(3528consistentlytangeloposesgambogemoves) These are half of the creamsicle (orange tabby) kittens I call "the Orange Blossom Special". These two are boys.

With the lack of consistent uploads to Flickr in the past months, it would appear that I've stopped shooting. This is not the case. I'm still shooting plenty, both for fun and for profit. I've just been too busy to upload to Flickr or to blog any of my work. (I'm a new dad! Give me a break!)

Here is the official John Cachero Photography Twitter background that you'd see behind my feed if you visited the site. -- twitter.com/johncachero -- I honestly don't know anyone that uses the website instead of one of many Twitter clients, but if you do, you'd get treated to some of my recent work.

This Twitter background is optimized so that, depending on the viewer's monitor aspect ratio and/or resolution, different photos are viewable. I also took into account if someone were to click a link to a single tweet page. For example: twitter.com/johncachero/status/21201836224

So, enjoy.

View Full Resolution File -- Blog

Con los años, muchas barracas pasaron a tener una estructura más consistente.

The 53rd annual Bon Odori Festival at Camp Zama was held Aug. 4. The festival is consistently the largest bilateral event of the year for U.S. Army Japan, this year attracting more than 30,000 visitors to the installation. The festival featured live entartainment, games for children, a variety of ethnic foods, bilateral sports, and a fireworks show.

About the United States Army Garrison Japan:

The United States Army Garrison Japan and its 16 supported installation sites are located in the island of Honshu and Okinawa in Japan. The USAG Japan mission is to support the Headquarters, U.S. Army Japan / I Corps (fwd) to ensure mission readiness and the quality of life of the Army community in a sustainable, transforming joint and combined environment.

The USAG-J area of responsibility spans 1,500 miles from north to south of Japan. Camp Zama, home for both HQ USARJ and USAG-J is located approximately 25 miles southwest of Tokyo in the cities of Zama and Sagamihara in Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan. The Camp Zama base cluster includes Sagamihara Housing Area and Sagami General Depot.

Akasaka Press Center is located in the center of Tokyo. The Akizuki/Kure area near Hiroshima is an ammunition depot. Yokohama North Dock is a port facility in the city of Yokohama, a major commerce port and a popular shopping area. USAG Torii Station is located 980 miles southwest of Camp Zama on the island of Okinawa.

We are the Army's home in Japan and the "Garrison of Choice" for Soldiers, Civilians and their Family members. We are committed in becoming the leader in the U.S. Army Installation Management Command by providing world-class installation services.

-----

To learn more about USAG Japan, please visit:

Official Website - www.usagj.jp.pac.army.mil

Facebook - www.facebook.com/usagj

Flickr - www.flickr.com/usagj

YouTube - www.youtube.com/usagjapan

Vimeo - www.vimeo.com/usagj

Twitter - www.twitter.com/usagjapan

Slideshare - www.slideshare.net/usagjapan

USARJ This Week on YouTube - www.youtube.com/usarjthisweek

The 53rd annual Bon Odori Festival at Camp Zama was held Aug. 4. The festival is consistently the largest bilateral event of the year for U.S. Army Japan, this year attracting more than 30,000 visitors to the installation. The festival featured live entartainment, games for children, a variety of ethnic foods, bilateral sports, and a fireworks show.

About the United States Army Garrison Japan:

The United States Army Garrison Japan and its 16 supported installation sites are located in the island of Honshu and Okinawa in Japan. The USAG Japan mission is to support the Headquarters, U.S. Army Japan / I Corps (fwd) to ensure mission readiness and the quality of life of the Army community in a sustainable, transforming joint and combined environment.

The USAG-J area of responsibility spans 1,500 miles from north to south of Japan. Camp Zama, home for both HQ USARJ and USAG-J is located approximately 25 miles southwest of Tokyo in the cities of Zama and Sagamihara in Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan. The Camp Zama base cluster includes Sagamihara Housing Area and Sagami General Depot.

Akasaka Press Center is located in the center of Tokyo. The Akizuki/Kure area near Hiroshima is an ammunition depot. Yokohama North Dock is a port facility in the city of Yokohama, a major commerce port and a popular shopping area. USAG Torii Station is located 980 miles southwest of Camp Zama on the island of Okinawa.

We are the Army's home in Japan and the "Garrison of Choice" for Soldiers, Civilians and their Family members. We are committed in becoming the leader in the U.S. Army Installation Management Command by providing world-class installation services.

-----

To learn more about USAG Japan, please visit:

Official Website - www.usagj.jp.pac.army.mil

Facebook - www.facebook.com/usagj

Flickr - www.flickr.com/usagj

YouTube - www.youtube.com/usagjapan

Vimeo - www.vimeo.com/usagj

Twitter - www.twitter.com/usagjapan

Slideshare - www.slideshare.net/usagjapan

USARJ This Week on YouTube - www.youtube.com/usarjthisweek

World’s Best Surfers Ignite Aproador to Complete Round 1 of Billabong Rio Pro

APROADOR, Rio de Janeiro/Brazil (Tuesday, May 17, 2011) – After a week of lay-days, the world’s best surfers tore into consistently changing conditions at the lefthand pointbreak of Aproador to complete Round 1 of the Billabong Rio Pro.

Stop No. 3 of 11 on the ASP World Title Series, the opening day of men’s competition saw ASP Dream Tour veterans earn the day’s top scores while defending event winner Jadson Andre (BRA), 21, made an impressive entrance in the Billabong Rio Pro’s opening round.

Kelly Slater (USA), 39, reigning 10-time ASP World Champion, got off to a strong start to open his Billabong Rio Pro campaign. Slater unleashed two furious tail-drifting backhand turns to notch the day’s highest single-wave score of a 9.00 (out of 10) midway through his bout to overtake ASP World Tour rookie Julian Wilson (AUS), 22, and event wildcard Peterson Crisanto (BRA), 18, after nearly missing the start of his heat.

“That 9 felt good,” Slater said. “I went down to grab my jersey and there was some confusion. By the time I got out, the heat had already started and Julian got that first one. It wasn’t a good start. I knew there were going to be some good ones and I just had to be patient. That one good wave actually let me bottom turn and hit the lip, most of the waves were soft and had a lot of horizontals.”

Slater, who finished runner-up at the Billabong Pro last year, was also quick to admit that several goofy-footers will be tough to beat at the lefthander of Aproador and noted that the natural-footers will need to be especially selective in their wave choice at the Billabong Rio Pro.

“A little left like this is going to play well for goofy footers,” Slater said. “Owen (Wright) and Jadson (Andre) are probably frothing on it and licking their chops ready to go. We (natural footers) have been on our frontside at Snapper and Bells and now it’s their turn. We’ve just got to try and be smart. Mick (Fanning) looked good and there are waves out there to do it, you’ve just got to be smart.”

Taj Burrow (AUS), 32, opened his Billabong Rio Pro campaign with a sharp backhand attack by belting two Arpoador lefthanders to the tune of a 16.83 (out of 20) on his first two waves to earn the highest heat-total of the day. The Australian veteran notched his Round 1 heat win over dangerous Brazilian rookie Alejo Muniz (BRA), 21, and event wildcard Ricardo Santos (BRA), 20.

“It was kind of scary for a second there, right when they decided to start the competition the wind started howling, but then it cleaned up heaps,” Burrow said. “I got two fun ones at the start so I’m happy.”

Jadson Andre, defending event winner, reveled in Aproador’s lefthanders with a combination of aggressive carves and snaps to take a convincing Round 1 heat victory with the support of the Brazilian crowd behind him.

“I’m so happy to be here competing in Brazil and I love Aproador, I feel like a local,” Andre said. “I’ve competed here several times before and have friends here. I know everyone says I should feel pressure as defending champion, but I’m not worried about it. I’m just thinking about the next heat. That’s what I did last year.”

Mick Fanning (AUS), 29, two-time ASP World Champion, slowly built momentum in his opening Billabong Rio Pro heat, eventually igniting two lefthanders by combining a series of seamless backhand turns to notch a 15.07 heat total to advance directly through to Round 3.

“It was tricky trying to find the right one out there, but I watched the heat before and noticed that guys that were doing turns back-to-back were getting scores, so I tried to concentrate on that,” Fanning said. “They weren’t the biggest waves, but they just allowed three turns straight away.”

The Australian talent also expressed the importance of advancing directly through to Round 3 with Brazil’s ever-changing conditions.

“It’s really good to skip as many rounds as possible, especially here in Brazil where it can be really unpredictable,” Fanning said. “I’m stoked to get through Round 1 and I’ll go back and assess what’s going on and hopefully keep going.”

Billabong Rio Pro event organizers will reconvene at Aproador at 7am local time tomorrow morning for a possible Round 2 start.

To watch the Billabong Rio Pro LIVE log on to www.billabongpro.com

For additional ASP information log on to www.aspworldtour.com

Billabong Rio Pro Round 1 Results:

Heat 1: Owen Wright (AUS) 13.60, Heitor Alves (BRA) 7.67, Bobby Martinez (USA) 7.47

Heat 2: Adrian Buchan (AUS) 11.84, Adam Melling (AUS) 11.16, Kai Otton (AUS) 7.90

Heat 3: Taj Burrow (AUS) 16.33, Ricardo Santos (BRA) 11.17, Alejo Muniz (BRA) 10.60

Heat 4: Mick Fanning (AUS) 15.07, Simao Romao (BRA) 12.36, Dusty Payne (HAW) 11.66

Heat 5: Patrick Gudauskas (USA) 8.13, Jordy Smith (ZAF) 8.07, Igor Morais (BRA) 6.34

Heat 6: Kelly Slater (USA) 15.17, Julian Wilson (AUS) 14.37, Peterson Crisanto (BRA) 3.84

Heat 7: Jadson Andre (BRA) 14.33, Gabe Kling (USA) 10.66, Bede Durbidge (AUS) 7.90

Heat 8: Jeremy Flores (FRA) 13.56, C.J. Hobgood (USA) 10.80, Josh Kerr (AUS) 7.43

Heat 9: Damien Hobgood (USA) 12.00, Raoni Monteiro (BRA) 11.10, Tiago Pires (PRT) 10.93

Heat 10: Cory Lopez (USA) 11.54, Chris Davidson (AUS) 10.00, Michel Bourez (PYF) 8.57

Heat 11: Daniel Ross (AUS) 14.90, Adriano de Souza (BRA) 14.67, Kieren Perrow (AUS) 8.96

Heat 12: Taylor Knox (USA) 15.03, Matt Wilkinson (AUS) 14.70, Joel Parkinson (AUS) 8.34

Photo ASP/Scholtz

Order No. 227 (Russian: Приказ № 227, romanized: Prikaz No. 227) was an order issued on 28 July 1942 by Joseph Stalin, who was acting as the People's Commissar of Defence. It is known for its line "Not a step back!" (Ни шагу назад!, Ni shagu nazad!), which became the primary slogan of the Soviet press in summer 1942.

Order No. 227 established that each front must create one to three penal battalions (Russian: штрафной батальон, romanized: shtrafnoy batalyon, lit. 'penalty battalion', commonly known as штрафбат, shtrafbat) of up to 800 middle-ranking commanders and high-ranking commanders accused of disciplinary problems, which were sent to the most dangerous sections of the front lines. From 1942 to 1945, a total of 422,700 Red Army personnel were sentenced to penal battalions as a result of courts-martial. The order also directed that each army must create "blocking detachments" at the rear that would shoot "panic-mongers and cowards". In the first three months, blocking detachments shot 1,000 penal troops and sent 24,000 to penal battalions. By October 1942, the idea of regular blocking detachments was unofficially dropped.

Intended to galvanise the morale of the hard-pressed Red Army and emphasize patriotism, it had a generally detrimental effect and was not consistently implemented by commanders who viewed diverting troops to create blocking detachments as a waste of manpower. On 29 October 1944, blocking detachments were officially disbanded by Stalin's order No. 349 citing the changed situation at the front.

History

During the first part of the war on the Eastern Front, the Soviets suffered heavy losses along with mass retreat and desertion. Stalin released order No. 227 intending to re-establish discipline in the Red Army in the battle against the Wehrmacht and Waffen-SS:

Moscow, Nr. 227, July 28, 1942

The enemy throws new forces to the front without regard to heavy losses and penetrates deep into the Soviet Union, seizing new regions, destroying our cities and villages, and violating, plundering and killing the Soviet population. Combat goes on in region Voronezh, near Don, in the south, and at the gates of the Northern Caucasus. The German invaders penetrate toward Stalingrad, to Volga and want at any cost to trap Kuban and the Northern Caucasus, with their oil and grain. The enemy already has captured Voroshilovgrad, Starobelsk, Rossosh, Kupyansk, Valuyki, Novocherkassk, Rostov on Don, half Voronezh. Part of the troops of the Southern front, following the panic-mongers, have left Rostov and Novocherkassk without severe resistance and without orders from Moscow, covering their banners with shame.

The population of our country, who love and respect the Red Army, start to be discouraged in her and lose faith in the Red Army, and many curse the Red Army for leaving our people under the yoke of the German oppressors, and itself running east.

Some stupid people at the front calm themselves with talk that we can retreat further to the east, as we have a lot of territory, a lot of ground, a lot of population and that there will always be much bread for us. They want to justify the infamous behaviour at the front. But such talk is a falsehood, helpful only to our enemies.

Each commander, Red Army soldier and political commissar should understand that our means are not limitless. The territory of the Soviet state is not a desert, but people – workers, peasants, intelligentsia, our fathers, mothers, wives, brothers, children. The territory of the USSR which the enemy has captured and aims to capture is bread and other products for the army, metal and fuel for industry, factories, plants supplying the army with arms and ammunition, railways. After the loss of Ukraine, Belarus, Baltic republics, Donetzk, and other areas we have much less territory, much fewer people, bread, metal, plants and factories. We have lost more than 70 million people, more than 800 million pounds of bread annually and more than 10 million tons of metal annually. Now we do not have predominance over the Germans in human reserves, in reserves of bread. To retreat further – means to waste ourselves and to waste at the same time our Motherland.

Therefore it is necessary to eliminate talk that we have the capability endlessly to retreat, that we have a lot of territory, that our country is great and rich, that there is a large population, and that bread always will be abundant. Such talk is false and parasitic, it weakens us and benefits the enemy, if we do not stop retreating we will be without bread, without fuel, without metal, without raw material, without factories and plants, without railways.

This leads to the conclusion, it is time to finish retreating. Not one step back! Such should now be our main slogan.

It goes on to state that The Supreme General Headquarters of the Red Army commands:

1. Military councils of the fronts and first of all front commanders should:

a) Unconditionally eliminate retreat moods in the troops and with a firm hand bar propaganda that we can and should retreat further east, and that such retreat will cause no harm;

b) Unconditionally remove from their posts and send to the High Command for court-martial those army commanders who have allowed unauthorized troop withdrawals from occupied positions, without the order of the Front command.

c) Form within each Front from one up to three (depending on the situation) penal battalions (800 persons) where commanders and high commanders and appropriate commissars of all service arms who have been guilty of a breach of discipline due to cowardice or bewilderment will be sent, and put them on more difficult sectors of the front to give them an opportunity to redeem by blood their crimes against the Motherland.

2. Military councils of armies and first of all army commanders should;

a) Unconditionally remove from their offices, corps and army commanders and commissars who have accepted troop withdrawals from occupied positions without the order of the army command, and route them to the military councils of the fronts for court-martial;

b) Form within the limits of each army 3 to 5 well-armed defensive squads (up to 200 persons in each), and put them directly behind unstable divisions and require them in case of panic and scattered withdrawals of elements of the divisions to shoot in place panic-mongers and cowards and thus help the honest soldiers of the division execute their duty to the Motherland;

c) Form within the limits of each army up to ten (depending on the situation) penal companies (from 150 to 200 persons in each) where ordinary soldiers and low ranking commanders who have been guilty of a breach of discipline due to cowardice or bewilderment will be routed, and put them at difficult sectors of the army to give them an opportunity to redeem by blood their crimes against the Motherland.

3. Commanders and commissars of corps and divisions should;

a) Unconditionally remove from their posts commanders and commissars of regiments and battalions who have accepted unwarranted withdrawal of their troops without the order of the corps or division commander, take from them their orders and medals and route them to military councils of fronts for court martial;

b) Render all help and support to the defensive squads of the army in their business of strengthening order and discipline in the units.

This order is to be read in all companies, cavalry squadrons, batteries, squadrons, commands and headquarters.

The People’s commissioner of Defense

I. Stalin

Effect

Marshal of the Soviet Union, Aleksandr Vasilevsky, wrote: "...Order N 227 is one of the most powerful documents of the war years due to its patriotic and emotional content... the document was motivated by rough and dark times... while reading it we were thinking to ourselves if we were doing everything it takes to win the battle."

Each front had to create penal companies for privates and NCOs. By the end of 1942, there were 24,993 troops serving in penal battalions, which increased to 177,694 in 1943. The number decreased over the next two years to 143,457 and 81,766 soldiers in 1944 and 1945, respectively. The total of Red Army personnel sentenced by courts-martial was 994,300, with 422,700 assigned to penal battalions and 436,600 imprisoned after sentencing. Not included are 212,400 deserters, who were not found and escaped the custody of the military districts.

In the first three months, blocking detachments shot 1,000 penal troops and sent 24,000 to penal battalions. According to an internal list of the NKVD from October 1942, 15,649 soldiers were picked up by the restricted forces who fled the front line on the Stalingrad Front from August 1, 1942, to October 15, 1942. Of these, 244 soldiers were imprisoned, 278 were shot, 218 were sent to penal companies, 42 to penal battalions and 14,833 to return to their units. By October 1942, the idea of regular blocking detachments was unofficially dropped.

The Motherland Calls (Russian: Родина-мать зовёт!, romanized: Rodina-mat' zovyot!) is a colossal neoclassicist and socialist realist war memorial sculpture on Mamayev Kurgan in Volgograd, Russia. Designed primarily by sculptor Yevgeny Vuchetich with assistance from architect Yakov Belopolsky, the concrete sculpture commemorates the casualties of the Battle of Stalingrad, and is the predominant component of a larger monument complex, which includes several plazas and other sculptural works. Standing 85 metres (279 ft) tall from the base of its pedestal to its peak, the statue was the tallest in the world upon its completion in 1967, and is the tallest statue in Europe if excluding the pedestal. The statue, along with the rest of the complex, was dedicated on 15 October 1967, and has been listed as a tentative candidate for UNESCO's list of World Heritage Sites since 2014.

The sculpture depicts a female personification of Russia, commonly referred to as Mother Russia. She wears a windswept shawl resembling wings, and holds a sword aloft in her right hand. Her left hand is extended outward, as she calls upon the Soviet people to battle. The statue was originally planned to be made of granite and to stand only 30 metres (98 ft) tall, with a design consisting of a Red Army soldier genuflecting and placing a sword before Mother Russia holding a folded banner, but was changed in 1961 to be a large concrete structure at nearly double the height, a decision that was subject to criticism from Soviet military officials and writers. It was inspired by the Winged Victory of Samothrace, an ancient Greek sculpture of the goddess of victory, Nike.

The construction of The Motherland Calls began in 1963, and was led by structural engineer Nikolai Nikitin. The project faced numerous challenges, including the assembly of the statue's framework and its intricate features, which were compounded by the statue's size. Delays were caused by cold weather and unforeseen geological issues, necessitating extensive foundation reinforcement and relocation of water systems. Additional complications arose with the statue's sword, which was required to be redesigned due to problems with wind resistance. Despite these obstacles, the memorial was completed in 1967 for the 50th anniversary of the October Revolution.

After its dedication, the sculpture underwent numerous alterations and restoration attempts. In 1972, the statue's sword was replaced with a higher-grade steel alloy version to reduce wind resistance, and by 1986, it had tilted significantly from its original axis. Concerns about the statue's structural integrity arose by the early 21st century, with the statue in disrepair and at risk of collapsing. Comprehensive restoration efforts began later in the century, and by 2020, the monument had undergone extensive restoration, although post-renovation critiques and new structural issues have since arisen.

The Battle of Stalingrad was a major conflict between the Soviet Union and Nazi Germany on the Eastern Front of World War II, fought over six months from July 1942 to February 1943. The battle resulted in a decisive Soviet victory but came at a tremendous cost, with over a million estimated Soviet deaths. The battle was quickly mythologised in Soviet culture, and was widely referred to as the turning point in the war in Soviet history textbooks.

The idea of commemorating the Soviet victory in the Battle of Stalingrad originated in the final years of the war. Soviet politicians and artists had considered designs for monuments to the battle prior to the war's end, and the first museum honoring the Great Patriotic War was established as early as March 1943. In 1944, the publication Arkhitektura SSSR issued a number of articles detailing possible designs for memorials. Following the end of the war in 1945, several small-scale obelisks and commemorative plaques were erected across the Soviet Union; however, larger plans for monuments were curtailed by leader Joseph Stalin, who sought to refocus attention on emerging Cold War conflicts, virtually prohibiting all public observation of the war by 1948.

In 1948, sculptor Yevgeny Vuchetich, a member of the Academy of Arts of the Soviet Union, began discussing plans for a monument for the Battle of Stalingrad with architect Yakov Belopolsky, whom he had previously collaborated with on the development of the Soviet War Memorial in Berlin's Treptower Park.[6] The project was intended to be built atop Mamayev Kurgan, a burial mound that was the site of intense conflict during the battle. Vuchetich started petitioning high-ranking Soviet officials for permission to design the monument in the early 1950s, including Politburo member Georgy Malenkov.[8] In a letter to Malenkov dated December 1951, Vuchetich claimed that he had received multiple inquiries from veterans and family members of those who died in the war about the absence of a memorial on Mamayev Kurgan.

After Stalin's death in March 1953, plans for a memorial on Mamayev Kurgan were revitalised. In March 1954, the Council of Ministers announced a competition for the design of a "State Museum of the Defense of Tsaritsyn-Stalingrad", which would include a large panoramic painting depicting the battle; by this time, Vuchetich and Belopolsky had already finalised drafts for the project's structural designs. On 23 January 1958, the Council of Ministers declared that the construction of "a memorial-monument in the city of Stalingrad commemorating victory over the German fascist force" would be overseen by a committee led by Vuchetich and comprising Belopolsky and Anatoly Garpenko, an artist and Red Army veteran.

Vuchetich and Belopolsky's initial designs for the project were ambitious and took much of their inspiration from the memorial at Treptower Park. The entrance to the monument was planned to feature a triumphal arch that led into a granite staircase, followed by a brick staircase in an avenue of Lombardy poplar trees. A second granite staircase would lead to a circular plaza, with a large granite statue of a Russian man titled Stand To the Death!. Behind the statue, a final granite staircase would lead to a plaza with an entrance to an underground complex called the "Panorama". A cupola-shaped hall would include an eternal flame to memorialise the heroes of Stalingrad, a sculpture of a man shaping a sword into a ploughshare, and walls engraved with the names of those who died in the battle. An exit at the end of the hall led to a second observation platform with a panoramic painting depicting a prosperous post-war Stalingrad.

The principal component of the project was to be a colossal statue at the top of Mamayev Kurgan; at the statue's base, a foyer would be built in order to allow visitors to honor the dead with commemorative gifts. The statue was designed according to the principles of neoclassicism and socialist realism, both artistic styles that Vuchetich specialised in. The original plan for the sculpture was to have it constructed entirely of granite, with a design featuring a Red Army soldier genuflecting and placing a sword before a female personification of Russia, commonly referred to as Mother Russia, holding a folded banner; this was later changed to be a concrete statue of a lone Mother Russia wearing a windblown shawl resembling wings and holding a sword aloft in her right hand, with her left hand extended outward as she calls upon the Soviet people to fight against the enemy. The design was inspired by the Winged Victory of Samothrace, an ancient Greek sculpture of the goddess of victory, Nike. Committee members initially suggested that the sculpture should be dressed in traditional Russian clothing. Vuchetich objected to the proposition, arguing that a traditional costume would diminish the idea of the battle as an "international event" and defy the neoclassical style he had envisioned for the statue. The sculpture was initially planned to be 30 metres (98 ft) tall from its pedestal to its peak; however, Soviet leader Nikita Khrushchev ordered it to be taller than the 46 metres (151 ft) tall Statue of Liberty in a display of dominance over the United States, their geopolitical rival during the Cold War. The height of the statue alone was increased to 52 metres (171 ft), nearly double the originally planned height, a decision that further increased the project's cost, which had already substantially overrun its budget. Valentina Izotova, a 26-year-old waitress at a local restaurant, was chosen by Vuchetich to be the model for the sculpture, while the face of the statue is believed to have been based on that of Vuchetich's wife.

The choice to make The Motherland Calls the primary feature of the monument complex was met with derision from Soviet military officials, including generals Andrey Yeryomenko and Mikhail Shumilov, who believed the statue's design would detract from the importance of the Panorama, which they thought to be the only structure that could faithfully represent the extent of the soldiers' experiences. Vuchetich rationalised the decision by asserting that the monument should reflect the widespread recognition of the Battle of Stalingrad as the turning point of the war, and marketed the project as one part of a sculptural triptych that would encompass the memorial at Treptower Park and a planned monument in Moscow. The planned sculpture also attracted criticism from Soviet writers, including author Viktor Nekrasov, who claimed that the monument would defile the historic site.

While construction on the rest of the monument complex began in 1961, work on The Motherland Calls did not start until late 1962. Vuchetich's final design for the sculpture was approved by the artist committee in December of 1962, and on 23 January 1963 the Council of Ministers ordered the development of blueprints for the statue. The process of building of the monument would prove to be more complicated than anticipated by its developers, primarily due to its size and the complexity of its details. After the Sculptural Group of the Artistic Fund requested to be relieved of their construction duties and the construction firm Volgogradgidrostroi expressed reservations about taking over the project, structural engineer Nikolai Nikitin was appointed to lead the construction efforts.

In 1963, Nikitin's design team began planning the construction process for the monument, finalizing their designs by August. Nikitin began his role as head of the team by emphasizing unresolved issues, specifically the lack of geological and hydrological studies that had been recommended earlier in the year. In a report to the Ministry of Culture made in September, he insisted that these studies were crucial due to the extensive construction already completed and the need to ensure the foundation's durability and stability, particularly given the presence of mellite clays on Mamayev Kurgan; the hill could only support the structure if the moisture of its soil remained low. Nikitin noted that the foundation, initially designed for a statue half the height, required thorough investigation to confirm its suitability. Almost immediately following his report, the Ministry sent a team to Volgograd to thoroughly investigate the issues.

Construction on The Motherland Calls commenced in November 1963. The statue, made entirely of reinforced concrete, used a special hydrostatic cement mixture that had been developed for the construction of the Ostankino Tower in Moscow. The statue's structure featured an internal framework of vertical and horizontal diaphragms forming cells that were 3 metres (9.8 ft) wide, 3 metres deep, and 4 metres (13 ft) tall, extending from its 2-metre (6.6 ft) pedestal to its neck. The external surface was a reinforced concrete membrane varying in thickness from 25 to 60 centimetres (9.8 to 23.6 in). Construction involved pouring concrete in 50-centimetre (20 in) increments into the forms shaping the vertical diaphragms, allowing each layer to harden before proceeding. Workers used small vibrators to settle the concrete, eliminate air pockets, and ensure even pours, working manually due to the tight spaces. Each 4-metre-high section was capped with a horizontal diaphragm, serving as the foundation for the next section. The statue's head, arms, and scarf were cast separately and attached using cantilevered junctions and large steel bolts, with the metal sword anchored in the right hand. Its stability was ensured by a complex system of steel tension cables to counteract wind forces, monitored by seismographic and meteorological instruments inside the structure. A radio transmitter was installed in the statue's head in order to transmit data on ground vibrations, surface temperatures, and humidity. Passageways within the statue were built to allow for interior inspections, while the exterior would be visually examined.

Initially, crews focused on assembling the metal framework designed to support the internal diaphragms, followed by welding the rebar for the external membrane and creating the plaster molds for the statue's surface. The concrete pedestal was poured, and by the end of 1963, the shawl pieces and the empty hand had been made and attached to the framework. However, the arrival of subfreezing temperatures halted further concrete pouring, which could not resume until the spring; plans were set to complete this phase of the construction by 1 July 1965. The statue's head and sword hand were then mounted, with the metal sword set to be installed later. During this period, the construction of other components of the memorial, such as the "Wall Ruins" and parts of the "Square of Heroes", progressed significantly.

Despite initial forecasts for a November 1965 opening, the construction timeline was extended into the late summer of 1966. This delay was partly due to emerging issues with the sculpture's foundation and the stability of the surrounding soil, prompting geological investigations that uncovered several critical deficiencies in the initial surveys. For instance, examinations of Mamayev Kurgan's substrata were only carried out to a depth of 9 metres (30 ft), rather than the necessary depth of at least 46 metres (151 ft). Additionally, there had been no measurement of the soil's compression under the statue's weight, nor was there any consideration of how the expansion of waterlogged clay could impact the foundation. No comprehensive assessment was made of potential groundwater sources, and no tests to evaluate the stability of the mound's slope were conducted. Addressing these issues required significant effort and expense; in early 1966, officials concluded that the only solution involved relocating all water supply pipes and reservoirs buried within the mound to a distance of at least 273 metres (896 ft) from the statue's base in order to improve drainage around the structure. The statue's foundation was reinforced, and several thousand cubic metres of extra earth were backfilled to create a levee around the pedestal. However, these adjustments necessitated the removal of several graves previously located at the hill's summit and a reduction in the size of the plaza where the Grief of the Motherland statue and the Pantheon, which had replaced the Panorama due to issues with the latter's foundation, were situated. These remedial efforts continued into 1967.

In May 1966, crews hoisted and secured the 14-ton, 28-metre-long (92 ft) sword into the statue's right hand. The sword was constructed from stainless steel and bolstered by plates made from titanium. However, by late August, strong winds revealed that the sword and its anchoring structure were subjected to lateral forces that had not been accurately accounted for. The sword's tip was observed wavering by nearly 1 foot (0.30 m) in either direction, posing a risk to the integrity of the joint connecting the arm to the metal framework. This movement resulted in visible cracks in the concrete surface around the area. A committee was formed to investigate further, who concluded that the existing sword needed replacement; temporary measures were applied, included cutting holes in the current sword and reinforcing the joint until a permanent fix could be implemented.

In February 1967, the Council of Ministers mandated that all remaining work on the memorial complex be completed by 15 October for the 50th anniversary of the October Revolution. Laborers worked throughout the spring and summer to meet this deadline, completing the earthen levee surrounding the main monument's pedestal, relocating the remaining leaking irrigation pipes and reservoirs, reinforcing the sword, installing sound and lighting systems across the complex, and setting in place the final sculptural and landscaping elements. The last major obstacle arose from complications with the Pantheon; as crews applied the mosaics to the Pantheon's interior walls in early 1967, they discovered inconsistencies in the glass tiles. With only four months until the scheduled opening, Vuchetich urgently sought intervention from officials to expedite a solution. Supplementary glass was quickly produced and delivered, and several hundred soldiers from a local garrison were enlisted to aid in construction. The crews worked diligently, completing the Pantheon's mosaic walls in under a month for the complex's opening. Once finished, the full sculpture stood 85 metres (279 ft) tall from the base of the pedestal to the top of the sword, and was the tallest statue in the world upon its completion; it remains the tallest statue in Europe.

The dedication of the memorial occurred on 15 October 1967. The event drew tens of thousands of people to Mamayev Kurgan, along with reporters from official press outlets, including Izvestia and Pravda, who wrote extensively on the memorial's scale and significance, describing the statue as a tribute to the heroism of Stalingrad's defenders. Vuchetich, along with the engineers and construction workers, were lauded for their contributions to the project, with reporters drawing parallels between their efforts and those of the soldiers who defended the city.

The opening ceremony featured speeches from party leaders and military representatives, who highlighted various themes such as the valor of those who fought in the battle, the importance of remembering past sacrifices, and the role of the Red Army in defeating fascism. Premier Leonid Brezhnev's keynote address framed the monument as a testament to Soviet unity and postwar recovery, while also emphasizing the USSR's commitment to peace and culture in contrast to American actions during the Vietnam War. The speeches collectively stressed the significance of the memorial in preserving the memory of the war and its heroes, and praised the Soviet people's enduring loyalty to the Communist Party and its Central Committee.

The years after the statue's dedication were primarily marked by alterations and several attempts at restoration. A year after the monument's opening, cracks had already started to form on the statue's surface. In order to preserve the monument, the head and hands of the sculpture were treated with a waterproofing agent once a year. In 1972, the statue's sword was replaced with a higher-grade steel alloy version featuring jalousie-like slits to reduce wind resistance. The sculpture's surface received a maintenance inspection in 1986; by this time, it had tilted 60 millimetres (2.4 in) from its original vertical axis since its initial assessment in 1966.

Between 2008 and 2009, a comprehensive safety and reliability program for the statue was developed and approved by the Russian Ministry of Culture. However, by 2009, concerns had been raised about the structural integrity of the structure; the statue's foundation was not anchored but held in place by its own weight, and was subsiding as a result of rising water levels. By this time, pieces of concrete had already begun to fall off the statue, nearly injuring passersby, and it had tilted approximately 20 centimetres (7.9 in), with further tilting risking collapse. Estimated costs to repair the structural issues were over 7 million USD (equivalent to $9,664,521 in 2023); however, efforts to secure funding for restoration were complicated by the Great Recession, and previous attempts to allocate government funds for restoration had been undermined by misappropriation. Large-scale restoration work on the sculpture funded by the federal budget began in 2010. Initial steps included replacing the piezometric network (a system for measuring pressure) to allow for hydrogeological monitoring, studying the reinforced concrete's condition, and analyzing cracks and other defects.

In 2014, the sculpture, along with the surrounding complex, was listed as a tentative candidate for UNESCO's list of World Heritage Sites. Following the 70th anniversary of the Soviet victory in the Great Patriotic War in 2015, the statue was set to undergo further renovation, with 99 of its 117 steel cables requiring replacement. By 2017, the cables had not yet been replaced, though plans were made to address the replacement along with other maintenance needs, with additional restoration efforts set to be conducted after the end of the 2018 FIFA World Cup, which was held in Russia. In late 2018, the construction company Glavzarubezhstroy completed preparations for the external restoration of the sculpture, which included creating access for special equipment, fencing off the area for material storage and worker camps, installing a two-metre fence around the sculpture, removing the lawn, setting up external lighting for the duration of the work, and digging trenches around the statue's base. In early 2019, the observation deck at the foot of the statue was closed off to visitors until March of the following year in order to allow for additional restoration work to its pedestal, surface, and framework. In May, the sculpture had begun to be covered in scaffolding, and the granite slabs at the pedestal were removed. Restoration on the external features of the monument continued from July to November, including cracks being filled in and the surface being painted with white lead. In November, the scaffolding and the pedestal's slabs were removed, with internal renovations to be finished before Victory Day on 9 May 2020, the 75th anniversary of the end of the battle. The restoration of the monument was completed in March 2020; however, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the reopening ceremony that had originally been planned for Victory Day was postponed. A virtual tour of the structure and the surrounding complex was made available online in lieu of public visitations.

The monument complex was reopened on 24 June 2020, with a ceremony hosted by Volgograd governor Andrey Bocharov and Russian Minister of Culture Olga Lyubimova. In total, the cost of renovating the sculpture alone cost approximately 750 million rubles (equivalent to $11,296,607 USD in 2023). In August, Russian designer Artemy Lebedev criticised the statue's post-renovation appearance, arguing that the statue was in a worse condition than it had been before its restoration; his comments received criticism from residents of Volgograd, who insisted that he be punished for insulting the memory of those who died in the Battle of Stalingrad. By early 2021, dark spots and more cracks were noticed on the surface of the statue, prompting the filing of an application with a Moscow arbitration court requesting for Glavzarubezhstroy, which had not fulfilled its warranty obligations, to declare bankruptcy. Glavzarubezhstroy later filed for bankruptcy, was sued by the Battle of Stalingrad Museum-Reserve, and listed on a national registry of "unscrupulous suppliers". In a poll conducted by Bloknot Volgograd in March, a majority of Volgograd residents surveyed responded negatively to the question of whether the sculpture looked better after its restoration, with some calling on those who worked on the project to "restore it themselves, with their own money". An assessment of the reliability and safety of the structure was planned to be conducted in 2023. As of 2024, the dark spots on the statue were still noticeable.

The Motherland Calls is featured on the coat of arms and flag of Volgograd Oblast. Postage stamps and postcards depicting the sculpture were issued in the Soviet Union for the 20th anniversary of the founding of the International Federation of Resistance Fighters in 1971 and the 30th anniversary of the Battle of Stalingrad in 1973; a postcard with the statue was issued in Russia to commemorate the 60th anniversary of the battle in 2002. The sculpture also appears on a commemorative 100-ruble coin issued by the Central Bank of Russia in 2013, and a 3-ruble coin issued in 2015. There is a replica of the statue in the city of Manzhouli in Inner Mongolia, China, near the border between Russia and China.

Order No. 227 (Russian: Приказ № 227, romanized: Prikaz No. 227) was an order issued on 28 July 1942 by Joseph Stalin, who was acting as the People's Commissar of Defence. It is known for its line "Not a step back!" (Ни шагу назад!, Ni shagu nazad!), which became the primary slogan of the Soviet press in summer 1942.

Order No. 227 established that each front must create one to three penal battalions (Russian: штрафной батальон, romanized: shtrafnoy batalyon, lit. 'penalty battalion', commonly known as штрафбат, shtrafbat) of up to 800 middle-ranking commanders and high-ranking commanders accused of disciplinary problems, which were sent to the most dangerous sections of the front lines. From 1942 to 1945, a total of 422,700 Red Army personnel were sentenced to penal battalions as a result of courts-martial. The order also directed that each army must create "blocking detachments" at the rear that would shoot "panic-mongers and cowards". In the first three months, blocking detachments shot 1,000 penal troops and sent 24,000 to penal battalions. By October 1942, the idea of regular blocking detachments was unofficially dropped.

Intended to galvanise the morale of the hard-pressed Red Army and emphasize patriotism, it had a generally detrimental effect and was not consistently implemented by commanders who viewed diverting troops to create blocking detachments as a waste of manpower. On 29 October 1944, blocking detachments were officially disbanded by Stalin's order No. 349 citing the changed situation at the front.

History

During the first part of the war on the Eastern Front, the Soviets suffered heavy losses along with mass retreat and desertion. Stalin released order No. 227 intending to re-establish discipline in the Red Army in the battle against the Wehrmacht and Waffen-SS:

Moscow, Nr. 227, July 28, 1942

The enemy throws new forces to the front without regard to heavy losses and penetrates deep into the Soviet Union, seizing new regions, destroying our cities and villages, and violating, plundering and killing the Soviet population. Combat goes on in region Voronezh, near Don, in the south, and at the gates of the Northern Caucasus. The German invaders penetrate toward Stalingrad, to Volga and want at any cost to trap Kuban and the Northern Caucasus, with their oil and grain. The enemy already has captured Voroshilovgrad, Starobelsk, Rossosh, Kupyansk, Valuyki, Novocherkassk, Rostov on Don, half Voronezh. Part of the troops of the Southern front, following the panic-mongers, have left Rostov and Novocherkassk without severe resistance and without orders from Moscow, covering their banners with shame.

The population of our country, who love and respect the Red Army, start to be discouraged in her and lose faith in the Red Army, and many curse the Red Army for leaving our people under the yoke of the German oppressors, and itself running east.

Some stupid people at the front calm themselves with talk that we can retreat further to the east, as we have a lot of territory, a lot of ground, a lot of population and that there will always be much bread for us. They want to justify the infamous behaviour at the front. But such talk is a falsehood, helpful only to our enemies.

Each commander, Red Army soldier and political commissar should understand that our means are not limitless. The territory of the Soviet state is not a desert, but people – workers, peasants, intelligentsia, our fathers, mothers, wives, brothers, children. The territory of the USSR which the enemy has captured and aims to capture is bread and other products for the army, metal and fuel for industry, factories, plants supplying the army with arms and ammunition, railways. After the loss of Ukraine, Belarus, Baltic republics, Donetzk, and other areas we have much less territory, much fewer people, bread, metal, plants and factories. We have lost more than 70 million people, more than 800 million pounds of bread annually and more than 10 million tons of metal annually. Now we do not have predominance over the Germans in human reserves, in reserves of bread. To retreat further – means to waste ourselves and to waste at the same time our Motherland.

Therefore it is necessary to eliminate talk that we have the capability endlessly to retreat, that we have a lot of territory, that our country is great and rich, that there is a large population, and that bread always will be abundant. Such talk is false and parasitic, it weakens us and benefits the enemy, if we do not stop retreating we will be without bread, without fuel, without metal, without raw material, without factories and plants, without railways.

This leads to the conclusion, it is time to finish retreating. Not one step back! Such should now be our main slogan.

It goes on to state that The Supreme General Headquarters of the Red Army commands:

1. Military councils of the fronts and first of all front commanders should:

a) Unconditionally eliminate retreat moods in the troops and with a firm hand bar propaganda that we can and should retreat further east, and that such retreat will cause no harm;

b) Unconditionally remove from their posts and send to the High Command for court-martial those army commanders who have allowed unauthorized troop withdrawals from occupied positions, without the order of the Front command.

c) Form within each Front from one up to three (depending on the situation) penal battalions (800 persons) where commanders and high commanders and appropriate commissars of all service arms who have been guilty of a breach of discipline due to cowardice or bewilderment will be sent, and put them on more difficult sectors of the front to give them an opportunity to redeem by blood their crimes against the Motherland.

2. Military councils of armies and first of all army commanders should;

a) Unconditionally remove from their offices, corps and army commanders and commissars who have accepted troop withdrawals from occupied positions without the order of the army command, and route them to the military councils of the fronts for court-martial;

b) Form within the limits of each army 3 to 5 well-armed defensive squads (up to 200 persons in each), and put them directly behind unstable divisions and require them in case of panic and scattered withdrawals of elements of the divisions to shoot in place panic-mongers and cowards and thus help the honest soldiers of the division execute their duty to the Motherland;

c) Form within the limits of each army up to ten (depending on the situation) penal companies (from 150 to 200 persons in each) where ordinary soldiers and low ranking commanders who have been guilty of a breach of discipline due to cowardice or bewilderment will be routed, and put them at difficult sectors of the army to give them an opportunity to redeem by blood their crimes against the Motherland.

3. Commanders and commissars of corps and divisions should;

a) Unconditionally remove from their posts commanders and commissars of regiments and battalions who have accepted unwarranted withdrawal of their troops without the order of the corps or division commander, take from them their orders and medals and route them to military councils of fronts for court martial;

b) Render all help and support to the defensive squads of the army in their business of strengthening order and discipline in the units.

This order is to be read in all companies, cavalry squadrons, batteries, squadrons, commands and headquarters.

The People’s commissioner of Defense

I. Stalin

Effect

Marshal of the Soviet Union, Aleksandr Vasilevsky, wrote: "...Order N 227 is one of the most powerful documents of the war years due to its patriotic and emotional content... the document was motivated by rough and dark times... while reading it we were thinking to ourselves if we were doing everything it takes to win the battle."

Each front had to create penal companies for privates and NCOs. By the end of 1942, there were 24,993 troops serving in penal battalions, which increased to 177,694 in 1943. The number decreased over the next two years to 143,457 and 81,766 soldiers in 1944 and 1945, respectively. The total of Red Army personnel sentenced by courts-martial was 994,300, with 422,700 assigned to penal battalions and 436,600 imprisoned after sentencing. Not included are 212,400 deserters, who were not found and escaped the custody of the military districts.

In the first three months, blocking detachments shot 1,000 penal troops and sent 24,000 to penal battalions. According to an internal list of the NKVD from October 1942, 15,649 soldiers were picked up by the restricted forces who fled the front line on the Stalingrad Front from August 1, 1942, to October 15, 1942. Of these, 244 soldiers were imprisoned, 278 were shot, 218 were sent to penal companies, 42 to penal battalions and 14,833 to return to their units. By October 1942, the idea of regular blocking detachments was unofficially dropped.

The Motherland Calls (Russian: Родина-мать зовёт!, romanized: Rodina-mat' zovyot!) is a colossal neoclassicist and socialist realist war memorial sculpture on Mamayev Kurgan in Volgograd, Russia. Designed primarily by sculptor Yevgeny Vuchetich with assistance from architect Yakov Belopolsky, the concrete sculpture commemorates the casualties of the Battle of Stalingrad, and is the predominant component of a larger monument complex, which includes several plazas and other sculptural works. Standing 85 metres (279 ft) tall from the base of its pedestal to its peak, the statue was the tallest in the world upon its completion in 1967, and is the tallest statue in Europe if excluding the pedestal. The statue, along with the rest of the complex, was dedicated on 15 October 1967, and has been listed as a tentative candidate for UNESCO's list of World Heritage Sites since 2014.

The sculpture depicts a female personification of Russia, commonly referred to as Mother Russia. She wears a windswept shawl resembling wings, and holds a sword aloft in her right hand. Her left hand is extended outward, as she calls upon the Soviet people to battle. The statue was originally planned to be made of granite and to stand only 30 metres (98 ft) tall, with a design consisting of a Red Army soldier genuflecting and placing a sword before Mother Russia holding a folded banner, but was changed in 1961 to be a large concrete structure at nearly double the height, a decision that was subject to criticism from Soviet military officials and writers. It was inspired by the Winged Victory of Samothrace, an ancient Greek sculpture of the goddess of victory, Nike.

The construction of The Motherland Calls began in 1963, and was led by structural engineer Nikolai Nikitin. The project faced numerous challenges, including the assembly of the statue's framework and its intricate features, which were compounded by the statue's size. Delays were caused by cold weather and unforeseen geological issues, necessitating extensive foundation reinforcement and relocation of water systems. Additional complications arose with the statue's sword, which was required to be redesigned due to problems with wind resistance. Despite these obstacles, the memorial was completed in 1967 for the 50th anniversary of the October Revolution.

After its dedication, the sculpture underwent numerous alterations and restoration attempts. In 1972, the statue's sword was replaced with a higher-grade steel alloy version to reduce wind resistance, and by 1986, it had tilted significantly from its original axis. Concerns about the statue's structural integrity arose by the early 21st century, with the statue in disrepair and at risk of collapsing. Comprehensive restoration efforts began later in the century, and by 2020, the monument had undergone extensive restoration, although post-renovation critiques and new structural issues have since arisen.

The Battle of Stalingrad was a major conflict between the Soviet Union and Nazi Germany on the Eastern Front of World War II, fought over six months from July 1942 to February 1943. The battle resulted in a decisive Soviet victory but came at a tremendous cost, with over a million estimated Soviet deaths. The battle was quickly mythologised in Soviet culture, and was widely referred to as the turning point in the war in Soviet history textbooks.

The idea of commemorating the Soviet victory in the Battle of Stalingrad originated in the final years of the war. Soviet politicians and artists had considered designs for monuments to the battle prior to the war's end, and the first museum honoring the Great Patriotic War was established as early as March 1943. In 1944, the publication Arkhitektura SSSR issued a number of articles detailing possible designs for memorials. Following the end of the war in 1945, several small-scale obelisks and commemorative plaques were erected across the Soviet Union; however, larger plans for monuments were curtailed by leader Joseph Stalin, who sought to refocus attention on emerging Cold War conflicts, virtually prohibiting all public observation of the war by 1948.

In 1948, sculptor Yevgeny Vuchetich, a member of the Academy of Arts of the Soviet Union, began discussing plans for a monument for the Battle of Stalingrad with architect Yakov Belopolsky, whom he had previously collaborated with on the development of the Soviet War Memorial in Berlin's Treptower Park.[6] The project was intended to be built atop Mamayev Kurgan, a burial mound that was the site of intense conflict during the battle. Vuchetich started petitioning high-ranking Soviet officials for permission to design the monument in the early 1950s, including Politburo member Georgy Malenkov.[8] In a letter to Malenkov dated December 1951, Vuchetich claimed that he had received multiple inquiries from veterans and family members of those who died in the war about the absence of a memorial on Mamayev Kurgan.

After Stalin's death in March 1953, plans for a memorial on Mamayev Kurgan were revitalised. In March 1954, the Council of Ministers announced a competition for the design of a "State Museum of the Defense of Tsaritsyn-Stalingrad", which would include a large panoramic painting depicting the battle; by this time, Vuchetich and Belopolsky had already finalised drafts for the project's structural designs. On 23 January 1958, the Council of Ministers declared that the construction of "a memorial-monument in the city of Stalingrad commemorating victory over the German fascist force" would be overseen by a committee led by Vuchetich and comprising Belopolsky and Anatoly Garpenko, an artist and Red Army veteran.

Vuchetich and Belopolsky's initial designs for the project were ambitious and took much of their inspiration from the memorial at Treptower Park. The entrance to the monument was planned to feature a triumphal arch that led into a granite staircase, followed by a brick staircase in an avenue of Lombardy poplar trees. A second granite staircase would lead to a circular plaza, with a large granite statue of a Russian man titled Stand To the Death!. Behind the statue, a final granite staircase would lead to a plaza with an entrance to an underground complex called the "Panorama". A cupola-shaped hall would include an eternal flame to memorialise the heroes of Stalingrad, a sculpture of a man shaping a sword into a ploughshare, and walls engraved with the names of those who died in the battle. An exit at the end of the hall led to a second observation platform with a panoramic painting depicting a prosperous post-war Stalingrad.

The principal component of the project was to be a colossal statue at the top of Mamayev Kurgan; at the statue's base, a foyer would be built in order to allow visitors to honor the dead with commemorative gifts. The statue was designed according to the principles of neoclassicism and socialist realism, both artistic styles that Vuchetich specialised in. The original plan for the sculpture was to have it constructed entirely of granite, with a design featuring a Red Army soldier genuflecting and placing a sword before a female personification of Russia, commonly referred to as Mother Russia, holding a folded banner; this was later changed to be a concrete statue of a lone Mother Russia wearing a windblown shawl resembling wings and holding a sword aloft in her right hand, with her left hand extended outward as she calls upon the Soviet people to fight against the enemy. The design was inspired by the Winged Victory of Samothrace, an ancient Greek sculpture of the goddess of victory, Nike. Committee members initially suggested that the sculpture should be dressed in traditional Russian clothing. Vuchetich objected to the proposition, arguing that a traditional costume would diminish the idea of the battle as an "international event" and defy the neoclassical style he had envisioned for the statue. The sculpture was initially planned to be 30 metres (98 ft) tall from its pedestal to its peak; however, Soviet leader Nikita Khrushchev ordered it to be taller than the 46 metres (151 ft) tall Statue of Liberty in a display of dominance over the United States, their geopolitical rival during the Cold War. The height of the statue alone was increased to 52 metres (171 ft), nearly double the originally planned height, a decision that further increased the project's cost, which had already substantially overrun its budget. Valentina Izotova, a 26-year-old waitress at a local restaurant, was chosen by Vuchetich to be the model for the sculpture, while the face of the statue is believed to have been based on that of Vuchetich's wife.

The choice to make The Motherland Calls the primary feature of the monument complex was met with derision from Soviet military officials, including generals Andrey Yeryomenko and Mikhail Shumilov, who believed the statue's design would detract from the importance of the Panorama, which they thought to be the only structure that could faithfully represent the extent of the soldiers' experiences. Vuchetich rationalised the decision by asserting that the monument should reflect the widespread recognition of the Battle of Stalingrad as the turning point of the war, and marketed the project as one part of a sculptural triptych that would encompass the memorial at Treptower Park and a planned monument in Moscow. The planned sculpture also attracted criticism from Soviet writers, including author Viktor Nekrasov, who claimed that the monument would defile the historic site.

While construction on the rest of the monument complex began in 1961, work on The Motherland Calls did not start until late 1962. Vuchetich's final design for the sculpture was approved by the artist committee in December of 1962, and on 23 January 1963 the Council of Ministers ordered the development of blueprints for the statue. The process of building of the monument would prove to be more complicated than anticipated by its developers, primarily due to its size and the complexity of its details. After the Sculptural Group of the Artistic Fund requested to be relieved of their construction duties and the construction firm Volgogradgidrostroi expressed reservations about taking over the project, structural engineer Nikolai Nikitin was appointed to lead the construction efforts.

In 1963, Nikitin's design team began planning the construction process for the monument, finalizing their designs by August. Nikitin began his role as head of the team by emphasizing unresolved issues, specifically the lack of geological and hydrological studies that had been recommended earlier in the year. In a report to the Ministry of Culture made in September, he insisted that these studies were crucial due to the extensive construction already completed and the need to ensure the foundation's durability and stability, particularly given the presence of mellite clays on Mamayev Kurgan; the hill could only support the structure if the moisture of its soil remained low. Nikitin noted that the foundation, initially designed for a statue half the height, required thorough investigation to confirm its suitability. Almost immediately following his report, the Ministry sent a team to Volgograd to thoroughly investigate the issues.

Construction on The Motherland Calls commenced in November 1963. The statue, made entirely of reinforced concrete, used a special hydrostatic cement mixture that had been developed for the construction of the Ostankino Tower in Moscow. The statue's structure featured an internal framework of vertical and horizontal diaphragms forming cells that were 3 metres (9.8 ft) wide, 3 metres deep, and 4 metres (13 ft) tall, extending from its 2-metre (6.6 ft) pedestal to its neck. The external surface was a reinforced concrete membrane varying in thickness from 25 to 60 centimetres (9.8 to 23.6 in). Construction involved pouring concrete in 50-centimetre (20 in) increments into the forms shaping the vertical diaphragms, allowing each layer to harden before proceeding. Workers used small vibrators to settle the concrete, eliminate air pockets, and ensure even pours, working manually due to the tight spaces. Each 4-metre-high section was capped with a horizontal diaphragm, serving as the foundation for the next section. The statue's head, arms, and scarf were cast separately and attached using cantilevered junctions and large steel bolts, with the metal sword anchored in the right hand. Its stability was ensured by a complex system of steel tension cables to counteract wind forces, monitored by seismographic and meteorological instruments inside the structure. A radio transmitter was installed in the statue's head in order to transmit data on ground vibrations, surface temperatures, and humidity. Passageways within the statue were built to allow for interior inspections, while the exterior would be visually examined.

Initially, crews focused on assembling the metal framework designed to support the internal diaphragms, followed by welding the rebar for the external membrane and creating the plaster molds for the statue's surface. The concrete pedestal was poured, and by the end of 1963, the shawl pieces and the empty hand had been made and attached to the framework. However, the arrival of subfreezing temperatures halted further concrete pouring, which could not resume until the spring; plans were set to complete this phase of the construction by 1 July 1965. The statue's head and sword hand were then mounted, with the metal sword set to be installed later. During this period, the construction of other components of the memorial, such as the "Wall Ruins" and parts of the "Square of Heroes", progressed significantly.

Despite initial forecasts for a November 1965 opening, the construction timeline was extended into the late summer of 1966. This delay was partly due to emerging issues with the sculpture's foundation and the stability of the surrounding soil, prompting geological investigations that uncovered several critical deficiencies in the initial surveys. For instance, examinations of Mamayev Kurgan's substrata were only carried out to a depth of 9 metres (30 ft), rather than the necessary depth of at least 46 metres (151 ft). Additionally, there had been no measurement of the soil's compression under the statue's weight, nor was there any consideration of how the expansion of waterlogged clay could impact the foundation. No comprehensive assessment was made of potential groundwater sources, and no tests to evaluate the stability of the mound's slope were conducted. Addressing these issues required significant effort and expense; in early 1966, officials concluded that the only solution involved relocating all water supply pipes and reservoirs buried within the mound to a distance of at least 273 metres (896 ft) from the statue's base in order to improve drainage around the structure. The statue's foundation was reinforced, and several thousand cubic metres of extra earth were backfilled to create a levee around the pedestal. However, these adjustments necessitated the removal of several graves previously located at the hill's summit and a reduction in the size of the plaza where the Grief of the Motherland statue and the Pantheon, which had replaced the Panorama due to issues with the latter's foundation, were situated. These remedial efforts continued into 1967.

In May 1966, crews hoisted and secured the 14-ton, 28-metre-long (92 ft) sword into the statue's right hand. The sword was constructed from stainless steel and bolstered by plates made from titanium. However, by late August, strong winds revealed that the sword and its anchoring structure were subjected to lateral forces that had not been accurately accounted for. The sword's tip was observed wavering by nearly 1 foot (0.30 m) in either direction, posing a risk to the integrity of the joint connecting the arm to the metal framework. This movement resulted in visible cracks in the concrete surface around the area. A committee was formed to investigate further, who concluded that the existing sword needed replacement; temporary measures were applied, included cutting holes in the current sword and reinforcing the joint until a permanent fix could be implemented.

In February 1967, the Council of Ministers mandated that all remaining work on the memorial complex be completed by 15 October for the 50th anniversary of the October Revolution. Laborers worked throughout the spring and summer to meet this deadline, completing the earthen levee surrounding the main monument's pedestal, relocating the remaining leaking irrigation pipes and reservoirs, reinforcing the sword, installing sound and lighting systems across the complex, and setting in place the final sculptural and landscaping elements. The last major obstacle arose from complications with the Pantheon; as crews applied the mosaics to the Pantheon's interior walls in early 1967, they discovered inconsistencies in the glass tiles. With only four months until the scheduled opening, Vuchetich urgently sought intervention from officials to expedite a solution. Supplementary glass was quickly produced and delivered, and several hundred soldiers from a local garrison were enlisted to aid in construction. The crews worked diligently, completing the Pantheon's mosaic walls in under a month for the complex's opening. Once finished, the full sculpture stood 85 metres (279 ft) tall from the base of the pedestal to the top of the sword, and was the tallest statue in the world upon its completion; it remains the tallest statue in Europe.

The dedication of the memorial occurred on 15 October 1967. The event drew tens of thousands of people to Mamayev Kurgan, along with reporters from official press outlets, including Izvestia and Pravda, who wrote extensively on the memorial's scale and significance, describing the statue as a tribute to the heroism of Stalingrad's defenders. Vuchetich, along with the engineers and construction workers, were lauded for their contributions to the project, with reporters drawing parallels between their efforts and those of the soldiers who defended the city.

The opening ceremony featured speeches from party leaders and military representatives, who highlighted various themes such as the valor of those who fought in the battle, the importance of remembering past sacrifices, and the role of the Red Army in defeating fascism. Premier Leonid Brezhnev's keynote address framed the monument as a testament to Soviet unity and postwar recovery, while also emphasizing the USSR's commitment to peace and culture in contrast to American actions during the Vietnam War. The speeches collectively stressed the significance of the memorial in preserving the memory of the war and its heroes, and praised the Soviet people's enduring loyalty to the Communist Party and its Central Committee.

The years after the statue's dedication were primarily marked by alterations and several attempts at restoration. A year after the monument's opening, cracks had already started to form on the statue's surface. In order to preserve the monument, the head and hands of the sculpture were treated with a waterproofing agent once a year. In 1972, the statue's sword was replaced with a higher-grade steel alloy version featuring jalousie-like slits to reduce wind resistance. The sculpture's surface received a maintenance inspection in 1986; by this time, it had tilted 60 millimetres (2.4 in) from its original vertical axis since its initial assessment in 1966.

Between 2008 and 2009, a comprehensive safety and reliability program for the statue was developed and approved by the Russian Ministry of Culture. However, by 2009, concerns had been raised about the structural integrity of the structure; the statue's foundation was not anchored but held in place by its own weight, and was subsiding as a result of rising water levels. By this time, pieces of concrete had already begun to fall off the statue, nearly injuring passersby, and it had tilted approximately 20 centimetres (7.9 in), with further tilting risking collapse. Estimated costs to repair the structural issues were over 7 million USD (equivalent to $9,664,521 in 2023); however, efforts to secure funding for restoration were complicated by the Great Recession, and previous attempts to allocate government funds for restoration had been undermined by misappropriation. Large-scale restoration work on the sculpture funded by the federal budget began in 2010. Initial steps included replacing the piezometric network (a system for measuring pressure) to allow for hydrogeological monitoring, studying the reinforced concrete's condition, and analyzing cracks and other defects.

In 2014, the sculpture, along with the surrounding complex, was listed as a tentative candidate for UNESCO's list of World Heritage Sites. Following the 70th anniversary of the Soviet victory in the Great Patriotic War in 2015, the statue was set to undergo further renovation, with 99 of its 117 steel cables requiring replacement. By 2017, the cables had not yet been replaced, though plans were made to address the replacement along with other maintenance needs, with additional restoration efforts set to be conducted after the end of the 2018 FIFA World Cup, which was held in Russia. In late 2018, the construction company Glavzarubezhstroy completed preparations for the external restoration of the sculpture, which included creating access for special equipment, fencing off the area for material storage and worker camps, installing a two-metre fence around the sculpture, removing the lawn, setting up external lighting for the duration of the work, and digging trenches around the statue's base. In early 2019, the observation deck at the foot of the statue was closed off to visitors until March of the following year in order to allow for additional restoration work to its pedestal, surface, and framework. In May, the sculpture had begun to be covered in scaffolding, and the granite slabs at the pedestal were removed. Restoration on the external features of the monument continued from July to November, including cracks being filled in and the surface being painted with white lead. In November, the scaffolding and the pedestal's slabs were removed, with internal renovations to be finished before Victory Day on 9 May 2020, the 75th anniversary of the end of the battle. The restoration of the monument was completed in March 2020; however, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the reopening ceremony that had originally been planned for Victory Day was postponed. A virtual tour of the structure and the surrounding complex was made available online in lieu of public visitations.

The monument complex was reopened on 24 June 2020, with a ceremony hosted by Volgograd governor Andrey Bocharov and Russian Minister of Culture Olga Lyubimova. In total, the cost of renovating the sculpture alone cost approximately 750 million rubles (equivalent to $11,296,607 USD in 2023). In August, Russian designer Artemy Lebedev criticised the statue's post-renovation appearance, arguing that the statue was in a worse condition than it had been before its restoration; his comments received criticism from residents of Volgograd, who insisted that he be punished for insulting the memory of those who died in the Battle of Stalingrad. By early 2021, dark spots and more cracks were noticed on the surface of the statue, prompting the filing of an application with a Moscow arbitration court requesting for Glavzarubezhstroy, which had not fulfilled its warranty obligations, to declare bankruptcy. Glavzarubezhstroy later filed for bankruptcy, was sued by the Battle of Stalingrad Museum-Reserve, and listed on a national registry of "unscrupulous suppliers". In a poll conducted by Bloknot Volgograd in March, a majority of Volgograd residents surveyed responded negatively to the question of whether the sculpture looked better after its restoration, with some calling on those who worked on the project to "restore it themselves, with their own money". An assessment of the reliability and safety of the structure was planned to be conducted in 2023. As of 2024, the dark spots on the statue were still noticeable.

The Motherland Calls is featured on the coat of arms and flag of Volgograd Oblast. Postage stamps and postcards depicting the sculpture were issued in the Soviet Union for the 20th anniversary of the founding of the International Federation of Resistance Fighters in 1971 and the 30th anniversary of the Battle of Stalingrad in 1973; a postcard with the statue was issued in Russia to commemorate the 60th anniversary of the battle in 2002. The sculpture also appears on a commemorative 100-ruble coin issued by the Central Bank of Russia in 2013, and a 3-ruble coin issued in 2015. There is a replica of the statue in the city of Manzhouli in Inner Mongolia, China, near the border between Russia and China.

Consistent with their normal pattern of laying one egg per day, the house finch laid a second egg today.

Incubation is likely to begin in a day or two.

50mm lens w/12.5mm of extension. On-camera flash.

Cindy Spink – consistent attendance in all our group exercise classes, brings new members to join our fitness family along with constant support of our club on social media and throughout the community. George Escobar – a regular in all of our Group Exercise Classes/Small Group Trainings for over 2 years and just completed his first half marathon in February. We are proud of his efforts to make fitness a priority in his life (even as a proud new father of a beautiful baby girl).BIG Thank You to both!!! 

Nikon Of The Year (for me).

So, I seem to have had bad luck with Nikons. I've owned them for many years, and they have consistently been the only cameras to give me trouble. I sold an FA recently (after it cost me more to repair than it was worth), and then my FE broke last week. Since I have some investment in lenses, I decided to give Nikon one last go, but this time with a true pro-level body.

I'm pleasantly surprised to find the F3 isn't a huge amount larger and heavier than the FE. It's just small and light enough for me to consider it a very agile camera, something to take anywhere. The shutter is loud, but that's about the extent of my complaints. This particular one is in fantastic shape, it obviously saw little use, very likely in the hands of an amateur rather than a pro. It feels wonderfully solid, and the controls all exude quality and precision. If only modern cameras were this good. (Ok, so maybe Leicas are still that good, but who can afford them?)

Pictured here with a very old 50/f2 Nikkor lens (and yellow filter), which has turned out to be as good as any lens I have (except the Mamiya lenses).

And, to top it off, this picture was taken with a Nikon 50/1.8 adapted to my 5D.

The 53rd annual Bon Odori Festival at Camp Zama was held Aug. 4. The festival is consistently the largest bilateral event of the year for U.S. Army Japan, this year attracting more than 30,000 visitors to the installation. The festival featured live entartainment, games for children, a variety of ethnic foods, bilateral sports, and a fireworks show.

About the United States Army Garrison Japan:

The United States Army Garrison Japan and its 16 supported installation sites are located in the island of Honshu and Okinawa in Japan. The USAG Japan mission is to support the Headquarters, U.S. Army Japan / I Corps (fwd) to ensure mission readiness and the quality of life of the Army community in a sustainable, transforming joint and combined environment.

The USAG-J area of responsibility spans 1,500 miles from north to south of Japan. Camp Zama, home for both HQ USARJ and USAG-J is located approximately 25 miles southwest of Tokyo in the cities of Zama and Sagamihara in Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan. The Camp Zama base cluster includes Sagamihara Housing Area and Sagami General Depot.

Akasaka Press Center is located in the center of Tokyo. The Akizuki/Kure area near Hiroshima is an ammunition depot. Yokohama North Dock is a port facility in the city of Yokohama, a major commerce port and a popular shopping area. USAG Torii Station is located 980 miles southwest of Camp Zama on the island of Okinawa.

We are the Army's home in Japan and the "Garrison of Choice" for Soldiers, Civilians and their Family members. We are committed in becoming the leader in the U.S. Army Installation Management Command by providing world-class installation services.

-----

To learn more about USAG Japan, please visit:

Official Website - www.usagj.jp.pac.army.mil

Facebook - www.facebook.com/usagj

Flickr - www.flickr.com/usagj

YouTube - www.youtube.com/usagjapan

Vimeo - www.vimeo.com/usagj

Twitter - www.twitter.com/usagjapan

Slideshare - www.slideshare.net/usagjapan

USARJ This Week on YouTube - www.youtube.com/usarjthisweek

The 53rd annual Bon Odori Festival at Camp Zama was held Aug. 4. The festival is consistently the largest bilateral event of the year for U.S. Army Japan, this year attracting more than 30,000 visitors to the installation. The festival featured live entartainment, games for children, a variety of ethnic foods, bilateral sports, and a fireworks show.

About the United States Army Garrison Japan:

The United States Army Garrison Japan and its 16 supported installation sites are located in the island of Honshu and Okinawa in Japan. The USAG Japan mission is to support the Headquarters, U.S. Army Japan / I Corps (fwd) to ensure mission readiness and the quality of life of the Army community in a sustainable, transforming joint and combined environment.

The USAG-J area of responsibility spans 1,500 miles from north to south of Japan. Camp Zama, home for both HQ USARJ and USAG-J is located approximately 25 miles southwest of Tokyo in the cities of Zama and Sagamihara in Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan. The Camp Zama base cluster includes Sagamihara Housing Area and Sagami General Depot.

Akasaka Press Center is located in the center of Tokyo. The Akizuki/Kure area near Hiroshima is an ammunition depot. Yokohama North Dock is a port facility in the city of Yokohama, a major commerce port and a popular shopping area. USAG Torii Station is located 980 miles southwest of Camp Zama on the island of Okinawa.

We are the Army's home in Japan and the "Garrison of Choice" for Soldiers, Civilians and their Family members. We are committed in becoming the leader in the U.S. Army Installation Management Command by providing world-class installation services.

-----

To learn more about USAG Japan, please visit:

Official Website - www.usagj.jp.pac.army.mil

Facebook - www.facebook.com/usagj

Flickr - www.flickr.com/usagj

YouTube - www.youtube.com/usagjapan

Vimeo - www.vimeo.com/usagj

Twitter - www.twitter.com/usagjapan

Slideshare - www.slideshare.net/usagjapan

USARJ This Week on YouTube - www.youtube.com/usarjthisweek

El Perú recibió por parte de México ayuda para los damnificados, consistente en equipos de bombeo de lodo y un grupo de rescatistas.

The 53rd annual Bon Odori Festival at Camp Zama was held Aug. 4. The festival is consistently the largest bilateral event of the year for U.S. Army Japan, this year attracting more than 30,000 visitors to the installation. The festival featured live entartainment, games for children, a variety of ethnic foods, bilateral sports, and a fireworks show.

About the United States Army Garrison Japan:

The United States Army Garrison Japan and its 16 supported installation sites are located in the island of Honshu and Okinawa in Japan. The USAG Japan mission is to support the Headquarters, U.S. Army Japan / I Corps (fwd) to ensure mission readiness and the quality of life of the Army community in a sustainable, transforming joint and combined environment.

The USAG-J area of responsibility spans 1,500 miles from north to south of Japan. Camp Zama, home for both HQ USARJ and USAG-J is located approximately 25 miles southwest of Tokyo in the cities of Zama and Sagamihara in Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan. The Camp Zama base cluster includes Sagamihara Housing Area and Sagami General Depot.

Akasaka Press Center is located in the center of Tokyo. The Akizuki/Kure area near Hiroshima is an ammunition depot. Yokohama North Dock is a port facility in the city of Yokohama, a major commerce port and a popular shopping area. USAG Torii Station is located 980 miles southwest of Camp Zama on the island of Okinawa.

We are the Army's home in Japan and the "Garrison of Choice" for Soldiers, Civilians and their Family members. We are committed in becoming the leader in the U.S. Army Installation Management Command by providing world-class installation services.

-----

To learn more about USAG Japan, please visit:

Official Website - www.usagj.jp.pac.army.mil

Facebook - www.facebook.com/usagj

Flickr - www.flickr.com/usagj

YouTube - www.youtube.com/usagjapan

Vimeo - www.vimeo.com/usagj

Twitter - www.twitter.com/usagjapan

Slideshare - www.slideshare.net/usagjapan

USARJ This Week on YouTube - www.youtube.com/usarjthisweek

-Geometric Greek

The 53rd annual Bon Odori Festival at Camp Zama was held Aug. 4. The festival is consistently the largest bilateral event of the year for U.S. Army Japan, this year attracting more than 30,000 visitors to the installation. The festival featured live entartainment, games for children, a variety of ethnic foods, bilateral sports, and a fireworks show.

About the United States Army Garrison Japan:

The United States Army Garrison Japan and its 16 supported installation sites are located in the island of Honshu and Okinawa in Japan. The USAG Japan mission is to support the Headquarters, U.S. Army Japan / I Corps (fwd) to ensure mission readiness and the quality of life of the Army community in a sustainable, transforming joint and combined environment.

The USAG-J area of responsibility spans 1,500 miles from north to south of Japan. Camp Zama, home for both HQ USARJ and USAG-J is located approximately 25 miles southwest of Tokyo in the cities of Zama and Sagamihara in Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan. The Camp Zama base cluster includes Sagamihara Housing Area and Sagami General Depot.

Akasaka Press Center is located in the center of Tokyo. The Akizuki/Kure area near Hiroshima is an ammunition depot. Yokohama North Dock is a port facility in the city of Yokohama, a major commerce port and a popular shopping area. USAG Torii Station is located 980 miles southwest of Camp Zama on the island of Okinawa.

We are the Army's home in Japan and the "Garrison of Choice" for Soldiers, Civilians and their Family members. We are committed in becoming the leader in the U.S. Army Installation Management Command by providing world-class installation services.

-----

To learn more about USAG Japan, please visit:

Official Website - www.usagj.jp.pac.army.mil

Facebook - www.facebook.com/usagj

Flickr - www.flickr.com/usagj

YouTube - www.youtube.com/usagjapan

Vimeo - www.vimeo.com/usagj

Twitter - www.twitter.com/usagjapan

Slideshare - www.slideshare.net/usagjapan

USARJ This Week on YouTube - www.youtube.com/usarjthisweek

Sorry I haven't been uploading consistently...

This one is still a few days behind :P

Its going to hard to upload during this summer because I'm going to be quite busy with ministry.

But for today, this is my team... minus like 7 of them :P

Once again, I repeat, it seems like I have known them for a long while now even though its been only a few days. I think I have a chance again to form bonds... bonds that will last. I think ever since last semester, I have lost the vision of what it means to be really bond with brothers... I have been so caught up with logistical aspects of ministry that I forget about the people I am actually serving.

Thank you God for another chance... I know I might fail you again, but you are a God that has given me that second chance.

Satisfactoriamente avanzan las obras de infraestructura adelantadas por Prosperidad Social en los municipios de Villanueva y La Jagua del Pilar al Sur de La Guajira, consistentes en la construcción y renovación de tres parques y la pavimentación de más de mil metros viales en el barrio El Paraíso, respectivamente.

Así lo evidenció el director general de Prosperidad Social, Nemesio Roys Garzón, quien hizo un recorrido por las obras junto a la comunidad y autoridades locales de los dos municipios en donde se ejecutan estas obras con una inversión superior a los $8.300 millones.

"Estos proyectos de infraestructura llevan calidad de vida a la población de estos dos municipios del Sur de La Guajira, los terminaremos este año satisfactoriamente y están incluidos en las 65 obras que de manera histórica estamos ejecutando en el departamento con una inversión superior a los $128.000 millones durante el gobierno del presidente Santos", afirmó el director general de Prosperidad Social, Nemesio Roys Garzón.

El proyecto de construcción y remodelación de los parques 6 de Abril, La Fe y Román Ovalle en Villanueva registra un avance de cerca del 45%, beneficiará a más de 19 mil habitantes con una inversión superior a los $6.400 millones. Los espacios deportivos cuentan con cancha polideportiva, sintética y sistema de gimnasio biosaludable, brindando a la población

escenarios de encuentro, ampliando el potencial cultural y deportivo del municipio.

Por su parte, el proyecto de construcción de más de 1.000 metros de pavimento vial en el barrio El Paraíso en La Jagua del Pilar, registra un avance del 92% e incluye además la construcción de más de 1.000 metros de andenes, zonas verdes y señalización con una inversión de $1.905 millones.

La obra mejorará la calidad de vida de la comunidad que ya no padecerá afectaciones por el polvo o el encharcamiento en época de invierno. Se mejorará la conectividad del barrio con otros sectores, optimizando y reduciendo tiempos de desplazamiento. La obra, generó 35 empleos y beneficiará a unas 170 familias del barrio El Paraíso.

En La Jagua del Pilar también iniciará próximamente el mejoramiento de condiciones de vivienda de 100 hogares.

La Jagua del Pilar Seguimiento Obra Barrio Paraíso. / Abr. 27, 2018. (Fotografía Oficial Prosperidad Social / Joel González).

Esta fotografía oficial del Departamento Administrativo para la Prosperidad Social está disponible sólo para ser publicada por las organizaciones de noticias, medios nacionales e internacionales y/o para uso personal de impresión por el sujeto de la fotografía. La fotografía no puede ser alterada digitalmente o manipularse de ninguna manera, y tampoco puede usarse en materiales comerciales o políticos, anuncios, correos electrónicos, productos o promociones que de cualquier manera sugieran aprobación por parte del Departamento Administrativo para la Prosperidad Social.

Prosperidad Social Página Web / Twitter / Facebook / Youtube / Instagram

The 53rd annual Bon Odori Festival at Camp Zama was held Aug. 4. The festival is consistently the largest bilateral event of the year for U.S. Army Japan, this year attracting more than 30,000 visitors to the installation. The festival featured live entartainment, games for children, a variety of ethnic foods, bilateral sports, and a fireworks show.

About the United States Army Garrison Japan:

The United States Army Garrison Japan and its 16 supported installation sites are located in the island of Honshu and Okinawa in Japan. The USAG Japan mission is to support the Headquarters, U.S. Army Japan / I Corps (fwd) to ensure mission readiness and the quality of life of the Army community in a sustainable, transforming joint and combined environment.

The USAG-J area of responsibility spans 1,500 miles from north to south of Japan. Camp Zama, home for both HQ USARJ and USAG-J is located approximately 25 miles southwest of Tokyo in the cities of Zama and Sagamihara in Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan. The Camp Zama base cluster includes Sagamihara Housing Area and Sagami General Depot.

Akasaka Press Center is located in the center of Tokyo. The Akizuki/Kure area near Hiroshima is an ammunition depot. Yokohama North Dock is a port facility in the city of Yokohama, a major commerce port and a popular shopping area. USAG Torii Station is located 980 miles southwest of Camp Zama on the island of Okinawa.

We are the Army's home in Japan and the "Garrison of Choice" for Soldiers, Civilians and their Family members. We are committed in becoming the leader in the U.S. Army Installation Management Command by providing world-class installation services.

-----

To learn more about USAG Japan, please visit:

Official Website - www.usagj.jp.pac.army.mil

Facebook - www.facebook.com/usagj

Flickr - www.flickr.com/usagj

YouTube - www.youtube.com/usagjapan

Vimeo - www.vimeo.com/usagj

Twitter - www.twitter.com/usagjapan

Slideshare - www.slideshare.net/usagjapan

USARJ This Week on YouTube - www.youtube.com/usarjthisweek

On September 24 at 11:29 GMT, a magnitude 7.7 earthquake struck in south-central Pakistan at a relatively shallow depth of 20 kilometers. The earthquake occurred as the result of oblique strike-slip motion, consistent with rupture within the Eurasian tectonic plate. Tremors were felt as far away as New Delhi as well as Karachi in Pakistan. Even though the immediate area to the epicenter is sparsely populated, the majority of houses are of mud brick construction and damage is expected to be extensive. The perspective view, looking to the east, shows the location of the epicenter in Pakistan's Makran fold belt. The image is centered near 27 degrees north latitude, 65.5 degrees east longitude, and was acquired December 13, 2012.

With its 14 spectral bands from the visible to the thermal infrared wavelength region and its high spatial resolution of 15 to 90 meters (about 50 to 300 feet), ASTER images Earth to map and monitor the changing surface of our planet. ASTER is one of five Earth-observing instruments launched Dec. 18, 1999, on Terra. The instrument was built by Japan's Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry. A joint U.S./Japan science team is responsible for validation and calibration of the instrument and data products.

The broad spectral coverage and high spectral resolution of ASTER provides scientists in numerous disciplines with critical information for surface mapping and monitoring of dynamic conditions and temporal change. Example applications are: monitoring glacial advances and retreats; monitoring potentially active volcanoes; identifying crop stress; determining cloud morphology and physical properties; wetlands evaluation; thermal pollution monitoring; coral reef degradation; surface temperature mapping of soils and geology; and measuring surface heat balance.

The U.S. science team is located at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, Calif. The Terra mission is part of NASA's Science Mission Directorate, Washington, D.C.

More information about ASTER is available at asterweb.jpl.nasa.gov/.

Image Credit:

NASA/GSFC/METI/ERSDAC/JAROS, and U.S./Japan ASTER Science Team

Image Addition Date:

2013-09-24

NASA image use policy.

NASA Goddard Space Flight Center enables NASA’s mission through four scientific endeavors: Earth Science, Heliophysics, Solar System Exploration, and Astrophysics. Goddard plays a leading role in NASA’s accomplishments by contributing compelling scientific knowledge to advance the Agency’s mission.

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Autumn is consistently a great time to visit, with the foliage adding so much in spectacular, rich colors. And even during the latter part of the season, there is something so special about the bareness of many trees and vegetation. The nice thing as an observer of nature’s critters is that the birds are so much more visible. Even if they are at a fair distance, at least, one can appreciate their features. Also, many fall berries and other fruits and nuts, often with bright colors and interesting shapes, accentuate the landscape as seen only at this time of year.

The late, Doris Duke, had left a wonderful legacy in converting her magnificent estate into a Natural Wildlife Preserve for the public’s education and enjoyment. The paths throughout the estate offer such splendid scenery. One is forever exploring, always seeing something subtly beautiful. There are always pleasant surprises, from the general scenery to the world of the wildlife, even tiny insects and flowers are enjoyable to observe. The bucolic nature of the preserve is so relaxing—akin to meditating while experiencing the landscape. The beauty of visiting Duke Farms is that so many incredible views are there simply by observing all of the surroundings. Spotting new and fascinating wildlife—both animals and plants—always adds to the experience.

The 53rd annual Bon Odori Festival at Camp Zama was held Aug. 4. The festival is consistently the largest bilateral event of the year for U.S. Army Japan, this year attracting more than 30,000 visitors to the installation. The festival featured live entartainment, games for children, a variety of ethnic foods, bilateral sports, and a fireworks show.

About the United States Army Garrison Japan:

The United States Army Garrison Japan and its 16 supported installation sites are located in the island of Honshu and Okinawa in Japan. The USAG Japan mission is to support the Headquarters, U.S. Army Japan / I Corps (fwd) to ensure mission readiness and the quality of life of the Army community in a sustainable, transforming joint and combined environment.

The USAG-J area of responsibility spans 1,500 miles from north to south of Japan. Camp Zama, home for both HQ USARJ and USAG-J is located approximately 25 miles southwest of Tokyo in the cities of Zama and Sagamihara in Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan. The Camp Zama base cluster includes Sagamihara Housing Area and Sagami General Depot.

Akasaka Press Center is located in the center of Tokyo. The Akizuki/Kure area near Hiroshima is an ammunition depot. Yokohama North Dock is a port facility in the city of Yokohama, a major commerce port and a popular shopping area. USAG Torii Station is located 980 miles southwest of Camp Zama on the island of Okinawa.

We are the Army's home in Japan and the "Garrison of Choice" for Soldiers, Civilians and their Family members. We are committed in becoming the leader in the U.S. Army Installation Management Command by providing world-class installation services.

-----

To learn more about USAG Japan, please visit:

Official Website - www.usagj.jp.pac.army.mil

Facebook - www.facebook.com/usagj

Flickr - www.flickr.com/usagj

YouTube - www.youtube.com/usagjapan

Vimeo - www.vimeo.com/usagj

Twitter - www.twitter.com/usagjapan

Slideshare - www.slideshare.net/usagjapan

USARJ This Week on YouTube - www.youtube.com/usarjthisweek

The 53rd annual Bon Odori Festival at Camp Zama was held Aug. 4. The festival is consistently the largest bilateral event of the year for U.S. Army Japan, this year attracting more than 30,000 visitors to the installation. The festival featured live entartainment, games for children, a variety of ethnic foods, bilateral sports, and a fireworks show.

About the United States Army Garrison Japan:

The United States Army Garrison Japan and its 16 supported installation sites are located in the island of Honshu and Okinawa in Japan. The USAG Japan mission is to support the Headquarters, U.S. Army Japan / I Corps (fwd) to ensure mission readiness and the quality of life of the Army community in a sustainable, transforming joint and combined environment.

The USAG-J area of responsibility spans 1,500 miles from north to south of Japan. Camp Zama, home for both HQ USARJ and USAG-J is located approximately 25 miles southwest of Tokyo in the cities of Zama and Sagamihara in Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan. The Camp Zama base cluster includes Sagamihara Housing Area and Sagami General Depot.

Akasaka Press Center is located in the center of Tokyo. The Akizuki/Kure area near Hiroshima is an ammunition depot. Yokohama North Dock is a port facility in the city of Yokohama, a major commerce port and a popular shopping area. USAG Torii Station is located 980 miles southwest of Camp Zama on the island of Okinawa.

We are the Army's home in Japan and the "Garrison of Choice" for Soldiers, Civilians and their Family members. We are committed in becoming the leader in the U.S. Army Installation Management Command by providing world-class installation services.

-----

To learn more about USAG Japan, please visit:

Official Website - www.usagj.jp.pac.army.mil

Facebook - www.facebook.com/usagj

Flickr - www.flickr.com/usagj

YouTube - www.youtube.com/usagjapan

Vimeo - www.vimeo.com/usagj

Twitter - www.twitter.com/usagjapan

Slideshare - www.slideshare.net/usagjapan

USARJ This Week on YouTube - www.youtube.com/usarjthisweek

ARC, ZUG, SWITZERLAND: PHOTO CREDIT SIIA/Stokasmud www.stokasmud.com Financial investors and leaders of more than 30 different faith traditions representing over 500 faith investment groups and billions of dollars in assets, met in Zug's beautiful Lassalle-Haus retreat centre together with the UN and some key impact investment funds, for a unique international meeting on Faith in Finance. Asking the question: “what do you do with your investments to make a better planet?” they launched the Zug Guidelines on Faith-Consistent Investment and a new alliance to support this movement. More details see www.arcworld.org/projects.asp?projectID=674 and for press coverage arcworld.org/news.asp?pageID=864

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photograph by stacey lundeen. project #3 by Sarah Collins/Bifzi Bafzi.

from the Consistent Variable Project - first attempt.

ZUG, SWITZERLAND: Financial investors and leaders of more than 30 different faith traditions representing over 500 faith investment groups from eight religions and billions of dollars in assets, met in Zug's beautiful Lassalle Haus retreat centre together with representatives of the UN and some key impact investment funds, for a unique international meeting on Faith in Finance. They are there because they have all agreed to set out and make public their priorities for positive investment – a huge shift from the faith tradition of saying, for ethical reasons, what they won’t invest in. Asking the question: “what do you do with your investments to make a better planet?” they will give huge impetus to a new movement of faith assets to funds where they have a positive “faith-consistent” impact. www.arcworld.org/projects.asp?projectID=674

ARC, ZUG, SWITZERLAND: PHOTO CREDIT SIIA/Stokasmud www.stokasmud.com. Financial investors and leaders of more than 30 different faith traditions representing over 500 faith investment groups and billions of dollars in assets, met in Zug's beautiful Lassalle-Haus retreat centre together with the UN, the Alliance of Religions and Conservation (ARC) and some key impact investment funds, for a unique international meeting on Faith in Finance. Asking the question: “what do you do with your investments to make a better planet?” they launched the Zug Guidelines on Faith-Consistent Investment and a new alliance to support this movement. More details see www.arcworld.org/projects.asp?projectID=674 and for press coverage arcworld.org/news.asp?pageID=864 At the podium: Cardinal Peter Turkson.

El Perú recibió por parte de México ayuda para los damnificados, consistente en equipos de bombeo de lodo y un grupo de rescatistas.

The old look iTunes 6. Not perfect but consistent.

The 53rd annual Bon Odori Festival at Camp Zama was held Aug. 4. The festival is consistently the largest bilateral event of the year for U.S. Army Japan, this year attracting more than 30,000 visitors to the installation. The festival featured live entartainment, games for children, a variety of ethnic foods, bilateral sports, and a fireworks show.

About the United States Army Garrison Japan:

The United States Army Garrison Japan and its 16 supported installation sites are located in the island of Honshu and Okinawa in Japan. The USAG Japan mission is to support the Headquarters, U.S. Army Japan / I Corps (fwd) to ensure mission readiness and the quality of life of the Army community in a sustainable, transforming joint and combined environment.

The USAG-J area of responsibility spans 1,500 miles from north to south of Japan. Camp Zama, home for both HQ USARJ and USAG-J is located approximately 25 miles southwest of Tokyo in the cities of Zama and Sagamihara in Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan. The Camp Zama base cluster includes Sagamihara Housing Area and Sagami General Depot.

Akasaka Press Center is located in the center of Tokyo. The Akizuki/Kure area near Hiroshima is an ammunition depot. Yokohama North Dock is a port facility in the city of Yokohama, a major commerce port and a popular shopping area. USAG Torii Station is located 980 miles southwest of Camp Zama on the island of Okinawa.

We are the Army's home in Japan and the "Garrison of Choice" for Soldiers, Civilians and their Family members. We are committed in becoming the leader in the U.S. Army Installation Management Command by providing world-class installation services.

-----

To learn more about USAG Japan, please visit:

Official Website - www.usagj.jp.pac.army.mil

Facebook - www.facebook.com/usagj

Flickr - www.flickr.com/usagj

YouTube - www.youtube.com/usagjapan

Vimeo - www.vimeo.com/usagj

Twitter - www.twitter.com/usagjapan

Slideshare - www.slideshare.net/usagjapan

USARJ This Week on YouTube - www.youtube.com/usarjthisweek

After consistent snow over the central belt and southern highlands on 13 Feb, the forecast was for blue skys on Sun 14. Early up, but not first, a fellow walker told me to go 30m above the summit path off the beaten track. A different side to Ben Lomond

Orca Boats are consistently some of the most beautiful handmade wooden boats I've ever seen. Build your own from plans or order one already assembled. Details on their web site www.orcaboats.ca/

vcn.bc.ca/vwbs/

The 53rd annual Bon Odori Festival at Camp Zama was held Aug. 4. The festival is consistently the largest bilateral event of the year for U.S. Army Japan, this year attracting more than 30,000 visitors to the installation. The festival featured live entartainment, games for children, a variety of ethnic foods, bilateral sports, and a fireworks show.

About the United States Army Garrison Japan:

The United States Army Garrison Japan and its 16 supported installation sites are located in the island of Honshu and Okinawa in Japan. The USAG Japan mission is to support the Headquarters, U.S. Army Japan / I Corps (fwd) to ensure mission readiness and the quality of life of the Army community in a sustainable, transforming joint and combined environment.

The USAG-J area of responsibility spans 1,500 miles from north to south of Japan. Camp Zama, home for both HQ USARJ and USAG-J is located approximately 25 miles southwest of Tokyo in the cities of Zama and Sagamihara in Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan. The Camp Zama base cluster includes Sagamihara Housing Area and Sagami General Depot.

Akasaka Press Center is located in the center of Tokyo. The Akizuki/Kure area near Hiroshima is an ammunition depot. Yokohama North Dock is a port facility in the city of Yokohama, a major commerce port and a popular shopping area. USAG Torii Station is located 980 miles southwest of Camp Zama on the island of Okinawa.

We are the Army's home in Japan and the "Garrison of Choice" for Soldiers, Civilians and their Family members. We are committed in becoming the leader in the U.S. Army Installation Management Command by providing world-class installation services.

-----

To learn more about USAG Japan, please visit:

Official Website - www.usagj.jp.pac.army.mil

Facebook - www.facebook.com/usagj

Flickr - www.flickr.com/usagj

YouTube - www.youtube.com/usagjapan

Vimeo - www.vimeo.com/usagj

Twitter - www.twitter.com/usagjapan

Slideshare - www.slideshare.net/usagjapan

USARJ This Week on YouTube - www.youtube.com/usarjthisweek

Católicas pelo Direito de Decidir realizou em 17 de novembro o Seminário Diálogos inter- religiosos de combate ao fundamentalismos no Brasil e promoção do Estado Laico. O objetivo da instituição foi promover um debate consistente acerca da laicidade no Brasil, da inadequada interferência religiosa nas tomadas de decisões políticas que impactam os direitos humanos, sexuais e reprodutivos, especialmente das mulheres brasileiras.

Participaram como palestrantes:

Alexsander Soares de Aguiar. Enfermeiro formado na Universidade Estadual Vale do Acaraú – Ceará. Coordenador do núcleo de Vigilância Epidemiológica da maternidade Bárbara Heloidora e do Serviço de atendimento às vítimas de violência.

Joelda Pais: Socióloga. Especialista em Gestão de Políticas Públicas em Gênero e Raça-Etnia. Coordenadora de Direitos Humanos da Secretaria Estadual de Política para as Mulheres.

Madge Porto Cruz: Conselho Federal de Psicologia. Professora do magistério superior da Universidade Federal do Acre - UFAC.

Onides Bonaccorsi Queiroz: Jornalista, escritora e contadora de histórias. Pós-graduada em Propaganda e Marketing e Pedagogia Waldorf. Daimista (seguidora da doutrina do Daime); Membro do Conselho da Área de Proteção Ambiental Raimundo Irineu Serra (Aparis). Articuladora da Câmara Temática das Culturas Ayahuasqueiras de Rio Branco; Membro do Setorial de Patrimônio Imaterial/Acre do Conselho Nacional de Política Cultural (CNPC); mãe.

Rozária Maia de Lima: Responsável no Acre pela Divisão Feminina e pelo Departamento de Relações Públicas da BSGI Associação Brasil Soka Gakkai Internacional.

Sandra Amorim: Graduada em Serviço Social pelo Instituto de Educação Superior do Acre – IESACRE e em Teologia pelo SEBRA; pós-graduada em Gestão de Políticas Públicas pela Universidade de Brasília-UNB, Assistente Social do Ministério Público do Estado do Acre. Docente da Graduação e Pós-Graduação da União Educacional do Norte – UNINORTE. Presidente do Conselho Regional de Serviço Social do Acre- CRESS 26ª Região.

Valéria Cristina Vilhena: Teóloga e mestre em Ciências da Religião, integrante do movimento: Evangélicas pela Igualdade de Gênero (EIG).

Yury Puello Orozco: Teóloga, Mestra e Doutora em Ciências da Religião (PUC-SP). Integrante da equipe de coordenação de Católicas pelo Direito de Decidir- Brasil.

Participaram do evento 63 pessoas representantes de diversos setores estratégicos do estado de Acre. Dentre eles destacamos: Conselho Regional de Psicologia, Conselho Regional de Serviço Social, Rede Acreana de Mulheres e Homens, OAB Mulher, Instituto Ecumênico Fé e Politica, Secretaria de Políticas para as Mulheres, Secretaria Estadual Maternidade Barbara Heliodora, Casa Abrigo Mãe da Mata, Posto de Saúde do Tucumã, Juventude Social Brasileira, Sindicato dos Trabalhadores Domésticos do Acre, Curso de Enfermagem da UFAC, Coletivo Odara, Casa Rosa mulher, UFAC, Sindicato dos terapeutas do Paraná, PSB, CDDHEP, Associação Amigos do Peito (AAPEI), Curso de Psicologia da UFAC, IAPEN, Conselho Estadual de Defesa dos Direitos da Mulher, Centro de Iluminação Cristã, Luz Universal Juramidà, Defensoria Publica, Huerb. Nosso agradecimento a todas as pessoas presentes.

The 53rd annual Bon Odori Festival at Camp Zama was held Aug. 4. The festival is consistently the largest bilateral event of the year for U.S. Army Japan, this year attracting more than 30,000 visitors to the installation. The festival featured live entartainment, games for children, a variety of ethnic foods, bilateral sports, and a fireworks show.

About the United States Army Garrison Japan:

The United States Army Garrison Japan and its 16 supported installation sites are located in the island of Honshu and Okinawa in Japan. The USAG Japan mission is to support the Headquarters, U.S. Army Japan / I Corps (fwd) to ensure mission readiness and the quality of life of the Army community in a sustainable, transforming joint and combined environment.

The USAG-J area of responsibility spans 1,500 miles from north to south of Japan. Camp Zama, home for both HQ USARJ and USAG-J is located approximately 25 miles southwest of Tokyo in the cities of Zama and Sagamihara in Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan. The Camp Zama base cluster includes Sagamihara Housing Area and Sagami General Depot.

Akasaka Press Center is located in the center of Tokyo. The Akizuki/Kure area near Hiroshima is an ammunition depot. Yokohama North Dock is a port facility in the city of Yokohama, a major commerce port and a popular shopping area. USAG Torii Station is located 980 miles southwest of Camp Zama on the island of Okinawa.

We are the Army's home in Japan and the "Garrison of Choice" for Soldiers, Civilians and their Family members. We are committed in becoming the leader in the U.S. Army Installation Management Command by providing world-class installation services.

-----

To learn more about USAG Japan, please visit:

Official Website - www.usagj.jp.pac.army.mil

Facebook - www.facebook.com/usagj

Flickr - www.flickr.com/usagj

YouTube - www.youtube.com/usagjapan

Vimeo - www.vimeo.com/usagj

Twitter - www.twitter.com/usagjapan

Slideshare - www.slideshare.net/usagjapan

USARJ This Week on YouTube - www.youtube.com/usarjthisweek

The 53rd annual Bon Odori Festival at Camp Zama was held Aug. 4. The festival is consistently the largest bilateral event of the year for U.S. Army Japan, this year attracting more than 30,000 visitors to the installation. The festival featured live entartainment, games for children, a variety of ethnic foods, bilateral sports, and a fireworks show.

About the United States Army Garrison Japan:

The United States Army Garrison Japan and its 16 supported installation sites are located in the island of Honshu and Okinawa in Japan. The USAG Japan mission is to support the Headquarters, U.S. Army Japan / I Corps (fwd) to ensure mission readiness and the quality of life of the Army community in a sustainable, transforming joint and combined environment.

The USAG-J area of responsibility spans 1,500 miles from north to south of Japan. Camp Zama, home for both HQ USARJ and USAG-J is located approximately 25 miles southwest of Tokyo in the cities of Zama and Sagamihara in Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan. The Camp Zama base cluster includes Sagamihara Housing Area and Sagami General Depot.

Akasaka Press Center is located in the center of Tokyo. The Akizuki/Kure area near Hiroshima is an ammunition depot. Yokohama North Dock is a port facility in the city of Yokohama, a major commerce port and a popular shopping area. USAG Torii Station is located 980 miles southwest of Camp Zama on the island of Okinawa.

We are the Army's home in Japan and the "Garrison of Choice" for Soldiers, Civilians and their Family members. We are committed in becoming the leader in the U.S. Army Installation Management Command by providing world-class installation services.

-----

To learn more about USAG Japan, please visit:

Official Website - www.usagj.jp.pac.army.mil

Facebook - www.facebook.com/usagj

Flickr - www.flickr.com/usagj

YouTube - www.youtube.com/usagjapan

Vimeo - www.vimeo.com/usagj

Twitter - www.twitter.com/usagjapan

Slideshare - www.slideshare.net/usagjapan

USARJ This Week on YouTube - www.youtube.com/usarjthisweek

The 53rd annual Bon Odori Festival at Camp Zama was held Aug. 4. The festival is consistently the largest bilateral event of the year for U.S. Army Japan, this year attracting more than 30,000 visitors to the installation. The festival featured live entartainment, games for children, a variety of ethnic foods, bilateral sports, and a fireworks show.

About the United States Army Garrison Japan:

The United States Army Garrison Japan and its 16 supported installation sites are located in the island of Honshu and Okinawa in Japan. The USAG Japan mission is to support the Headquarters, U.S. Army Japan / I Corps (fwd) to ensure mission readiness and the quality of life of the Army community in a sustainable, transforming joint and combined environment.

The USAG-J area of responsibility spans 1,500 miles from north to south of Japan. Camp Zama, home for both HQ USARJ and USAG-J is located approximately 25 miles southwest of Tokyo in the cities of Zama and Sagamihara in Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan. The Camp Zama base cluster includes Sagamihara Housing Area and Sagami General Depot.

Akasaka Press Center is located in the center of Tokyo. The Akizuki/Kure area near Hiroshima is an ammunition depot. Yokohama North Dock is a port facility in the city of Yokohama, a major commerce port and a popular shopping area. USAG Torii Station is located 980 miles southwest of Camp Zama on the island of Okinawa.

We are the Army's home in Japan and the "Garrison of Choice" for Soldiers, Civilians and their Family members. We are committed in becoming the leader in the U.S. Army Installation Management Command by providing world-class installation services.

-----

To learn more about USAG Japan, please visit:

Official Website - www.usagj.jp.pac.army.mil

Facebook - www.facebook.com/usagj

Flickr - www.flickr.com/usagj

YouTube - www.youtube.com/usagjapan

Vimeo - www.vimeo.com/usagj

Twitter - www.twitter.com/usagjapan

Slideshare - www.slideshare.net/usagjapan

USARJ This Week on YouTube - www.youtube.com/usarjthisweek

World’s Best Surfers Ignite Aproador to Complete Round 1 of Billabong Rio Pro

APROADOR, Rio de Janeiro/Brazil (Tuesday, May 17, 2011) – After a week of lay-days, the world’s best surfers tore into consistently changing conditions at the lefthand pointbreak of Aproador to complete Round 1 of the Billabong Rio Pro.

Stop No. 3 of 11 on the ASP World Title Series, the opening day of men’s competition saw ASP Dream Tour veterans earn the day’s top scores while defending event winner Jadson Andre (BRA), 21, made an impressive entrance in the Billabong Rio Pro’s opening round.

Kelly Slater (USA), 39, reigning 10-time ASP World Champion, got off to a strong start to open his Billabong Rio Pro campaign. Slater unleashed two furious tail-drifting backhand turns to notch the day’s highest single-wave score of a 9.00 (out of 10) midway through his bout to overtake ASP World Tour rookie Julian Wilson (AUS), 22, and event wildcard Peterson Crisanto (BRA), 18, after nearly missing the start of his heat.

“That 9 felt good,” Slater said. “I went down to grab my jersey and there was some confusion. By the time I got out, the heat had already started and Julian got that first one. It wasn’t a good start. I knew there were going to be some good ones and I just had to be patient. That one good wave actually let me bottom turn and hit the lip, most of the waves were soft and had a lot of horizontals.”

Slater, who finished runner-up at the Billabong Pro last year, was also quick to admit that several goofy-footers will be tough to beat at the lefthander of Aproador and noted that the natural-footers will need to be especially selective in their wave choice at the Billabong Rio Pro.

“A little left like this is going to play well for goofy footers,” Slater said. “Owen (Wright) and Jadson (Andre) are probably frothing on it and licking their chops ready to go. We (natural footers) have been on our frontside at Snapper and Bells and now it’s their turn. We’ve just got to try and be smart. Mick (Fanning) looked good and there are waves out there to do it, you’ve just got to be smart.”

Taj Burrow (AUS), 32, opened his Billabong Rio Pro campaign with a sharp backhand attack by belting two Arpoador lefthanders to the tune of a 16.83 (out of 20) on his first two waves to earn the highest heat-total of the day. The Australian veteran notched his Round 1 heat win over dangerous Brazilian rookie Alejo Muniz (BRA), 21, and event wildcard Ricardo Santos (BRA), 20.

“It was kind of scary for a second there, right when they decided to start the competition the wind started howling, but then it cleaned up heaps,” Burrow said. “I got two fun ones at the start so I’m happy.”

Jadson Andre, defending event winner, reveled in Aproador’s lefthanders with a combination of aggressive carves and snaps to take a convincing Round 1 heat victory with the support of the Brazilian crowd behind him.

“I’m so happy to be here competing in Brazil and I love Aproador, I feel like a local,” Andre said. “I’ve competed here several times before and have friends here. I know everyone says I should feel pressure as defending champion, but I’m not worried about it. I’m just thinking about the next heat. That’s what I did last year.”

Mick Fanning (AUS), 29, two-time ASP World Champion, slowly built momentum in his opening Billabong Rio Pro heat, eventually igniting two lefthanders by combining a series of seamless backhand turns to notch a 15.07 heat total to advance directly through to Round 3.

“It was tricky trying to find the right one out there, but I watched the heat before and noticed that guys that were doing turns back-to-back were getting scores, so I tried to concentrate on that,” Fanning said. “They weren’t the biggest waves, but they just allowed three turns straight away.”

The Australian talent also expressed the importance of advancing directly through to Round 3 with Brazil’s ever-changing conditions.

“It’s really good to skip as many rounds as possible, especially here in Brazil where it can be really unpredictable,” Fanning said. “I’m stoked to get through Round 1 and I’ll go back and assess what’s going on and hopefully keep going.”

Billabong Rio Pro event organizers will reconvene at Aproador at 7am local time tomorrow morning for a possible Round 2 start.

To watch the Billabong Rio Pro LIVE log on to www.billabongpro.com

For additional ASP information log on to www.aspworldtour.com

Billabong Rio Pro Round 1 Results:

Heat 1: Owen Wright (AUS) 13.60, Heitor Alves (BRA) 7.67, Bobby Martinez (USA) 7.47

Heat 2: Adrian Buchan (AUS) 11.84, Adam Melling (AUS) 11.16, Kai Otton (AUS) 7.90

Heat 3: Taj Burrow (AUS) 16.33, Ricardo Santos (BRA) 11.17, Alejo Muniz (BRA) 10.60

Heat 4: Mick Fanning (AUS) 15.07, Simao Romao (BRA) 12.36, Dusty Payne (HAW) 11.66

Heat 5: Patrick Gudauskas (USA) 8.13, Jordy Smith (ZAF) 8.07, Igor Morais (BRA) 6.34

Heat 6: Kelly Slater (USA) 15.17, Julian Wilson (AUS) 14.37, Peterson Crisanto (BRA) 3.84

Heat 7: Jadson Andre (BRA) 14.33, Gabe Kling (USA) 10.66, Bede Durbidge (AUS) 7.90

Heat 8: Jeremy Flores (FRA) 13.56, C.J. Hobgood (USA) 10.80, Josh Kerr (AUS) 7.43

Heat 9: Damien Hobgood (USA) 12.00, Raoni Monteiro (BRA) 11.10, Tiago Pires (PRT) 10.93

Heat 10: Cory Lopez (USA) 11.54, Chris Davidson (AUS) 10.00, Michel Bourez (PYF) 8.57

Heat 11: Daniel Ross (AUS) 14.90, Adriano de Souza (BRA) 14.67, Kieren Perrow (AUS) 8.96

Heat 12: Taylor Knox (USA) 15.03, Matt Wilkinson (AUS) 14.70, Joel Parkinson (AUS) 8.34

Photo ASP/Scholtz

The 53rd annual Bon Odori Festival at Camp Zama was held Aug. 4. The festival is consistently the largest bilateral event of the year for U.S. Army Japan, this year attracting more than 30,000 visitors to the installation. The festival featured live entartainment, games for children, a variety of ethnic foods, bilateral sports, and a fireworks show.

About the United States Army Garrison Japan:

The United States Army Garrison Japan and its 16 supported installation sites are located in the island of Honshu and Okinawa in Japan. The USAG Japan mission is to support the Headquarters, U.S. Army Japan / I Corps (fwd) to ensure mission readiness and the quality of life of the Army community in a sustainable, transforming joint and combined environment.

The USAG-J area of responsibility spans 1,500 miles from north to south of Japan. Camp Zama, home for both HQ USARJ and USAG-J is located approximately 25 miles southwest of Tokyo in the cities of Zama and Sagamihara in Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan. The Camp Zama base cluster includes Sagamihara Housing Area and Sagami General Depot.

Akasaka Press Center is located in the center of Tokyo. The Akizuki/Kure area near Hiroshima is an ammunition depot. Yokohama North Dock is a port facility in the city of Yokohama, a major commerce port and a popular shopping area. USAG Torii Station is located 980 miles southwest of Camp Zama on the island of Okinawa.

We are the Army's home in Japan and the "Garrison of Choice" for Soldiers, Civilians and their Family members. We are committed in becoming the leader in the U.S. Army Installation Management Command by providing world-class installation services.

-----

To learn more about USAG Japan, please visit:

Official Website - www.usagj.jp.pac.army.mil

Facebook - www.facebook.com/usagj

Flickr - www.flickr.com/usagj

YouTube - www.youtube.com/usagjapan

Vimeo - www.vimeo.com/usagj

Twitter - www.twitter.com/usagjapan

Slideshare - www.slideshare.net/usagjapan

USARJ This Week on YouTube - www.youtube.com/usarjthisweek

The 53rd annual Bon Odori Festival at Camp Zama was held Aug. 4. The festival is consistently the largest bilateral event of the year for U.S. Army Japan, this year attracting more than 30,000 visitors to the installation. The festival featured live entartainment, games for children, a variety of ethnic foods, bilateral sports, and a fireworks show.

About the United States Army Garrison Japan:

The United States Army Garrison Japan and its 16 supported installation sites are located in the island of Honshu and Okinawa in Japan. The USAG Japan mission is to support the Headquarters, U.S. Army Japan / I Corps (fwd) to ensure mission readiness and the quality of life of the Army community in a sustainable, transforming joint and combined environment.

The USAG-J area of responsibility spans 1,500 miles from north to south of Japan. Camp Zama, home for both HQ USARJ and USAG-J is located approximately 25 miles southwest of Tokyo in the cities of Zama and Sagamihara in Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan. The Camp Zama base cluster includes Sagamihara Housing Area and Sagami General Depot.

Akasaka Press Center is located in the center of Tokyo. The Akizuki/Kure area near Hiroshima is an ammunition depot. Yokohama North Dock is a port facility in the city of Yokohama, a major commerce port and a popular shopping area. USAG Torii Station is located 980 miles southwest of Camp Zama on the island of Okinawa.

We are the Army's home in Japan and the "Garrison of Choice" for Soldiers, Civilians and their Family members. We are committed in becoming the leader in the U.S. Army Installation Management Command by providing world-class installation services.

-----

To learn more about USAG Japan, please visit:

Official Website - www.usagj.jp.pac.army.mil

Facebook - www.facebook.com/usagj

Flickr - www.flickr.com/usagj

YouTube - www.youtube.com/usagjapan

Vimeo - www.vimeo.com/usagj

Twitter - www.twitter.com/usagjapan

Slideshare - www.slideshare.net/usagjapan

USARJ This Week on YouTube - www.youtube.com/usarjthisweek

Rara la vita in due... fatta di lievi gesti,

e affetti di giornata... consistenti o no,

bisogna muoversi... come ospiti... pieni di premure

con delicata attenzione... per non disturbare

ed è in certi sguardi che... si vede l'infinito

Stridono le auto... come bisonti infuriati,

le strade sono praterie...

accanto a grattacieli assolati,

come possiamo... tenere nascosta... la nostra intesa

ed è in certi sguardi... che s'intravede l'infinito

Tutto... l'universo... obbedisce... all'amore,

come... puoi tenere... nascosto... un amore.

ed è così... che ci trattiene... nelle sue catene,

tutto... l'universo... obbedisce... all'amore

Come possiamo... tenere nascosta... la nostra intesa

ed è in certi sguardi... che si nasconde l'infinito

Tutto... l'universo... obbedisce... all'amore

come... puoi tenere... nascosto... un amore,

ed è così... che ci trattiene... nelle sue catene

tutto... l'universo... obbedisce all'amore...

(obbedisce all'amore)

Franco battiato

già lo sai