View allAll Photos Tagged Responding
Two car collision in Albert Rd, Southport. Thankfully, no serious injuries.
A firemans kit beside the fire truck at the ready to quickly throw on the jacket, step into boots and trousers and be onboard the firetruck quickly ready to respond to fires and such
Cheers to the firefighters and all the good they do to protect us often at there own risk
IWAKUNI, YAMAGUCHI, Japan (March 28, 2022) - U.S. Marines with Marine All Weather Fighter Attack Squadron (VMFA(AW)) 533 load an AIM-120 advanced medium-range air-to-air missile onto an F/A-18 Hornet aircraft during a loading exercise at Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, March 28, 2022. VMFA(AW)-533 conducted the exercise to practice loading, checking, and troubleshooting live ordnance in order to increase operational readiness and better prepare the air station to quickly respond to contingencies within the Indo-Pacific area of responsibility. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Calah Thompson) 220328-M-DL962-1216
** Interested in following U.S. Indo-Pacific Command? Engage and connect with us at www.facebook.com/indopacom | twitter.com/INDOPACOM | www.instagram.com/indopacom | www.flickr.com/photos/us-pacific-command; | www.youtube.com/user/USPacificCommand | www.pacom.mil/ **
Part of the long south front of Alexandra Palace, with the former BBC TV mast above the east tower.
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First in a series of photos and comments about Cllr Charles Adje and how he carried out some vital tasks on behalf of Haringey Council.
This one comments on events arising from the First Walklate Report.
► Click here for Part 2 ─ Adje's Pally.
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In October 2008 Alexandra Palace was back in the news with publication of the first Walklate Report. Martin Walklate's measured, factual and independent report examined events surrounding the grant of a licence to Firoka (Alexandra Palace) Ltd in May 2007.
With justification, Haringey's local press focused on the role of former Council Leader, Cllr Charles Adje who chaired the Alexandra Palace Board at the time. ( Click to read the reports and editorial in the Hampstead & Highgate Express 25 September 2008. )
Cllr Adje's most interesting reply was printed in the Letters page of the Ham & High on 2 October 2008. That week is not included in the paper's online archive, so here it is.
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(Hampstead & Highgate Express 2 October 2008.)
Charles Adje responds to criticisms over damning Ally Pally report
I read with incredulity your comments on the Walklate Ally Pally report (Call for heads to roll after shocking Ally Pally report, H&H Broadway September 25). To state that the whole deal was done behind closed doors is absurd.
Board members were informed of the financial situation and of contracts being terminated or dwindling. Firoka was becoming impatient and was concerned about this, the unions were concerned about the way their members were being dealt with regarding TUPE negotiations, and staff were also leaving to take up jobs elsewhere due to the continuing uncertainty.
Firoka had the resources to move things forward and the potential to channel business to the Palace.
The Alexandra Palace Trading Company was also being wound up as it was in deficit, and the board ran the risk of trading with an insolvent company (as reported by officers at the time). The two independent non-executive directors had already stood down and liquidators were on standby to wind down the company.
You will be aware that the company has its own accountants and auditors. Council officers were aware of this and I believe provisions had been made to this effect.
In order to ensure the future of the assets and that staff were provided with some certainty for the future and to further lock Firoka in, the Board of Trustees and of the trading company decided to second the staff and grant a licence to Firoka Alexandra Palace Limited for a limited period.
At no time did any board member query this decision or state that they did not understand what was being proposed. The decision to transfer was unanimous. The Leader of the Council and the Chief Executive were fully conversant with the process.
I am certain that the interim licence would not have been granted if board members had been told that the judicial review would go against the Charity Commission or the board. It is, however, regrettable that officers did not seek legal or counsel's opinion to finalise the licence.
Counsel's opinion was sought by officers regarding the judicial review and the chair of the Board of Trustees, the council leader and the chief executive were fully conversant with the opinion.
The Walklate report infers that board members were not competent and casts aspersions on their ability, their hard work and good intentions. The report failed to reflect the fact that apart from one board member who had been on the board for some time, the other members, including myself at the time, were new appointees with no previous involvement with the board.
We needed to complete the transfer process and there was no reserve bidder or plan 'B'. We were faced with a fait accompli. We therefore had to make do with what we inherited.
I should also like to state that I have had no dealings in the affairs of the Palace since I left as Chair. I do not know how Mr Walklate's service came to be commissioned, nor was I consulted in terms of his remit.
The board's aim at all times was to transfer the risks and secure the future of the assets and the staff, although this strategy had its critics.
The Walklate report and your lead comment belittle the £50m investment by Firoka, a project which commenced in 2004 and which I believe to have been the second attempt to transfer the risks and secure the future of the assets.
It should be noted that the transfer did not collapse as a result of the licence issue, as the licence was issued for a limited period. The licence should have been terminated immediately after the outcome of the judicial review as the need for it to continue no longer existed.
It should also be borne in mind that Firoka 'walked' as a result of the inaction on the part of the board to progress matters, (according to their press statement) which you also published, and not as a result of issue of the licence.
We had never denied that there had been longstanding governance problems with the Palace. The board was faced with a dilemma: whether to spend its energy on the issue of governance as inherited (which is a perennial issue) or to focus on the transfer (which would have resolved the governance issue as the trading company would have been liquidated following the transfer).
The report and your comments seem to infer that this all happened in my term as chair, which is not the case.
My aim and that of my Labour colleagues has always been and remains the same, to safeguard the future of the Palace and lift the burden from the Haringey taxpayer.
Finally, it should be noted that I asked for the whole report to be made public rather than parts of it, as I have nothing to hide.
As ever, I will continue to work hard for the benefit and interest of the people of our borough, not just for the few.
Cllr Charles Adje
Labour Member for White Hart Lane Ward
Haringey Council
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My Comment
I found this an odd letter. To me, at least, it seems to present Cllr Adje as a new chap on the Board who had "inherited" problems he didn't really grasp. Almost as if he had not been the Council Leader during the previous two years. (May 2004 - May 2006). Nor a member of the Council's ruling "cabinet" from 2000-04 with responsibility for Finance.
Unfortunately, the mess presided over by Cllr Adje risked obscuring the hard work of the Board and solid progress made by his successor as Chair, Cllr Matt Cooke.
The LibDem opposition on Haringey Council demanded Cllr Adje's resignation from his (then) role as "cabinet" councillor in charge of "Resources". This may have seemed a bit unfair - given that he'd been off the Ally Pally board for eighteen months. But as they pointed out, Cllr Adje was then responsible for Haringey's Finances, Property, Council Tax, Procurement, IT, Personnel, and Organisational Development.
The First Walklate Report is long and complex. Even so, I hope as many people as possible download it and make their own minds up.
Tag Game: Long + Short Hair - Thanks Oronis13 :)
Repeating the rules: Choose male doll from your collection with the longest hair among your boys (hair has to be rooted, not painted) and choose female doll from your collection with the shortest hair among your girls (hair can be rooted, flocked or painted). And take a photo of those 2 dolls together. They don´t have to look like couple. You can use all kinds of dolls, except wigged dolls with wigs on their heads and dolls ready for reroot i.e.no bald dolls with holes in their heads. You can mixed dolls from different companies and in different sizes. If your most hairy guy is e.g. from Tonner and your least hairy girl is e.g. from Mattel, you can use them together. So you can mixed Barbies/Kens, MH, EAH, IT, Tonner, BJD, MGA etc. dolls together.:)
Responders from the National Disaster Medical System (NDMS) continue to deploy to support healthcare professionals, public health partners, and communities. This week, NDMS responders provided surge support at the Yukon-Kusokwim Delta Regional Hospital, which serves 58 rural communities across southwest Alaska. The NDMS team worked with Yukon-Kusokwim Delta Regional Hospital to provide care to both non-COVID and COVID patients and support the hospital’s ongoing COVID-19 testing program.
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E foi então que apareceu a raposa:
- Bom dia, disse a raposa.
- Bom dia, respondeu polidamente o principezinho que se voltou mas não viu nada.
- Eu estou aqui, disse a voz, debaixo da macieira...
- Quem és tu? perguntou o principezinho.
Tu és bem bonita.
- Sou uma raposa, disse a raposa.
- Vem brincar comigo, propôs o princípe, estou tão triste...
- Eu não posso brincar contigo, disse a raposa.
Não me cativaram ainda.
- Ah! Desculpa, disse o principezinho.
Após uma reflexão, acrescentou:
- O que quer dizer cativar ?
- Tu não és daqui, disse a raposa. Que procuras?
- Procuro amigos, disse. Que quer dizer cativar?
- É uma coisa muito esquecida, disse a raposa.
Significa criar laços...
- Criar laços?
- Exatamente, disse a raposa. Tu não és para mim senão um garoto inteiramente igual a cem mil outros garotos.
E eu não tenho necessidade de ti.
E tu não tens necessidade de mim.
Mas, se tu me cativas, nós teremos necessidade um do outro. Serás pra mim o único no mundo. E eu serei para ti a única no mundo...
Mas a raposa voltou a sua idéia:
- Minha vida é monótona. E por isso eu me aborreço um pouco. Mas se tu me cativas, minha vida será como que cheia de sol. Conhecerei o barulho de passos que será diferente dos outros. Os outros me fazem entrar debaixo da terra. O teu me chamará para fora como música.
E depois, olha! Vês, lá longe, o campo de trigo? Eu não como pão. O trigo para mim é inútil. Os campos de trigo não me lembram coisa alguma. E isso é triste! Mas tu tens cabelo cor de ouro. E então serás maravilhoso quando me tiverdes cativado. O trigo que é dourado fará lembrar-me de ti. E eu amarei o barulho do vento do trigo...
A raposa então calou-se e considerou muito tempo o príncipe:
- Por favor, cativa-me! disse ela.
- Bem quisera, disse o principe, mas eu não tenho tempo. Tenho amigos a descobrir e mundos a conhecer.
- A gente só conhece bem as coisas que cativou, disse a raposa. Os homens não tem tempo de conhecer coisa alguma. Compram tudo prontinho nas lojas. Mas como não existem lojas de amigos, os homens não têm mais amigos. Se tu queres uma amiga, cativa-me!
Os homens esqueceram a verdade, disse a raposa.
Mas tu não a deves esquecer.
Tu te tornas eternamente responsável por aquilo que cativas"
(Antoine de Saint-Exupéry)
Vou ali, passar o dia no ar condicionado e já volto!
=)
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Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva and World Bank President David Malpass participate in The Way Forward: Responding to Global Shocks in a Time of Uncertainty at the World Bank.
IMF Photo/Cory Hancock
19 April 2022
Washington, DC, United States
Photo ref: CH220419050.arw
Norfolk Southern's 911 First Responders waits just before the crossing at Kenny Rd for the green signal to proceed into Bellevue Yard.
Since the 1988 debut of CAMEO—software that NOAA developed in partnership with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency—NOAA established itself as the go-to agency for HAZMAT modeling and simulations. This infographic shows NOAA's varied suite of responder tools, many of which have clever, user-friendly names.
Emergency responders learn how to properly respond to a natural gas fire, personal and public safety are number one!
Mountain View Fire Department responded to a residental appartment complex on fire on Feb 27th, 2012. The fire escalated requiring a four alarm response, with assistance from Palo Alto Fire Department, NASA Ames Fire Department, Sunnyvale Fire Department, Santa Clara City Fire and Santa Clara County Fire. Additioanl support was provided by Fire Associates for the Fire Department personnel, and the Red Cross responded to assist the impacted residents.
6 units were destroyed and many more suffered smoke and water damage. An early stage roof collaps prevented fire fighters from accessing the interior of the building, but a rapid and effective response was able to contain the fire before it spread to the rest of the complex.
NASA Ames Engine 5 from the nearby Moffett Field Fire Station is a Pierce Saber series pumper.
For more images from this incident check out YourFireDepartment.org, Dana IC
+ Respondo por flickrcorreo chicas, me es más fácil y rápido :)
+ todo conversable.
+ todo está disponible, lo vendido se borra
saludos!
When Zika began spreading in Brazil in late 2015, the CDC dengue branch feared that Zika would spread to thousands of people if it came to Puerto Rico – a prediction that has since come true. CDC’s lab team wanted to be ready with a test that would simplify their work and ensure they could meet their goal. That is exactly what the team has done with the Trioplex Real-time RT-PCR Assay, a diagnostic test developed for the Zika outbreak that is able to test for chikungunya, dengue, and Zika. Doctors can now more quickly diagnose and treat their patients.
Toronto Police Services horse 'First Responder' at the stables for the Mounted Unit. The Mounted Unit was open for Doors Open Toronto 2017.
Responders from the National Disaster Medical System (NDMS) continue to deploy to support healthcare professionals, public health partners, and communities. This week, NDMS responders provided surge support at the Yukon-Kusokwim Delta Regional Hospital, which serves 58 rural communities across southwest Alaska. The NDMS team worked with Yukon-Kusokwim Delta Regional Hospital to provide care to both non-COVID and COVID patients and support the hospital’s ongoing COVID-19 testing program.
Today (Friday 3 May 2019) officers have been responding to reports of suspicious packages in Piccadilly Gardens and at Oldham Library.
Two packages in Piccadilly Gardens – one of which was discovered later on today – were examined by officers with support from bomb disposal officers.
This evening, around 6.15pm, loud noises were heard after one of the packages was made safe.
All three packages have been deemed non-viable but cordons will remain in place at both locations while enquiries are carried out.
A man aged 26 remains in custody for questioning after being arrested on suspicion of a bomb hoax offence, possession of a prohibited weapon, possession of a bladed article and possession of an offensive weapon.
An extensive investigation is underway.
Police Superintendent Dave Pester of GMP’s City of Manchester Division, said: “I know today’s events have caused a lot of disruption to people, businesses and transport but I cannot thank everyone enough for their patience as we’ve responded to this.
“The investigation will look at every available piece of information so we can understand the motivation behind it and the circumstances that surround it.
“People’s safety is always our priority in everything that we do, which is why we have taken this extremely seriously and responded the way that we have.
“I’d like to once again thank you for your patience as we progress our enquiries and assure you that any updates we have on the investigation will be shared with you.”
For more information about Policing in Greater Manchester please visit www.gmp.police.uk
To report crime call police on 101 the national non-emergency number.
You can also call anonymously with information about crime to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111. Crimestoppers is an independent charity who will not want your name, just your information. Your call will not be traced or recorded and you do not have to go to court or give a statement.
Hollywood - Your LAFD responded to a tragic double fatal traffic collision at 1:59 AM on the 6000 block of Hollywood Blvd.
A car vs van. The Metro vanpool erupted into flames and an unk age male driver and solo occupant was determined dead on scene. An approx 20 y/o male driver of the car was treated and transported to local hospital in critical condition where he was later pronounced dead.
Dispatched: E82 RA82 E227 T27. © Photo by Rick McClure
Connect with us: LAFD.ORG | News | Facebook | Instagram | Reddit | Twitter: @LAFD @LAFDtalk
Paramedics on motorcycles are responding to emergencies in Croydon to provide a better life-saving response to more patients.
The motorcycle response unit, which started running out of Croydon ambulance station in June, is set to continue until April 2014 to ensure that Croydon continues to receive a safe service during the winter months.
The motorcycle responder goes to Croydon’s emergency calls from 6:30am to 11:30pm seven days a week and last month went to 150 incidents categorised as our most seriously ill or injured patients.
Ambulance Operations Manager for Croydon, Victoria Graham said: “In built-up areas motorcycle paramedics can respond to 999 emergency calls more quickly than ambulances and cars, and can assess patients and administer life-saving medical treatment while an ambulance is on the way.
“With winter approaching we are putting plans in place to ensure we maintain a safe service to those living and working in Croydon and the motorcycle responders are a fantastic way to reach those who need us quickly”.
For More info contact:
Communications Department
London Ambulance Service NHS Trust
220 Waterloo Road
London SE1 8SD
Phone: 020 7783 2286
With many more patrons taking advantage of the drive-up service this year, it allows first responders to get their feast on without all the fuss of going into a hot zone.
2020 Holiday for Heroes Thanksgiving Banquet
#H4H20
Porky's Famous Firehouse BBQ
Conservation Rd.
City of Mystic Beach
Click on the notes for (6) more ambulances in action:
Olympus OM-D E-M5 Mark II
Olympus M.14-42mm F3.5-5.6 II R
For more info about the dioramas, check out the FAQ: 1stPix FAQ
FINANCIAL DISTRICT - Hundreds of Los Angeles area public safety responders and those from allied agencies participated in crisis simulation training in a 41 story Los Angeles high rise office building on November 9-10, 2013. The training simulated a fire and active shooting scenario with multiple patients. Photo Use Permitted via Creative Commons - Credit: LAFD Photo by Erik Scott
At 3:37PM on May 22, 2021 the Los Angeles City Fire Department responded to a reported structure fire in the 9800 block of N San Fernando Road. The first arriving fire companies found a one story autoshop with heavy fire showing. This incident rose to Greater Alarm status. 87 firefighters extinguished the fire in 72 minutes via defensive operations (from the outset). There were no injuries reported.
© Photo by Mike Meadows
LAFD Incident: 052221-0940
Connect with us: LAFD.ORG | News | Facebook | Instagram | Reddit | Twitter: @LAFD @LAFDtalk
Bhutan is not a country that is generally well known. If asked, most people might say that it lies somewhere in the Himalayas and is a bit hilly. If pressed, they might think of yaks and snow leopards and rhododendrons, or maybe know it as the land where development is measured in terms of Gross National Happiness rather than Gross Domestic Privation.
And in fact, this latter characteristic most fits with my experiences of this mountainous kingdom – the happiness of the people stands out a mile. In the short time that I was there I cannot recall a frown or a curse or even so much as a tiny disagreement. Even the use of the car horn is limited to polite little peeps or playful messages sent to pretty girls as they saunter along the pavement. It is such a gentle society.
It’s also an equal and an emancipated one. Women are first in line to inherit following the death of their parents; it is they who get the house and the property and the rights, not the son (whether he’s older or not). Women can have as many spouses as men. Women are very forthright when it comes to flirting: within a couple of hours at my first hotel I was invited to a dance that evening and asked if I wanted to marry one of the waitresses. I didn’t take advantage of either offer but, given the beauty of the women here, I was sorely tempted. They really are extremely lovely – slim and wiggly bodies, velvety black hair that never seems to grey, wonderful dimpled smiles, and eyes that just penetrate into the heart of you.
They seem to be a very sexually liberated lot (well, that’s one way of calling it). My guide, Kinlay, was forever talking about his girlfriends (even though he’s married with two sons), hanky-panky (but no spanky, perhaps that was pushing revelations a mite too far given that I’d only just met him), and jiggy-jiggy (or, in local parlance, ‘jeggy-jeggy’), or shouting, ‘Charimdumaray’ (‘You’re lovely’) through the window at any passing female. But then he’s very young, he’s in his thirties … Or maybe he’s just trying to live up to the reputation of his namesake, Lama Drukpa Kunley (1455-1529), aka ‘The Divine Madman’, a saint who had the MO of driving out demons by means of excessive drinking and fornication which sounds a perfectly valid and jolly method of exorcism to me. His signature, a big phallus , now adorns many buildings throughout the area – a sign to ward off evil and protect the household. I wonder how this would go down with the good citizens of Ayr?
Many people still revere His Mad Divineship / Holy Madness and consequently many people have been given his name (or that of the temple that was dedicated to him, ‘Chimey Lhakhang’). The first two people I met in Bhutan were called Kunley. Then the third (who was confusingly a woman ) turned out to be a Kunley too. And so was the fourth. I gave up asking after that.
Bhutan is now a constitutional monarchy since the present king relinquished absolute rule in 2008. Like a 21 year old with the keys to life, the new democracy is revelling in its liberation, independence and autonomy and is enjoying furnishing its own flat and buying its own clothes and food. But at the same time it looks up to the person who granted it its freedom, and the whole country remains loyal and truly affectionate towards the Royal Family.
The king (31, Pisces - they like such details here) married his young betrothed (21, Virgo ) on the 13th October. Every shop had photos of the couple posted outside and inside, decorated with ribbons in the colours of the Buddha – blue (for the sky), white (for the clouds), red (for fire), green (for water) and yellow (for the soil). Huge banners adorned hillsides and town gates. Radio programmes were filled with callers wishing the happy pair a long, fruitful, loving union. And as I watched the wedding in a restaurant in Paro , with the assembled masses in the crowds and in the organised dances that must have taken weeks to rehearse, and thought that there could not be a single person in the nation who was not either at the ceremony or who was not glued to the TV, it occurred to me that this was what it must have been like with QEII 50 years ago . How long will this state of innocent bliss last?
Maybe for a long time yet. Not only is this a peaceful society (I never once felt threatened) but it’s also relatively prosperous, well organised, and, crucially and in a real way, it actually is a society. It is not a collection of individuals out to benefit for themselves. This is one big nation of people (about 650 000 of them) who believe they are part of a larger community of family, friends and neighbours. The neighbours may be from the east of the country (300 miles away and effectively 2 days travelling) who speak another dialect and wear different clothes, but they are still part of the same community.
Free education for all plays an important role in levelling classes and bringing people together. The king (apparently) lives in a ‘cottage’ and he is certainly one who puts much effort in meeting and greeting. The ceremony he attended in Thimpu, after the wedding, lasted from 0900 to 1700 and for a lot of that time he was moving amongst the crowds, shaking hands and speaking with (not ‘to’ – I don’t think he’s a Charlie. ‘And what do you do?’ – probably isn’t his stock, opening gambit) virtually everyone there.
Communities work in unison to improve the environment and their own lives. They harvest the rice together, it’s a communal thing. Often I saw small congregations on the hillside, burning juniper as incense, intoning incantations, chanting with monks. Several times I saw parties of villagers or school children walking along the roadside picking up litter. The land is free of piles of rubbish. This is a clean country. The drains and rivers are not open sewers. Not once did I see a rat.
Smoking was banned recently. It’s an offence to smoke – you could be imprisoned. For grass it’s up to three years for possession and 9 years for dealing. This was the first country to outlaw plastic bags too. Unfortunately, however, for both fags and bags neither law is strictly enforced and both are commonly (if expensively for the former) available.
But Bhutan is not Shangri La. In 1999 TV was introduced for the first time. Now the two favourite programmes are World Federation Wrestling from the USA, and ‘Bhutan Idol’ (the third series) – it was this programme that Kinlay said would prevent me from watching any footie on TV in the bars. ‘Idol’ was that popular! Everyone now has a TV and there is a good link between the growth in its distribution and the incidence of crime in the country.
Mobile phones came in in 2003 (so my guide said) and they are now ubiquitous. Young people have adopted the global practice of meeting up and then spending all the time texting and / or phoning other friends elsewhere. That’s when they can stop blowing bubble gum for long enough to say anything. One person I met had a sophisticated ring tone system that alerted him to whoever was trying to contact him: his wife’s ring tone was his young son’s crying and gurgling; his mate’s tone was an extract from his favourite blue movie accompanied by the obligatory image of a busty brunette.
The people like to dress up for occasions (like the festival – Tseschu – in Thimpu) with their finest national gear: beautiful, iridescent, brightly coloured silk dresses for the women; rather more subdued but still unique skirts and knee-high stockings for the men. When visiting national monuments (such as museums, temples, dzongs ) or events they have to dress in national costume. But these days, for normal everyday wear, they tend far more towards the boring western norm of t-shirts and jeans and track-suits (usually with ‘Man Utd’ written on them. Damn their souls!). There was a great contrast between the clothes worn to the formal Tseschu festival and the far less formal singalong in Thimpu town square – colourful, vibrant, exciting of the exotic compared with the dull, drab, grey and black of the mundane (and the future).
Traditional sports seem to be holding their own against the overwhelming and inexorable influence of football . Archery is something the Bhutanese are especially good at having won medals of all colours at recent Olympics. These days they employ carbon composite bows for main competitions. Traditional bows of bamboo are still found and used but mainly to simply maintain the tradition. The target is a wooden board about 40cm high and usually 140m from the archer. No wonder they’re good at it.
Darts (not the UK variety) – about 15cm long consisting of a 3cm metal point, a wooden shaft and 5cm feathers – is also played at weekends. The ‘court’ is longer than a cricket pitch and the target is a 30cm wooden board with a bulls-eye near the top. A wall of earth or concrete backdrops the target, really just a sop to health and safety. They are not overly concerned with H&S, which is healthy.
For both archery and darts, the opposing team (all wearing fine traditional skirts ) line up alongside the target and watch intently as the projectile is released and heads towards them. The observers’ reaction time for the darts is far less than that for archery. I think I was happier watching the archery. When a dart or arrow actually hits the board it triggers a mediaeval ritual of chanting and dancing by both of the teams, in praise of the gods for such a blessing. If only our supporters and ‘sportsmen’ took win and loss in the same spirit.
There are cars in Bhutan as well. Not many of them because there aren’t that many people. They are in good condition and few of them send out blasts of poisonous black smoke. I saw my first privately-owned electric car here. They are generally new (the favourites being Hyundais and Toyota) and without any dents. Motorbikes are rare and tuc-tucs are entirely absent (which is such a relief!). Roads (maintained and built by Indians, and funded by the RoI government) are largely pothole-free and gloriously smooth. It still takes a long time to get anywhere because of the winding nature of the terrain, but at least it’s almost painless.
But, of course, this road system comes at a cost. Gangs of Indians, thousands of them, have been imported and have set up semi-permanent residence in Bhutan (without citizen rights, of course) and their sole employment, occupation and raison d’etre is road building and repair. They work very long hours (0600 to 1600 hrs) for a pittance. Their tools are mainly their hands: hauling large stones over cliffs or onto lorries. Primitive implements are provided: back bent double as they use pathetic brushes to sweep the road; women shovelling sand and gravel and throwing it through sieves. Some (men as well as women) actually break rocks with hammers, all day long, like a work detail from a ‘40s state penitentiary, a modern day chain-gang. These gangs have their own settlements and schools; they are separate from mainstream Bhutanese society. But they don’t seem to be discriminated or prejudiced against. There is, at least, no bigotry in Bhutan.
Except perhaps against the Nepalese. This is not talked about, but many Bhutanese who originated in Nepal (two or three or more generations back) were forcibly deported in the ‘90s (?) and now reside in refugee camps in Nepal. I met only one person whose ancestors came from Nepal but he seemed contented and calm. He might have said more but we’d been caught up in a delay caused by a landslide and the obstruction had just been removed so we had to move on. 11 days is not enough in Bhutan.
You might think that a Buddhist democracy consisting of less than three quarters of a million people might not need or, especially, want an army. How could they justify killing? And anyway, what could their paltry population hope to accomplish against the might of the Indians or Chinese if they chose to invade ? But it’s a career path to some (Kinlay considered it after university (in Chennai) if tourism didn’t work out), and for others the army really is a necessity.
Earlier in the noughties there was some trouble with Assamese rebels. They had occupied some of the forests of the duars in Bhutan (just across the border) and were causing problems (not with the locals – the Assamese were generous with their payment for goods – but with the (Indian?) politicians). Negotiations with the rebels were not successful and so the Bhutanese government sent in the troops. This resulted in the insurgents being ousted but at the cost of 12 Bhutanese soldiers being killed. The effects of this battle / war seems to have become deeply embedded within the psyche of the Bhutanese; a large memorial (at Dochu La consisting of 108 chortens) was established to commemorate the conflict and one of the on-going repercussions is that the army are more popular than ever. Not that it would ever sink to the depths of the Burmese army and become a junta. That would be unthinkable.
So the army is needed . But what about religious or moral objections, after all Costa Rica doesn’t have a standing army so surely a strict Buddhist nation could do without one? But then the Bhutanese love meat. They are devout devourers of pork and beef and, to a slightly lesser extent, chicken? So long as they don’t have to kill the animals themselves they are happy to consume flesh.
Do I hear calls of ‘Hypocracy’? Well, I’m not going to shout them down.
But all religions are institutionally hypocritical and Buddhism is no worse than any other. An army of a Buddhist nation sounds contradictory but religion has always been political, nations are essentially political beasts with artificial boundaries, politicians need to maintain and protect those boundaries as well as they can given limited resources, and armies are the main way of providing protection.
At least this army is not there to violate other nations or supress the population or support an unauthorised government. It provides comfort and a sense of security, a source of pride, and a life for many people. Who am I to criticise it?
The trekking in Bhutan was far better than in Nepal (although Nepal was good). Here it was proper camping, there it was in Guesthouses. Nepal is over-populated, there is no getting away from people; waves of trekkers (ramblers) met you head on along the Poon Hill circuit; football crowds gathered to catch the dawn view of Annapurna; dogs, locals, cows, agricultural terraces … they all swarm and cover the slopes of Nepal.
But in Bhutan … ah, it’s different. I met perhaps 10 other trekkers on my 5 day stint. Yes, there were monks and the occasional dog, but mainly it was me in the wild, in untouched, blue pine forests and stands of huge or dwarf rhodies and junipers and alpine meadows of the highest hills. Alongside the soft beats of the wings of the goshawk, and ‘glowps’ of ravens, and cheeky cawings of choughs there was the whisper of winds and ripple of drying leaves. No sounds of machinery. No barking . No drunken laughter . It was heaven.
Of course I was spoilt. Apart from the landscape, and the views, and the sky and the clouds, and the wildlife and the vegetation, I had a platoon of (for wont of a better word ) servants to look after my every needs. I had my own chef, and he had a helper. I had a guide who made sure I didn’t fall down a cliff or take the wrong path. I had a horseman who looked after the seven ponies that accompanied our small expedition. The only person I lacked was a masseur (which, incidentally, was what I really needed).
They erected my tent and decamped for me. They cooked me three meals a day and washed up after me. I was served at my table and they even ran off to buy beer for me . They set up my own private lav, provided loo paper, and filled the hole in after me. My guide even carried my water bottle. They did everything for me except tuck me in at night (for which I was grateful).
It was hard walking, some of the slopes were steep, and it was bloody cold at night. I met a couple of Aussies on the second day and, after I remarked how bloody cold it was the previous night (not that I was fixated or anything), they said, ‘Well, it gets colder. There was frost on the ground two nights ago.’ I said, ‘Great. Good job my sleeping bag isn’t as good as I thought it was (and the zip’s broken), and that I forgot my socks.’ They said, ‘You forgot your socks?! Are you mad?’ I didn’t say anything. ‘But you’re from Scotland, right?’ ‘Aye,’ I said, ‘You’ll be fine then.’ They were nice people but they could afford to be because they’d survived the ordeal and were now heading back to civilisation. They had had socks. Smug bastards. Nice people though.
Ten minutes later, as I was watching a huge thanka being unfolded by the Phajoding monks, the lady (to my shame I never did get to know her name) ran up to me and offered, like a true Buddhist using both hands, a pair of socks. ‘They’re a day and a half old,’ she said, ‘but they’ll save your life!’ I didn’t know what to say so I kept repeating, like the simpleton John Miles played in ‘Ryan’s Daughter’, ‘Thank you, thank you.’ I refrained from saying ‘God bless’, but I was genuinely touched (in more ways than one) and didn’t even have the sense to ask for their address so that I could send them back to Oz. Which was just as well. But I would have had them washed.
And the socks really were a Godsend. Never before have I held so much regard for footware. They (along with the extra blanket supplied by chef) actually made the next three nights bearable (just. There was still the issue of the bells and the thin mattress). Thanks Australia ;-)
Overall, you might think that a minimum of $200 a day to visit and exist in Bhutan is a lot of money. And it is. No argument. But … this money covers everything apart from incidentals such as snacks and souvenirs , and so, although it’s expensive, it’s not that expensive and is, actually, when it comes down to it, damned good value for money. Outside of Bhutan, how much would it cost to have what they provided me? A personal guide (just for little old me) who answers most of the inane and arcane questions I usually pose to myself or strangers (who aren’t good at responding. Either of them) and panders to almost my every whim My own transport (so I can say, ‘Why don’t we go down this wee road?’, ‘Can we just stop here for a minute to take a photo’, and ‘STOP! There’s a bird I haven’t seen, I’m sure of it. Might be new to science too. Come on, we’ll be famous!’ ) My your own private expeditionary force to conquer the Himalayas? The chance to stay in top class hotels (with clean, unstained sheets and electrics that work. Luxury). To have all your meals provided for you (most of them excellent). And to have the flexibility to be able to change itinerary and venues / hotels depending on how you feel … and all this amongst the beauty, serenity and unspoilt splendour of a country which is Bhutan …
Well, what can I say? It’s not a perfect country, but it comes damned close to it.
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On March 5th at 10:17pm, Woodstock Fire/Rescue responded to the area of 14911 Perkins Rd. for a reported vehicle that went off the roadway and struck a utility pole. On arrival fire/rescue crews found a pickup truck in the ditch with wires strung across the cab and patients unconscious inside. All the subjects were removed without incident and two addition ambulances were requested, including one from Marengo. Flight For Life was also requested and subsequently transported one patient to Advocate Condell Medical Center in Libertyville. The status of any of the patients are undetermined at this time. In order to remove the vehicle safely the McHenry County Sheriff's Office and ComEd remained on scene for several hours while crews worked to stabilize the pole which had been snapped in half.
This photograph is being made available only for personal use printing by the subject(s) of the photograph. The photograph may not be manipulated in any way and may not be used in commercial material, advertisements, emails, products, promotions without the expressed consent of Alex Vucha. For inquiries: avuchanewsphotos@hotmail.com
Responding to feedback at public meetings during the Bronx Bus Network Redesign process, MTA Bus Chief Craig Cipriano rode the Bx34 and Bx28 bus routes on Thursday, March 5, 2020 where suggestions have been made on improvements to route maps. This is part of extensive outreach, which is reflective of real world observations and customer and employee feedback. Cipriano was joined by MTA Bus Company and NYC Transit officials working on the Network Redesign.
(Photo: Marc A. Hermann / MTA New York City Transit)