keep calm and procure

procured by my cats and distributed throughout my kitchen while I was away

The kit and its assembly:

This relatively simple build was triggered by the “In the navy” group build at whatifmodelers.com in April/May 2020, even though I started it too late for the deadline.

After having recently read a lot of stuff about the Falklands/Malvinas conflict, I wondered if Argentina could not have procured a dedicated fighter for its single carrier – and the F-8 from US surplus stocks was a perfect candidate for the potential timeframe of the Seventies, when the type was retired from USN/USMC service or, in part, modernized and/or put up for sale, like the machines for the Philippines. The only real-world problem would have been the weight: the F-8E weighed up to 15 tons, while the Super Étendard, which was reportedly already hard to launch from Veinticinco de Mayo, had a MTOW of “only” 12 tons. Not certain if the F-8’s afterburner engine and the wings’ raised angle of incidence would have been enough to launch a Crusader? Well, it’s whifworld, after all. 😉

The basis is the Hasegawa F-8E, a kit that I had originally stashed away as a donor for a different project.

The model was built mostly OOB, I just sanded the dorsal avionics hump away and gave the machine a pair of drop tanks under the wings (from an A-4) – a rather unusual sight on a Crusader, and it looks even more weird with the wings in the raised position! The Sidewinders, relatively simple pieces, too, were taken OOB, since they look very much like early AIM-9Bs.

The kit goes together well, but it is a simple affair and you see the mold’s age. You get raised (though fine) panel lines, a rather simple cockpit tub with flat dashboards (for decals), a clumsy seat and no cockpit back wall at all. Fit is basically O.K., but the windscreen refused to fit well, and the hatch turned out to be somewhat too narrow for the rear bulkhead you are supposed to glue into it. Furthermore, the fuselage halves, especially on the underside, have shallow shrink areas close to the seams, so that PSR is mandatory. I would, not call the kit my first choice for the F-8 (which would rather be the Academy kit), but you get the Hasegawa kit at reasonable prices, and I originally purchased it as a body donor bank.

Since the kit lacks a proper air intake duct, sanding the fuselage halves inside of the respective orifice is not easy - I used a soft acrylic putty and left the radome away until the job was done. Furthermore, I added a visual blocker inside of the intake, a piece of black foamed styrene under the cockpit tub - otherwise you have direct sight down the empty interior in a head-on view.

Further small additions are some blade antennae on the hull and on the fin, inspired by the Argentinian Skyhawks.

Painting and markings:

Again, I wanted a rather subtle, semi-authentic look. The most natural choice would certainly have been a Light Gull Grey/White livery like the A-4Qs, but for a twist and because I like the late French F-8Ps in their all-over dark grey livery, I settled upon something that resembles the French/Argentinian Super Étendards: a dark, bluish-grey upper surface with white undersides and the upper colors well wrapped around the wings’ leading edges.

Concerning the French grey tone there are many different opinions and recommendations – ranging from Dark Gull Grey (FS 36231, which is IMHO much too light) over Gunship Grey (FS 36118) to dark blue.

I settled for Humbrol 79 (Blue Grey) as basic tone, which is AFAIK Humbrol’s interpretation of the German RAL 7012 (Basaltgrau), a tone that is very close to the British Dark Sea Grey. The undersides, including the landing gear, were painted with acrylic semi-gloss white from a rattle can. This was done as the first step, with a masked low waterline. Then the grey was applied by brush, and also wrapped around the wings’ leading edges. In order to improve the camouflage effect from above, the pylons as well as the outer sides of the stabilizers under the tail were painted in blue grey, too.

The flags on the rudder as well as the on the stabilizers were painted with white and Humbrol 48 (Mediterranean Blue), too, just the sun emblems on the fin are decals. Since the F-8 has, unlike the A-4 or the Sue, all-mowing stabilizers, I decided to paint the whole tail surface in white and blue and not just the trailing edge. This looks quite bright, but it is IMHO a great detail that sets this whif really apart and shows some pride.

The afterburner fairing was painted with a mix of Humbrol 27002 and 27003 (Polished Aluminum and Steel Metallizer) and later treated with graphite for a burnt look.

After an overall black ink wash the upper surfaces were treated with dry-brushed post shading (Humbrol 106 and 156). The decals come primarily from an Academy Super Étendard, augmented by markings from various decals from an Airfix Falklands War kit set sheet (e.g. the sun icons for the fin flash).

The silver leading edges of the wings, stabilizers and the fin were created with decal sheet material. the same material in black was used for walkway markings.

Decals come primarily from an Acedemy Super Étendard sheet, the tactical code was modified. Only the sun icons on the fin flash had to be procured from a different source (an Airfix A-4 Skyhawk sheet). The stencils come from the Hasegawa OOB sheet.

Finally, the kit received an all-over coat of matt acrlyic varnish.

Minister of Trade and Industry Rob Davis reading through one of the local Newspaper,Sowetan at Local Procurement Accord which was signed between Business, Unions and Government on Monday in Pretoria, that commited the main economic groupings in South Africa to work together to increase the levels of goods and services bought from local producers with 75% Local Procurement in Pretoria, South Africa.31/10/2011

Governor Moore speaking at Senior Procurement Advisory Group Meeting by Anthony DePanise at 100 Community Place, Crownsville, MD 21032

A true grassroots operation, Team Tachyon is entering this open cockpit Group B racer into this year's Galactic Asteroid Rally Circuit. Team owner and pilot, Dr. Tachyon started by procuring a drive module from an old space tug. If you ask him why, he'll look at you and say "Horsepower will sell flyers, Torque wins races!". Team engineer and navigator "Hooter" facepalms and says "The Doc has gotten too many Augmentations.."

Inspiration originally came from Tardis Blue's Dark Moon Runner. Chair inspiration came from Heiwa71. Unfortunately I only got inspiration from their builds, not the talent I needed lol.

The racer was built for Tromas's GARC group

2.9.16

Minister of Economic Development Ebrahim Patel witnessing the signing of Local Procurement Accord which was signed between Business, Unions and Government on Monday in Pretoria, that commited the main economic groupings in South Africa to work together to increase the levels of goods and services bought from local producers with 75% Local Procurement in Pretoria, South Africa.31/10/2011

Japanese Non Project Grant Aid. To find out more about this project visit: www.crownagents.com/japanese-NPGA-to-government-of-republ...

Local Procurement Accord was signed between Business, Unions and Government on Monday in Pretoria, that commited the main economic groupings in South Africa to work together to increase the levels of goods and services bought from local producers with 75% Local Procurement in Pretoria, South Africa.31/10/2011

Belize City, Belize, 31 March 2021 (PAHO/WHO) - Belize today received 33,600 doses of COVID-19 vaccines through the COVAX Facility, a global effort between the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI), Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance Gavi, UNICEF, the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) and the World Health Organization (WHO).

The arrival marks a historic step toward ensuring the equitable distribution of COVID-19 vaccines worldwide, in the largest vaccine procurement and supply operation in history. This delivery is part of the first phase of deliveries for Belize, and more vaccines are expected to arrive successively during 2021. According to the first round of COVAX allocations, Belize is expected to continue receiving doses until it reaches 100,800, the amount specified by COVAX.

PAHO’s Revolving Fund, which is responsible for the procurement of COVID-19 vaccines for the countries of the Americas under the COVAX Mechanism, sent 33,600 doses of the AstraZeneca/Oxford vaccine, manufactured by SK Bioscience of South Korea. The vaccines arrived today at the Phillip Goldson International Airport (PGIA).

“The arrival of the vaccines through COVAX is very encouraging as it means that more people will now be able to be protected from COVID-19,” said Dr. Noreen Jack, PAHO/WHO Representative in Belize. “We will continue to work with the Ministry of Health and Wellness and the country to support vaccination along with the known public health and social measures that can help stop the spread of COVID-19, protect health services, and save lives.”

These first vaccines will serve to protect priority groups and those most at risk, such as health workers, older adults, persons with special conditions (cancer, HIV & requiring dialysis), as well as persons in the other vaccine distribution phases in Belize.

Hon. Michel Chebat, Minister of the Ministry of Health and Wellness expressed how grateful he was for this delivery that will add to the vaccines that we already have.

“We extend appreciation for the team effort coordinated through our partners, PAHO/WHO, UNICEF and IDB for negotiating, purchasing, and handling the shipment logistics on behalf of Belize and the other 36 countries participating in COVAX,” said Minister Chebat. “This was our only hope for a long time to ensure that the people of Belize get vaccines and now we can celebrate the arrival today.”

Since the first case of COVID-19 was reported in 2020, the country has recorded 12,452 cases and 317 deaths as a result of the SARS-CoV-2 virus (as of 30 March 2021).

“Today’s arrival of the first COVAX shipment marks another milestone for the children of Belize who have been the silent victims of the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Alison Parker, Representative for UNICEF Belize. “The past year has plunged Belize into a humanitarian and socio-economic crisis upending the lives of societies, communities and families, especially children. As over 108,000 children prepare to return to the classrooms in the upcoming months, the arrival of the vaccines advances us one step closer to creating a post-COVID environment that is safe for children to return to schools and regain a sense of security and normalcy. It is also a signal of the commitment of the Government and partners like the COVAX, inclusive of UNICEF, to prioritize mobilizing required resources to afford Belizeans optimal health care and protection in response to this crisis. Accelerating vaccination coverage is critical to stabilizing the social and economic impact of COVID-19 and rebuilding Belize, and UNICEF is proud to be part of this national effort in the interest of Belize’s children.”

COVAX seeks to provide vaccines for at least 20% of the population of each participating country during 2021. In this first round of vaccine allocation, all COVAX participating countries will receive doses to vaccinate between 2.2 and 2.6% of their population. The only exceptions are small island developing States, which will receive an allocation of vaccines to cover between 16 and 20% of their population, due to the high logistical cost of delivering small quantities of vaccines.

“Expanding access to vaccines is vital for overcoming the pandemic and its detrimental effects on the life of people and the economy,” said Birgit Gerstenberg, Resident Coordinator of United Nations Belize. “Its progress is crucial in order to get back to the path of achieving the Sustainable Development Goals, in particular, poverty reduction, food security for all, universal health coverage, decent work and so much more. Thanks to science and technology, the newly developed COVID-19 vaccines are made available in record time and poised to be a powerful tool in the control of the devastating COVID-19 pandemic. The public’s confidence in, and willingness to receive the vaccines will determine the outcome of this mass-scale public health intervention. The United Nations Country Team has been working tirelessly this past year to provide as much support to the Government of Belize in facing the consequences of the pandemic and helping those most at-risk. Let us continue to confront the pandemic and take all measures of mitigation at our reach. Stay at home when you are sick, wear a mask when among others, practice social distancing and when eligible, receiving a COVID-19 vaccine. Consider it a measure that may save lives as only together, we will build back better.”

Until vaccination is widespread among the population, basic public health measures remain the basis of the pandemic response. For public health authorities, this means continuing to conduct screening, contact tracing, isolation, assisted quarantine, and quality care. And for people, it means continuing to practice physical distancing, hand hygiene, the use of masks, adequate ventilation of indoor environments, and avoidance of crowded spaces.

“Today is a bright day in the year-ling fight against COVID-19, said Nicolaus Hansmann, Team Leader of the European Union Technical Office in Belize. “With the arrival of these vaccines under the multi-actor global collaboration, COVAX, we are getting closer to the goal of bringing the virus under control. As one of the lead partners of COVAX, contributing over 2.2 billion Euros, the European Union and its Member States are proud of its role in ensuring equitable access to vaccines for people everywhere.”

COVAX, the vaccines pillar of the Access to COVID-19 Tools (ACT) Accelerator, is co-led by the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI), Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance Gavi) and the World Health Organization (WHO) – working in partnership with UNICEF as key implementing partner, as well as civil society organisations, vaccine manufacturers, the World Bank, and others. In the Americas, the PAHO Revolving Fund is the recognized procurement agent for the COVAX facility.

Eighth church on this 2021 Heritage/Ride and Stride Weekend, and all previous seven were open.

Which is worth pointing out, is unprecedented.

In fact, all 9 were open, some new and some, like Oare, revisits, but all worth doing.

St Peter is small and simple, a fine church overlooking Faversham Creek, on the edge of the once unhealthy marshes, now on a road that no longer leads to a ferry to Harty, but to a nature reserve.

I was greeted by a fine pair of ladies, who welcomed me as though I had cycled, and ensured the lights were put on inside.

Highlight is the modern glass with a representation of a Mulberry Harbour, as the designer of the road access part lived in the parish.

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St Peter’s Oare, a Grade I listed building, is often described as a ‘mainly 13th century church’ – which it is. However, the view that confronts the visitor entering the churchyard gate is pure Victoriana, the work of diocesan architect Joseph Clarke, an example of the sympathetic restoration of which not all Victorians were capable.

Indeed, it is this west elevation, with its louvred bell-tower and cedar-shingled spirelet, that is St Peter’s to visitors, artists and photographers.

The building could hardly be better sited. It stands where village becomes countryside, set inconspicuously back from a road that leads only to the broadening waters of the Swale and their marshland bird-life. In the churchyard, a few mature trees remain of those that once cast gloom over church and graves. They rise from among ancient headstones and ivy-clad tombs, providing summer shade for those who want to enjoy the panoramic views over Oare Creek and acre upon distant acre of marsh pastures with the North Downs as a backdrop. With binoculars or good eyesight you can rest on one of the conveniently located benches and count how many far-off churches you can pick out from this elevated point of vantage.

But how old is the church? you ask. Everyone seems to. To this there is no categorical answer. Today the building is little changed since the 1860s restoration and yet there was a church here when the Domesday Book was penned – well, half a church, but which half our Norman forebears didn’t say. A church half-finished? Or a church part-razed by the tempests of that tempestuous age?

What we do know is that the chancel was extended eastwards in the late 14th or early 15th century, and some time thereafter the old east window was taken out and replaced by a larger one in the Perpendicular style. The actual glass is more recent – the work of F.C. Eden. It was given in memory of artist Francis Forster, a casualty of WWI. Another window by this noted London artisan, on the north wall, commemorates another war victim. Below it a memorial slab set into the frame of this once tall lancet window names those who died in the great explosion of 1916, when the marshes throbbed with a wartime industry of munitions manufacture.

Back in the secluded peace of this village church is one treasured rarity, a square font of Purbeck marble from the late Norman/Early English period. Its sides were once elaborately carved, but many years ago it went missing, only to be recovered decades later from a nearby pond, somewhat the worse for its immersion. Was it concealed from Cromwell’s ravaging iconoclasts? No one knows. This hazy fact must take its place with the many mysteries hidden among the pages of time. But is it not these undocumented secrets that make a church like St Peter’s so alluring? Who can tell when the truth will emerge and another page of history can be written?

www.thekingsdownandcreeksidecluster.co.uk/?page_id=683

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A small Norman church overlooking Oare Creek with fine views to the east. Built of flint with Victorian additions by Joseph Clarke, the exterior is dominated by lively painted spirelet and south porch and muscular buttresses. Inside, a simple view with no chancel arch is enlivened by a Norman font, simple Victorian pulpit and fine stained glass windows by F C Eden. The west window – an oculus – contains the date 1867 recording the restoration of the church. A plaque commemorates those who lost their lives in one of the explosions at the nearby Gunpowder factory in 1916. The overall impression is of a lovingly cared for church, mirroring the lives of generations of Oare folk and it is highly recommended.

www.kentchurches.info/church.asp?p=Oare

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ORE

LIES the next parish north westward from Davington, and is so called from the etymology of it in the Saxon language, signifying a fenny or marshy place.

This parish is a very low situation, at the very edge of the marshes, it is consequently but little known or frequented, its vicinity to the marshes, and its low and watry situation, make it very unhealthy, so that it is but very thinly inhabited, but the lands are very rich and fertile, the waters of the Swale are its northern boundaries; on its south it rises up towards Bysing-wood, from which it is distant about a mile. The village is occupied by a few fishermen and oyster dredgers, situated near the middle of the parish on a small ascent, having the church about a quarter of a mile to the north-westward of it, and Ore-court at the like distance, at the edge of the marshes. The creek, which is navigable up to the village, whence it runs north-east, and at a little more than half a mile's distance joins the Faversham creek, and flows with it about the like distance, till it meets the waters of the Swale.

Several scarce plants have been observed in this parish by Mr. Jacob, who has enumerated them among his Plantæ Favershamienses, to which book the reader is referred for a list of them.

THE MANOR of Ore was part of the vast possessions of Odo, bishop of Baieux, and earl of Kent, the Conqueror's half-brother, under the general title of whose lands it is thus entered in the general survey of Domesday:

In Lest de Wiwarlet. In Favreshant hundered, Adam holds of the bishop (of Baieux) Ore. It was taxed at two sulings. The arable lands are four carucates. In demesne there is one, and ten villeins, with ten borderers, having two carucates. There is half a church, and one mill of twenty-two shillings, and two fisheries without tallage, and one salt-pit of twenty-eight pence. Wood for the pannage of six bogs. In the time of king Edward the Confessor it was worth four pounds, and afterwards sixty shillings, now one hundred shillings. Turgis held it of king Edward.

And a little afterwards there is another entry as follows:

Adam holds of the bishop one yoke in Ore, and it was taxed at one yoke. The arable land is one carucate. Four villeins now hold this to ferme, and pay twenty shillings, and it was worth so much separately. There is a church. Leunold held it of king Edward.

Four years after the taking of the above survey, the bishop of Baieux was disgraced, and all his possessions were consiscated to the crown.

Upon which the manor of Ore came to be held immediately, or in capite of the king, by the beforementioned. Adam de Port, of whose heirs it was afterwards again held by Arnulf Kade, who gave this manor, with that of Stalishfield, and their appurtenances, to the knights hospitallers of St. John of Jerusalem, and it was assigned by them to the jurisdiction of their preceptory, established at Swingfield.

The manor of Ore continued part of the possessions of these knights till the general dissolution of their hospital in the 32d year of Henry VIII. when this order was suppressed by an act then specially passed for that purpose. (fn. 1)

This manor seems to have remained in the hands of the crown till king Edward VI. granted it in his 5th year, to Edward, lord Clinton and Say, who next year re-conveyed it back again to the king. (fn. 2)

How it passed from the crown afterwards I have not found, but that at length it came into the possession of the family of Monins, and thence by sale to that of Short, one of which, Samuel Short, esq. owned it in 1722, and it continued down in his descendants to Philip Short, esq. who was succeeded in it by Mr. Charles Maples Short, who died a few years ago at Jamaica, on which it became vested in Mr. Humphry Munn, gent. in right of Lydia Short his wife. Hence it passed by sale to Mr. Bonnick Lipyeatt, who died in 1789, leaving two daughters his coheirs, who married Mr. Charles Brooke, of London, and Mr. Gosselin, and entitled them respectively to this estate.

A court leet and court baron is held for this manor.

There are noparochial charities. The poor constantly relieved here are not more than two; casually about six.

ORE is within the ECCLESTASTICAL JURISDICTION of the diocese of Canterbury, and deanry of Ospringe.

The church which is dedicated to St. Peter, is a small building, of one isle and one chancel, having a pointed steeple at the west end, in which are two bells.

This church, which was antiently accounted only as a chapel to that of Stalisfield, belonged to the priory of St. Gregory, in Canterbury, perhaps part of its orignal endowment by archbishop Lanfranc, in the time of the Conqueror, and it was confirmed to it, among its other possessions, by archbishop Hubert, about the reign of king Richard I.

In the 8th year of Richard II. there was a yearly pension paid from the church of Ore, of ten shillings to the priory of Rochester, and another of eight shilling to that of Leeds. (fn. 3)

This church remained part of the possessions of the priory of St. Gregory, till the dissolution of it in the reign of Henry VIII. in the 27th year of which, an act having passed for the suppression of all such religious houses, whose revenues did not amount to the clear yearly value of two hundred pounds, this priory was thereby dissolved, and the scite of it, together with all its lands, possessions, and revenues, surrendered into the king's hands, by John Symkins, prior of it.

The church of Ore remained with the other possessions of the priory in the crown but a small time, for an act passed that year to enable the king and the archbishop of Canterbury to exchange the scite of the late dissolved priory of St. Radigund near Dover, with all its possessions, lately given by the king to the archbishop, for the scite of the late dissolved priory of St. Gregory, and all the possessions belonging to it, excepting the manor of Howfield, in Chartham.

After which the parsonage of this church was demised by the archbishop, as it has been since by his successors, among the rest of the revenues of the priory of St. Gregory, from time to time, in one great lease, (in which all advowsons and nominations to churches and chapels have constantly been excepted) in which state it continues at this time. George Gipps, esq. of Harbledown, M.P. is the present lessee of then to the archbishop, and Mr. John Hope, of Ore, is the present leffee under him for the parsonage of this church, at the yearly rent of thirty-four pounds.

It pays, procurations to the archdecaon five shillings, and to the archbishop at his visitaiton two shillings. When the church of Ore was separated from that of Stalisfield, I have not found, but it has long been an independent church of itself.

It was, long before the dissolution of the priory of St. Gregory, served as a curacy by the religious of it; since which it has been esteemed as a perpetual curacy, of the patronage of the successive archbishops of Canterbury, and continues to at this time. In 1640 the communicants here were forty-seven.

The lessee of the parsonage pays the curate, by the convenants of his lease, the yearly sum of fifteen pounds.

¶Before the year 1755, it had been augmented by the governors of queen Anne's bounty with the sum of two hundred pounds, and divine service was performed here only once a fortnight; since which it has been augmented with 1000l. more, and it is now performed here once a week. Of the above sum of 1200l. in the year 1764, 260l. were laid out in the purchase of an estate, of a house, buildings, and twenty-two acres of land, in Ospringe; and in 1770, another estate was purchased, consisting of a house, buildings, and thirty-three acres of land, in Boughton under Blean. The remaining 280l. yet remain in the governors hands.

www.british-history.ac.uk/survey-kent/vol6/pp381-386

IAEA Staff at the Office of Procurement Services under the Department of Management. IAEA, Vienna, Austria. 30 March 2023.

Daniela Leinen, Director (MTPS)

Photo Credit: Dean Calma / IAEA

Front row (L-R) Stephanie Lim, Diane Leung, DGS Acting Director Esteban Almanza, Susan Chan, Erlinda Ibarbia (Caltrans), Yvetee Casey. (OSI)

Back row (L-R) Jose Zavala (OSI), Eric Mandell, Steve Kobayashi, Marisa Truax

Not pictured Janna Welk, Kristine Van Keuren

Nature and Climate Community Dinner

Gim Huay Neo, Managing Director, Centre for Nature and Climate, World Economic Forum; Klaus Schwab, Founder and Executive Chairman, World Economic Forum; Garrett Boudinot, Science Adviser, ClimateMusic Project, USA; Eduardo Del Signore, Composer, ClimateMusic Project, USA; Angelique Kidjo, Musician and UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador, USA; Cultural Leader; Luhut B. Pandjaitan, Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs and Investment of Indonesia; Jayathma Wickramanayake, United Nations Secretary-General's Envoy on Youth

Copyright: World Economic Forum/Jeffery Jones

Sustainable Development Impact Meetings, New York, USA 19 - 23 September

5 October 2016- Opening Forum on Procurement for Innovation at OECD.

OECD, Paris, France

Photo: OECD/Michael Dean

Procurement Conference - Federal. State. Local. Business on Thursday, May 12, 2016 at the Universities of Shady Grove. Alan P. Santos photography

Lt. Governor Anthony Brown brings remarks to participants of MBE Procurement and Business conference. by Brian K. Slack at Largo

Meeting of the Champions for Water Community

Usha Rao-Monari, Undersecretary-General and Associate Administrator, United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), New York; Patricia Danzi, Director-General, Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC), Switzerland; Patrick Decker, Chief Executive Officer, Xylem, USA; Diane B. Holdorf, Managing Director, Food and Nature, World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD), Switzerland; C. Vijayakumar, Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director, HCL Technologies, India; Gim Huay Neo, Managing Director, Centre for Nature and Climate, World Economic Forum; Henk WJ Ovink, Special Envoy for International Water Affairs of the Netherlands; Sherpa to the High Level Panel on Water; Saroj Kumar Jha, Senior Director, World Bank, Washington DC

Copyright: World Economic Forum/Jeffery Jones

Sustainable Development Impact Meetings, New York, USA 19 - 23 September

Forest Landscapes: Accelerating Restoration and Resilience at Scale

Jack Hurd, Executive Director, Tropical Forest Alliance, Member of the Executive Committee, World Economic Forum; Tim Christophersen, Vice-President, Climate Action, Salesforce, USA; Gim Huay Neo, Managing Director, Centre for Nature and Climate, World Economic Forum

EZ Procurement Vendor Fair. September 2017. Photos by Tony Ventouris.

Financing the Net-Zero Transition

Antoni Ballabriga, Global Head, Responsible Business, BBVA, Spain; John Colas, Partner; Vice-Chairman, Financial Services, Americas, Oliver Wyman Group (MMC), USA; Christian Deseglise, Group Head, Sustainable Infrastructure and Innovation, HSBC, United Kingdom; Torben Möger Pedersen, Chief Executive Officer, PensionDanmark, Denmark; Matthew Blake, Head of Shaping the Future of Financial and Monetary Systems, World Economic Forum. Copyright: World Economic Forum/Jeffery Jones

Paul Bermingham

Nancy Gillis

Christiaan Poortman

Linda Kramma Walker

Accelerating Climate Action through Philanthropic-Public-Private-Collaboration

Gim Huay Neo, Managing Director, Centre for Nature and Climate, World Economic Forum; Ray Dalio, Founder, Co-Chairman and Co-Chief Investment Officer, Bridgewater Associates, USA; Frans Timmermans, Executive Vice-President for the European Green Deal, European Commission; Klaus Schwab, Founder and Executive Chairman, World Economic Forum

Copyright: World Economic Forum/Jeffery Jones

Sustainable Development Impact Meetings, New York, USA 19 - 23 September

Ink on paper

8" x 10"

5.29.15

© Heiko Philippin

Published in: Community Eye Health Journal Vol. 26 No. 83 2013 www.cehjournal.org

The lead authors of a recent United Nations Environment Programme study of the Global State of Sustainable Public Procurement presented snapshot of the inter…

See more about Global Procurement Colombia

(Posted by China Sourcing Blog)

The ODOT Procurement Office acquires all of the goods, services and outsourced work that our agency needs.

The Pima County Procurement Fair, at Kino Sports Complex.

In Basoko I again stayed in the Procure. It gave me the chance to attend the joyful Mass in Basoko’s outsized church, which bears a curious resemblance to Notre Dame in Paris. Over dinner I had the very good fortune to speak with the three charming and dedicated priests working there. They were led by Father Marc whose tales of village life bore a resemblance to Don Camillo. We talked over how African theology differs from Liberation theology, the rise of the evangelist churches in Congo, squabbles with the local authorities and the challenges of keeping a football pitch green.

5 October 2016- Opening Forum on Procurement for Innovation at OECD.

OECD, Paris, France

Photo: OECD/Michael Dean

Josie Osborne, Minister of Municipal Affairs, announces that small businesses and local workers throughout British Columbia will benefit as local government purchasing dollars are invested back into communities through expansion of the British Columbia Social Procurement Initiative.

Learn more: news.gov.bc.ca/releases/2021MUNI0034-001167

+++ DISCLAIMER +++

Nothing you see here is real, even though the conversion or the presented background story might be based on historical facts. BEWARE!

Some background:

The MBR-07 Spartan was born as a humanoid-type weapon from the United Nations Military ambulatory weapons program. The MBR-07 Spartan was the second-place participant, the winning design became the Main Battle Robot-Series 04 family of Destroids that included the Tomahawk and specialized variants like the Defender and the Phalanx. However, soon after the 04 family’s introduction field experience suggested that a higher hand-to-hand combat capability was required to protect the MBRs which rather carried medium- and long-range weapons. This tactical gap led to the MBR-07 Spartan and its unique chassis, which had been specifically designed for unarmed close combat, but its development encompassed a series of prototypes that honed the technical aspects of this task.

By the same time the Spartan Mk. I entered trial production in February 2005, too, and by January 2008 Mk I units were beginning first rollout but were quickly superseded by the redesigned Mk. II variant after it had become clear that a pure close-combat robot was too vulnerable, esp. against air attacks. All Mk I units were later upgraded into Mk II units, and the small Pollux force retired from frontline service and rather relegated to pioneer/marines units where its power and manual agility became welcome asset.

General characteristics:

Equipment Type: main battle robot, Series 04, optimized for close/hand-to-hand combat

Government: U.N. Spacy

Manufacturer: Viggers Chrauler (chassis)

Centinental/Kransmann (arms and corresponding ambulatrory system)

Introduction: Prototypes 01 & 02 in September 2003

Pre-production models in March 2004

Accommodation: 1 pilot only

Dimensions:

Height: 11.27 meters (to shoulder), 12.7 meters (overall)

Length: 5.1 meters

Width: 7.9 meters

Mass: 27.8 metric tons

Power Plant:

Kranss-Maffai MT808 thermonuclear reactor developing 2800 bhp;

auxiliary generator GE EM9G fuel generator rated at 450 kW

Propulsion:

Multiple low-thrust vernier thrusters beneath multipurpose hook/handles

Armament:

2x Norman Banks CH2-TYPED claw hand with 5-finger manipulators

Provisions for 2x Bifors close-in self-guided rocket launchers, 12 rockets each (not mounted)

1x optional metallic club (for hand-to-hand combat)

The kit and its assembly:

This kitbashing project was inspired by a sketch I recently came across while doing internet research. I assume that it is not an official Macross design, rather a fan-art/dojinshi design, because I could not find reference to it in official sources, any other media with or, or even come up with a name. However, what triggered me was the fact that it looks like a prototype/test rig for the close-combat Spartan, just based on a Tomahawk chassis? Overall, this made it a plausible missing link, and since I have already built/scratched/converted a Spartan Mk. II into its earlier Mk. I variant, adding another (probably fictional, bu6t who knows?” ancestor to the collection of 1:100 Destroid models was a logical step.

Another selling point was that I had an Imai Tomahawk kit stashed away with no concrete plan yet, and at first glance only a Spartan's arms would be necessary as donorparts to bring the illustration into hardware form. Finding a suitable donor kit turned out to be almost impossible: Arii Spartan kits in 1:100 have become rare and mind-boggingly expensive, and things became so desperate that I eventually procured one of those ugly chrome-plated "Metal" kits as donor source. This had two drawbacks: despite being quite cheap the kit’s postage from the USA more than doubled its price, and the plating had to go before could use the parts for my plans.

Stripping the sprues’ plating off took several weeks and the help of sodium hydroxide, foamed oven cleaner, and patience. This procedure revealed, to my surprise, that the "Metal Spartan"'s polystyrene color of the individual sprues was different, ranging from mint green to a greenish ochre!

Technically the model is a kitbashing, but in order to improve the kit(s) and/or make life a little easier I made some visible and invisible mods. Most obvious difference are the shoulder mounts that attach the Spartan arms to the Tomahawk torso. Taken OOB they are mechanically not compatible, and to make life easier I decided to transplant the Spartan’s complete arms, including the upper arms/shoulder sections, what was easier than trying to adapt the Tomahawk shoulders to the Spartan's lower arms AND to improve the shoulder joints so far that they would be movable at all when the body would be completed. This is just one of the Tomahawk kit’s many issues, in this case because the Tomahawk kit is a very early mecha model, a very simple construction and without any vinyl caps for the joints (which the 1:100 Spartan kit already has!). Another selling point of the Spartan's shoulders is that their diameter is slightly bigger than the openings in the Tomahawk's torso flanks, so that they would cover them well.

To center and align the “foreign objects” properly I had to build an internal carrier structure with the Spartan's vinyl-cap-bearing sockets for the arms, scratched from styrene profiles, and mounted into the right position. Similar material was used to create a new vertical pelvic joint that would allow to keep upper and lower body separate for painting, and I scratched a two-dimensional hip joint from steel wire and styrene tubes that would allow a much more dynamic, "open" leg position (and even slight movement). Another small measure that improves the model's looks is to fill the hollow heels of the legs. All hardly visible efforts which are nevertheless IMHO worthwhile to make this old 1:100 Destroid model look much more convincing.

Other small mods are additional surface details created with styrene bits, and I added shoulder hardpoints that carry a searchlight (left over from a 1:72 ESCI M48 tank) and something that I’d interpret as a camera, inspired by the mecha’s drawing. The Tomahawk’s prominent gun clusters on the lower torso as well as the machine guns at the cockpit flanks were deleted and faired over. On the torso they were replaced with 3D shapes made from 2C putty, which extend the shoulder missile launchers' covers downwards.

Painting and markings:

While I am not a fan of pop colors like violet (esp. on “real robots”!) I decided to stay true to the mecha drawing and adopt the shown purple/white paint scheme. I (still) had a tin of ancient Humbrol Authentic "IJN Purple" (then called HJ04 "Mauve") at hand which turned out to be an almost perfect match as basic overall color, with the benefit that it IS a purplish tone, but very dull and with lots of grey. The light contrast areas were painted with RAL 9002 (Grauweiß). Once thoroughly dry the parts received a black ink washing and some post-shading as well as dry-brushing with ModelMaster's "Napoleonic Violet" and medium grey (Revell 47) around the edges to emphasize details and add a worn look.

The black-and-yellow warning stripes on arms and feet are generic decals from TL-Modellbau, and I decided to add some tactical markings and stencils from the Tomahawk's OOB sheet and the scrap box, to give the model a more realistic look. After a coat with matt acrylic varnish, I added mud and dust stains esp. around the feet with watercolors and mineral pigments, as a result of thorough "field tests".

In Uzbekistan, UNOPS partnered with KOICA to deliver life-saving medical equipment and supplies to support the government's response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

As part of the project, the Tashkent Research Institute of Virology received equipment to improve testing capacity.

© UNOPS/Sharakhmedov Khamdam

Autumn is fast upon us here in the north of The Netherlands. But in the fine botanical garden "De Kruidhof" these two blooms still stand strongly despite the winds and cold rain. They're both used to these conditions.

Our Aster hails originally from the Dutch Colony of New Amsterdam, today New York. Autumn there - Indian Summer - is brightly colorful but it can be ferociously cold too. Mountain Fleece comes from the Himalayan regions of Nepal and the Uttar Pradesh (India); think early Winters, strong winds, snow and ice.

New York Aster came to Europe from North America before the work of Great Carolus Linnaeus (1753). Persicaria amplexicaulis - then called Polygonum amplexicaule - was first introduced to Europe (England) by Hugh Falconer (1808-1865). Falconer was an intrepid Scottish naturalist with great administrative skills as well - he was superintendent of the Saharunpur Botanical Garden in northern India west northwest of Nepal and later of the Botanical Garden of Calcutta. Mainly a palaeontologist and geologist, he's especially famous for first devising the idea of punctuated equilibrium for the process of evolution. Ah! the breadth of knowledge of men and women like him and their indefatigable interest in the World!

According to Edward's Botanical Register (1838) and Curtis's Botanical Magazine (1880) this Persicaria was brought to England in 1835/1836 by Falconer. There's a fine drawing of it in Edward's but the one in Curtis's is, I think, better. The latter plant was grown from seed which the Kew Gardens had procured from another great Scottisch botanist, James Edward Tierney Aitchieson (1836-1898), who collected plants in northern Inda and Afghanistan between 1861 and 1885.

3 May 2019. ADB officials present to business communities an overview of the bank’s new procurement framework and its implementation status.

Opportunities in the Pacific were highlighted, as procurement in the region struggles to attract bidders, particularly new entrants.

Visit the event page for more information on this event and the list of speakers.

The ODOT Procurement Office acquires all of the goods, services and outsourced work that our agency needs.

Lt. Governor Anthony Brown brings remarks to participants of MBE Procurement and Business conference. by Brian K. Slack at Largo