh flower, for herbal tea.

Pentas: are plants that have hairy green leaves and clusters of flowers. They come in many shades of white, red, pink, and purple. Pentas are attractive to butterflies and hummingbirds.

About the Author: With this information in mind, choose some of these beautiful plants to add to your garden. Itll be pleasant to sit down and look at all of your different flowering plants in bloom. Youll add some color and vibrancy to your garden decor. It will give you great pleasure to know that you contributed to the environment by providing shelter for butterflies while bringing beauty to your yard. Itll also make a great ambiance to bring friends and family. Dont forget that it is important to know which kinds of butterfly are native to your area when pickings your plants! Come over to

gardendecorplanet.com

we have a huge variety of garden decor to match with your plants.

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Finance September 13th 2022

Ontario Votes 2007: Interview with Family Coalition Party candidate Kristen Monster, Willowdale

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Ontario Votes 2007: Interview with Family Coalition Party candidate Kristen Monster, Willowdale
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Wednesday, October 3, 2007

Kristen Monster is running for the Family Coalition Party in the Ontario provincial election, in the Willowdale riding. Wikinews’ Nick Moreau interviewed her regarding her values, her experience, and her campaign.

Stay tuned for further interviews; every candidate from every party is eligible, and will be contacted. Expect interviews from Liberals, Progressive Conservatives, New Democratic Party members, Ontario Greens, as well as members from the Family Coalition, Freedom, Communist, Libertarian, and Confederation of Regions parties, as well as independents.

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Uncategorized September 11th 2022

Andrea Muizelaar on fashion, anorexia, and life after ‘Top Model’

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Andrea Muizelaar on fashion, anorexia, and life after ‘Top Model’
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Monday, November 26, 2007

In the 18 months since Andrea Muizelaar was crowned winner of the reality TV series Canada’s Next Top Model, her life has been a complete whirlwind. From working in a dollar store in her hometown of Whitby, Ontario, to modeling haute couture in Toronto, she had reached her dream of becoming a true Top Model.

But at what cost? Unknown to casual television viewers, Muizelaar had been enveloped in the eating disorder anorexia nervosa, which inevitably became too much for her to bear. She gave up modeling and moved back to Whitby, where she sought treatment for her disorder, re-entered college, and now works at a bank. Where is she now? Happy and healthy, she says.

Recently Andrea Muizelaar sat down with Wikinews reporter Mike Halterman in a candid interview that stretched to nearly two hours, as she told all about her hopes and aspirations, her battle with anorexia, and just what really happened on Canada’s Next Top Model.

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Uncategorized September 11th 2022

Bush attempts to reassure Americans in radio address

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Bush attempts to reassure Americans in radio address
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Saturday, October 11, 2008

George W. Bush, the President of the United States, has attempted to reassure Americans on the economy in his weekly radio address.

“Over the past few days, we have witnessed a startling drop in the stock market — much of it driven by uncertainty and fear,” he said, introducing the address. “Many Americans have serious concerns about their economic well-being.”

Bush then pointed out the action that the government is taking. “Here are the problems we face and the steps we are taking: First, key markets are not functioning because there is a lack of liquidity. So the Federal Reserve has injected hundreds of billions of dollars into the system. The Fed has joined with central banks around the world to coordinate a cut in interest rates — a step that should help free up credit. The Fed has also announced a new program to provide support for a vital tool that many American businesses use to finance their day-to-day operations — the commercial paper market, which is freezing up. As this program kicks in over the next week or so, it will help revive a key source of short-term financing for businesses and financial institutions.”

“Second, some Americans are concerned about whether their money is safe,” continued the president. “So the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation and the National Credit Union Administration have significantly expanded the amount of money insured in savings accounts and checking accounts and certificates of deposit. That means that if you have up to $250,000 in one of these insured accounts, every penny of that money is safe. The Treasury Department has also acted to restore confidence in a key element of America’s financial system by offering government insurance for money market mutual funds.”

Bush then said that there was an issue with fraud in the economy. He stated that, to address this issue, “the Securities and Exchange Commission is launching rigorous enforcement actions to detect fraud and manipulation in the market.”

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The Dow Jones Industrial Average yesterday fell to its lowest level in five years at 8,579.19, falling 679 points in one day. This, at 7.3%, is the eleventh largest percentage fall in the history of the index. The growth then continued, with the index being up over 150 points on the start of the day at one point.

The index, did however, recover, and as of 19:30 UTC was up 17.68 points, or 0.21%, pushing the index up to almost 8600.

12:00, 11 October, 2008 (UTC)
  • DJIA
    		•  8.451,19 128,00 1,49%
  • Nasdaq
    		•  1.649,51 4,39 0.27%
  • S&P 500
    		•  899,22 10,70 1,18%
  • S&P TSX
    		•  9.065,16 535,02 5.57%
  • IPC
    		•  19.905,30 404,93 1,99%
  • Merval
    		•  1.215,990 71.340 5,54%
  • Bovespa
    		•  35.609,54 1,479.75 3,99%
  • FTSE 100
    		•  3.932,06 381,74 8,85%
  • DAX
    		•  4.544,31 342,69 7,01%
  • CAC 40
    		•  3.176,49 266,21 7,73%
  • SMI
    		•  5.347,22 451,62 7,79%
  • AEX
    		•  258,05 23,92 8,48%
  • BEL20
    		•  2.123,44 117,44 5,24%
  • MIBTel
    		•  15.438,00 1,081,00 6,54%
  • IBEX 35
    		•  8.997,70 905,20 9,14%
  • All Ordinaries
    		•  3.939,50 351,80 8,20%
  • Nikkei
    		•  8.276,43 881,06 9,62%
  • Hang Seng
    		•  14.796,90 1,146,37 7,19%
  • SSE Composite
    		•  2.000,57 74,01 3,57%
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    Uncategorized September 9th 2022

    Frequently Asked Questions On Services Of An Electrician

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    1. Can the small electric tasks at home be managed on our own?

    In Australian mainland, it is illegal for anyone to carry out any domestic electrical jobs such as wiring or installations of appliances without a license. Its not just risky but even if the work is upto the marking standards, it will not pass certification unless a qualified electrician undertakes it. This is even more important if you ever plan to sell the property. Further, the risk is always there or your near and dear ones since it’s not assured and tested by a professional.

    2. Why does an electrician need to be licensed?

    Only a licensed electrician can grant a Certificate of Compliance. It is essentially a legal document for the government which is signed by your qualified electrician on completion of the job. It basically states that the electric work was completed in compliance with the set standards of Electricity Act 1996 and hence meets all the necessary safety protocols. The Certificate can only be issued by a licensed electrician and remains with the customer for record keeping.

    3. What is the avg. cost of having an electrician do repairs/installations?

    Costs lie anywhere between $50 to $100 per hour, completely depending on the electrician’s experience and qualifications and the complexity of the task at hand. This fees only includes the service charges of the electrician and not any parts or spare tools.

    4. How is an RCD different from a fuse?

    A residual current device is just not designed to stop a circuit from overloading. It is used to prevent a fatal shock if someone touches a live wire. This level of protection is far beyond what you can get with the typical older wire fuses found in homes that were built more than a decade ago.

    5. What all services can an electrician provide?

    Depending on whether you are looking to get your home serviced or a commercial/ official space of yours, services and their scale varies. Services can include maintenance jobs & servicing, installation of Home Theatre & Multi-Room Audio, full house wiring, data communications, Ventilation Solutions, Lighting design & installations/audit/repair, AC servicing and installation, Security CCTVs and alarms, Heat Pumps, Solar Power Systems, Underfloor heating, automated home systems.

    6. What does Home Automation essentially mean?

    By better designing, programming and integrating your electrical appliances, clever home automation enables your family to enjoy greater comfort and security in your home. By making it easier for you to pick and integrate the home automation that best fits you and your family, we help you build your dream home.

    ‘Future proofing’, easy usage, aesthetics or energy savings include home automation advantages.

    The spectrum of home automation can range from organised cabling for telephone, video intercom, internet, LAN and video, to automatic control of electric motorised blinds, motorised roller shutters, watering, air-conditioning, exhaust fans, ceiling fans, and other appliances, through home theatre and multi-room audio, automated lighting control, protection and keyless entry.

    7. What is Smart Wiring? Can I install it myself?

    Smart Wiring is an industry wiring standard that allows numerous telephones, Internet, fax, PAY-TV options, as well as security, audio, home automation lighting, and garden irrigation features to be accessed once installed.

    The professional installers are not just experienced but also highly qualified. They are licenced and electrical cablers, who have also undergone specific accreditation training in the Smart Wired system. Only Smart Wired certified installers can install the system.

    8. What makes copper wiring a first choice compared to other?

    The copper wiring solutions meet all the Australian Standards and work well universally for all systems alike. Its installation is also cheaper, the product is more durable and effective than any other system that includes optic fibre or wireless systems. Its uniqueness lies in the ability to carry large amounts of data smoothly and quickly.

    Electrical Services September 8th 2022

    Chicago chef invents edible menu

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    Chicago chef invents edible menu
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    Sunday, February 13, 2005Cordon-bleu chef Homaru Cantu has announced a technique which allows him to create dishes made of edible, inkjet printed paper. Cantu, a head chef at the Moto restaurant in Chicago, has modified an ink-jet printer with the help of computer specialists from local firm Deep Labs and loaded it with cartridges containing concoctions of fruit and vegetables. Using this modified printer Cantu then prints onto edible sheets of soybean and potato starch tasty images downloaded from the web.

    “You can make an ink-jet printer do just about anything,” says Cantu. Once the items have been printed they are dipped into a powder made of soy sauce, sugar and vegetables before then being further processed by frying, freezing, or baking them.

    Cantu has applied the technique to the printing of menus so that diners can further flavor their soups by ripping up the menu and adding it to the dish.

    He hopes that his idea may find its way into popular media. “Just imagine going through a magazine and looking at an ad for pizza. You wonder what it tastes like, so you rip a page out and eat it,” says the chef who is working at perfecting the flavors and has applied for a patent on the technique.

    Cantu also has plans for further culinary innovations. He plans to cook steak using a handheld laser that will sear the inside of the steak well done whilst leaving the outside medium rare. He also plans to use the laser to produce bread baked from the inside out thus producing a crust on the inside.

    Retrieved from “https://en.wikinews.org/w/index.php?title=Chicago_chef_invents_edible_menu&oldid=1985407”
    Uncategorized September 8th 2022

    US Senate committee investigates credit card practices

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    US Senate committee investigates credit card practices
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    Wednesday, December 5, 2007

    On Tuesday, the United States Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs‘s Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations held a hearing titled “Credit Card Practices: Unfair Interest Rate Increases.” The hearing examined the circumstances under which credit card issuers may increase the interest rates of cardholders who are in compliance with the terms of their credit cards. It was a follow-up to a March 2007 hearing.

    Subcommittee Chairman Carl Levin said in his opening statement: “Today’s focus is on credit card issuers who hike the interest rates of cardholders who play by the rules — meaning those folks who pay on time, pay at least the minimum amount due, and wake up one day to find their interest rate has gone through the roof — again, not because they paid late or exceeded the credit limit, but because their credit card issuer decided they should be ‘repriced’.”

    Present to testify on behalf of credit card issuers were Roger C. Hochschild of Discover Financial Services, Bruce L. Hammonds of Bank of America Corporation, and Ryan Schneider of Capital One Financial Corporation.

    Much of the 90 minute hearing focused on specific cases where interest rates were raised, allegedly because credit scores of the debtor dropped, and not because they were delinquent or otherwise behind on payments. According to Levin, this practice made it so that almost all payments went towards finance charges with almost none toward repaying the principal. This, he felt, is an unfair practice, as the credit card companies were negligent in informing their customers of the rate hikes and the reason for such hikes.

    Families find themselves ensnared in a seemingly inescapable web of credit card debt.

    The collective credit card debt of Americans totals an estimated US$900 billion. Issuers have come under pressure to disclose their policies in regards to setting fees and interest rates. The US Truth in Lending Act requires that terms of a loan be set forth up front. Fluctuating interest rates on credit cards would, on the surface, appear to violate this act.

    Roger C. Hochschild disagreed, arguing that “every card transaction is a new extension of credit … This makes it difficult — and risky — to underwrite, and price, the loan based solely on the borrower’s credit-worthiness at the time of application [for the card].”

    Ryan Schneider, agreed: “The ability to modify the terms of a credit card agreement to accommodate changes over time to the economy or the credit-worthiness of consumers must be preserved.”

    “Attempts to interfere with the market here … will inevitably result in less credit being offered,” warned Bruce Hammonds. “Risk-based pricing has democratized access to credit,” he added.

    All three credit card executives also mentioned an ongoing Federal Reserve System review of credit card rules that already proposes a 45-day notification ahead of any rate changes.

    Committee members criticized the industry for varying practices. Included in the criticism was the practice of mailing checks to card-holders, failing to notify applicants that obtaining additional cards could lower their credit score and raise their rates, and “ambushing” card-holders with raised rates.

    Ranking minority member of the subcommittee, Norm Coleman said, “families find themselves ensnared in a seemingly inescapable web of credit card debt. They particularly report being saddled with interest rates that skyrocketed on them seemingly out of the blue.”

    Retrieved from “https://en.wikinews.org/w/index.php?title=US_Senate_committee_investigates_credit_card_practices&oldid=4531935”
    Uncategorized September 7th 2022

    Get Your Dream Bike: Motor Bike Loans

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    Submitted by: Eunice Scott

    You are the proud owner of this two wheeler, which accompanies you wherever you go and every time you think about making it different from others. Yes, it is a motor bike, passion of today s younger generation. But to get a motor bike is not at all an easy task today. With the price of bikes soaring high, it needs a good finance to avail a bike of your choice. However, with the help of motor bike loans, the youngsters of the UK can always get finance for bikes.

    There are innumerable lenders in the loan market, who provide motor bike loans on competitive rates. However, before selecting any lender, you should research properly. You should compare every offer of motor bike loans on the basis of its annual percentage rate. From the loan quotes provided by the lender, you can understand the details of annual percentage rate. After getting all possible inputs regarding this annual percentage rate and other loan terms, you can choose the best offer.

    [youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v_azCUm-sKk[/youtube]

    Now, the question is how you can get a lender with good annual percentage rate. Answer is the online method. Just go to any search engines, type your request and click it. Within a moment, you can access a large number of online lenders, who will offer several loan quotes regarding motor bike loans. This method is again cheap and secure of all other prevailing method of applying for these loans.

    Now, you can get motor bike loans both as secured and unsecured form. If you are ready to place your home or any related assets as security, you can get motor bike loans in secured form. Whereas, if you do not own any property or do not want to place any security for the loaned amount, you can avail these loans in unsecured form.

    About the Author: Eunice Scott is a financial advisor at Motor Loans UK and provides advices on finance and insurance. In recent years he has taken up to provide independant financial advice. To find motor bike loans,motor car loans,auto motor loans,motor loans,Cheap motor loans visit

    motorloansuk.co.uk

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    Finance September 7th 2022
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