csmonitor--2020-08-18--After in-person stint, some universities go online – again.

North Carolina 's flagship university canceled in-person classes for undergraduates just a week into the fall semester Monday as college campuses around the United States scramble to deal with coronavirus clusters linked in some cases to student housing , off-campus parties , and packed bars .
The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill said it will switch to remote learning on Wednesday and make arrangements for students who want to leave campus housing .
“ We have emphasized that if we were faced with the need to change plans – take an off-ramp – we would not hesitate to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ taken this decision lightly , ” it said in a statement after reporting 130 confirmed infections among students and five among employees over the past week .
UNC said the clusters were discovered in dorms , a fraternity house , and other student housing .
Before the decision came down , the student newspaper , The Daily Tar Heel , ran an editorial criticizing the school .
The paper said that the parties that took place over the weekend were no surprise and that administrators should have begun the semester with online-only instruction @ @ @ @ @ @ @ undergraduates .
“ We all saw this coming , ” the editorial said .
Outbreaks earlier this summer at fraternities in Washington state , California , and Mississippi provided a glimpse of the challenges school officials face in keeping the virus from spreading on campuses where young people eat , live , study – and party – in close quarters .
The virus has been blamed for over 170,000 deaths and 5.4 million confirmed infections in the U.S .
In Boone , North Carolina , the faculty senate at Appalachian State University – @ @ @ @ @ @ @ passed a vote of no-confidence in school chancellor Sheri Everts on Monday , in large part for failing to shut down the campus after a recent COVID-19 outbreak .
Professors have “ moved from a concern about people ’ s livelihoods and the institution ’ s reputation to , now , a concern for people ’ s lives , ” the declaration read .
Ms. Everts said in a letter to faculty Monday night that she has received support from the school ’ s Board of Trustees , including a July 6 resolution @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , officials at another UNC school – East Carolina University – said Monday that they had identified a COVID-19 cluster at a dorm .
They didn ’ t say whether they were considering switching to online classes .
At Oklahoma State in Stillwater , where a widely circulated video over the weekend showed maskless students packed into a nightclub , officials confirmed 23 coronavirus cases at an off-campus sorority house .
The university placed the students living there in isolation and prohibited them from leaving .
“ As a student , I ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Ryan Novozinsky , a junior from Allentown , New Jersey , and editor of the student newspaper .
“ These are people I have to interact with . ''
And , he added , `` there will be professors they interact with , starting today , that won ’ t be able to fight this off.
” OSU has a combination of in-person and online courses .
Students , staff , and faculty are required to wear masks indoors and outdoors where social distancing isn ’ t possible .
The University of Notre @ @ @ @ @ @ @ returned to the South Bend , Indiana , campus in early August .
At least two off-campus parties over a week ago have been identified as sources , school officials said .
Paul J. Browne , vice president for public affairs at Notre Dame , said the university is prepared to suspend or otherwise discipline the hosts of such parties .
“ We believe we have a very strong chain of health protection , but these parties represent the weak link in that chain , and they can be responsible for a disproportionate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ officials in Tennessee , Georgia , and Alabama were likewise frustrated by the lack of social distancing and scenes of crowded bars and other nightspot areas on the first weekend many students returned to school .
In Tuscaloosa , the home of the football-mad University of Alabama , Mayor Walt Maddox appealed to students ' love of the game in urging them to take precautions .
“ If you don ’ t want to protect yourself and you don ’ t want to protect your family , and you don ’ t want @ @ @ @ @ @ @ jobs , maybe , just maybe , you would want to protect football season so we can have it this fall , ” Mr. Maddox said .
Many schools already have flipped from in-person classes to mainly online in recent weeks , and more are expected to do so , said David Long of Tuscany Strategy Consulting , which teamed up with the Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security and the Council for Higher Education Accreditation to develop reopening recommendations for colleges and universities .
“ It ’ s because it ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ everybody is essentially behaving appropriately , meaning social distancing , wearing PPE , and not gathering in groups , ” he said , referring to personal protective equipment .
“ It ’ s challenging when you ’ re trying to control behavior in young adults , particularly in areas that are outside the classroom and off campus.
” Some schools are opting for social contracts and strict codes of conduct as a way for students to keep pressure on their classmates , he said .
Among universities moving ahead with in-person fall classes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , where a dozen students tested positive last month after an off-campus gathering .
Classes start Aug. 26 and students are moving into dorms this weekend .
“ We have tweaked the move in process this year and are requiring students to sign up for a time slot so we can keep things spaced out and distanced , ” university spokeswoman Renee Charles said .
Balancing the health risks with educating students has been keeping university presidents up at night , said Mildred García , head of the American Association of State Colleges @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reconsidering their plans as things change rapidly .
“ They are doing the best they can with their staff and trying to educate the students about masks and social distancing and the effects of this virus , ” she said .
“ They ’ re doing all they can – and yet these are young people .
When we think back about when we were young , sometimes you think you ’ re invincible.
” This story was reported by The Associated Press .
AP writers Sean Murphy in Oklahoma City ; Jay @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Foody in Chicago ; Collin Binkley in Boston ; Dave Kolpack in Fargo , North Dakota ; and Jonathan Drew in Durham , North Carolina , contributed to this report .
Editor ’ s note : As a public service , the Monitor has removed the paywall for all our coronavirus coverage .
It ’ s free .

North Carolina's flagship university canceled in-person classes for undergraduates just a week into the fall semester Monday as college campuses around the United States scramble to deal with coronavirus clusters linked in some cases to student housing, off-campus parties, and packed bars.
The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill said it will switch to remote learning on Wednesday and make arrangements for students who want to leave campus housing.
“We have emphasized that if we were faced with the need to change plans – take an off-ramp – we would not hesitate to do so, but we have not taken this decision lightly,” it said in a statement after reporting 130 confirmed infections among students and five among employees over the past week.
UNC said the clusters were discovered in dorms, a fraternity house, and other student housing.
Before the decision came down, the student newspaper, The Daily Tar Heel, ran an editorial criticizing the school.
The paper said that the parties that took place over the weekend were no surprise and that administrators should have begun the semester with online-only instruction at the university, which has 19,000 undergraduates.
“We all saw this coming,” the editorial said.
Outbreaks earlier this summer at fraternities in Washington state, California, and Mississippi provided a glimpse of the challenges school officials face in keeping the virus from spreading on campuses where young people eat, live, study – and party – in close quarters.
The virus has been blamed for over 170,000 deaths and 5.4 million confirmed infections in the U.S.
In Boone, North Carolina, the faculty senate at Appalachian State University – part of the 17-member UNC system – passed a vote of no-confidence in school chancellor Sheri Everts on Monday, in large part for failing to shut down the campus after a recent COVID-19 outbreak. Professors have “moved from a concern about people’s livelihoods and the institution’s reputation to, now, a concern for people’s lives,” the declaration read. Ms. Everts said in a letter to faculty Monday night that she has received support from the school’s Board of Trustees, including a July 6 resolution of confidence in her leadership.
Meanwhile, officials at another UNC school – East Carolina University – said Monday that they had identified a COVID-19 cluster at a dorm. They didn’t say whether they were considering switching to online classes.
At Oklahoma State in Stillwater, where a widely circulated video over the weekend showed maskless students packed into a nightclub, officials confirmed 23 coronavirus cases at an off-campus sorority house. The university placed the students living there in isolation and prohibited them from leaving.
“As a student, I’m frustrated as hell,” said Ryan Novozinsky, a junior from Allentown, New Jersey, and editor of the student newspaper. “These are people I have to interact with." And, he added, "there will be professors they interact with, starting today, that won’t be able to fight this off.”
OSU has a combination of in-person and online courses. Students, staff, and faculty are required to wear masks indoors and outdoors where social distancing isn’t possible.
The University of Notre Dame reported 58 confirmed cases since students returned to the South Bend, Indiana, campus in early August. At least two off-campus parties over a week ago have been identified as sources, school officials said.
Paul J. Browne, vice president for public affairs at Notre Dame, said the university is prepared to suspend or otherwise discipline the hosts of such parties.
“We believe we have a very strong chain of health protection, but these parties represent the weak link in that chain, and they can be responsible for a disproportionate spread,” he said.
University officials in Tennessee, Georgia, and Alabama were likewise frustrated by the lack of social distancing and scenes of crowded bars and other nightspot areas on the first weekend many students returned to school.
In Tuscaloosa, the home of the football-mad University of Alabama, Mayor Walt Maddox appealed to students' love of the game in urging them to take precautions.
“If you don’t want to protect yourself and you don’t want to protect your family, and you don’t want to protect your friends and thousands of jobs, maybe, just maybe, you would want to protect football season so we can have it this fall,” Mr. Maddox said.
Many schools already have flipped from in-person classes to mainly online in recent weeks, and more are expected to do so, said David Long of Tuscany Strategy Consulting, which teamed up with the Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security and the Council for Higher Education Accreditation to develop reopening recommendations for colleges and universities.
“It’s because it’s so difficult to create these systems where everybody is essentially behaving appropriately, meaning social distancing, wearing PPE, and not gathering in groups,” he said, referring to personal protective equipment. “It’s challenging when you’re trying to control behavior in young adults, particularly in areas that are outside the classroom and off campus.”
Some schools are opting for social contracts and strict codes of conduct as a way for students to keep pressure on their classmates, he said.
Among universities moving ahead with in-person fall classes is Bradley University in Peoria, Illinois, where a dozen students tested positive last month after an off-campus gathering. Classes start Aug. 26 and students are moving into dorms this weekend.
“We have tweaked the move in process this year and are requiring students to sign up for a time slot so we can keep things spaced out and distanced,” university spokeswoman Renee Charles said.
Balancing the health risks with educating students has been keeping university presidents up at night, said Mildred García, head of the American Association of State Colleges and Universities. She said many are reconsidering their plans as things change rapidly.
“They are doing the best they can with their staff and trying to educate the students about masks and social distancing and the effects of this virus,” she said.
“They’re doing all they can – and yet these are young people. When we think back about when we were young, sometimes you think you’re invincible.”
This story was reported by The Associated Press. AP writers Sean Murphy in Oklahoma City; Jay Reeves in Birmingham, Alabama; Katie Foody in Chicago; Collin Binkley in Boston; Dave Kolpack in Fargo, North Dakota; and Jonathan Drew in Durham, North Carolina, contributed to this report.
Editor’s note: As a public service, the Monitor has removed the paywall for all our coronavirus coverage. It’s free.


csmonitor--2020-08-18--What a controversial oil and gas leasing plan means for Alaskans

The Trump administration gave final approval Monday for a contentious oil and gas leasing plan on the coastal plain of Alaska ’ s Arctic National Wildlife Refuge , where critics worry about the industry ’ s impact on polar bears , caribou , and other wildlife .
The next step , barring lawsuits , will be the actual sale of leases .
Development – should it occur – is still years away .
Environmentalists have promised to fight opening up the coastal plain , a 1.56-million acre swath of land along Alaska ’ s northern Beaufort Sea coast after the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and gas leasing program .
Secretary of the Interior David Bernhardt signed the Record of Decision , which will determine a program for where oil and gas leasing will take place .
“ The establishment of this program marks a new chapter in American energy independence , ” Mr. Bernhardt said during a conference call with reporters .
“ Years of inaction have given away to an informed and determined plan to responsibly tap ANWR ’ s energy potential for the American people for generations to come , ” he said .
Over @ @ @ @ @ @ @ attempted to open the refuge to drilling .
President Bill Clinton vetoed a Republican bill to allow drilling in 1995 , and Democrats blocked a similar plan 10 years later .
President Trump insisted Congress include a mandate providing for leasing in the refuge in a 2017 tax bill .
The Interior ’ s Bureau of Land Management in December 2018 concluded drilling could be conducted within the coastal plain area without harming wildlife .
“ Today ’ s announcement marks a milestone in Alaska 's forty-year journey to responsibly develop our state @ @ @ @ @ @ @ frontier , ” Gov .
Mike Dunleavy said in a statement .
The Republican governor called the decision “ a definitive step in the right direction to developing this area ’ s energy potential , ” which he estimated at 4.3 and 11.8 billion barrels of recoverable oil reserves .
Republican U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski said the opportunity offered by opening the coastal plain “ is needed both now , as Alaskans navigate incredibly challenging times , and well into the future as we seek a lasting economic foundation for our state .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ build on our already-strong record of an increasingly minimal footprint for responsible resource development.
” Mr. Trump in 2018 said he hadn ’ t felt strongly about opening the refuge , but had insisted it be included in the tax bill at the urging of others .
He also said a friend told him that every Republican president since Ronald Reagan had tried and failed to open the refuge to drilling .
“ I really didn ’ t care about it , and then when I heard that everybody wanted it – for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ trying to get it approved , and I said , ‘ Make sure you don ’ t lose ANWR , ’ ” Mr. Trump said at the time .
Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden has vowed to protect the refuge .
“ His plan released last year made clear that he will permanently protect ANWR and other areas impacted by President Trump ’ s attacks on federal lands and waters , ” campaign spokesperson Matt Hill said .
“ The Trump administration ’ s so-called review process for their shameless sell-off of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the start .
We ’ ll see them in court , ” said Lena Moffitt with the Our Wild America campaign of the Sierra Club .
“ This administration has done nothing but disrespect the Indigenous peoples that have occupied these lands , ” Gwich ’ in Steering Committee Executive Director Bernadette Demientieff said .
The coastal plain is calving grounds for the Porcupine Caribou Herd , which includes about 200,000 animals , “ Our ways of life , our food security , and our identity is not up for negotiation .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said .
Matt Lee-Ashley , a senior fellow with the Center for American Progress , said the Interior decision won ’ t stand .
“ The environmental analysis underpinning this decision is so laughably indefensible that either the courts or a future presidential administration will have no trouble tossing it in the dustbin of history , ” Mr. Lee-Ashely said .
Frank Macchiarola , a senior vice president at the American Petroleum Institute , said the rigorous environmental review process confirms the industry ’ s ability to develop responsibly .
“ The industry @ @ @ @ @ @ @ environmentally responsible development of Alaska ’ s energy resources and has been recognized for its success in being respectful of Alaska ’ s wildlife and surrounding communities , ” he said .
“ Advancements in technology and commitments to environmental stewardship – including for over 50 years in Alaska ’ s Arctic – have enabled America ’ s oil and natural gas industry to safely meet decades of demand for affordable , reliable , and cleaner energy.
” Mr. Bernhardt said the program should stand up to legal challenges or the whims of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ mandated these lease sales , and so they have to go forward in some regard .
They can ’ t just simply unduly delay , so that is a reality that Congress created , ” he said .
“ And really , absent a change in the law , the question of whether or not there will be a program in ANWR has really been answered.
” The decision makes the entire coastal plain – 8 % of the 19.3-million-acre refuge – available for oil and gas leasing and potential development .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ includes protections for habitat and wildlife , including operational time limits on 585,400 acres .
Mr. Bernhardt said there will be at least two area-wide leasing sales of at least 400,000 acres each .
The first will be held before Dec. 22 , 2021 , and the second by Dec. 22 , 2024 .
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 .

The Trump administration gave final approval Monday for a contentious oil and gas leasing plan on the coastal plain of Alaska’s Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, where critics worry about the industry’s impact on polar bears, caribou, and other wildlife.
The next step, barring lawsuits, will be the actual sale of leases. Development – should it occur – is still years away.
Environmentalists have promised to fight opening up the coastal plain, a 1.56-million acre swath of land along Alaska’s northern Beaufort Sea coast after the Department of the Interior approved an oil and gas leasing program.
Secretary of the Interior David Bernhardt signed the Record of Decision, which will determine a program for where oil and gas leasing will take place.
“The establishment of this program marks a new chapter in American energy independence,” Mr. Bernhardt said during a conference call with reporters.
“Years of inaction have given away to an informed and determined plan to responsibly tap ANWR’s energy potential for the American people for generations to come,” he said.
Over the past four decades, Republicans have attempted to open the refuge to drilling. President Bill Clinton vetoed a Republican bill to allow drilling in 1995, and Democrats blocked a similar plan 10 years later. President Trump insisted Congress include a mandate providing for leasing in the refuge in a 2017 tax bill.
The Interior’s Bureau of Land Management in December 2018 concluded drilling could be conducted within the coastal plain area without harming wildlife.
“Today’s announcement marks a milestone in Alaska's forty-year journey to responsibly develop our state and our nation’s new energy frontier,” Gov. Mike Dunleavy said in a statement.
The Republican governor called the decision “a definitive step in the right direction to developing this area’s energy potential,” which he estimated at 4.3 and 11.8 billion barrels of recoverable oil reserves.
Republican U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski said the opportunity offered by opening the coastal plain “is needed both now, as Alaskans navigate incredibly challenging times, and well into the future as we seek a lasting economic foundation for our state.
“Through this program, we will build on our already-strong record of an increasingly minimal footprint for responsible resource development.”
Mr. Trump in 2018 said he hadn’t felt strongly about opening the refuge, but had insisted it be included in the tax bill at the urging of others. He also said a friend told him that every Republican president since Ronald Reagan had tried and failed to open the refuge to drilling.
“I really didn’t care about it, and then when I heard that everybody wanted it – for 40 years, they’ve been trying to get it approved, and I said, ‘Make sure you don’t lose ANWR,’” Mr. Trump said at the time.
Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden has vowed to protect the refuge.
“His plan released last year made clear that he will permanently protect ANWR and other areas impacted by President Trump’s attacks on federal lands and waters,” campaign spokesperson Matt Hill said.
Environmental groups immediately assailed opening the refuge and promised litigation.
“The Trump administration’s so-called review process for their shameless sell-off of the Arctic refuge has been a sham from the start. We’ll see them in court,” said Lena Moffitt with the Our Wild America campaign of the Sierra Club.
“This administration has done nothing but disrespect the Indigenous peoples that have occupied these lands,” Gwich’in Steering Committee Executive Director Bernadette Demientieff said.
The coastal plain is calving grounds for the Porcupine Caribou Herd, which includes about 200,000 animals, “Our ways of life, our food security, and our identity is not up for negotiation. The fight is not over,” she said.
Matt Lee-Ashley, a senior fellow with the Center for American Progress, said the Interior decision won’t stand.
“The environmental analysis underpinning this decision is so laughably indefensible that either the courts or a future presidential administration will have no trouble tossing it in the dustbin of history,” Mr. Lee-Ashely said.
Frank Macchiarola, a senior vice president at the American Petroleum Institute, said the rigorous environmental review process confirms the industry’s ability to develop responsibly.
“The industry has a well-established record of safe and environmentally responsible development of Alaska’s energy resources and has been recognized for its success in being respectful of Alaska’s wildlife and surrounding communities,” he said. “Advancements in technology and commitments to environmental stewardship – including for over 50 years in Alaska’s Arctic – have enabled America’s oil and natural gas industry to safely meet decades of demand for affordable, reliable, and cleaner energy.”
Mr. Bernhardt said the program should stand up to legal challenges or the whims of future presidential administrations.
“Congress has mandated these lease sales, and so they have to go forward in some regard. They can’t just simply unduly delay, so that is a reality that Congress created,” he said. “And really, absent a change in the law, the question of whether or not there will be a program in ANWR has really been answered.”
The decision makes the entire coastal plain – 8% of the 19.3-million-acre refuge – available for oil and gas leasing and potential development. The Department of the Interior said the plan includes protections for habitat and wildlife, including operational time limits on 585,400 acres.
Mr. Bernhardt said there will be at least two area-wide leasing sales of at least 400,000 acres each. The first will be held before Dec. 22, 2021, and the second by Dec. 22, 2024.
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Editor’s note: As a public service, the Monitor has removed the paywall for all our coronavirus coverage. It’s free.


csmonitor--2020-08-18--From teacher to possible FLOTUS, Jill Biden next to speak at DNC

It 's the first thing most of her friends and former aides say when asked about her character .
She once sneaked into a close aide 's birthday party dressed as catering staff and surprised him with a drink .
She has dressed up as the Grinch to toy with colleagues during Christmas .
And she likes to put on a red wig with a bob to pop up unnoticed at events or make her husband , Joe Biden , laugh .
That sense of humor has helped Joe Biden navigate decades in public life that have been marked by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ loss .
As she prepares to speak Tuesday night at the Democratic National Convention , those who have worked closely with Jill Biden say her warmth will appeal to Americans confronting tough times of their own .
`` She has a very good sense of , especially in these times , that bringing a little smile , some joy , some levity into moments is important , '' said Courtney O'Donnell , who served as Jill Biden 's communications director during her husband 's first term as vice president .
Jill Biden married @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , more than four years after his first wife and young daughter were killed in a car accident .
She helped raise his surviving sons , Beau and Hunter , before giving birth to daughter Ashley in 1981 .
As Joe Biden commuted from Delaware to Washington while serving as a senator , Jill Biden built a career as a teacher , ultimately earning two master 's degrees and then a doctorate in education from the University of Delaware in 2007 .
Along the way , former coworkers say Jill became one of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , someone whose opinion was paramount in most of his biggest decisions , both political and personal .
She was skeptical of his 1988 presidential campaign , but pushed him to run again in 2008 , according to her memoir .
After Joe Biden became the presumptive nominee this year , she played a prominent role in auditioning many of the vice presidential candidates , appearing with them at various events .
During a recent interview on CBS , Jill Biden acknowledged that she and her husband `` talked about the different woman @ @ @ @ @ @ @ got ta be Joe 's decision , '' she added .
But those who know Jill Biden best say she 's slightly perplexed at being called one of her husband 's most significant `` advisers , '' insisting that her relationship with her husband is far deeper and more nuanced than such a label would suggest .
`` He 's got plenty of political advisers .
That 's not what she is , '' said Cathy Russell , who was Jill Biden 's chief of staff during the Obama administration and is now @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` She is his spouse , and she loves him and she talks to him about all sorts of things , but she has a unique role , and it 's not being a political adviser .
That 's not her thing . ''
Jill Biden does remain one of her husband 's closest confidantes – particularly now , at a time when both Bidens are largely confined to their Wilmington home due to the coronavirus pandemic .
Aides say the Bidens often pass each other in the halls during the day as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ virtual event to a fundraiser .
`` They see each other a lot , but there 's a lot of passing and crossing each other .
In the evening they try to sit together and just kind of regroup and chat about things , '' Ms. Russell said .
`` They 've got grandkids and kids and two dogs .
They 've got family and lives that are sort of spinning around them , and I think they just try to always find time for each other . ''
A self-described introvert , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ wife .
In her memoir , she writes of giving her first political speech and having no desire to `` give any speeches , anytime , anywhere – just the thought of doing so made me so nervous I felt sick . ''
But after eight years as the vice president 's wife and then giving speeches and appearing at events after her husband left office , Jill Biden has become one of her husband 's most prominent surrogates .
She has appeared in virtual events in more than 17 cities since May @ @ @ @ @ @ @ campaign 's primary surrogates to Latino voters , headlining town halls and holding frequent calls with members of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus .
In one week this month , Jill Biden appeared at everything from a science-focused fundraiser to an event with Joe Biden 's faith coalition to one focused on LGBTQ youth , speaking with emotion about her husband 's plans for each constituency .
She 's also one of his most protective surrogates , a quality she writes about in her memoir – and one that was on full display during @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in March when a handful of protesters rushed the stage .
Jill moved between the protesters and her husband , pushing a protester away .
But the resistance to being called an `` adviser '' on Mr. Biden 's team reflects Jill Biden 's persistent and successful efforts to carve out her own career and identity independent of her husband 's political ambitions , something she prioritized even during his time in the Senate .
`` They lived in Delaware always , through all those Senate campaigns , and she had her own @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , she was teaching , she was going to school at night at different times , '' said Ms. Russell .
`` She was never a part of the Washington scene .
That political life just was n't her life . ''
Jill Biden continued to teach at a community college while her husband was vice president , against the advice of multiple aides at the time .
She 'll return to her roots as a high school teacher with her Democratic National Convention speech , which she 's delivering Tuesday night from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Wilmington , Delaware .
`` Being a teacher is not what I do but who I am , '' she wrote in her memoir , and described `` scrambling into a cocktail dress and heels '' in the bathroom at her school to make it to a White House reception , or grading papers on Air Force Two , with relish .
Indeed , she has said she plans to continue teaching if she becomes first lady .
As longtime friend and teaching colleague Mary Doody described it , the classroom offers Jill @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` When you 're in a classroom , for an hour and a half or two hours or however long you 're with those students , it 's just you and them , and you build this rapport .
It 's like you build a little family , '' Ms. Doody said .
`` And I think that 's why it 's so important for her to teach . ''
Aides say she 'll continue to advocate for many of the same issues she championed as the vice president 's wife if she @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lady .
During her eight years in the Obama administration , she focused on military spouses and families , advocated for community colleges and sought to raise awareness around breast cancer prevention .
All the while , Ms. Doody notes , Jill Biden is known for being impeccably dressed , always offering up a good book recommendation , writing small notes or sending flowers to friends , family , and staff who need a pick me up , and making sure to get to all her grandkids ' sports games .
Ms. Doody @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` If I could figure out how she does all that , I would have a really good secret to share , '' Ms. Doody said .
This story was reported by The Associated Press .

Jill Biden is a prankster.
It's the first thing most of her friends and former aides say when asked about her character. She once sneaked into a close aide's birthday party dressed as catering staff and surprised him with a drink. She has dressed up as the Grinch to toy with colleagues during Christmas. And she likes to put on a red wig with a bob to pop up unnoticed at events or make her husband, Joe Biden, laugh.
That sense of humor has helped Joe Biden navigate decades in public life that have been marked by achievements, defeats, and considerable personal loss. As she prepares to speak Tuesday night at the Democratic National Convention, those who have worked closely with Jill Biden say her warmth will appeal to Americans confronting tough times of their own.
"She has a very good sense of, especially in these times, that bringing a little smile, some joy, some levity into moments is important," said Courtney O'Donnell, who served as Jill Biden's communications director during her husband's first term as vice president.
Jill Biden married the presumptive Democratic presidential nominee in 1977, more than four years after his first wife and young daughter were killed in a car accident. She helped raise his surviving sons, Beau and Hunter, before giving birth to daughter Ashley in 1981.
As Joe Biden commuted from Delaware to Washington while serving as a senator, Jill Biden built a career as a teacher, ultimately earning two master's degrees and then a doctorate in education from the University of Delaware in 2007.
Along the way, former coworkers say Jill became one of her husband's most valuable political advisers, someone whose opinion was paramount in most of his biggest decisions, both political and personal. She was skeptical of his 1988 presidential campaign, but pushed him to run again in 2008, according to her memoir.
After Joe Biden became the presumptive nominee this year, she played a prominent role in auditioning many of the vice presidential candidates, appearing with them at various events. During a recent interview on CBS, Jill Biden acknowledged that she and her husband "talked about the different woman candidates."
"But it's gotta be Joe's decision," she added.
But those who know Jill Biden best say she's slightly perplexed at being called one of her husband's most significant "advisers," insisting that her relationship with her husband is far deeper and more nuanced than such a label would suggest.
"He's got plenty of political advisers. That's not what she is," said Cathy Russell, who was Jill Biden's chief of staff during the Obama administration and is now a vice chair on the campaign. "She is his spouse, and she loves him and she talks to him about all sorts of things, but she has a unique role, and it's not being a political adviser. That's not her thing."
Jill Biden does remain one of her husband's closest confidantes – particularly now, at a time when both Bidens are largely confined to their Wilmington home due to the coronavirus pandemic. Aides say the Bidens often pass each other in the halls during the day as they head from a briefing to a virtual event to a fundraiser.
"They see each other a lot, but there's a lot of passing and crossing each other. In the evening they try to sit together and just kind of regroup and chat about things," Ms. Russell said. "They've got grandkids and kids and two dogs. They've got family and lives that are sort of spinning around them, and I think they just try to always find time for each other."
A self-described introvert, Jill Biden was initially a reluctant political wife. In her memoir, she writes of giving her first political speech and having no desire to "give any speeches, anytime, anywhere – just the thought of doing so made me so nervous I felt sick."
But after eight years as the vice president's wife and then giving speeches and appearing at events after her husband left office, Jill Biden has become one of her husband's most prominent surrogates. She has appeared in virtual events in more than 17 cities since May, and is one one of the campaign's primary surrogates to Latino voters, headlining town halls and holding frequent calls with members of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus.
In one week this month, Jill Biden appeared at everything from a science-focused fundraiser to an event with Joe Biden's faith coalition to one focused on LGBTQ youth, speaking with emotion about her husband's plans for each constituency.
She's also one of his most protective surrogates, a quality she writes about in her memoir – and one that was on full display during a Super Tuesday speech Joe Biden gave in March when a handful of protesters rushed the stage. Jill moved between the protesters and her husband, pushing a protester away.
But the resistance to being called an "adviser" on Mr. Biden's team reflects Jill Biden's persistent and successful efforts to carve out her own career and identity independent of her husband's political ambitions, something she prioritized even during his time in the Senate.
"They lived in Delaware always, through all those Senate campaigns, and she had her own life. She was raising her children, she was teaching, she was going to school at night at different times," said Ms. Russell. "She was never a part of the Washington scene. That political life just wasn't her life."
Jill Biden continued to teach at a community college while her husband was vice president, against the advice of multiple aides at the time. She'll return to her roots as a high school teacher with her Democratic National Convention speech, which she's delivering Tuesday night from her former classroom at Brandywine High in Wilmington, Delaware.
"Being a teacher is not what I do but who I am," she wrote in her memoir, and described "scrambling into a cocktail dress and heels" in the bathroom at her school to make it to a White House reception, or grading papers on Air Force Two, with relish.
Indeed, she has said she plans to continue teaching if she becomes first lady.
As longtime friend and teaching colleague Mary Doody described it, the classroom offers Jill Biden a bit of an escape.
"When you're in a classroom, for an hour and a half or two hours or however long you're with those students, it's just you and them, and you build this rapport. It's like you build a little family," Ms. Doody said. "And I think that's why it's so important for her to teach."
Aides say she'll continue to advocate for many of the same issues she championed as the vice president's wife if she returns to the White House as first lady. During her eight years in the Obama administration, she focused on military spouses and families, advocated for community colleges and sought to raise awareness around breast cancer prevention.
All the while, Ms. Doody notes, Jill Biden is known for being impeccably dressed, always offering up a good book recommendation, writing small notes or sending flowers to friends, family, and staff who need a pick me up, and making sure to get to all her grandkids' sports games. Ms. Doody expects her to continue it all.
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"If I could figure out how she does all that, I would have a really good secret to share," Ms. Doody said.
This story was reported by The Associated Press.


csmonitor--2020-08-18--Herd community: There’s more to cows than we thought, say scientists

“ In the time of COVID there ’ s a lot of conflict .
There ’ s worry about resources , there ’ s worry about societal stability , there ’ s lots of tension , ” says sanctuary co-founder John Halamka .
“ There ’ s no question that in a time of uncertainty , coming together human-to-human , or human-to-animal , is therapeutic to everyone.
” This complexity was on display this month at Unity Farm Sanctuary , an animal-rescue nonprofit in Sherborn , Massachusetts .
There , bovine friends Audrey , Eliot , and Pal , along @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to soothe one another .
“ It ’ s an adjustment of how to think about them as a species , ” says Gustavo Monti , study lead author and a professor at the Institute of Veterinary Preventive Medicine at the Austral University of Chile .
“ They have their own lives , they have complexities , and there are relationships between animals.
” Herds of cattle are vastly more intricate than scientists had previously imagined , according to research published earlier this month .
The researchers analyzed grooming behavior among dairy cows @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sociology , and uncovered a rich network of friendships , cliques , insiders , outsiders , peacemakers , and nonlinear dominance hierarchies .
If you want to see an example of a complex social structure , look no further than your local dairy .
It ’ s lunchtime at Unity Farm Sanctuary , and all the residents are munching away .
In the “ Forever Friends ” pen , Audrey and Pal gently jostle heads to share the trough .
When Pal nudges Audrey ’ s face out of her way , she @ @ @ @ @ @ @ neck as if to say , ‘ That ’ s OK .
I still love you , ’ before placing her head back in the haystack .
That may seem strange – especially when social distancing is the behavior du jour – but Audrey and Pal are cattle .
And the licking is a way of showing affection and bonding among bovine .
Research published earlier this month in the journal Frontiers in Veterinary Science found that such grooming actually reinforces social relationships among cows in a herd .
That ’ s right @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Cattle may seem mindless , munching on grass and feed all day , but the inner lives of bovine are far more meaningful and complex than they may seem .
And the more scientists study their social interactions , the more it seems that cattle , like humans , need to feel connected to others .
“ It ’ s an adjustment of how to think about them as a species , ” says Gustavo Monti , study lead author and a professor at the Institute of Veterinary Preventive Medicine at the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have their own lives , they have complexities , and there are relationships between animals.
” Some 8,000 to 10,000 years ago , cattle lived in mostly female family groups made up of grandmothers , mothers , and their offspring , and bulls would come in to breed , explains Trevor DeVries , Canada research chair in dairy cattle behavior and welfare and a professor at the University of Guelph .
The social structure of the herd would depend largely on the maternal lineages in the group and age of the different cows @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in much larger groups , typically separated by age , and are shuffled around among herds and even farms based on breeding and milk production patterns .
But the sociality of cows doesn ’ t seem to have eroded .
Rather , researchers say the cows build a different kind of social network , and it ’ s more complex and nuanced than a simple biological family structure .
Instead of being based on a lineage , cattle grouped together on a farm tend to establish a hierarchy of sorts that may have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the animal or temperament , says Dr. DeVries , who was not involved in the new study .
But it ’ s not a simple , linear hierarchy .
Cow A , for example , might be dominant to Cow B , and Cow B to Cow C , but that doesn ’ t mean that Cow C is submissive to Cow A .
The setting might matter , too .
Different cows with different temperaments might be more assertive around food than around places to lie down , for example .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ think , ‘ OK , they are pretty similar , ’ but that is really not the case .
They have their personalities , they have their characters , and this is really reflected in their social interactions , ” says Borbala Foris , a postdoctoral researcher in the Animal Welfare Program at the University of British Columbia .
“ There are ones that are more connected to the group , more sociable , in the middle , and there are more isolated ones.
” Most of this research has been done on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
But at Unity Farm Sanctuary , Audrey and Pal seem to exhibit similar dynamics with their paddock-mate Elliot ( Audrey is a heifer and Pal and Elliot are both steers ) .
Elliot is the biggest and the other two move away when he moves toward his preferred lunch pail .
But it ’ s not all about food – or dominance .
Researchers are increasingly discovering how cattle form particularly strong social bonds and rely on each other for support when things get stressful .
Licking one another , a behavior @ @ @ @ @ @ @ those social connections .
The new study found that there was a mutualism to the behavior .
Cows tended to groom other cows that had previously groomed them , perhaps strengthening a sort of friendship among individuals .
What ’ s more , the cows that did not focus their allogrooming on specific individuals actually received less attention themselves over time .
Researchers previously posited that younger , more submissive cows likely groomed older ones to reinforce dominance , but , to Dr. Monti ’ s surprise , the research team found that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ group that tended to groom more cows .
“ Our results indicate that licking behavior is important to make friends and to maintain harmony in the herd .
That older cows groom more individuals suggests that they take the role of ‘ peacemakers ’ in the herd , ” Dr. Monti said in a press release .
Scientists also thought that allogrooming was a way that cattle calmed one another when stressed .
But researchers observed more licking behavior when the cows were at ease , suggesting that it ’ s more about @ @ @ @ @ @ @ settled group .
That ’ s not to say that cattle don ’ t comfort one another .
The animals do seem to gravitate together or exhibit signs of mutual stress when one is upset or ill. Often cows will lie near a stressed herdmate , particularly if it ’ s a friend .
At Unity Farm Sanctuary , Audrey , Elliot , and Pal have a neighbor in the next pen over – Dudley , a Scottish Highland bull .
Dudley is in his own pen because of his massive horns , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ about accidents if he were to play with his hornless bovine buddies .
But they still find a way to connect through the fence .
When Dudley was thought to be ill last year , says Marla Andrews , humane education director at Unity Farm Sanctuary , Audrey would lay by the fence between the pens to offer him company .
The cows are also offering solace to sanctuary co-founder and facilities manager John Halamka during the pandemic .
Dr. Halamka is the president of the Mayo Clinic Platform , a digital health @ @ @ @ @ @ @ after a long day of virtual meetings , spending time with the animals is calming .
“ In the time of COVID there ’ s a lot of conflict .
There ’ s worry about resources , there ’ s worry about societal stability , there ’ s lots of tension , ” he says .
“ There ’ s no question that in a time of uncertainty , coming together human-to-human , or human-to-animal , is therapeutic to everyone .
”

“In the time of COVID there’s a lot of conflict. There’s worry about resources, there’s worry about societal stability, there’s lots of tension,” says sanctuary co-founder John Halamka. “There’s no question that in a time of uncertainty, coming together human-to-human, or human-to-animal, is therapeutic to everyone.”
This complexity was on display this month at Unity Farm Sanctuary, an animal-rescue nonprofit in Sherborn, Massachusetts. There, bovine friends Audrey, Eliot, and Pal, along with their neighbor Dudley, devote time to soothe one another.
“It’s an adjustment of how to think about them as a species,” says Gustavo Monti, study lead author and a professor at the Institute of Veterinary Preventive Medicine at the Austral University of Chile. “They have their own lives, they have complexities, and there are relationships between animals.”
If the scientific study of animal social behavior has taught us anything, it’s that humans have for too long been dismissive of the depth of emotion experienced by other animal species, particularly the ones that we think of as food sources.
Herds of cattle are vastly more intricate than scientists had previously imagined, according to research published earlier this month. The researchers analyzed grooming behavior among dairy cows using a statistical tool borrowed from human sociology, and uncovered a rich network of friendships, cliques, insiders, outsiders, peacemakers, and nonlinear dominance hierarchies.
If you want to see an example of a complex social structure, look no further than your local dairy.
It’s lunchtime at Unity Farm Sanctuary, and all the residents are munching away. In the “Forever Friends” pen, Audrey and Pal gently jostle heads to share the trough. When Pal nudges Audrey’s face out of her way, she stops and licks his ear and his neck as if to say, ‘That’s OK. I still love you,’ before placing her head back in the haystack.
That may seem strange – especially when social distancing is the behavior du jour – but Audrey and Pal are cattle. And the licking is a way of showing affection and bonding among bovine.
Research published earlier this month in the journal Frontiers in Veterinary Science found that such grooming actually reinforces social relationships among cows in a herd. That’s right: Cow herds have complex social dynamics. Cattle may seem mindless, munching on grass and feed all day, but the inner lives of bovine are far more meaningful and complex than they may seem. And the more scientists study their social interactions, the more it seems that cattle, like humans, need to feel connected to others.
Why We Wrote This If the scientific study of animal social behavior has taught us anything, it’s that humans have for too long been dismissive of the depth of emotion experienced by other animal species, particularly the ones that we think of as food sources.
“It’s an adjustment of how to think about them as a species,” says Gustavo Monti, study lead author and a professor at the Institute of Veterinary Preventive Medicine at the Austral University of Chile. “They have their own lives, they have complexities, and there are relationships between animals.”
A complex network
Some 8,000 to 10,000 years ago, cattle lived in mostly female family groups made up of grandmothers, mothers, and their offspring, and bulls would come in to breed, explains Trevor DeVries, Canada research chair in dairy cattle behavior and welfare and a professor at the University of Guelph. The social structure of the herd would depend largely on the maternal lineages in the group and age of the different cows.
Today, domesticated cattle mostly live in much larger groups, typically separated by age, and are shuffled around among herds and even farms based on breeding and milk production patterns. But the sociality of cows doesn’t seem to have eroded. Rather, researchers say the cows build a different kind of social network, and it’s more complex and nuanced than a simple biological family structure.
Instead of being based on a lineage, cattle grouped together on a farm tend to establish a hierarchy of sorts that may have more to do with the size of the animal or temperament, says Dr. DeVries, who was not involved in the new study. But it’s not a simple, linear hierarchy. Cow A, for example, might be dominant to Cow B, and Cow B to Cow C, but that doesn’t mean that Cow C is submissive to Cow A. The setting might matter, too. Different cows with different temperaments might be more assertive around food than around places to lie down, for example.
“You see black-and-white cows, and you think, ‘OK, they are pretty similar,’ but that is really not the case. They have their personalities, they have their characters, and this is really reflected in their social interactions,” says Borbala Foris, a postdoctoral researcher in the Animal Welfare Program at the University of British Columbia. “There are ones that are more connected to the group, more sociable, in the middle, and there are more isolated ones.”
Most of this research has been done on dairy cows – and thus all-female herds. But at Unity Farm Sanctuary, Audrey and Pal seem to exhibit similar dynamics with their paddock-mate Elliot (Audrey is a heifer and Pal and Elliot are both steers). Elliot is the biggest and the other two move away when he moves toward his preferred lunch pail.
Lick-minded friends
But it’s not all about food – or dominance. Researchers are increasingly discovering how cattle form particularly strong social bonds and rely on each other for support when things get stressful.
Licking one another, a behavior known as allogrooming, seems to reinforce those social connections. The new study found that there was a mutualism to the behavior. Cows tended to groom other cows that had previously groomed them, perhaps strengthening a sort of friendship among individuals. What’s more, the cows that did not focus their allogrooming on specific individuals actually received less attention themselves over time.
Researchers previously posited that younger, more submissive cows likely groomed older ones to reinforce dominance, but, to Dr. Monti’s surprise, the research team found that it was the older members of the group that tended to groom more cows.
“Our results indicate that licking behavior is important to make friends and to maintain harmony in the herd. That older cows groom more individuals suggests that they take the role of ‘peacemakers’ in the herd,” Dr. Monti said in a press release.
Scientists also thought that allogrooming was a way that cattle calmed one another when stressed. But researchers observed more licking behavior when the cows were at ease, suggesting that it’s more about building friendships and social cohesion in a settled group.
That’s not to say that cattle don’t comfort one another. The animals do seem to gravitate together or exhibit signs of mutual stress when one is upset or ill. Often cows will lie near a stressed herdmate, particularly if it’s a friend.
At Unity Farm Sanctuary, Audrey, Elliot, and Pal have a neighbor in the next pen over – Dudley, a Scottish Highland bull. Dudley is in his own pen because of his massive horns, so the humans at the sanctuary worry about accidents if he were to play with his hornless bovine buddies. But they still find a way to connect through the fence. When Dudley was thought to be ill last year, says Marla Andrews, humane education director at Unity Farm Sanctuary, Audrey would lie by the fence between the pens to offer him company.
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 cows are also offering solace to sanctuary co-founder and facilities manager John Halamka during the pandemic. Dr. Halamka is the president of the Mayo Clinic Platform, a digital health care initiative, and he says that after a long day of virtual meetings, spending time with the animals is calming.
“In the time of COVID there’s a lot of conflict. There’s worry about resources, there’s worry about societal stability, there’s lots of tension,” he says. “There’s no question that in a time of uncertainty, coming together human-to-human, or human-to-animal, is therapeutic to everyone.”


csmonitor--2020-08-18--‘France's dirtiest city’ sets its sights on ending cigarette waste

“ A very interesting consequence of the pandemic has been an awareness about how we must dedicate ourselves to preserving the planet in the long term , ” says Josette Halégoi , a psychosociologist and author .
“ Cafes play an extremely important role in French society ... so they really need to move towards sustainable measures.
” Chez Jeannot is one of some 40 establishments to join the Ma Terrasse Propre ( My Clean Patio ) initiative , launched by local nongovernmental organization Recyclop in 2018 , to reduce cigarette waste .
“ Cigarette litter is a big problem @ @ @ @ @ @ @ manager of Chez Jeannot , a pizzeria .
“ Having a clean terrace is a huge advantage , but we also want to show we are sensitive to [ environmental ] issues.
” In Marseille – by reputation , France ’ s dirtiest city – a particular concern is the abundance of cigarette butts .
It ’ s a constant battle to stop waste from ending up on the ground and in the nearby Mediterranean .
Since France came out of its lockdown on May 11 , the country has experienced a renewed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in air pollution , closure of recycling centers , and spring cleaning en masse during confinement have pushed pollution and ecological solutions to the forefront of public concern .
Set along the Marseille coastline is Vallon des Auffes , a quaint , old fishing harbor and much-loved summer aperitif spot .
Even during a pandemic , groups converge here to watch the sunset , sometimes over a plate of chickpea fritters known as panisse .
But despite the picturesque surroundings , a common sight at the few eateries here , as well as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The abundance of used cigarettes and other litter that gets strewn about – either by its famous mistral wind or carelessness – has given Marseille the reputation as France ’ s dirtiest city .
It ’ s a constant battle to stop waste from ending up on the ground and in the nearby Mediterranean .
“ Cigarette litter is a big problem , ” says Jonathan Luciani , the manager of Chez Jeannot , a Marseille institution in Vallon des Auffes that is famed for its pizzas .
“ Having a clean @ @ @ @ @ @ @ we also want to show we are sensitive to [ environmental ] issues .
Many of the Marseillais are not yet so aware.
” Chez Jeannot is one of 40 establishments and counting to join the Ma Terrasse Propre ( My Clean Patio ) initiative , launched by local nongovernmental organization Recyclop in 2018 , to reduce cigarette waste and educate smokers about how they can decrease their environmental impact .
It joins the Clean My Calanques ( Clean My Inlets ) challenge , which saw volunteers collect more than a ton of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , from Marseille ’ s beloved rocky coast at the end of July .
There has been a renewed interest in such environmental initiatives in France since the country came out of its lockdown on May 11 .
The drop in air pollution , closure of recycling centers , and spring cleaning en masse during confinement have pushed pollution and ecological solutions to the forefront of public concern .
This month , Marseille banned smoking at four of its beaches , and in early June , the French government announced that it was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cigarette butts and disposable face masks – from €68 to €135 ( $ 80 to $ 160 ) .
A controversial law looks to outlaw outdoor terrace heaters at bars and restaurants across the country next year .
Now , as France cautiously reopens its cafes and restaurants , with most favoring outdoor seating , there is a desire to get off to a fresh start and lead by example .
But as eateries work to tackle their level of waste as well as look ahead to measures that discourage smokers and those @ @ @ @ @ @ @ food and drink establishments must balance respecting personal freedoms with reducing their environmental footprint .
“ A very interesting consequence of the pandemic has been an awareness about how we must dedicate ourselves to preserving the planet in the long term , ” says Josette Halégoi , a psychosociologist and author .
“ Cafes play an extremely important role in French society ... so they really need to move towards sustainable measures like using bulk items or less plastic , ways of life that individuals have already adopted.
” Cigarette litter is hardly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ unique to Marseille .
Despite a recent tax hike on cigarettes in France that has pushed some packs over €10 each , and the mass distribution of pocket ashtrays , littering cigarettes on the ground remains habitual .
Last summer , a group of youth collected 10,000 butts in one hour on the lawn next to the Eiffel Tower .
Since France ’ s indoor smoking ban came into effect in 2007 , cafes , bars , and restaurants have had to find ways of disposing of cigarette waste .
Recyclop founder Abdès @ @ @ @ @ @ @ concentration of cigarette butts in his city .
One butt can pollute 500 liters ( 132 gallons ) of water , making the issue especially pertinent for port cities like Marseille .
“ If we can stop them ending up on the ground at cafes , ” says Mr. Bengorine , “ we will have accomplished a lot.
” Participating establishments in Ma Terrasse Propre receive a receptacle capable of holding 10,000 cigarette butts .
When it reaches its limit , the butts are sent to a local company specializing in the disposal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ butts are incinerated , turned into water vapor , and transformed into electricity via a turbo-generator .
The goal of such a system , per Recyclop , is to recycle waste without creating new waste , such as plastic .
Since its launch , the organization has aimed to not just create new environmentally friendly solutions but educate smokers on their personal responsibility .
“ We ’ re not trying to take the moral high ground about whether you should smoke or not , ” says Mr. Bengorine .
“ If you want @ @ @ @ @ @ @ problem .
But once your cigarette touches the ground , that ’ s everyone ’ s problem.
” A new urgency to cleaning up France Still , it has been a balancing act for lawmakers to find a happy medium between driving environmental change and keeping the economy afloat .
The French government recently unveiled a plan to ban outdoor terrace heaters starting in early 2021 , directly impacting cafes and restaurants that have relied on them since the indoor smoking ban went into effect .
Mr. Luciani of Chez Jeannot says it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a small interior , where their turnover could be cut by 80 % during the winter months .
But France has been forced to improve its sustainability efforts when it comes to cigarette butts and litter in general .
If not only to compete with neighboring recycling leaders Austria and Germany , then to address growing calls within local and national agendas .
At the end of June , the French government accepted nearly all of the 149 ecological solutions proposed by a 150-strong citizen climate group .
And in the recent local @ @ @ @ @ @ @ waste management and recycling initiatives .
“ We were in a period of time in France where the citizen climate assembly , the local elections , and the pandemic coincided unexpectedly , ” says Michel Cruciani , an associate research fellow at the Center for Energy & Climate at the Paris-based think tank Ifri .
“ These events all contributed to an overall greater awareness.
” It ’ s certainly been the case in Marseille , where the recent election of Mayor Michèle Rubirola has raised the hopes of Marseillais environmentalists , given @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the city .
It ’ s a break away from the city ’ s poor record – from air and sea pollution to the scourge of cigarette butts – under the previous mayor who stayed in place for 25 years .
“ There ’ s a new optimism here , ” says François , a customer at Chez Jeannot , as the sun dips below the Mediterranean .
“ Marseille might finally get cleaned up.
” Editor ’ s note : As a public service , we have removed our paywall for @ @ @ @

“A very interesting consequence of the pandemic has been an awareness about how we must dedicate ourselves to preserving the planet in the long term,” says Josette Halégoi, a psychosociologist and author. “Cafes play an extremely important role in French society ... so they really need to move towards sustainable measures.”
Chez Jeannot is one of some 40 establishments to join the Ma Terrasse Propre (My Clean Patio) initiative, launched by local nongovernmental organization Recyclop in 2018, to reduce cigarette waste.
“Cigarette litter is a big problem,” says Jonathan Luciani, the manager of Chez Jeannot, a pizzeria. “Having a clean terrace is a huge advantage, but we also want to show we are sensitive to [environmental] issues.”
The global quarantine’s positive effects on carbon emissions is documented. But the lockdown has also stirred greater sensitivity to general environmental impact – and in Marseille, that means cleaning up cigarette butts.
In Marseille – by reputation, France’s dirtiest city – a particular concern is the abundance of cigarette butts. It’s a constant battle to stop waste from ending up on the ground and in the nearby Mediterranean.
Since France came out of its lockdown on May 11, the country has experienced a renewed interest in environmental initiatives. The drop in air pollution, closure of recycling centers, and spring cleaning en masse during confinement have pushed pollution and ecological solutions to the forefront of public concern.
Set along the Marseille coastline is Vallon des Auffes, a quaint, old fishing harbor and much-loved summer aperitif spot. Even during a pandemic, groups converge here to watch the sunset, sometimes over a plate of chickpea fritters known as panisse.
But despite the picturesque surroundings, a common sight at the few eateries here, as well as across the city, is cigarette butts.
The abundance of used cigarettes and other litter that gets strewn about – either by its famous mistral wind or carelessness – has given Marseille the reputation as France’s dirtiest city. It’s a constant battle to stop waste from ending up on the ground and in the nearby Mediterranean.
Why We Wrote This The global quarantine’s positive effects on carbon emissions is documented. But the lockdown has also stirred greater sensitivity to general environmental impact – and in Marseille, that means cleaning up cigarette butts.
“Cigarette litter is a big problem,” says Jonathan Luciani, the manager of Chez Jeannot, a Marseille institution in Vallon des Auffes that is famed for its pizzas. “Having a clean terrace is a huge advantage, but we also want to show we are sensitive to [environmental] issues. Many of the Marseillais are not yet so aware.”
Chez Jeannot is one of 40 establishments and counting to join the Ma Terrasse Propre (My Clean Patio) initiative, launched by local nongovernmental organization Recyclop in 2018, to reduce cigarette waste and educate smokers about how they can decrease their environmental impact. It joins the Clean My Calanques (Clean My Inlets) challenge, which saw volunteers collect more than a ton of waste, including millions of cigarette butts, from Marseille’s beloved rocky coast at the end of July.
There has been a renewed interest in such environmental initiatives in France since the country came out of its lockdown on May 11. The drop in air pollution, closure of recycling centers, and spring cleaning en masse during confinement have pushed pollution and ecological solutions to the forefront of public concern.
This month, Marseille banned smoking at four of its beaches, and in early June, the French government announced that it was upping the fine for littering – including cigarette butts and disposable face masks – from €68 to €135 ($80 to $160). A controversial law looks to outlaw outdoor terrace heaters at bars and restaurants across the country next year.
Now, as France cautiously reopens its cafes and restaurants, with most favoring outdoor seating, there is a desire to get off to a fresh start and lead by example. But as eateries work to tackle their level of waste as well as look ahead to measures that discourage smokers and those who cater to them, owners of food and drink establishments must balance respecting personal freedoms with reducing their environmental footprint.
“A very interesting consequence of the pandemic has been an awareness about how we must dedicate ourselves to preserving the planet in the long term,” says Josette Halégoi, a psychosociologist and author. “Cafes play an extremely important role in French society ... so they really need to move towards sustainable measures like using bulk items or less plastic, ways of life that individuals have already adopted.”
“Once a cigarette hits the ground, that’s everyone’s problem”
Cigarette litter is hardly a new phenomenon, nor is it unique to Marseille. Despite a recent tax hike on cigarettes in France that has pushed some packs over €10 each, and the mass distribution of pocket ashtrays, littering cigarettes on the ground remains habitual. Last summer, a group of youth collected 10,000 butts in one hour on the lawn next to the Eiffel Tower.
Since France’s indoor smoking ban came into effect in 2007, cafes, bars, and restaurants have had to find ways of disposing of cigarette waste. Recyclop founder Abdès Bengorine says that cafes get the largest concentration of cigarette butts in his city. One butt can pollute 500 liters (132 gallons) of water, making the issue especially pertinent for port cities like Marseille.
“If we can stop them ending up on the ground at cafes,” says Mr. Bengorine, “we will have accomplished a lot.”
Participating establishments in Ma Terrasse Propre receive a receptacle capable of holding 10,000 cigarette butts. When it reaches its limit, the butts are sent to a local company specializing in the disposal of toxic waste. There, the butts are incinerated, turned into water vapor, and transformed into electricity via a turbo-generator.
The goal of such a system, per Recyclop, is to recycle waste without creating new waste, such as plastic. Since its launch, the organization has aimed to not just create new environmentally friendly solutions but educate smokers on their personal responsibility.
“We’re not trying to take the moral high ground about whether you should smoke or not,” says Mr. Bengorine. “If you want to smoke, that’s your problem. But once your cigarette touches the ground, that’s everyone’s problem.”
A new urgency to cleaning up France
Still, it has been a balancing act for lawmakers to find a happy medium between driving environmental change and keeping the economy afloat. The French government recently unveiled a plan to ban outdoor terrace heaters starting in early 2021, directly impacting cafes and restaurants that have relied on them since the indoor smoking ban went into effect. Mr. Luciani of Chez Jeannot says it will be especially hard for establishments with a small interior, where their turnover could be cut by 80% during the winter months.
But France has been forced to improve its sustainability efforts when it comes to cigarette butts and litter in general. If not only to compete with neighboring recycling leaders Austria and Germany, then to address growing calls within local and national agendas.
At the end of June, the French government accepted nearly all of the 149 ecological solutions proposed by a 150-strong citizen climate group. And in the recent local elections, many towns committed to developing waste management and recycling initiatives.
“We were in a period of time in France where the citizen climate assembly, the local elections, and the pandemic coincided unexpectedly,” says Michel Cruciani, an associate research fellow at the Center for Energy & Climate at the Paris-based think tank Ifri. “These events all contributed to an overall greater awareness.”
It’s certainly been the case in Marseille, where the recent election of Mayor Michèle Rubirola has raised the hopes of Marseillais environmentalists, given her history of activism on green issues in the city. It’s a break away from the city’s poor record – from air and sea pollution to the scourge of cigarette butts – under the previous mayor who stayed in place for 25 years.
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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.
“There’s a new optimism here,” says François, a customer at Chez Jeannot, as the sun dips below the Mediterranean. “Marseille might finally get cleaned up.”
Editor’s note: As a public service, we have removed our paywall for all pandemic-related stories.


csmonitor--2020-08-18--Three takeaways from first day of the DNC: Vote, vote, and vote

Michelle Obama delivered a passionate condemnation of President Donald Trump during the opening night of the Democratic National Convention , declaring him `` in over his head '' and warning that the nation 's mounting crises would only get worse if he 's reelected over Joe Biden .
`` Donald Trump is the wrong president for our country , '' she said .
`` He can not meet this moment .
He simply can not be who we need him to be for us . ''
Mr. Trump pushed back Tuesday , taunting on Twitter that someone should explain to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the `` beautiful White House '' today if it `` were n't for the job done by her husband , '' President Barack Obama .
Mr. Trump ended with a sarcastic thanks to Michelle Obama for her `` very kind words . ''
The former first lady , one of the nation 's most respected women , was the headliner at the first presidential nominating convention of the coronavirus era .
There was no central meeting place or cheering throng during the all-virtual affair Monday night .
But it was an opportunity @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to rally behind Mr. Biden , the party 's presidential nominee .
Bernie Sanders , the progressive Vermont senator who was Mr. Biden 's last standing rival during the primary , encouraged his loyal supporters to vote for the former vice president in November , arguing the nation ca n't survive another four years of Mr. Trump .
He notably backed Mr. Biden 's plan for tackling health care , one of their most substantive differences in the past .
Mr. Sanders backs a Medicare for All plan while Mr. Biden has called @ @ @ @ @ @ @ law .
But it was Michelle Obama , making her fourth convention appearance , who once again delivered an electrifying moment .
Wearing a necklace that said `` vote , '' she tapped into her enduring popularity among Black voters and college educated suburban women – voters Mr. Biden will need to show up in force .
She issued a stark warning to a country already navigating health and economic crises along with a reckoning on racism .
`` If you think things possibly ca n't get worse , trust me , they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ n't make a change in this election , '' she said as she issued a call to action for the coalition of young and diverse voters who twice sent her family to the White House .
Mr. Biden will formally accept the nomination on Thursday near his home in Wilmington , Delaware .
His running mate , California Sen. Kamala Harris , who is the first Black woman on a national ticket , speaks Wednesday night .
Leading up to that , Mr. Biden sought on opening night to demonstrate the broad ideological @ @ @ @ @ @ @ same night he was praised by Mr. Sanders , a self-described democratic socialist who championed a multitrillion-dollar universal health care plan , Mr. Biden also won backing from Ohio 's former Republican Gov .
John Kasich , an anti-abortion conservative who spent decades fighting to cut government spending .
`` My friends , I say to you , and to everyone who supported other candidates in this primary and to those who may have voted for Donald Trump in the last election : The future of our democracy is at stake .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The future of our planet is at stake , '' Mr. Sanders said as he endorsed Mr. Biden 's health care plan .
Still , there were real questions about whether the prime-time event would adequately energize the disparate factions Mr. Biden hopes to capture .
Mr. Trump sought to undermine the Democrats ' big night by hosting a political rally in Wisconsin , where Mr. Biden 's party had originally planned this week 's convention .
He called the Democrats ' event `` a snooze '' before it even began .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ appearances from average Americans touched by the crises that have exploded on Mr. Trump 's watch .
Philonise and Rodney Floyd led a moment of silence in honor of their brother , George Floyd , the Minnesota man whose death while in police custody sparked a national moment of awakening on racial injustice .
`` George should be alive today , '' Philonise Floyd said matter-of-factly .
Also speaking was Kristin Urquiza , an Arizona woman who lost her father to COVID-19 , which has killed more than 170,000 people in the United @ @ @ @ @ @ @ healthy 65-year-old , '' she said .
`` His only preexisting condition was trusting Donald Trump , and for that , he paid with his life . ''
And Rick Telesz , a Pennsylvania farmer , warned that Mr. Trump 's trade war has had a `` truly a devastating effect '' on his farm before the coronavirus brought another blow with what he called `` misinformation '' coming from the country 's leadership .
`` My biggest concern is that if these trends continue with this type of leadership , I will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , '' he said .
Democrats abandoned their plans for an in-person gathering in Milwaukee because of the pandemic .
The unprecedented gathering is not only testing the bonds of the diverse Biden-Harris coalition but the practical challenges of running a presidential campaign in the midst of a pandemic .
At this moment , Mr. Biden sits in a stronger political position than Mr. Trump , who has struggled to expand his political coalition under the weight of his turbulent leadership and prolonged health and economic crises .
But 77 days before votes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Democratic challenger 's side .
Just one incumbent president has been defeated in the last four decades .
Polls also suggest that Mr. Biden , a lifelong politician , is on the wrong end of an enthusiasm gap .
His supporters consistently say they 're motivated more by opposition to Mr. Trump than excitement about Mr. Biden .
Democrats hope to shift that dynamic beginning with the convention .
Mrs. Obama , whom Gallup determined was the nation 's most admired woman last year , wowed Democrats at the 2016 presidential convention @ @ @ @ @ @ @ they go low , we go high . ''
She insisted on Monday she was not abandoning that tack , explaining that taking the high road does n't mean staying silent .
With no live audience for any of the speakers , convention organizers were forced to get creative in their high-stakes quest to generate enthusiasm .
There were live appearances from speakers in Texas , South Carolina , Wisconsin , and Michigan , but many of the speeches that aired Monday night were prerecorded .
Seeking to inject some family fun into @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the campaign hosted drive-in viewing stations in six states , much like drive-in movies , where viewers could watch on a big screen from the safety of their vehicles .
There were also many online watch parties featuring celebrities and elected officials to make the experience more interactive .
It was unclear how many people attended the parties .
In most , only the speakers were visible on screen .
In one watch party , Washington Rep. Pramila Jayapal and Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren rallied progressives , many of whom had preferred Mr. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ must do everything we can to energize and excite our base about the choice before us , '' Ms. Jayapal said .
The Monday speakers included plenty of Democratic politicians : Rep. Jim Clyburn of South Carolina , who is the highest ranking African American in Congress ; New York Gov .
Andrew Cuomo ; Michigan Gov .
Gretchen Whitmer ; Alabama Sen. Doug Jones ; Nevada Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto ; and two former presidential contenders : Minnesota Sen. Amy Klobuchar and Mr. Sanders .
Beyond Mr. Kasich , other Republicans backing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ businesswoman Meg Whitman , former New Jersey Gov .
Christine Whitman , and former New York congresswoman Susan Molinari .
It was impossible to fully gauge America 's interest in the all-virtual format on the first night .
Broadcast TV networks are showing the final hour each night live , cable news is showing both hours , and many viewers plan to stream from the rivals ' websites or on social media .
Mr. Trump , as he often does , was ensuring he 'd be a part of the conversation .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on Monday , first in Minnesota and then in Wisconsin .
`` The only way we 're going to lose this election is if the election is rigged , '' Mr. Trump said in Wisconsin , raising anew with no evidence the specter of significant voting fraud .
This story was reported by The Associated Press .
AP writer Kathleen Ronayne in California contributed to this report .
Editor ’ s note : As a public service , the Monitor has removed the paywall for all our coronavirus coverage .
It ’ s @ @

Michelle Obama delivered a passionate condemnation of President Donald Trump during the opening night of the Democratic National Convention, declaring him "in over his head" and warning that the nation's mounting crises would only get worse if he's reelected over Joe Biden.
"Donald Trump is the wrong president for our country," she said. "He cannot meet this moment. He simply cannot be who we need him to be for us."
Mr. Trump pushed back Tuesday, taunting on Twitter that someone should explain to Mrs. Obama that he wouldn't be in the "beautiful White House" today if it "weren't for the job done by her husband," President Barack Obama.
Mr. Trump ended with a sarcastic thanks to Michelle Obama for her "very kind words."
The former first lady, one of the nation's most respected women, was the headliner at the first presidential nominating convention of the coronavirus era. There was no central meeting place or cheering throng during the all-virtual affair Monday night. But it was an opportunity for Democrats – and some Republicans – to rally behind Mr. Biden, the party's presidential nominee.
Bernie Sanders, the progressive Vermont senator who was Mr. Biden's last standing rival during the primary, encouraged his loyal supporters to vote for the former vice president in November, arguing the nation can't survive another four years of Mr. Trump. He notably backed Mr. Biden's plan for tackling health care, one of their most substantive differences in the past. Mr. Sanders backs a Medicare for All plan while Mr. Biden has called for expanding the current "Obamacare" law.
But it was Michelle Obama, making her fourth convention appearance, who once again delivered an electrifying moment. Wearing a necklace that said "vote," she tapped into her enduring popularity among Black voters and college educated suburban women – voters Mr. Biden will need to show up in force.
She issued a stark warning to a country already navigating health and economic crises along with a reckoning on racism.
"If you think things possibly can't get worse, trust me, they can and they will if we don't make a change in this election," she said as she issued a call to action for the coalition of young and diverse voters who twice sent her family to the White House.
Mr. Biden will formally accept the nomination on Thursday near his home in Wilmington, Delaware. His running mate, California Sen. Kamala Harris, who is the first Black woman on a national ticket, speaks Wednesday night.
Leading up to that, Mr. Biden sought on opening night to demonstrate the broad ideological range of his supporters.
On the same night he was praised by Mr. Sanders, a self-described democratic socialist who championed a multitrillion-dollar universal health care plan, Mr. Biden also won backing from Ohio's former Republican Gov. John Kasich, an anti-abortion conservative who spent decades fighting to cut government spending.
"My friends, I say to you, and to everyone who supported other candidates in this primary and to those who may have voted for Donald Trump in the last election: The future of our democracy is at stake. The future of our economy is at stake. The future of our planet is at stake," Mr. Sanders said as he endorsed Mr. Biden's health care plan.
Still, there were real questions about whether the prime-time event would adequately energize the disparate factions Mr. Biden hopes to capture.
Republicans face a similar challenge next week.
Mr. Trump sought to undermine the Democrats' big night by hosting a political rally in Wisconsin, where Mr. Biden's party had originally planned this week's convention. He called the Democrats' event "a snooze" before it even began.
Monday's speeches were framed by emotional appearances from average Americans touched by the crises that have exploded on Mr. Trump's watch.
Philonise and Rodney Floyd led a moment of silence in honor of their brother, George Floyd, the Minnesota man whose death while in police custody sparked a national moment of awakening on racial injustice.
"George should be alive today," Philonise Floyd said matter-of-factly.
Also speaking was Kristin Urquiza, an Arizona woman who lost her father to COVID-19, which has killed more than 170,000 people in the United States.
"My dad was a healthy 65-year-old," she said. "His only preexisting condition was trusting Donald Trump, and for that, he paid with his life."
And Rick Telesz, a Pennsylvania farmer, warned that Mr. Trump's trade war has had a "truly a devastating effect" on his farm before the coronavirus brought another blow with what he called "misinformation" coming from the country's leadership.
"My biggest concern is that if these trends continue with this type of leadership, I will be the last generation farming this farm," he said.
Democrats abandoned their plans for an in-person gathering in Milwaukee because of the pandemic. The unprecedented gathering is not only testing the bonds of the diverse Biden-Harris coalition but the practical challenges of running a presidential campaign in the midst of a pandemic.
At this moment, Mr. Biden sits in a stronger political position than Mr. Trump, who has struggled to expand his political coalition under the weight of his turbulent leadership and prolonged health and economic crises. But 77 days before votes are counted, history is not on the Democratic challenger's side. Just one incumbent president has been defeated in the last four decades.
Polls also suggest that Mr. Biden, a lifelong politician, is on the wrong end of an enthusiasm gap. His supporters consistently say they're motivated more by opposition to Mr. Trump than excitement about Mr. Biden. Democrats hope to shift that dynamic beginning with the convention.
Mrs. Obama, whom Gallup determined was the nation's most admired woman last year, wowed Democrats at the 2016 presidential convention by coining the phrase: "When they go low, we go high." She insisted on Monday she was not abandoning that tack, explaining that taking the high road doesn't mean staying silent.
With no live audience for any of the speakers, convention organizers were forced to get creative in their high-stakes quest to generate enthusiasm. There were live appearances from speakers in Texas, South Carolina, Wisconsin, and Michigan, but many of the speeches that aired Monday night were prerecorded.
Seeking to inject some family fun into an otherwise serious two-hour video montage, the campaign hosted drive-in viewing stations in six states, much like drive-in movies, where viewers could watch on a big screen from the safety of their vehicles. There were also many online watch parties featuring celebrities and elected officials to make the experience more interactive.
It was unclear how many people attended the parties. In most, only the speakers were visible on screen. In one watch party, Washington Rep. Pramila Jayapal and Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren rallied progressives, many of whom had preferred Mr. Sanders over Mr. Biden.
"We must do everything we can to energize and excite our base about the choice before us," Ms. Jayapal said.
The Monday speakers included plenty of Democratic politicians: Rep. Jim Clyburn of South Carolina, who is the highest ranking African American in Congress; New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo; Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer; Alabama Sen. Doug Jones; Nevada Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto; and two former presidential contenders: Minnesota Sen. Amy Klobuchar and Mr. Sanders.
Beyond Mr. Kasich, other Republicans backing Mr. Biden got speaking slots: California businesswoman Meg Whitman, former New Jersey Gov. Christine Whitman, and former New York congresswoman Susan Molinari.
It was impossible to fully gauge America's interest in the all-virtual format on the first night. Broadcast TV networks are showing the final hour each night live, cable news is showing both hours, and many viewers plan to stream from the rivals' websites or on social media.
Mr. Trump, as he often does, was ensuring he'd be a part of the conversation.
The Republican president made two swing-state campaign appearances on Monday, first in Minnesota and then in Wisconsin.
"The only way we're going to lose this election is if the election is rigged," Mr. Trump said in Wisconsin, raising anew with no evidence the specter of significant voting fraud.
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This story was reported by The Associated Press. AP writer Kathleen Ronayne in California contributed to this report.
Editor’s note: As a public service, the Monitor has removed the paywall for all our coronavirus coverage. It’s free.


csmonitor--2020-08-19--Shakespeare grieves his son’s death in Maggie O’Farrell’s poignant novel

When she was a teenager , Irish-born novelist Maggie O ’ Farrell became smitten with the works of William Shakespeare .
While studying “ Hamlet , ” she was haunted by the brief life of the playwright ’ s only son , Hamnet , who died at age 11 , possibly of bubonic plague .
In “ Hamnet , ” she fashions a historical novel around the boy , whose death may have impelled his father to write “ Hamlet.
” Monitor correspondent Peter Tonguette spoke with Ms. O ’ Farrell about her fictionalized portrait of the Shakespeare family .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ you become interested in Shakespeare ?
We were studying the play “ Hamlet.
” It really got under my skin , both the play and the character .
“ Hamlet ” does appeal to the adolescent , certainly the kind of adolescent I was – slightly more melancholic , reflective , likes to wear black .
I was fortunate to have this absolutely fantastic English teacher , and he mentioned in passing that Shakespeare had a son called Hamnet who had died several years before [ “ Hamlet ” ] was written .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ time .
Q : Are Hamnet and Hamlet two versions of the same name ?
Absolutely .
Spelling in Elizabethan times was a lot less stable than it is now .
There are many examples in the Stratford parish registers of children who were born as Hamnet or Hamlet , and were buried as Hamlet or Hamnet , the other way around .
I ’ ve always felt that Hamnet has never been given his due .
You read these big biographies , and the boy gets maybe two mentions .
His death @ @ @ @ @ @ @ how common it was for children to die in the 16th century .
I wanted to give him a voice , and to give dignity to his death .
Also , Hamnet was important .
Without him , we wouldn ’ t have one of the greatest tragedies ever written .
We probably wouldn ’ t have “ Twelfth Night , ” which is about boy-and-girl twins who are separated and they each think the other is dead and then they are magically reunited .
[ Hamnet had a twin sister , Judith @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , who each lived well into old age . ]
Q : How long did you work on the novel ?
I made a pass at it a few times – three times , actually .
I have written three books since [ starting ] “ Hamnet.
” I realized that one of the things stopping me was that I was unable to write the book while my son still hadn ’ t reached the age of 11 .
I knew that I had to put myself inside the mind of a parent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ bedside as he is dying .
Q : As a writer , how do you put yourself in the shoes of Hamnet ’ s grieving parents ?
I don ’ t think there ’ s a huge leap between love and loss , actually .
I think loss is the sort of inverse of loving somebody , isn ’ t it ?
It ’ s fear of what your life would be like without this person , and I think there is no more visceral fear for a parent , certainly , than @ @ @ @ @ @ @ children to outlive you , don ’ t you ?
It ’ s a very , very basic urge that all of us have .
Q : Will you return to the terrain of Shakespeare again ?
I certainly have missed him an awful lot , I have to say .
It took me a really long time to take down all my maps and diagrams and photographs .
...
I think Shakespeare ’ s domestic life has been so minimized and so silenced for so long that I do find it a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ : Do you read his plays differently now ?
I think I always have , in a sense , because I was fortunate enough to have this brilliant and inspirational English teacher .

When she was a teenager, Irish-born novelist Maggie O’Farrell became smitten with the works of William Shakespeare. While studying “Hamlet,” she was haunted by the brief life of the playwright’s only son, Hamnet, who died at age 11, possibly of bubonic plague. In “Hamnet,” she fashions a historical novel around the boy, whose death may have impelled his father to write “Hamlet.” Monitor correspondent Peter Tonguette spoke with Ms. O’Farrell about her fictionalized portrait of the Shakespeare family.
Q: How as a teenager did you become interested in Shakespeare?
We were studying the play “Hamlet.” It really got under my skin, both the play and the character. “Hamlet” does appeal to the adolescent, certainly the kind of adolescent I was – slightly more melancholic, reflective, likes to wear black. I was fortunate to have this absolutely fantastic English teacher, and he mentioned in passing that Shakespeare had a son called Hamnet who had died several years before [“Hamlet”] was written. It just really struck me at the time.
Q: Are Hamnet and Hamlet two versions of the same name?
Absolutely. Spelling in Elizabethan times was a lot less stable than it is now. There are many examples in the Stratford parish registers of children who were born as Hamnet or Hamlet, and were buried as Hamlet or Hamnet, the other way around.
Q: How did Hamnet’s death influence Shakespeare’s work?
I’ve always felt that Hamnet has never been given his due. You read these big biographies, and the boy gets maybe two mentions. His death is always wrapped up in statistics about how common it was for children to die in the 16th century. I wanted to give him a voice, and to give dignity to his death. Also, Hamnet was important. Without him, we wouldn’t have one of the greatest tragedies ever written. We probably wouldn’t have “Twelfth Night,” which is about boy-and-girl twins who are separated and they each think the other is dead and then they are magically reunited. [Hamnet had a twin sister, Judith, and an older sister, Susanna, who each lived well into old age.]
Q: How long did you work on the novel?
I made a pass at it a few times – three times, actually. I have written three books since [starting] “Hamnet.” I realized that one of the things stopping me was that I was unable to write the book while my son still hadn’t reached the age of 11. I knew that I had to put myself inside the mind of a parent who sits at the son’s bedside as he is dying.
Q: As a writer, how do you put yourself in the shoes of Hamnet’s grieving parents?
I don’t think there’s a huge leap between love and loss, actually. I think loss is the sort of inverse of loving somebody, isn’t it? It’s fear of what your life would be like without this person, and I think there is no more visceral fear for a parent, certainly, than losing your child. You want your children to outlive you, don’t you? It’s a very, very basic urge that all of us have.
Q: Will you return to the terrain of Shakespeare again?
I certainly have missed him an awful lot, I have to say. It took me a really long time to take down all my maps and diagrams and photographs. ... I think Shakespeare’s domestic life has been so minimized and so silenced for so long that I do find it a very rich, imaginative 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.
Q: Do you read his plays differently now?
I think I always have, in a sense, because I was fortunate enough to have this brilliant and inspirational English teacher.