csmonitor--2020-09-14--Himalayan pullback: The tense history of India-China border

“ The countries desperately prize their sovereignty … so even losing a sliver of unimportant land carries a lot of political weight , ” says Arzan Tarapore of Stanford University ’ s Asia-Pacific Research Center .
“ There is a political significance to this high , barren land that isn ’ t amenable to economic or strategic analysis.
” But deep distrust and rising nationalism on both sides , coupled with tens of thousands of troops arrayed along the border , mean the escalation will not completely dial down overnight .
China may be asserting itself for the same reason @ @ @ @ @ @ @ toward Hong Kong , Taiwan , and the South China Sea – to show that it remains strong , despite internal challenges from the pandemic and economic slowdown .
“ The current situation in the border areas is not in the interest of either side , ” said the statement from their foreign ministers , signed in Moscow .
Late last week , India and China pledged to de-escalate the tensest standoff along their border in decades .
Hand-to-hand fighting in June caused the first combat deaths along the border since 1975 , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ firing shots earlier this month .
Beijing and New Delhi are taking steps to prevent recent clashes along their disputed border from escalating out of control .
But deep mistrust and nationalism , coupled with tens of thousands of troops now arrayed along the remote frontier , make that challenging .
Tensions have long simmered along India ’ s disputed border with China , but the latest clashes mark an unusual escalation .
The bloody , hand-to-hand fighting in June caused the first combat deaths along the border since 1975 .
Twenty Indian @ @ @ @ @ @ @ China also had casualties , but Beijing has offered no details .
Both countries accused each other of firing shots in September , the first time since the 1975 skirmish .
Back in May , India accused Chinese soldiers of crossing the de facto border known as the Line of Actual Control and of building encampments , while China countered that India had crossed the LAC and provoked attacks .
India was building roads and other infrastructure that Beijing may have viewed as threatening to the status quo , experts say .
A @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the border lies .
British India and Tibet signed a treaty establishing the frontier as the McMahon Line in 1914 , but China never accepted that as the official legal border .
In 1962 , Chinese troops crossed the McMahon Line and pushed deep into Indian territory in a monthlong war that left more than 1,000 Indians and several hundred Chinese dead .
China then redrew the border unofficially to reflect these gains , calling it the Line of Actual Control .
India pushed back in a second conflict in 1967 , which @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Today , New Delhi and Beijing disagree on the LAC ’ s location .
What efforts are underway to resolve the conflict ?
India ’ s external affairs minister , Subrahmanyam Jaishankar , and Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi met in Moscow and issued a five-point statement on Sept. 10 , pledging that forces on both sides should “ continue their dialogue , quickly disengage , maintain proper distance , and ease tensions.
” They also agreed that the forces should abide by existing agreements on military border patrols , which include a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ The current situation in the border areas is not in the interest of either side , ” the statement said .
The agreement is a significant step to prevent the conflict from spiraling out of control , but it does not guarantee de-escalation , Asia experts say , noting that earlier plans by both sides to disengage have been followed by clashes .
“ There is an absolute dearth of trust on both sides , especially on the Indian side , ” says Arzan Tarapore , a South Asia research scholar at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Doubts over compliance , coupled with the current militarization of the border – with an estimated 40,000 to 50,000 troops positioned there by each country – mean China and India are unlikely to return to the status quo .
The border will “ look different in 2021 than it did prior to this crisis , ” he says .
From India ’ s perspective , China has raised the stakes by ordering its military to occupy Indian territory – essentially a quick land grab – instead of making a temporary incursion as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , who is also a senior nonresident fellow at the National Bureau of Asian Research .
To prevent such tactics , India dispatched special forces soldiers to occupy some strategic high ground on India ’ s side , complicating future moves by China , he says .
For its part , China denies its military crossed into Indian territory .
What are the longer-term implications ?
China may be asserting itself along the border with India for the same reason it has taken more aggressive stances recently toward Hong Kong , Taiwan , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ show that , despite internal challenges from COVID-19 and an economic slowdown , it remains strong .
“ It ’ s a warning to the Indian side , ” says Oriana Skylar Mastro , an expert on China ’ s military at the Freeman Spogli Institute for International Studies at Stanford University .
India has also moved in recent years to strengthen territorial controls on its periphery , experts say .
Rising nationalism plays an important role for both China and India – a factor that makes the conflict over the desolate Himalayan @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and so difficult to resolve .
“ The countries desperately prize their sovereignty … so even losing a sliver of unimportant land carries a lot of political weight , ” says Dr. Tarapore .
“ There is a political significance to this high , barren land that isn ’ t amenable to economic or strategic analysis .
It ’ s about national pride and national sovereignty .
It ’ s about what it means to be China and what it means to be India .
”

“The countries desperately prize their sovereignty … so even losing a sliver of unimportant land carries a lot of political weight,” says Arzan Tarapore of Stanford University’s Asia-Pacific Research Center. “There is a political significance to this high, barren land that isn’t amenable to economic or strategic analysis.”
But deep distrust and rising nationalism on both sides, coupled with tens of thousands of troops arrayed along the border, mean the escalation will not completely dial down overnight. China may be asserting itself for the same reason it has taken more aggressive stances recently toward Hong Kong, Taiwan, and the South China Sea – to show that it remains strong, despite internal challenges from the pandemic and economic slowdown.
Fraught face-offs between two of the world’s most populous countries keep escalating the risk of more serious conflict. What do Beijing and New Delhi see at stake as they try to dial back tension?
“The current situation in the border areas is not in the interest of either side,” said the statement from their foreign ministers, signed in Moscow.
Late last week, India and China pledged to de-escalate the tensest standoff along their border in decades. Hand-to-hand fighting in June caused the first combat deaths along the border since 1975, and both countries accused each other of firing shots earlier this month.
Beijing and New Delhi are taking steps to prevent recent clashes along their disputed border from escalating out of control. But deep mistrust and nationalism, coupled with tens of thousands of troops now arrayed along the remote frontier, make that challenging.
Why has fighting erupted?
Tensions have long simmered along India’s disputed border with China, but the latest clashes mark an unusual escalation. The bloody, hand-to-hand fighting in June caused the first combat deaths along the border since 1975. Twenty Indian soldiers were killed, and India said China also had casualties, but Beijing has offered no details. Both countries accused each other of firing shots in September, the first time since the 1975 skirmish.
Why We Wrote This Fraught face-offs between two of the world’s most populous countries keep escalating the risk of more serious conflict. What do Beijing and New Delhi see at stake as they try to dial back tension?
Back in May, India accused Chinese soldiers of crossing the de facto border known as the Line of Actual Control and of building encampments, while China countered that India had crossed the LAC and provoked attacks. India was building roads and other infrastructure that Beijing may have viewed as threatening to the status quo, experts say.
A core issue is a disagreement over where the border lies. British India and Tibet signed a treaty establishing the frontier as the McMahon Line in 1914, but China never accepted that as the official legal border. In 1962, Chinese troops crossed the McMahon Line and pushed deep into Indian territory in a monthlong war that left more than 1,000 Indians and several hundred Chinese dead. China then redrew the border unofficially to reflect these gains, calling it the Line of Actual Control. India pushed back in a second conflict in 1967, which left scores dead on either side. Today, New Delhi and Beijing disagree on the LAC’s location.
What efforts are underway to resolve the conflict?
India’s external affairs minister, Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, and Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi met in Moscow and issued a five-point statement on Sept. 10, pledging that forces on both sides should “continue their dialogue, quickly disengage, maintain proper distance, and ease tensions.” They also agreed that the forces should abide by existing agreements on military border patrols, which include a prohibition on the use of firearms. “The current situation in the border areas is not in the interest of either side,” the statement said.
Bai Xueqi/Xinhua/AP View caption Hide caption India's external affairs minister, Subrahmanyam Jaishankar (left), and Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi stand together on the sidelines of a meeting of foreign ministers of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization in Moscow, Sept. 10, 2020. The ministers agreed that their troops should disengage from a tense border standoff and maintain proper distance.
The agreement is a significant step to prevent the conflict from spiraling out of control, but it does not guarantee de-escalation, Asia experts say, noting that earlier plans by both sides to disengage have been followed by clashes. “There is an absolute dearth of trust on both sides, especially on the Indian side,” says Arzan Tarapore, a South Asia research scholar at Stanford University’s Asia-Pacific Research Center. Doubts over compliance, coupled with the current militarization of the border – with an estimated 40,000 to 50,000 troops positioned there by each country – mean China and India are unlikely to return to the status quo. The border will “look different in 2021 than it did prior to this crisis,” he says.
From India’s perspective, China has raised the stakes by ordering its military to occupy Indian territory – essentially a quick land grab – instead of making a temporary incursion as in the past, says Dr. Tarapore, who is also a senior nonresident fellow at the National Bureau of Asian Research. To prevent such tactics, India dispatched special forces soldiers to occupy some strategic high ground on India’s side, complicating future moves by China, he says. For its part, China denies its military crossed into Indian territory.
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empower and uplift daily. By signing up, you agree to our Privacy Policy Already a subscriber? Log in to hide ads.
What are the longer-term implications?
China may be asserting itself along the border with India for the same reason it has taken more aggressive stances recently toward Hong Kong, Taiwan, and the South China Sea – to show that, despite internal challenges from COVID-19 and an economic slowdown, it remains strong. “It’s a warning to the Indian side,” says Oriana Skylar Mastro, an expert on China’s military at the Freeman Spogli Institute for International Studies at Stanford University. India has also moved in recent years to strengthen territorial controls on its periphery, experts say.
Rising nationalism plays an important role for both China and India – a factor that makes the conflict over the desolate Himalayan territory so vital for each side, and so difficult to resolve. “The countries desperately prize their sovereignty … so even losing a sliver of unimportant land carries a lot of political weight,” says Dr. Tarapore. “There is a political significance to this high, barren land that isn’t amenable to economic or strategic analysis. It’s about national pride and national sovereignty. It’s about what it means to be China and what it means to be India.”


csmonitor--2020-09-14--Israeli Jewish extremist handed 3 life terms for arson attack

An Israeli court on Monday handed down three life sentences to a Jewish extremist convicted in a 2015 arson attack that killed a Palestinian toddler and his parents .
The Lod District Court found Amiram Ben-Uliel , a Jewish settler , guilty of murder in May for the killing of the toddler Ali Dawabsheh by firebombing his home in the West Bank village of Duma .
The toddler ’ s mother , Riham , and father , Saad , later died of their wounds .
An older brother , Ahmad , survived the attack .
The court said Mr. Ben-Uliel @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and stemmed from the radical ideology he held , and racism.
” It said the punishment was “ close to the maximum penalty prescribed by the law.
” The 2015 arson attack came amid a wave of vigilante attacks on Palestinians in the occupied West Bank by suspected Jewish extremists .
The deadly firebombing in Duma touched a particularly sensitive nerve , drawing condemnation from across Israel ’ s political spectrum .
Critics , however , noted that lesser non-deadly attacks , such as firebombings that damaged mosques and churches , had @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the investigation into the Duma attack dragged on , Palestinians complained of a double-standard , where Palestinian suspects are quickly rounded up and prosecuted under a military legal system that gives them few rights while Jewish Israelis are protected by the country ’ s criminal laws .
“ What will the court ’ s decision give me ?
What will it give to Ahmad ?
” the child ’ s grandfather , Hussein Dawabsheh , told reporters outside the courtroom on Monday .
“ It won ’ t return anything to him.
” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Orian Ben-Uliel , told reporters after the sentencing that “ the judges didn ’ t seek justice or truth .
They decided to incriminate my husband at any price.
” She said the family would appeal to Israel ’ s Supreme Court .
The Shin Bet internal security service had said Mr. Ben-Uliel confessed to planning and carrying out the attack , and that two others were accessories .
It said he claimed the arson was in retaliation for the killing of an Israeli by Palestinians a month earlier .
Mr. Ben-Uliel belonged @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Hilltop Youth , ” a leaderless group of young people who set up unauthorized settlement outposts , usually clusters of trailers , on West Bank hilltops – land the Palestinians claim for their hoped-for state .
The Hilltop Youth have been known to attack Palestinians and even to clash with Israeli soldiers in response to perceived moves by the government to limit settlement activity .
Later in 2015 , Israel faced a wave of stabbing , shooting and car-ramming attacks by Palestinians .
Most were carried out by lone attackers with no connection @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reported by The Associated Press .

An Israeli court on Monday handed down three life sentences to a Jewish extremist convicted in a 2015 arson attack that killed a Palestinian toddler and his parents.
The Lod District Court found Amiram Ben-Uliel, a Jewish settler, guilty of murder in May for the killing of the toddler Ali Dawabsheh by firebombing his home in the West Bank village of Duma.
The toddler’s mother, Riham, and father, Saad, later died of their wounds. An older brother, Ahmad, survived the attack.
The court said Mr. Ben-Uliel’s “actions were meticulously planned, and stemmed from the radical ideology he held, and racism.” It said the punishment was “close to the maximum penalty prescribed by the law.”
The 2015 arson attack came amid a wave of vigilante attacks on Palestinians in the occupied West Bank by suspected Jewish extremists. The deadly firebombing in Duma touched a particularly sensitive nerve, drawing condemnation from across Israel’s political spectrum.
Critics, however, noted that lesser non-deadly attacks, such as firebombings that damaged mosques and churches, had gone unpunished for years. And as the investigation into the Duma attack dragged on, Palestinians complained of a double-standard, where Palestinian suspects are quickly rounded up and prosecuted under a military legal system that gives them few rights while Jewish Israelis are protected by the country’s criminal laws.
“What will the court’s decision give me? What will it give to Ahmad?” the child’s grandfather, Hussein Dawabsheh, told reporters outside the courtroom on Monday. “It won’t return anything to him.”
The convicted man’s wife, Orian Ben-Uliel, told reporters after the sentencing that “the judges didn’t seek justice or truth. They decided to incriminate my husband at any price.” She said the family would appeal to Israel’s Supreme Court.
The Shin Bet internal security service had said Mr. Ben-Uliel confessed to planning and carrying out the attack, and that two others were accessories. It said he claimed the arson was in retaliation for the killing of an Israeli by Palestinians a month earlier.
Mr. Ben-Uliel belonged to a movement known as the “Hilltop Youth,” a leaderless group of young people who set up unauthorized settlement outposts, usually clusters of trailers, on West Bank hilltops – land the Palestinians claim for their hoped-for state.
The Hilltop Youth have been known to attack Palestinians and even to clash with Israeli soldiers in response to perceived moves by the government to limit settlement activity.
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Later in 2015, Israel faced a wave of stabbing, shooting and car-ramming attacks by Palestinians. Most were carried out by lone attackers with no connection to militant groups.
This story was reported by The Associated Press.


csmonitor--2020-09-14--Beyond the gallery wall: Art world retrains the public, virtually

With travel limited , artists and their promoters are networking less in person .
Art collectors and aficionados have more opportunities to assess blank walls that need filling .
Painter Jeanne Rosier Smith credits a live video exhibit opening for a boost in sales of her work .
“ People are staying home with their families , ” she says .
“ Their worlds have become smaller .
They are looking around their space and wanting to bring joy and beauty into their lives now more than ever.
” There are virtual exhibit tours , artist interviews , educational classes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ benefits : the ability to reach a global audience , to provide access to those with restricted mobility , and to attract young people .
“ No matter how old school one might be , ” says gallery owner Sundaram Tagore , “ people in the art world were recognizing that technology is pervasive , and we all need to adapt to it .
COVID-19 has accelerated that process.
” It ’ s not a new rule of thirds that the art world wants to embrace : An estimated 1 out of 3 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the pandemic .
But like many types of nonprofit and for-profit businesses , museums and galleries have spent the past six months getting creative .
When a pipe burst in January at the Center for Maine Contemporary Art , it caused a flood that shuttered the popular museum in Rockland for a few months .
The crisis forced a deep dive into technology to keep audiences engaged – and it left the CMCA staff better prepared for the pandemic-related shutdown in mid-March .
“ The flood gave us a head start so @ @ @ @ @ @ @ respond rapidly and continue to offer the three-dimensional , virtual tours that we ’ d just produced , ” says CMCA Executive Director Suzette McAvoy .
“ We ’ d also received some great feedback by then , so we were awarded a grant that has helped us move forward.
” As museums and art galleries look for the resources to stay open and preserve staffing , some are finding that a hybrid approach – part virtual , part in-person – is the best way to engage with the public .
“ For @ @ @ @ @ @ @ been hard for people to understand the role that digital can play in the life of a museum .
But since we were forced to go digital in March , even our directors now refer to digital as our ‘ third campus , ’ ” says Derek O ’ Brien , chief marketing officer for the Peabody Essex Museum in Salem , Massachusetts .
The PEM , with campuses for both the museum and a collection center , recently reopened at limited capacity for fewer days than usual and will continue to host @ @ @ @ @ @ @ uncertainty , the art world is mustering as many options as it can .
Museums from Los Angeles to New York have been laying off and furloughing hundreds of employees since March .
In July , the American Alliance of Museums ( AAM ) released findings of its survey of 760 museum directors , including those from non-art institutions , confirming the extent of the economic toll caused by pandemic closures .
The group warned that 1 out of every 3 museums could close permanently as financial reserves and funding sources dry up @ @ @ @ @ @ @ could be devastating , according to the AAM .
“ Museums support 726,000 direct and indirect jobs and contribute $ 50 billion each year to the economy , ” the group said in a statement in July .
Lasting success for galleries in particular could come down to survival of the most innovative , according to Barry Schwabsky , art critic for The Nation .
“ Many galleries may not survive the crisis , but those that do will have to be more creative in their thinking , and perhaps smaller and more @ @ @ @ @ @ @ their ways of working , ” he wrote in a July 1 article , “ What Are Art Galleries For ?
” After six months of thinking on their feet , many galleries – and museums – are proving Mr. Schwabsky ’ s point .
They are stepping into the virtual realm with exhibit tours , artist interviews , educational classes , and more .
They are also discovering some surprising benefits : the ability to reach a global audience , to provide access to those with restricted mobility , and to attract @ @ @ @ @ @ @ limited , artists and their promoters are less busy jetting around the globe in a whirlwind of networking events .
Likewise , art collectors and aficionados are staying home more , offering more opportunities to assess blank walls that need filling .
Those interviewed concur that even the most dazzling virtual presentation can not replicate the experience of viewing art in person , but they acknowledge the vital importance of what ’ s often referred to as net art , and even seem upbeat about the hybrid experience that they agree is likely @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s a bit of a silver lining , ” says Mr. O ’ Brien , at the PEM , who previously worked in the tech industry .
He has been spearheading the online shift at PEM , and while excited about it , says it was difficult in early March when the museum had just opened a major exhibit on Jacob Lawrence and then , because of the pandemic , had to quickly capture it digitally for a virtual tour .
Sundaram Tagore , owner of the 20-year-old Sundaram Tagore Gallery with locations @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Hong Kong , says the pandemic-induced plunge into the digital realm was bound to happen .
“ No matter how old school one might be , ” he says , “ people in the art world were recognizing that technology is pervasive , and we all need to adapt to it .
COVID-19 has accelerated that process.
” His gallery , which states that its goal is to “ provide venues for art that transcends boundaries ” and is now open in all three cities , has embraced technology .
His team has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ aside private viewing rooms , and provided clients a tool to visualize how paintings would look in their homes .
Mr. Tagore also likes to promote studio visits with artists – but they must have a bit of star quality , he says .
Hiroshi Senju is one artist , he says , who is a natural for this medium .
“ Just producing art is no longer good enough , ” he explains .
“ An artist needs to speak well and be engaging and entertaining , or they will be left @ @ @ @ @ @ @ artist who has learned to love the camera .
But it took a bit of time .
Ms. Rosier Smith , who paints in her studio outside Boston and is represented by several East Coast galleries from Boothbay Harbor , Maine , to St. Simons Island , Georgia , typically enjoys mingling with people at art openings and was tentative at first about taking these events online .
But with pandemic restrictions halting those in-person openings , she realized she needed to jump in .
With 35,000 followers on Instagram , she recently @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a virtual tour of her exhibit at Gallery 31 in Orleans , Massachusetts .
To her delight , the event generated the briskest month of sales of her two-decade career .
“ I ’ ve been shaking my head in disbelief , ” she says .
“ More than 400 people watched , from California to Colorado and Texas .
That would never have been possible in person.
” While she credits the virtual venue for helping to broaden her reach , she also says the response speaks to something deeper .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Their worlds have become smaller .
They are looking around their space and wanting to bring joy and beauty into their lives now more than ever.
” Editor ’ s note : As a public service , we have removed our paywall for all pandemic-related stories .

How will the pandemic change the way the public interacts with art and artists? As galleries and museums look to technology, they are creating ways to enhance the online experience.
With travel limited, artists and their promoters are networking less in person. Art collectors and aficionados have more opportunities to assess blank walls that need filling. Painter Jeanne Rosier Smith credits a live video exhibit opening for a boost in sales of her work. “People are staying home with their families,” she says. “Their worlds have become smaller. They are looking around their space and wanting to bring joy and beauty into their lives now more than ever.”
There are virtual exhibit tours, artist interviews, educational classes, and more, with some surprising benefits: the ability to reach a global audience, to provide access to those with restricted mobility, and to attract young people. “No matter how old school one might be,” says gallery owner Sundaram Tagore, “people in the art world were recognizing that technology is pervasive, and we all need to adapt to it. COVID-19 has accelerated that process.”
It’s not a new rule of thirds that the art world wants to embrace: An estimated 1 out of 3 museums could close permanently as a result of the pandemic. But like many types of nonprofit and for-profit businesses, museums and galleries have spent the past six months getting creative.
When a pipe burst in January at the Center for Maine Contemporary Art, it caused a flood that shuttered the popular museum in Rockland for a few months. The crisis forced a deep dive into technology to keep audiences engaged – and it left the CMCA staff better prepared for the pandemic-related shutdown in mid-March.
“The flood gave us a head start so that when COVID hit, we could respond rapidly and continue to offer the three-dimensional, virtual tours that we’d just produced,” says CMCA Executive Director Suzette McAvoy. “We’d also received some great feedback by then, so we were awarded a grant that has helped us move forward.”
As museums and art galleries look for the resources to stay open and preserve staffing, some are finding that a hybrid approach – part virtual, part in-person – is the best way to engage with the public.
Why We Wrote This How will the pandemic change the way the public interacts with art and artists? As galleries and museums look to technology, they are creating ways to enhance the online experience.
“For a long time, it’s been hard for people to understand the role that digital can play in the life of a museum. But since we were forced to go digital in March, even our directors now refer to digital as our ‘third campus,’” says Derek O’Brien, chief marketing officer for the Peabody Essex Museum in Salem, Massachusetts. The PEM, with campuses for both the museum and a collection center, recently reopened at limited capacity for fewer days than usual and will continue to host virtual events.
At a time of uncertainty, the art world is mustering as many options as it can. Museums from Los Angeles to New York have been laying off and furloughing hundreds of employees since March. In July, the American Alliance of Museums (AAM) released findings of its survey of 760 museum directors, including those from non-art institutions, confirming the extent of the economic toll caused by pandemic closures. The group warned that 1 out of every 3 museums could close permanently as financial reserves and funding sources dry up.
Courtesy of CMCA View caption Hide caption The Center for Maine Contemporary Art in Rockland is inviting visitors to its airy in-person space, while also offering online events such as art lab workshops.
All told, the ripple effect could be devastating, according to the AAM. “Museums support 726,000 direct and indirect jobs and contribute $50 billion each year to the economy,” the group said in a statement in July.
Lasting success for galleries in particular could come down to survival of the most innovative, according to Barry Schwabsky, art critic for The Nation. “Many galleries may not survive the crisis, but those that do will have to be more creative in their thinking, and perhaps smaller and more nimble as well as more collaborative in their ways of working,” he wrote in a July 1 article, “What Are Art Galleries For?”
Reimagining interaction with art
After six months of thinking on their feet, many galleries – and museums – are proving Mr. Schwabsky’s point. They are stepping into the virtual realm with exhibit tours, artist interviews, educational classes, and more. They are also discovering some surprising benefits: the ability to reach a global audience, to provide access to those with restricted mobility, and to attract young people.
Also, with travel limited, artists and their promoters are less busy jetting around the globe in a whirlwind of networking events. Likewise, art collectors and aficionados are staying home more, offering more opportunities to assess blank walls that need filling.
Those interviewed concur that even the most dazzling virtual presentation cannot replicate the experience of viewing art in person, but they acknowledge the vital importance of what’s often referred to as net art, and even seem upbeat about the hybrid experience that they agree is likely here to stay.
“It’s a bit of a silver lining,” says Mr. O’Brien, at the PEM, who previously worked in the tech industry. He has been spearheading the online shift at PEM, and while excited about it, says it was difficult in early March when the museum had just opened a major exhibit on Jacob Lawrence and then, because of the pandemic, had to quickly capture it digitally for a virtual tour.
Transcending boundaries
Sundaram Tagore, owner of the 20-year-old Sundaram Tagore Gallery with locations in New York, Singapore, and Hong Kong, says the pandemic-induced plunge into the digital realm was bound to happen. “No matter how old school one might be,” he says, “people in the art world were recognizing that technology is pervasive, and we all need to adapt to it. COVID-19 has accelerated that process.”
Courtesy of The Peabody Essex Museum View caption Hide caption In April 2020, the Peabody Essex Museum held a virtual Q&A with producer and director DeMane Davis, whose most recent work is "Self Made: Inspired by The Life of Madam C.J. Walker," which debuted March 20 on Netflix. The four-part series stars Octavia Spencer, Blair Underwood, Carmen Ejogo, and Tiffany Haddish.
His gallery, which states that its goal is to “provide venues for art that transcends boundaries” and is now open in all three cities, has embraced technology. His team has developed sophisticated 3D virtual tours, set aside private viewing rooms, and provided clients a tool to visualize how paintings would look in their homes. Mr. Tagore also likes to promote studio visits with artists – but they must have a bit of star quality, he says. Hiroshi Senju is one artist, he says, who is a natural for this medium. “Just producing art is no longer good enough,” he explains. “An artist needs to speak well and be engaging and entertaining, or they will be left behind.”
Jeanne Rosier Smith is one artist who has learned to love the camera. But it took a bit of time. Ms. Rosier Smith, who paints in her studio outside Boston and is represented by several East Coast galleries from Boothbay Harbor, Maine, to St. Simons Island, Georgia, typically enjoys mingling with people at art openings and was tentative at first about taking these events online.
But with pandemic restrictions halting those in-person openings, she realized she needed to jump in. With 35,000 followers on Instagram, she recently chose Instagram Live as a venue for a virtual tour of her exhibit at Gallery 31 in Orleans, Massachusetts. To her delight, the event generated the briskest month of sales of her two-decade career. “I’ve been shaking my head in disbelief,” she says. “More than 400 people watched, from California to Colorado and Texas. That would never have been possible in person.”
Get stories that
empower and uplift daily. By signing up, you agree to our Privacy Policy Already a subscriber? Log in to hide ads.
While she credits the virtual venue for helping to broaden her reach, she also says the response speaks to something deeper. “People are staying home with their families. Their worlds have become smaller. They are looking around their space and wanting to bring joy and beauty into their lives now more than ever.”
Editor’s note: As a public service, we have removed our paywall for all pandemic-related stories.


csmonitor--2020-09-14--Points of Progress: Building a recycled highway, and more

A stretch of Highway 162 just west of Oroville , California , has been repaved using 100 % recycled materials .
Caltrans , the state transportation agency , partnered with engineering startup TechniSoil to pave the nation ’ s first highway with recycled plastic .
The company uses reclaimed PET , a type of plastic commonly found in water bottles and other single-use containers , to bind ground-up , recycled asphalt .
The binding agent in traditional asphalt paving is a black sticky substance called bitumen , produced by oil refining .
TechniSoil ’ s process uses the equivalent of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ requires less energy than traditional repaving projects .
The plastic binder resists cracking , meaning the road can last two or three times longer than traditional pothole-prone asphalt , the company ’ s president says .
TechniSoil is also working on another plastic road project in Los Angeles .
( Fast Company , Chico Enterprise-Record ) In a climate-smart agriculture pilot project , farmers in Guyana are being taught sustainable farming techniques .
The Food and Agriculture Organization ( FAO ) and Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture ( IICA ) have provided @ @ @ @ @ @ @ farmers and their families .
Specifically , the program is teaching participants to build and utilize a small , affordable greenhouse known as a shadehouse .
In flood-prone communities , learning to embrace greenhouse crop production makes agriculture more resilient to climate change , and could result in more profitable yields and improved food security .
FAO and IICA plan to expand the project to other locations , seeing it as a learning-by-doing opportunity for farmers and their children , who are home from school during the pandemic .
( Guyana Chronicle ) @ @ @ @ @ @ @ operated in occupied France during World War II , is the first woman of South Asian descent to be honored by London ’ s blue plaque program , which identifies buildings connected to notable people with a round blue sign .
Her former family home in Bloomsbury will be recognized as an important English Heritage site .
It ’ s a milestone in the effort to diversify the public history program .
In 2016 , when English Heritage created a working group to address the lack of diversity among blue plaque recipients , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ highlighted Black and Asian figures .
Khan , born to an Indian father and an American mother , served as a British spy for months before being captured , and later executed , by the Nazis .
Khan ’ s biographer describes her as Britain ’ s “ first Muslim war heroine in Europe.
” ( The Guardian ) A black turbine blade could reduce fatal bird collisions at wind farms by about 72 % , a new study suggests .
Impact on wildlife has always been a major concern for onshore wind @ @ @ @ @ @ @ wind farm , trained dogs found nearly 500 dead birds scattered among the 68 turbines over the course of a decade .
But researchers may have identified a simple solution .
If one rotor blade is painted black , birds seemed better able to identify and avoid the spinning blades .
Compared with an adjacent , unpainted turbine , the adapted machine caused 71.9 % fewer fatal collisions .
“ We ’ re very excited about this , ” said Bård Stokke , a lead author on the study .
But he concedes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ species of birds have different ways of seeing things , ” he said .
“ We don ’ t know what they see.
” While more research is needed , he hopes that future wind energy developments embrace the painted blade method , given its relatively low cost and potential benefit for bird populations .
( E & E News , BBC ) With more than 95 % of the continent immunized , the independent Africa Regional Certification Commission has declared Africa free from wild polio .
Vaccination campaigns are credited with eradicating @ @ @ @ @ @ @ affected more than 75,000 children across the continent , with some cases in every country .
Nigeria ’ s remote Borno state , epicenter of the Boko Haram insurrection , saw the last recorded case of wild polio in 2016 .
The wild strains of the disease are now found only in Afghanistan and Pakistan , though the World Health Organization identified 177 vaccine-derived cases in Africa this year .
This strain is a rare mutation of the oral polio vaccine , which experts say will disappear as countries achieve herd immunity and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ) Egypt ’ s parliament has approved a law granting survivors of sexual violence automatic anonymity .
And anyone who exposes the identity of a sexual assault survivor faces jail time .
The law is largely the result of a growing # MeToo movement in Egypt .
Research suggests that sexual violence is widespread in Egypt , but rarely reported due to a fear of backlash .
The Instagram account Assault Police has also created a space for women to come forward with accusations of abuse , pressuring authorities to act .
Most @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a group of men allegedly involved in a 2014 gang rape in Cairo .
Assault Police , which first reported the incident in July , shared the arrest announcement , saying , “ Great news for the first time in a while !
Praise be to God and thank you.
” ( Reuters , BBC )

1. United States
A stretch of Highway 162 just west of Oroville, California, has been repaved using 100% recycled materials. Caltrans, the state transportation agency, partnered with engineering startup TechniSoil to pave the nation’s first highway with recycled plastic. The company uses reclaimed PET, a type of plastic commonly found in water bottles and other single-use containers, to bind ground-up, recycled asphalt. The binding agent in traditional asphalt paving is a black sticky substance called bitumen, produced by oil refining. TechniSoil’s process uses the equivalent of roughly 150,000 plastic bottles per mile and requires less energy than traditional repaving projects. The plastic binder resists cracking, meaning the road can last two or three times longer than traditional pothole-prone asphalt, the company’s president says. TechniSoil is also working on another plastic road project in Los Angeles. (Fast Company, Chico Enterprise-Record)
2. Guyana
Why We Wrote This This is more than feel-good news – it's where the world is making concrete progress. A roundup of positive stories to inspire you.
In a climate-smart agriculture pilot project, farmers in Guyana are being taught sustainable farming techniques. The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA) have provided training and materials to more than 30 farmers and their families. Specifically, the program is teaching participants to build and utilize a small, affordable greenhouse known as a shadehouse. In flood-prone communities, learning to embrace greenhouse crop production makes agriculture more resilient to climate change, and could result in more profitable yields and improved food security. FAO and IICA plan to expand the project to other locations, seeing it as a learning-by-doing opportunity for farmers and their children, who are home from school during the pandemic. (Guyana Chronicle)
3. United Kingdom
Noor Inayat Khan, a spy who operated in occupied France during World War II, is the first woman of South Asian descent to be honored by London’s blue plaque program, which identifies buildings connected to notable people with a round blue sign. Her former family home in Bloomsbury will be recognized as an important English Heritage site.
Olivia Harris/Reuters/File View caption Hide caption A statue of Noor Inayat Khan was unveiled in London in 2012. She was the first female radio operator sent into occupied France during World War II.
It’s a milestone in the effort to diversify the public history program. In 2016, when English Heritage created a working group to address the lack of diversity among blue plaque recipients, only 33 of the nearly 1,000 plaques highlighted Black and Asian figures. Khan, born to an Indian father and an American mother, served as a British spy for months before being captured, and later executed, by the Nazis. Khan’s biographer describes her as Britain’s “first Muslim war heroine in Europe.” (The Guardian)
4. Norway
A black turbine blade could reduce fatal bird collisions at wind farms by about 72%, a new study suggests. Impact on wildlife has always been a major concern for onshore wind farms. At Norway’s Smøla wind farm, trained dogs found nearly 500 dead birds scattered among the 68 turbines over the course of a decade. But researchers may have identified a simple solution. If one rotor blade is painted black, birds seemed better able to identify and avoid the spinning blades. Compared with an adjacent, unpainted turbine, the adapted machine caused 71.9% fewer fatal collisions.
Jan Kare Ness/NTB Scanpix/Reuters/File View caption Hide caption Wind turbines, like those pictured here in Fitjar, Norway, can pose a deadly threat to passing birds. Researchers are testing the introduction of one black blade to reduce collisions.
“We’re very excited about this,” said Bård Stokke, a lead author on the study. But he concedes its limitations. “So many different species of birds have different ways of seeing things,” he said. “We don’t know what they see.” While more research is needed, he hopes that future wind energy developments embrace the painted blade method, given its relatively low cost and potential benefit for bird populations. (E&E News, BBC)
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empower and uplift daily. By signing up, you agree to our Privacy Policy Already a subscriber? Log in to hide ads.
5. Africa
With more than 95% of the continent immunized, the independent Africa Regional Certification Commission has declared Africa free from wild polio. Vaccination campaigns are credited with eradicating the virus. In 1996, poliovirus affected more than 75,000 children across the continent, with some cases in every country. Nigeria’s remote Borno state, epicenter of the Boko Haram insurrection, saw the last recorded case of wild polio in 2016. The wild strains of the disease are now found only in Afghanistan and Pakistan, though the World Health Organization identified 177 vaccine-derived cases in Africa this year. This strain is a rare mutation of the oral polio vaccine, which experts say will disappear as countries achieve herd immunity and phase out the vaccine. (BBC)
6. Egypt
Egypt’s parliament has approved a law granting survivors of sexual violence automatic anonymity. And anyone who exposes the identity of a sexual assault survivor faces jail time. The law is largely the result of a growing #MeToo movement in Egypt. Research suggests that sexual violence is widespread in Egypt, but rarely reported due to a fear of backlash. The Instagram account Assault Police has also created a space for women to come forward with accusations of abuse, pressuring authorities to act. Most recently, prosecutors ordered the arrests of a group of men allegedly involved in a 2014 gang rape in Cairo. Assault Police, which first reported the incident in July, shared the arrest announcement, saying, “Great news for the first time in a while! Praise be to God and thank you.” (Reuters, BBC)


csmonitor--2020-09-14--Who’s really 'in the room' of Afghan peace talks

Peace talks rarely look like this .
In a historic first for Afghanistan , the Taliban and leaders of the country ’ s elected government sat together Saturday in hopes of ending a 19-year conflict .
Their ongoing negotiation will be closed-door , implying any final deal will be imposed top-down – much like peace deals in history .
Yet these days , when more people know the benefits of peace and have the tools to advance it , plenty of players are in “ the room where it happens , ” in the words of the musical “ Hamilton.
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ a group most at risk of the Taliban being allowed to revive their harsh Islamist rule ( from 1996 to 2001 ) .
The government team includes four women .
They are there not only to protect women ’ s rights and achievements – some 40 % of girls now attend school – but also to show the Taliban that equality in citizenship has become a global norm .
The world has shifted since the Taliban were ousted in the post-9/11 invasion by the United States .
Also in the room during the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
They gave supporting statements of the elected Afghan government .
Few wars are local affairs anymore , as the world has become too intertwined .
Demands for peace are more prevalent .
In the Afghan talks , this common demand even included rival powers , such as the U.S. and Iran as well as India and Pakistan .
A more vicarious presence in the talks are the people of Afghanistan , especially youth .
In polls , they have clearly let the Taliban know that violence is not a path to power @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ will make the final decision ” on a peace deal , the government vows .
Democracy , like women ’ s rights , has become too widespread for the Taliban to ignore .
All these players are putting pressure on the Taliban to declare a long-term cease-fire , a precondition by the government before the talks can move to other issues .
The fact that both sides released prisoners before the negotiations and the Taliban even agreed to talk are signs of how negotiations work these days – in honor of popular @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in responding to global or regional desires for an end to such wars – especially during a pandemic and recession .
These first direct talks between Afghan and Taliban delegations may be closed-door .
But fresh breezes of peace are blowing in .

Peace talks rarely look like this.
In a historic first for Afghanistan, the Taliban and leaders of the country’s elected government sat together Saturday in hopes of ending a 19-year conflict. Their ongoing negotiation will be closed-door, implying any final deal will be imposed top-down – much like peace deals in history. Yet these days, when more people know the benefits of peace and have the tools to advance it, plenty of players are in “the room where it happens,” in the words of the musical “Hamilton.”
At the table in Qatar is a group most at risk of the Taliban being allowed to revive their harsh Islamist rule (from 1996 to 2001). The government team includes four women. They are there not only to protect women’s rights and achievements – some 40% of girls now attend school – but also to show the Taliban that equality in citizenship has become a global norm. The world has shifted since the Taliban were ousted in the post-9/11 invasion by the United States.
Also in the room during the opening talks were representatives of 13 countries. They gave supporting statements of the elected Afghan government. Few wars are local affairs anymore, as the world has become too intertwined. Demands for peace are more prevalent. In the Afghan talks, this common demand even included rival powers, such as the U.S. and Iran as well as India and Pakistan.
A more vicarious presence in the talks are the people of Afghanistan, especially youth. In polls, they have clearly let the Taliban know that violence is not a path to power. In addition, the Afghan people “will make the final decision” on a peace deal, the government vows. Democracy, like women’s rights, has become too widespread for the Taliban to ignore.
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empower and uplift daily. By signing up, you agree to our Privacy Policy Already a subscriber? Log in to hide ads.
All these players are putting pressure on the Taliban to declare a long-term cease-fire, a precondition by the government before the talks can move to other issues. The fact that both sides released prisoners before the negotiations and the Taliban even agreed to talk are signs of how negotiations work these days – in honor of popular sentiments from the people they represent and in responding to global or regional desires for an end to such wars – especially during a pandemic and recession.
These first direct talks between Afghan and Taliban delegations may be closed-door. But fresh breezes of peace are blowing in.


csmonitor--2020-09-14--Internet slowness: Is it hampering the pandemic recovery in Britain?

He worries poor connectivity has compounded isolation and depression for rural Britons , both old and young .
“ Ironically , they are exactly the same people who ’ ve been saddled for decades with poor transport links , crumbling infrastructure , and dying industries.
” Samuel Bright , an editor for a digital startup magazine , previously lived in London but returned back to his hometown of Huddersfield during the lockdown .
He says connectivity in towns and cities in northern England isn ’ t so different until you step beyond central areas .
“ When you venture into @ @ @ @ @ @ @ like stepping into a time machine – you ’ re effectively cut off from the outside world.
” Britain ’ s internet speeds lag behind those in many smaller , less wealthy nations .
According to a report by the European Commission , high-speed broadband in Slovenia and Lithuania eclipses that across Britain .
Estonia , with a gross domestic product of $ 30.7 billion – a fraction of Britain ’ s 2018 GDP of $ 2.3 trillion – trumps the U.K. for breadth and speed of online connectivity .
As the United @ @ @ @ @ @ @ plunge in more than 300 years due to the country ’ s pandemic lockdown , many in rural England and Wales are concerned that poor internet connectivity could hamper Britain ’ s recovery .
Lucy Alexandra Spencer dials in and her voice is crystal clear .
She could be sitting a mere socially distant 6 feet away .
Instead , she ’ s by a small medieval town in Austria overlooking the Alps on summer vacation .
The former teacher-turned-online tutor takes advantage of exceptional internet connections .
But when she ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , on the outskirts of London , internet speeds are dire enough that Ms. Spencer uses her cellphone as an internet hotspot and carries extra portable Wi-Fi to ensure as little disruption occurs as possible for her online courses teaching hundreds of children at a time .
It all amounts to high monthly costs to stay connected in the United Kingdom .
“ It ’ s a bit mad having so many backups , but being reliable is super important , ” she says .
“ I had two lessons over the whole @ @ @ @ @ @ @ because of connectivity issues.
” Britain ’ s internet speeds lag behind those in many smaller , less wealthy nations .
According to a report by the European Commission , high-speed broadband in Slovenia and Lithuania eclipses that across Britain .
Estonia , with a gross domestic product of $ 30.7 billion – a fraction of Britain ’ s 2018 GDP of $ 2.3 trillion – trumps the U.K. for breadth and speed of online connectivity .
And Britain ’ s patchy internet connections both cause and expose inequalities across British society .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ the COVID-19 lockdown .
Owners of land , property , and businesses in rural England and Wales are concerned that poor connectivity could hamper Britain ’ s economic recovery as the country claws back from its biggest economic plunge in more than 300 years .
“ Our coronavirus economy relies on people being able to work from home , yet millions are effectively stuck in the Middle Ages through no fault of their own , ” says Samuel Bright , an editor for a digital startup magazine .
Britain ’ s problems go @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of state-owned assets , including telecoms , effectively created a conglomerate of companies offering high prices and little differentiation .
Internet cables to this day often use existing copper wires originally designed for telephones , and which are cheap to maintain .
Wind and rain can cause outages , while signals peter out if residents have the misfortune of living at the end of phone lines .
It can make everything from video calling or watching movies to accessing vital services frustrating .
Lottie Reeves lives on a boat traveling along southern England @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as a web developer with running an online community for female travel bloggers .
“ I started my business from a caravan [ camper ] in South Africa and often joke I had a better connection there , ” she says .
Areas in northern England , southwest England , and much of Wales suffer from little to no internet connectivity whatsoever .
Mr .
Bright previously lived in London but returned back to his hometown of Huddersfield during the pandemic lockdown .
He says connectivity in towns and cities in northern England @ @ @ @ @ @ @ step beyond central areas .
“ When you venture into more remote areas , it ’ s like stepping into a time machine – you ’ re effectively cut off from the outside world.
” He fears poor connectivity has compounded isolation and depression for rural Britons , both old and young , “ a swath of the population who ’ ve suffered more than most , ” he says .
“ Ironically , they are exactly the same people who ’ ve been saddled for decades with poor transport links , crumbling @ @ @ @ @ @ @ connections also threaten agriculture .
“ Farms use online resources with increasing intensity , and many rural businesses take advantage of online communication to market and supply goods and services , ” says Nigel Hollett , director of the Country Land and Business Association , which represents businesses and landlords in rural Wales and England .
With the rise of home schooling in lockdown , Britain ’ s poor connectivity is also hampering children ’ s opportunity to get a quality education , says online tutor Zoe Hughes from her home in Devon @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are already discriminated against for their financial situation , then to put them in a rural area where there are fewer opportunities to connect is a disaster waiting to happen , ” she says .
“ If you ’ re reliant on charitable food banks , you don ’ t have £30 per month to spare.
” Many of her pupils live in socialized , local authority housing across Dartmoor , a region on the south coast known for having some of the highest value properties in the U.K. “ It ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ escaped London to live in the country , ” she says .
“ There are locals born and raised in working-class housing .
… If there ’ s no decent Wi-Fi , you ’ re hammering home disadvantage.
” Connectivity inequalities aren ’ t as simple as a battle between a “ super connected ” London versus the rest of the country .
The issue , as many Londoners attest , is patchy .
Elizabeth Lusty suffers regular outages from her West London home in Ealing , just 10 miles west of Buckingham @ @ @ @ @ @ @ virtual choir business , but low speeds damage the singing experience and cause people to drop out and , in turn , dent her income .
“ I can ’ t offer refunds .
I don ’ t have that leeway at the moment .
People are annoyed if there ’ s a bad internet connection , but it ’ s out of my hands , ” she says .
Virtual singing has become a lifeline for her singers , given many of them are retired people , live with dementia , or @ @ @ @ @ @ @ connections , she says , exacerbate isolation and mental health issues .
There are spots of progress .
Cornwall , located next to Dartmoor , boasts some of the fastest fiber-optic broadband connections in the world thanks to £53.5 million ( $ 71 million ) in funding from the European Union .
Britain ’ s decision to leave the European Union shuts the door on additional EU funding , however .
Solutions have been proposed but rejected at the ballot box .
Former Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn suggested nationalizing broadband during December @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the victory of Boris Johnson ’ s Conservative Party , which advocates market-led innovation , shut the door on potential state-run alternatives .
BT , a private telecom provider , plans to bring full-fiber broadband to 45 market towns and communities in Wales .
The Good Things Foundation , a British charity advocating digital connectivity as a means to solve societal issues , says the COVID-19 pandemic has generated “ visible momentum ” for state intervention and digital services .
Progress can not come fast enough for radio presenter Meera Sharma .
She @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , “ where the connection is so much better.
” Back in Britain with her family , she ’ s left embarrassed with patchy connections disrupting on-air interviews .
“ The amount we ’ re all paying ... the government needs to do better , ” Ms. Sharma says as the call drops out momentarily .
“ Britain needs to drag itself into the 21st century.
” Editor ’ s note : As a public service , we have removed our paywall for all pandemic-related stories .

He worries poor connectivity has compounded isolation and depression for rural Britons, both old and young. “Ironically, they are exactly the same people who’ve been saddled for decades with poor transport links, crumbling infrastructure, and dying industries.”
Samuel Bright, an editor for a digital startup magazine, previously lived in London but returned back to his hometown of Huddersfield during the lockdown. He says connectivity in towns and cities in northern England isn’t so different until you step beyond central areas. “When you venture into more remote areas, it’s like stepping into a time machine – you’re effectively cut off from the outside world.”
The pandemic has forced business, culture, and academia to rely heavily on the internet to safely continue operating. But what happens to those without access to modern internet infrastructure?
Britain’s internet speeds lag behind those in many smaller, less wealthy nations. According to a report by the European Commission, high-speed broadband in Slovenia and Lithuania eclipses that across Britain. Estonia, with a gross domestic product of $30.7 billion – a fraction of Britain’s 2018 GDP of $2.3 trillion – trumps the U.K. for breadth and speed of online connectivity.
As the United Kingdom claws back from its biggest economic plunge in more than 300 years due to the country’s pandemic lockdown, many in rural England and Wales are concerned that poor internet connectivity could hamper Britain’s recovery.
Lucy Alexandra Spencer dials in and her voice is crystal clear. She could be sitting a mere socially distant 6 feet away. Instead, she’s by a small medieval town in Austria overlooking the Alps on summer vacation. The former teacher-turned-online tutor takes advantage of exceptional internet connections.
But when she’s back at her British home in Berkshire, on the outskirts of London, internet speeds are dire enough that Ms. Spencer uses her cellphone as an internet hotspot and carries extra portable Wi-Fi to ensure as little disruption occurs as possible for her online courses teaching hundreds of children at a time. It all amounts to high monthly costs to stay connected in the United Kingdom.
“It’s a bit mad having so many backups, but being reliable is super important,” she says. “I had two lessons over the whole of lockdown which had to be rescheduled because of connectivity issues.”
Why We Wrote This The pandemic has forced business, culture, and academia to rely heavily on the internet to safely continue operating. But what happens to those without access to modern internet infrastructure?
Britain’s internet speeds lag behind those in many smaller, less wealthy nations. According to a report by the European Commission, high-speed broadband in Slovenia and Lithuania eclipses that across Britain. Estonia, with a gross domestic product of $30.7 billion – a fraction of Britain’s 2018 GDP of $2.3 trillion – trumps the U.K. for breadth and speed of online connectivity.
And Britain’s patchy internet connections both cause and expose inequalities across British society. These have become even more apparent under the COVID-19 lockdown. Owners of land, property, and businesses in rural England and Wales are concerned that poor connectivity could hamper Britain’s economic recovery as the country claws back from its biggest economic plunge in more than 300 years.
“Our coronavirus economy relies on people being able to work from home, yet millions are effectively stuck in the Middle Ages through no fault of their own,” says Samuel Bright, an editor for a digital startup magazine.
Better connection in a South African caravan
Britain’s problems go back to the 1980s. The privatization of state-owned assets, including telecoms, effectively created a conglomerate of companies offering high prices and little differentiation. Internet cables to this day often use existing copper wires originally designed for telephones, and which are cheap to maintain.
Wind and rain can cause outages, while signals peter out if residents have the misfortune of living at the end of phone lines. It can make everything from video calling or watching movies to accessing vital services frustrating.
Lottie Reeves lives on a boat traveling along southern England’s canals, and combines working as a web developer with running an online community for female travel bloggers. “I started my business from a caravan [camper] in South Africa and often joke I had a better connection there,” she says.
Areas in northern England, southwest England, and much of Wales suffer from little to no internet connectivity whatsoever.
Hannah McKay/Reuters View caption Hide caption Yuhui Choe, first soloist of the Royal Ballet, practices as Nehemiah Kish, her husband and former principal of the Royal Ballet, works at their home in Wimbledon, following the outbreak of COVID-19 in London, May 1, 2020.
Mr. Bright previously lived in London but returned back to his hometown of Huddersfield during the pandemic lockdown. He says connectivity in towns and cities in northern England isn’t so different until you step beyond central areas. “When you venture into more remote areas, it’s like stepping into a time machine – you’re effectively cut off from the outside world.”
He fears poor connectivity has compounded isolation and depression for rural Britons, both old and young, “a swath of the population who’ve suffered more than most,” he says. “Ironically, they are exactly the same people who’ve been saddled for decades with poor transport links, crumbling infrastructure, and dying industries.”
Poor connections also threaten agriculture. “Farms use online resources with increasing intensity, and many rural businesses take advantage of online communication to market and supply goods and services,” says Nigel Hollett, director of the Country Land and Business Association, which represents businesses and landlords in rural Wales and England.
“You’re hammering home disadvantage”
With the rise of home schooling in lockdown, Britain’s poor connectivity is also hampering children’s opportunity to get a quality education, says online tutor Zoe Hughes from her home in Devon, southwest England.
“Disadvantaged kids are already discriminated against for their financial situation, then to put them in a rural area where there are fewer opportunities to connect is a disaster waiting to happen,” she says. “If you’re reliant on charitable food banks, you don’t have £30 per month to spare.”
Many of her pupils live in socialized, local authority housing across Dartmoor, a region on the south coast known for having some of the highest value properties in the U.K. “It’s not like these are middle-class folk who escaped London to live in the country,” she says. “There are locals born and raised in working-class housing. … If there’s no decent Wi-Fi, you’re hammering home disadvantage.”
Connectivity inequalities aren’t as simple as a battle between a “super connected” London versus the rest of the country. The issue, as many Londoners attest, is patchy.
Elizabeth Lusty suffers regular outages from her West London home in Ealing, just 10 miles west of Buckingham Palace. She runs VChoir, a virtual choir business, but low speeds damage the singing experience and cause people to drop out and, in turn, dent her income.
“I can’t offer refunds. I don’t have that leeway at the moment. People are annoyed if there’s a bad internet connection, but it’s out of my hands,” she says.
Virtual singing has become a lifeline for her singers, given many of them are retired people, live with dementia, or care for their adult children. Poor connections, she says, exacerbate isolation and mental health issues.
Search for solutions
There are spots of progress. Cornwall, located next to Dartmoor, boasts some of the fastest fiber-optic broadband connections in the world thanks to £53.5 million ($71 million) in funding from the European Union. Britain’s decision to leave the European Union shuts the door on additional EU funding, however.
Solutions have been proposed but rejected at the ballot box. Former Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn suggested nationalizing broadband during December’s national election campaign. But the victory of Boris Johnson’s Conservative Party, which advocates market-led innovation, shut the door on potential state-run alternatives.
BT, a private telecom provider, plans to bring full-fiber broadband to 45 market towns and communities in Wales.
The Good Things Foundation, a British charity advocating digital connectivity as a means to solve societal issues, says the COVID-19 pandemic has generated “visible momentum” for state intervention and digital services.
Progress cannot come fast enough for radio presenter Meera Sharma. She used to live in the United States, “where the connection is so much better.” Back in Britain with her family, she’s left embarrassed with patchy connections disrupting on-air interviews.
Get stories that
empower and uplift daily. By signing up, you agree to our Privacy Policy Already a subscriber? Log in to hide ads.
“The amount we’re all paying ... the government needs to do better,” Ms. Sharma says as the call drops out momentarily. “Britain needs to drag itself into the 21st century.”
Editor’s note: As a public service, we have removed our paywall for all pandemic-related stories.


csmonitor--2020-09-14--Diversity at the Emmys: Lasting change or one-time gesture?

From “ Insecure ” ’ s 20-something women to the Muslim-American star of “ Ramy , ” Sunday ’ s Emmy line-up is an unprecedented showcase for people of color .
But the television industry needs to take concrete action on pledges to nurture nonwhite writers and directors to ensure that the 2020 awards ceremony is not just a blip triggered by a summer of protests over systemic racism in the United States , observers say .
“ I ’ m sure the last thing the [ Academy of Television Arts & Sciences ] wanted was to have an ‘ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ middle of all that , ” said Eric Deggans , TV critic for National Public Radio and author of the 2012 book “ Race Baiter.
” “ So I ’ m not surprised they paid special attention to the work of Black performers.
” Record Emmy nominations for people of color included nods for Kerry Washington ( “ Little Fires Everywhere ” and “ American Son ” ) , Sandra Oh ( “ Killing Eve ” ) , Billy Porter ( “ Pose ” ) , Regina King ( “ Watchmen ” ) @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ) , and Sterling K. Brown ( “ This is Us ” and “ Watchmen ” ) .
“ Watchmen , ” the superhero alternative reality drama infused with racial themes , led nominations with 26 nods .
Nominations open doors for other Black , Asian , and Latino creatives , and shape perceptions beyond the world of entertainment , said Rashad Robinson , president of social justice organization Color of Change .
“ What these awards represent is the industry ’ s way of creating a system of letting people in , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ” Mr. Robinson said .
“ It dictates the stories we get to see in the world about who we are , and that has deep implications on the unwritten rules about how we are treated in hospitals , by judges , and at schools.
” The Emmy nominees came from shows that were made before America began a painful cultural reckoning over racism this summer .
More are on their way , including documentary “ Driving While Black ; ” “ Woke , ” about a Black cartoonist who has an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The Good Lord Bird ; ” and “ Enslaved , ” about the history of the slave trade .
Mr. Robinson said that exciting as it is to see Black artists and stories break through , more structural changes – such as inclusion riders , diversity in writers rooms , and fully rounded characters – are needed to ensure lasting change .
“ It ’ s not enough to care .
It ’ s not enough to be aware , ” he said .
“ We have to have people willing to act @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Deggans noted that Latino talent is still largely overlooked at the Emmys , even though Latinos form America ’ s second largest ethnic group after whites .
“ It ’ s regrettable that so much of the recognition fell on Black performers and there wasn ’ t a little bit more in regard to Latino people especially , ” said Mr. Deggans , noting that shows like “ Gentefied , ” “ Vida , ” and “ One Day at a Time ” were largely overlooked .
“ The cause of Latinx representation @ @ @ @ @ @ @ – where Black people were , say , 10 years ago , ” Mr. Deggans added .
The Emmy Awards will be handed out on Sunday at a virtual ceremony televised on ABC .
This story was reported by Reuters .

From “Insecure”’s 20-something women to the Muslim-American star of “Ramy,” Sunday’s Emmy line-up is an unprecedented showcase for people of color.
But the television industry needs to take concrete action on pledges to nurture nonwhite writers and directors to ensure that the 2020 awards ceremony is not just a blip triggered by a summer of protests over systemic racism in the United States, observers say.
“I’m sure the last thing the [Academy of Television Arts & Sciences] wanted was to have an ‘Emmys so white’ controversy in the middle of all that,” said Eric Deggans, TV critic for National Public Radio and author of the 2012 book “Race Baiter.” “So I’m not surprised they paid special attention to the work of Black performers.”
Record Emmy nominations for people of color included nods for Kerry Washington (“Little Fires Everywhere” and “American Son”), Sandra Oh (“Killing Eve”), Billy Porter (“Pose”), Regina King (“Watchmen”), Issa Rae (“Insecure”), and Sterling K. Brown (“This is Us” and “Watchmen”).
“Watchmen,” the superhero alternative reality drama infused with racial themes, led nominations with 26 nods.
Nominations open doors for other Black, Asian, and Latino creatives, and shape perceptions beyond the world of entertainment, said Rashad Robinson, president of social justice organization Color of Change.
“What these awards represent is the industry’s way of creating a system of letting people in, of creating access to jobs and opportunities,” Mr. Robinson said. “It dictates the stories we get to see in the world about who we are, and that has deep implications on the unwritten rules about how we are treated in hospitals, by judges, and at schools.”
The Emmy nominees came from shows that were made before America began a painful cultural reckoning over racism this summer.
More are on their way, including documentary “Driving While Black;” “Woke,” about a Black cartoonist who has an encounter with police; abolitionist drama “The Good Lord Bird;” and “Enslaved,” about the history of the slave trade.
Mr. Robinson said that exciting as it is to see Black artists and stories break through, more structural changes – such as inclusion riders, diversity in writers rooms, and fully rounded characters – are needed to ensure lasting change.
“It’s not enough to care. It’s not enough to be aware,” he said. “We have to have people willing to act and to make real changes.”
Mr. Deggans noted that Latino talent is still largely overlooked at the Emmys, even though Latinos form America’s second largest ethnic group after whites.
“It’s regrettable that so much of the recognition fell on Black performers and there wasn’t a little bit more in regard to Latino people especially,” said Mr. Deggans, noting that shows like “Gentefied,” “Vida,” and “One Day at a Time” were largely overlooked.
“The cause of Latinx representation in Hollywood is a little further back – where Black people were, say, 10 years ago,” Mr. Deggans added.
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The Emmy Awards will be handed out on Sunday at a virtual ceremony televised on ABC.
This story was reported by Reuters.


csmonitor--2020-09-14--Is now the 'ideal time' to talk about school choice policies?

As millions of American children start the school year online , the Trump administration is hoping to convert their parents ’ frustration and anger into newfound support for school choice policies that Education Secretary Betsy DeVos has long championed but struggled to advance nationally .
Ms. DeVos and President Donald Trump have repeatedly invoked school choice as the solution to parents ’ woes .
If public schools fail to open for in-person instruction , they say , parents should get a cut of the district ’ s federal funding to send their children to private schools or for home schooling @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that have arisen during the coronavirus pandemic .
For Mr. Trump , it ’ s seen as a potential lifeline to Black and Hispanic voters , who are more likely to support vouchers and other school choice options , polls have found .
Speaking at the White House in July , Mr. Trump declared that “ there is nothing that the African American community wants more than school choice.
” He has also used the issue as a political weapon against Democratic opponent Joe Biden , who supports stricter accountability measures for charter @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , the pandemic offers a new chance to win support for policies she has spent her career promoting .
Before taking office , she spent decades as an advocate for charter schools and voucher programs in Michigan and elsewhere .
As secretary , she has been credited with helping states expand programs but has struggled to make headway on federal legislation .
Since last year , she has been calling for a $ 5 billion federal tax credit to support scholarships that help students attend private schools or other education alternatives .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ latest relief bill , which was voted down Thursday .
Ms. DeVos ’ critics accuse her of exploiting a public health crisis to pursue her political agenda .
But she says she ’ s fighting to give families access to a wider array of options as many districts remain online .
“ Parents are increasingly demanding it , ” Ms. DeVos said in an interview .
“ It ’ s becoming ever more evident that parents and students need to have more choices .
I would argue that it is the ideal time @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
And in fact , we are.
” In nearly every public appearance she has made during the pandemic , Ms. DeVos has used the spotlight to draw attention to school choice .
On Twitter , she has highlighted stories of families calling for options beyond their local public schools .
And even as schools of all type suffer financially as a result of the pandemic , Ms. DeVos has emphasized the struggles of private , religious schools .
Her focus on school choice has drawn sharp opposition from Democrats and public school @ @ @ @ @ @ @ issued a rule that sought to shift millions of dollars in federal virus relief from public schools to private schools .
Democrats and some Republicans in Congress said the rule conflicted with the intent of the funding bill , and several states vowed to ignore it .
This month a federal judge appointed by Mr. Trump struck down the rule , saying DeVos overstepped her powers .
Ms. DeVos also drew criticism for using $ 180 million in relief aid to create new “ microgrants ” that families could use to send students @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
At the same time , she has publicly assailed some public schools that decided to start the school year primarily or entirely online .
In-person instruction should be available to any family that wants it , Ms. DeVos has said , and anything short of that fails students and taxpayers .
Rep. Bobby Scott , D-Va. , chairman of the House Committee on Education and Labor , said Ms. DeVos has shown an “ overwhelming ” preference for private schools amid the pandemic , while doing little to help public schools reopen @ @ @ @ @ @ @ opportunity used all of her discretion to divert money from the public schools , particularly low-income students in public schools , to help fund private schools , ” Mr. Scott said .
Ms. DeVos , however , said she ’ s working closely with governors and state education chiefs and has yet to hear a complaint from them .
Some public school districts have called on Ms. DeVos to provide clearer guidance and to push for more funding .
She calls claims that she hasn ’ t done enough “ hand-wringing ” and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a notion that we had to have some dictate from the federal level about what schools have to do , ” Ms. DeVos said .
“ It ’ s just a fallacy .
And I ’ m afraid in many cases , it is an excuse for inaction.
” Her response has frustrated some superintendents who say Ms. DeVos told schools to reopen but left them to figure out how .
She won praise for granting schools flexibility with federal rules , but many school chiefs take issue with her public admonishments and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ Choice is important , but so is safety , ” said Kristi Wilson , president of AASA , a national superintendent ’ s association .
“ We appreciate the flexibility , but what we don ’ t want is more divisiveness and more rhetoric.
” Ms. DeVos ’ allies say she ’ s being unfairly maligned .
Florida school chief Richard Corcoran said Ms. DeVos has granted every request for flexibility the state has submitted .
He said Ms. DeVos is “ dead right ” to criticize schools that kept classes online @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Ms. DeVos is right to press for the issue now .
Once an abstract debate for many families , choice has suddenly became a personal issue for parents across the country considering options to local schools remaining online , backers say .
Jeanne Allen , founder and CEO of the Center for Education Reform , said private schools and charter schools have been quicker to adapt to the pandemic and to reopen .
“ Education right now is under a microscope like never before , and the problem is that districts don ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Ms. Allen said .
“ Secretary DeVos is really fortunate to be in a position where the most important worldwide concern right now is at her feet to handle as she might see fit.
” Whether the pandemic will boost demand for private or charter schools is still to be seen .
Despite families ’ frustrations with online schooling , Americans generally support a cautious return to school .
In July , nearly half of Americans reported that schools needed to make major adjustments to reopen , and 31 % opposed any return @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to a poll from The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs .
Even some choice supporters are skeptical that this is the moment advocates have dreamed of .
Michael Petrilli , head of the Thomas B. Fordham Institute , a conservative think tank , said Ms. DeVos and Mr. Trump are so unpopular – especially among people of color – that their advocacy could do more harm than good for the movement .
He argues that Ms. DeVos should have focused on uniting schools of all types to face the challenges of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ just been an armchair quarterback , criticizing schools for what they ’ re not doing , ” he said .
“ She has been very clear in her messaging and her advocacy that she doesn ’ t have a whole lot of respect for traditional public schools.
” Ms. DeVos denies that she ’ s favoring one type of school over another .
“ I ’ m focused on students , not on school buildings , school systems or any word that comes before school , ” DeVos said .
“ I don @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ re focused on one type of school versus another .
It ’ s really on students.
” This story was reported by The Associated Press .
Editor ’ s note : As a public service , the Monitor has removed the paywall for all our coronavirus coverage .
It ’ s free .

As millions of American children start the school year online, the Trump administration is hoping to convert their parents’ frustration and anger into newfound support for school choice policies that Education Secretary Betsy DeVos has long championed but struggled to advance nationally.
Ms. DeVos and President Donald Trump have repeatedly invoked school choice as the solution to parents’ woes. If public schools fail to open for in-person instruction, they say, parents should get a cut of the district’s federal funding to send their children to private schools or for home schooling, learning pods, or other options that have arisen during the coronavirus pandemic.
For Mr. Trump, it’s seen as a potential lifeline to Black and Hispanic voters, who are more likely to support vouchers and other school choice options, polls have found. Speaking at the White House in July, Mr. Trump declared that “there is nothing that the African American community wants more than school choice.” He has also used the issue as a political weapon against Democratic opponent Joe Biden, who supports stricter accountability measures for charter schools.
For Ms. DeVos, however, the pandemic offers a new chance to win support for policies she has spent her career promoting. Before taking office, she spent decades as an advocate for charter schools and voucher programs in Michigan and elsewhere. As secretary, she has been credited with helping states expand programs but has struggled to make headway on federal legislation.
Since last year, she has been calling for a $5 billion federal tax credit to support scholarships that help students attend private schools or other education alternatives. The idea was included in Senate Republicans’ latest relief bill, which was voted down Thursday.
Ms. DeVos’ critics accuse her of exploiting a public health crisis to pursue her political agenda. But she says she’s fighting to give families access to a wider array of options as many districts remain online.
“Parents are increasingly demanding it,” Ms. DeVos said in an interview. “It’s becoming ever more evident that parents and students need to have more choices. I would argue that it is the ideal time to be talking about this more widely. And in fact, we are.”
In nearly every public appearance she has made during the pandemic, Ms. DeVos has used the spotlight to draw attention to school choice. On Twitter, she has highlighted stories of families calling for options beyond their local public schools. And even as schools of all type suffer financially as a result of the pandemic, Ms. DeVos has emphasized the struggles of private, religious schools.
Her focus on school choice has drawn sharp opposition from Democrats and public school leaders. In July, Ms. DeVos issued a rule that sought to shift millions of dollars in federal virus relief from public schools to private schools. Democrats and some Republicans in Congress said the rule conflicted with the intent of the funding bill, and several states vowed to ignore it. This month a federal judge appointed by Mr. Trump struck down the rule, saying DeVos overstepped her powers.
Ms. DeVos also drew criticism for using $180 million in relief aid to create new “microgrants” that families could use to send students to private schools, among other purposes. At the same time, she has publicly assailed some public schools that decided to start the school year primarily or entirely online. In-person instruction should be available to any family that wants it, Ms. DeVos has said, and anything short of that fails students and taxpayers.
Rep. Bobby Scott, D-Va., chairman of the House Committee on Education and Labor, said Ms. DeVos has shown an “overwhelming” preference for private schools amid the pandemic, while doing little to help public schools reopen safely. “She has at every opportunity used all of her discretion to divert money from the public schools, particularly low-income students in public schools, to help fund private schools,” Mr. Scott said.
Ms. DeVos, however, said she’s working closely with governors and state education chiefs and has yet to hear a complaint from them. Some public school districts have called on Ms. DeVos to provide clearer guidance and to push for more funding. She calls claims that she hasn’t done enough “hand-wringing” and “excuse-making.”
“There’s a notion that we had to have some dictate from the federal level about what schools have to do,” Ms. DeVos said. “It’s just a fallacy. And I’m afraid in many cases, it is an excuse for inaction.”
Her response has frustrated some superintendents who say Ms. DeVos told schools to reopen but left them to figure out how. She won praise for granting schools flexibility with federal rules, but many school chiefs take issue with her public admonishments and her renewed calls for school choice.
“Choice is important, but so is safety,” said Kristi Wilson, president of AASA, a national superintendent’s association. “We appreciate the flexibility, but what we don’t want is more divisiveness and more rhetoric.”
Ms. DeVos’ allies say she’s being unfairly maligned. Florida school chief Richard Corcoran said Ms. DeVos has granted every request for flexibility the state has submitted. He said Ms. DeVos is “dead right” to criticize schools that kept classes online.
And supporters of school choice say Ms. DeVos is right to press for the issue now. Once an abstract debate for many families, choice has suddenly became a personal issue for parents across the country considering options to local schools remaining online, backers say.
Jeanne Allen, founder and CEO of the Center for Education Reform, said private schools and charter schools have been quicker to adapt to the pandemic and to reopen.
“Education right now is under a microscope like never before, and the problem is that districts don’t work for most people,” Ms. Allen said. “Secretary DeVos is really fortunate to be in a position where the most important worldwide concern right now is at her feet to handle as she might see fit.”
Whether the pandemic will boost demand for private or charter schools is still to be seen. Despite families’ frustrations with online schooling, Americans generally support a cautious return to school. In July, nearly half of Americans reported that schools needed to make major adjustments to reopen, and 31% opposed any return to the classroom this fall, according to a poll from The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs.
Even some choice supporters are skeptical that this is the moment advocates have dreamed of. Michael Petrilli, head of the Thomas B. Fordham Institute, a conservative think tank, said Ms. DeVos and Mr. Trump are so unpopular – especially among people of color – that their advocacy could do more harm than good for the movement. He argues that Ms. DeVos should have focused on uniting schools of all types to face the challenges of the pandemic.
“Instead she’s just been an armchair quarterback, criticizing schools for what they’re not doing,” he said. “She has been very clear in her messaging and her advocacy that she doesn’t have a whole lot of respect for traditional public schools.”
Ms. DeVos denies that she’s favoring one type of school over another.
“I’m focused on students, not on school buildings, school systems or any word that comes before school,” DeVos said. “I don’t accept the notion that we’re focused on one type of school versus another. It’s really on students.”
This story was reported by The Associated Press.
Editor’s note: As a public service, the Monitor has removed the paywall for all our coronavirus coverage. It’s free.