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Students got a chance to explore some of Lafayette’s organizations, clubs, and programs during the Involvement Fair on the Quad. The College boasts more than 200 opportunities for students to become involved in campus life, including academic honor societies, cultural and social organizations, community outreach, arts programs, sports clubs, and living groups. The fair is sponsored by Student Government and the Office of Student Leadership and Involvement.
Photos by Zachary Hartzell
Sept. 8, 2015
Many students use the MTCC Bridge to get from one side of campus to the other. This makes it the perfect place for organizations to set up shop and advertise.
Students got a chance to explore some of Lafayette’s organizations, clubs, and programs during the Involvement Fair on the Quad. The College boasts more than 200 opportunities for students to become involved in campus life, including academic honor societies, cultural and social organizations, community outreach, arts programs, sports clubs, and living groups. The fair is sponsored by Student Government and the Office of Student Leadership and Involvement.
Photos by Zachary Hartzell
Sept. 8, 2015
Another unfortunate day, this time involving death of an extended family member, financial surprises and health scares, all of which I was oblivious to at the time of this photo. I'm dealing with it all as best as I can, which is all anyone can do anyway. But it still sucks.
By the way, this photo was taken on Ashland Ave., a major thoroughfare in the city; I can't believe I captured it completely devoid of cars or people! Also my camera is catching some strange afternoon light phenomena.
ubiquitous black wool beret, valarie's collection, trimmed with curled pheasant feather
black round lens sunglasses, knee deep
same earrings as yesterday, from valarie
wide woven cotton scarf, thrifted
velvet robe, bought from a random girl
pearl scarf pin, thrifted
gauntlets, cut from my fur-lined gloves
vintage gloves layered under gauntlets, thrifted
mandarin style shirt, thrifted
blue suede skirt, thrifted
long black skirt, urban outfitters sale
blue suede boots, ebay
We present several items from the PRECIOSA Traditional Czech Glass™ sold under Desna since 1847 brand. This artistic crystalware collection produced by Preciosa Ornela and involves products which follow in the pre-war tradition of the production of unique products by the Jablonec companies of H. Hoffman and C. Schlevogt, as well as by other designers from the post-war era. The entire collection incorporates a wide range of products ranging from small matt crystal figures and articles with a devotional theme through to a group consisting of flacons, jars, vases and ashtrays (several of which are in the popular Art Deco style) and on to figural statues. These products are characterised by the large amount of traditional manual workmanship which goes into their production. As far as the colors are concerned, Czech crystal, uranium yellow, jade, refined blue and green have long been popular.
If you are interested in purchasing any of these items, please come and visit our company shop in Desná, but you can, of course, also come across the items from the collection at a number of other shops which specialise in Czech glass.
Stony Brook, NY; Stony Brook University: Student Activities hosted an involvement fair for all student clubs and organizations to promote their group on the Student Activities Center Plaza.
We present several items from the PRECIOSA Traditional Czech Glass™ sold under Desna since 1847 brand. This artistic crystalware collection produced by Preciosa Ornela and involves products which follow in the pre-war tradition of the production of unique products by the Jablonec companies of H. Hoffman and C. Schlevogt, as well as by other designers from the post-war era. The entire collection incorporates a wide range of products ranging from small matt crystal figures and articles with a devotional theme through to a group consisting of flacons, jars, vases and ashtrays (several of which are in the popular Art Deco style) and on to figural statues. These products are characterised by the large amount of traditional manual workmanship which goes into their production. As far as the colors are concerned, Czech crystal, uranium yellow, jade, refined blue and green have long been popular.
If you are interested in purchasing any of these items, please come and visit our company shop in Desná, but you can, of course, also come across the items from the collection at a number of other shops which specialise in Czech glass.
“ART RIGA”
International art fair “ART RIGA” is intended as an annual long-term project involving art professionals from all over the world: the best art galleries, art critics, specialized cultural magazine publishers. Given that by 2014 Riga became the European capital of culture-it is crucial for the success of “ART RIGA” to open up opportunities for long-term development.
Exhibition Period Novenber 24.2014 to November 30.2014
Art Messa main objectives:
To promote the professional development of art markets in Latvian and the Baltic region.
Messa is encouraging to participate in all professionally operating a galleries, provided that:
the gallery exists more than 5 years;
the galleries main activity is the principal activity;
the gallery has constant work areas and regular visitors .
The main selection criteria:
Professionalism
Galleries artist clear and readable artistic idea
Innovative and creative presentation
But if you have a different legal status, Write, call us - we will agree. In order to form an art.
Technically, the format is said to divide the following area of the participants choice with the help of booths to homogeneous blocks and each participant has been given their booth, but the exhibition possibly also might deviate this rule.
Event organization place - Latvian Railway History Museum ,chosen because of its cultural and historical significance Riga's environment, capacity and it is an easily available location for tourists.
The Messa's round table and it is an conference, press center will become the railway museum's unique exhibits - a reconstructed variety of Latvian history period wagons, providing the Messa's guests and participants information on Riga's technical culture traditions. In an environment, which is based on traditional, historic accomplishments it's particularly nice to dream about the future of art and its development.
During the Messa there is planned a program filled with a variety of activities: opening event with a concert, seminars, round tables, presentations of participants, participants will have a tour around Riga.
It is planned to involve visitors of the Messa to join the discussion table, organize quizzes and surveys to promote the visibility of the participants.
The Messa is planned to build for 7 days, from Monday to Sunday, the first day is traditionally intended for the sectors professionals: art dealers, gallerists, critics.
Event organizer - Ltd "Euroclub", in collaboration with the exhibition hall "Happy Art Museum" and Ltd "Pinakotēka".
Event organizers of the exhibition hall "HAPPY ART MUSEUM" and Ltd "Euroclub" has considerable experience in international exhibitions and major events, most of which are self-financed. From 2008 through 2010, organizers worked in the exhibition hall "Pinakoteka", where the local contemporary art exhibition cycle "AUTUMN 2009 ", "AUTUMN 2010" , Latvian designer union annual exhibition, the magazine "Rīgas Laiks" anniversary exhibition and others were held. There where international exchange exhibitions with our closest countries; the creative Estonian and Lithuanian artist unions and a spectacular exhibition (around 50 monumental art examples) from St.Petersburg Art Academy fund stocks. The gained contacts from these activities contributes to the creating and developing of “ART RIGA” . The organizers have experience in the distribution of information: a large number of followers on social networks, which continues to grow
Twitter -40 000 followers, Facebook the maximal amount of followers -5 000, on GOOGLE+ 10000 one of the leading organizations in Latvia’s top 10 list. Latvian "Facebook"- Draugiem.lv 8500 followers etc.
24th of November – 30th of November 2014
Application deadlines are at 1st of October 2014
The decision on the selection of potential participants are done by the "ART RIGA" commission in 3 weeks time after the submitted application form and the required visual material has been received.
Application form has to be sent by 1st October 2014 to the electronic mail address:
The participation fee for In Case of Cancellation
Participants undertake to pay the participation fee to the organizer of the exhibition till the 10th of October – 500 EUR.
Each participant receives two exhibition catalogs, 5 invitations to all activities related to "ART RIGA".
Payment arrangements
After the commissions affirmative decision and the participation contract is concluded with the organizer, the participant will receive a bill. Participants have to pay 30% of the bill within 10 days of receipt of the bill, and the remaining amount until the 10th of October.
The organizer does not pay for GST (VAT), all of the bills are charged without GST (VAT).
Costs of a booth rent:
White hall
(5 blocks), ceiling height is 4,5 meters
Booth height –
Booth area –
1800 EUR for a booth
Big hall
50m² - 2000 EUR
80 m² - 2500 EUR
100 m² - 3000 EUR
Linear wall space will be specified.
The are available spots with natural lighting from large windows.
Detail selections and additional order form
1. Customs brokerage
2. Montage services
3. Packing service
4. Translations/gallery press release
5. Extra page with text in the exhibition catalog – 400 EUR
6. White wall sticker lettering with artist names
Terms and conditions
Participants undertake to complete all the required payments till the 10th of October and submit all the needed for visual identification materials.
The organizator guarantees, that infromation about all the participants will be entered in www.artriga.com and stored until 01.10.2015.
The organizator has rights to use the submitted visual material in all types of advertisement events in the press, electronic communication services , television and others.
The organizator provides the booths art equipment – 1 table, 4 chairs, booth art lighting and an inscription of the participants name.
The organizator if needed, will offer the art work montage service. The cost of the service will be determined precisely by the art work amount and sizes.
Participant booth montage works will take place 1 day – 23rd of November from 10:00 till 22:00, UMT/GMT +3 timezone.
Participant booth demontage, packing and transportation works will take place from 30th of November 16:00 to 21:00 and the 1st of December from 10:00 to 15:00.
The organizer offers packing service.
During the exhibiton a press-center for the participants, press and for those who are interested will run.
Press-center address: Dzirnavu street 67, shopping and entertainment center “Galleria Riga”, 7th floor, “Happy Art Museum” halls. HappyArtMuseum @ most expensive in the Baltics entertainment &shopping arcade Galleria Riga Dzirnavu street 67 7 floor (300m2)
13.00-22.00-- every day seven days a week free entrance 5 years exhibitions. Latvian society of artists masterpieces and exchange projects from neighboring countries.
Happy Art Museum” primary mission is to provoke (encourage) the viewer on a conversation. HappyArtMuseum mission to provoke love - change the world with art exhibitions exchange We offer cooperation in organizing the art exhibitions.
On Thursday, January 19, 2023 Ramapo College hosted the Student Involvement Fair. Ramapo College students interested in getting involved on campus attended the Student Involvement Fair. More than 100 of Ramapo’s clubs and organizations, offices, and campus resources attended.
Fire involving three storey public house. Two hydraulic platforms in use as water towers, water support unit, 12 BA. Six hose reel's and thermal image in use. Building destroyed by fire, now under going demolition.
On September 5, 2018, the Student Involvement Fair and the Global Opportunities Fair showcased different clubs, Greek Life and international experiences that students could participate in while at Ramapo College. Representatives from more than 100 clubs and organizations were in attendance.
Student Involvement Fair at Crossley Softball Field, 19 September, 2020. Photography by Glenn Minshall.
kester on his 3 star new route, grade 25/26. this one will pull in the prog house fans from all around!!
Stony Brook, NY; Stony Brook University: Student Activities hosted an involvement fair for all student clubs and organizations to promote their group on the Student Activities Center Plaza.
Members of the Asian Cultural Association recruit some new students.
Students got a chance to explore some of Lafayette’s organizations, clubs, and programs during the Involvement Fair on the Quad. The College boasts more than 200 opportunities for students to become involved in campus life, including academic honor societies, cultural and social organizations, community outreach, arts programs, sports clubs, and living groups. The fair is sponsored by Student Government and the Office of Student Leadership and Involvement.
Chuck Zovko/Zovko Photographic LLC
Sept. 3, 2014
Children enjoy the harvest of the orchards and acquire healthy eating habits.
Photo credit must be given: ©FAO/Team Colombia. Editorial use only. Copyright FAO
Students got a chance to explore some of Lafayette’s organizations, clubs, and programs during the Involvement Fair on the Quad. The College boasts more than 200 opportunities for students to become involved in campus life, including academic honor societies, cultural and social organizations, community outreach, arts programs, sports clubs, and living groups. The fair is sponsored by Student Government and the Office of Student Leadership and Involvement.
Photos by Zachary Hartzell
Sept. 8, 2015
Students got a chance to explore some of Lafayette’s organizations, clubs, and programs during the Involvement Fair on the Quad. The College boasts more than 200 opportunities for students to become involved in campus life, including academic honor societies, cultural and social organizations, community outreach, arts programs, sports clubs, and living groups. The fair is sponsored by Student Government and the Office of Student Leadership and Involvement.
Photos by Zachary Hartzell
Sept. 8, 2015
Have you heard of LARP or 'Live Action Roleplay'? It involves dressing up as hobbits, barbarians, elves and warriors and smiting each other with plastic swords. Imagine acting out Lord of the Rings with your mates on Saturday afternoon, that's LARP and it seems to be taking over from land art as the most popular strange activity to carry out in the woods, in the hope that passers-by will look at you weirdly.
I am quite used to receiving strange looks from passers by as I cobble together leaves and bits of wood. I am also quite used to battling the wind and rain and ephemeral materials when trying to create a little sculpture. What I am less used to is having an assortment of Orcs, Chinese dignatories, Roman centurions and people with blue faces wandering around in the background of my shot. I haven't yet developed any techniques to deal with such a situation perhaps using thorns and a stick and I didn't bring a plastic sword with me with which to do my own smiting.
A few years ago someone sent me some links to some LARP websites and some of the costumes were hilarious and possibly a little kinky. One person wore a full size racoon outfit complete with quiver and bow and arrow. I don't know about you but I don't remember many racoons in Lord of the Rings. And on another site accompanying the barbarians and elves were people dressed as sheep who spent their whole time on all fours being abused by the rest of the role players. I'm fairly broadminded but sheep-submissiveness was a new one on me. But hey, consenting sheep, consenting barbarian? Where's the harm?
So thinking Lord of the Rings is slightly misleading. This group of LARP'ers at the university included two people dressed as medieval Chinese, not soldiers but what looked like figures straight off of a painted plate complete with paper parasols. There was a single Roman centurion kitted out in white leather armour, helmet, shield and sword. I wonder if he wore that for his girlfriend? Or indeed whether he had one?! Then there was the guy with the blue face but the remainder stuck more closely to the Tolkien blueprint: Hobbits, Orcs, warriors and Elves. And there was one more, a guy with a clipboard and a hi-vis jacket. I haven't heard of the 'Legend of the Car Parking Attendant' so I suspect that he was actually adjudicating the whole affair (there are rules with LARP) or maybe he was on hand to administer first aid if someone got poked in the eye with a rubber spear.
I expect you want to know a little about this sculpture now? Well aren't people with blue faces enough for you? Sheesh...
I made this just over a year ago and I had been thinking about using those leaves again as they are so colourful, intricate and wonderful. They soon get ravaged by insects and the elements so it is now when they are at the most fresh and enchanting. I gathered just a few as the tree is not big and I try to take only what I need.
I'm always saying that nature helps construct each sculpture (and I am always saying that I am always saying that!) and this is the way it was with this one. I wanted to display the leaves in sunlight and so I would need to create some sort of frame on which to display them. I thought about a circle, like I did the first time but today it has been really windy and so these delicate leaves would need to be pinned to a more complex frame so that they could maintain their shape without flapping or tearing. Many times in the past the leaves have torn from their thorns which has rendered them ragged and more difficult to fix once again. So instead I made a square frame, reminiscent of oriental designs, which I thought would go with the Japanese maple.
The ends of the square overlapped so that I could chop off the excess when the thorns were in but I saw that where they overlapped I could fit the central veins of the leaves over the top. None of the leaves had right-angled veins so I made the square more diamond shaped so as to line up with the veins of each of the leaves.
As you can see from what I have explained the process of making a sculpture follows what the materials allow you to do, what the elements allow you to do and also by using the structures and properties of the materials themselves each sculpture uses the beauty of nature itself to be the main focus. I can take little credit for the end result, all I am doing is taking nature's photograph.
I don't decide I will make a cube, for example, and then find some materials and make them conform to being a cube. No, instead I look at the materials, the place, the environment and let those things guide me. If I see curved shapes then I think, sphere or circle. If I find straight lines then maybe a square or a cube.
This is the essence of my land art from start to finish. As I wander around looking at what has grown, it is the beauty, the colours, the textures, the shapes and structures that inspire me. I will then gather some of what I find and sitting still in one place I can feel the environment and sense what and how I shoud make something. And then I let the elements and materials guide me. Such a personal relationshp with these things is my solace.
Find beauty in the little things and you will find contentment. Open your senses to look, smell and feel the wonder of nature and the myriad of things that she has to offer and you will not need to look for anything else. All you need is right tlhere, right now should you be willing to look.
This project involves shoulder widening, sight line improvements an additional left-turn slot and drainage upgrades along Highway 14.
Work commenced May 27 with no traffic impacts between the hours of 5:30 am to 9:00 am and 3:00 pm to 7:30 pm and a maximum 15 minute delay outside those hours.
The project is scheduled to be complete by the end July, 2011.
Boring photo off the back porch, but just trying to familiarize myself with my new Sankor Type 5e anamorphic lens.
I underestimated how hard it is to focus with this lens. A complicated process that involves focusing the anamorphic lens so the image does not appear stretched in either the vertical or horizontal plane, and then focusing your taking lens so the image appears sharp.
Anamorphics rarely preform amazing wide open, so the advantages of having a fast taking lens are quickly diminished by having to nitpick and dick around for focus. I'm sure I'll get better as I spend more time with it.
For now...here it is.
Karen Durham-Aguilera, executive director, Army National Military Cemeteries, hosted a reception to open the new Arlington National Cemetery World War I exhibit in the Welcome Center, March 30, 2017, in Arlington, Va. Robert Dalessandro, acting secretary, American Battle Monuments Commission, gave remarks as a guest speaker during the event. The joint ANC and ABMC exhibit commemorates the 100th anniversary of America's involvement in the First World War. The exhibit focuses on the American experience in the war, and how ANC and ABMC were focal points for remembrance and commemorations of the Great War. (U.S. Army photo by Rachel Larue/Arlington National Cemetery/Released)
On September 5, 2018, the Student Involvement Fair and the Global Opportunities Fair showcased different clubs, Greek Life and international experiences that students could participate in while at Ramapo College. Representatives from more than 100 clubs and organizations were in attendance.
On Wednesday, August 31, 2022 Ramapo College students interested in getting involved on campus attended the Student Involvement Fair. More than 100 of Ramapo’s clubs and organizations, offices, and campus resources attended the Student Involvement Fair.
There was something for everyone at the Student Involvement Fair on Friday, 15 September, 2017, and judging by the signups there will be plenty of student led activities happening on campus in the weeks and months ahead. Photography by Glenn Minshall.
Classical dancing, which involves lots of sinuous hand and body movements, each one holding significance, died out in 15th Century with the decline of the Angkor empire that built the temples.
Queen Kossomak and her daughter Princess Buppha Devi were instrumental in reviving the dance form and bringing it to the Cambodian people (it was traditionally reserved for royal performances). Only a handful of dance teachers survived the Khmer Rouge, who attempted to wipe out intellectuals and artists.
You can now see Apsara being performed in Siem Reap. The place we went also served a huge buffet meal.
Apsara dancers are selected for their fine bones and graceful limbs and are trained from an early age whilst their bones are still supple. Training means Apsara dancers have very elastic hands and can bend them back almost to the wrist.
There are many carvings of apsara dancers on the Angkorian temples - they can be distinguished by the three points on their headdresses and the sinuous poses.
Language
"Apsara" means Heavenly Dancing Woman. They are goddesses
© Susannah Relf All Rights Reserved
Unauthorized use or reproduction for any reason is prohibited
Stony Brook, NY; Stony Brook University: Student Activities hosted an involvement fair for all student clubs and organizations to promote their group on the Student Activities Center Plaza.
Stanford Cheerleading Captain
ESPN Pac12 Cheerleader of the Week
Order of Omega Excellence in Philanthropy award
Political Science Honors
For the first time in its history, the Knesset celebrated Animal Rights Day. The Knesset Education Committee and Science Committee jointly debated the issue of vivisection involving monkeys at the Weizmann Institute of Science, and supervision over animal experimentation in Israel.
The debate about the animal testing at the Weizmann Institute and how to supervise vivisection in general stood at the center of the Animal Rights Day events, which took place on January 1, 2008. The debate was pursued jointly by the Knesset Education Committee and Science Committee. At mid-day, the Let the Animals Live Association held a protest by the Knesset, calling for the release of the monkeys held at the Weizmann Institute. Later Knesset members from all the factions signed a Animal Rights Declaration, and several parliamentarians addressed the Knesset plenum regarding the issues at stake. Unhappily, there was no plenary vote on important bills that would have benefited animals, because the ministerial Legislative Committee postponed its discussion of the proposals.
At the joint Education-Science Committee, Knesset member Benny Eilon (Science) and Knesset member Rabbi Michael Melchior (Education) expressed concern at the information exposed by the covert investigation conducted by Let the Animals Live about the inhumane experiments done on monkeys and cats at Weizmann. They called for re-examination of the way the law regarding supervision of animal experimentation is enforced.
Knesset members Zevulun Orlev, Dov Khenin, Yuval Hasson, Gideon Sa'ar, and Eitan Cabel proposed amending the law to change the composition of the council that oversees vivisection by adding three members of animal rights organizations, replacing the council chairman with a judge, and adding an external veterinarian to internal committees at the institutes that carry out animal experimentation.
Knesset members Arie Eldad and Jamal Zahalka opposed amendment to the law, arguing that the law is enforced properly, and that the scientists should be trusted to carry out their work appropriately and within the confines of the law. Amendment would impair academic freedom, they argued, and hold back scientific progress in Israel.
The president of Weizmann Institute, Prof. Daniel Zajfman, announced that the experiments exposed at the institute were being done in compliance with approvals and the law. He said that Weizmann Institute's experiments on animals were done at the highest standards in Israel. The chairman of the Animal Experimentation Council, said that after the experiments were exposed, the council sent a team to inspect the experiments being done at Weizmann, which concluded that the tests were being done properly.
Attorney Ruven Ladianski, general manager and legal counsel of Let the Animals Live, also spoke at the Knesset debate, saying, "An attempt is being made here by the experimenters to portray us, representatives of the organizations, as a group of lunatics that opposes saving human life, which is not the case. There is no research, be it the most important, that justifies the harsh living conditions of the monkeys – isolated, in small cages, in a dark room with no windows, in a constant state of thirst and strapped down in chairs without ability to move for hours on end."
The charged, stormy debate ended with a resolution that two subjects – supervision over animal experimentation and the experiments on monkeys at Weizmann Institute would be inspected, and discussed at a joint sub-committee of the Science and Education committees. The panel will be chaired by Benny Eilon.
After the joint Knesset Education Committee and Science Committee debate, a protest organized by Let the Animals Live took place at the Knesset, calling for the release of the monkeys held captive at Weizmann Institute. Dozens of demonstrators, including groups of students from the Open Democratic School in Jaffa, called on the Knesset members to reduce animal experimentation in general and to obtain the release of the monkeys from the Weizmann Institute in particular. Knesset member Dov Khenin (Hadash party) talked with the protestors, encouraging them and vowing to act vigorously to change the vivisection law, to reduce animal experimentation and to improve supervision.
Let the Animals Live thanks all the participants at the demonstration and all those who support the battle to rescue the monkeys from Weizmann Institute. The association calls on you to help call for action, and invites you to stay abreast of developments via the association website.
The experiments at the Weizmann Institute - www.letlive.org.il/english/article.php?id=173&PHPSESS...
A call for action - www.letlive.org.il/english/article.php?id=175
For more information about International Animal Rights Day and the Universal Declaration of Animals' Rights see: www.uncaged.co.uk/declarat.htm
A FABULOUS WEEKEND CELEBRATING AND COMMEMORATING THE 1940s
The village of Haworth in the heart of West Yorkshire's Bronte Country is famous (amongst other things) for hosting a very special 1940s weekend.
The event usually involves locals and visitors alike getting togged up in 1940s gear to enjoy a wide range of nostalgic events, which often include a RAF vintage plane flypast, a morale boosting visit from "Sir Winston Churchill" - as well as spivs peddling their wares and authentic swing jive and Lindy Hop dancing being performed both in the streets during the day and at specially arranged dances which are held at local dance halls and pubs in the evenings.
Haworth village is situated at the edge of the Pennine moors in West Yorkshire, England, the area made famous by the Bronte sisters, known as Bronte country. Haworth is first mentioned as a settlement in 1209. The name may refer to a hedged enclosure or hawthorn enclosure. The name was recorded as Howorth on a 1771 map.
Stony Brook, NY; Stony Brook University: Student Activities hosted an involvement fair for all student clubs and organizations to promote their group on the Student Activities Center Plaza.
Fire involving three storey public house. Two hydraulic platforms in use as water towers, water support unit, 12 BA. Six hose reel's and thermal image in use. Building destroyed by fire, now under going demolition.
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
This article is about the conspiracy theory that contrails are deliberate releases of poison. For harmful chemicals emitted by aircraft, see Environmental impact of aviation. For attempts to influence weather with aircraft, see Cloud seeding. For the use of aircraft to apply pesticide and herbicide, see Crop dusting. For the Beck song, see Chemtrails (song).
An Airbus A340's engines leaving a water condensation trail (contrail) – miniature clouds formed by the engine exhaust
The chemtrail conspiracy theory /ˈkɛmtreɪl/ is the erroneous[1] belief that long-lasting condensation trails left in the sky by high-flying aircraft are actually "chemtrails" consisting of chemical or biological agents, sprayed for nefarious purposes undisclosed to the general public.[2] Believers in this conspiracy theory say that while normal contrails dissipate relatively quickly, contrails that linger must contain additional substances.[3][4] Those who subscribe to the theory speculate that the purpose of the chemical release may be solar radiation management,[3] weather modification, psychological manipulation, human population control, biological or chemical warfare, or testing of biological or chemical agents on a population, and that the trails are causing respiratory illnesses and other health problems.[2][5]
The claim has been dismissed by the scientific community.[6] There is no evidence that purported chemtrails differ from normal water-based contrails routinely left by high-flying aircraft under certain atmospheric conditions.[7] Proponents have tried to prove that chemical spraying occurs, but their analyses have been flawed or based on misconceptions.[8][9] Because of the conspiracy theory's persistence and questions about government involvement, scientists and government agencies around the world have repeatedly explained that the supposed chemtrails are in fact normal contrails.[3][10][11]
The term 'chemtrail' is a portmanteau of the words 'chemical' and 'trail', just as 'contrail' blends 'condensation' and 'trail'.[12]
History
Multiple concurrent contrails. How long they last depends upon the weather, especially the temperature, humidity, and wind speed.
Chemtrail conspiracy theories began to circulate after the United States Air Force (USAF) published a 1996 report about weather modification.[11] In the late 1990s, the USAF was accused of "spraying the U.S. population with mysterious substances" from aircraft "generating unusual contrail patterns."[7][13] The theories were posted on Internet forums by people including Richard Finke and William Thomas and were among many conspiracy theories popularized by late-night radio host Art Bell, starting in 1999.[14][9] As the chemtrail conspiracy theory spread, federal officials were flooded with angry calls and letters.[11][3]
A multi-agency response attempting to dispel the rumors was published in 2000 by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).[15][16] Many chemtrail believers interpreted agency fact sheets as further evidence of the existence of a government cover-up.[3] The EPA refreshed its posting in 2015.[17]
In the early 2000s, the USAF released an undated fact sheet that stated the conspiracy theories were a hoax fueled in part by citations to a 1996 strategy paper drafted within their Air University titled Weather as a Force Multiplier: Owning the Weather in 2025.[18][19] The paper was presented in response to a military directive to outline a future strategic weather modification system for the purpose of maintaining the United States' military dominance in the year 2025, and identified as "fictional representations of future situations/scenarios."[19] The USAF further clarified in 2005 that the paper "does not reflect current military policy, practice, or capability" and that it is "not conducting any weather modification experiments or programs and has no plans to do so in the future."[7][20] Additionally, the USAF states that the "'chemtrail' hoax has been investigated and refuted by many established and accredited universities, scientific organizations, and major media publications."[7]
The conspiracy theories are seldom covered by the mainstream media, and when they are, they are usually cast as an example of anti-government paranoia.[4] For example, in 2013, when it was made public that the CIA, NASA, and NOAA intended to provide funds to the National Academy of Sciences to conduct research into methods to counteract global warming with geoengineering, an article in the International Business Times anticipated that "the idea of any government agency looking at ways to control, or manipulate, the weather will be met with scrutiny and fears of a malign conspiracies" [sic], and mentioned chemtrail conspiracy theories as an example.[21]
Description
Proponents of the chemtrail conspiracy theory find support for their theories in their interpretations of sky phenomena, videos posted to the Internet, and reports about government programs; they also have certain beliefs about the goals of the alleged conspiracy and the effects of its alleged efforts and generally take certain actions based on those beliefs.
Interpretation of evidence
Airbus A380 water-filled tanks simulate passenger weight for different takeoff and landing displacement weights. Similar photographs are sometimes said to show chemtrail planes in action.
Ballast barrels with water in a prototype Boeing 747 flight-test plane
Proponents of the chemtrail conspiracy theory say that chemtrails can be distinguished from contrails by their long duration, asserting that the chemtrails are those trails left by aircraft that persist for as much as a half-day or transform into cirrus-like clouds.[4] The proponents claim that after 1995, contrails had a different chemical composition and lasted a lot longer in the sky; proponents fail to acknowledge evidence of long-lasting contrails shown in World War II–era photographs.[9]
Proponents characterize contrails as streams that persist for hours and that, with their criss-cross, grid-like, or parallel stripe patterns, eventually blend to form large clouds. Proponents view the presence of visible color spectra in the streams, unusual concentrations of sky tracks in a single area, or lingering tracks left by unmarked or military airplanes flying atypical altitudes or locations as markers of chemtrails.[3][5][22][23][24]
Photographs of barrels installed in the passenger space of an aircraft for flight test purposes have been claimed to show aerosol dispersion systems. The barrels' actual purpose is to simulate the weight of passengers or cargo. The barrels are filled with water, and the water can be pumped from barrel to barrel to test different centers of gravity while the aircraft is in flight.[25]
Former CIA employee and whistleblower Edward Snowden, interviewed on The Joe Rogan Experience, said he had searched through all the secret information of the U.S. government for evidence about (aliens and) chemtrails. According to a CNN report[26] about the webcast,[27] he said: "In case you were wondering: ... Chemtrails are not a thing" and "I had ridiculous access to the networks of the NSA, the CIA, the military, all these groups. I couldn't find anything".
Jim Marrs has cited a 2007 Louisiana television station report as evidence for chemtrails. In the report, the air underneath a crosshatch of supposed chemtrails was measured and apparently found to contain unsafe levels of barium: at 6.8 parts per million, three times the nationally recommended limit. But a subsequent analysis of the footage showed that the equipment had been misused and the reading exaggerated by a factor of 100—the true level of barium measured was both usual and safe.[8]
In 2014, a video that went viral showed a commercial passenger airplane landing on a foggy night, which was described as emitting chemtrails.[28] Discovery News pointed out that passengers sitting behind the wings would clearly see anything being sprayed, which would defeat any intent to be secretive, and that the purported chemical emission was normal air disruption caused by the wings, visible due to the fog.[28]
In October 2014, Englishman Chris Bovey filmed a video of a plane jettisoning fuel on a flight from Buenos Aires to London, which had to dump fuel to lighten its load for an emergency landing in São Paulo. The clip went viral on Facebook, with over three million views and more than 52,000 shares, cited as evidence of chemtrails. He later disclosed that the video post was done as a prank.[29][30]
In some accounts, the chemicals are described as barium and aluminum salts, polymer fibers, thorium, or silicon carbide.[31]
Chemtrail believers interpret the existence of cloud seeding programs and research into climate engineering as evidence of the conspiracy.[32]
Beliefs
Various versions of the chemtrail conspiracy theory have been propagated via the Internet and radio programs.[3] There are websites dedicated to the conspiracy theory, and it is particularly favored by far-right groups because it fits well with a deep suspicion of the government.[4]
A 2014 review of 20 chemtrail websites found that believers appeal to science in some of their arguments but do not believe what academic or government-employed scientists say;[31] scientists and federal agencies have consistently denied that chemtrails exist, explaining the sky tracks are simply persistent contrails.[3][13][33] The review also found that believers generally hold that chemtrails are evidence of a global conspiracy; they allege various goals which include profit (for example, manipulating futures prices, or making people sick to benefit drug companies), population control, or weapons testing (use of weather as a weapon, or testing bioweapons).[31][33][2] One of these ideas is that clouds are being seeded with electrically conductive materials as part of a massive electromagnetic superweapons program based around the High Frequency Active Auroral Research Program (HAARP).[34][35] Believers say chemtrails are toxic; the 2014 review found that they generally hold that every person is under attack and often express fear, anxiety, sadness, and anger about this.[31] A 2011 study of people from the US, Canada, and the UK found that 2.6% of the sample believed entirely in the conspiracy theory, and 14% believed it partially.[36][31] An analysis of responses given to the 2016 Cooperative Congressional Election Study[37] showed that 9% of the 36,000 respondents believed it was "completely true" that "the government has a secret program that uses airplanes to put harmful chemicals into the air" while a further 19% believed this was "somewhat true".[38]
Chemtrail conspiracy theorists often describe their experience as being akin to a religious conversion experience. When they "wake up" and become "aware" of chemtrails, the experience motivates them to advocacy of various forms.[31] For example, they often attend events and conferences on geoengineering, and have sent threats to academics working in geoengineering.[31]
Some chemtrail believers adopt the notions of Wilhelm Reich, who devised a "cloudbuster" device from pipework. Reich claimed this device would influence weather and remove harmful energy from the atmosphere. Some chemtrail believers have built cloudbusters filled with crystals and metal filings, which are pointed at the sky in an attempt to clear it of chemtrails.[39]
Chemtrail believers sometimes gather samples and have them tested, rather than rely on reports from government or academic laboratories, but their experiments are usually flawed; for example, collecting samples in jars with metal lids contaminates the sample and is not done in scientific testing.[31][40]
Incidents
In 2001, in response to requests from constituents, U.S. Representative Dennis Kucinich introduced (but did not author) H.R. 2977 (107th), the Space Preservation Act of 2001, which would have permanently prohibited basing weapons in space, listing chemtrails as one of a number of "exotic weapons" that would be banned.[41][42] Proponents have interpreted this explicit reference to chemtrails as official government acknowledgment of their existence.[22][43] Skeptics note that the bill in question also mentions "extraterrestrial weapons" and "environmental, climate, or tectonic weapons".[41] The bill received an unfavorable evaluation from the United States Department of Defense and died in committee, with no mention of chemtrails appearing in the text of any of Kucinich's three subsequent failed attempts to enact a Space Preservation Act.
In 2003, in a response to a petition by concerned Canadian citizens that "chemicals used in aerial sprayings are adversely affecting the health of Canadians", the Government House Leader responded: "There is no substantiated evidence, scientific or otherwise, to support the allegation that there is high altitude spraying conducted in Canadian airspace. The term 'chemtrails' is a popularised expression, and there is no scientific evidence to support their existence."[44][45][46][47] The House leader added, "it is our belief that the petitioners are seeing regular airplane condensation trails or contrails."[44]
In 2005 in the United Kingdom, Elliot Morley, a Minister of State for the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs[48] was asked by David Drew, the Labour Party Member of Parliament for Stroud, "what research [the] Department has undertaken into the polluting effects of chemtrails for aircraft", and responded that "the Department is not researching into chemtrails from aircraft as they are not scientifically recognised phenomena", and that work was being conducted to understand "how contrails are formed and what effects they have on the atmosphere."[13][49]
During the 2011–2017 California drought, some local politicians in Shasta County reacted credulously to conspiracy theories suggesting that weather-modifying chemtrails had caused the unusual weather conditions.[50]
Contrails
Main article: Contrail
Contrails from propeller-driven aircraft engine exhaust, early 1940s
Contrails, or condensation trails, are "streaks of condensed water vapor created in the air by an airplane or rocket at high altitudes".[7] Fossil fuel combustion (as in piston and jet engines) produces carbon dioxide and water vapor and soot particulates that act as cloud condensation nuclei. At high altitudes, the air is very cold. Hot humid air from the engine exhaust mixes with the colder surrounding air, causing the water vapor to condense into droplets or ice crystals that form visible clouds. The rate at which contrails dissipate is entirely dependent on weather conditions. If the atmosphere is near saturation, the contrail may exist for some time. Conversely, if the atmosphere is dry, the contrail will dissipate quickly.[7]
Exhaust gases and emissions
Wingtip condensation trails
It is well established by atmospheric scientists that contrails can persist for hours, and that it is normal for them to spread out into cirrus sheets. The different-sized ice crystals in contrails descend at different rates, which spreads the contrail vertically. Then the differential in wind speeds between altitudes (wind shear) results in the horizontal spreading of the contrail. This mechanism is similar to the formation of cirrus uncinus clouds. Contrails between 25,000 and 40,000 feet (7,600 and 12,200 m) can often merge into an "almost solid" interlaced sheet.[51] Contrails can have a lateral spread of several kilometers, and given sufficient air traffic, it is possible for contrails to create an entirely overcast sky that increases the ice budget of individual contrails and persists for hours.[52]
Contrail testing being carried out on an Airbus A340 and much older Boeing 707[7]
Experts on atmospheric phenomena say that the characteristics attributed to chemtrails are simply features of contrails responding to diverse conditions in terms of sunlight, temperature, horizontal and vertical wind shear, and humidity levels present at the aircraft's altitude.[3][7][5][22] In the US, the gridlike nature of the National Airspace System's flight lanes tends to cause crosshatched contrails, and in general it is hard to discern from the ground whether overlapping contrails are at similar altitudes or not.[7] The jointly published fact sheet produced by NASA, the EPA, the FAA, and NOAA in 2000 in response to alarms over chemtrails details the science of contrail formation, and outlines both the known and potential impacts of contrails have on temperature and climate.[20] The USAF produced a fact sheet that described these contrail phenomena as observed and analyzed since at least 1953. It also rebutted chemtrail theories more directly by identifying the theories as a hoax and disproving the existence of chemtrails.[7][3]
Patrick Minnis, an atmospheric scientist with NASA's Langley Research Center, has said that logic does not dissuade most chemtrail proponents: "If you try to pin these people down and refute things, it's, 'Well, you're just part of the conspiracy'".[3]
Analysis of the use of commercial aircraft tracks for climate engineering has shown them to be generally unsuitable.[53]
Astronomer Bob Berman has characterized the chemtrail conspiracy theory as a classic example of failure to apply Occam's razor, writing in 2009 that instead of adopting the long-established "simple solution" that the trails consist of frozen water vapor, "the conspiracy web sites think the phenomenon started only a decade ago and involves an evil scheme in which 40,000 commercial pilots and air traffic controllers are in on the plot to poison their own children."[54]
A 2016 survey of 77 atmospheric scientists concluded that "76 out of 77 (98.7%) of scientists that took part in this study said they had not encountered evidence of a [secret large-scale atmospheric program] (SLAP), and that the data cited as evidence could be explained through other factors, such as typical contrail formation and poor data sampling instructions presented on SLAP websites."[6][55]
Students got a chance to explore some of Lafayette’s organizations, clubs, and programs during the Involvement Fair on the Quad. The College boasts more than 200 opportunities for students to become involved in campus life, including academic honor societies, cultural and social organizations, community outreach, arts programs, sports clubs, and living groups. The fair is sponsored by Student Government and the Office of Student Leadership and Involvement.
Photos by Zachary Hartzell
Sept. 8, 2015
Student Involvement Fair at Crossley Softball Field, 19 September, 2020. Photography by Glenn Minshall.
The ancient leather tanneries of Fés. The process, involving copioius amounts of urine and pigeon dung along with natural dyes of all sorts, has remained essentially unchanged for over a thousand years.
This view is from the roof of one of the many associated leather shops surrounding the tanning and dyeing pits. The smell is rather remarkable, though neither of us needed the proffered ameliorating mint in order to withstand it.
Sustainable forest management involves the maintenance and enhancement of forest environments, ensuring longevity of forest ecosystems while allowing the best possible environmental, economic, social and cultural opportunities now and into the future. In Canada, the world’s largest exporter of forest products, harvest rates and strict jurisdictions are set to ensure long term ecosystem sustainability, protecting soil and water resources and 55% of all energy used by the forestry sector is renewable bio-energy.
For any form of publication, please include the link to this page: www.grida.no/resources/3093
This photo has been graciously provided to be used in the GRID-Arendal resources library by: Lawrence Hislop